Sorry I haven't updated yet but I was busy… I also wrote another story(about Darkear), so that took up a bit of my time. =) Anyways, here it is!
~Marble OUT
Chapter 4:
"Swanpaw!" Fallenkit squeaked. "Help!" The little tom-kit struggled under his captor. "Let him go, Darkear!" Swanpaw growled, unsheathing her claws. The MistClan deputy looked at her. "Oh, but why would I do that? This is so much… fun…" he drawled, gazing down at the kit.
Wait. Where's Featherkit? Swanpaw thought as she glared at the dark grey tom. "Just let him go!" she mewed, her voice rising embarrassingly. I can't beg! "My Clan is looking for him, and once they find us, they will kill you!" she warned, hoping he would believe her. But the look on his face was amused, disbelieving.
"Oh really? I doubt they would do that; it would be risking the life of poor Fallenkit here. You wouldn't want that, now would you, Swankit?" he responded teasingly. Swanpaw stared at him. "You see, little one," he went on. "I have a plan. Unless my brother has an accident and loses his last few lives, I won't become leader for a long long time. But, by the time he loses his ninth life, I will be too old to be a leader anyways. That just won't work. I'm not telling you my plan, just that I have one... You can guess, if you want, but you'll never get it right."
Swanpaw gaped. Darkear and Badgerstar were brothers? As she was wondering what his plan was, she didn't notice a shape slinking along past her and standing beside Darkear. I remember him! He was there when… Rabbitear!
"Recognize me?" he sneered. Swanpaw straightened her shoulders to make herself look bigger. "Of course," she answered snappily. Suddenly, her mind was filled with different voices and whispers. It seemed impossible to figure out what a single voice was saying, but she managed to separated one from the others.
Stupid Swanpaw. Darkear, too, if he doesn't kill the little one. It sounded like Rabbitear… Swanpaw glanced around wildly. No cat had heard anything. "Swanpaw!" a cat shouted behind her. She half-turned, so that she could see both who the cat was and still keep an eye on Darkear and Rabbitear.
Marblepaw? The apprentice, still jumpy and terrified at the mention of a fox, trotted nervously up to stand beside Swanpaw. I thought she hated me… The voices stirred again.
How can I find a way to tell Swanpaw that backup is coming without them hearing? some cat was thinking frantically. Swanpaw twitched an ear. "I know there's warriors coming," she whispered, her words barely anything more than a breath. Marblepaw stared at her before turning her head and watching the two MistClan cats.
"Don't even think about harming that kit," the older she-cat growled, her voice wavering slightly. Darkear looked surprised. "Aw, don't worry. As long as MistClan gets a few favors from your precious SmokeClan... " Darkear promised darkly, exchanging an amused look with Rabbitear.
A rustling sounded just beside them. Familiar scents bathed her; the warriors had come!
The bushes parted to reveal Blackwing, Nightgaze and… Brackenpaw. One of the two cats that Swanpaw hated the most. He had a scornful expression on his face, but the brown tabby looked determined to get Fallenkit back.
"Where is Featherkit?" Swanpaw whispered to Nightgaze. "We found her near camp. She's with Mapleleaf now," he assured her, gazing at the two MistClan toms holding Fallenkit.
His eyes narrowed. "If you're not blind, you can see that we have you outnumbered," he hissed. "I would suggest that you hand over the kit." His angry yet calm voice sent shivers up Swanpaw's spine. She had never seen Nightgaze so angry.
"Fine," Darkear sighed dramatically. Swanpaw was shocked. "He's just going to give up that easily?" she murmured to no cat in particular. Blackwing glanced at her. "Impossible," the black tom muttered.
But the dark grey tom-cat simply released his grip on Fallenkit, staring at them with a blank face. The little tom-kit stood for a minute, looking up at Darkear uneasily. "Go," he urged him quietly, nudging him forward. Fallenkit quickly tottered over to the SmokeClan cats, Swanpaw wrapping her tail around him protectively. "Take him back to camp," Blackwing ordered her.
Swanpaw dipped her head and backed away, ushering Fallenkit along. When they reached the camp, the fighting was still going. Swanpaw grabbed Fallenkit in her jaws and padded behind the camp, slipping in the dirtplace and through the back entrance of the nursery.
"Fallenkit! Oh, Swanpaw! Thank you so, so so much!" Mapleleaf gasped, rushing to her feet and taking Fallenkit back to their nest. "You know you can't sneak out like that! You could have been badly hurt!" she began scolding him as Swanpaw turned and guarded the entrance outside.
A dusty brown tom kicked Moonwhisker away from him a few tail-lengths away and lumbered towards the nursery quickly. Swanpaw ducked in the leafy walls and waited until he was nosing his way through the doorway, then leaped out at him as he tried to push through. Although she had no battle training, instinct took over and she began clawing at his exposed belly.
The tom yowled and kicked her off, biting her ear as hard as he could and shoving her away. He tried forcing his way through the entrance again, but Swanpaw wasn't finished. Pebbletail pelted out and ran straight into him, stunning him and leaving him gasping for breath.
The silver queen hissed at him, disappearing back into the nursery. Swanpaw stood and hid in the leaves again. No cat will be getting in here anytime soon!
Hai there! Well, there's chapter… what is it? 5? 6? Whatever it is… There it is! I hoped you enjoyed and if you did, please tell me in a review!
~Marble OUT!