Warriors High School Chapter 10: Another Secret?, a warriors fanfic

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Honeyfern

"Come on, girls, eat your chicken," my mom says. Poppyfrost, Cinderheart, and I glance at our plates.

Poppyfrost picks up a drumstick, looks at it, then reluctantly takes a bite. Cinderheart follows suit. Still, our

minds are buzzing with Hollyleaf's story...

"What do you mean, something more serious?" I ask. The rest of our group nods in agreement, shifting

uncomfortably. Hollyleaf hangs her head.

"Look at this," she murmurs, handing a DVD case over. I slip it into Cinderheart's portable DVD player, afraid

of what I will see. A pair of lips appears on the screen. Suddenly, they begin moving.

"Hello, Hollyleaf. Nice to see that you're alright," says the voice, not sounding nice at all. "So, you might be

wondering who I am. I'll give you a hint - you tried to kill me. Thought you did it, didn't you? Ha. Tough. I'm

coming back for you, and your family. If you don't leave in two days, your whole family will be gone. Your

mother first - including her unborn children. Yesssss," the voice continues, taking a breath. I faintly recall

Gollum from the Lord of the Rings, and I shiver. "I know everything. I've been waiting for this, Hollyleaf. Now,

let's see, just how brave are you?"

The screen blacks out.

"What the hell was that?" asks Cinderheart. "Who did you - " she tries to say kill, but the word doesn't come

out.

"It sounded like an older man," says Ivypool, shuddering. Poppyfrost nods in agreement.

"It was Ashfur," Hollyleaf says, spitting out the name like it's poison. "He never got over the fact that my mom

chose Brambleclaw over him. He tried to kill us once, so I tried to kill him. I-I- thought he was gone, but... I

was wrong."

"What are you going to do about it?" demands Breezepelt. "Are you going to tell Lionblaze and Jayfeather?"

"You're not really thinking of running away, are you?" wails Dovewing. "What would we do without you?"

"This isn't about you!" Hazeltail hisses. "It's about protecting her family!"

"She might have to!" says Foxleap, standing by his girlfriend's side.

"Stop! Stop!" shouts Hollyleaf. We fall silent, turning to look at her. "I'm going to run away. And yes, I'm telling

Lionblaze and Jayfeather, but not until right before I leave. I'll slip a note to Brambleclaw, Squirrelflight, and

Sandstorm. That way, they won't be prepared to stop me. And if anyone says a word to them..." she glares

mutinously around at us.

"We won't tell," I say. "But stay safe, Hollyleaf." My lip trembles. I never thought we'd leave each other like

this. And all this time, we thought Ashfur was dead...

"If he comes for you," says Berrynose seriously, all his arrogance gone, "just give us a call. We're right beside

you, Hollyleaf," I lean into him, proud of his offer.

Everybody else nods, even Breezepelt and Tigerheart and Foxleap, who aren't really friends with Hollyleaf.

This disaster has solidified our bonds as friends. I shiver. We're going to need those bonds if something

happens.

"I'm leaving tonight," Hollyleaf announces. "If anybody asks where I am, just say that you don't know."

Overcome with emotion, Dovewing leaps at her, wrapping her arms around Hollyleaf. Once she lets go,

Icecloud and Cinderheart take Dovewing's place. Everyone, even the boys, take turns hugging Hollyleaf.

"Stay safe," whispers Foxleap. Everybody echoes his words.

"We'll miss you," says Breezepelt gruffly. He and Hollyleaf haven't always gotten along, but I'm glad they've

put their differences aside now.

"Best friends forever?" I ask sadly, holding out a pinky. A shadow of a smile appears on Hollyleaf's face, and

she shakes my pinky, her grip firm.

"Even in Starclan," she says.

"Bye," Cinderheart says one last time. Hollyleaf slips out of the room. We hear her feet on the stairs. The door

creaks open, then she's gone.

Ding-dong. The sound of the doorbell jolts me out of my thoughts. Poppyfrost gets up and turns on the

intercom.

"Who's there?" she calls.

"It's us," says Lionblaze. I pull the door open, and Cinderheart gets up.

"Uh, Miss Sorreltail?" he asks. "Can we borrow the girls for a sec?" My mom nods from where she's sitting

and continues to crochet her scarf.

