'You'll be waiting in vain.
I've got nothing for you to gain.'

'Eyes on Fire' Blue Foundation

¢нαρтєя ƒσυя: dαякєηєd ѕαηdѕ

Another groan sounded from the white-pelted she-cat as she shook out her fur spraying gritty sand everywhere. Her eyes were narrowed against the sharp wind that flung sand at them, stinging their skin through their fur. "How are we supposed to find the Chosen without being found by PhoenixClan first? I highly doubt they'd be too pleased to discover a traitor travelling with a WaveClan warrior and a SnowClan warrior," she grumbled.

"You don't enjoy the feeling of sand underneath your paws?" Rainpatch gasped in mock surprise.

Icepetal glowered at him, "no, I much prefer the feeling of snow."

"What? That cold, icky, wet, sludgy stuff that's freezing cold and chases all the prey away? How could anyone enjoy that in the slightest way?" the WaveClan tom pressed.

"At least it's better than gritty sand and salty water."

"Definitely not! Were you dropped on your head as a kit? Drowned in a large patch of sludgy snow perhaps?"

"No!"

"Yes."

"No!"

Tornheart flattened her ears in an attempt to drown out the constant bickering of the two opposing warriors. Silently she snarled at the Guardians for making her responsible for finding the Chosen and setting them on the right path. They were hardly more mature than three moon old kits! She'd known that their differing lifestyles, personalities, opinions and desires would clash mightily at times but she'd hoped they'd at least act their age. She hoped fiercely that the next Chosen was a leader, a cat that could take over from her so that she faded into the background and eventually vanished altogether. It wouldn't take Crimson long to realise that one of her oath-takers was rebelling against her by sending a group of five chosen cats to kill her.

"Just because you're jealous of how much stronger SnowClan warriors are compared to WaveClan warriors!" Icepetal spat.

"Don't be ridiculous. SnowClan warriors can't even swim. Your deputy's been looking a little pudgy lately, has he been having late night snacks?" Rainpatch chuckled.

Tornheart whirled around with an aggravated hiss. These arguments had finally worn her patience thin. "Will you two please shut up! We are in enemy territory and you two are bickering like spoilt kits! Honestly, how do you two expect to survive such a long journey when you can't even spend more than a day with each other without constantly arguing over the stupidest things. WaveClan warriors are strong swimmers; they can fight better than any of the other Clans in the water," she growled. "SnowClan warriors have thicker fur to ward off the cold that they spend most of their lives living in, also they are stronger fighters in thick snow. Have we settled this annoying argument yet? Both of you have different strengths and weaknesses but by being together you can overcome those weaknesses and teach each other the skills of water fighting and snow fighting. Work together as a team!"

Rainpatch shared an awkward look with Icepetal before a small smirk grew on his muzzle. "I guess arguing is a little easier than getting to know each other. Acquaintances?" he offered and stretched forward a forepaw.

"I suppose we can try a little harder to get along," Icepetal murmured, reaching forward to touch her paw to Rainpatch's.

He smiled warmly at her and then flinched as a tendril of Tornheart's green magic threaded its way around their touching paws, binding them together. Both struggled against the green band but it refused to give way. Icepetal narrowed her eyes in distrust as she looked at Tornheart. "What are you doing!? Get your magic off of me!"

Tornheart said nothing and just stared at their bound paws with glowing eyes. She murmured words under her breath, strange words that neither warrior could understand. They pulled and tugged and ripped at the binding but still it remained strong. It began to burn, glowing brighter as it burned hotter. Icepetal hissed as it singed her fur, burning into her very flesh. "Stop this, Tornheart!" Rainpatch demanded as the fur on his paw began to smoulder as well.

Then, as quickly as the binding had appeared, it vanished leaving behind a reddened band of skin around both cats paws. "I'd like an explanation," Icepetal seethed.

