Alrighty, first off, I know most of you must be thinking "What, Starclan can do that?" Well, in the original series I doubt that, but I just wanted it to be in their to show the love in the family. ;)
Responses to reviews-
"Birdflame" Yay! I didn't kill her off! Possibly... *evil laugh*
"Amberstorm233" Yup, so many unanswered questions!
"Spottedmist" yes, this next chapter will be very interesting...
Sunripple. Yup, and now the long awaited... Suspense ending chapter... maybe ;)
She floated in nothing, not water nor air.. She wasn't even in the sky or anything, or Starclan. Just the space between spaces.
Ravenflight tried to maintain in one position, but had no idea if she was moving, spinning, falling or rising.
Slowly, a endless green plain materialized in front of her. Slowly, she floated downwards until her small black delicate paws touched down on the strange ground. She looked up to see a bright blue sky, what was most interesting was the lack of the sun... and moon... and stars.
She felt a shiver run through her back. This place seemed so strange, no trees, prey or even clouds in sight. "Brave, but stupid. Leaping into the pool of telling like that." A silky sweet voice sounded behind her, making her whirl around to confront the owner of the voice.
She froze, her eyes meeting twin emerald eyes, her eyes? "Who are you?" She stared at the newcomer questioningly. She was Ravenflight, just different. A honey like voice, a sleek and flawless coat, perfectly set ears and soft features. But her essence, it was like Ravenflight's, but sweeter, but with a tint of blood about her.
"Oh dear," she purred, "I'm you, only not. My name is Ravenfeather. Im the one you dream about." She smiled, revealing pearly fangs. "But the one you also fear." Ravenflight looked down at the scent of blood to find Ravenfeather's paws soaked and dripping in them.
Stifling a screech, she looked up stiffly at Ravenfeather. The she cat looked at her before beginning to pace a circle around her. "He betrayed you, you know? You could give in. Give into me. Let the beautiful Ravenfeather make sure your heart is never broken. All those who hurt you would be, abruptly disrupted by those they nearly hurt."
Ravenflight sat in a pool of scarlet, unable to move, rooted to the ground, entranced by what she heard and the possibilities that lay before her. "All you must do is lay down in the pool and all will be taken care of for you dear."
Ravenflight was about to when she swore she felt a twinge of realization. "But at what cost? You would have murdered cats! I can't let myself become you, Ravenfeather."
Ravenfeather had been pacing around the edge of the pool, and final stopped in front of Ravenflight, placing her front paws in the blood. "Then stop what made me a monster!" Ravenfeather snarled to reveal blood soaked teeth. "I gave you a chose to give up without pain, you refused. If you fail I assure you the transfer will be rather... unpleasant."
Ravenfeather stalked to behind the dumbfounded Ravenflight, she hissed and leapt onto the back of Ravenflight, forcing her into the now deep pool of blood. "Good luck flighty." The mocking hiss was the last Ravenflight heard before she slipped into the void once again.
This time, she woke to find herself in the territory of Ivyclan, ironically the by the same maple tree she'd almost been slain at. A shiver racked her spine as she began to run through the forest towards camp.
So much of what she.. er, Ravenfeather had said had confused her. The promise of the 'unpleasant transfer' and her telling her to under what had made her a monster. She let out a breath as she neared the entrance. Okay, I can do this... maybe if I stay with the version of me I'll be able to see what happened.
She gasped as she careened into the center of the camp. She saw the kit version of her and her brother, as well as the younger version of her mother. She watched as they all sat, as if waiting for something, the camp seemingly empty. She turned her head as she heard movement towards the apprentice den. She gaped as she saw Dewleaf and Shadowfur, at the time Shadowpaw and Dewpaw sitting there, both watching with ears pricked.
"Hey mama, when will dad show up for the apprentice ceremony?" She watched as Ravenkit turned towards her mother. "I'm not sure, but we'll wait it out, he wouldn't miss this for the world. Finchfoot wouldn't stopped bragging about it at the gathering."
