Okay, I finally updated. Yes, this time its about Ashfur. I did this chapter on him because I kind of respect his character, and I'm one of the few that don't think he's a bad cat.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Warriors!
ASHFUR
The reason you hear secrets is so you can tell them.
And I've never had a better secret to tell. Squirrelflight… my revenge starts here. I'll make you bleed from the inside-out.
But you'll never know how much it hurts, Squirrelflight. The blood my heart spills out. It bleeds every day. I'm surprised it still has more blood to bleed.I've gotten sort of used to it; the pain. It's like it's become a special part of me now. I don't mind it as much.
The whole clan thinks you're perfect, but I really know what you are. You're a liar.
I'm going to expose that, though. And then you'll no longer be perfect. You'll lose everything. Just like me.
I can feel a smirk stroll across my muzzle. You think you can stop me. But you can't. Not you, or Lionblaze, or Jayfeather, or Hollyleaf.
What does is matter to me if a liar and a couple of orphan kits get run out of ThunderClan? If anything, it'll make the clan better.
Are you up for it, Squirrelflight? Because I have nothing to lose.
And you have everything.
~O~X~O~
I had decided to get some fresh air before the gathering. To sort my plan out. To get things straight.
What'll I do? I would go to the gathering, and right before Firestar speaks, I'll call out. The warriors will surely be surprised when this happens. That's good. I'll need all the attention I can get. The more warriors that know the truth about Squirrelflight, the better. The more hated she is, the better. I want her to feel like everyone and everything is against her. That's how I felt, anyway…
I began to form an imaginary scene in my mind of what would happen. After all the cats have found out her secret, a look of horror will overcome her. She'll back away, from all the malicious glares the cats shoot at her, and cower in the shadows.
Brambleclaw, her faithful mate, will explode in anger, knowing that the kits he fathered are not his at all. He'll know that she lied to him. I couldn't help the faint smile that crawled across my face. Oh, Brambleclaw, you'll finally come to your senses…
What would her sister, Leafpool, think? It's apparent that they are very close. Some cats had even told me they shared a special bond. Would she be disgusted at Squirrelflight, for lying? Maybe they would never talk again.
And who could forget Firestar, and Sandstorm, her loving parents? They would probably be furious at Squirrelflight for embarrassing, and weakening the clan with her secret. They might even exile her from the clan. "Take on orphan kits? Why would she do that?" I pictured them growling.
Speaking of the three orphans, what would they do? I know exactly. They would certainly be the center of attention, cats sneering, and judging, and gossiping, while they stand pressed together; alone. They would never be treated the same after this. They would never be Lionblaze, the brave and strong, or Hollyleaf, the smart and respected, or Jayfeather, the blind and talented. They would be the filth of the clan- they would not belong. Ever.
And what would happen to me? I couldn't possibly get away unscathed. I would be the dark teller of Squirrelflight's secret. Firestar might even blame the whole thing on me, and I could be exiled too… but why should I care? I don't want to live in a clan where Squirrelflight puppets everything.
I mean, her father is the leader, her mate is the deputy, and her sister is the medicine cat. And she is known and respected by all of ThunderClan's warriors. Her word can easily influence them all.
It was then I realized- this could all blow up in my face. Everything could go completely wrong.
No. It would all go my way. I've waited for a chance like that for a long time. It would all go my way.
The scent of mouse swarmed my nose, and I dissolved from my thoughts. I realized that while I was thinking, I had unconsciously drifted over to the WindClan border stream. I shook my head slightly, telling myself to pay more attention, then drank in the scent of the mouse. It was to my right, so I turned my head slowly to try and locate it.
There it was! It was sniffing around the grass, and didn't even notice me. I was surprised, I probably could have walked right into it by mistake just a moment before while I dazed.
A twig or so snapped behind me, and the mouse jutted off quicker than the wind.
I swiftly twisted my neck around and stared off into the underbrush. What was just behind me?
The atmosphere changed into an eerily silent break in the day. Nothing moved. It was like the world was holding its breath.
"Come on out, Squirrelflight. I know you're there," I couldn't help but call out. It struck me as something she would do; follow me all the way out there and try to talk me out of my plans. But I had every intention of keeping them.
I turned back around and perked my ears. The world seemed lively again, so I forced my hackles down. Don't be paranoid, I instructed myself. Nothing is there. Focus.
Squirrelflight wouldn't derail this attempt, too. It would go my way.
And I found that I was excited at this. Mostly because: for as long as I lived, nothing went my way. It was never about me.
Oh! A vole! I stalked forward carefully. It was close so the water's edge, so dangerously close. The stream laced far below, the water frothy and rough. I crept closer and closer.
Then everything seemed to happen so fast, yet so slow.
I heard claws scraping against a rock. A cat latched itself on top of my body, gripping my shoulders. It's Squirrelflight, I decided, as I bucked. Then a familiar scent washed over me like a deadly poison, and an explosion went off in my mind as I realized my mistake.
It's Hollyleaf.
I tried to claw at her, but I was caught at an awkward angle. She reached forward and I could feel the sharp pain of her fangs in my throat.
