I'm all out of words for this story and CrystalFall is done helping me with this story. I know this chapter doesn't end the story. I will try to write one more chapter before finishing this story.
XXX
" A cave?" Lion said with a look that said he didn't approve of it.
"Yes. Of course." Lichen paw answered.
" I told Bloodpaw that cave was only for battle, not trying to go exploring with another."
Lichen paw flicked her tail. Why did it matter Lichen paw thought. Caves were not scary to her. But darkness was.
It took a long time for darkness to role in at her warrior's camp. She could hear a gentle stream on the other side. She was happy to hear that sound. It meant water.
Being with these tomcats was making him thirsty. Lion stopped at the stream.
"I used to go here when I was a little kitten. With my father. He told me, that once he used to play in these tunnels, with a she cat. I forgot her name." Lion said.
" Do you think you can ever remember that name?" Lichen asked Lion.
"Heather something." Lion murmured.
Lichenpaw was interested in meeting this " Heather something" but she didn't know if she was alive or not. Maybe maybe not her mind was singing. She needed another she-cat to talk to. Desperately, or else she would die!
She's never been so desperate except when she wanted to get away from these tom cats.
A girl!
Yes, that's what she needed.
XXX
Shadowpaw knew something that bugged him. It was truly bugging him. Murder was not what was on his mind. Shadowpaw was looking at revenge as something he could do with only three claws. He reminded himself of Redpaw. Moonpaw took the fourth.
Shadowpaw knew a few new things. About his brother, Redpaw and the affair with Moonpaw. This affair didn't sit well for him. He hated the fact that his brother had an affair. Redpaw he told himself.
"Moonpaw is so nice, why doesn't Shadowpaw like her?"
The answer to that was he didn't trust her. He hated her. She was from another clan. Shadowpaw may be a young member but he was allowed to hate people from different clans apparently.
Half clan! The thought made him spit on the ground. His eyes felt sore and full of tears. His hatred intensifying. If he hated his brother anymore he would turn into the next murderer that needed to be found.
He would do whatever it was in his power to stop Redpaw and Moonpaw. Wait, where was Lichenpaw? Shadowpaw hasn't heard from his sister longer than he expected her to stay quiet. Where could she be?
Shadowpaw knew if she didn't come home yet he would have to look for her himself. It was night for 3 days and she still didn't come. She was not being a good sister. She was being very snotty. And that was bad. Shadowpaw was trying not to be bad and so far his siblings made him look bad. He was seething with rage.
He wanted to find his siblings so badly his claws were scratching the ground on their own and making gouge marks on the ground. Shadowpaw didn't care about the gouge marks. He wanted revenge. He was even willing to run away from his clan to do so. He had to fight for what is right. That was his way. He would head out by dawn break.
He would head out and find all his siblings and bring them back. He remembered something one of his Warrior's told him. That there was a place called the boneyard. He was going to go there to find her. She couldn't hide from him. He would find her. He was close to shouting how her tail would be his. Shadowpaw was being possessed.
Him being possessed was the reason why he was so fixated on finding his sister. His amber eyes turned green. He didn't know what was going on with his mind or body but the effects started to relax him. But he needed revenge.
XXX
Moonpaw left Redpaw but it wasn't because she still loved him. She still considered Redpaw to be her future mate but she had to leave and go back to the place she came from.
Her home clan she had to be loyal to, not only Redpaw. They may not be worried but the probably wondered where she was. But where could she be? Moonpaw would do anything to be alone from her clan.
All the things that were happening was too much for her. It was ridiculous how the clan thought she could be the next leader. She wanted to be a Warrior who helped the injured, hunted for food, but didn't have to waste her time telling the other Warriors what to do. She also wanted to have children who she could send an important message to.
Her message was put on hold all because Redpaw made meeting him her business. But no worries, she would finish off anyway. She would do it easily. Very easily. The only thing that worried her was the animals the wild kept alive with shelter and food such as her if she wasn't careful and the other unfortunate Warriors. If she wasn't careful, she could die.
She would be safe just sitting down in the forest but she was in a hurry. She had to do it quick and neat. And she could do it that way to finish off the job. She made it to her clan and shook off the water.
There was a member of her clan waiting for her. She could see the clan members grey fur. Greystreak came closer to her. At a closer glance Greystreak looked like he went through a fight, but she knew better. He was walking to her because he was going to welcome her back, she thinks. But that's not the case.
