DarkFyre
Wings of Fayte Trilogy
By Lucky-Onigiri
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C H A P I T R E.TWO
Yep, I actually wrote chapter two. There is such a thing as continuing a story. But to be honest, I'm writing this before I even posted chapter one, so there are no 'thanks' for reviews or anything, and I dunno how you guys even liked chapter one yet. I hate that 3-day waiting period that FF makes you do before you submit anything. insert Jaws music
Anyway, I hope you like chapter two!
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Mysticstar leaped over a jutting stone just beyond SkyClan territory and landed neatly on her feet, trying to push aside the anxious and paranoid feeling that had landed upon her soon before. Rosepetal showed no signs of having this feeling, but maybe she was just hiding it too?
The sky was getting lighter as they went along, and had changed from a navy blue to grey, and was now a pale white-blue. Birds started fluttering out from their branches, going to different trees and then singing their high songs. It was a perfect day out, much like yesterday had been – Mysticstar hoped that Wolfshade would be able to act as leader in her stead for a day, but then, the thought, it was highly likely. Her first few days as leader hadn't been nearly as bad as she had first thought they might be.
"Stop here, Mysticstar, said Rosepetal, slightly breathlessly. "We can rest, I'm sure your paws are sore by now." Indeed, as they stopped to catch their breath and lay down for a bit, Mysticstar realized that her paws were a bit worn and tired after all, and was grateful that Rosepetal was stopping them. But then she realized that the medicine cat had something to say.
"Do you feel it too?" the albino asked, her pink eyes curious. "You know someone has been following us, don't you?" Mysticstar knew that if the situation were anything else, Rosepetal might have looked amused, but it was hard to tell what she was thinking then. Then she nodded, for inside she knew, once given the answer, what that feeling of hers had been.
"Shall I find them?"
Rosepetal nodded. "If you wish."
But then, the follower surprised them, as they emerged from the bushes and looked guiltily at both medicine cat and leader.
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Mysticstar looked sternly at Redhawk. "You know that this is unacceptable, Redhawk," she told him, her eyes gazing into his, willing him to understand. "And that I should punish you for following us, when you must have known it was foolhardy behavior." The striped warrior looked back at her, not even shuffling his paws. She wondered if it was because of defiance, or something else.
"Yes, I do, Mysticstar," he said, unflinching. Finally looking down at his paws, he dipped his head to his leader in apology. The grass beneath him was, he noticed, a dark shade of green, but red, orange, and yellow leaves like fire covered it, creating a beautiful landscape that he had not noticed before.
And he was almost disappointed when Mysticstar shook her head and smiled, then heaved a relieved sigh. "However," she said, as Redhawk looked on in amazement, "I believe some thanks are in order. You didn't try to hide what you did, and indeed I am sure that you were going against your conscience when you followed us." Redhawk felt uneasy for a moment, and felt as he often did with Fallenheart, that she was reading his mind and not only guessing. He had never seen such a piercing gaze on his leader's face before.
There was a moment of silence, and then Mysticstar stood up, turned to Rosepetal and Redhawk, and nodded to them both. She was full of authority now, and even Rosepetal was surprised, judging by the look in her eyes. "Come, you two, we're going. Behind me."
It was not long before they came within sight of the cavern where the Moonstone lay, and Mysticstar, who had relaxed and set an easy though swift pace, felt a leap of joy, but there was also a tinge of unsureity.There was something just ahead that should not be there, and it gave off –
"What a scent!" exclaimed Rosepetal, wrinkling her nose in distaste. "Like something sick, or dying." Mysticstar's stomach twinged at the thought.
"I could go ahead and check out what it is. If it'something bad…I did come as your guard, after all." Redhawk smiled slightly as he spoke, though it was in choking words, as the smell was nearly unbearable. He got a nod of agreement from both she-cats, and padded over a small hillock, leaving them waiting there.
When Redhawk returned, the smell got worse, and with him he half-carried, half-dragged a ragged bundle of raven-colored fur that with a jolt Mysticstar realized was a cat. "Looks like we don't have to go to the Moonstone after all," she murmered, and Rosepetal nodded. This had to be the cat meant for the sign.
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The black cat sat up, still shaking, and leaned on Redhawk's side for support. They had dragged her through a clear stream and Rosepetal had been brave enough to give her a quick wash, so the smell wasn't nearly as strong. Still, the warrior looked away pointedly, and the young black she-cat gave a hiss of indignation.
"Just quit worrying about me," she said, pointing the clawed words at Mysticstar, who had insisted she be brung back to camp until she had regained full health – as a prisoner, of course, but not treated as one. But, same as the reply she'd given moments before, this new cat was steadfast as ever. "I'm all right, I just need something to eat and drink, get some rest, and I'll be fine."
But the rest of them insisted that she come. Rosepetal pointed out her injuries, most of which were very deep and it probably wasn't a good idea to be exerting herself even this much right now. All three NightClan cats could see that it was all the cat could to to keep herself up now, or she seemed dizzy and in pain.