"I bound the two of you just like I will bind all the Chosen together so that if we ever find ourselves separated and one of us is in danger we will know," Tornheart sighed tiredly. Her head pounded painfully which wasn't unusual. The Guardians had warned her that a spell such as the Binding Spell would sap her energy and leave her with a throbbing headache. Yet she hadn't told them the entire truth. Yes the spell would let them know if one of them was in danger but it would also allow Tornheart to keep an eye on the Chosen if she was forced to leave them.

"Why didn't you wait until we'd found all the Chosen?" Icepetal queried, looking up from observing her burnt flesh. She didn't sound angry or annoyed anymore, just curious.

"The chances of us being caught on PhoenixClan territory and them taking me hostage are rather high seeing as I personally fought in the siege on their camp all those moons ago," she replied easily without flinching. All those things she'd done during Crimson's attack on the Clans no longer bothered her. She knew she was capable of doing worse things with her magic than she'd done when her mind hadn't been her own. A flare of her magic snapped out, blowing a chunk of sand off the top of a nearby dune. Hurriedly she reined her magic back in. Losing control could mean her death and the deaths of anyone around her.

Rainpatch flicked his burned paw and then stiffened, eyes focused on the sand dune that Tornheart had just blown apart. "We need to get to some sort of cover," he ordered. "I can smell warriors heading this way." The tom indicated to the thick RogueClan forest that sprawled over the border into PhoenixClan territory before hurrying over to them, favouring his bound paw ever so slightly. Scenting the air Tornheart found him to be correct, there was indeed the familiar smell of PhoenixClan drifting towards them on the wind. Quickly she and Icepetal joined Rainpatch in the forest, crouching down low to the tangled ground littered with leaves and gnarled roots.

They watched silently as a patrol of lean, short-pelted, confused looking warriors slid down the sand dune with sharp eyes surveying everything. Two murmured to each other whilst another indicated to the ground, flicking an ear in the direction of the forest where the Chosen and Tornheart were hiding. Slight fear skittered up Tornheart's spine as she watched the patrol talking amongst themselves. There were five of them – an odd number for a patrol.

"Do you think they know we were there?" Icepetal whispered quietly.

"Well, the exploding sand dune was probably a dead giveaway, but I don't think they'll be able to track us to here," Rainpatch chuckled, "probably scared the dirt out of them."

Icepetal laughed quietly, her shoulders shaking with the near silent laughter. It brought a small smile to Tornheart's face to see them not bickering but sharing a joke together like friends. There may be hope for them yet, she told herself strongly. Silence fell upon them once again as they watched the patrol sniff around the exploded sand dune, occasionally saying things to each other.

Leaves rustled above them, a few falling and landing on Rainpatch's back. He rolled his shoulders and the leaves fell to the ground beside him but he didn't pay much attention to it. Leaves fell from trees all the time. But then, just before he leaned over to say something to Icepetal, he noticed a scent that had not been there moments before, the scent of a PhoenixClan cat. He opened his mouth to warn the others but a heavy weight landing on his back silenced him.

"Don't move, don't attack or I'll knock him out," a voice growled to the others. Rainpatch went limp, hoping to trick his attacker. It worked and the WaveClan tom surged upwards with a mighty heave, throwing his attacker off of him. He whirled around and pinned the attacker down.

"Nice try, PhoenixClanner, but you're too cocky."

Icepetal rolled her eyes. "Now what are we going to do? If we're not careful the patrol will hear us."

The PhoenixClan warrior chuckled quietly before Rainpatch pressed down on his throat turning the chuckle into a strange sounding gurgle. "Too late, they already know you're here. The tracks you left behind were pretty obvious."

"No.." Tornheart breathed, eyes stretching wide with fear. "We cannot let them find us! It would ruin everything! Hold him down, make sure he doesn't move, Rainpatch. Icepetal, grab Rainpatch's tail in your mouth and press your nose against my shoulder. Do not move a muscle or say a word."

The warriors stared up at her with confused eyes before realisation dawned on the two Chosen, they knew what Tornheart was going to do. "But we haven't found the Chosen yet!" Icepetal protested.

"Yes we have," Tornheart purred silkily. She indicated at the PhoenixClanner's shoulder where a circular scar sat void of any reddish, rusty, brown fur. "Tell me, young warrior, how long have you had that scar?"

