Alright, Chapter 9, I think? School is what is causing me to put out chapters less frequently, but I'm still working, don't worry. Anyways, this chapter is going to be somewhat long, hopefully.
I stared down at Bramblepaw, whose face showed happy shock as the darkness took me. It crept over my vision, and Bramblepaw unfocused from my view. As I swept into the dark, the Shadows formed before me, mist swirling and whirling, multiple cats forming this time instead of just one.
"What should I tell them when they ask why I am alive?" I asked questingly. "They won't just ignore the fact that I was obviously dead and am now obviously alive."
"You should tell them that Starclan brought you back." the Shadows purred back. "That will make the cats of Thunderclan trust you more."
I crumpled my nose thoughtfully, tail twitching. "I don't think that would work. When the medicine cats communicate with Starclan at the Moonstone, Starclan will quickly disabuse them of that notion."
This is where the Shadows hissed in pleasure. "Oh, don't worry." Their eyes narrowed in pleasure and their tails stood up in pride. "Starclan won't be communicating with the clans anytime soon."
I went to ask what they meant, but then decided that whatever they said, if they told me at all, probably wouldn't make sense. "Yes." I agreed after hearing out the Shadows. "I think that would work well. I only have one more question." the Shadows cocked their ears towards me, obviously ready to listen.
"Should I try to stay in Thunderclan or should I return to Bloodclan?" the Shadows smiled in delight, their muzzles drawn back over their teeth.
"Stay in Thunderclan one more moon. Then, return to Bloodclan, where you will become what you were meant to be."
I nodded my head in agreement, mind whirling too fast to ask questions. "Now." I asked. "Can I go back?" The Shadows nodded their heads in agreement, and created a circle around me, their shapes blurring and whirling together as if there were a high wind.
The whirl of Shadows stole the air from me, and the darkness encroached yet again on my vision, closing over me like a dark wave.
My eyes snapped open to more shock yowling, the second set of the day. Thunderclan, or most of it, it seemed, were gathered underneath my tree. They could apparently see the rise and fall of my flank, and from the wide eyes of all around, they had not seen anything like this before.
I just purred tiredly at the chaos around me, and wondered at the Shadows' plan for me.
"Hello Sandstorm." I said just loudly enough to be heard. A tired smile stayed on my face, almost more like an expression of satisfaction. "How's it goin'?"
Sandstorm just stared up at me in shock and bewilderment, here eyes going even wider. Silence rippled through the cats surrounding my tree as I slowly got to my feet and arched my back in a stretch, muscles rippling and popping, seeming somehow stronger than before.
I leaped to the ground in a lith movement, and started padding slowly and tiredly back to the Thunderclan camp.
The tiredness seemed to be just a part of me now, an aching exhaustion that wouldn't go away, but I still padded on, hoping to get a meal. The dazed cats started following me as I continued walking slowly away.
A few tail-lengths from the ravine, Ice and Snake came dashing up, flanks heaving. Their faces showed a mixture of determination and disbelief, which quickly turned into (you guessed it) shock.
"Flame?" Ice whispered; voice somewhat trembling. "H-how are you… alive?" I just looked at her tiredly, and meowed back, "I'll tell everyone once I get some food and rest." Ice just nodded, her face showing her inner turmoil.
The camp entrance came into view, and the few cats; Elders, Queens, and Kits still in the camp came out to the smell of the cats and the sound of voices. I ignored them and went over to the fresh-kill pile, my mouth watering as much as my stomach was grumbling.
Grabbing a couple mice, I padded into a shadowed corner of the camp, trying my best to blend in. The first mouse was gone in seconds, as I watched from shaded eyes the conversations and looks in my direction from all around the camp. The second mouse came and went as well, finally filling my stomach enough for me to be comfortable.
The warmth of the air and the babble of voices served to lull me, my eyes slowly falling closed, although my ears and nose were as open as ever.
"Hello, Whitestar." I meowed quietly, curled up on the ground, eyes not even opening.
The small padding abruptly stopped, and I could almost tangibly feel the eyes of the camp on me.
"Flame." Started Whitestar. "You… how… you were dead!" I purred at the confusion in Whitestar's voice, and just lay there, content to listen. "How are you alive at all is the main question, but even if you had somehow survived you would be in pain and definitely would not be able to walk it off as if it were nothing!"
I took a moment to make sure Whitestar was done, and then unfolded myself gracefully, opening my eyes and staring straight into Whitestar's. Clearing my throat, I began the weaving of my tale.
"Whitestar… I don't know quite how to put this. Starclan, they… came to me. Told me it was not my time and… somehow… brought me back." I continued staring into Whitestar's eyes, trying my hardest to make him believe what I was meant to believe.
Whitestar stared at me for a moment before shaking his head in amazement. "Starclan… I would never have thought that they would have this much… need for someone like you." I just looked thoughtfully into the sky and turned myself almost sad.
"Yes… I'm not quite sure why Starclan would have brought a rogue like me back to life but they must have a use for me…" I shook my head in bewilderment before allowing a small ray of thought to show on my face. "Although they must have a use for me. That would explain why they told me to stay in Thunderclan for a month."
Whitestar dipped his head towards me and said in a low voice, "If Starclan wills it, you are welcome into our clan Flame." I nodded my thanks and stayed sitting as other cats came up to make sure I was real. Finally, only Ice and Snake were left standing there, staring at mem as if I were a dog.
"Flame." Ice started out, voice firm but quiet. "You must tell us, did this Starclan actually bring you back? We must know as fellow guards of Scourge." I hesitated for a moment, intending to lie to them before I opened my mouth to tell them what had happened in actuality.
The dark hit abruptly without warning, a small tinge of pain in the back of my head the only warning. The Shadows formed quickly before me, anger in the movements and their voice.
"You must tell NO ONE of us." They hissed in contempt, stalking around my, circling. "Not even those who you would trust most." I was still for moment, startled, before asking the obvious question.
"Why?" "Why?!" the voices thundered. "Because the knowledge of us is limited to you and we will keep it that way at any cost." The implied threat got through to me and I dipped my head in submission.
"Of course I will keep your existence a secret." I meowed, tail down. "Good." The Shadows hissed. "For your own sake."
I came back up through the darkness as if I were rising through water, and gasped when I reached the surface, eyes flying open to find Ice and Snake standing over me, expression of worry and confusion on their face.
"Flame…" Snake said. "You just… collapsed." The fact that they were asking what had happened hit me quickly, and I quickly ground out an explanation.
"Starclan's healing has some certain… adverse effects. Being revived, after all, is not a perfect art." I shook myself briskly, standing up. "Well, I'm fine now." I said gruffly. "And yes, Starclan really was my savior." And with that I padded off, paws moving faster with each step until I was running all out through the bramble tunnel and into the forest.
Each step pounded into me the same idea. I had just lied with ease to those who should be coming to trust me through the bond of clanship and friendship. And I saw that I was become exactly what I was meant to be. A conquerer.
Alright, I got Chapter 9 cranked out on schedule, which is good. However, I feel as if this Chapter doesn't make the most sense based on how quickly things have moved so I might change it later on. Anyways, cya!