A/N
Pix: -_- The obvious rule for me posting chapters is i need 3-4 reviews to make a new chapter, so I'm making an exception for this one time and one time only.
Thymetail: I'll be telling my story in this chapter, just for you all…
Hawkpool: And you may see why I was so sad when Jaytalon left…
As Thymetail entered the back of her den, she sighed softly as she sat in the dim, moonlight. Quiet nights where the only sound Thymetail could hear where the crickets and owls made the jittery she cat calm and serene.
Thymetail stretched out her back, and upon settling down in her cool nest, she felt old memories flooding back to her.
…
(Flashback of Thymetail…)
"Thymepaw, how would you like to hear that story now?" Hazelwind meowed, placing the chamomile at the young queen's paws. A moon ago, Thymepaw had become a queen, joining Sweetfern, an older queen, Yarrowheart, Sweetfern's daughter, and the deputy, Fallensnow.
"Yes, please Hazelwind…" Thymepaw sighed, upset that she was a queen and hadn't even finished her apprenticeship.
The mottled she cat sat next to Thymepaw and Yarrowheart. Yarrowheart was a cream tabby with a white tail tip with a very plump belly. Her kits, which were Darkheart's a young dark grey tom with joyous blue eyes.
Sweetfern's kits belonged to Foggysoul, a senior, silvery tom; however, no cat knew the father of Fallensnow's soon-to-bes, but everyone suspected it was Nettleclaw, a close tom friend of hers.
Hazelwind tucked her paws under her chest and began her story, with Yarrowheart and Thymepaw intent on listening. "You remember Leopardstep, the tabby elder who passed last Leaf-bare." The two queens nodded. Hazelwind continued, "well, when she was a young apprentice, she was solo hunting, and a ThunderClan warrior made her a queen when she was merely an apprentice. She gave birth, but all her kits died in Leaf-bare, and she never loved, and she refused to birth again." Hazelwind explained, but Thymepaw merely looked curious.
"Do-does that mean that m-my kits sh-shall perish?" Thymepaw asked, brushing her thin tail over her slightly swollen stomach.
Hazelwind shook her head. "Not if you don't want them to. I will have the clan care for you as much as possible."
…
(Two moons later)
Thymepaw wailed in agony, as Hazelwind hushed the light tabby softly. Thymepaw's friend, Aspenpaw- now Aspenberry- was inside the den, trying to soothe her friend.
"Thymepaw, Thymepaw, it's okay." Aspenberry insisted, but Thymepaw could sense her friend's fear. "Here's one!" Hazelwind exclaimed, grooming the first one's chest to have it breathe. With a loud mew, it found Thymepaw's belly and suckled greedily.
After a two pawfuls of chervil and a few burnet leaves, four healthy kittens rested at Thymepaw's stomach. Two things broke Thymepaw's fragile heart upon seeing her darlings. They'll never have a father to come visit them, or encourage them… Before all this happened, whenever I dreamed of this, this is not how I saw it… And, they all look like that greedy loner… Except this one tom…
Thymepaw realized, setting her green eyes upon a light brown tabby tom with beautiful chocolate markings. Oh, poor thing… He's the runt. Thymepaw thought staring at his larger littermates.
Let's take a closer look… Thymepaw turned to her firstborn; a dark grey she kit with thick fur. Hmmm, perhaps she'll be Echokit… I'll wait.
Next was an exact replica of the rogue, except he had dark silver tail. Maybe… Um, Shadekit?… Thymepaw then took notice of an ashy grey she kit with a silver ringed tail and light brown paws. I-I'm not sure… I don't think- Thymepaw stopped as she remembered the runt. "Hang on little guy, I know just what to name you; I think Acornkit fits perfectly."
Acornkit let out a soft purr as he nuzzled his way under Thymepaw's silver foot, and fell asleep. "I love you all, even if your existence meant a little suffering, you mean the world to me." Thymepaw sighed, curling her tail around her four kits.
(Three sunrises later…)
Thymepaw sat outside, her head hung low at Yarrowheart's dead body. The poor queen had kitted wrong, and she'd lost too much blood. Her kits had died too, except for one, a she kit with a similar look to her mother. Darkheart refused the she kit, growling that it'd killed his love.
Aspenberry named the she kit, Daisykit. Thymepaw and Sweetfern took turns nursing Daisykit, but Thymepaw's kits were too greedy to let Daisykit have much milk.
Then, when Redstar had let a tom-rogue into the clan for a quarter-moon, Thymepaw flipped. Okay, sure it wasn't the tom who'd forced her to bear kits, but he kept eyeing Thymepaw and her babies.