I wipe my greasy hands on my jeans and step outside.

"What is it?" I ask, already knowing that their question will be about Hollyleaf.

"Did you know about Hollyleaf?" Jayfeather demands, his voice sharper than a knife. Cinderheart backs

away, but Poppyfrost answers for her.

"Yes," she says softly. "She told us we couldn't tell you anything. It seemed fair to do what she asked, right

when she was about to leave," she adds.

"Of course she did," Jayfeather mutters angrily, but I can see that he's pretty sad. "Nobody can ever stop her

when it comes down to protecting her loved ones." Lionblaze nods.

"But you guys," I say, wanting to voice the one fear that has been nagging me ever since Hollyleaf's

announcement. "What if Ashfur's just doing it to lure Hollyleaf into a trap? What if he's still gonna - " I stop

before the word kill. " go after you guys?" My sisters gasp, but I keep my eyes fixed on Jayfeather and

Lionblaze.

After what seems like an eternity Jayfeather speaks.

"Well, since Hollyleaf was the one who killed him, she would be a target... I don't know if Ashfur has the guts

to kill, but I guess we'll find out," he says. His grim words fall onto the pavement like heavy slabs of stone, a

weight we will have to carry until we find Ashfur.

And I think it's in that moment that we realize that the only way to stop this is to kill Ashfur for once and for all.

Ivypool

"Are we meeting your boyfriends tonight?" asks Whitewing, my mom, as we set the table.

"Yes, mom," says Dovewing tiredly. She's painting her nails baby blue. I stare at my own chipped, maroon

nails and grin ruefully. These will have to do for tonight.

"I'm going up to the roof," I announce. There's too much on my mind right now. Blossomfall, Hollyleaf, the

Dark ... I need to think for a while.

"Can I come too?" Dovewing asks, blowing on her nails. I hesitate, and then nod. I need somebody to spill all

my thoughts to. We climb the ladder up through my loft, and then up onto the roof. I rest my head back on the

shingles, while Dovewing picks her way cautiously across the roof, using the chimney as a support.

"So... what's on your mind?" she asks. I almost laugh - Dovewing knows me too well.

"A lot of things," I say. I gather my thoughts, staring out in the distance. Hollyleaf, where are you now?

"Starting with Hollyleaf. I'm worried about her. Not a lot of fourteen-year-old boarding-school kids can survive

on their own. And what about Bramblestar and his family? Sandstorm's getting old, and Squirrelflight is

pregnant again... Jayfeather is blind... they're an easy target for Ashfur." Dovewing sighs and puts her head

on my shoulder.

"Matters are out of our hands now," she says. "They've put extra security on Bramblestar's house - Lionblaze

said so - and there are guards everywhere. We just have to put up a prayer for Hollyleaf. Starclan will protect

her."

I open my mouth to protest, but then I mull over her words. Maybe she's right... Hollyleaf, the crafty, steady

politician who can always talk her way out of any bad situation... surely she'd be able to survive on the run?

And besides, there were the Sun Trail and Rushing Water neighborhoods nearby. Of course they'd take in a

girl on the run from a murderer. Besides, Ashfur wouldn't know where to find her if she went there. My sister's

faith and the autumn breeze begin to calm my nerves.

"Another thing - It's about Blossomfall." Dovewing sits up, her eyes blazing. She was there when Blossomfall

revealed that I was part of the Dark. I only told Blossomfall's secrets on accident - I was just talking with

Icecloud, and I accidentally told her that we had both been part of the Dark... Dovewing was one of the few

who stood by my side during that time. She's still a bit overprotective when people mention it.

"What is it?" asks Dovewing, her eyes guarded.

"She didn't shove me, or call me emo, or a nerd or anything today. She actually got me away from the stupid

elementary schoolers who tease us. I don't know if I've been wrong about her or what..." I confess.

"Well, it was nice of her to do that," says Dovewing curtly. I can tell that she doesn't believe me. "But I don't

know, Ivypool. The kinds of things she said about you, about how she had reformed and you were still a

traitor... I don't know if that can be excusable. I think you should wait a while." I nod.