The tom shuffled under Rainpatch's firm hold, "all my life."

"Wonderful," Tornheart smiled. "Keep him pinned. We don't have very long so I'm afraid an explanation will have to wait, Eaglestrike of PhoenixClan."

Horror flitted across Eaglestrike's face as he stared up at the black-furred she-cat without recognising who she actually was. He found himself lost in those vivid green orbs of hers as they began to glow brightly whilst the she-cat bent her head, murmuring strange words under her breath. Icepetal quickly grasped Rainpatch's tail gently in her mouth and pressed her nose to Tornheart's shoulder.

The world around them began to ripple, twist, turn, waver and eventually fade. It was replaced by a grassy clearing ringed by thick forest with the sound of rushing water filling the late evening sky. Groans sounded from the three warriors as they felt the effects of teleportation for the first time; nausea, headaches, weary muscles, exhaustion and loss of appetite. But it was nothing compared to the effects Tornheart was feeling. She had never teleported anyone else along with her before so she wasn't ready to feel the mind-numbing exhaustion it brought on.

But she couldn't fall asleep just yet. Another Binding Spell needed to be done. "Touch paws," she ordered tiredly, "in the way most Clan cats do to show a bond of friendship."

Eaglestrike forced his way to his paws, growling at Rainpatch and Icepetal. "Why? What is all this about? How did we get here? Where is here!?" he demanded confidently. He held himself in a confident manner that simply oozed arrogance. Tornheart found herself wondering if the Guardians were purposely trying to break her fragile sanity. Eaglestrike and Icepetal were going to clash constantly with their similar personalities.

"Just do it, PhoenixClanner," Rainpatch grumbled and thrust his paw in front of him. Icepetal offered hers a little more hesitantly, remembering the smell and feel of smouldering fur and flesh. "We'll explain afterwards."

"It better be a good explanation," Eaglestrike hissed before roughly shoving his paw forward to touch the others. His lip curled in irritation and ten his face softened slightly. "My Clan needs me right now; they need all the warriors they can get. Can we hurry this up so I can go home?"

Tornheart visibly flinched. Perhaps she had judged this tom a little too quickly. Fear for your Clan can make any cat lash out. She wasn't looking forward to telling him that he wouldn't be returning to his Clan any time soon. Pushing those thoughts from her mind, Tornheart concentrated on allowing her magic to flick out and wrap itself around the Chosen's paws. The words came easily, slipping from her tongue like the words to a story her mother had told her every night when she was a kit. Green bands wrapped themselves firmly around their paws causing Eaglestrike to let out a muffled yelp and try to tug away. She tightened her magic's grip ignoring Eaglestrike's grunts as he tried to free himself. As the final word slipped from her tongue the spell ended and her magic shrivelled away into nothing, vanishing back inside her. The smell of smouldering fur filled the air.

"What was that!?" Eaglestrike demanded. "What have you done to me?"

Tornheart drew a paw over her ears as her head throbbed painfully. Stars danced before her vision as darkness encroached on her. "It was a Binding Spell," she murmured, "to bind you to the other Chosen like they have already been bound together. I used a Teleportation Spell to bring us to High Star Island before the rest of your patrol found us."

"Spell? As in magic? Don't play with me," Eaglestrike hissed.

"It's true," Icepetal stepped forward and shoved the PhoenixClan warrior. "I've seen her do other spells. Take it from a warrior who has never believed in magic in all her life, it's very real and very dangerous." She smiled slightly at Tornheart, "but Tornheart can wield it well."

A look of recognition passed over Eaglestrike's face and he unsheathed his claws with a throaty growl, fur bristling along his shoulders. "I knew I recognised you! How could I not recognise the traitor that handed the Clans over to Crimson? What are you doing with these warriors? Recruiting them for Crimson's army? Well you won't be taking me, I won't let you!"

