Unknown: just a little more.
Ivy: Is it working?
Unknown: yes, finally!
Ashfur: that's great now I can rip your throat out.
Unknown: shh it's starting.
I breathed out a sigh of frustration and lashed my tail furiously as I watched Hollyleaf retreat outside, her night black pelt disappearing through the fronds outside, leaving a trail of paw prints but nothing else.
As I stood there I couldn't help but think out my brother's earlier behavior. How dare Rust?! I can't believe how far apart we have actually gotten all because of her! If only she hadn't arrived, I wouldn't have snapped into two and lost my brother and the rest of my kin wouldn't have to grieve. Yellow would have never discovered us and the dog attack wouldn't have left us in shatters.
All of this was Emerald's fault I kept telling myself letting my claws unsheathe at the thought of her. I was seething with anger as I was left behind by the others. The only cat who even questioned why I wasn't coming along was Hollyleaf! None of my kin actually bothered to ask.
After the attack I had been broken, I've never experienced such grief before and I don't believe I should have. I could feel the tears pricking my eyes. My body trembled as I struggled to control my raging emotion that poured out of me like a waterfall. I felt the pain of losing cats that you had loved, being betrayed, ignored, pushed aside by your only brother and best friend.
This had been a frequent condition of my mental state. I would have nightmares every night so that involved those big brutes….with yellow triumphantly standing overhead.
We had been so close to yellow….we trusted him and loved him, even sharing the plentiful prey in the barn and the hay as nests….. it was scary how close we got to him, a cruel murderer!
Trying to push the lump in my throat made my heart break and tremble I wanted to let go, to scream my pain heartache to the sky.
"We are all cats Rose and we all make mistakes…" was what Jasmine had reasoned with me, the night I had been kept awake, afraid to face my nightmares and Emerald. Yes, Emerald had made a mistake but how was she punished? No. Was she shunned? No. Did she feel Guilty? Probably but that simply wasn't going to let this event pass by so easily.
Being guilty doesn't make take back what you have done and it most definitely doesn't make you a good cat.
If only you hadn't died….Emerald should have been in your place if anything.
I pushed those thoughts away from me because I knew things would have been put to peace if they had lived. Besides revenge didn't help anyone, it only made this living nightmare even worse.
As the tears dried I let my muscles loosen with a sigh and let my tail drop, no strength left even to smile. Despite wishing to stay in the barn and sink into my comfy nest and weep there until sundown but I couldn't. they would have easily found out because of the soaked moss full of hot tears and the strange way my tail repeatedly twitched when I was sad.
It was weird and honestly a pain to have my tail do that. I preferred hiding my emotions, which were strong right now, from other cats. Also, it made hunting a nightmare which is why I'm probably not going to be doing any hunting.
I groaned inaudibly as Alfie and Ivy were sleeping and padded outside the barn the sharp edges nagging me on the shoulder. I let my shoulders slump, not bothering to put in any effort into something I shall not enjoy as I stared at the twolegplace beyond.
Behind the barn was the entrance to the forest. The twisted roots of trees that towered overhead looked inviting and just thinking about a walk to soothe my emotions almost made me feel a bit better over leaving the comforting walls of the barn, my home but the dark shadows the trees cast replicated my mood and the dark thoughts that occupied my head.
I grimaced, it won't be that bad besides I'm not going to tell Jasmine I had spent the day sleeping!
My eyes ran over the multiple sets of paw prints heading on through the forest, each heading in different directions. My eyes lit up like a sunset, who knows? maybe one day I would be making my own sets of paw prints through the forest somewhere no cat had been before.
I chuckled to myself, losing myself in my whirlwind of fantasies. It was always so perfect here….No kin to disturb me, No Emerald, No memories of Yellow or his pesky brother….
"Fox-dung!" I cursed out loud, my face scrunching into a frown as I fell to the ground with a thud. I hissed in annoyance as I glanced back to check the damage. I sighed my eyes narrowing at my front paw, apparently, my claw had been torn out.
I rolled my eyes as I saw what I tripped over, A root. It had been emerging from the ground and just happened to be in my path. "How Mouse brained can I get!?" I muttered, shaking my head disapprovingly.
"Wait…" I trailed off, my mouth agape. The root was leading somewhere and as my eyes followed it carefully it grew bigger and wider, gradually entangling itself with more roots which had all grown from the same giant oak tree.
I felt my lips quirked into a smile, this tree was probably one of the tallest in the whole Twolegplace, one of the oldest too. Rumors were that even the bravest and strongest of cats wouldn't dare try to attempt to climb it in fear of falling from is branches and risking death.