Part of me wants to run to Blossomfall's house and have a heart-to-heart, but what if it's just our "Dark

connections" that united us in the one moment? She and her posse are always causing trouble with me -

what could make things change? I lean back on the shingles and close my eyes. Dovewing puts her head

next to mine, and I realize with a pang that it's been a long time since we really talked. Why can't it be like this

all the time?

Heathertail

I walk with Furzepelt to her house, and we say our goodbyes. Furzepelt's going with Weaselfur to the

Halloween dance. If you want my opinion on that, I think she's made a bad decision. Weaselfur is just like his

name - he's a sly little weasel. He's one of those people who dates around. I mean, he's literally dated every

girl in his grade, and now he's asking freshmen out. I guess I just have to hope that he doesn't break my

friend's heart.

Furzepelt's head over heels in love with him, though, and she's convinced that he feels the same. I just can't

talk sense into her now - she doesn't get that he's not a good person for a first date.

Now Lionblaze, on the other hand. There's a real guy for you. He's funny, strong, and kind. And he doesn't

cheat or dump girls after two days. I'm surprised he didn't ask me to the Halloween dance. Instead, he asked

that girl Cinderheart. He must feel bad for her, because her little brother, Molepaw, died of whooping cough

this last summer. Why else?

I stroll through the Wind neighborhood, passing Breezepelt's house. Breezepelt's my second choice for the

Halloween dance - not the kindest guy out there, but he's goofy and he can really make a girl laugh. There he

is! I cock my head at him and wave. He nods, but he's too busy on his phone.

"So, I'll be there in 5, okay? I'm not late? Oh, thank Starclan. Okay, bye. Love you. Yes. Yes. Bye!" he says.

He's probably calling his mom, Nightcloud. Nightcloud lives on the other side of Wind, now that she's

divorced Crowfeather.

"Was that your mom?" I ask him.

"No," he says tersely. "Sorry Heathertail, I don't have time to talk. I gotta go."

"Where?" I ask. If he's not going to Nightcloud's house... maybe a friend's party?

"To Ivypool's," he says, his voice gruff. "I'm going to meet her parents." Confused, I stare at him, silently

asking for an explanation, but he looks away and starts locking the door to Crowfeather's house. Then, the

meaning of his words dawn on me.

"You're dating her?" I ask, trying to keep my voice calm and measured. He nods, a blush creeping up his

neck. I huff and turn around. "Why her, of all people?" He shrugs.

"She's nice, and really smart, and she helped me with my parents' divorce and our, um, family problems,"

says Breezepelt. He's blushing furiously right now. "Listen, Heather, I gotta go."

"Don't call me that," I snap. He looks up, shocked. "Fine, go ahead and meet your personal therapist. I was

here this entire time, and you never even said a word to me. Oh wait, it's because you were both part of a

gang. So you had your little gang connections."

"That's it! I've had enough of your manipulation," snarls Breezepelt, slamming a fist onto the porch swing.

"Stop trying to use me to make Lionblaze jealous, and leave me and Ivypool in peace! And don't you dare

spread rumors about us," he says, hissing at my face. "I don't want to hurt you, Heathertail, but I can

blackmail you like nobody's business if you even say a word about either of us." I step back, searching for a

biting response, but he's already gone.

I blink back tears and continue along the winding road, down to my own house. There, I see a figure waiting

at my house. I sigh - I'm in no state to talk to anybody. Wait... Harespring?

"Hey Heathertail, are you okay?" he asks gently, putting a hand over mine. I pull away.

"I'm fine," I whisper, glad for the attention.

"I was just wondering," he says. "Would you like to go with me to the dance?" I'm ready to keel over in shock.

Me? And Harespring? I think about it for a moment. Harespring is nice, but I always thought of him as a close

friend, not really a boyfriend or a date. Still, how bad could it be? Just one dance...

"Sure, Harespring!" I say, and his face lights up like a decorated Christmas tree.

"Hey- Hey Emberfoot! Get back here! She said yes! You owe me twenty dollars!" he shouts, running away.

And then to me, "Gottagobye!" he cries, giving a little wave. I stand there, slack-jawed, for what seems like an

eternity. He did this for money?

If I were a meaner person, I would plan an elaborate prank to humiliate Harespring and get him back. But all I

do is sit down on the porch and put my head in my hands. No, this year is not off to a great start.

Poor Heathertail... Maybe Harespring will have a change of heart?