Chapter 15

"Can I finally leave?" I asked.

I had been bored out of my mind for a while, especially after I started feeling better. Tallblaze wouldn't let me leave so I didn't hurt myself worse, but I was fine. I'd be fine. I wasn't even going to leave camp. After all, I'm staying in and around the nursery as a queen. He wouldn't let me though and I was frustrated.

"Yes, you can leave today. It's been a quarter moon since any symptoms," he told me. "Just promise me you'll be careful and won't do something stupid."

"I promise, I won't do anything stupid," I stated.

"Good," Tallblaze responded. "Now come on, the kits are as excited as you are to for you to get back on your feet."

I stood up. I hadn't been walking around much so I was a little weak, but certainly better. I left the medicine den and headed over to the nursery. The kits all crowded around me.

"So you're finally better?" Songkit asked. "You're gonna take care of us again?"

"We missed you," Gravelkit told me.

"I'm glad you're okay!" Tigerkit exclaimed.

"Give her some space," Boulderfang told them.

"Yes, Songkit, I'm finally better and can take care of you guys again," I answered. "Also I missed you guys too."

"Boulderfang is really bossy, I'm glad you're back!" Songkit exclaimed.

"You think he's bossy? He was my mentor," I whispered to her. "He doesn't know how to have fun." Songkit giggled.

"I heard you," Boulderfang told me. "And at least I'm not shorter than a kit!"

"Am not!" I exclaimed.

"Wait, he's right! I'm taller than you now!" Songkit realized.

"What?" I asked. They were right. "Seriously?"

"Why do you think I call you Shorty?" Tallblaze asked.

"I know I'm short, but she's like three moons old!" I exclaimed.

"I'm the size of a full-grown cat! I'm tall!" Songkit exclaimed.

"You were calling me bossy and saying I have no fun, I have no sympathy," Boulderfang told me.

"Honestly, you're both right. Shorty is tiny and Boulderfang is boring," Tallblaze stated. "Guess you can call me the neutral party."

"Well, you're annoying," I muttered.

"You're both annoying," Boulderfang revised.

"You'd think you'd be nicer considering I just got out of the medicine den," I said, faking hurt.

"You've been constantly complaining since you felt well enough to," Tallblaze reminded me. "You've been annoying and consider this revenge."

I huffed and he laughed. "Hey Deathfire! Great to see you out of the med den," Silkshade said, walking over. "How's it feel?"

"Terrible. Boulderfang and Tallblaze are bullying me," I told her.

"And you didn't start it?" she asked.

"I would never!" I exclaimed.

"Guess what, Silkshade!" Songkit exclaimed.

"What?" Silkshade asked.

"I'm taller than Deathfire now!" Songkit told her.

"Ah, so that's what's going on," Silkshade said. "Everyone's teasing Deathfire about being short again."

"Indeed," Tallblaze agreed.

"She deserves it though," Boulderfang stated.

"Oh, definitely," Tallblaze agreed.

"Would never do anything, huh?" Silkshade asked me.

"Oh, shut your muzzle," I told her, rolling my eyes.

As much as I was glad to be out of the medicine den, I was not happy to face short jokes for the rest of the day.

"I can't believe you're shorter than a kit," Lightstar laughed.

I huffed, but didn't respond. Lightstar had allowed me to go without training due to my head injury, but still burdened me with her company. I was growing tired of having to listen to her every word and even worse, agree with her. Something told me things weren't getting any easier.

"You're going to have to make up for not being able to train for around half a moon," Lightstar told me. "You're out of shape, meaning you'll fight worse than before."

"It's not my fault Flurrytail bashed my head into a tree!" I exclaimed, immediately regretting it.

"What was that you just said?" she asked.

"Yes, Lightstar. Of course, Lightstar," I corrected.

"Really? Because I don't think that's what you said," she told me. "Maybe I heard you wrong though." I eased up. "Or maybe I need to punish you for talking back."

"I'm sorry, do as you wish," I said, ducking my head. I hate having to be some obedient pet.