There wasn't a specific name for the tree and it didn't belong to any cat although Ivy liked to think it was ours because of how often we visited it.
I swear I bit my tongue so hard it would bleed. My eyes watered with hot tears as I gazed at my favorite place in all of the twolegplace. the roots entangled to form an arch around a small hollow in the tree. The tiny, delicate purple flower surrounded the tree making the scene look even prettier at night.
Moonshine and the others had spoken as much about another cat involved in the attack, Yellow had never been alone…he had a brother. A cat named Zack at least that's what he called himself. He had a dark golden pelt and handsome amber eyes, a cheeky, cocky grin that made her swoon…
He had broken her heart and she had tried to forget about him ever since but passing by this tree for hunting trips, learning how to swim and other stuff it brought back painful memories.
The rain thundered down furiously as she laughed at the soaked tom, his fur heavy with water and droplets falling sliding of his whiskers. He grumbled under his breath, throwing her a halfhearted glare before jumping on a puddle creating a large splash.
I blinked the water from my eyes away and spewed the water out of my mouth, now it was the golden tom's turn to laugh.
"You look nice like that."
"Shut up! Remember who your guide is!"
"Well, you're not a very good one."
I turned towards him a playful fieriness in my eyes and smirk on my face.
"You were the one who had us go the other direction."
He looked fearful of something for a minute and his expression turned guarded but then he reached up and licked my nose. "You has some water on your nose." He said, grinning.
I blushed, which thankfully was hidden by the rain. I stepped back and kept my jaws shut, starting to take the lead again. He opened his jaws with perhaps a mocking taunt or something but just as he did I stopped and used my hind paw to scoop up a splash of water from the ground, showering him with it.
"Come on, this way I know a place where we can take shelter," I said with a small smirk "unless you want to catch greencough!"
I heard him spit the rainwater out, growling but following me nonetheless. We walked for a while and I had already started to shiver but we both pushed through the rainstorm. My paws splashed in the puddles that were scattered on the ground, my eyes squinting to make out where we were going.
I breathed a sigh of relief, loud enough to be heard over the pitter and patter of the rain, as I saw the familiar tree.
"Now that's a familiar sight for you I'm guessing!" He remarked, pushing past her and leading the way into the rather spacious hollow.
Her tail lashed, rolling her eyes as she entered after Zack into the hollow. She shook her pelt, her short fur easily ridding the water from her pelt and scattering droplets everywhere. Her teeth chattered from the cold and she sneezed.
"Look who got sick," Zack said sitting down but she noticed the mild concern in his voice. She ignored him but still sat down next to him.
His pelt brushed her ever so slightly making her flush but still, she didn't pull away. Her pelt stopped shivering from the slight warmth and she let herself close her eyes, sleep tugging at her eyelids.
Her eyes shot wide open at the sudden sound of lightning. The bolt of light streaked through the sky, illuminating the sky in one white flash and not long after it thunder followed.
She was so caught up in her moment of surprise she didn't realize that Zack wasn't sitting beside her anymore.
"Zack?" She asked softly staring at his hunched figure, shivering from not the cold but from fear.
He didn't answer although from up close she could see his quivering lip.
"You scared of lightning, huh?" She asked again with a small laugh, stepping closer, her head tilted.
"So what? Just because I'm scared of lightning doesn't mean that I'm not better than you! Because guess what your nothing else then that…nothing more than something to mock!" He snarled, anger now gleaming in his eyes. He tried to stand taller, look braver but then another bolt of lightning lit up the sky making him duck down again.
"Listen," I began angrily at his harsh words, "I know what it feels like having a fear about Something-Bell's also scared of lightning to you know."
He still stayed in his hunched position and she still glared angrily at him. She released a sigh, giving up and now stood face to face with him, taking in his facial features. "Everyone has something they're afraid of-even me. It's nothing to be ashamed of…" She paused for a minute, thinking of her next words, "Having fears just gives you something to overcome, something to make you stronger. Yes, it does hold you back but once you overcome it you can living knowing you've done something many cats have trouble doing. Besides no cat is perfect, you hate lightning, I hate the snow. If you think about our fears don't judge who is worth less and who is worth more."
She touched her nose to his and he slowly rose from his hunched position. His angered and fearful expression transformed into a relived grateful one.
He finally broke the silence by moving back to where we were previously sitting. I Joined him and sat down wrapping my tail around my paws and leaning on his shoulder.
"Still I think I'm a better fighter no doubt." He bragged.
