Alright! Here is Chapter 17... I actually did my homework before posting this! Are you proud of me? lol anyways...
I'm going home. Blackpaw wanted to leap in excitement. Her shadows swam around her, and she brought them back in, trying to contain them a little bit.
One of the Cavernclan cats who was escorting her home glanced at her and grinned. "Those shadows of yours causing you some trouble?"
Blackpaw shook her head. "Not much, sir, thank you for asking."
The Cavernclan cat chuckled. "So formal. My name is Flintspring, though."
"I'm Blackpaw, but you um, probably already know that." Blackpaw replied softly.
"I bet you're eager to get home." Flintspring commented, weaving around a bush.
Blackpaw nodded, staring around in wonder at the lush greenery. Springclan territory was SO green, and plants were everywhere, and Blackpaw admired the beautiful climbing vines and fireflies that flitted around the forest. This place sure is beautiful, and if you were attacking it, basically impossible to navigate. The deputy of Springclan, Driftflame, was guiding them to the border, she was talking to the leader of the patrol, Sandspark, who was nodding and whispering something back. Blackpaw felt nothing but gratitude for this daring group of cats who had risked so much for her, and she wondered when and if she would ever be able to repay them for their kindness.
"I am." Blackpaw replied. "I can't wait to see my Clanmates again, and hear the stream, and be able to go outside the camp again… "
Beautiful daydreams filled her head, and she wanted to race ahead, wanted to see her home again, wanted to be with her clanmates. Fernpaw and Sootpaw had kept her company a lot when she had been imprisoned, but she had spent a lot of time alone. She was thankful for her Poppyclan friends, and hoped that neither of them had died, she knew that the battle had been bloody for both Clans and she didn't even know everyone who died from Streamclan. Please, Copperpaw, please be alive. I'm sorry that I've been gone, but I can't lose you.
After what seemed like a literal eternity, they reached the Streamclan/Springclan border, and Blackpaw bounded across it gratefully, the Cavernclan cats amused at her excitement.
"Thank you for your help, ma'am." Sandspark dipped his head to Driftflame.
"Sure." Driftflame shrugged. "Anytime."
They continued into Streamclan territory as Driftflame turned and headed back into Springclan territory, flicking her tail. Blackpaw gazed around, breathing in the familiar scents. The river bubbled peacefully, while the moon illuminated the shadowy forest and made the whole area shine with a sort of mysterious light.
Blackpaw recognized where they were almost immediately, and sprung up to the front of the patrol, eager to come back to camp. Just before she was about to race down to the clearing to camp, however, came a beautiful, familiar, yowl
. "BLACKPAW!" Copperpaw's voice rang out, echoing around the camp.
"Copperpaw!" Blackpaw raced towards her brother, flinging herself at him. Copperpaw fell with a thump and she buried her nose in his chest fur, breathing in his scent.
"I'm Copperheart now, actually!" Copperheart exclaimed, resting his head on hers.
"That's great!" Blackpaw gazed up at him. Her mew grew regretful. "I would have my warrior name too if not for Applestar."
Copperhear's eyes narrowed. "What happened to that fox-heart anyways?"
Blackpaw shrugged. "I don't know. I assume that she went to the battle. I hope that Goldenstar ripped her throat open."
Copperheart gave a small smile. "I hope so too. Now, come on, let's get you something to eat. You must be famished."
Blackpaw nodded vigorously. Vinefur, who had appeared, dipped her head respectfully to Sandspark and the others.
"Thank you so much. We are in your debt."
"Think nothing of it." Sandspark replied evenly. "Goodnight, Vinefur."
"Goodnight."
The Cavernclan patrol turned and headed back to their territory, whispering to each other. Wolfblaze rushed up to Blackpaw, Sagestreak right behind her.
"You're back." She wrapped her thin tail around Blackpaw. "You're alive, Blackpaw."
Blackpaw nodded. She leaned into her mother's embrace and breathed in her familiar scent, she had never felt so glad to be home.
"You must be hungry." Wolfblaze repeated, stepping back. Blackpaw nodded vigorously and rushed over to the fresh-kill pile, where she picked a water vole and bit into it ravenously. She gulped down her prey, basking in the familiar air of home. After she had finished, she heard the sound of many paws coming into camp. She turned to see Stormstar rush back into camp, the rest of the patrol behind him. Though triumph was shining in his eyes, his mouth was a grim line, and blood trickled from a wound on his shoulder, causing him to limp.