" Did you enjoy your stroll through the woods?" He asked Moonpaw.
She shivered delicately, "no, it was freezing cold" she purred.
Gray streak rushed to her side, his eyes going larger. "Allow, me, my shining moon."
And there they went, the silver tabby and the gray one, pelt in pelt.
Moonpaw only shivered slightly this time. Greystreak was keeping her warm. Moonpaw didn't know how cold she was until Greystreak warmed her up. Her pelt tingled.
" It's nice to see you, Greystreak."
Moonpaw turned around. Seeing the different Warrior in her clan, Moonpaw slipped out of Greystreak's pelt. The tom had dark dark fur and amber eyes. He had his mouth open exposing his fangs and he lunged.
If Greystreak and Moonpaw didn't jump the dark fur tom would have weaved his claws through their necks. But they did and just in time. The tom turned around, his amber eyes glowing with rage. And he leaped.
" Get behind me, Moonpaw!"
Greystreak shoved himself in front of Moonpaw. The dark furred cat clawed through through his right paw. He connected with Greystreak's head. Moonpaw didn't want Greystreak to get hurt but now she smashed into the toms side. That really hurt. At least, she thought.
The dark furred tom whipped around. Moonpaw could see the enemies face. It was crisscrosses in scars. Moonpaw didn't want to know what caused those scars. But she did know one thing, she had to get away from that tom. She knew a place and she made a run for it. She told herself Greystreak's life was in her hands when she was leaving him.
She grabbed his scruff his grey fur coated with blood from the stranger. She didn't like doing it...it was the only way. The stranger would kill them both. But she had no choice, she dragged Greystreak.
The stranger leaped for Moonpaw. Dragging her ally made her vulnerable. She clawed at his pelt. It hurt but she had to move. Although the stranger wasn't slow at attacking his claws were nowhere close to killing her. It was like he was playing with her.
"The wh-whole clan will be awake soon. You better run while you can," she threatened him.
"What did you say she kitty?"
Moonpaw wasn't going to say it again. She ran. The stranger ran too. And she ran into her clans territory, she felt claws scratch her ear. The stranger wasn't revealing himself, he was scratching from where Moonpaw couldn't see him.
He had black fur, for all she knew black furs blending into the shadows. He looked like a shadow. Dark furred cats were common as Warriors and kittypets but this one had a very special kind of fur that helped it blend into the darkness. He also had white spots. Did they come at birth? No, she didn't think so. Then the monster started to yowl.
" You better stop!"
She turned around. The stranger was the one who scared her with how loud he could yell. She shuddered. He was angry at her for a reason no one knew.
He bit her tail. She kicked him as hard as she could. " The Warriors should hear us soon," she thought again and again.
But they never came. They weren't going to protect one of their own against a shadow cat chasing her? That's just bad luck. Bad luck as in a too dangerous foe. He swiped at her ear causing her to tumble backward. When she tumbled backwards she felt a paw on her stomach.
She saw gleaming amber eyes and saw herself face to face with her foe. She knew they were almost here, but just before they arrived, the stranger dug his claws into Greystreak and started tugging him back. She knew if they played tug-of-war with him, the strangers claws would hurt him, but he had no other choice.
She left him there, and ran. She kept on yowling a strange cat has got Greystreak! Out of all the Warriors who could show up her least favorite came out of their camps. Redfeather couldn't be the only one. She looked and looked. Eventually she had no choice but to accept there was nobody else with Redfeather.
Which was bad. Redfeather wasn't enough to save Greystreak. But he did and Moonpaw was surprised.
" Follow me!"
He called out, and Moonpaw did. Moonpaw didn't need to think twice. She ran after him.
" Greystreak!"
She had to go back and get that lump of fur. She would teach him a lesson. When he woke up. She would scratch him more than she's ever scratched anyone. When he woke up.
XXX
There were feelings Lichenpaw had. Anger, confusion, and betrayal. All three were strong. But anger was strongest. She was angry and ready to scratch anyone's eyes. She was in bloodlust. Hidden bloodlust but still a need to make another bleed from their pores.
She was that vicious. She looked, she ran, she jumped and dragged him with her. Greystreak was in lots of pain. Pain that would ruin the spirit of any Warrior not matter how strong.
"Help me." Greystreak whimpered.