I failed. Again. It will never be about me now. Nothing will ever go my way now.
"But I caught something," Cloudkit protested, his white fur powdery with snow. He caught a small piece of prey, and proudly went to put it in the fresh kill pile. I watched him leave as mother began to scold us, and noticed Bluestar's gaze was full of respect for the white kit.
I could feel the blood drain from my wound.
"Cloudpaw, you're becoming a warrior! I'm so proud of you!" Brindleface squealed, covering Cloudpaw in licks. She watched proudly as he received his name, never once drawing her attention to me.
Her teeth removed from my neck, licking off some of the blood in the process.
"Mother… No…" I whispered, nuzzling Brindleface's body. My heart turned cold. She won't be there for my warrior ceremony…
My mind worked slowly, and my flailing grew weaker.
"You two did well," my mentor, Dustpelt, praised after we came back from the dog pack chase. His words felt empty to me. The only affection he had was for my sister, Fernpaw.
She leaped off me swiftly, and my body lurched over the side of the cliff.
"I'm sorry, Ashpaw, Fernpaw… You're father, Whitestorm, died in the BloodClan battle," Firestar said quietly. Fernpaw whimpered and leaned her head onto Dustpelt's chest. I walked away sullenly. I don't have anybody to lean on…
I dropped down into the stream, sending painful waves crashing over me.
"I'm sorry Ashfur, but I belong with Brambleclaw. I feel like StarClan has destined us to be together…" I watched with a heavy heart as the pair left together. I will have my revenge…
I tried to stay conscious, but the blood still poured out.
My apprentice pestered me about training, but I declined. "I'll take him out for a patrol," Brambleclaw offered. Birchpaw looked up at him, eyes glittering with joy. I glared ruefully.
My body slowly drifted downstream.
"Brambleclaw, you saved him. Thank you," Squirrelflight meowed, nuzzling her father. Hawkfrost's body laid not far away, his blood turning the water red. I watched on from the shadows.
So your life truly does flash before your eyes, I thought, and soon my eyes were forced shut.
And now, my blood will make the water red, too.
~O~X~O~
I awakened, surprised to be breathing again. After hobbling stiffly out of the stream, I stopped to gather my thoughts. Hollyleaf… what had she done? She attacked me from behind, and chewed my neck open! I fell… into the stream… and the water… it…
That must mean…
I turned over to see my body still floating in the current, wedged between two rocks. The water was a pale red.
"No!" I screamed. "No, no!"
The paw steps I heard then, made me bolt behind a rock in WindClan territory. When I peeked out from behind it, a group of ThunderClan cats- probably the ones to go to the gathering- were swarmed atop a lower level of the cliff I fell off of.
"It's Ashfur…" One of them choked out.
Shocked gasps echoed throughout the group. I'm not sure what set it off- the looks on the cats' faces as they realized my death, when I realized I was dead, or seeing my lifeless body bob up and down in the stream- but suddenly I was sick to my stomach, and I had to get away from there.
I turned around swiftly and bolted through WindClan territory as fast as I could go. I was cut off though, by a cat that seemed to see me. And when took a closer look, it was someone vaguely familiar.
Brindleface.
"Mother!" I gasped.
"Ashfur…" her voice trailed off sadly, and I knew exactly why. She was disappointed in me. She was ashamed of who I had become.
"Ashfur," she started again, "You've done very bad things. I don't know where it went wrong… I don't know why you became like this!"
I waited with a grimace for her to finish. "Well, I am who I am," I said finally when she didn't finish.
"We know you're a good cat at heart. You became confused, and frightened at some point," she meowed. "And you made some wrong turns. Revenge and unforgiveness lead you down a path of evil. But we forgive you… StarClan welcomes you."
That hit me by surprise. Although I never really thought about what would happen when I died, I never thought StarClan would generally take me in.
"No," I decided suddenly, which made Brindleface jump.
"My life went totally wrong… When everything crashed down on me, I felt betrayed by StarClan. I've never felt so alone!" I growled at her. "You could have sent somebody… anybody… you could have helped me! Squirrelflight came along, and I was almost happy again!"
The words echoed through my mind. "I feel like StarClan has destined us to be together…"
I gritted my teeth. "And then you ripped her away from me! Everything went downhill from there! I never did anything wrong to deserve that… But StarClan punished me anyway! If I was doomed to live a life of pain and agony, I should have never been born!" I snarled.
Her face dropped instantly. "Ashfur, don't say that… I'll always love you."
"No!" I roared, and sped in the opposite direction.
"Ashfur!" Brindleface called after me. "You'll always be accepted in StarClan! We'll always welcome you!" Her voice grew fainter as I ran farther away.
I don't know how long I ran, but when I stopped, I saw an endless chasm of shadows and darkness. The trees were tall and menacing, and I couldn't find the smallest trace of light. There weren't any stars either, just the faintest scent of cats hauntingly familiar.
My heart beat a little bit faster.
And I'll end it off there. You can decide where you want him to end up, the Dark Forest or StarClan.
Sorry it's so short, I promise the next will be longer! Please review, and thanks for reading! :D