Ravenflight shivered as she remembered this day. It was the day her father died. She gasped. Maybe something that happened there lead me to become Ravenfeather. She thought hard, the nodded and pelted through the entrance out to where she heard screams of cats. There you go dear. Just stop Ice from killing Wolfheart and we'll become flight okay? And don't worry, I'm forced to speak the truth. If I didn't you would win. At least now all you have to do is defeat a savage rogue my dear. She heard Ravenfeather giggle.
She burst through the ferns to find the whole patrol fighting off rogues. Screeches surrounded her, and soon, most of the patrol had chased them away. She went after Wolfheart, who had been struggling with a pure white rogue.
In her focus, she failed to recognize the rogue, and instead tackled her when she dove onto Wolfheart for the finish. She grappled with the Rogue for a while, sensing Wolfheart gathering himself again.
She noticed his eyes widen as he saw her, then leapt and tackled to rogue, chasing her off. Ravenflight began to fade, her familiar forest becoming replaced by the strand meadow.
As she faded, she failed to see the white rogue run away from Wolfheart and leap onto her already struggling father, swiping an unsheathed paw at his throat. As he drew his last breath, she had long since deteriorated.
By the time Ravenflight appeared in the meadow again, she felt exhaustion biting at her. She settled down, unable to make a nest and felt a little weird she was tired and we going to fall asleep while asleep back in Ivyclan. She felt a pang of sadness as she thought of her home. She wondered about her kits for awhile, stretched out in the grass, staring up at the empty blue sky.
After a while, she sighed and stood, arching her back in a luxurious stretch. She felt a little astounded at how energized she felt after having no sleep, no prey, and no water. She began mentally preparing herself for the next trial. I wonder what I'll have to do this time. I really hope I pass, or else this is really going to suck.
A voice spoke behind her. Not mocking, not silky smooth, not jagged, just normal. Excactly like hers. Ravenflight turned to meet the cat, most likely one of the cats that shared her body, but not her destiny.
When she laid eyes on her she felt a little astonished. This she cat was her. She had no difference in appearance. Though she stood with authority, and Ravenflight thought she could just catch the slightest bit of loneliness around her.
"I'm Ravenstar." Ravenflight dipped her head to her.. or her leader? "You know why I am here. All you have to do to resign your destiny is to touch noses with me, otherwise I will begin." Ravenflight quickly shook her head, feeling defiance at the prospect of giving up.
"You are brave, flight. I must say that is a difficult character to find. Okay well as you know, in my path you became leader. No, not through murder, cunning, or mutiny. You became it through pure skill. I am the cat you day dream of when you look up at Ivy Rock. With me, you only lose your father. Brakenpaw, Mosspaw, and Dewleaf all live with me. At a leaders mercy, I offer for the last time to give up."
"I can't I'm sorry. Something about you, I'm not sure what, but it just doesn't feel right." Ravenflight mewed.
"You have good sense. You are right. I have everything you ever wanted." She took a step forward and bore her eyes into Ravenflight's. "But you will never have a mate, nor kits. With you, your ambitions took priority and never found time to settle with anyone."
Ravenflight looked at her sadly, feeling for her loneliness. "Okay, I'm ready." Ravenstar stepped so that they nearly touched noses. "Then undo what set your ambitions a flare." Ravenstar dipped her head to her, and as she began to dissipate, she murmured "Good luck flight, may Starclan be on your side, and find the strength to undo what is near impossible to undo."
It was the same as last time, she woke up with the sense of impending doom. As she looked up at the maple tree, she felt her thoughts swirl. She decided to stay with herself, seeing if anything would happen.
She ran to camp to see her and her mentor, Wolfheart, getting ready for patrol. She noticed Splashstar take the lead as they set out. "I'm glad you survived that rogue attack, though Finchfoot was a terrible loss, we were lucky they killed Stormstike. Starclan prophesied he evil, giving me the prophecy, the wolf will only be saved by flight, and the blaze of clouds will never strike the flight. Maybe he meant only you were to mentor Ravenpaw, and you are doing good. She needed a gentle mentor, but a talented one."
