Hawkfrost broke step and swung his head around when he heard the sounds of dried ferns rustling. Had he been alive, he'd have already pounced into the undergrowth, and sank his claws into the flesh of his prey; but being as it was the Dark Forest, he knew trying to catch anything would be pointless. The empty feeling he felt, caused by hunger, could never be filled so long as he stayed in the Place of No Stars.
Then there was the other sense of hollowness that effected something other than his stomach.
He knew Ivypaw was all right, from what little the Dark Forest could show him. Still, he felt somewhat guilty, knowing he was the reason she'd had to leave in the first place. None of that, Hawkfrost told himself, if she's too weak to stand injury, then she'll be of no use to the Dark Forest.
But why did it seem that he didn't care what helped or hurt the Dark Forest anymore? It wasn't that he didn't think they'd conquer the four Clans, and StarClan along with them. But the feeling of confidence and assurance he had felt when he first heard Tigerstar say they'd take over the lake, had disappeared.
It was like he didn't have any reason to fight for the Dark Forest anymore, and why should he? What did he think the world would be like when Tigerstar controlled it? Did he really truly believe it would be better; that Tigerstar would be willing to share the power he gained with his son? Hawkfrost closed his eyes, his head over-run with conflicting thoughts and emotions.
An unusual scent drifted to his nose, dragging him from his thoughts. The smell hung from the brambles growing around the trunk of a tree. Hawkfrost padded over and hovered his muzzle over the undergrowth, drinking in what appeared to be a cat's scent, one that was ill.
It was unusual to find cats who died from sickness in the Dark Forest, most had found death in their enemies, or even themselves. Even so, Hawkfrost knew that cats sent to the Dark Forest, after developing some sort of illness, would never be able to rid themselves of the disease. Things that caused death in the waking world would still bring you down, even in spirit, if you were placed here. Hawkfrost himself was always dealing with an aching neck, but that was much easier to ignore then what some had to deal with.
Hawkfrost concentrated on the smell, trying to figure out if he knew the cat it belonged to. The sickness almost seemed like Greencough, but had a different more deadly edge to it.
Engulfed in the scent, Hawkfrost wasn't paying attention to everything around him, and jumped when he heard something land on the ground next to him. A pair of amber eyes pierced through the darkness, staring back at him. Slowly, the creature came forward, the shadows reluctantly sinking away to reveal a tom cat. He moved fluidly across the ground, his tail and head held high with undoubted confidence. The cat's pelt mirrored Hawkfrost's, a darkened earth color with tabby markings. This tom, however, appeared much stronger. Hardened muscles lined the cat's shoulders and back and ages of battle experience shown on his pelt marked with scars.
"Tigerstar," Hawkfrost recognized.
"Who else?" Tigerstar meowed, smugly. "Really, Hawkfrost, having spent countless seasons here, I'd think you'd be expecting me."
Hawkfrost paused, watching as his father sat down in front of him and ran his tongue over a paw with unnaturally long claws. Tigerstar watched him out of the corner of his eye, studying him like a piece of scrawny prey caught in leaf-bare; something worthless, but the best you could get.
"Why are you here? Is there something you need me for?" Hawkfrost knew his father would never come just to visit.
"Now that you mention it, there is something that I could use you for," Tigerstar said as though he had just recollected the idea. "Walk with me."
Tigerstar stood and strode back into the shadows, Hawkfrost padding alongside him.
"We have been doing quite well in gaining cats from the Clans," reported Tigerstar. "However, there's one Clan we're lacking members from."
"ThunderClan."
"Yes. I believe Ivypaw is the only cat we have, correct?"
Hawkfrost nodded.
"An apprentice. Of course."
"She'll be a warrior soon. Her training's coming along well, she'll be a good cat to have in our ranks." Hawkfrost's fur bristled, and he struggled to keep down his temper. Ivypaw was much more useful than Tigerstar gave her credit for.
Tigerstar didn't seem to notice his son's anger, or didn't care. "I'm glad to hear it. Even so, it is essential we gain more cats from that Clan. Their kittypet leader has made it difficult for us to steal their cats' loyalty. He's made sure to tell every kit within their borders about us and what we've done. While most of the Clans would rather just forget us and move on, Firestar makes sure to keep his clan's memories about us as clear as possible. He knows the battle is coming, he knows we're trying to turn his cats against him, whether he admits it or not. We were lucky with Ivypaw, she'd heard little about my 'horrible deeds' or of yours. So, of course, she didn't recognize you when you came to her."
"What are you getting to?" Hawkfrost asked, suspicious.
