Thanks for the reviews last chapter, everyone! And for the favs and follows as well~!
~Summary~
Skyheart used to be a normal ShadowClan warrior. That was before she woke up on the other side of the lake on WindClan's territory, with no memory of the past six moons. Now she struggles to live a normal life, haunted by that black void that looms in her mind whenever she tries to think back, along with a best friend who is acting strange and unusually protective of her. And then there is that RiverClan warrior, the one who stares openly and acts much too friendly with her. Life has never been so complicated.
~Lost~
Chapter One
Why do they have to act so...lovestruck? Anyone would think they were attached at the hip with the way they never leave each-others sight. It's sickening!
Indeed, Skyheart was currently sulking in the warriors' den, staring out into camp where Sunblossom and Vinetail - Vinepaw's warrior ceremony had been nearly a quarter moon ago now - were sitting side by side sharing a frog. They looked so happy and content - without a care in the world.
It was at these moments when Skyheart could begin to see the appeal the new warrior Vinetail held for Sunblossom. When he wasn't being a gloating, arrogant furball, he was actually somewhat nice. Of course, he only ever acted that way to Sunblossom, and seemed extra irritating when it came to Skyheart.
It still bothered her, though. How at ease and worry-free her friend looked.
Why couldn't Skyheart be like that? Why couldn't she have that easy contentment that seemed to radiate off of Sunblossom? Why could she not just be happy?
Skyheart blinked at her friend, and then quietly admitted to herself, "I'm envious. I envy my best friend."
It was true - she was envious of Sunblossom's ability to be content with herself and what she had. The ginger warrior wasn't missing anything, she didn't feel as if a huge part of her life had been ripped away.
She knew herself, while Skyheart felt like she was losing her grip on who she was.
Some cats may think, 'What's she making such a fuss over? It was only six moons.'
Those cats were wrong. A lot could happen in six moons, and Skyheart had a deep-set feeling that something did. Those moons could have been the best of her life, and she wouldn't have any way of knowing! There was nothing to remember, nothing to go on!
Everything was absolutely frustrating. No cat could possibly understand what it was like. No cat currently alive had ever gone through this before. She was alone in her world of darkness. So alone...
A desolate and cramped feeling swept through Skyheart, filling her. Overwhelming her. Getting to her paws, she stumbled out of the warriors' den on shaky paws. She ignored the looks she received, the voices asking her if she was alright.
She needed air. Open air. Free of cats. Free of happy, unconcerned cats.
She tore through the thorn tunnel, ignoring the thorns that tugged at her pelt. She could deal with a few missing tufts of fur.
Leaving the camp behind in her wake, Skyheart sprinted in between and around the trees, the colours of the forest blending together as she ran. Ran like she was trying to escape her problems, like she could outrun them.
...if only.
She felt cheated. She felt cheated by life, and it left her with a stinging sensation of defeat. She just didn't know what to do.
Skyheart wasn't sure how long it had been since she left camp. She was surprised Sunblossom hadn't come looking for her yet. She could picture the ginger warrior, panicking over her best friend.
It made her feel a pang of guilt. She didn't want to worry her friend, she really didn't.
But she had needed to get out of camp before she suffocated. It was a necessity. Having a breakdown in camp wasn't on her to-do list.
So here she was, lounging at the base of a pine tree as she stared out at the lake. She didn't know what had brought her there - all she knew was that it was peaceful.
The lake was calm, reflecting the clear sky above.
Skyheart remembered the very first time she saw the lake...so beautiful. She had been in awe. She had never seen anything more magnificent in her life...of course, she hadn't thought it was so wonderful after Sunblossom - Sunpaw then - had pushed her into the shallow end. Oh, how furious she had been after that. She purred softly in amusement at the memory.
Remembering old times made Skyheart grow drowsy. Attempting to stifle a yawn, the young she-cat rested her head on her paws, gazing out at the mesmerizing water. Her eyes soon started to droop, and before long she was unable to keep them open any longer, and she slipped into a deep sleep.
"Skypaw! Hey, Skypaw!" The gray-and-white apprentice looked up from the prey she was eating to see Sunpaw bounding toward her, tail straight up in the air.
"What is it, Sunpaw? Got another thorn stuck in your nose?" Skypaw asked, purring loudly.
"No! And it's not funny, you know!" Sunpaw snapped, "that actually really hurts!"