She took a breath as she continued. "I would have been forced to choose Stormstike, he was the only valid mentor left.
Ravenflight gaped as the pieces fell in place. That's how she became Ravenfeather, she got a bitter like Stormstrike. He had taught her the ways of the wrong, and she set out to avenge him when he passed. And that prophecy, it was placed around her succeeding in the trails! She would have a chance.
"Badger!" She was ripped from her thoughts as she heard the screech. She looked to see the massive black and white creature come crashing through the patrol. The memory flickered in her as she saw Ravenpaw turn tail and hurtle through the ferns towards camp for help.
Remember, the event doesn't always happen to you, it's those around you. Ravenstar's words rang through her head. She nodded as she leapt forward to join the assault. The cats wove around the badger with tempers blazing and claws slashing. Finally, she saw the badger rear up and Splashstar fall to the ground. Wolfheart was shaken off and hit the tree.
That's it! Splashstar dies! She must be on her last life! She gave a fierce battlecry as she lunged forward, giving the badger a shove. Remember you cannot die yourself. Rave stars warning was cut off as the badger brought down a massive paw, sending Ravenflight crips plying to the ground. The moment froze as the white crazed creature reared upwards. She noticed Splashstar had scrambled away and ran to greet the coming patrol.
Don't give up flight! You don't want to be alone right? Keep fighting! Her words met nothing as the badger came crashing down.
A flash of grey flew her vision, and the badger soon fell away, she was barley consists as teeth met her scruff and dragged her away. "Ravenpaw? Your so old!" The deep meow brought her back to attention. "Wolfheart?" She looked around to see he had dragged her away, and she began to fade. "I'm not quite Ravenpaw," she answered, "I am the flight."
Wolfheart's eyes widened, dipping his head, "Flight, I don't understand why you are here, but thank you, and may your travels be blessed by Starclan." She touched his nose to hers before fading completely.
Back in the same clearing once again, she stood there, waiting around for the next trial. "Congratulations, you've neared the end of your trials. There is just one last thing to do. I will guide you, but it will not be easy." Ravenflight looked at her closely. She had stars glimmering in her pelt, though she was completely solid.
"Who are you?" She watched herself closely.
"I am you, Ravenflight. Through and through. No difference, not murderous or ambitious. Just sad, beyond comprehension. With me your mother dies and when you go to Starclan's drop." Ravenflight sucked in a breath. "You succeed in what you set out to do." She gave a shaky nod, fearing what may happen if she were to fail.
We will begin now. The world slurred, and this time she didn't wake near the maple tree or near camp, but at Starclan's Drop. The memory of her near suicide resurfaced after moons of trying to forget it.
I must stop my self. But how? What was left in the world that had kept me alive? Brindletail! That's it! She was going to die of black cough, maybe I have to find catmint? I must hurry! She had arrived at night, the stars glittered above her, but the moon was hidden by the storm clouds soon to come.
She began the run along the trench, heading to the distant two leg nests that laid a distance from the territory. The sky above her grew brighter as the nests grew larger. The storm clouds had actually cleared, signaling to Ravenflight this wasn't the day she neared insanity, but maybe the day before?
She brushed off her questions as she hared on, keeping in mind her mission.
As she neared the first little territory, she noticed a plump black and white she cat sitting on the fence. Deciding to ask for help, she stopped and let out a quiet hello. The she cat looked around wildly, but when she spotted Ravenflight, she calmed, giving a beckon of her tail, she greeted her back.
"I'm Whisper, may I ask your name?" Ravenflight nodded, unsure wether to be wary or not so close to two leg dwellings. "I'm.. Raven." Her eyes drew to her bulging stomach. Whisper noticed this, and gave it a few self conscious lick. "I'm expecting kits, well a kit. The housefolk said it was a she cat!"