No one told Greystreak he would be saved. He never knew. He imagined losing his friends in a shade of darkness. The same one that engulfed him now. It was terrifying the sadness and betrayal and anger that weighed him down. In the end he was just terrified of all that was happening to him. He felt weighed down by guilt.
He missed good opportunities just to end up with this thief. The more he thought of the good times the more good times he remembered. He was happy. He was also sorry for someone who deserved to be called a kidnapper. They were sick cats who weren't clever only working in a way that helped themselves.
"Why?!" He shrieked.
His question was beautiful forest sounds to the cats ears. They pointed and laughed at him. Greystreak didn't understand the laughing but if it was an attempt to scare him it wasn't working. He tried to sit up taller. It didn't feel like he could do it at first.
Then he started yowling,"Help, Help me! Get me out of here!"
" We found you Greystreak!" A cat yelled back to him. The running for the kidnapping pet stopped.
Greystreak turned around. Greystreak was luck for it was the clan and by that he meant a lot of everyone he knew and loved. His own father caught up to him. His father was the strongest. Bravest of them all. No other son could look at their father and see a real hero. No son like Greystreak, he beamed with pride.
" I hate to see how much training you have when I scratch you to death but that's my son."
The dark furred kidnapper snarled. "Well, fox breath, I'm ready to take you on any day! My clan is so much better than yours!"
" I don't care about your clan, I want my son back!"
Greystreak beamed. That was the best thing his father said to him. His father lunged. Greystreak managed to escape when his father hit the thief. Then he saw the thief's face. He never knew that a female could kidnap her son. His own mother! What was all this about?
His mother snarled. "Get off blackcrow!"
Blackcrow got off mother. He wanted to listen to what she had to say.
"I can't let you live!"
There was a hiss between them.
"What are you talking about, Moonwatcher?" Blackcrow asked.
"While you re busy with duties, I got another mate, one that actually cares about me. Together we will rule the forest. The only thing I have to do is get rid of you flea pelts!"
When it came down to it they were no longer mates and one of them would be dead. They started circling each other. Rivals circle each other.
"Why? I thought you loved us Moonwatcher!"
The reason was told by Moonwatcher.
"I love my other family more."
Moonwatcher said all she could before her fight. Her other family...The way she explained it she must have more blood related children than her son Greystreak. But he couldn't stop thinking why. It was hard to think of why.
"Why? Why mother?!" Greystreak asked.
Greystreak wouldn't ask why if he wasn't so confused and sad at the same time.
"Because." His mother spat.
Greystreak knew what that meant.
"I have another family."
" Another family doesn't mean you give up on one family!"
"You don't understand! I had no choice!"
She was right, Greystreak didn't understand. He was confused. How could she have no choice when it sounds like she had a big choice. Greystreak snarled.
" Don't you snarl at me!"
"After what you did? It's the least I could do!"
That was very well said. But Moonwatcher knew she had to get the job done.
XXX
Moonwatcher dashed into the border of Death Hollow. The clan didn't actually know it was a place. A huge midnight-black tom jumped from beneath the high ledge.
"My mate, welcome home."
"Skull, I have info."
Skull was pleased to hear news unless it was dreadful to hear.
"Well?" He asked.
" I found someone who knows something useful."
"Who is it?" Skull grinned from ear to ear.
"The leader of my clan..."
"Who is it?"
" Fallenpaw. I trust you know who he is."
"Fallenpaw, the leaders daughter."
The full disclosure was Fallenpaw needed to be taken care of. Since she had valuable information. There was no time to waste and lots of planning to do.
"Get our defense up! We are going to get Fallenpaw!"
" And may our stealth make us hidden when we get to her legs and swipe through her back legs."
"Wait! Fallenpaw will come to us by herself! She has agreed to help us, so we can overthrow her mother."
" Are you sure she will come to us. Her plans could change to make us have to think anew."
"No, she will. I know that for certain."
Lionpaw like it when his fellow clan mates were certain about things. It meant no unexpected stuff. Lion paw felt a sense of pride in the Warriors he followed. He honored them, and would give up his own life to be one of them. He also liked one clan mate who shared dinner with him.
Fallenpaw, the beautiful she cat,
XXX
Meanwhile, where Fallenpaw was roaming the earth two cats appeared behind her. They didn't look like fans of hers.
She asked "Hello?"
" Hello," one of the cats told her.
