AN: Is it just me or are these chapters getting shorter? Anywho, this chapter has a secret point of view, but I'm sure most of you readers already know who it is. This chapter was a challenging one, and I had to keep going back to decide what to write and what to delete. Anyways, thanks WildCroconaw, arrowhead154, and XxBlazestormxX for reviewing!
Chapter 8
Her first instincts were to run away when she'd told them her secret. She knew it was forbidden for the Marked to bear kits. But something inside her told her that it was right. The tom in question had been startled, to say the least. What was done was done, and now she needed to find a safe place to have these kits. She knew already that the kits were Marked, from what her powers told her. The tiny lives that fed off of her were slowly forming with each passing day.
Once she found a secluded spot between two gnarled trees, she relaxed. Soon her secret would be revealed. It was only a matter of time before the younger one began to spit out what had been said at the border.
My kits are the future of WindClan and ShadowClan, she told herself. It was the only thing that kept her going. Reminding herself that the kits were soon coming, she pressed a paw against her swollen belly. Cats would soon question why she was so large. The queens and more experienced cats would already know. She was in trouble, whether she liked to admit it or not.
OoOoOoO
Lightpaw began pacing around the clearing, her thoughts drifting towards where Blossomfur had vanished. The days had begun to drag on as greenleaf arrived. Warmer air brought in the prey, but it also signaled that Twolegs were coming in from the farms. The sheep they used had been seen near the edge of the border, and Lightpaw could already hear dogs barking in the distance.
If this keeps up we'll have to relocate, she thought as her mind drifted back to the camp.
It was almost time for her assessment, and Blossomfur had agreed that she was more than capable of becoming a warrior. Mudpaw had been furious when he heard the news.
The anger in his amber eyes told Lightpaw that he would not forgive her for surpassing his training. He was stronger and a bit more agile than her. But it was her quick thinking that had allowed her to reach her goals. She told herself that he could continue acting like an immature kit. She tried to help him in his training, but he refused to accept it. His philosophy was that she-cats weren't better than toms, and that had irritated her when she asked him.
"You're pacing is going to form a trench," a voice came from behind. She stopped short and turned to see Olivefur watching her. "Of course, pacing often helps me think as well," she added as she rasped her tongue over a paw.
"I'm tired of the way Mudpaw treats me," Lightpaw admitted when she approached the WindClan deputy. "He acts like he's the stronger warrior, and maybe he is, but it doesn't hurt to accept help from a she-cat."
"Toms have always been that way, even before the Clans were formed," Olivefur murmured through a half-yawn. "They're nothing but a lazy bunch of furballs who act high and mighty because of their strength. We're the ones who have beauty and charm, something that drives them to jealousy."
I never thought of it like that, Lightpaw thought.
Olivefur continued grooming herself until a hunting patrol returned. Lightpaw watched as Moonwhisker and Shiverstep dropped a pair of rabbits on the fresh-kill pile. The pile had diminished since the Twoleg's arrival. Lightpaw knew that their dogs were scaring off the rabbits.
"Take that rabbit to Softstep," Olivefur ordered when Moonwhisker was about to leave.
The senior warrior looked like he was about to argue, than thought better of it. Without another word he picked up the freshly killed rabbit and trotted towards the nursery. Lightpaw watched them in fascination, wondering how Olivefur managed to keep them in check.
"You see? The old hard stare always does the trick," Olivefur purred.
Lightpaw purred along with the deputy. She realized that there was more to Olivefur than she'd originally thought. The mottled she-cat had a lot going for her, but she chose the life of a warrior. She could have had kits, but instead ignored the toms and went on with life. Her career as a warrior had led her to becoming a deputy.
Her thoughts were stopped short when she saw a shape slinking through the gorse bushes that surrounded the camp. Pelt standing on end, she moved forward in the silent fashion she used her powers for. The shape stopped short, seeming to know that she was there, waiting for it to reveal itself. A scent wafted towards her lungs when she opened her jaws. She recoiled for a heartbeat, suddenly aware that the intruder was a WindClan cat.
Why are you slinking around? she wondered. She stared at the shape until she realized who it was. Blossomfur! Why is she out on her own? Did Thrushstar tell her to go on a mission?
The lightly-colored apprentice took a step forward. Blossomfur's nostrils flared, and her lips twisted in a snarl. Lightpaw staggered back, taken by surprise when she saw the wild look in Blossomfur's eyes.
"Leave!" she commanded when she spotted Lightpaw crouching before her.
