*~Hey heres the new chapter, thanks to all who reviewed. Also thanks for your sympathy about Kissy, it meant a lot. Well 13 more chapters until the end, should update Friday or Saturday. Please if you can review? Maybe I can reach 200 reviews, thanks!~*
~Leo~
CHAPTER 25
Silence surrounded the deep valley, as mist cloaked the rocky terrain. It hung low in the sky, making visibility almost impossible. The air smelled wet and cold as Hollyleaf plunged through the rocky canyon, pebbles falling underneath her. Her vision was clouded greatly, almost to the point that she felt blind.
Taking a quick moment to sniff the air, Hollyleaf could tell something wasn't quite right. An eery silence filled the air, making her spine shiver with anxiety.
Something isn't right, she told herself, I shouldn't be here.
Taking not another moment to find out, Hollyleaf bounded swiftly down the canyon. Up ahead the mist began to clear and Hollyleaf's emerald eyes began to focus more closely on the path ahead.
Suddenly out of nowhere, a shriek pierced the air, making her bolt to a stop. That sound, she had heard it before. When the clans stopped at a clearing not to long ago, they heard the same exact howl.
Wolves, Hollyleaf breathed. This wasn't good, she had to get out of here, no matter what.
Taking a great leap forward onto a boulder, Hollyleaf raced through the rocky canyon, her paws slipping and sliding through the wet pebbles. Adrenaline boosted her energy level, making it possible for her to go faster than previously possible.
But wolves are much faster than cats, she admitted, not to mention almost five times our size.
Heavy paw steps sounded close behind, closing in on Hollyleaf. She turned her black head, and gasped as a huge figure ran beside her. The animal was larger than even the biggest dog she had seen, but its head was narrower, and its fangs were much larger.
No, I can't die. I still have a destiny to fulfill, what about the power of three?
Fangs baring and eyes narrowing, the wolf leapt at Hollyleaf, throwing her to the ground with tremendous force. Her body hit the ground, skidding down the rocky path, scraping her back. Fangs closed in only a mouse-length form her face, saliva dripping from the beasts mouth.
Hollyleaf tried to inch away, but the weight of the animal was just to much for her. With one last look into the wolves deadly gaze, Hollyleaf screamed as fangs dug into her throat, killing her instantly.
Hollyleaf bolted upright, her breathing quickened as she remembered the nightmare.
But it was just a nightmare, she told herself, none of it was real.
Thin rays of sunlight drifted in through the caves entrance. Hollyleaf was one of the only cats still sleeping, it was late in the day, already past sun-high.
Fox-dung, she cursed, I wanted to go hunting with Mousewhisker.
Stretching her limbs, Hollyleaf look around the den. Owlwing and Olivenose, two ShadowClan warriors, were curled up, sleeping together. Minnowtail of RiverClan was sleeping peacefully next to the tabby brown she-cat, Duskfur.
It was weird for Hollyleaf to be surrounded by cats of other clans, it didn't seem normal.
We should be back in the forest in separate camps, not on a journey to who knows where.
Padding out of the den, careful not to wake any of the others, Hollyleaf scented the mountain air. She was glad it was fresh and clean, not cold and dark like in her dream. Surprisingly the outskirts of camp were quite busy.
Tribe-cats were bringing in prey, and the mentors were training their apprentices alongside the to-bes. At least the young cats of the clans were learning what they needed to know for the rest of the journey.
Hollyleaf wanted to train Coalpaw, but stopped as she noticed he was training alongside Cinderheart and Silverpaw.
I haven't been much of a mentor, she grumbled, I'm surprised Firestar didn't give him a new one yet.
At this rate Hollyleaf would never be deputy, let alone leader of the clans. The scent of Birchfall and Whitewing drifted across her nose, as Hollyleaf spotted her kin sharing tongues.
"Did you sleep well?" Whitewing greeted the black she-cat, her green eyes gazing happily at Hollyleaf.
"Reasonably well" Hollyleaf admitted, except for the nightmare, but she wasn't going to tell anyone about that.
Thistlepaw was laying next to his mother and father, batting around a cricket he found. Hollyleaf felt a pang of sorrow for the young tom, he was still an apprentice. Thistlepaw should have been made a warrior moons ago, but with his injuries and the whole journey, it had been put off.
"Lionblaze was looking for you" Thistlepaw murmured, not taking his eyes off of the green insect, "And so was Jayfeather".
Hollyleaf nodded in thanks, as she spotted the golden pelt of her brother. Saying goodbye, she wandered over to Lionblaze, wondering why he would want to see her.
"There you are" Lionblaze meowed, butting his sisters head in welcome. "I haven't seen you for ages, I began to think you might have joined StarClan" Lionblaze meowed with a smile.
"Thistlepaw said you were looking for me" she stated, "Is something wrong?".
Lionblaze shook his head, "Can't we just talk for a moment? Why do we always have to talk about the bad, and never the good!" his gold gaze shifted to her eyes.
Hollyleaf sighed, "Because the bad is more important than the good, now tell me, whats wrong?" She insisted, staring intently at the deputy.
It wasn't that Hollyleaf liked to hear bad news, it was just more important to hear it, and figure out a solution.
"Come with me, we need to get Jayfeather" Lionblaze sighed, turning and padding off in the direction of the stream.
The bubbling water poured down from the waterfall, and foamed at the edge of a ravine, casting shrouds of mist into the air. The dark gray fur of her brother stood out greatly against the jade colored grass he was sitting on.
Jayfeather's sightless blue eyes stared across the stream, and into the forest, looking at nothing.
"I found her" Lionblaze announced as the two neared their brother.
He turned his head, "Finally, it took you long enough."