One day, four sunrises since he'd arrived, he approached Thymepaw. "Um, hello. My name is Spark and I-" The ginger and white tom was cut short by Thymepaw, placing a claw in his nose.
"Let me st-stop you there, mister. I don't know wh-why you're here, or why you ke-keep looking at m-me, but I-" This time, it was Thymepaw who was cut off. "Let me stop you there, young queen." Spark sighed, sitting down.
With a huff, Thymepaw copied him, but she was ready to spring at any given moment. Spark looked away shyly, as if unsure of what to say. With a deep breath, he stared at Thymepaw with his beautiful violet eyes.
"Here's the deal; your kits look a ton like my brother from another mother. He's grey, big, scary with a lot of scars and an irresistible southern tune." Thymepaw's eyes widened in fear and her fur stood up instantly.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on there! I'm nothing like that!" Spark yowled, taking a step back.
Thymepaw forced her fur to stay flat, but her heart was beating so quickly she felt her blood pulsing, and her head was reeling with unpleasant flashbacks. "Then why d-do you keep star-staring at me, not m-my kits? Sure, you look at th-them too, but you prac-practically bore your eyes in-into me!" Thymepaw growled.
"Because I love you!" Spark hissed, a little too loudly, drawing attention to him, with his bushed up tail and wide, pale purple eyes. Eerie silence was hit with his words, but chatter soon resumed.
Spark gulped, embarrassed that the words escaped him. "Walk with me; Let me explain better…" Spark insisted, his eyes begging her. Thymepaw gave in, eventually following him to the Soft Sands, a dimly lit area because of the overlapping tree branches, with a sandy like floor that gave a cushioning feeling if you were knocked down during apprentice training.
"T-talk. Now." Thymepaw ordered as Spark sat down warily. The ginger tom held a white-toed paw in the air, waving it about nervously. "When I first came to camp, and Redstar let me stay, I saw you, watching me with rage. Even with the hate clear as the sky in your eyes, they were the most amazing eyes I'd ever seen. You fur shone brilliantly in the sunlight, your smile is the prettiest thing in the whole clans, and beyond; so, Thymepaw, that is why I love you. Because I loathe my brother for mating you, when really, you're too beautiful for cruelty like that.." Spark explained, obviously not done.
"My brother did the unspeakable. A experience like that should be when the she cat is ready, not when a male demands it of her." Spark breathed, his violet eyes glistening, when suddenly, Thymepaw didn't feel threatened, or jittery.
"S-Spark, I don't know what to say…" Thymepaw took a deep breath. "Except, that I love you too. You've showed kindness, even when I've been mean, and for that, I thank you. But, Spark, I have one favor I need of you…"
(Around midnight…)
"My kits!" Thymepaw wailed, "my kits are gone!" Cats stirred, worried murmuring blowing across the camp. Aspenberry seemed to have flown inside the den, examining the tear in the nursery walls.
"That flea-bag, fox-hearted, frog-brain!" Aspenberry hissed, picking up the scent of Spark, who'd obviously taken her kits. "Let's get him!" She snarled.
Staring at the rip in the wall, Thymepaw sighed. I made Spark take you, don't hate me, my children. He can name you whatever he likes, except, my sweet, Acornkit… But I'll never forget you,, my love…
(Many, many moons later)
"I-I'm off to get he-herbs!" Thymetail called to Fallenstar, as she left camp. Hmm, something is odd with the clans… Oakblaze reports his kits were stolen, while Smokestar- the new ThunderClan leader- announces his kits birth… This doesn't seem right. I remember Sandfern announcing four kits, but only three were taken…
A sweet scent bathed Thymetail's tongue as she looked up, spotting a thriving patch of catmint, she began to carefully bite the stems.
"Well, hello there." A voice said. Thymetail spun around, jaws full with catmint. "Stocking up for winter?" it said, as the bushes shivered and a small, grey and gold striped tom appeared. "Hm, no. Your clans call it Leaf-bare." He muttered.
Thymetail cocked her head. He's sure an odd one… "W-what do y-you want?" The small, young tom's eyes grew huge. "Oh! Where are my manners! I'm Hornet, a plant-mixer; or in your case, a medicine cat." Hornet gave the catmint a subtle sniff.
"I have a proposition." Hornet said smoothly, tapping his tail on the ground, as Thymetail perked her ears high.
"I can merge your clan with mine. My cats go by the name of the NightWalkers. We only walk upon the darkness, but we are the very prowlers of the night. Together, we can overthrow the clans and ShadowClan will get the respect they deserve." Hornet growled.
Thymetail looked at Hornet, a growing feeling in her heart that he was not to be trusted, but she found his soft, lulling voice gentle, as if he meant no harm.
