Chapter 9

"I can't believe you all are too afraid to come with me!" Growled Ember with flattened ears, her dark ginger spotted coat was slicked. Rose frowned at her daughter, her intense stare was unwavering.

"You said you were wild…That's what you wanted wasn't it?" Rose mewed placidly, her chin raised high. Timber watched his daughter snarl at Rose and lash her tail…he looked away sadly.

"I don't need you guys anyway!" Ember hissed. "I never loved you. I will be happier living alone. Good riddance!" A flash of pain whipped across Rose's eyes for a heartbeat before it was replaced by anger.

"Get out." She growled.

"With pleasure" Ember seethed. The dark ginger she-cat whipped around and stomped into the forest, her tail raised high. Timber and Rose watched their daughter stomp away into the forest…disappearing into the shadows. Timber's gaze was hurt…he loved all of his kits…but now Ember was gone.

"She will come back won't she?" Mouse asked, worried for the well-being of her sister.

"If she comes back…she comes back." Rose mewed flatly, her gaze staring into the forest.

"And if she doesn't?" Mouse mewed sadly to her mother.

"Then she will live like a rogue…like I did." Rose blinked and padded back to the Upwalker den, her emotions were hidden behind a cloud. Timber sighed sadly and stared out into the woods one last time before following his mate back to the den. Mouse sat behind with her littermates and Marie. Spark gave an impatient huff and shook his massive head.

"Ember is so stupid!" He growled. "She can't catch her own prey! She won't survive out there."

"What if she starves?" Marie fretted; her silver fur bristled in fear for Ember. Spark laid a reassuring tail on Marie's back and smiled at her.

"She won't starve…she will figure it out." He mewed softly, his blue eyes fixed on the pretty she-cat. Marie looked away, feeling awkward as Spark smiled at her. She had no love interest in the cream-colored tom…but Spark had tons of interest for Marie. The tom sensed her awkwardness and moved his tail, his ears flat in embarrassment.

"I hope she'll be okay…" Mouse murmured sadly, her small body was hunched and her amber eyes were fixed on her white paws. Dusk leaned on his smaller sister and licked her ears, trying to ease her mind.

"Ember will be okay." Dusk mewed, thinking of his aggressive sister. "She is strong…she will figure it out."

"What if she gets run over by the Upwalker's Monster? Or what if she gets attacked by a dog, or if she gets cornered and is attacked by other cats!" Dusk listened to the words coming from Mouse. He envisioned the white she-cat…her attackers…her blood.

"That won't happen!" Dusk quickly defied. He didn't like Ember…but he would never wish such cruelty on another cat. He thought about Ember…all alone…she did love to start fights…she could get attacked by other cats…killed possibly.

"You're sending your sister to a death wish!" Shadow's voice hissed in Dusk's ear.

"I am not!" Dusk hissed to himself.

"What?" Spark mewed, hearing Dusk argue with himself. Dusk flattened his ears and shook his head, his brother wouldn't understand. "Who are you talking to?"

"Myself…" Dusk lied. Spark frowned and turned his head back to Marie, the silver tabby had her blue gaze fixed on the forest. Spark sighed…he knew Marie wasn't interested…

"We should back inside…it's late." He murmured to the pretty she-cat. Marie stood on her paws, licking Dusk on his head before padding back to the den. Spark frowned and followed her back, he has never been licked on the head before!

It was just Dusk and Mouse left alone in the quiet. Mouse was focused on her paws…not wanted to leave yet. Dusk sighed sadly…he knew Mouse cared deeply for her sister, even though Ember never bothered to play with her as kits.

"I wish I could be with her…" Mouse mewed sadly.

"Me too…" Dusk lied. He feared the mysteries and secrets of the forest…secrets are never meant to be revealed…Dusk learned that the hard way.

"What if those secrets include you?" Shadow mewed sarcasticly

Than I don't want to know them anyways Dusk growled.

"Not even a little bit?" Shadow taunted. "What about the prophecy…you know…the one you were told as a kit."

I don't remember…

"Only Stars can free the souls that drown in blood." Shadow recited.

Who cares…Get another cat to do it, Dusk snorted. Mouse sighed and left the side of her brother, her tail dragging behind. Dusk watched her go…she was so upset…

A dull light shone before Dusk as his sister left. He sucked in a breath when he saw Shadow sitting in front of him. He was battle scarred and…creepy looking! Shadow rolled his blue eyes at the freaked-out face of Dusk.

"You look like you've just seen a ghost or something." Shadow mewed sarcastically.

"What do you want?" Dusk mewed, his spine tingling in fear.

"You don't care for the prophecy my mate gave you." Shadow growled. "That's disrespectful…"

"Why does it concern me?" Dusk snorted. Shadow sighed impatiently and looked both ways, his head leaning close.

"I'm not supposed to tell you this…but if you really want to know why it concerns you, you'd listen carefully." Shadow whispered. Dusk leaned forward and listened to the old cat.

"I'm not going to interpret the whole prophecy for you…but Dusk," Shadow paused for what seemed like eternity before he spoke again.

"What is it?" Dusk whispered.

"You are going to die."