Whoops. Totally forgot about this.
Uhhhh... Let me start again.
Hey guys, I'm back again with another chapter! Yay! But seriously, I NEED to thank all of my readers for giving me so many ideas, inspirations and help. I mean, 32 reviews in 6 chapters! Technically, I have only have 5, because I didn't write anything about the story on my note, but still. There were a lot of reviews, a very good thing, but I think, if this story goes on, I'll have to stop answering these reviews. There's just too many! Anyways, sorry for the long wait, but here's Chapter 7!
Spottedleaf was inbetween consciousness and unconsciousness, drifting about. Something pulled at her, and her eyes flew open in alarm. All around her were swirls of glowing waves, spiraling her down. Nothing dangerous. Spottedleaf suddenly lurched forward, as sudden pain appeared. The pain kept tearing at her, growing stronger with each strike. Spottedleaf was hurled around, trying to escape, her thoughts only in pain. You can be recarnated- The sentence popped into her mind. It was Rippledance's words, her voice full of wisdom. Spottedleaf gaped in surprise. Was Rippledance creating a recarnation portal!? And she had fallen into it? But those questions only lasted for a second, as overwhelming pain suddenly overflowed any shock. Pain envoloped Spottedleaf, and she was ready to give up. At the last heartbeat, a fuzzy black object tugged her. That doesn't belong here... Spottedleaf murmured, dazed. The black object kept tugging, and finally, gave a great pull. And finally, Spottedleaf gave up.
Spottedleaf awoke on fresh shoots of grass, and the sun was just staring to rise. How long had she slept!? She struggled to sit up, and pain lashed through her. Glancing down, she noticed bright red wounds fading, though much slower than usual. Rippledance's tail was interwoven with hers, though the she-cat was dozing off the morning.
"Rippledance!" Spottedleaf called.
"What? Ugh... is it morning already?" Her voice was thick, as if she didn't get enough rest. The black she-cat sat up tiredly, and looked toward Spottedleaf. "You're awake!"
"Yeah." Spottedleaf agreed. As consciousness and realization dawned last night's events on her, a million questions rose. But the first question that popped out of her mouth felt... awkward.
" Did I really go into the recarnating portal?" Spottedleaf asked softly. Rippledance grimaced for a second before changing the subject.
" Why were you out there? You should've been in camp." Her tone was just like the voice she used to adress Tigerstar, deathly light.
Spottedleaf tried to remember. Yes, she jumped in the water to call to Rippledance before she was sucked in that monster portal. She had been walking through the forest. For what?
" I think I wanted to go to the lake to summon a image of Firestar before night." She finally replied. Rippledance nodded.
"I suppose that makes sense. But why were you jumping into the lake?" Another deathly light voice.
Spottedleaf wanted to scream. You didn't even answer my question! And I asked first! But it didn't work like that. Rippledance was their leader, and she got to decide.
"The monster portal - I mean the angled twoleg-looking thing was swallowing you up. I wanted to warn you, but..." Spottedleaf trailed off.
Rippledance gave a great sigh, one of wisome and tiredness. And when she spoke again, her voice was sad.
"Spottedleaf... you knew what the portal was, didn't you?"
"Only after I went in."
Rippledance looked around uneasily.
"Can you run back and tell the other cats to go hunting? Say it was Rippledance's orders."
Spottedleaf nodded, turning away.
"But come back."
The tortiseshell sped back to camp panting out the news, before returning to the lake again. The medicine cat found Rippledance sitting on a rock, staring at the sun, her coat gleaming and her eyes glowing sapphires, looking almost unreal.
"I'm back."
The raven coloured she-cat turned to her with no surprise, before silently leaping from the rocks down toward Spottedleaf.
"That was quick." Rippledance began. "You were eager." Spottedleaf blushed slightly. Perhaps her excitement for the sudden information was too obvious.
"Whatever. Any cat would've done the same thing." She took a deep breath, as if not knowing how to begin. "I didn't make - excuse me, wrong word - didn't summon? Didn't summon the portal for you."
"I know." Spottedleaf cut in.
"Questions and comments after." Rippledance said pointedly. Spottedleaf blushed again. "Sorry. But please continue."
"It was for Tigerstar." Spottedleaf's eyes widened with shock. Tigerstar!? But he killed a cat! He doesn't deserve to be recarnated! That's a reward, not a punishment!
"Not in the way you'd think." Rippledance added quickly. "Remember the painfull jerks you encountered in the portal?"
Spottedleaf nodded. Her body was still sore from that. In fact, some of the major wounds were still barely visible, but will soon fade.
"That happens because..." Rippledance's voice had become dangerously low now, and was shaking considerably. She swallowed, as if not wanting to continue.
"Rippledance?" Spottedleaf whispered.
"Because the cats in the real world haven't forgotten you, even if it's a legend in a story." The tortiseshell gaped. That was all!? What was the big deal?
"They portal won't let you leave until you are completely forgotten for some reason." Rippledance sucked in a sharp breath. "The portal will kill you unless you get out." At this point, the black she-cat's eyes clouded over, seemingly remembering some terrifying experience with the portal.
Spottedleaf's eyes shot open. "You want to kill him!?"
"What else could I have done?" Rippledance yowled defensively. "He was going to kill more cats, I know for sure."
Spottedleaf couldn't respond. It was true, what Rippledance said, but it felt... wrong. Tigerstar was still a cat. He would never make it bac to the world ever again, never feel anything again. But Holloweyes' still body flashed in her mind again, and she knew Rippledance was right. One cat forever dead was better than two cats dead forever.
"Alright." Spottedleaf said solemly.
"Thank you for understanding. Please get him for me and go hunting yourself." Rippledance nodded. Her voice was grave, as if she didn't want to do it either.
The tortoiseshell bounded back to camp, and saw that most cats had left, but luckily Tigerstar was still there. Or was it a good thing? The dark tabby menacingly growled . Stormtail was right beside him, as if watching to make sure no casualties happened again. Hopefully, Spottedleaf thought.
"Tigerstar. Rippledance wants to see you."
The tabby looked up in mock surprise. "Oh! What could this be about? Of course I would go! Where?"
Spottedleaf gulped. "By the lake."
Stormtail hissed in anger before burying his head in his paws. And Tigerstar left, his face still sarcastically twisted in delight.
"I hate that tom..." The grey warrior moaned. Spottedleaf nodded in sympathy, and stood around the curled tom for a while, waiting.
The sun peaked in it's highest point, and Rippledance stormed into camp. She met the black she-cat's eyes, and Rippledance nodded. He was really gone.
In the evening, when all the cats returned, Rippledance explained that Tigerstar had been recarnated and selected a few cats, including Stormtail to be recarnated as well, with Spottedleaf noticing that all the cats were ones that seemed to have been forgotten.. She wished them luck, and started to sleep. But sleep was still far, as her mind kept turning to the now recarnated cats. What was it like? Would anything happen to them? What if they died like Tigerstar too? Spottedleaf tried to shake off the feeling of excitement that was growing in her. What if they survived? They actually got recarnated? Be quiet, Spottedleaf scolded herself. You'll have the you wait for Firestar.
But just like the time Rippledance had introduced them to the option of recarnating, Spottedleaf's heart whispered again.
Don't stay for him.
A lot of exams, tests and stuff. Sorry, I totally forgot about this on vacation. And sorry for the false alarm(Spottedleaf jumping into the portal) I REALLY planned it all along. I hope this chapter makes up for it. ;)
