hapter 8
Thunderkit's eyes were shut tight. She felt the dark things around her...felt Fadedwish pushing her.
What terrible things lie here? Perhaps the lost spirits of cats who died in the void? Thunderkit felt tears stream down her face. But they came, not from her own heart, but of the memories of others that were trapped here.
When will we stop? Thunderkit thought hopelessly.
Suddenly, they came to a stop. Slowly, Thunderkit opened her eyes. She was lying on the ground of a cave. She saw spirits watching her. She heard water dripping somewhere. She saw moss and lichen hanging from the dark walls.
Fadedwish stood over her. "Get up!" She hissed.
Thunderkit jumped up. The spirits stared at her with shining eyes.
"Where am I?" She whispered.
"You are in StarClan's home," A large black cat stepped forward. "The void has banished us here and we wait for the day we can rise again."
Thunderkit narrowed her eyes. "Banished?" She asked. "Why would StarClan be banished? You're supposed to be really powerful and good right? So why don't you help us? Why stay here? Who banished you?"
Curse her cunning mind, Fadedwish thought, but then again we do need her to be smart…
"Ah, I see you're a true thinker. It will take time for me to explain, but I assure you, all is well for StarClan," The dark cat spoke again. Thunderkit noticed that there was a calmness to his voice that unsettled her. Suddenly, she felt a cold shiver run down her spine. Something was definitely wrong with StarClan.
"The void...it was you, wasn't it? YOU DESTROYED MY HOME!" Thunderkit snarled.
The cat laughed, the sound echoing in the wide cave. "Of course not! I tell you, it was Dark Void, leader of the Dark Forest. He has long died, but his followers used his spirit to create this madness. They are hiding somewhere now, and unless we stop them, there is no hope for the clans. You will lead the clans. You must find the fifth clan and stop the void from spreading."
"But why should I listen to you?" Thunderkit asked suspiciously.
"Follow the words of StarClan or you will never lead the clans." Fadedwish snarled, "This is for your own good."
"But I don't want to be leader!" Thunderkit laughed.
The dark cat sat back. "Do you wish death to the cats of the clans? Do you want them to die when you could have saved them?" The dark cat meowed angrily, "This is not a joke! The fate of everything you know of is in your hands, no one can help you. But if you listen to us, maybe you can be guided. You don't have to do this alone."
"Brave words, StarClan cat," Thunderkit meowed thoughtfully, "Well, spit it out then! You have a lot more to say, I can tell. I'll accept your help help this time. But be warned...if you betray me," Thunderkit's voice turned into a soft snarl, "You'll have so much more to lose than just your precious little lives in StarClan and the clans, who could forget the clans? Just remember this: I am more powerful than you think."
"Of course," The cat dipped his head.
"Now come with me if you want to know the truth, just like I promised," Fadedwish whispered.
She lead Thunderkit down a narrow tunnel and into a wide cave. There were large spikes hanging from the celing and a massive pool of water lay in the middle of the cave. The pool glowed a soft blue light, making the cave dark, and the spikes glow.
"This is the Cave Of Stars. We come here to get advice from the spirits that have passed and are no longer here with us," Fadedwish murmured.
"Why are we here?" Thunderkit gazed at the spikes. They could kill if they fell down, she thought.
"This is where we keep all our secrets," Fadedwish explained, "Right here in the Glowing Pool. So lie down here and put your nose in the pool."
"But what if I get lost…" Thunderkit murmured.
"What?! How would you get lost?" Fadedwish asked.
"There are so many memories, what if I get lost...become another cat?" Thunderkit closed her eyes and without knowing, laid down and stretched her nose out into the Glowing Pool.
Darkness engulfed her.
And then she saw the memories.