Hey guys

BREAKING NEWS! AUTHOR'S STORY HAS RETURNED AFTER SUPPOSEDLY GOING EXTINCT!

Woah woah woah, chill, it's been less than a month...

I think

Sorry

Reviews!

Ivystorm: AH NU CORONA! Ah...the online schooling is strange ye...And yes, le bramble idiot. One of my least favourite characters. I think the age gap is about two years, I looked it up...hm...you too, don't die (: :) (: :)

SunKatt: Thank you! I think Fire and Misty might be two years, idk (: :) (: :)

fawnstep: How to do baked potatoes? (())? Maybe? Thanks, and Ivystorm be zoomin (: :)

DaMonkey0706: Hehe, my speciality =) (: :) (: :)

SavvySpirit: Thanks! And yeah, I think I might get slaughtered this chapter...oop (: :) (: :)

Without further ado, le chappie!

Brambleclaw POV

It was midnight and we were ready to move out. Crowfeather had pointed out that it would be better to go under the cover of darkness while there were few people about, and that seemed like a good solution. And if there was a training session going on then all of the 'leaders' would be occupied. We were trying to take as little items as possible, but a gut feeling had led me to bringing a single knife along. I didn't want to use it, but possibly my sister's life could be hanging in the balance.

And Snowbird, I keep forgetting Snowbird

I lead the way out of Squirrelflight's room, closing the door silently behind us. It's best to not arouse suspicion. Over the years of being friends with them, I naturally assert myself as the 'leader' from experience. Everyone accepts it, and now it's just automatic. We go down the stairs softly, pausing to check each floor first before continuing. But when we got to the Wind Floor, Leafpool paused to remind us of something important.

"Security cameras." she whispered suddenly, pointing at one at the far end of the corridor. We froze, and I felt an icy chill run down me. How could I forget something so important? You stupid moron! I cursed myself, growling.

Mothwing squinted at it. "I think it's too far down the hall to see us." she replied quietly.

"Still, what if it can?" Crowfeather asked, heading towards the shadows with Leafpool.

"Surely the teachers won't be watching them at almost midnight?" Squirrelflight responded, and I nodded.

"What if they check them in the morning?"

"I doubt it," I replied, "and besides if the cameras can't pick up Tawnypelt and Snowbird being kidnapped then I doubt they'll pick up some shifty teens creeping through the halls."

Feathertail and Mothwing nodded. Crowfeather debated this for a moment longer and then agreed.

"Still, do you mind me hack-uh accessing the cameras?" Stormfur asked, "I just want to be sure."

"Okay," I replied, "no problem."

"That'll cost us time." Squirrelflight added quickly, and I'm reminded of our argument.

"She has a point." I responded.

"I know!" Mothwing piped up, "Stormfur, do you still have those earpieces from when Foxleap let us play Capture the Flag with them?"

He grinned, "Of course."

"Okay, maybe you can stay in the camera room and keep watch, update us on the things we can't see but you can."

"Great idea!" Leafpool praised. I caught the pinkish tinge of Mothwing's blush as she turned her head away with a bashful 'thanks'. Crowfeather bit his lip but said nothing.

Stormfur nodded. "Alright, everyone take one, I'll go fetch my camera and drone and I'll be guiding you!"

He passed around the earpieces and he hurried back up to the River Floor as we continued downwards. Once we had reached the ground floor, we continued forwards. I felt my breath hitching in my throat.

It's been a long time since I've done this...creeping through the halls to the Dark Forest...but this time it's for a matter of good, not evil

I took a deep breath and tried to not tremble. I had friends following me and two people to save. I couldn't show any fear.

Some of the others were, however. Leafpool was holding Crowfeather's hand and was leaning against him, Feathertail looked a bit out of place without her brother and stayed near Mothwing, but Squirrelflight just marched on as determinedly as ever. I smiled and slowed for a split-second to let her fall into step beside me.

"We need you as our mascot." I joked. She grinned.

"Yes, yes, the very fluffy ginger squirrel. It has got a definite ring to it."

I laughed and then sighed, dropping my voice. "Listen...I'm really sorry about earlier. I-I was in such a conflicted state of mind I wasn't thinking straight. I'm sorry."

"I know." she replied quietly, "It's okay."

I held her hand.

We walked out of the back door and were hit by a cold, icy breeze. I shivered and pulled Squirrelflight closer for both of us. Suddenly there was a crackle in my ear and then Stormfur's voice sounded through.

