Ivypool stared the ginger and white cat in the eye with a look of defiance. She gave a tug, unable to free herself from the sticky, green... Stuff that held her in place. This was more than a dream, she was inside of the dark forest, leaving no connection to the waking world. The fading old cat calmly paced around her, she seemed to be finding pleasure in watching the former spy squirm.
"What's the matter, dear? Cat got your tongue?" Mapleshade asked with a silky smooth voice, void of any warmth or kindness.
"I'm not scared of you, soon someone will notice I'm gone and-" Ivypool began.
"Are you sure about that?" Mapleshade gently touched the pool before her with a paw.
The small pool rippled, calming to reveal an image of Ivypool amongst her other clanmates.
"But, b-but..." Ivypool stammered, stunned to watch herself in the water. She was here! Wasn't she? Was she really herself? Ivypool shook her head to clear her mind. She was only confusing herself.
"Like the pool? It was a gift." Mapleshade explained. Barely concealing her hatred for the former dark-forest apprentice.
The old cat sauntered over, drinking in the delicious fear-scent. She wove around Ivypool with a malicious look in her eyes.
"You know, you're a very special cat." Mapleshade cooed. "They were wrong to pick Dovewing over you, you are the gifted one."
Ivypool struggled in the grip of the green goo.
"That's why your death will be the most painful." Mapleshade told her, looking her in the eye.
"So, you're just going to take all the cats in the clans here and kill them?" Ivypool asked, shuddering as Mapleshade caressed her.
"No, I'm not going to kill a single pathetic traitor in that blasted forest." Mapleshade meowed, moving away from the silver and white she-cat. "You will."
"Never!" Ivypool immediately yowled.
"Don't be so sure." Mapleshade warned. "I have ways of convincing you."
Mapleshade left without another word, slowly dragging out Ivypool's last moments of company. She would soon learn that the most painful words can be those unspoken. For a moment Mapleshade stopped dead, eyes wide as if in a memory, then shook her head and continued, leaving Ivypool alone.
Ivypool was alone. All alone. So very alone, and nobody knew she was gone.
Ravenkit awoke, unable to shake off the memories of his strange dream. There were so many of the big colourful creatures, and they all turned into giant black bugs! The kit settled into his nest again, but was unable to get to sleep. He fidgeted restlessly, scattering moss. Unable to get rid of the pulling sensation. It was as if something was pulling him. Pulling him so hard, out of the nursery and into the forest.
Eventually Ravenkit succumbed to the pulling, blindly following it in attempt to make it stop. It continued to tug at his chest in the direction of the entrance to camp. Thinking quickly, the black kit snuck out the dirtplace tunnel, wrinkling his nose at the putrid smell. He continued to follow it into the forest. With a squeak he jumped as a twig snapped behind him. Is that a-a fox?
Rosekit stepped out into the open, Ravenkit felt like he was about to faint.
"What was that for? You nearly scared me to- I mean you broke my concentration!" Ravenkit scolded.
"I was following you, stupid!" Rosekit scowled, but quickly regained her cool. "What are you doing out here?"
"I was uh- I was f-following er..." Ravenkit stammered, unable to explain the tugging at his chest, which grew stronger with each moment he stood there talking.
"Following, what?" Rosekit asked.
"I, uh, just felt like I should be here." Ravenkit tried to explain, wincing at how bad a fib it was. "Maybe... Starclan wanted me to be here."
"...How dumb do you think I am?" Rosekit eventually asked, looking more confused then ever.
"A lot, no time to talk, got to go!" Ravenkit mewed very quickly before running off, unable to take the pulling anymore.
"WHAT?! Hey! Wait! Stop!" Rosekit cried out, running after her brother.
Soon Ravenkit came to a sudden stop. The pulling was coming from all directions now, tugging him apart. A shriek from behind informed Ravenkit that his sister could feel it too. The pulling, it was tearing him apart! Ravenkit let out a weak moan at the painful tearing. It felt like the pulling was strongest on his shoulder blades, as if something had grabbed the skin on his shoulders and was trying to pull it clean off. A white light enveloped the two kits as Ravenkit could take it no more.
Jayfeather was dreaming. He watched the pool that had a appeared before him with interest, a single Ivy leaf dropped onto the surface of the water. Suddenly the water turned a deep blood red, filled with the screaming of cats.
"Jayfeather..." A heavenly voice called out, distracting him.
Jayfeather turned to see Flutterpaw standing a distance away. Curious, he began to pad over to her, breaking into a run as her voice grew more panicked.
"Jayfeather!"
He bowled the small she-cat over. Panting, he looked into her eyes, seeing Half-moon. With a hiss of surprise he backed off of her, stunned to silence for a few seconds.
"Half-moon, I-No! It's not what you think! I don't..." Jayfeather stammered.
"No!" Jayfeather cried out as Half-moon began to fade.
"HALF-MOON!"
