Um... here we are again... updating twice a day... help. Anyways, I was feeling especially inclined to write, so here we are! Chapter 16 will have to wait until tomorrow though. Now it's time for me to do more homework lol...
Blackpaw stared up at the stars through the crack in her den. Starclan, please. Streamclan, are you ever coming to rescue me?
A half moon had passed since the dreadful battle where she had been captured, and Blackpaw had grown increasingly more homesick as the time passed.
She missed the gentle bubble of the stream and the excited voice of Copperpaw and Hollyclaw's reprimanding mew. Great Starclan, she even missed Lightbriar a little bit.
Only a little bit.
"Blackpaw!"
A hiss came from the back wall of the den. She cast a nervous glance towards the entrance of the den, where Leafblaze was guarding. The golden-brown warrior was nice enough to talk to, actually, Poppyclan was a pretty nice Clan apart from Applestar, Honeyhawk, and a few others.
She crept carefully towards the wall. "Who is it?"
"Frostlight." Blackpaw could see the light blue-gray tom now, and felt a stab of pity for him when she looked at him.
The past half-moon, he had been arguing more than ever with Applestar, and it didn't seem to be faring well for him. Blood dripped from another wound that he had received from the leader, and he looked scrawny. "Have you been eating?" Blackpaw asked him nervously. Frostlight shook his head. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine. Leaf-bare is hard on everyone." Yeah, it is, but you're being starved.
"But, Frostlight, you can't die trying to get me out."
"I'm Poppyclan's sole medicine cat." Frostlight hissed back. "That gives me extended life until I train an apprentice."
"Wow, so lucky for you." Blackpaw mewed wryly.
Has his life threatened in his own Clan, and gets tortured by his own leader because he dares to speak up against her. Sounds wonderful.
"Anyways, I talked to Cedareyes about the battle a quarter moon ago. Cavernclan is preparing. The alliance has been broken, but I wish that Streamclan would team up with Cavernclan. That would work well, but we might have to rely on Cavernclan to get you out of here."
"What do you mean?" Blackpaw whispered.
"Poppyclan will attack Cavernclan's camp tomorrow. Then, when the main battle is there, I'll head over there and lead a small patrol over here. We'll get you out, and hopefully back to Streamclan alive."
Blackpaw blinked in amazement. He's really willing to risk that?
"And if Applestar finds out? She'll be furious with you!"
Frostlight gave a wry smile, a dangerous light dancing in his haunted blue eyes.
"Good."
A rustling from the front of the den made them both freeze. Leafblaze turned to face both of them.
"See, I'm the deputy's brother, but I'll help you."
He gave a small smile.
"Because if you take a closer look at Poppyclan, Frostlight, quite a few cats are on your side."
Frostlight gave him a small nod. "Thank you."
He glanced nervously around. "I should head back to my den."
He turned and slipped into the bushes behind the den, his light pelt vanishing.
"Well then." Leafblaze chuckled. "Things are definitely beginning to escalate here in Poppyclan, aren't they?"
"This isn't just Poppyclan now." Blackpaw mewed miserably. "All the Clans are getting involved. Springclan is coming to help Cavernclan in the battle. At least, that's what Cherryeyes told Frostlight the other day."
Leafblaze looked surprised. "Well then."
He turned and resumed guarding.
Blackpaw ran over the plan in her mind again. It's so risky… ok. So, the battle is tomorrow night. When Poppyclan is attacking Cavernclan, Springclan will come help Cavernclan. Cedareyes will send a small group of cats over here, where they'll get me and take me back to Streamclan by traveling through Springclan land. What about Streamclan again? Oh yeah… During the battle, Frostlight will run over there and alert Stormstar to the entire operation. And if this SOMEHOW all succeeds, I'll make it home and Applestar will be back to square one, making it easier to defeat her. Ugh… this is so risky. Cedareyes told Frostlight that one more thing needed to happen before the battle, so I hope that that happens. She turned her head up to the stars again.
I just hope this entire thing works.
—
(Skyblaze's POV)
Skyblaze awoke drowsily, confused. Who's poking me? I'm trying to sleep, for Starclan's sake.
Curlflight, who he was sharing a nest with, stirred but didn't wake, letting out a little sigh and rolling over. Sorry, Curlflight.
He glanced up. Cedareyes was standing there, panic and impatience in his usually warm brown eyes. Skyblaze got out of his nest, casting a last regretful look back at Curlflight before following Cedareyes.
"What is it?" He hissed. "I thought that the attack was tomorrow."
"It is." Cedareyes rolled his eyes. "I was going to go to Springclan tonight to tip off Gullstar about where to go tomorrow night for the battle, but I can't leave, not after Stonesong got so injured in the rockfall yesterday."
Skyblaze winced, remembering how the poor tom looked when he had been hauled back to camp.
"How did that rockfall even happen anyways?" He whispered.
"Anyways, I still need someone to go to Springclan. Mistshade and Rockstorm are being watched carefully enough, can you please go for me?"
"Why me?"