I snorted, "At least your back to your cocky old self." She snuggled deeper into his fur and let her eyes fall drowsily. Her muscles hardened when she felt Sack's warm tongue drying her fur but slowly she relaxed to the rheumatic licking and gave into sleep.
"You know, you're so different from any she-cat I have met, your beautiful, fiery and don't trail after me with googly eyes all day." He said in between licks.
I hummed in reply, blushing hard. I had stopped listening to him after beautiful but that was enough alone to make my heart beat faster. I finally gave into sleep letting the sound of the rain gradually pull me into sleep.
I let out a gasp as I left those painful memories, I felt hot tears slip out of my eyes and slowly roll down my cheek and letting into stain the ground. I released a ragged gasp that I didn't know I was holding.
I shook my head as more tears stained the ground. I had to get away from here. I pulled myself up and winced as my paw painfully scraped the ground as I limped over to a bush. It provided shade and was far enough away from the tree. You know I found a name for this tree; The tree of pain!
As I limped over to the bush I couldn't help but let my mind fill up with those dark thoughts from earlier and in my vulnerable state, I didn't bother to push them away.
If Emerald hadn't done what she did it wouldn't have lost Willow or smoke or Bell….And maybe I and Zack could have had something more…even though he was the leader of the attack maybe I could have stopped him somehow.
I breathed a sigh of relief as I sat down by the bushes, shielded from view of the tree and a good place to rest. I licked the blood of my claw carefully.
Zack and I would have been nothing…I would have made sure of that besides he paid….he lost me and yellow was probably mad at him for failing to kill and to recruit us all…but Emerald she still walks with happiness, nothing to be pained about, full-fed and love making its way into her life and if that wasn't enough that love is my brother-which she stole!
My eyes widened at where my thoughts were headed. Revenge only caused pain but…what I was going to do didn't involve revenge she was just going to get what she deserved…for that matter both Emerald and Rust deserved to feel pain.
She shook her head, pausing her licking. No, no one was going to punish Emerald, so it was up to her that Emerald knows exactly how much pain she caused. This wasn't revenge, no one simply was going to punish Emerald so she would have to be the one.
Her ears perked up as she smelt something, something interesting. The scent of dogs was faint but still recent, from only a couple of days ago.
A cruel and devilish smirk formed on her face as a plan formed.
Well now Emerald, you took everything away from me because of that dog attack and now I'd like to see it happen to you and one things for sure your blood will be on my paws, a lot of it.
Two cats, a gray-flecked tabby tom, and a dark gray tabby she-cat walk on the stage in more glamorous outfits than usual. This time the signature bean bags were pushed to the back but were still visible to the audience.
Ivy: Welcome everyone! I suppose you enjoyed this chapter as this was probably the authoresses favorite one so far!
Ashfur: I'm kind of surprised in the Rose/Zack shipping this like I thought Rose was only paired up with-
Ivy: um Ashfur too many details.
Ashfur: Right, sorry.
Ivy steps forward.
Ivy: from now on we will be doing the question of the day so-
Ashfur pushes Ivy to the side and instead takes her place.
Ashfur: Do you like the Shipping we threw in? Also, what do you think about Rose wanting to hurt Emerald? Badly. And how will it affect Hollyleaf's mission?
Ivy stands up and starts to walk threateningly towards Ashfur.
Ashfur: Come on Ivy!
Ivy sighs and stops.
Ivy: this is the last time I'm letting something like this go….Anyway, I promise that you will see more of 'Zack' and 'Yellow' in later chapters and definitely more of this shipping.
Ashfur: I know you guys are wondering who are new backup hosts are well there right here tonight and I have never hated them more! Please welcome-
The lights shut off and the stage is left in darkness
Unknown: come on are you kidding me that's the third time already!
Unknown: Well can fix it, I'll just-
There's a loud bang and a small spark of light appears.
Unknown: is that you or….
Ivy: FIRE!
So I left you guys on two cliffhangers, both of which I hadn't planned.
Great.
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed the shipping I threw in. I definitely ship them…well probably because I know all the future drama that will happen between them but let me know if you do.
Now this 'revenge' is planning to make a huge impact in two different ways, probably sad ones.
Also, the Rose/Zack shipping is special because it was thrown in at the last minute. Anyway now I'm going to move on to replies and here we go!
Replies:
FlameFur's Fire: I ship them too!
Flamespirits: Aww thank you! Although I'm sure there plenty other great stories out there
Cityskyliinee: Thanks but I'm afraid updating soon is kind of hard since I have school and exams…
Anyways that was all for the replies. Please leave a review and thanks for reading also the next chapter is most likely coming out tomorrow and it's very different and special.
Bye
~Zaps