Hey guys, back with another chappie :)
Moonbeam141- I will not say anything about the plot but I can see where you're going :) Hope you enjoy this chappie!
Lilacstream99- Thanks! Spottedstar is kinda like a poor thing, but soon you will see a part of her that would not make her a poor thing anymore :x
hollyleaf1122- Omigosh thank you :) I didn't think that I could write that well :) Thanks anyways! c':
Now to continue on with the story :)
Chapter 8
Spottedstar padded across the camp. Pinepaw elbowed Leopardpaw in the flank as she passed by them. Leopardpaw looked up, and stifled a gasp. Spottedstar looked awful. Her fur was dull and patchy, her eyes were watery and tail drooped.
"Fallingfrost," she called.
Leopardpaw winced at the harshness in her voice. Her usually sweet and kind voice was now rough and gravely. Spottedstar leaned in and whispered something to Fallingfrost. Her gaze shifted to Leopardpaw. Fallingfrost hesitated, then padded over to Leopardpaw.
"Leopardpaw, you and Brightnose will be going on a mission," he meowed reluctantly. "You are to go to the ThunderClan camp and gather information. Spottedstar's orders."
Leopardpaw looked at Spottedstar. The she-cat was lying on her side, head turned towards them, wildness like never before swirling in her eyes. What had happened? Pinepaw scrambled to her paws and thrust her face in front of Fallingfrost's.
"Are you crazy?" she cried. "Going there is a suicide mission! The Clan is sending out patrols left right and centre! Bouncefoot said so, and you still want to send cats there?"
"It's not me," Fallingfrost hissed. "Its-"He fell silent and cast his gaze downwards.
Pinepaw fell silent. Leopardpaw ushered her away.
"Pinepaw, it's okay," she meowed.
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Pinepaw meowed. "Cats die in that territory!"
Leopardpaw felt a pang in her heart. "I will be fine. I'll have Brightnose with me."
"You really don't understand," Pinepaw smiled in spite of herself.
Leopardpaw flashed a grin. However, a pit of dread had opened up in her, and she knew that this would be the single, most important thing that would decide her fate. Get captured and die, or come back and live.
Brightnose smiled weakly at Leopardpaw as they settled down for a meal, maybe their last in LionClan. She too, was nervous. Spottedstar was watching them from her den, and Leopardpaw swore that she could see something in her eyes that made her uncomfortable. The current Spottedstar was dark and untamed, even Fallingfrost afraid to speak against her. Something told Leopardpaw that she will not see the real Spottedstar for a long time to come.
Brightnose pushed her half-eaten mouse away.
"No appetite," she mumbled.
Leopardpaw looked back at her own prey. She, too, had taken small bites, hardly anything to calm her grumbling stomach. She lowered her head to take another bite, but once in her mouth, the meat was dry and tasteless. She chewed slowly, and swallowed. She took another bite; this one was like eating sand. Brightnose watched her eat. With every swallow, her appetite spoiled even more. By the time the starling had been demolished, Leopardpaw felt like throwing up.
"Brightnose, Leopardpaw," Fallingfrost's call was grim.
Brightnose padded over, followed by Leopardpaw. Both cats had a look of determination on their faces. As they left, they were stopped by Skyfur.
"Brightnose!" He meowed. "Good luck and stay safe. You too Leopardpaw. "
He swiftly licked her ear, nodded at Leopardpaw, then padded away. Leopardpaw looked at Brightnose. Her mentor was blushing fiercely. Leopardpaw grinned at her. Pinepaw ran over.
"Good luck and be careful!" she meowed breathlessly.
Bluekit gazed out from behind her hind leg.
"Please come back, Leopardpaw," he mewled.
"I will," Leopardpaw assured him. She looked up at Pinepaw. "See you soon."
Pinepaw's eyes shone. Brightnose tapped Leopardpaw's shoulder with her tail.
"Time to go," she meowed softly.
Leopardpaw turned back. Brightnose forced her grimace into a tired smile.
"When are you and Skyfur going to get official?" Leopardpaw asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"When are you and Falconpaw actually going to talk to each other and stop staring at each other?" Brightnose teased.
Leopardpaw turned red. "It depends. But you and Skyfur have something on," she continued. "Don't you?"
It was Brightnose's turn to blush now. "Mission first, love life later," she countered.
