A/N: Yay for finally getting done the next chapter! Sorry for the long wait guys, life has been unexpectedly busy lately haha. But I assure you I haven't stopped writing this story!
Chapter Ten
Shadowheart tread lightly as he led the way towards Hawk's territory. They had already left the twolegplace behind them, and were creeping along the fences that bordered the forest beyond. Shadowheart quickly scrabbled up onto one of the fences, waiting for Blackflame and Firelight to join him.
"The gorge is up the slope there," Shadowheart told them, remembering his last journey with Hawk. "If we keep low, hopefully we won't be spotted."
Firelight leaped down from the fence, landing neatly on the other side. "Won't they pick up our scents though?"
"That's a good point," Blackflame joined her on the other side. "If they scent us, then I won't be able to save Flower or Harley."
Shadowheart looked at them, lost in thought. He vaguely remembered a trick he had been taught when he lived with the rogues; one that may come in handy. Looking around, he found a patch of toadstools and motioned for Firelight and Blackflame to join him.
"One of the things I was taught while living with the rogues was to always disguise your scent while in enemy territory," he explained. "Rolling in these toadstools will help us stay hidden while we search for your friends, Blackflame."
Blackflame's eyes lit up with admiration. "That's brilliant! I knew I could count on you, Shadowheart."
Self-conscious from his brother's praise, Shadowheart licked his chest fur as Firelight sniffed at the toadstools. "First the twolegplace, and now this. You really know how to make things difficult," the ginger tabby muttered.
Blackflame had already begun rolling in the toadstools, covering his fur a layer of musky scent. He sneezed. "Wow, this is some strong smelling stuff! Though it should be enough to hide us, right?"
Shadowheart gave a nod, while Firelight began to coat herself in the toadstools scent. "It should be. If Hawk knows we're here, we won't be able to get out without a fight."
"I'd be more than happy to rake my claws across his muzzle," Firelight growled, shaking her fur off.
Once Shadowheart had taken his turn to cover up his scent, the three cats set off deeper into the rogue territory. Memories of the short time he had spent with the rogues flowed through his mind. At the time, he had truly thought Hawk and Lily were his parents; and that the gorge was his birthplace. Little did he know that Hawk had lied, and his true parents were the LeafClan queen Silversky, and the ReedClan deputy, Stonetail. Even worse, his littermate Cinder still believed in those lies; having refused to accept the truth.
Blackflame halted, his fur bristling. "I can smell Flower! She must be close by."
"Quiet!" Firelight hissed, shoving them under a nearby holly bush.
Shadowheart blinked as three cats he didn't recognize came into view. One was a ragged gray tom, the others a yellow tabby tom and dark ginger-and-white tom. The three cats seemed to be patrolling the territory, sniffing around cautiously.
"That's Harley!" Blackflame gasped, ready to rush over to his friend.
"Wait," Shadowheart quickly steadied his brother. "If you go rushing out there it will only cause a fight. Let's watch and see what happens first."
Hesitant, Blackflame eased up and just watched the three rogues carefully. As they neared the holly bush, the bracken nearby rattled and a tortoiseshell she-cat burst out into the clearing. The three toms let out hisses of surprise, and the she-cat stared wide eyed at them.
Blackflame's eyes widened. "That's Flower!"
"Be quiet!" Firelight hissed quietly, shooting him a sharp glare.
"Harley!" Flower's green eyes were wide with relief upon spotting her brother, and she rushed towards him without hesitation. "I'm so glad you're safe! Please, you must come home! Mother is worried sick!"
The dark ginger-and-white tom stared at her in astonishment, and Shadowheart realized this must be Harley. Before he could reply to his sister, the ragged gray rogue snarled and stepped forward. "You're tresspassing on our territory! Get lost or we'll make you!"
Flower's gaze didn't leave her brother's. "Harley, please, you can't stay here! What about mother?"
"Yes, why don't you go back to your mother like the worthless stray kit you are?" the yellow tabby jeered, eyes narrowed tauntingly at Harley.
"Harley!" Flower persisted, her eyes pleading. "You know we can't trust these rogues! Don't you remember everything Mole told us? They're too dangerous!"
Harley shook his head. "No, you're wrong Flower. Mole was a liar. He was just bitter that Hawk didn't feel the same way as he did; that he didn't love him back."
Blackflame tensed, his eyes wide in dismay. Shadowheart stared at his brother. That's right, Mole had been the cat who raised him. It must be hard to hear someone he cares about speak badly about him.
"Mole would have never done something like that!" Flower gasped in shock. "He saved Blackflame remember? He also helped take care of us when our father abandoned our mother! How could you say something so awful, after everything Mole had done for us?"
Harley hesitated, his expression uncertain. As Flower tried to step closer, the ragged gray rogue lunged forward. "I told you to get lost!"