"Glad to see you back, Blackpaw."
"Thank you, sir." Blackpaw mewed respectfully. "I'm glad to be back as well."
"What happened with Applestar?" Wolfblaze asked, jumping to her paws. "She's not the leader of Poppyclan anymore, I'll tell you that. She got the heck out of there, as many have told her too. And the deputy, she's dead. Swiftshine killed her."
Wolfblaze gave a curt nod.
"What about the spy?" Blackpaw blurted out. "Did they die too?" "That spy is gone, I presume. Dead, hopefully."
Stormstar's gaze traveled warily over the group of cats standing in the clearing.
"Whoever is the spy here, I speak directly to you. Get out of the camp. Applestar has lost, and I will not let a cat who has betrayed their clan in the most disgusting way possible stay in Streamclan."
No cat moved. Stormstar dipped his head and stalked off to the medicine den.
"Just remember that, whoever you are."
Blackpaw stared after him nervously, she wished that she knew who the spy was. It was a chilling fact to know that there was a cat, most likely in this very camp, who had killed Goosepaw, who had betrayed their Clan, and no one knew who it was.
Definitely a comforting fact. I guess there's always the possibility that I could get murdered in my sleep.
"Your nest is still in the apprentices den." Copperheart mewed. "Mine is in the warrior's den now, but I'm still going to sleep by you tonight."
"Thanks." Blackpaw blinked gratefully at him. "I'll appreciate the company after all those lonely nights in Poppyclan."
They padded to the apprentices den, and Blackpaw collapsed into her nest. She didn't care that the moss was crumbly and old, she fell right asleep, almost breathless with relief.
I'm finally home. Thank you, Starclan, for finally granting my wish.
—
(Feathersoar's POV)
Feathersoar ran.
She didn't know where to go.
We lost, and it's not my fault. I'll never be able to go back to Cavernclan again, and I'm glad. Goldenstar was weak. She might have won, but the only reason that she did is because she had both of the other Clans backing her up. Feathersoar spat in disgust onto the dusty ground. What a useless excuse for a leader.
She padded forwards for a while, not sure where she was going anymore. I have to leave if I want to keep my life. Mistshade and Rockstorm know what I've done, and they must have already told Goldenstar.
"Feathersoar, if you really want to live, I would suggest not being on the outskirts of Streamclan territory." A mocking mew came from behind her.
She hissed. "What do you want now? You failed as well. Frostlight is still alive."
"I know." He didn't look at all nervous. "He didn't need to die." He examined his claws as if he was bored.
"Yet."
"Applestar will be furious with you." Feathersoar smirked. "I hope that she kills you."
"Applestar, if you hadn't noticed, has been driven out. Honeyhawk is dead, and Poppyclan is without a leader. And, my clanmates don't know about my betrayal, unlike yours."
Feathersoar hissed again. "Shut up. It won't be long until they find out who you are. You're not any better than me."
He looked amused. "Ah, but I am. Stormstar gave this whole thing about how whoever was the spy should leave. It took a good amount of my willpower to not start laughing in the middle of it. As if that stupid leader would ever suspect me."
"It's because you're a trusted warrior, isn't it?" Feathersoar spat. "Because you kill anyone who does figure out what you've done."
The tom shrugged, his blue eyes shining with amusement. He glanced up at the stars.
"I'm surprised ghost Goosepaw hasn't told anyone yet. I guess I should be thankful to him."
"Yeah, because Goosepaw definitely would want to do a favor for his murderer." Feathersoar replied sarcastically. The tom didn't say anything for a few heartbeats, just stared at her with his unnerving blue eyes.
"You did it because Applestar threatened something, didn't you?" He mewed at last.
Feathersoar widened her eyes in shock. How did he know? She didn't like to think about it.
"Your dear brother might live, Feathersoar. But you have to do something for me."
Feathersoar had been young, she had been desperate. She had agreed, and it had gotten her in this awful mess.
