The lights dim to reveal three arguing hosts.
Ivy: Can you both shut up!
Ashfur: But do we really need to do the show with him, I'm sure we will get even better ratings if he wasn't here.
Lionblaze: If you wanted better rating then you should of fired Ashfur long ago.
Ashfur: Why you-
Ivy: GUYS!
That's when all three realize there on stage.
Ivy: Oh…Hi!(chuckles awkwardly)
(Jayfeather repeatedly bangs his head against the wall as he watches from backstage. "Those idiots…" He mutters.)
Lionblaze: Aw shucks! (Who says that anymore) Is this audience for me? Thanks for being here guys and welcome back to Star Lake Theater and Productions, aka the S.L.T.P, with the tenth chapter of Hollyleaf's promise!
Audience goes wild.
Ivy: Wow, for some reason he does it so much better than us.
Ashfur: Don't tell him I said this but…he sure does.
Lionblaze: So what do you two think of today's chapter?
Ivy: Lionblaze, At first I didn't mind but if you steal my lines again….I will hurt you.
Lionblaze: Yes, mam.
Ashfur: I think it's a real page turner. The intriguing feeling you get wondering what she will do next mixed with the wonderful blend of adventure and suspense makes for one juicy chapter and-
Lionblaze: Okay, okay that's enough Ashy boy.
Ashfur: I wasn't done yet-Hey! Who are you calling Ashy boy?!
Ivy: And that's all for today! Please enjoy chapter 10 of Hollyleaf's promise: Face to Face.
Ashfur: That was my line.
Both Ivy and Lionblaze: Shut up Ashy boy.
"I'm actually a really good swimmer." Ivy boasted as she walked alongside me and Jasmine, "I've been doing it ever since I was a kit. If we ever go swimming, which we will, you'll see what a great swimmer I am. In fact, I'm probably the greatest in the whole forest."
"Sure you are Ivy." I remarked, rolling my eyes.
"Actually, she is pretty good at swimming." Jasmine admitted.
"Hah! See Hollyleaf."
"But not the greatest in the whole forest." I put in.
"Definitely." Jasmine agreed.
"Hey!"
Both me and Jasmine laughed as Ivy pouted. All three of us were walking through the forest. We were supposed to be searching for any signs of Zack, or Yellow for that matter, but we had found nothing. Honestly, it had been a while since any of us had seen Zack and we were beginning to lose hope on ever finding him anyway. So other than Rose, who probably took it the hardest when we told her we caught him spying on us, everyone else had simmered down a bit and had almost stopped worrying about Zack. We still searched the area from time to time but just not as much.
"Well at least I'm good at something what can you guys do anyway," Ivy countered, the sun shone through the gaps from the trees above turning her pelt to a light gray.
"I can climb trees," I announced.
"Sure you can…" Jasmine said.
"I can!"
"Yeah and somehow you can climb a tree but you trip on an oak root and rip your claw out." Ivy teased.
"It was a giant oak root!" I protested, my ears burning, "I managed to patch it up anyway."
"It must have hurt…Although I didn't know you knew how to use herbs." Jasmine asked me, curiously.
"I…." I trailed of, "You never asked?" I offered lamely. I hadn't told them about Forest even though I probably should have. After all, what if they had some business with him like they did with Zack and Yellow. Instead of telling them I just decided to say I had fixed it up myself. They were all surprised I knew how to use herbs and apparently out of all of them only Alfie had any idea about herbs. 'It's a good thing I met that kittypet, he could actually be quite useful in the future.'
Jasmine shrugged, "Would of been nice if you told us."
Suddenly Ivy jumped up, "I have an idea! How about I teach you how to swim and you teach me how to climb? It'll be a lot of fun!" she proposed.
My ear twitched, "Right now?"
She deflated just a tiny bit. "No, not now we still have to continue searching…" Ivy sighed.
Jasmine shook her head and sighed. "Ivy's right, we've spent too much time talking and not enough time searching. Zack's still out there and as long as he and Yellow know where we are we're in trouble."
"What do Zack and Yellow want from you two anyway?" I asked them. They both immediately went silent and exchanged glances. Neither one of them answered and I looked from Ivy to Jasmine, hoping one of them would say something.
"What?" I asked them when they didn't say anything.
Ivy finally spoke, "We don't actually know."
My eyes widened as Jasmine nodded. "We never asked them what they wanted or why they were here because we had no reason to." Jasmine explained, "We thought they just stayed with us because we were friends."
I sighed. "Do ever plan on asking them?" I asked, irritably.
Ivy scowled, "Well now that you've brought it up I guess we should. After we beat them up that is."
"Agreed." Jasmine said, smiling.
'Okay….' I thought
"Maybe we should split up?" I suggested.
"Sure. I'll search by the lake, Jasmine in the twolegplace and Hollyleaf at the clearing where we found that tuft of fur," Ivy ordered.
Jasmine and nodded and we all split up in different directions. The forest was quite; the only sound was the sound of my paw steps as I padded towards the clearing. I kept an eye out even though I wasn't expecting anything.
I approached the clearing and emerged from the gorse bushes. The clearing was the same from all the other times we had checked it and nothing seemed out of ordinary. I scanned the clearing, nothing was different other than the new steps of paw prints left from the barn cats but other than that everything seemed just how she left.
"There's nothing here…" I murmured, turning to leave.
Ssh ssh I heard a rustle in the bushes. Alarmed, I turned back to the clearing when suddenly I got knocked over by what felt like a smaller cat.
