Chapter 4
Fernshade had known it was coming. But hearing it out loud had a different effect on her. Fernshade's chest closed up, and her mouth got all dry. She felt like she was going to suffocate. Fernshade has always had a hidden fear of death and what might happen to her after death, after she barely escaped it two leaf-falls ago. Fernshade's mind flashed back to the time. She had been exploring a cave, a little ways out of MoonClan territory. When she reached what had appeared to be the end of the cave, Fernshade saw a little spring. When she went over to take a drink, she saw a shimmering form appeared the water. The cat looked like how a cat from StarClan might look, but it wasn't shimmering with stars. The cat shone with a crueler light, like that of a crisp winter morning.
"Hello, Fernshade." The cat said.
Fernshade reared back in surprise. "H-How do you know my name?"
The cat chuckled. Everyone where I come from knows the name of Fernshade," It said.
"Well, who are you then?" Fernshade asked, as bravely as she could.
The mysterious cat chuckled again. "You may call me Spook," the cat, which Fernshade could now tell was a she-cat, said.
"And how do you know me?" Fernshade asked. "And where do you come from?"
"Where I am from is not necessary for you to know," Spook said. "As for how I know your name Fernshade, let's just say you're like a celebrity in my home."
"I would still like to have the 'unnecessary' information of where you're from," Fernshade said,
"You really want to know where I'm from?" Spook, said harshly. Then, in an even crueler voice, a smirk covering her face. "I come from the place that cats go when they betray their clans, completely turn their back on StarClan and become ruthless, murdering rouges who live and die alone! Where we are so terrible, we cannot go to the darkest part of the Dark Forest!"
Fernshade backed away from Spook, feeling very spooked herself. "The irony of me being spooked by a cat named Spook," she thought to herself, then said, mustering the courage she had left, "That still doesn't explain why you know me."
Spook hissed, "You are well known in the Banished Wood because you will turn your back on everything you know and think you love and join me and the others in the Banished Wood, in one of the most spectacular betrayals ever!"
Fernshade stepped back once again. "N-No, I would never betray my clan!" she said, astonished at this cat's cruelty.
"Oh but you will," Spook said. "Just I did, and just as Rainstorm did! And just as Snowfall would've done!"
Fernshade gaped, then hissed, "Rainstorm would never do such a thing! My father was a loyal MoonClan warrior; he helped found MoonClan! And Snowfall never betrayed MoonClan, I know she's safe in StarClan, away from the likes of you!"
Spook threw back her head and laughed. "You think Rainstorm was loyal?! That he was killed by a fox when he was too broken hearted to fight back after his beloved Snowfall died?! Let me ask you this: Did anyone in the clan ever find his body? No, all that was found was a group of paws close together, clumps of fur, and blood. What really happened: Rainstorm met a fox while leaving the clan. The fox almost killed him, but he was able to escape. Then he became like me, like any other cat in the Banished Wood. That, is the true story of what happened to Rainstorm."
Fernshade was numb with shock. "Could what Spook be saying is true? Did Rainstorm really turn away from everything he believed in?"
Spook smirked again. "Questioning the fabricated truths you thought were right? Good! That's the first step in turning to my ways." she said gleefully.
"But what makes you so certain I'll betray my clan and become a rouge?" Fernshade asked suddenly. "How you know this for sure?"
Spook started to spin her tale. "Long ago, there was a cat named Solstice. Solstice was the first cat who turned away from StarClan and the clans. She tried to get others to join her. Many left their clans and did, drawn by the picture of pure freedom she created. Right before Solstice died, she had a vision: other cats would refuse to turn to the way of life she had created. They would all come from the line of a cat named Firestar, who led a clan called ThunderClan. With her last breath, Solstice cursed all of Firestar's descendants. Any who did not join her way of life would die."
Fernshade's mind was reeling from everything Spook had just told her. If what this StarClan cursed cat said was true, Fernshade was a descendent of Firestar. Fernshade had heard storied from the elders as kit about Firestar; how he led one of the original warrior clans, ThunderClan. How Firestar had been a great and powerful leader, probably the best leader any clan from any time could ever have. But the old clans had mysteriously disappeared, and had never been found. No one knew if the old clans still existed, or if they had gone completely. "So, if what you're saying is true," Fernshade said to Spook, "that I'm a descendent of Firestar, and I have a choice of either betraying my clan or dying."
"Would you look at that!" Spook said. "You got it all figured out. So, you choose to leave you clan, or die a horrible and gruesome death. The choice is yours." Spook said it so comfortably, like it totally didn't matter which Fernshade chose.
"You told both my mother and father this same thing, didn't you," Fernshade said. "Rainstorm followed you, but Snowfall didn't, so you killed her."
"Correct again!" Spook said. "So, will you follow in your father's steps, or your mother's?"
It took Fernshade about two seconds to come up with an answer. She hissed, "I think I'll stick with my clan and see what happens. Go ahead on try to make good on your mouse-brained curse!"
Spook hissed and spit at Fernshade. "You've made a grave mistake Fernshade. You will soon regret not betraying your clan." Spook started to fade away, leaving Fernshade alone in the cavern once again. Fernshade let out a whoosh of breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
As Fernshade started to wind her way back through the tunnel, she heard a rumbling sound. Fernshade looked up and saw that the tunnel roof was shaken. "You will soon regret not betraying your clan," Spook's words rang in Fernshade's ears. "The tunnel's going to collapse!" Fernshade thought, panic shooting through her.
Fernshade bolted forwards just as a boulder smashed into the place where she had been standing a moment earlier. Fernshade ran through the winding tunnels, dodging falling rocks and debris. She turned a corner, and saw the light of day shining not too far ahead. Fernshade pumped her legs as fast as they would go. She slid out of the cavern just as a boulder fell in front of the opening of the cave, sealing it forever.
"You were very lucky this time, escaping the cave-in," Spook's disembodied voice surrounded Fernshade. "But the next time we meet, you will not be so lucky."
"Fernshade?" Frostblossom said, waving her tail in front of Fernshade's face. "Are you ok? You blanked out on me there."
Fernshade's eyes snapped open, her breath coming in quiet, shallow gasps. The memory dispersed, leaving Fernshade back in the medicine den. "I'm fine Frostblossom." Fernshade was surprised at how strong her voice sounded. "Thank you for explaining the prophecy to me."
"You're welcome," Frostblossom said. "But, are you sure you're ok? You blanked out on me, then your breathing became a bit shallow."
"No, no I'm fine," Fernshade said quietly. "Thanks again for helping with the prophecy."
"You're welcome!" Frostblossom called as Fernshade left the den. Fernshade waved her tail in response.