"Yeah." Feathersoar replied, not even trying to keep the grief out of her voice. "My brother, Pinemist. He was my best friend, and now he's gone. He just disappeared one day, and I found his blood by the Poppyclan border." She spat at the ground. "Applestar told me it was my fault."
She let out a small sob. "She murdered my brother, and she told me it was MY FAULT."
The tom didn't seem concerned. "Then why did you help her? That seems like a more compelling reason to kill her, honestly."
"I KNOW." Feathersoar sighed. "But I wanted to earn her trust. She had taken everything from me, and so I had to take everything from her. I had been planning, I had been so close, until my plan went horribly wrong. I received a fun scar for that."
She showed part of her underbelly, which was scarred with small scars. She rose up to her paws again.
"I was scared after that. I had to do what she asked. I knew what would happen if I didn't."
She faced him. "What about you? I shared my story, so you should share yours. What did she do to you?"
The tom didn't answer. "I don't really think I'm going to share that. Maybe she didn't even do anything to me at all."
"I shared my story." Feathersoar repeated, an edge to her voice this time. "I know that there's something."
"Perhaps I just did it out of the good of my heart." The tom joked. "What good?" Feathersoar raised one eyebrow suspiciously. "You're a bad cat, and you know it."
The tom shrugged again. "Perhaps I am. I don't really care anymore. When you've lived long enough, you realize that Starclan isn't really so wise at all."
"I already knew that." Feathersoar smirked. "They took Pinemist from me, and they don't give a damn about the Clans. They 'bless' us with their wisdom and prophecies, but they're just dead cats in the sky. They can't control as much as they claim that they can."
"Of course they can't." The tom began to head back into the trees. "And, Feathersoar?" He paused.
"What?" Feathersoar growled back. "I don't need any more of your so-called advice."
"I was just going to say that the Clans will kill you, especially Stormstar. Now that he knows who almost killed Dustwing, if he ever finds you again, he'll kill you brutally. Despite your 'tragic' story, he isn't going to care."
Feathersoar gave a short nod. "I realize this, but thanks for the tip, I SUPPOSE."
The tom smirked but didn't say anything else, just disappeared into the trees, his pelt slipping away into the dark shadows of the night. He's an odd one.
Feathersoar snorted and began to head away from Streamclan territory, heading for the unknown. Perhaps a city or something. I might be safe there. Or, relatively safe, I suppose.
She headed up a hill, the rising sun coating her dirty pelt and turning it a dull silver. She felt a pang of homesickness, but shook it off immediately.
Cavernclan isn't my home anymore. I have to move on.
She began to run, the ground rushing beneath her paws, and looked ahead, feeling more free than she ever had in awhile. I'm free. I don't owe anything to anyone. I don't have to do anything for anyone. I don't have to do anything for Applestar.
"I'm sorry, Pinemist." She mewed sadly, slowing to a halt. "I'm sorry that you had to die. It wasn't fair, and I hope that you're happy now. I wish that I could've saved you. I wish that I could've avenged you."
"Who do you want to avenge?" A cat padded from in front of her. He dipped his head in greeting. "My name is Comet. What's yours?"
"Feather." Feathersoar mewed. I'm not a Clan cat anymore.
"You smell like him." Comet mewed evenly. "I mean, he's a rogue now, I assume, but you smell like him."
"Who? What's his name?" Feathersoar asked, confused.
"He came a while ago, but he left. It's like he just disappeared into thin air." Comet looked thoughtful. "I wonder where he is."
"What was his name?" Feathersoar repeated, looking impatient. Comet sat there for a moment.
"Ah, now I remember!" His face grew confused. "Huh." He turned to face her nervously. "I think that you know this cat. You just mentioned him."
Feathersoar blinked, dumbfounded, but it quickly gave way to impatience. "For the last time, what was his name?"
Comet hesitated, but his mew was awfully clear when he spoke.
"His name was Pinemist."
Yeah, this might all seem kind of confusing, but just... go with it, Pinemist is important. Blackpaw's home, and will probably get her warrior name in Chapter 19, so final guesses on what it will be...? And now I'm going to go do additional homework that I just got... Yay. Anyways, REVIEW! Please, they make my day, as I have nothing else to look forward to when I'm in quarantine...
Have a good day (or night), everyone, and keep writing!
-Mintflight