"Hello? Is this thing working?"

"Yep, we can hear you." I replied, keeping my voice low.

"Great! Alright...it was too dark for the cameras to pick us up 'cus their night vision is broken...and just sending my drone out now. I've linked up the camera on that to this, but I'm not sure how close I can get. Unless they're really focused on the training, they'll see it coming from the sky, so I'll have to try and wind it around trees and hope I don't run into anyone."

"Okay, got it."

"Can you guide us?" Feathertail asked.

"Certainly. Okay carry on, let me know when you enter the forest, I've stationed the drone on the outskirts for now."

"Okay, see you soon."

"Stay safe."

He disconnected again and we continued forwards. The closer we got to the looming, ominous forest, the more I felt the icy chill creeping up my spine. We began to hear voices, some yelling and some pained. It was a training session. My fingers traced a scar on the opposite arm and Squirrelflight glanced at it for a second.

"It was rough," I breathed, "I'd almost forgotten the pain every session."

She squeezed my hand reassuringly.

At last we stood at the very start of it, a dark forest with a thick canopy and strange blue fungi growing around near. This had been a great place to explore before the Dark Forest formed in about...when I was in third grade. After several attacks and injuries everyone knew that the forest was no longer a good place to be. None of this darkness or icy feelings had been here before. It was like the Dark Forest had poisoned it with its evil.

I took a deep breath. "Come on, let's get this over with."

Tawnypelt POV

I struggled desperately against the bounds that held me in place, wrists scraped raw and my breath running short. Sobbing, I writhed around and fumbled for some sort of sharp object to saw them off, but there was nothing. Giving out a low moan of pain and exhaustion, I slumped back down.

I'd been there for about a week, but I'd lost track of time, just watching the sky change and slipping into fitful sleeps filled with nightmares. And the cries of a nighttime...torturous. All the screams of pain and shouts of cold-blooded, murderous victory….

I didn't want to be there a second longer

But there had been no signs of rescue. Just the looming trees and dark shadows. I was getting cramps from being tied tightly to one cold tree, and I could barely feel my fingers. If they turned gangrenous I would be dead. They had been feeding me and forcing me to drink, and talking to me like in interrogations, but it was mostly Tigerstar attempting to persuade me in his charismatic voice to join the Dark Forest.

Then the amber-eyed man himself came back out of the shadows to confront me again.

"Hello, Tawnypelt." he said with a smile. I spat at him, but my mouth was dry.

He chuckled. "Still not warming up to me? Well, you'd better. Tonight's the final day you get to choose your side, and if you choose wrong you'll be more of a prisoner than a guest…"

"I am not your guest! You've been holding me captive for, what, almost a fortnight?" I snarled, but my energy was drained and I wasn't intimidating in the slightest.

He roared with laughter. "Aw, little Tawny running out of power? Trust me, if you side with the Dark Forest, I can give you all the power you'll ever need."

"If I side with you, I'll just be another one of your ragdolls to manipulate to your needs. I won't recognise myself." I growled.

"Oh, you will. You'll recognise your true self." he shook his head, "Such a powerful being that I can help you guide."

"I will never, ever join your side."

"This is your final chance, Tawnypelt, join me and rule with power, or decline and I will hurt you in the worst way possible."

"There is nothing you could do to me to hurt me," I snarled, "I will stand strong through it all!""

"Last chance…"

"No."

He walked a couple of steps backwards. "Very well. Thistleclaw!"

A spiky grey tabby-haired man with glinting amber eyes walked out of the trees near him, blade glinting at his hip. I tensed myself, braced and ready, but instead of him coming to harm me, he dragged another individual out of the shadows. It was a girl, lithe with pure white hair and green eyes

Snowbird

"Snowbird!" I cried, instinct making my hands reach out quickly, but the ropes snapped them straight back. I struggled again but there was no use.

"Tawnypelt has refused to join our side. Let us harm her." Tigerstar instructed in his cool tone.

Thistleclaw nodded and pulled the knife out of its sheath. He hauled Snowbird to her feet roughly.

"Snowbird! SNOWBIRD!" I was shrieking now, pulling desperately to get free, tears streaming down my face. The man positioned his knife at her throat.

"NO! NO! STOP! PLEASE! I'LL JOIN YOU, FINE, BUT PLEASE DON'T HARM HER!" I screamed.