"Don't be ridiculous, PhoenixClanner. Do you think Icepetal and I would even be here if she was trying to recruit us for Crimson's army? Of course not. We're here because we care for our Clans and want nothing more than to rid them of Crimson for the rest of eternity. Now if you were to shut up and listen Tornheart would be able to explain to you why you're here!" Rainpatch snapped. "Not all of us want to be here when the Clans arrive for the gathering."

Eaglestrike arched a brow and relaxed his offensive position ever so slightly, looking expectantly at Tornheart. She took a deep breath. "You, Eaglestrike of PhoenixClan, have been prophesised to be part of a group of five cats known as the Chosen. The Chosen's destiny is to hunt Crimson down and kill her just as it was my destiny to rule alongside her. That scar, or birthmark, on your shoulder is how you are identified as a Chosen."

"Oh." The tom lapsed into silence as he mulled over the information he had received. He closed his eyes as he sank deeper into thought, imagining his claws bringing Crimson's death to her. Blood washed over his paws, stained his chest, dripped from his muzzle. Her blood, the blood of the demon that tore his father away, soaked his fur. He grinned darkly, shocking the others. "So we, the Chosen, are the only ones that can kill Crimson and bring peace back to the Clans?"

"Yes. If you fail then Crimson will continue to rule and will eventually destroy everything in her quest for power and for war," Tornheart answered.

Icepetal nudged Eaglestrike's shoulder with her nose, "if you accept then you'll get to travel with Rainpatch and I. I'm sure we'll become fast friends."

Tornheart nearly rolled her eyes at Icepetal's flirting. At least it's better than her bickering about stupid things all the time but it's bound to get on the other's nerves eventually.

"If I decide to join this rebellious group then it will not have anything to do with you, despite how delightful you seem," the rusty coloured tom replied. "It will be because it is the right thing to do, my life to save all the Clans. It will be because vengeance against Crimson is what every cat in every Clan yearns for. It will be because we have all lost someone close to us because of that demon's lust to rule and those someone's need to be avenged. So I apologise, SnowClanner, but your companionship means little; your safety means a little more seeing as we are a team."

Icepetal bristled slightly as she drew back her head to stare at Eaglestrike. A bright smile bloomed on her face, surprising the others considerably. Where was the rage or the cold words that usually came with rejecting the pretty she-cat? She turned her bright gaze onto Tornheart. "It seems we have found our leader."

"Leader?" Eaglestrike blinked. "Me?"

"Well your reasons for wanting Crimson dead stretch beyond your own gains, you want Crimson dead so that the dead can be avenged and the Clans can return to peace. Sure we all want that but Rainpatch and I both want Crimson dead for reasons other than peace; acceptance and the chance to raise a family in a world without so much death. You seem charismatic, strong-hearted, brave, prepared to stand strong for your beliefs, the perfect leader," Icepetal explained.

Tornheart exchanged an agreeing glance with Rainpatch before nodding to Eaglestrike. "She is right."

"A team doesn't need a designated leader. A team works together to overcome situations, defeat enemies and win battles," Eaglestrike protested.

"But a team needs a member that is willing to take control when everyone else has given up and push the team onwards, a member that will always do what is right regardless of the consequences and regardless of what the others will think of him," Icepetal retorted evenly.

Eaglestrike sighed and smiled weakly, lighting up his stormy blue eyes. "Why don't we wait until we've found the remaining Chosen before we decide on a leader?"

"Sounds like a plan," Icepetal beamed before retreating over to the side of the grassy clearing, curling up in the roots of a large tree. Rainpatch followed shortly after.

"The words to that…Binding Spell you performed," Eaglestrike quietly asked Tornheart, "what were they?"

Tornheart opened her mouth to reply before thinking better of it. "What does it matter to you? You cannot perform the spell without being given the gift of magic."

He chuckled heartily, a pleasant sound. "They sounded strange and I'm a curious cat."

"Sitoa heidän sielunsa, vastaavat heidän sydämensä, jotta ne minun nähdä," she repeated without calling upon her magic. She knew the words. The Binding Spell was one of the first spells the Guardians taught her when they unlocked her magic.

"Does it come in a language I might understand?" Eaglestrike grinned.

