Kay, so after a bit of inspiration, I finally posted again! Anyways, that wait was TOO long, so let me say this: 1) I kept on trying to write this chapter, but it came out... suckish. So I didn't want to put it on. 2) Technical difficulties. So, hopefully this is enough to satisfy! (It is considerably shorter though... I'll try to make up for it.)
Thanks to everyone to took the time to read this! I'm so thankful! Special thanks to:
Mangoflame
Honeyshine
and Fallen Dewdrops! (Yes, I do have allegiances, at least for Nightclan. Do you want me to put it on?)
Disclaimer: I do not own Warriors or anything in it. If I did Scourge would reign forever! Mwahahahaha!
Okay, I've held you up long enough. Onto the chapter!
Chapter 2
Cloudkit was bored.
She kneaded the ground with her paws, whiskers twitching with frustration. She was positive Morningkit and Tigerkit had left the clearing, but since the others were already frantic with fear, she was stuck by Ivystem.
Ugh… why is it that they always leave me out?
Cloudkit was tired of the third—more like fourth—wheel. Morningkit spent almost all her time either playing with Oakkit or quarreling with Tigerkit. Cloudkit knew she had to be serious and set an example, but really her heart ached to get in trouble for once, instead of watching her sister pout in the nursery. Cloudkit wanted adventure.
Instead she found herself by Duskstar. He had a look of amused irritation, if that was possible.
"I asked, what is it?"
Cloudkit blinked, dumbfounded. "Did I say something?" She asked.
Duskstar sighed and turned back to Iceflower. The white kit still heard his faint mutter of "Kits these days," before she ran back to Ivystem. She must have walked to the Clan leader while she had been thinking. When she reached her mother, she found Rowanpelt with her.
"Thank goodness!" Ivystem gasped, clearly relieved. "Now, my dear kit, you can tell your littermates to come out now."
"Whaat?" Cloudkit dragged out her meow, exaggerating her confusion. It seemed all the warriors wanted to make her mind spin, if it wasn't already. Her eyes flickered to the rising fumes in the distance.
"Your brother and sister said they were going to see Rowanpelt, but he says they never came to him. You did distract them with a game, didn't you?"
Cloudkit personally thought her mother was totally mouse-brained if she thought that. A game, in this crowded space? Instead she replied honestly, "No, I didn't," and kept her opinions to herself. Seriously, would she be so bored if she had a game to play?
Ivystem's eyes widened in horror, and she let out a low wail. The tabby warrior turned to a golden-furred apprentice standing to the side. Cloudkit recognized him as Snakepaw. She didn't like the way his amber eyes glinted with firelight.
"You were right!" Ivystem wailed. "Please, save my kits!" By then, she had the whole Clan's attention, but Snakepaw only nodded dutifully and raced across the clearing and disappeared into a bush.
Afterwards, Cloudkit's mother collapsed. Lilyflower rushed over, but Cloudkit was only confused. She turned to Rowanpelt, staring into his grief-stricken eyes. "What happened?" she demanded.
Rowanpelt's gaze cleared. "Snakepaw smelled your littermates. He came and told me immediately, and then we came to Ivystem. It could be a mistake, but Snakepaw said it was stronger than the other cats that had just come in. Naturally, we had to be suspicious, but when I went to smell, it seemed very true. So—"
Cloudkit froze. She narrowed her eyes, pelt beginning to fluff out. From behind a clump of ferns, she spotted a pair of blazing amber eyes. Was it possible?
It disappeared before she could be sure.
Cloudkit let out a shaky breath, then turned back to her father. "Go on," she mewed casually, but she could not get rid of the image from her head.
He seemed, to sense her unease, but said nothing of it. She was glad.
He meowed, "Well, you pretty much know the rest. I'm going to go talk to Duskstar. Maybe he'll send out patrols."
Cloudkit hissed at the "maybe." Her littermates were in danger! She couldn't cope without them.
"Hey." Rowanpelt smiled at his daughter. "Get some rest, okay? I'll tell you right away if we find them."
The furry kit heaved a huge sigh. Not one to disobey orders though, she curled up against Ivystem and was soon lost in sleep.
"Cloudkit…"
Cloudkit twitched a single ear and turned away.
"… This is urgent…"
More urgent than Tigerkit and Morningkit's safety?
"Yes."
Cloudkit started. "You read my mind!" She shrieked. Then she blinked. "What… what is this place?"
She was in a shady forest, lush grass springing beneath her paws. The leaves were alive on the wind, and the sounds of animals came from every tree. Bright sunlight dappled the ground, light speckles dancing around her. She heard cats in the distance, yowling, but in greeting. The scents that were brought to her nose were of mingled scents and tastes, and one was Nightclan's own. Then her eyes found him: a slightly stocky tabby tom. Cloudkit knew he was no threat right away, but tension seemed to crackle in the air as they held their gazes; sky blue to glowing gold. For some reason, the tom looked away, glancing over his shoulder as if he were afraid to be caught.
"Who are you?" Cloudkit queried.