"Isn't it just great when the three of us together" Lionblaze hissed sarcastically, "You can just feel the love". J
ayfeather rolled his eyes, for once he wasn't the only one with sarcasm.
Her two brothers were once Hollyleaf's only friends, but now the three litter-mates had grown apart. Ever since the prophecy which said one of them wasn't the third power of three, tensions were high.
"So what is so important that I need to know?" Hollyleaf asked, looking from Lionblaze to Jayfeather.
It was a moment before either tom replied to her question, and it was Jayfeather who answered.
"The Clans are in trouble Hollyleaf" he meowed with much truth in his voice. "To make this short, I'll cut to the most important thing, Flare is an evil cat. He's the one that kept Leafpool here against her will, he's the one that is trying to keep the four clans here, forever."
An odd silence engulfed the three cats, as Hollyleaf stared at Jayfeather. It was complete fox-dung, how could a cat as nice as Flare, commit such evil deeds?
"I highly doubt that" Hollyleaf hissed, "Why would Flare do such a thing, what does he have to gain?".
"More cats in his clan, more cave-guards. Even more Medicine Cats so he doesn't have to do a thing" Jayfeather growled.
"Think about it Hollyleaf" Lionblaze added, "Look at all the main exits of the caverns, what do you see?".
Sighing, Hollyleaf turned to look up at the many winding caves. She didn't see anything out of the ordinary at first, but when her eyes drifted to the exit to the main den, her eyes opened wide. Three cave-guards stood outside, watching the clans to make sure no one left the territory.
In fact, one dark brown tom kept his eye on the three of them, staring intently at the clan cats.
It can't be! Hollyleaf gasped, What in StarClans name happened to the Tribe, they used to be so nice and harmless!
"Its true" Jayfeather meowed, padding up beside his sister, "And we have to do something about it".
"But what?" she retorted, "Are we supposed to walk right up to Flare and tell him to let us leave? Yeah that'll work out real well" she rolled her eyes.
Jayfeather kneaded the ground, "Lionblaze and I came up with a plan. But first we need to warn the others, where's Burningpaw and Firestar? We should tell them first."
The Medicine Cat looked from Hollyleaf to Lionblaze, wondering where their younger cousin was.
"I haven't seen him since yesterday morning" Lionblaze meowed, and Hollyleaf agreed. Both warriors turned to the Medicine Cat, whose eyes were rounded with horror.
"What's wrong?" Hollyleaf advanced forward, concern in her voice. Her brother looked like an adder was crawling on him. "The last time I saw Burningpaw, Flare had requested to see him. I thought nothing of it at the time, but now that none of us have seen him..." he trailed off.
There was nothing left to say, as Lionblaze and Hollyleaf bounded up the hill towards Flare's cavern. There was no time to get Firestar or anymore warriors, they had to find Burningpaw fast! What if Flare did something to her cousin, what if he was dead!?
No, I can't think about that! Hollyleaf growled in her head, Burningpaw isn't dead, but Flare deserves to be.
Grassy plains changed to stone, as she and her brother entered the cavern. A cave-guard stood outside, standing stiff in front of his healers cave.
"Stop right there" she meowed, "Where are you two going?".
Hollyleaf was about to spit out her anger at the tortoiseshell she-cat, but Lionblaze stepped forward.
"I need to speak with Flare, now let me pass" he growled through bared fangs.
The tortoiseshell she-cat smirked, "Flare is busy now, you two can come back when he's done".
Through the hanging Lichen, Hollyleaf could just make out the small ginger form of Burningpaw in the den.
"Lionblaze!" she gasped, "Burningpaw's in there!".
The golden deputy's eyes lit up with rage, and in one blow he sent the she-cat flying across the cavern, shocking a few RiverClan cats. The two burst through the opening, preparing for a fight. Hollyleaf looked around, and saw the Healer standing over the pool, holding Burningpaw's front paw in the water.
"Stop it!" she growled ramming into the healer. Burningpaw was able to escape, but she barely moved the healer, who was almost twice her size.
"What is the meaning of this!?" Flare growled, his eyes flashing with anger.
"Hollyleaf, Lionblaze!" Burningpaw scampered over to his kin, and hid behind the deputy.
"What did you do to him?" Lionblaze demanded, inching forward.
"That is none of your business. Now leave immediately" the flame furred tom growled, his fur bristling.
Hollyleaf knew what was to come if she didn't stop it now, Lionblaze was going to fight the leader.
"What is going on!?" a shocked voice came from outside the den. She turned to see Firestar standing near the entrance, a shocked look on his face.
"Burningpaw are you okay?" Firestar asked, moving forward to examine his apprentice.
Now that Hollyleaf looked at him, she realized that the young toms paw was bleeding, it looked like it was sliced open.
"Who did this?" Firestar glared, looking at his grandchildren.
Lionblaze flicked his tail to Flare, "Ask him, he's the one trying to keep us all captive."
More cats began to gather outside the cavern, most of them clan cats. Hollyleaf noticed the other leaders edging forward to stand by Firestar.
"Flare what is the meaning of this?" the ginger leader of ThunderClan asked, "What is he talking about?".
Hollyleaf turned her gaze, to glance at the healer, who was now smirking. Four cave-guards entered, and stood by their healer.
"From this point on, all clan cats are part of the Tribe now" he growled, "Anyone who tries to escape will be slaughtered. I can't let you leave Firestar" Flare hissed, with no concern whatsoever in his voice.
"Starting now there will be no clans" Flare yelled, so the rest of the cats could hear, "You are all members of the Tribe of Rushing Water now, and you will be for the rest of your lives."
13 Chapters to go, please Review REVIEW!