"Someone needs to go to ThunderClan in the waking world so we can figure out which cats have or haven't heard of us. Or find cats who have a dark enough personality to join us regardless of them knowing who we are."
"And how exactly do you plan to do that? You know there's no way for us to return, only StarClan has the ability to send cats back."
"Oh, but that is where you are wrong, Hawkfrost. I've just recently acquainted with a cat who has the ability to do just that."
"Who?"
"Follow me, and I will show you."
Tigerstar whipped around and sprinted off into the opposite direction, and Hawkfrost found himself scrambling to catch up. The two raced through the forest and Hawkfrost had to push his muscles to the limit to keep pace with Tigerstar.
Then, Hawkfrost felt the atmosphere lighten slightly, as though a weight hanging around his shoulders had been lifted. The once pressing darkness began to ebb away around them. A moon curved in the sky above, a thin slice in the sky, but it gave off enough light for Hawkfrost to see clearly. It was only the moon that hung in the sky though, the stars that normally shared the space were absent. Had they been there, and the scents of decay gone, Hawkfrost would have guessed they were in StarClan.
The moon's light gave Hawkfrost new energy, and he found it much easier to stay at Tigerstar's side. The tabby remained emotionless about the sudden change in surroundings, his eyes were focused directly in front of him, as though he were waiting for something to appear along the horizon.
Hawkfrost soon found out what this was when he saw a shimmering light ahead. Tigerstar slowed once it was in sight and trotted through the undergrowth, still dead and dry, but thicker then most of the Dark Forest. Brambles stuck at him from all sides and Hawkfrost grew more and more irritable from it, however Tigerstar pushed through as though they weren't even there.
The undergrowth stopped abruptly, and the two cats tore themselves out of the thorns to lay their paws at the base of a pool. The hard rock underpaw was carved into a perfect circle and filled to the very brim with water. It's surface was still, and directly in it's center reflected the crescent moon.
"This is him." Hawkfrost looked up, but Tigerstar hadn't been talking to him. Instead, he was standing at the side of a black tom with dull yellow eyes.
"Hawkfrost, it is good to meet you." His voice was raspy, and had an edge to it, an accent that Hawkfrost immediately recognized and he instantly felt uneasy. "Tigerstar has told me many of your accomplishments and skills. It's easy to see why he selected you for this."
Hawkfrost narrowed his eyes and looked at Tigerstar who was gazing calmly back at him.
"I have found a way to hopefully increase our numbers from ThunderClan," Tigerstar motioned to the tom at his side, "Darkshadow here told me it is possible for the spirit of a cat in the Dark Forest to return to earth."
Darkshadow. Hawkfrost felt his fur prick at the cat's name. Suspicion flooded him as he looked from the tom to Tigerstar. What was going on?
"But it's impossible to return... isn't it?" He was questioning his own knowledge as much as the cat's.
"No, you can go back," Darkshadow said, "However, unlike StarClan, you can't be reborn. The Dark Forest cannot create life, however, they can take it."
"A cat near the Clans has recently died from being hit by a monster," Tigerstar explained. "The impact was enough to force his spirit from his body, but his body is still strong enough to hold someone elses. We will be able to send someone from the Dark Forest to enter the loner's corpse."
"And you want me to go," Hawkfrost concluded.
"Correct."
Hawkfrost grew more and more uncomfortable with this plan. Returning to the living world definitely didn't sound horrible. However, he knew it could easily be a trap, a way to send him to his death.
"When you return to the waking world, you can not only find cats who'd willingly betray their Clans, but prevent kits from learning about us." Tigerstar continued. "It is very important this all goes correctly."
"Then why aren't you the one returning?" questioned Hawkfrost.
"I have things to attend to up here. Not only that, but once you enter the other cat's body, you will not be able to leave."
"Yes, this body will respond to you just as your previous one did," the tom added.
"When you sleep, you'll be able to come here, like any other living cat," explained Tigerstar. "You can give me your updates there. Then, I can enter the minds of the cats who will join us."
"So once everything is all over-" Hawfrost started to say but was interrupted by Darkshadow.
"You will need to stay in the body until your spirit is forced to part with it."
"When I die."
"To simplify it."
Hawkfrost turned his attention back to the pool. Tigerstar padded over to his son and murmured into his ear, "You're presence in the waking world will be valued in many ways, it's important you do this."
It was then Hawkfrost realized he didn't have a choice to go or stay. If he went, he'd follow Tigerstar's orders until his father found something else to use him for and forcibly bring him back to the Dark Forest. But if refused, Tigerstar would kill him now, no questions asked, no second answers. Hawkfrost had no idea what happened to cats who suffered death here, did they disappear? Did they go somewhere else worse than the Dark Forest? Hawkfrost didn't want to find out, so, as always, he went along with his father's orders. Only this time, he didn't do it willingly.