She walked up to me, amusement in her eyes. She circled me, questioning what she should do first. She dragged her claws up my back. I winced. She sunk her teeth into my shoulder. Blood trickled down my leg. She released her grip.

"I think I'll let you off easy tonight," she told me. "I'm feeling generous. I'll see you tomorrow!"

I sat up. My leg and back stung. I got up to go see Tallblaze. I crept out of the nursery and across camp. I went into the medicine den only to see Tallblaze wasn't there. I then remembered him telling me he was going to gather some herbs tonight and would be back late if I needed him. I didn't want to wait, however. I left camp to go find him.

I followed his scent trail across the territory. Why were the herbs so far from camp? The fact that Lightstar had let me out early still didn't sit right with me. Something was up. I heard a rustling in the underbrush and looked around.

"Tallblaze?" I asked. "Is that you?" There was no answer. "Tallblaze?"

Then it struck me. The reason Lightstar had injured me, the reason Lightstar let me go early. It was because Tallblaze had been out of camp. I'd go after him. Nobody knew I was out here. Nobody would find me.

Nobody but Flurrytail and her followers.

It had been two moons.

A cat jumped on me from behind. "Lightstar really held up her end of the bargain, didn't she?" Grasstail laughed.

"She seems to want this as much as us," Flurrytail said. "It'll help her break the runt or whatever."

I hissed from underneath Grasstail. I looked around at the cats. Okay, so I have five cats to fight. Flurrytail, Grasstail, Coldclaw, Skystorm, and who I believe is Lilyshade. I'm not completely sure, but I think so. Great, so my chance of getting out of this requires at least all my friends to show up. None of which knows I'm out here. All of which think I'm in the nursery.

"Are you calculating your odds?" Flurrytail asked. "Because if so, do know all odds are against you."

"Yeah, but I'm dumb so I'm not going to give up just so you can use me against my friends," I told her.

"You think that's all we're going to do with you?" Grasstail asked, amused.

"Yeah," I answered. "What else would you need me for?"

"Well then, I guess you'll just find out, won't you?" Grasstail told me. That isn't a good sign.

Suddenly, someone jumped on Flurrytail. Did my friends show up? I realized it was just Tallblaze, but that would have to be good enough.

"Leave Shorty alone!" Tallblaze yowled.

"You do realize you're severely outnumbered. There's no saving her this time," Flurrytail told him.

"I'm not letting you use her as some prey to play with!" Tallblaze shouted, fear leaking into his voice. "I'm not going to let you torture her for your own sick, twisted sense of fun! I won't let you!"

"What?" I asked.

That's what Silkshade told them but not me. That's what Grasstail was referring to. That's what Lightstar thought would break me. I shook my head. They won't. Tallblaze won't let them. He'll save me. He has to.

Except he doesn't have to.

StarClan turned a blind eye to what was happening that night.

"You thought we'd just keep you safe and taken care of to use when we were ready?" Grasstail laughed. "You're dumber than you seem and that's really saying something."

"Just take her out of here," Flurrytail told them. "I'll handle Tallblaze."

Grasstail picked me up by the scruff. I struggled, but it was useless.

"No!" Tallblaze screamed.

But it was useless. We were both helpless in this situation. There was nothing we could do but let them take me away to do whatever they pleased. I looked back to see Tallblaze running away towards camp to presumably get help. Something told me he was too late.

I said a silent prayer to StarClan that they would help me. However, only the Dark Forest cares about me and they were more than happy for me to be taken away.

Author's Note: *laughs in evil author* So, it's all been leading up all book to this, huh? How devious of me. But don't worry! We are only half way through the book which means there is still plenty of things to happen! Uh, don't kill me for this… Flurrytail held me at gunpoint and made me do this… Is that believable? I hope so. Anyway, leave a review if you'd like! Feel free to yell in the comments about this! Anyway, I'll se you next week when we'll see if Deathfire is saved… or if she'll be forced to go through a living Dark Forest… After all, we all remember what happened last time a character got kidnapped. Rip Silkshade's sight: Book 1-Book 3…

:)

-Rowan W.