"Fallenpaw."
Fallenpaw had no way of preparing an answer. The two toms grabbed her by the scruff. She had no time to fight back. They hauled her through thorns, and brambles. Up trees and valleys. It was like they had something personal to do with her.
"Get up, stop whining."
Her bones were also telling her to do that. But she didn't. She didn't listen to her bones or the cats thinking they could do whatever they want with her. She snarled She not only snarled but made sure they knew she was angry. She bucked her hips.
" The only thing you should be moving is your paws," one of the toms told her.
One tom was looking at her in a way she didn't like. She got a bad feeling about being left alone with that tom. He spoken to her in a way that reminded her of what happens to cats after they die. He grinned evilly and saw him looking at her in a wrong way. She gulped. What looked evil also tried becoming evil.
But his eyes... His eyes held sincerity and love. She didn't know why his eyes looked like that. She was entranced by his eyes. He was hypnotized by her fur. No tomcat had the same way about him then this one.
"Who are you?" She asked.
" My name is Stonepaw.
"StonePaw?! But that's a clan name!"
" Yes. If I am named after a clan what does that tell you?"
"Nothing, I guess."
Why was he named after a clan she wondered. But she didn't dare ask. After talking to him she couldn't help but feel the temperature in her body rise. She felt herself blush as she looked in his eyes. He was looking psychologically attractive. And physically as well.
It was strange. She was attracted to him.
" It's time for us to get moving," said the cat StonePaw worked with.
"Of course Burnheart."
His name is Burnheart? His rank was on the second part of his name. A Warrior? How come she never heard of him? She was sure she didn't know the different ways Warriors looked but not knowing who he was is really a ridiculous thing to learn. She decided she was going to ask him what clan he was in.
" Your in a clan and I would like to know which one, Stonepaw and Burnheart."
Burnheart growled and took a menacing step forward.
" Who we are and who you are...our clan is important just like you believe yours is. You can learn our clan but it will cost you to be a member."
Fallenpaw gulped, "n-no its okay I don't need to."
Her own mistake was thinking her questions would be answered henceforth without any conundrums.
She sighed. She remembered all the ways she failed and was nothing but in someone else's paws. She felt bent and broken. Her older self would handle any Warrior from different clans.
"Where are we going?"
Stonepaw gave her big information. " We are going where the trees turn red, the stars move but never form shapes, and the wind always howls with blood of carnivorous animals."
She shuddered. It didn't sound like fun. The worst part was the trees turn red. The deeper she got, the more red the trees turned. Was this how they scared other Warriors? She was most definitely intimidated.
A deeper looking color appeared after she saw the light of their camp and the color was above in the leaves of the trees. She started shaking and coughing, and white froth formed on her lips. The two different clan Warriors tried to make her feel easy.
But she wouldn't stop shaking. She wasn't in the least bit comfortable. Surrounded by tall, muscular tom cats made her feel out-of place. What she did to build muscles they must have did more to build their muscles.
"Ah. Fallenpaw." she looked up and saw a big tom with rippling muscles stand on the cliff.
It was in this instance she knew what was better to look at and how she could feel unafraid.
"Come here, she-cat."
She backed away before her paws moved her towards the big Tom. She tried to growl. Her growling didn't have a chance against the Tom. She hit her across the muzzle. Blood gushes out, trickle after trickle.
A Warrior wouldn't let blood slow them down during a fight, but the one who bleeds first was looked down as the losing one. He snarled. The top of his mouth looked red from the blood. His red eyes were dripping with anger and pure rage. The way he looked was more than scary; he was a monster.
Though, he wasn't impervious to Fallenpaw's claws. He swung back at Fallenpaw, hard. Like the the way she swung at him the claws hurt. He howled in pain. Fallenpaw's heart was no longer fierce. She felt melted towards this tom. She didn't understand this feeling... she felt... in love.
Was this his power? She was drawn to him and she couldn't help it. She was entranced with his eyes, and his smoky pelt.
" I can smell someone thinking of another tomcat."
She smiled. She was the one he was talking about.
"Well, I mean, I love you." She blurted out.
Now that it was said it was time for her to show him how close she wanted to be near his body. She snuggled closer to his warmth, hoping he didn't notice. He didn't notice something about her until now. He didn't notice that she was smokin' hot.
This was a smokin' hot cat who he needed to try something with.