"I'll go." Hawkfrost responded. Tigerstar purred, though it sounded more like a big cat's growl.
"Very good, very good." He put his tail on Hawkfrost's back and led him closer to the pool's edge. Darkshadow reached out one of his paws and touched it with a claw. Instantly the moon disappeared from the surface and the shadow of a cat's corpse formed.
"How will I be able to get into the body of the loner?" asked Hawkfrost, directing his question to Darkshadow.
"You leave that to me." He growled. "Now enter the pool."
Hawkfrost forced all of his fear to the back of his head so it wouldn't effect him. He placed a paw into the water and instantly, he felt the entire pool heave and suck him down all the way. Hawkfrost's gasp of surprise was inaudible as the water surrounded him, pressing in on his being as though trying to squeeze him into a mouse's den. He tried to escape, but his senses, one by one, began to fail. The sounds of his splashing, the feel of the water, the light of the moon, all disappeared until he was nothing.
Ivypaw flung herself at Mousewhisker, snarling and hissing like a rabid animal. Her claws sliced through his pelt as though the tom were nothing more than air. She was deaf to his shrieks of agony as she ripped her claws through his flesh, blood flooding from his body. Once Mousewhisker failed to move anymore, she leaped away and scanned the area around her. Who would be her next victim? The shadows of cats etched the walls of the camp, the sounds of death and battle echoed against stone.
Out of the corner of her eye, Ivypaw spotted her sister, Dovepaw, laying on her side away from the fight. The she-cat's gray pelt was coated in blood, her breath coming in shallow gasps.
"Ivypaw, help me," she begged. A smile curved the sides of Ivypaw's mouth.
"Of course." Ivypaw pounced on her sister and sank her teeth into her throat. Dovepaw's cries became choked as blood flowed from her neck. Suddenly, Ivypaw felt something snap back inside her. She was killing her sister! Ivypaw jumped away, but the damage was done, Dovepaw lay still.
"No!" Ivypaw cried.
"You have done well," said a voice behind her. Ivypaw whirled around. There stood Hawkfrost, a proud look in his eyes. Then, all grief Ivypaw felt disappeared. She may have killed her only litter mate and led to the destruction of her Clan, but Ivypaw was willing to do anything, so long as it pleased Hawkfrost.
Ivypaw nearly hit the top of the apprentices' den when she felt something nudge her side. Once she landed awkwardly, she whipped around to face who had disturbed her. Dovepaw stared wide-eyed at her, her paw still held in the air from waking Ivypaw up. Her fur was no longer stained red, and her eyes shown only with concern, not the pain they had in Ivypaw's dream.
"Are you alright?" Dovepaw asked, worry filling her voice.
Ivypaw took a shuddering breath and nodded slowly, "I'm okay."
"What were you dreaming about?"
Ivypaw looked at her paws, feeling her fur prickle with fear at the memory of her nightmare. She felt Dovepaw's pelt brush against hers and she nearly jumped to the sky again. Her sister gave her a comforting lick and murmured, "Was it the Dark Forest?"
Ivypaw pulled away and grumbled, "No. I don't want to talk about it."
Dovepaw was quiet, however she was still looking at her with worry. Though it seemed she was going to keep pressing, Dovepaw instead told her the reason she'd come, "Cinderheart and Lionblaze want to take us battle training."
The rays of the sun warmed Ivypaw's chilled pelt. The entire forest seemed to be soaking up the heat of the sun; water droplets fell from branches and hit the small patrol of mentors and apprentices. The sounds of dripping, though it made their fur damp, brought joy to cats in every Clan. Green-leaf had truly come.
Though the rest of her company seemed light-hearted, Ivypaw was unable to enjoy the weather. Her dream still consumed all of her thoughts. We're training today Ivypaw said to herself, just concentrate on that. But that was much easier said then done.
Lionblaze had taken the head of the patrol. His pelt matched the burning sun, while Dovepaw's fur gave an impression of a fluffy cloud trying to cover him as she traveled at his side. Cinderheart walked beside Ivypaw, at the back, trying not to look at the fiery warrior ahead of them. Ivypaw knew the two cats had been in an on and off relationship. The Clan had been watching with extreme attention. Gossip, it seemed, was the largest part of any family group.
"Alright." Lionblaze meowed once he came to the center of the clearing used for training. "Let's get started."
Cinderheart didn't move to Lionblaze's side, instead she stayed at her apprentice's side. It seemed the two cats were currently not a couple, but it also appeared that Cinderheart had picked up on Ivypaw's unease. The she-cat was watching her intently, though didn't ask what was wrong.