Tornheart shook her head with a smile, "they do but I cannot tell you. To know the words behind a spell is to know a magic-users deepest secret."

"Well in that case I guess your magic is pretty important to you?"

"It's the most important thing to me. It's like a second soul has been placed inside my body, a second mind, a second heart. But no one can know about my ability. They'd only try to use it against me; Crimson especially," Tornheart murmured sadly.

Eaglestrike laid his tail across her shoulders in an attempt at sympathy. "Why are you working against her? I thought you were one of them…?"

"I was never one of them. Crimson played at my weakness when I was an apprentice; preyed on my desires to be someone I was not. When I realised what she was doing was not to my benefit I began to rebel, tried to stop Crimson from doing what she was doing but when Crimson took control of my mind there was nothing I could do to stop myself from doing whatever Crimson asked of me," she replied hoarsely.

"Huh, I guess everyone just judged you as evil instead of trying to understand you."

Tornheart nodded before glancing up at the sky. The sun was setting quickly, rays of light diminishing as the red hue from the moon replaced it. Dark shadows stretched out from the forest, leaning out with hooked claws to seize the day and rip it away. A slight chill had begun to creep in as the sun sank behind the mountains ringing the valley. Crimson's mountain was nothing more than an intimidating silhouette leering at them from far away.

Far away within that mountain Crimson was locked away with her worst enemies, betrayal and herself.

PhoenixClan

Leader: Flamestar- Dull, brown-pelted tom with Crimson's trademark yellow eyes (Kuroda Shadelily)

Deputy: Darkbreeze- A long-legged, jet black she-cat with bright amber eyes (GlimmerIcewood)

Medicine Cat: Redflower- Red she-cat with white underbelly, chest, throat and face. Apprentice; Riverpaw

Warriors:

Blueshine- Light blue she-cat with white splashes and ear tips. Apprentice; Crowpaw

Timberclaw- Dark brown tabby tom with lighter streaks. Apprentice; Fadedpaw

Scorchblaze- A broad-shouldered dark gray tom with green eyes (GlimmerIcewood)

Emberstorm- Fiery orange tom with white muzzle and left ear

Blackfoot- Dark gray tom with black muzzle and hind paws. Apprentice; Sparrowpaw

Featherleaf- Silver long-furred she-cat with yellow eyes (Joyful Call of Soaring Wren). Apprentice; Stormpaw

Shadowsky- Brown tom with a white underbelly and piercing blue eyes (Joyful Call of Soaring Wren)

Lightsong- Fawn tabby she-cat with black flecks and dark rings around her tail. Apprentice; Nettlepaw

Eaglestrike- Reddish, rusty red coloured tom with a white tail tip, black ear tips and stormy blue eyes

Wrenfeather- Dappled brown she-cat with a mix of dark brown and light brown flecks and spots, dark amber eyes

Sparrowsong- Dark tawny coloured she-cat with black stripes and brown splotches, amber eyes. Apprentice; Lizardpaw

Apprentices:

Sparrowpaw- Sleek gray she-cat with black spots

Fadedpaw- Light blue she-cat - nearly white - with a white tail that fades to black

Riverpaw- Smokey gray tom with white speckles

Stormpaw- A very dark gray tom with amber eyes (GlimmerIcewood)

Nettlepaw- A mottled black and gray she-cat with green eyes (GlimmerIcewood)

Crowpaw- A black tom with bright amber eyes (GlimmerIcewood)

Lizardpaw- A light brown tom with darker flecks and yellow eyes (Wolfgrowl)

Queens:

Birdflight- Lithe light brown ticked tabby she-cat

Kits:

Pebblekit- Tabby gray she-cat with a smoky black muzzle

Spottedkit- Brown she-cat with black spots

Elders:

Brambledrop- Lithe light brown ticked tabby she-cat with a white tail tip and dark blue eyes

AN: I was on holiday, hence the lateness of this chapter. I'm planning on voice-recording Crimson Moon and chucking it up on Youtube, so if you're interested in voicing any characters shoot me a PM.

-нυηтєя