Jayfeather awoke. Noticing that Flutterpaw was still asleep, he got up slowly, giving his pelt a quick shake. Flutterpaw's eyes snapped open anyway. Jayfeather continued to sort his herbs, pushing a small pile of unsorted herbs towards her. After a few moments of silent work, he spoke.
"It's half-moon, we're going to the moonpool tonight."
Flutterpaw seemed confused, so Jayfeather continued.
"That's where cats talk to Starclan, you'll be accepted as my apprentice there." He explained.
"Aren't I already your apprentice?" Flutterpaw asked without pausing in her work.
"Not officially. All medicine cat apprentices must visit Starclan."
Jayfeather could still sense Flutterpaw's confusion, but she didn't ask anything else.
After a few minutes, Flutterpaw had finished, so Jayfeather went over to check that the herbs had been sorted correctly. Jayfeather had purposefully given Flutterpaw herbs that she didn't know of, yet they seemed to be sorted perfectly.
Jayfeather walked out of the den. He noticed that there was a clan meeting going on and joined the group, settling somewhere behind Squirrelpaw and Seedpelt.
"...The new mentor of Rainbowpaw!" Bramblestar called out to the cats gathered around the highledge.
Rainbowpaw and Ivypool sat on ether side of him. Their eyes met and for a moment they weren't mentor and apprentice, but age old enemies on a battlefield of blood. And then the moment passed. Rainbowpaw looked away, staring at her paws. Ivypool, however, kept looking. Glaring at Rainbowpaw before turning to the surrounding cats and giving a look that seemed all too cheerful.
"Rainbowpaw... Rainbowpaw... Rainbowpaw! Rainbowpaw!" Rainbowpaw's friends began cheering, the other cats reluctantly joined in.
Jayfeather turned away from the crowd as they began to split apart, preparing for their everyday duties.
Jayfeather let out a hiss of surprise as he bumped into another cat. She let out a snarl, Jayfeather could imagine her fur fluffed out indignantly.
"Watch where you're going, can't you see?" She hissed, her anger beginning to die away. "J-Jayfeather?" Her voice cracked.
"Greetings Rainbowpaw, and no, I can't see. I'm blind." Jayfeather explained, recognising the blue-grey cat he had brought into the clan.
"Oh! Oh, I am so sorry. I didn't know, a-and about Squirrelflight, I-" Rainbowpaw stuttered. Her voice changing to a whisper. "I'm sorry."
Jayfeather simply continued back into his den, ignoring her.
"Um, don't you think you could've been, maybe, uh... A little kinder to her?"
Flutterpaw stood at the entrance to the den, sadness and disappointment flowing out of her.
"I think that um, I mean, uh... Well, can't you just forgive her already?" Flutterpaw inquired.
Jayfeather let out a long sigh before replying. "Alright."
Flutterpaw brightened up, walking back into the den. Jayfeather tried to remove the guilt from him. He was already- but that was such a long time ago- be still she- but there's no way he could- but it wouldn't be right to- Jayfeather turned his attention to the cream coloured cat at the entrance to the den, trying to forget his internal fight. The cat limped heavily with a pained expression as he waited to be treated.
"Thorn in your pad?" Jayfeather guessed.
"What do you think?" Berrynose retorted sarcastically, seating himself so the medicine cat could take his pad.
"Brownpaw, Berrynose, Rainbowpaw, Ivypool, Starpaw, and Bramblestar shall go on a battle training session this morning." Lionblaze finished as the cats began to gather into patrols.
Brownpaw, Starpaw, Ivypool, Bramblestar and Rainbowpaw were all already present. Berrynose padded out of the medicine den, still limping dramatically.
"Are you okay?" Starpaw asked, visibly concerned.
"He'll live." Bramblestar gave her a warm smile, laughter in his eyes.
"Well? What are you sitting around here staring for? We have hunting to do!' Berrynose told his apprentice.
"Actually, I believe we have battle training with Bramblestar and Ivypool and their apprentices." Brownpaw spoke up, catching Berrynose by surprise.
Bramblestar sat up and headed for the thorn tunnel, gesturing with his tail for the others to follow. the large group eventually made it to the training area. Bramblestar stepped out into the center of the clearing.
"For this session, we'll be doing a more basic move." Bramblestar meowed.
Berrynose let out a groan, but the rest listened with interest.
"This move is called the front paw blow." Bramblestar meowed. "Ivypool, would you please come over here and demonstrate?"
"I uh, sprained my paw on a root." Ivypool replied.
"Are you alright? Do you need to go back to camp to see Jayfeather?" Bramblestar asked.
"Oh! No, no, no. I wouldn't dream of missing this. I just, wouldn't want to make it worse, you know?" Ivypool explained.
"I understand. Berrynose! Get over here!" Bramblestar commanded.
"But... I... She... Yes Bramblestar." Berrynose reluctantly limped over to his leader.
In one swift move, Bramblestar raised his forepaw over Berrynose and harshly struck him on the head with sheathed claws.
"Hey!" Berrynose cried out indignantly.