"We're going to learn a move that changes a cat's attack into you're own offense," Lionblaze announced. "Let me demonstrate," he turned to his own apprentice, "Dovepaw attack me."
Dovepaw wiggled her haunches, her tongue sticking out of the side of her mouth in concentration. Lionblaze sat calmly in front of her until she launched herself at him. When it seemed Dovepaw would land on top of Lionblaze, the flame colored warrior bounded out of the way. Dovepaw was unbalanced when she landed, having expected to land on Lionblaze rather than the hard ground. Lionblaze rounded on top of the she-cat, pushing her into the the dirt.
Dovepaw squeaked, surprised by her mentor's move. Lionblaze stepped off her and helped her to her paws. "And that's all to it. The trick is to stay light on your feet so your opponent doesn't get up before you can attack" He explained, "Did you get that Ivypaw?"
Ivypaw nodded. She'd already learned the move from Hawkfrost half a moon ago. It turned out training in the Dark Forest definitely had it's benefits.
"Now, Dovepaw, let's see if you learned from my example. Ivypaw, attack Dovepaw." Lionblaze commanded. Dovepaw already seemed ready to leap away as she rocked on her paws. Without a word, Ivypaw leaped at Dovepaw. The gray apprentice jumped away from Ivypaw's attack easily and was ready to counter it. However, since Ivypaw already knew Dovepaw's intents, she'd landed easily enough that she didn't have to regain her balance. She kept her hind legs in the air and when Dovepaw jumped at her, Ivypaw kicked her away.
Dovepaw tumbled away, making small squeaks as she hit the ground. When she stopped rolling, she didn't move at all. "Dovepaw?" Lionblaze bounded over to his apprentice and nudged her with his head. The she-cat gave a small groan, but managed to climbed back to her paws with Lionblaze's help.
"I'm fine." She sputtered, shaking out her pelt. "Do I get to attack Ivypaw now?"
The two apprentices practiced the battle move until sun-high, when Lionblaze decided it was time for them to return to camp. Dovepaw skipped happily at Ivypaw's side, recalling how she'd managed to defeat Ivypaw with the new battle move. Ivypaw wasn't listening, she had stopped paying attention to her sister and training a long time ago.
Instead she had been trying to find a reason for her nightmare. She knew medicine cats received dreams that foretold the future from StarClan. Had that been what her dream was? The thought of willingly slaughtering her entire Clan and even Dovepaw made Ivypaw sick to her stomach.
Then there was the way she'd felt when Hawkfrost praised her for killing Dovepaw. It was as though Dovepaw's death didn't matter at all, only getting Hawkfrost to say those words of praise. Ivypaw remembered feeling that she would do anything to make Hawkfrost proud of her.
Ivypaw's head was clouded with dread, wishing there was someone she could talk to that shared her feelings. However she didn't feel ready to share the nightmare with her sister. If she told Dovepaw, then she might try harder to make it so she couldn't go to the Dark Forest. Even if meeting with Hawkfrost was most likely the cause of her dream, the thought of never being able to train with the dark tabby made Ivypaw feel worse. But what if her going to train with Hawkfrost would only make the dream come true? Was she that willing to risk the possibility of murdering her sister just to train with Hawkfrost?
Dovepaw and Ivypaw entered the camp through the tunnel. Ivypaw almost tripped over a ball of moss when she layed a paw into the clearing.
"Hey guys, can you toss it back?" Briarlight called from the medicine den. Molekit was bouncing in wait for the toy's return, while Cherrykit stood at her brother's side with visible weakness, however the scent of disease no longer clang to her pelt. Dovepaw scooped up the moss ball and tossed it back to the kits.
Jayfeather came out of the medicine den and meowed thanks to the paralyzed warrior for helping get Cherrykit some exercise. Ivypaw turned away when Jayfeather licked Briarlight's head, to look at Squirrelflight and Thornclaw chatting and sharing prey under the Highledge. Rosepetal was pointing out a mouse to Foxleap in the fresh-kill pile while Ferncloud shared tongues with Icecloud. How normal the camp was living, as though the coming battle between them and Dark Forest were nothing. The excuse Jayfeather had given her when she asked why they didn't tell them made sense. Ignorance was bliss.
Suddenly Sorreltail bounded across the clearing, pushing cats away to get to the medicine den. "Jayfeather!"
Jayfeather jumped away just as the tortoiseshell she-cat landed were he'd just been sitting. "Sorreltail, what in StarClan's name is wrong with you?" He snarled.
"It's Leafpool, I think she has Greencough!"
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