"H-have you be-been spying o-on me?" Thymetail accused, narrowing her eyes carefully. Hornet looked appalled. "No, no. I prefer the words, 'intelligent observance'." Hornet meowed, beginning to circle the medicine cat. Thymetail lashed her tail furiously.
"Oh, Thymetail. I see how you envy the queens. How the kittens frolic and play-fight. You close your eyes and sigh, wishing you had kits. I know how you hate the other clans for mocking your stutter. I can help you, I can help ShadowClan." Hornet pleaded, holding out a paw.
Taking a deep breath and letting it out evenly, Thymepaw held his paw with her silver one. "Deal."
(End of Flashback)
Thymetail woke with a start, breathing heavily in a cold sweat. Thymetail held her silver foot in the moonlight of her den and shook it. She couldn't believe she let herself get near such evil, let alone touch it. Oh, StarClan, please forgive me for starting this war.
(Late that night; RiverClan)
Sighing, Hawkpool stood up from her nest. She shook the cattail fuzz from her fur and tip-toed around the other warriors. Hawkpool felt her heart stop as she saw Thornsnag twitch. The chocolate tom rolled onto his back, muttering fearfully and shivering as if he was in a cold storm. He let out a soft shriek and rolled back onto his belly as he dug his claws into the ground and tears fell from his cheeks. Hawkpool swore she heard her heart crack again, as she remembered the painful rejection she gave him on that rainy night.
I'd better go before he wakes up. Oakstar will kill me if he finds out where I'm going… Hawkpool dashed silently out of camp, crawling through the reeds. Once she was out of camp, Hawkpool felt free as she ran through the short grasses and tall reeds.
Hawkpool tripped over a tree root as she ran, cursing herself for her clumsiness, but as she tumbled down the slope, when she landed, it felt soft, and cushioned.
"The Mossy Hollow!" Hawkpool realized, thanking StarClan for her stroke of luck. Hawkpool stood up, leaping atop one of the moss covered rocks. Hawkpool pictured herself standing on the GreatLedge, calling her noble clan together. She saw Honeysnow with an apprentice, who she recognized as Morningkit.
Hawkpool looked around for her deputy and her heart soared when she saw Thornsnag sitting on the little space of rock jutting out, just for deputies. When I'm leader, everything will be perfect…
Hawkpool cut her own thoughts short as she remembered what she snuck out of camp for. Hawkpool slammed her paws on the ground, feeling as if she could fly when she met eyes with the tom waiting on his side of the border.
Jaytalon purred as Hawkpool splashed across the river to rub noses with him. "I wasn't sure you'd come," Hawkpool breathed as Jaytalon tackled her lovingly. Jaytalon pushed his muzzle in her ear, "I wouldn't miss this for the fattest mouse in the forest." He panted, Hawkpool could smell the thrush in his breath, the breezy scent rolling off his tongue, as Hawkpool curled her slim tail with Jaytalon's large, white tail.
"I love you," Jaytalon murmured between licks on Hawkpool's neck. Hawkpool panted, her ears warm with delight, and in between pants she huffed, "I love you more."
A/N
Pix: That nearly got a little carried away, glad I stopped there! ^3^'
Hawkpool: *groans in frustration* C'mon, Pix, you stop there?! Why not cut off my sentence or something?
Jaytalon: Yeah, I was just gettin' started *winks at Hawkpool*
Pix: Aaaaaaand that's all we have time for, see ya next time folks, join us next time on 'Stolen' where this will happen…
Preview…
"ThunderClan, ATTACK!" Yowls Smokestar, his voice startles the battle-hungry ShadowClan warriors.
…
"It can't be, no, no, no!" Flowerpelt cries, beginning to sob hysterically into Puddlewhisker's side.
...
"You are a traitor to RiverClan, and a disgrace to StarClan. You're exiled forever, and any RiverClan cat who catches you on our territory has the right to attack. Leave!" Bellows Oakstar, yellow-orange eyes locked onto a cat in the back of the crowd.
...
"The day is near… I will have my revenge on those stupid clans, with their stupid rules and stupid signs, as the stupid mothers pay no attention to their stupid kits…" Hisses a grey mottled she cat with ruffled fur, sharp orange-ish eyes and two dark grey, clover-like marks under each eye. She steps out of the stone cave and onto the pine needles that litter the ground beneath her paws.
She tugs at her purple collar, as the moonlight glints off the wolf teeth in her collar, as a white tom with a ginger mark on his forehead stands beside her.
"War is coming."
End of preview…
Pix: Welp, that was dramatic, buh-bye now! (LOL how was the preview?)
~Pix and the overly loving love-doves