But Tigerstar shook his head. "You had your chance. I want the monster inside of you, not the protective coward. Do it."

"NO!"

Snowbird gave me a small, sad smile. I tried to pull free one last time, but it was too late.

I couldn't even close my eyes as she slumped to the ground, bloody.

Ivypool POV

I was led into a guarded room once I came to, recognising the dim, quiet hallways of BloodClan. I refused to take the cool, calm smile off my face, and that seemed to irritate the muscular member that shoved me along. He had black and white hair and narrow amber eyes, and I could get glimpses of the traditional tooth-studded collar coloured various different colours and shades.

In front of me and on a table sat Scourge himself, icy eyes narrowed and the teeth around his neck glinting ominously. I was pushed onto a seat in front of him, and looked around to see several other silent faces watching us from around the room. I didn't break my careless demeanor and watched them casually before looking back at Scourge.

"Even when you are under the threat of injury or death you still look like you don't care at all…" he muttered, gaze curious and interested, "I can see why you were chosen to join them."

"I wasn't chosen, I made the choice myself. And I regret it." I replied honestly, keeping my voice level. That was a skill I'd learned was vital within a week of being a Dark Forest trainee.

Scourge leaned forwards. "You're a curious one, and I've had many of those in the past, but this is different. Maybe if you regretted joining the Dark Forest, you would be more than happy to join BloodClan instead?"

"No. I will never make that mistake, ever again." I spat, narrowing my eyes slightly.

"It wouldn't be full time, you'd just go there, do your business, then report to me next opportunity."

"No."

He sighed in mock disappointment. "Oh well, I didn't want to resort to this, but there isn't a 'no' option. You spy on the Dark Forest for us, or we'll tell them that you are already spying."

I gave a bark of laughter. "You're an enemy team! They'd never believe you!"

He smiled, an evil, psychotic smile that would freeze you in fear as he marched on in victory. "Actually...they got in touch, and now we're an alliance. Leader to leader. No lies."

My face slipped, unable to contain my shock and the icy dread creeping up my spine. "W-what?"

His eyes shone with satisfaction at being on the upper hand. "They haven't said? Aww, well, BloodClan and the Dark Forest are now a team. We're working together. Or at least that's what they think. We're just there to attack them when they think they've won. And they'll never believe you if you tell them, because we can say you were spying."

I refused to break his gaze, searching for some sign of deception, that he was just lying to get me on his side...but nothing.

"And if that's really not enough we can always throw some pain into the mix...say if we hurt someone you love…"

"I'll do it." I breathed, dropping my gaze to the floor.

"Pardon?"

"I. Will. Do. It." I repeated, meeting his icy eyes furiously.

He smiled again. "Good. We will meet again soon. Actually, you know what? Why don't I just keep you here and release you for Dark Forest sessions only? That sounds good. Bone! Take her to a room and lock the door, send someone to guard the outside and leave her there. Preferably one with no windows."

The black-and-white-haired boy returned to the room and I was dragged out again. I didn't struggle at all, but replaced my frown with the infuriating smile to hide my emotions. They were quite the mix; panic, shock, dread, fury and worry. But I kept silent as I was tossed into a mostly bare room with a few desks and chairs. It was one of the abandoned classrooms, and there was only a single light dimly flickering in the centre of the ceiling. The door was slammed shut and I heard a click as it was locked. Sighing, I took a seat on top of a desk and stared at the ceiling. It was slightly dusty and I was glad I didn't have asthma or allergies or something.

I was sat there, bored out of my mind with wild thoughts for about an hour when I began to hear quiet shuffling sounds and light bangs. I turned my attention to the vent cover on the ceiling, which soon enough came loose and fell to the floor with a muffled 'clang', shortly followed by a figure falling out and landing on the floor with a less quiet 'Oof!'.

I sighed exasperatedly. "Hi there, Sagefeather."

She got up and coughed, then crossed the room to me.

"Yo. How've you been holding up?" her voice was quiet, and I was reminded that there was -or at least should be- someone on guard.

"Well enough, but you took your time." I replied, dropping my voice.

"Oh well, I'm here now, let's just go."

"Did it take you an hour to get through the vents?"

"It took me half an hour to find the way here, the first half hour I was stalking you."

"Ah, a very sane friend I see."

"Would you rather I left you here?"

I motioned with my hand. "Lead the way."