They continued trekking through the terrain, avoiding open spaces, and staying in the undergrowth. At one point, they climbed up trees to avoid a patrol. They leapt from tree to tree, slowly making their way towards the camp. There were ThunderClan patrols everywhere, all speaking in hushed voices. In the distance, they could just see the gorge. Brightnose slowly slid down a hidden path along the side of the gorge. Leopardpaw remembered this place, but not for good reason. She remembered her Unusual Moon Ceremony. She remembered Vinestar's cruelty. She remembered Springshine. Oh Springshine. That's when it hit her. Springshine would help,right?
Brightnose continued venturing down the slope. Her fur was pressed against the cold rock wall. Leopardpaw looked over the camp. It seemed perfect, picturesque. It did not seem like the kind of place where terror reigned. Brightnose had reached the bottom, and was crouched down behind a slab of rock, knee deep in mud. Her fur was already plastered in it, to disguise her scent. Leopardpaw jumped down, landing with a soft splat in the mud.
"This place is right next to the leaders den." Brightnose explained. She gestured to a small tunnel in the rock. "This tunnel leads to an opening in the leaders den. We eavesdrop from there."
Leopardpaw quickly took note of her surroundings. The stone slab was blocked by a thick wall of bushes. The tunnel was concealed behind a curtain of vines. She pushed her way through. She spotted the slit almost immeadiately. She spotted brown paws from the slit. Vinestar. Next to him were silver-black paws, razor sharp claws unsheathed. Moongorse, the stupid mange-pelt.
"Vinestar, the patrols have departed," Moongorse was meowing. "Stormfang and Yellowclaw are on a scouting mission."
"Good job. Stormfang and Yellowclaw are fine warriors."
Vinestar paused. "The scouts who went out last moonhigh, they have not found anything, have they not?"
"They have signs of interference." Moongorse replied. "They have scented strange cats. But no sign of a camp anywhere."
"What about across the Thunderpath at the Horseplace?"
Leopardpaw froze.
"RiverClan will have to look into that."
She calmed down. Brightnose, however, looked worried.
"We will tell them at the Gathering." Vinestar meowed.
"Indeed we will." Moongorse paused. "However, Vinestar, that Thunderpath is so wide, and very busy. Getting cats to cross will put their lives at serious risk."
"One less cat to worry about then."
From her point of view, looking up at the cats, Leopardpaw saw Moongorse wince. She remembered that Moongorse had a mate, Summerpool. Summerpool was actually Springshine's sister, but a twisted version of her. Ever since the first Rejection, she had severed all connections with her family, and started her own family, denying that she even was related to Foxfern and Springshine…and Stormcrest. She breathed in deeply. Dust tickled her throat. She ran out of the tunnel, but it was too late. She sneezed. Brightnose's eyes widened.
"Did you hear that?" Vinestar growled.
"Intruder."
Moongorse had seen the slit. He knew.
"Out!" Brightnose yowled, not bothering to keep quiet.
Leopardpaw ran. They bounded up the slope. Leopardpaw could hear the ThunderClan cats chasing after them. She glanced in their direction. Moongorse was in the lead.
"Leopardpaw!" He cried, surprised.
"Moongorse," Leopardpaw replied.
There was a flash of gold-and-white fur.
"Get away from my daughter."
Springshine!
Leopardpaw had reached the top of the slope now. She turned to see Springshine thrown to the side.
"No!"
Springshine was teetering over the side. Moongorse was advancing, slowly.
"Leopardpaw," Brightnose yowled. "We need to go!"
It was a split second decision. Leopardpaw bounded over to her mother, and grabbed her scruff.
"Springshine, let's go!"
Leopardpaw ran back to where Brightnose was standing, back arched, fur fluffed out. She gave Leopardpaw the what-were-you-doing-we-will-talk-later look, then fled. Leopardpaw felt like she was flying; never before had she thought she could run so fast. Springshine followed her blindly, and slowly but surely, Leopardpaw felt herself overtake Brightnose. She continued, ignoring her surroundings, only aware of her mother's heavy breath on her ear, and the pounding of her heart. She ran and ran. They pounded along the lake, then dove into RiverClan territory. She raced towards the Horseplace, then stopped. She bounded into a big red den, and hid behind one of the yellow bundles in it. She waited. Springshine pressed against her, and stuck her head round the edge.
"All clear," she meowed breathlessly.
Leopardpaw could not shake off the feeling they were missing someone. She looked around, but could not place it. Then it hit her.
"Where is Brightnose?"
CLIFFHANGER! Might hold you in suspense for a day or two then update...or maybe not. See how evil I feel.
-Cloudy :)