Redhawk got a good look at her. She did have many hurts on her, some of which had been stopped by dried blood, some of which were rather fresh and left small red streaks on his fur when she shifted her weight. He could tell she must have been very pretty once, but now she looked starved, and the warrior could see most of her ribs. The she-cat's green eyes were also dull and gaunt, though the brightest shade of their color.
"Come with us," he told her, not pleading in his voice but sincerely hoping that she would give in, come with them, so that they didn't have to bear the worry of her on their shoulders.
When he spoke, she gave a start and closed her eyes for a moment. And as she opened them, the bright green had a new spark of fire in it. "No. I can't. Believe me, to get rid of my wounds would be wonderful, but I can't have all of you under DarkFyre's wrath as well. He would kill you, as he nearly did me."
Now they were curious. DarkFyre? It almost sounded like a Clan name, but there was something about it foreign and menacing. It caused Redhawk unease. "Who's DarkFyre?" he said, trying to repeat the name as this cat had said it. "And what is your name, anyway?"
"Raavyn," she said shortly, and stared into the distance. It was already a little past sunhigh, and they needed to go or leave her here soon or they wouldn't get back before the time Rosepetal had predicted. The Clan would be worried, and it may have been more stress than any of them would be able to take right then. Raavyn seemed to sense this, and sighed.
"The DarkFyre – he's normally just called that as a name, but it isn't really, nobody knows his true name – is a twisted, evil creature. He takes the form of a cat, but anyone who knows him can tell that that's not what his soul really is. He can weild magic and has a pair of wings like shadows." The effort of speaking a long string of words such as this drained the black cat, however, and she found it hard to keep herself upright, and she started to slip into darkness, struggling wildy to keep herself awake.
It was a rather silent decision, as Mysticstar, Rosepetal, and Redhawk picked up Raavyn together and proceded slowly back to camp. She was now unconscious, breathing shallowly, and it worried Redhawk to think of how powerful this DarkFyre was, if he had done this to her, and how strong Raavyn must be to have lived this far, with this many injuries. But, came a nagging voice, what on earth could she have done that would have made him angry?
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It had been several days since Raavyn had come to the Clan, and she was recovering wonderfully, reluctantly grateful to the three for bringing her. She had admitted to Rosepetal how hard it had been on her and that if she had honestly resisted, she probably would have died. Both Mysticstar and Redhawk checked on her constantly, and though she was annoyed by the frequency of visitors, she felt a certain bond with them and usually got over her irritation.
And most of the other cats in camp liked her too. The kits costantly came to the medicine cat's den now, and asked her to tell tales of her life, which she gladly told them. The warriors all found it rather sad, but to the kits it was simply fascinating. Some of the apprentices, too, such as Blizzardpaw and Runningpaw, found her story intriguing.
It turned out that Raavyn had lived in the mountains nearby with humans as a kit, though as Runningpaw pointed out, she hardly looked it now. At a young age, she had gotten lost in the forest and taken by a band of cats led by the DarkFyre – every cat in the Clan now knew who he was. The DarkFyre had threatened her to stay, else she would have to be killed, for any cat who had seen their hideout and gotten involved with them must side with them or, as she so bluntly put it, die.
Being so young and frightened, Raavyn had agreed to join with the band, and had fought in many battles, for that was the order of DarkFyre, who sent out his cats, ones from this world and ones who were able to use magic, to fight battles for both territory and personal reasons often unknown to his followers.
She had lived this way for many moons, before realizing that it was not nearly a good idea to keep going on like that. She therefore tried to run away, having built up her strength and skill, but the DarkFyre (being who he was) had found out and stopped her himself. He'd said she had a fate that nobody but himself and Raavyn could understand. Would she come with him? For if she did, she would be honored above all else and have powers not even his second-ranking could understand. But she'd bravely and foolishly disagreed, ending her up in a large fight, left to die where she'd been found by Redhawk and the others.
Many times, Redhawk had asked, "Why do you tell the kits this? Their minds are still young, they need not know of such tragedy."
"It makes their minds stronger – more ready – for when the time comes and they must handle death and war," stated Raavyn plainly, but Redhawk had seen then a look in her eyes that told him what she would not – it was good to have someone, no matter how small, that could listen to her troubles and still be perfectly happy. To show her it was possible to be glad again after such a thing, Raavyn had needed proof, and here was a chance to get it she hadn't had before.
What it took to smile again.
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(insert witty comment here) Pretty nice chapter, I feel proud of myself – this chapter had about as many words in it as both chapter one, the allegiances, and the summary had. Longer chapters more action, and more time for me to be a Raavyn fangirl. I think you'll really like her. I'm sorry, am I being a geek? Okay, guys, please keep reading, and review – I love hearing what people think, except for when it's bad. But that's called constructive criticism! (wavecrash)
Next Chapter: Sorry, I'm not doing these, it feels like the preview at the end of an anime and I dunno what to say without giving away everything.
Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors. That's just as happy a thought as getting exactly what you want for Christmas.