Ravenflight gave her a nod, her mission pressing at her mind. "Do you know where to get catmint?" Whisper shot her a weird look but pointed her tail to a bush below them. "I think you meant catnip, but yah. It's down there." Ravenflight purred her thanks, and leapt down into the grass.
It felt so unnatural, being in a two legs territory. She prayed they weren't territorial as she began to collect a bunch of catmint between her jaws. Ignoring the temptation of simply biting into it for herself, she picked away until her jaws were crammed. She went to leave, but a tail laid across her back made her turn to see Whisper.
"I just wanted to warn you, some dogs have gotten loose, and I don't want any cat getting injured." Whisper looked genuinely concerned, "go safely my friend. May the ground you live on be full of prey."
Ravenflight purred and, unable to speak, laid her tail across Whispers back. She leapt up and over the black and white cats back, landing gracefully on the other side. The kittypet followed, and let out a call. "I'll see you again, someday. I promise. Maybe you could meet my kit too?"
Ravenflight nodded, feeling a bit rushed, and turned, running freely through the forest.
The tempting scent of the catmint filled her nose, making her feel a little dizzy. She crossed the intermingled scent of dog multiple times, but went on, oblivious to the danger that was soon to bite at her.
She became well aware when a bulky black dog leapt in front of her. She let out a yowl, dropping her catmint. She regained herself and leapt at the dog, who had its tongue rolling out of his mouth, letting out barks at the prospect of prey.
It froze, then went into a frenzy, wildly trying to snap at her. She was able to keep up for a while, her size giving her the advantage of weaving through and around him. Then she began to tire, landing only a few blows that hardly slowed the beast.
Wondering if this is how she would fail, trying to take on an enemy much larger than her, she paused, just long enough for the dog to snatch her up like a rabbit and shake her.
Pain seared through her as her would blurred together, letting out screeches, trying to feebly claw at him. Just as her last drop of hope evaporated, a new cry joined in. The dog dropped her, and she lay there, winded, pain consuming her.
She saw a large ash colored tom begin to use full force against the dog, until it was fully driven away. It ran away howling leaving a pile of catmint, a battered she cat, and blood trail in its wake.
She wanted to give up. To be done. These trials were impossible. She had even more to finish. She pondered the idea, then began to cry, fat teardrops rolled down her face as she lay outstretched on her side, unwilling to move.
"Hey are you okay?" A soft paw shook her. "We've got to get you home, it's alright. Can you stand?" She looked up at him, her green meeting meeting orange. She gave a nod as she struggled to stand and collect her now smaller pile of catmint.
The grey tom of peered to help her home, and not wanting to be rude, she agreed. They walked in silence until something told her to stop. He stopped as well, icing her a curious glance.
Ravenflight looked around until she spotted a clump of dock. Something told her Snowflower would be along soon, so she lay it all down in the center, protected from any threat.
She turned towards the tom. "Why did you help me? You risked your own life." She gazed at him, thoughts churning all throughout her.
He turned his handsome face towards her. "I hate seeing any cat in distress, also I hadn't stretched my limbs in a while." He smiled, Ravenflight felt herself blush.
"Well I better head home. Travel a little safer, okay? I don't want to have to chase after pretty she cats all day rescuing them." She scuffled her paws, feeling like a kit.
As he went to leave, she stopped him. "Thank you so much, you don't know what you did for me. I cannot ever repay you enough." She smiled.
"Well some cats are worth risking there life for." He murmured.
She watched as he left, the ferns swished in his wake as if to say goodbye. She looked down at her paws to see them fading. She gave one last look at the sky, the sun directly above her. She faded facing the sun, it's warmth the last trace she'd fell while in that state.
Whew, the longest chapter Ive ever done! Hope you enjoyed it.
Did you recognize that Tom or anything else from previous chapters? Review!