Squirrelflight POV

When we rounded the corner, the first thing we saw was Tawnypelt sat tied to a tree and quivering madly. A small gasp left my mouth -half of relief and half of fear- and I made to rush forwards, but Leafpool tugged me back into the cover.

Right, safety first

Soon enough we got the 'all-clear' from Stormfur, and Brambleclaw almost shoved past me to reach his sister in desperation.

"Tawnypelt!" he gasped, and her head snapped towards us.

"Guys!" she exclaimed, voice high-pitched yet quiet with fear, "You came!"

"You thought we'd just leave you?" Feathertail asked with a smile as the dark brown-haired boy began slicing through her ties with a knife.

She smiled, but then gave a shaky laugh and her eyes dulled. I tilted my head, she's still conscious… but something's wrong…

Fear lit her green gaze suddenly, and then she was shaking violently as she was released, her brother helping her to her feet. Something was wrong, her eyes were wide and she had begun to hyperventilate, tears streaming down her face.

"But...Snowbird…!" she gasped.

"Yeah, where is she?" Crowfeather asked, helping Brambleclaw support her and looking like he just wanted to leave.

Tawnypelt went to open her mouth once again to say something, but then gasped again and slumped forwards. Brambleclaw picked her up.

"She's passed out. Probably from stress." he turned his voice to his earpiece, "Alright, Stormfur, can you see Snowbird anywhere?"
"Working on it now...stay there for a heartbeat, I'm just...oh spirits...oh my blessed...oh fu-"

"What's wrong?" Feathertail asked, concern lining her soft voice.

"Brambleclaw, maybe Crowfeather, do you see that bush ahead of you? Uhm...go check behind it...I'm going to throw up oh sh…"

Brambleclaw seemed confused, but passed Tawnypelt to the Wind Team boy and walked cautiously to check behind it. In the second he saw, he froze, his expression twisting to that of horror and disbelief.

"What's wrong?" I asked, running over to look. I wish I didn't.

Snowbird's body lay there, just thrown down carelessly, in a pool of her own blood that stained her pure white hair red. Her eyes were blank and unseeing, her figure limp and unmoving. My hand went to my mouth and Brambleclaw pulled me closer to him.

"Dear spirits…" I breathed, wanting to tear my eyes away but standing frozen.

"What's wrong?" Crowfeather asked.

"I-It's Snowbird...she's dead…"

Mothwing gasped and grabbed Leafpool's hand as the light brunette pulled her towards her with a silent cry. Feathertail didn't say a word, but her eyes darkened and widened and she closed them to pull us away from the scene.

"Sh-should we leave her there?" Mothwing asked in a high-pitched whimper.

"We can't do much else." Crowfeather responded, "It was hard enough to sneak in here without being caught and now we have Tawnypelt to carry as well. We can't really carry a corpse with us as well."

"But we can't just leave her here without a send-off!" I complained even though I didn't really want to see her again.

"I'll do it, I'm in the medicine course. Give me a second." Leafpool said, walking over to the bush with Mothwing trotting behind her. They didn't look down but breathed in and closed their eyes.

"Blessed spirits, may this young soul who has had to leave us be at rest and peace in your eternal afterlife." the brunette began.

"She has journeyed hard and lasted well but now she seeks guidance on a different path. With protection and kindness, I present to you Snowbird of Shadow Team." the golden-haired girl continued.

"Be at peace, little spirit." they finished together.

"Be at peace." came a quiet murmur from the rest of us. They turned around and stood with us again.

"Come on, we have to go now." Brambleclaw nodded, taking his sister's still form off Crowfeather.

We nodded, but I was immediately stopped again by something cold landing on my nose, then another on my hand. Little white flecks began to fall past my eyes and I looked up. Clouds had gathered in the sky, and small shimmering star-like particles fell gracefully down.

"It's snowing." Feathertail breathed, voice barely audible.

It began to stick to the ground, slowly creating a thin, white blanket on the ground around us. We watched in silence as the first proper snow of the year descended around us despite the dangerous situation we were currently in.

Then Leafpool gasped, and I followed her gaze. A little pure white bird sat on the bush, calmly and curiously watched us. As everyone saw it, it lifted up and fluttered into the snowy sky, arcing away into the clouds. The brunette gave a small smile.

"Snowbird…"

Tawnypelt gave a small sob from where she lay curled.

I'm moving to my minecraft world where no one can find me so that I don't get slaughtered.

Sorry guys

Oop

Welp, see you if I survive

~KT