Captured by the Qulisas
The Clans are raided by something they know not of; a large group of cats called "The Qulisas" and Ivypaw is taken! Will she find her way back to her family? To her home?
"Attack!" A piercing battle cried filled the sleeping air. In an instant cats as fast as lightning burst into the apprentice's den. Teeth met Ivypaw's scruff and she was dragged out of her home. Dovepaw's cries of protest stung her ears and the whole Clan clawed at her captor—
Ivypaw sat bolt upright, waking the cat next to her. My captor. She thought. Apparently, she was now their property. The dream had haunted her.
Claws met her cheek. "Sleep!" Came a gruff tone. He never spoke much.
As fast as she fell asleep she felt a rope made of what smelled like grape vines around her neck, tightening and nearly cutting off her breath. Grapes. Would she ever go to Jayfeather's den with a stomach ache and receive grape leaves again? Her heart ached for home.
"Walk" The tone came again. The rope was tight; it made her breath raspy. For six sunrises they had been walking; she was given a mouse every day, nothing more. Looming ahead was what looked like a Twoleg camp, from what she heard from the elders. The grass was as tall as Squirrelflight's tail. She felt a pang of homesickness as she remembered the sharp tongued warrior. Would Ivypaw ever become a warrior?
Suddenly, she smelled faintly many scents and many cats. This must be the entrance, she thought. The grass had been scrapped away and swept. Petals lined the ground, giving off an aroma that masked anything. She smiled inside that she could tell the scent away from the petals.
The shaded tunnel burst into the camp. There were cat's everywhere, more than even all the Clans combined. The dens where many trees stacked in lines. Tall vines enclosed and wrapped their greedy tendrils around holes. Brambles and leaves were stuffed into the gaps as well. There were ten dens surrounding a fresh kill pile, making her stomach ache from hunger. And for home.
A pretty she-cat emerged from the small den directly in front of her. Rage clouded her eyes and she rushed forward.
Ivypaw bared her teeth and unsheathed her claws, ready to fight. But Ivypaw knew she could not fight the cat. These cats where more muscular than any she's ever seen. She closed her eyes, praying she could find StarClan from here.
Teeth did not meet her throat, but grazed her neck fur. She she-cat and gently pulled the rope away from her neck. She turned to the cat that had held Ivypaw hostage.
"You've shown poor judgment for a cat of your seasons! Go, I will decide your punishment later!" She scolded. The tom, which Ivypaw now saw had all white fur, held his head. He walked into one of the dens.
"Now, I apologize for my Crusader. He normally shows better judgment. Come, follow me. My name is Moon, if you'd like to know. Herb, please come. Bring a rabbit," She looked down at Ivypaw with genuine gentleness. Ivypaw liked this cat. Maybe the rabbit was for her…?
She walked into the strange den, and saw four nests that lined the wall made off a green type of moss that looked as soft as a rabbit's ear and was in the shape of a leave that lined a nest of twigs woven together. In the center of the den were five mats of the same things the nests were lined with.
"Sit," Moon said kindly, gesturing to one of the mats. Ivypaw sat down, nearly gasping at how soft the leaves were. She stared hungrily at the rabbit. Herb, a cat with green stained fur, jumped onto a ledge that was half way to the roof of the strange place.
"I know you are scared. But life with the Qulisas is not bad; we've had Clan cats stay with us. We've helped you before—"
"How?"
"We found a young cat, Smokepaw, at the bottom of a ledge. We took him here; nursed him to health. Smoke, err, Smokepaw, died three snows later. He lived much longer than Herb had expected.
"Your Clan killed a cat of ours. So, we take one of their cats. It is a simple tradition. But we shall treat you like our own; we bare the burdens of war, but we are not savages. I'll show you your nest. Shine prepared it as soon as she had heard. It was her daughter than was killed. You will be her new daughter, to replace the one the white cat with black paw killed."
Blackstar! He had done this to her!
"Come," Moon led out to the sunlight with Ivypaw following. She walked up trees stacked to a Twoleg den.
There were clusters of nests, but Ivypaw only saw one cat, who was arranging the same soft green leaves in perfect order.
"Shine," Called Mood. Ivypaw saw where the cat got her name. Her fur shined like water and matched Ivypaw's. She bounded over.
"You must be hungry! Oh, you look cold! They should have waited until Long Sun came. Here, I have a nest ready—no, I'll get a big, plump rabbit. No, I'll introduce you to Water—no, I'll let you rest—"
"Shine," Moon chuckled, "Herb is dressing a rabbit. Ivypaw should come eat it."
"Yes, of course! Come, come." The three walked back to where Moon first brought Ivypaw. They jumped up to the platform, about two fox lengths up. Ivypaw followed with hesitation.
Her paws hit the edge of the platform, but she couldn't hoist herself up. Shine ran forward and grabbed her scruff, trembling as she used all her strength to pull Ivypaw up.
After the ordeal Ivypaw saw herbs, leaves, flowers, seeds, everything she could imagine stacked against the walls. She saw a rabbit in the middle of the floor.
The rabbit had flecks of herbs scattered in it. "What are those?" She asked.
"Those are herbs to make you stronger," answered Herb. "Eat." They all encouraged.
Not needing a second opinion she rushed forward, devouring the rabbit in moments.
"Come. You need rest," said Shine.
They made their way slowly to the den Ivypaw's nest was. She lied down and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.