Skyblaze groaned. He nodded. "Fine. But are you sure that Leopardpaw can't take care of Stonesong-"
"Leopardpaw may nearly be a full medicine cat, but I can't leave Stonesong. He's in critical condition."
Skyblaze sighed.
"Ok. But if I die trying to cross Poppyclan's dang territory, I'll come and haunt you from Starclan for the rest of your pathetic life."
Cedareyes gave a wry smile. "Go, Skyblaze. You're wasting moonlight."
Skyblaze raced out of camp, heading for the Poppyclan border.
I could go on the very edge, it's the middle of the dang night, and I'm not a medicine cat, and I could very well be shredded. Ugh, I really didn't think this through. He padded cautiously up to the border, and looked around before crossing. If I'm caught, I'll say Cedareyes needed to take a message to Ryewillow about a new herb that he found or something. It's not a great excuse, but it's the best one that I can come up with right now.
He was about to cross, but a voice from in front of him made him freeze.
"Oh, Skyblaze? What are you doing at the Poppyclan border in the middle of the night?"
He turned towards the source, and found himself staring at Sandstep, a Poppyclan warrior.
"Um, I.. Cedareyes asked me to pass a message to Ryewillow, that's all."
Sandstep took a step towards him. "And why couldn't Cedareyes come?"
Something in the way she looked at him made Skyblaze uncomfortable, and he kind of wished that he could just run back to camp and curl up beside Curlflight where he was safe. He took a breath.
"Because Cedareyes is treating a cat. This message is urgent. I'm sorry to have to go on your territory, but I really need to get there and we're kind of allies, so can you let me go this one time?"
Sandstep hesitated. A small smile appeared on her face.
"Ok, but I'll come with you to the border. We can't have Cavernclan warriors in our territory all alone, can we?"
Skyblaze, not really sure how to reply to this, just gave a small nod and stepped over the border cautiously.
I swear, Cedareyes, all I wanted to do was sleep. Why couldn't you just have done it yesterday?
He padded beside Sandstep cautiously, alert for the slightest sign of movement. I can't risk getting killed out here. They finally reached the border, and Skyblaze sprang across it eagerly, ready to get the heck out of Poppyclan.
I suppose I can find a way to cross on the way back. I mean, I could go on the edge of Streamclan's territory, but I know I'm not going back through Poppyclan's territory.
"Bye, Skyblaze." Sandstep whispered. A twisted smile appeared on her face.
"See you at moonhigh."
She disappeared in the trees, and Skyblaze stared after her in shock. She knew that I knew about the battle. How did she know? Skyblaze gulped. That's not good.
"You're not Cedareyes." A cautious voice came from behind him. Skyblaze dipped his head respectfully to the Springclan leader.
"Hello, sir, I'm Skyblaze. I'm taking the message for Cedareyes. He's busy tonight."
Gullstar didn't look surprised. "Ok. What is the message?"
Skyblaze explained it hurriedly, and noticed with panic that the sun was beginning to rise already. "I need to get back."
"So do I." Gullstar didn't look nervous. "Go to the Gathering place, then cross into Poppyclan's territory from there. You know the way. I'll see you at moonhigh."
Skyblaze nodded. "Yes, sir. Thank you for your help."
"Anytime." Gullstar looked grim. "Applestar is a threat to all the Clans right now. I am glad that young cats are finally doing something about it. It pains me to hear about what she is planning to do to your Clan. Springclan will always help Goldenstar's Clan."
He gave a small smile.
"Well, Cavernclan warriors are just helping a bit, honestly." Skyblaze said, embarrassed. "Mistshade and Rockstorm figured it out, and Frostlight and Cedareyes mainly put the plan together."
"Ah, Frostlight." Gullstar looked troubled. "Ryewillow mentioned that he looked awful at the last half-moon meeting. He had scratches on his face, and looked like he was starving."
Skyblaze widened his eyes in surprise. I didn't know things were that bad in Poppyclan for him. This is much more dangerous for him than I originally thought.
"I really must be going, sir, but thank you for all your help." Gullstar nodded, and began to pad away, but turned to face him once more. "Wait!"
Skyblaze paused. "Yes?"
"Don't call me sir." Gullstar laughed. "It makes me feel old."
With that, he had disappeared, leaving Skyblaze alone.
Um. Ok.
Skyblaze began to make his way back to Cavernclan, and it was already near sunhigh by the time he had finally made it back. "SKYBLAZE!" Curlflight's angry yowl echoed around the camp when he finally padded through.
"WHERE WERE YOU? YOU LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, YOU DIDN'T EVEN TELL ME-"
Skyblaze gulped. "Um, hello dear."
Curlflight stared down at him, though Skyblaze could tell she wasn't really angry anymore.
"Stupid rock-brain." She shoved him playfully. "I have something to tell you."
Skyblaze paused. "What is it?"
Curlflight intertwined their tails. "I'm expecting."
Well... This escalated quickly! Chapter 16 will be out tomorrow, I just need to do homework lol... I may ask for kit names in the future, but we'll see if Curlflight even lives long enough to have her kits... Anyways...
Reviews? Plz? Your opinion matters, and I do take feedback!
Have a good day (or night), and keep writing!
-Mintflight