Chapter 10
When Leafpool awoke, she found herself lying on a patch of comfortable moss. The only problem here, she thought is the fact that I'm surrounded by brambles and I have no idea where I am!
Leafpool felt like she was in prison. The brambles around her seemed flawlessly built. They formed a box shape, it was tall enough for her to stand and walk about one fox length North, West, South, and East each. Weak sunlight shone through the cracks in the brambles, making it a little easier to see outside into the dark mysterious forest.
Leafpool's head began to ache where the rogue hit her, knocking her out. Might as well rest. She went back to the center of her cage and curled up into a tight ball, and began to drift off to sleep.
The Thunderclan warriors yowled their triumph as the last of the rogues fled the bloody battleground. All of them were unaware of their missing clanmate.
Onestar reluctantly thanked Bramblestar "Thank you for sending your warriors to fight beside mine. But don't think Windclan is weak or there is friendship between our clans now!" He spat the final words.
Beside Bramblestar, Squirrelflight rolled her eyes while Bramblestar simply replied "Wouldn't dream of it. We should be getting back now, safe travels."
As Onestar stalked away towards his battered warriors, Squirrelflight muttered to her mate, "Ungrateful furball, no sense that his warriors would have died without us!"
Bramblestar murmured agreement when Thornclaw limped up to him. "Good, good. So I see Leafpool got to you guys on time. I am very glad. So where is Leafpool? Is she back at camp?"
The Thunderclan leader blinked "She came to the battle, she was supposed to help the injured." When Bramblestar saw alarm flash in Thornclaw's eyes, he turned to his deputy "Can you reach out to Leafpool and she what she is feeling?"
Squirrelflight nodded, using her special connection to her sister to try and tell what she is feeling. "It's so strange" She began "Leafpool feels confused, scared, and worried. She seems to have been hit on the head cause I can feel her headache." Squirrelflight looked to Bramblestar, fear for her sister visible in her eyes "She isn't here, the rogues captured her, I'm not sure why and Leafpool isn't either."
Thornclaw gaped. "I-it's all my fault...A rogue was yelling at me asking where she was... I-I thought she would be okay with you guys...I should of said somthing...Now she's gone..." His voice shook, grief overtaking him. The golden warrior began to sob, head and tail drooped. His shoulders shook and he looked ready to collasp. "I-I failed her!"
"Now, now Thornclaw" Squirrelflight sat down beside him and put her tail across his shoulders "Leafpool will be okay. If she blamed you or was dead I would know." The dark ginger she-cat turned to her mate again. "Let's get Dovewing. If a cat is missing, we know she is the one to get."
Bramblestar nodded and beckoned the fluffy gray warrior over with a flick of his tail.
"Yes Bramblestar?" Dovewing had never looked or felt happier. Having her powers back made her feel normal even though it set her apart from other cats.
"Leafpool is missing, Dovewing. Can you use your power to look for her? See where she is?"
Dovewing blinked "Of course Bramblestar. If somone took her or she wandered off for some reason, she couldn't of gotten far." Dovewing then let her senses roam. She could see Shadowclan hunting patrols, the Windclan cats making their way back to the moor, Riverclan cats fishing in a stream, but no sign of Leafpool. Dovewing pushed herself to see further into unknown territory, first beyond Shadowclan and Thunderclan. The darker forest seemed like an obvious place to hide somthing, or someone. Aha! Strange Dovewing thought, a cage. What kind of sick cat would trap another cat in a cage? And one made of brambles? Jeez!
"Have you found her?" Squirrelflight looked up from comforting Thornclaw. When Dovewing nodded, Thornclaw's head jerked up and he stared at Dovewing with pleading amber eyes.
"Is she okay?!" The golden-brown warriors demand was shrill and high pitched, overcome by worry.
Dovewing cleared her throat "Yes, she seems fine but the strange thing is-"
"Seems?! Seems?! No is she okay or isn't she? I need to know!" Thornclaw stood up bristling, then as if he was struck by a sense of calm, he sat back down again, his fur lying flat. "I-I think she was expecting my kits. I know it's very soon, but she was a very gifted medicine cat, she may have known easily." He lay down, chin resting on his paws. "Maybe that's why she was so worried about me."
Bramblestar took a breath and cleared his throat "We will discuss this back at camp." He jumped up on a nearby rock "Thunderclan, we are victorious! We shall feast from the fresh kill pile, we are to celebrate ridding this area of code-less rogues who have no honor! Thunderclan is victorious!"
The Thunderclan warriors cheered. After a few moments the clamor died down and the cats began in the direction of the stone hollow.
Bramblestar turned to Squirrelflight, Dovewing, and Thornclaw. "Act normal, don't give anything away. Hopefully the glory of winning a battle will distract them."
"But what about Jayfeather? He can read minds again." Dovewing reminded him.
The tabby groaned "Just block out your thoughts."
The four began trudging back to camp.
A paw prodding her in the side woke Leafpool. "W-what? Huh?" Standing over her was Breezepelt.
He glared down at her "You are lucky I don't kill you right now."
Leafpool looked up at her captor with larhe amber eyes. "I don't understand, how am I important. Clearly you are aware I'm going to be the mother of a cat from a prophecy. I am sure the prophecy involves destroying you."
Breezepelt let out an evil chuckle. "Maybe you're smarter than I thought. Though you lack creativity. The glowing heart of amber will have more power than you could ever imagine. Which could be of use to me, it will just need training."
Leafpools pelt bristled "Stay away from my kit you sick fox-heart!" She hissed.
Breezepelt shook his head "Don't be so difficult. I am not going to hurt it. Look I already know you're pregnat, you are acting so protective already. I don't think you realize how lucky you are right now." The ghostly cat said.
"How so?" Said the slightly confused Leafpool.
The Dark Forest cat's gaze darkened "You gave birth to Lionblaze, Hollyleaf, and Jayfeather. My father loved them more than me! I could kill you right now, but I won't." Breezepelt took a deep breath "Would you like to step outside?"
Leafpool just now realized they were in her bramble cage. "W-wait how did you even get in here?"
Breezepelt let out an exasperated sigh "I built this thing, I put openings. You didn't ask how you got in here when you woke up? Now do you want to go outside or not?"
Leafpool nodded, standing up.
"Open up, rogue." The ghostly Breezepelt comanded a large rogue.
"Yes boss." The rogue then walked over to the cage and pulled on a vine woven between brambles, like a door the brambles were pulled outward.
Breezepelt flicked his tail "After you, oh and don't think about escaping, I have rogues stationed everywhere."
Leafpool sighed and nodded, stepping out of her prison and into the dark unknown forest.