In a flash, Blackflame burst from the holly bush and threw himself onto the rogue. The two toms grappled across the ground, Harley and the other rogue staring in shock. Shadowheart quickly crawled out from under the bush with Firelight. Firelight attacked the yellow tabby as he went to help his friend, while Shadowheart put himself between Harley and Flower.
"Blackflame!" Flower stared as the two toms wrestled on the ground.
Harley stared at Shadowheart in shock. "Then you and the other cat must be from the Clans. But why? What are you all doing here?"
The rogue Blackflame had been fighting let out a screech and broke away. He snarled and dashed off into the forest, his friend following as Firelight slashed at him. Fur bristling, Blackflame tackled Harley to the ground as he pinned him under his claws.
"Blackflame!" Harley writhed under him. "What are you doing?"
"I could ask you the same thing!" Blackflame snapped, tail lashing. "Have you completely lost your mind? Why are you here with the rogues, after everything they have done?"
Flower frowned. "Harley, this isn't you. Please...come home..."
Yowls from a distance could be heard, and Shadowheart's heart quickened. They couldn't face Hawk, Cinder, or the rogues yet! If they found them now, there was little chance they would escape unharmed. Firelight seemed to pick up on Shadowheart's anxiety, and she quickly nudged Flower towards the direction they came from.
"It's not safe here," she warned. "Hurry back home. We'll take care of things here."
The twolegplace stray hesitated, glancing back over at Blackflame and Harley. The yowls began to grow closer. Lashing her tail, Flower turned and dashed off back towards the direction of the twolegplace. Harley still struggled under Blackflame's claws, but the black tabby didn't budge.
"Answer me!" he hissed.
Harley's eyes were wide with distress. "It's the only way to survive! Rosie...she's expecting kits—my kits. Hawk promised that any cat who helped him take over the forest would be free to live there. What else was I supposed to do?"
"Harley," Blackflame eased up, letting him stand. "You can't really believe that, can you?"
Flattening his ears, Harley turned away. "I don't have a choice. I need to do whatever it takes to keep my mate and kits alive. Even if it means working under Hawk. I'm sorry Blackflame, but I can't go back. Please, tell mother and Flower that I'm sorry."
Taking off back into the forest, Blackflame stared after him. The angry yowls were upon them now, and Shadowheart's blood froze when he recognized the cats that had surrounded them. Firelight stiffened, her mouth drawn back in a snarl. Blackflame was beside Shadowheart, ears twitching uneasily.
"Well, I had wondered who would have been causing trouble. And turns out I needn't be surprised," growled Dune, his seeing eye flashing with bitter hatred.
Holly and Adder flanked him on both sides, their hackles raised aggressively. Dune stepped forward, powerful muscles rippling under his ragged dark ginger tabby pelt.
Shadowheart tensed. "Dune, we're not here to cause any trouble. Let us go."
"Oh? You think it's that simple do you?" Dune sneered, venom lacing his words. "You have the nerve to show your face here, and I'm supposed to just let you go?"
"If you want a fight I'd be glad to give you one!" Firelight hissed, unsheathing her claws.
Dune studied her with his good eye. "I remember you. Judging by those scars, it seems like Cinder chose not to blind you. How unfortunate."
More yowls came from nearby, signaling the approach of back-ups. Just as Dune turned to glance behind him, Shadowheart quickly shoved Blackflame to the side.
"Quick! Run!"
With a burst of speed, Shadowheart led Blackflame and Firelight towards the opposite direction. Ignoring the angry yowls of Dune and the other rogues, he pressed on. The ground underpaw was sloping, and Shadowheart realized with a lurch that they were approaching the cliff where the Cavern of Stars lay. The three cats had gotten a good head start, navigating the forest with certain pawsteps as they hurried forward. Shadowheart came to a stop, remembering the sharp drop just up ahead.
Blackflame managed to halt a few steps behind him, however Firelight lost her footing and rolled forward off the cliff. In a flash, Shadowheart sunk his teeth into her scruff, holding her precariously over the edge. Rocks crackled down the cliff face, and Firelight stared up at Shadowheart with wide eyes. Using all the strength he had, Shadowheart heaved upward. Firelight was thrown up and over him, landing on the solid ground with a thump.
Sighing in relief, he turned to look at her. The ground shifted under his paws then, and heart lurching, Shadowheart felt the cliff give way. With a yowl of terror, he was plunged down the cliff face to the rocks below. He landed heavily, his head searing with shock and pain as it slammed against a boulder. Ears ringing, he could barely hear Blackflame and Firelight yowling down to him from the cliff above; horror stricken.
A flurry of images flooded into Shadowheart's head as darkness edged his vision. Images that had long been lost since the fateful day he had been found in the river. Memories he had long forgotten until this moment. As the images finally subsided, Shadowheart felt his vision give way to darkness.