He sat and wrapped his tail around his paws. "I am Oakstorm, formerly of Nightclan, currently Starclan."
"So this is Starclan," Cloudkit inferred.
"Yes."
There was a pause, and the Starclan tom shifted uncomfortably.
What's with him? Cloudkit thought.
"Anyways, you have save Morningkit. You're the only one who can… one way or the other."
Is she more important than me?
"She feels the same way," the tom mewed. "Please—don't leave her to die."
Cloudkit was getting annoyed. "Why don't you do it?"
He blinked sadly. "This is something even Starclan cannot control."
Cloudkit shivered, and a sense of foreboding came over her.
Oakstorm's eyes glazed over. "Unless the dew joins the clouds on the dawn of the thirteenth moon—"Suddenly, Oakstorm's eyes flashed back to normal. "No!" he gasped, and Cloudkit's dream was sent tumbling into darkness. She yowled and clawed at the blackness.
"Cloudkit!"
"What?" she snapped crossly.
"You were practically clawing me to shreds!"
Typical Tigerkit. Cloudkit huffed and turned away.
Wait… Tigerkit?!
"Tigerkit!" she yowled, jumping up, when she realized it was just Smallkit. He was giving her a strange look, and she decided to just apologize.
"Sor-ree," she meowed.
"Hmph. I was going to ask if you wanted to play!" Smallkit stormed off. Then he went to bother Heronpaw and Stormwhisper.
Careful not to disturb the sleeping Ivystem, Cloudkit crept away, exhaling when she had vanished from her clanmates view in a bush.
… Unless the dew joins the clouds on the thirteenth moon…
Cloudkit shook her head like she had an annoying flea. She was only five moons old! But the clouds… could that mean her, Cloudkit?
Stop spoiling yourself, her inner voice hissed, and Cloudkit had the right mind to obey it.
But maybe…?
Cloudkit was pissed. She wanted to yowl out of frustration. Starclan just couldn't torture her more, could they? She had been walking in circles the whole time!
Cloudkit was about to wail out her anger, but before she could utter a squeak, Snakepaw just had to choose that time to pop out of a bush.
"Great Starclan!" Cloudkit yelped. What a mess!
Snakepaw's eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here?"
"What else?"
He sighed. "Come on. Let's go."
"Don't send me back," Cloudkit pleaded.
Snakepaw regarded her coldly. "It's too dangerous out here."
"I'm not dumb. I came because I knew I could handle it."
"Just go."
"Make me."
"I'm older."
Cloudkit sighed exasperatedly. "Their my littermates, for Starclan's sake! Just let me stay—just this once!"
"No—" Snakepaw started.
"Help!" The shriek lit up the air like the fire to the forest.
Snakepaw's eyes widened. Without telling Cloudkit whether to go back or stay he bounded away, leaving a trail of his fear-scent.
I'll take that as a yes, Cloudkit thought grimly, and hared after the Nightclan apprentice.
As she ran, smoke stung her eyes, causing her to stumble and blink. She was slowing down, and already burnt smells were covering the trail.
I can't lose him now! Cloudkit knew her sister had been the one to yowl, and now she realized to whom the pair of unblinking amber eyes belonged. Of course. Oakkit! He must have heard Rowanpelt and gone to find Tigerkit and Morningkit.
She burst onto a main path, then wondered if she was seeing things. Snakepaw stood in front of her, staring at a flaming branch. The embers were dying, but the bracken colored tom stayed rooted to the spot. A little ways away, Tigerkit stood still, whimpering slightly.
"What… what's going on…?" Cloudkit whispered. She approached slowly, afraid of what she might find. But, somehow, she already knew. No, no, no…
The fires were just the remnants of a spark as Cloudkit crept forward. She gasped slightly, shock worming through her heart, but that soon gave way to betrayal. Starclan, you can't! Oakstorm… he said I could save her!
Hesitantly, Cloudkit pressed her muzzle against her sister's flank, recoiling almost immediately. She flinched and turned to the tabby under the branch.
"Oakkit, I'm so…" Cloudkit tried to speak, but horror and grief clogged up her throat. Oakkit's eyes were dull now, but a certain spark lingered in the depths. He looked almost proud, as if telling Cloudkit, "I did it. I saved our sister. She's safe."
"But she isn't," Cloudkit whimpered, though it was pointless. Oakkit was…
No! He can't be! We're not even apprentices!
But he was. Dead. And for what? Cloudkit hissed angrily as she glanced at Morningkit. He died for nothing! It was just like Morningkit to die even though Oakkit had saved her. What a waste! Cloudkit wanted to rake her tiny claws on Morningkit's stupid flank. I hate you! She yowled in her mind.
Then, as the realization dawned on her, Cloudkit gasped. What was I thinking? She thought, taking in Morningkit's unnaturally still body. With a start, she noticed small dark red lines in Morningkit's gray coat.
What have I done?
So, how was it? Good, bad, horrible, excellent? Unoriginal? Want to rake your claws across my stupid face? (Please don't!) No worries, I've got a lot planned... (evil grin). I think I will post sooner next time!