"Alright, Brownpaw, come over here, let's see what you can do." Bramblestar nodded to the apprentice who seemed to be daydreaming yet again.
He snapped back to reality and rushed over to the center of the clearing.
"Alright what do you remember?" Bramblestar questioned, readying himself for an attack.
"Uh..." Brownpaw seemed to go back into a trance.
Bramblestar gently hit him over the head with the front paw blow to get his attention. Brownpaw nodded and pathetically swiped his paw in the air.
"Here, look. You have to reach-" Bramblestar reached his paw up into the air. "-and strike down." Bramblestar swiped his paw down.
Brownpaw began practicing the move with Bramblestar's instruction.
Rainbowpaw distractedly watched a squirrel hop from tree to tree. Starpaw noticed this and turned to her friend.
"Uh, shouldn't we be watching the demonstration?"
"No worries, Twi. This is easy, it'll be a cinch." Rainbowpaw explained, plucking at a stem of grass.
"I still think we should both watch." Starpaw meowed.
"It's fine. Listen, Twilight. When you're an athlete, these things come naturally." Rainbowpaw replied.
"But this is very impor-"
Brownpaw finally hit Bramblestar over the head, ending the two's conversation.
"Ha! I did it!" Brownpaw exclaimed, beaming.
"Good job!" Bramblestar praised. "Rainbowpaw!" Bramblestar flicked his tail at the blue-grey apprentice.
Rainbowpaw promptly rushed over and looked Bramblestar in the eye.
"I'm ready."
Bramblestar nimbly dodged to the side as Rainbowpaw swiped her paw down, and swiftly swung his back legs around to trip her, before pinning her down.
"Hey! You dodged!" Rainbowpaw cried out, thrashing under Bramblestar's weight.
"Do you think an enemy will sit and wait for you to attack?" Bramblestar asked, letting Rainbowpaw go.
"Uh..." Rainbowpaw felt embarrassment overwhelm her as her cheeks grew hot.
"Try again."
She swiped with her other paw but Bramblestar dodged to the left. Growling in annoyance she raised both paws in the air, swinging them down only for Bramblestar to jump backwards. With gritted teeth, she swung again, finally catching Bramblestar on the ear.
"Ha!" Rainbowpaw exclaimed in triumph. "Easy peasy. Told ya." Rainbowpaw turned to Starpaw to taunt her.
"Nice work, but remember to keep your claws sheathed." Bramblestar reminded her, a bit of blood trickling down his ear.
"Oh, yeah." Rainbowpaw padded back to watch Starpaw's attempt.
Starpaw waltzed into the clearing with an air of confidence. Immediately she swung her right paw down, then her left, striking Bramblestar as he dodged with a clean blow to the head. Rainbowpaw's jaw hung open as Starpaw returned to the rest of the group.
"Show off." Rainbowpaw muttered under her breath.
Later that night, Ivypool rolled around the magpie in front of her as the rest of the clan broke out into chaos.
"My kits! My kits!" Rosepetal sobbed, surrounded by the other queens.
Bramblestar was barking orders like mad, he must've called out at least 6 search parties. Ivypool had to hold in an involuntary chuckle, those kits wouldn't cause any more potential harm. As for her 'sister'...
"Why don't we go for a walk?" Ivypool suggested to her so called littermate, who was currently digging into a juicy vole. She stood up and began to leave without waiting for a response. Ivypool wasn't surprised to soon here the gentle padding of a second set of paws behind her.
"Stop right there 'Ivypool'!"
Ivypool whipped around to see Brackenfur standing by the fresh-kill pile.
"You forgot your magpie!" He called out in a friendly manner.
"You can have it, I'm not hungry." That was a lie, Ivypool was starving.
"Really? Thanks!" He called out.
Ivypool exited into the forest, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief.
"Let's go for a run." Ivypool suddenly suggested.
Dovewing merely shrugged and ran off. As the two ran side by side, Ivypool began to drain the love out of Dovewing, feeling power surge through her body. Dovewing soon came to a halt, panting in exhaustion.
"I must be getting... Out of shape... I'm starting to get... Tired." Dovewing panted, hunched over as she tried to regain her energy.
"Yes, that must be it." Ivypool agreed.
The fool was as naïve as Shining Armor. The silver/white she-cat could probably be sucked dry and not even notice. With a battle-cry Ivypool struck her so called littermate with a front paw blow and pinned her down while she was in shock. As she prepared to sink her fangs in, a voice whispered in Ivypool's ear. Not that one. That one's mine.
"Very well, Mapleshade"
Ivypool sent out a silent signal, within a few seconds, a changeling landed before her, it quickly bowed. Ivypool nodded to Dovewing, who was too shocked to struggle. The changeling nodded in understanding and begun to change form. It shrunk as silver and white fur began to grow on it's body, coving it completely. The creature blinked open its eyes, now a mirror image of Dovewing. With a shriek, Dovewing faded into nothingness.
"But we will demand a price for our cooperation."