Something suddenly overwhelmed Lightpaw. It was an urge that made her paws move without warning. Lightpaw fought back a squeal of surprise. She knew that giving away her mentor's position would only get her in further trouble. Once she was away from Blossomfur's sight, she found she could use her paws once more.
What in StarClan's name was that? she wondered as she found herself near the apprentice's den.
Her muscles heaved with effort as she padded towards the fresh-kill pile. Mudpaw was already there, whispering something to Greenstripe, his mentor. When she approached them, Mudpaw looked away with a sharp huff. Greenstripe glanced at Lightpaw sympathetically before joining his Clanmates by the hill.
"About to brag about your future assessment?" Mudpaw demanded as he picked off the remains of a thrush. "Don't bother, I've already heard you talking to Olivefur about it."
"We were just talking about…certain things," Lightpaw replied. She chose a smaller rabbit for herself. After witnessing Blossomfur's frightening powers, she wasn't really hungry. "And besides, it's none of your business as to what I do."
"It's always my business," Mudpaw hissed. "I miss the days when we used to know what the other was thinking," he added in a softer tone. "Now you spend most of your time away from camp. It's like we've drifted apart as siblings."
Lightpaw stared at her brother in disbelief. "Mudpaw I—" She stopped herself when she spotted Thrushstar waving his tail for her to meet him with Olivefur.
Without meeting his gaze she padded away, ignoring the half-eaten rabbit that remained by Mudpaw's side. Thrushstar was sitting beside Olivefur, whose amber eyes gleamed with concern. Lightpaw was surprised to see Bouncestep sitting nearby as well.
The medicine cat often distanced herself from her Clanmates because of the amount of energy she had. She used most of her energy towards searching for herbs or hunting down smaller prey. Now she looked like any other warrior as she waited for Thrushstar to speak.
"I was hoping you knew where Blossomfur has gone for the past few days," Thrushstar meowed once they were all settled down.
"She's gone out of camp almost every day since the Gathering," Olivefur put in.
"We've been doing a lot of battle training and hunting," Lightpaw tried to say. She knew that lying was not the best option, but something told her that Blossomfur was up to no good. Her actions would put both herself in danger and Lightpaw. "Maybe she's just patrolling the borders more often because of the Twolegs."
Olivefur and Thrushstar exchanged looks of disbelief. "That's highly doubtful, seeing as she's taken less fresh-kill than usual," Bouncestep murmured. "I've noticed a change in her since the Gathering…she's behaving like Softstep did when she gave birth to her kits."
Blossomfur can't be pregnant! Lightpaw thought desperately. That would go against everything the Marked did. Giving birth was a high treason if one was Marked. There could only be two at a time, for reasons Lightpaw was unaware of. Blossomfur was a loyal cat and had always stood by her Clan's side. She had no reason to change the path she'd taken now. Unless something came up during the Gathering. A shiver coursed down Lightpaw's spine as she looked down at her paws.
"If Blossomfur is expecting kits, than they must be eliminated," Thrushstar sighed. "I don't enjoy killing kits, especially when they are not the ones who broke rules."
Lightpaw felt her heart drop at the thought of kits dying. She knew it had to be done, but she also knew that it was wrong. Kits were kits, and it wasn't their fault their mother had made the wrong choice. "I'll take care of them," she murmured.
Thrushstar stared at her in surprise. "Are you sure? It's a difficult task, especially for one so young," he told her.
"I know, that's why I'm the one who will do it," Lightpaw replied with a shrug.
"If you do this, you will not have to face an assessment," Olivefur mewed. Thrushstar gave her a stern look, but she shrugged it away. "This mission will make you a warrior."
Killing kits makes me a warrior? Lightpaw tilted her head to one side, unsure how to answer the deputy.
"Of course," Thrushstar whispered. "When you know her kits are due to arrive, you know what to do," he added to Bouncestep.
The tabby opened her mouth to argue, but shut it when Olivefur sent her a chilling glare. "Are you sure killing them is the only option?" she dared to ask. "Maybe the kits won't be Marked, as you fear."
"We can't take those chances," Olivefur snapped. "Besides, what good will it do to allow such mutiny between our Clans? Blossomfur needs to learn a lesson, even it is done the hard way."
Lightpaw continued staring at her paws. Part of her wished she could go back and knock some sense into Blossomfur. Another part of her told her that this was wrong. Olivefur's objectives would only lead to anger and pain. She knew that something had to be done to save Blossomfur's kits, even if it meant going behind her leader's back.
I'll do whatever it takes, she told herself.
AN: Ah the drama never ends. And something drastic is about to happen later on. Hope I get more reviews, they're always encouraging when I see how many people love what's going on so far. Please give me some feedback :)