Off The breath was knocked out of me and I looked up to see a pair of amber eyes. I instinctively lashed out at his cheek, leaving three bloody claw marks. He hissed in pain, immediately getting of me as I got up and stared at him. He was small, about 8 moons, and had dark golden fur. His description met the one I had been told so many times to look out for.
'Zack. He's Here.'
"You!" I snarled at him.
He flattened his ears, "I just want to talk!" He started.
"I'm not going to give you time to talk…" I growled, although I stayed where I was.
"I just want to talk. Besides, I haven't done anything to you which gives you no right to attack me," He defended.
"I don't know where you come from but over here charging at someone is not how you show them you want to talk. Besides, you messed with my friends and I think that's plenty reason why!" I snapped back.
"Hear me out! I promise I just wanted to warn you!"
"I'll give you ten seconds." I hesitated before calmly sitting down, "Okay, what do you want to warn me about?" I asked cautiously, sheathing my claws but keeping a very careful eye on him. I listened for any other cats that could be lurking around but it seemed he was the only one who had come. 'Strange. Why would he come alone…?'
"The barn cats."
My claws unsheathed.
"I don't want to hear it!" I snapped.
He backed away, obviously frightened. I ignored the guilt I felt. 'Why would the barn cats be so mad and scared of this….kit?!'
"Plea-se just he-re me o-ut," He begged.
I flicked my ear, signaling for him to continue.
"Like I said you shouldn't trust the barn cats," He repeated.
I sighed, "And why shouldn't I trust the barn cats? My friends? The cats who generously let me stay in the barn?"
"Have you ever wondered why? Cats aren't just nice to complete strangers, Hollyleaf," He countered.
My eyes widened in surprise when he said my name. How did he know my name anyway? I wasn't going to elaborate on that though, after all he had been spying on us.
I was speechless, I didn't know what to say because he was right…. Cats normally wouldn't just be nice especially after the supposed ordeal they had with Zack and Yellow.
"Go on," I said quietly.
"They only want what's good for themselves and not for any other cat…" He explained, "They did the same with me and Yellow. They were friendly and made us believe they cared before they drove us out of their home. Even though we were living at the barn, me and my brother led a group of cats further away from the forest. They had previously asked us for a share of prey from what the group of cats hunted everyday but we declined because during times like leaf-bare and leaf-fall we could barely provide. Later we heard that dogs had been roaming around the twolegplace. So, one day the dogs saw Emerald and Rose entering the barn and chased after them. It was total chaos. The only way out was though another hole in the roof, which was higher up, to get out of the barn. The barn cats got out of there fast but Alfie purposely knocked over hay bales so me and Yellow couldn't get out-"
"Alfie did that?" I whispered quietly.
He nodded sadly, "The rest of them didn't stop him either. So when me and Yellow finally got out of there they attacked us, told us it was our fault that the dogs got in there the first place."
"Was it?" I questioned, suspiciously.
"Me and Yellow had been in the twolegplace at that time, we had been meeting friends, but still they blame us?!" He shook his head and accused, "There nothing but filthy liars. They'd known us even longer than they've known you but still they betrayed us and blamed their pain and grief on us? What makes you think they won't do the same to you?"
"They would never do that."
"Really, Would they really never do that?"
I knew that half of what Zack had said was true, I mean cats don't go out of there way for strangers unless they want something in return. however, what could I offer the barn cats that would interest them? I couldn't picture any of them ever hurting me like that…just the thought of innocent Rust and Emerald doing that was close to unimaginable. I, Ivy, and Jasmine got on so well and even though Alfie had mood swings I knew he was still my friend.
I hesitated before answering, "I'm not a gullible cat and if something was up I think I would know but I just can't imagine any of them doing something like that to me…"
"Maybe you just don't know them that well," He added.
"And you're sure they would do something like this? Would Rose?" I asked, watching him closely. Ivy told me how those two had been rather attached to each other, so if anything I could use to make sure he was telling the truth, it was Rose. "And you mentioned how nice they are too me but what about what you're doing right now? You came all this way, knowing how much they hate you, to come warn me? A cat you've never met before?"
I noticed his eyes flash with pain and guilt for a second but it disappeared as quick as it came. "Listen." He began, "We think you could be of use to us in the future…" He shrugged, "Besides, I'm simply giving you some advice it you who chooses whether you listen to it or not."
"I don't plan on being any use to you in the future." I stated firmly, ending the conversation. I narrowed my green eyes and said, "Your ten seconds are up, I'm going to let you go but hurry up before I change my mind."
He hurriedly got up to go but not before turning around and saying, "Just remember my warning, you can't trust the barn cats." He paused before adding, "Also, if your interested in learning more about what the barn cats are up to, particularly why Rose is so mad at you, you know where to find me."
Then he left, his dark golden fur making him stand out as he pushed through the gorse bushes. "Wait-" I cried, suddenly wanting to know more but he was already gone.
I feel like a lot of endings to my chapters is some cat vanishing before Hollyleaf can talk to him/her.
Oh well.
Anyway I hope you enjoyed this very…twisty chapter. I know I've posted chapters back to back but what can I say? I'm awesome.
And the question/s of the day:
Why should the barn cats not be trusted?
Is Zack lying?
Is Ivy really that good at swimming?
Anyway here are the replies:
KnightLawn: Aww, thank you so much!
Tawnypelt37: I'm glad you like Forest although I never really noticed him as a suspicious character until you mentioned, Honestly I was going more for 'friendly kittypet'. Thank you! Also, have a great evening/day to you.
So I don't really have much left to say so bye for now!
~Zap