"Sure, sure," Skypaw snickered. "I believe you." The expression on the ginger cat's face was priceless!
"Yeah, whatever," Sunpaw growled dismissively, "anyway, like I was trying to say originally," she shot an annoyed look at Skypaw, who merely rolled her eyes, "Vinekit's apprentice ceremony is later today! Isn't that great, Skypaw?"
Skypaw snorted. "I'm surprised that kit made it to apprenticeship, what with all the trouble he gets himself into."
"Aw, he's not so bad, Skypaw. He just needs a nudge in the right direction." Sunpaw defended him.
"More like a shove," Skypaw retorted lightly, and looked down at the lizard between her paws. She took another bite, while Sunpaw next to her was silent.
Finally, Skypaw couldn't take it. "Sunpaw?" She questioned, looking at her friend who was giving her a blank stare. It was kind of unnerving. "What is it? Is something wrong?"
Sunpaw blinked. And then she meowed lowly, "What is your problem with Vinekit?"
"Huh?" Skypaw was startled. What was the ginger apprentice talking about?
"Vinekit," Sunpaw repeated, "Whenever anyone talks about him you always retort with something rude." The icy-blue eyed she-cat's gaze turned into a glare. "You're hardly fair toward him. So, what's your problem with him?"
Skypaw stared at her, wide-eyed. "My problem...with Vinekit? I don't have a problem with-"
"Don't lie!" Sunpaw snarled suddenly, "You're always giving him dirty looks and saying rude things, and I've had enough of it!"
Skypaw shied away from Sunpaw's anger, confused. "I don't-"
"Be quiet!" Sunpaw spat, looming over her friend, "I don't want to hear your excuses!"
Anger rose within Skypaw. She glared right back at Sunpaw and hissed, "You wanted me to tell you what my problem with Vinekit was, and now you're telling me to be quiet? Where's the logic in that?"
Pain suddenly shot through Skypaw's muzzle, and newly shed blood dripped down onto the ground. She looked up at Sunpaw, shocked, who's claws were unsheathed, and gleaming with blood. Skypaw's blood.
"I told you to be quiet," she growled threateningly. "It's your own fault."
Skypaw only gaped at the ginger she-cat, who glared down at her coldly. What...why would her friend do such a thing?
"You've always had a problem with Vinetail," Sunpaw continued, "And he did nothing to deserve it. Why are you so unfair to him?"
Whoa...wait. Vinetail? Aren't we talking about Vinekit? Who is Vinetail? Skypaw thought, confused. Her friend wasn't making any sense.
"Answer me!" Sunpaw shrieked, raising her paw to strike Skypaw again.
Skypaw threw herself out of the way of the attack, and stared at Sunpaw. This...this wasn't her friend. This wasn't the Sunpaw she knew. What was going on?
"What are you talking about?!" Skypaw yowled, "I don't know a Vinetail, I only know a Vinekit!"
"Nice try, Skyheart," Sunpaw growled, "Stop playing around. Just because you have some problems with your memory, doesn't mean you're special!"
Problems...with my memory? Skyheart? What is going on?! Skypaw was starting to panic. And where were all their Clanmates? They were in camp, but there wasn't another cat in sight!
Skypaw felt a surge of anger. She didn't know where it had come from, but suddenly, somehow, she knew exactly what to say.
"I know I'm not special. I know that. But don't you go off pointing out my flaws when your your precious little Vinetail has twice as many!"
Skypaw was shocked at herself. She had been angry before, yes, so she knew what it was like. But this anger...it was different. Bitter. Confused. Envious.
But before she was able to ponder this further, something - Sunpaw - slammed into her with a enraged yowl. Skypaw twisted, trying to throw her friend off, but the ginger she-cat held fast.
"Get off! What in the name of StarClan is wrong with you?" Skypaw yowled, eyes wide.
Teeth met in her shoulder in response, and the gray-and-white she-cat thrashed in agony, but this only succeeded in bringing on more pain.
"Get off! Get off!" Skypaw shrieked wildly, writhing and squirming and thrashing. But the teeth just seemed to sink in even deeper with each move.
And then, Sunpaw's voice growled in her ear, "Stormfall's not around to save you now," and then with a flash of white-hot pain, long, sharp claws buried themselves deep into her throat.
I know, it's shorter than the first one. But I decided to end it here. So, tell me what you think!
~TheAzuraStar
