"…and I want Thornfur, Silverdust, Ashclaw, and Willowwing, to stay back with the queens and elders," Splashheart ordered as the four cats dipped their heads. Splashheart had just sent out most of LostClan's cats to patrol each Clan in the forest. Great StarClan…please don't let me send these cats to their deaths! She fretted.
"What do you want us to do, Splashheart?" Whiteflame asked.
Splashheart had totally forgotten about her own little patrol. "We're going to go into RockClan's territory," she mewed.
"Our patrol is kind of small don't you think?" a LakeClan warrior named, Duskpelt, asked. "I'm the only LakeClan warrior in this small group," he mewed. "May I trade places with Thornfur or Silverdust please?" he asked.
Splashheart nodded. "Bring me back Silverdust please," she ordered.
The brown tom dipped his head and went over to where the queens and elders were at. Not long after, Silverdust joined in with Splashheart's patrol. Splashheart tensed.
Whiteflame, Leaftrail, Shimmerfoot, Strider and Silverdust…Duskpelt's right! This is a small group! Splashheart fretted. She just sighed. StarClan, please be with us. She prayed. "C'mon patrol," she mewed. "Let's go." Splashheart then jumped down from LostRock and started to walk into the bush that led into RockClan's territory.
"I thought Midnightgaze was coming," Whiteflame mewed.
Splashheart turned herhead and didn't see her sister in the group. That's weird. She thought.
"She's in the queens den," Leaftrail assured.
Splashheart nodded. "Thanks," she murmured before walking to the nursery. "Midnightgaze?" she asked. "We're getting ready to leave," she mewed.
Midnightgaze looked at Splashheart with shock and worry in her eyes. "Gravitykit's missing…" her voice trailed off.
Splashheart looked at Midnightgaze with wide eyes. She then heard a gasp outside. Both Splashheart and Midnightgaze saw a ginger tom with brown stripes carrying a small black bundle of fur with white spots. Is that Briarflight holding Gravitykit…?
"Gravitykit!" gladly yowled Midnightgaze, as she ran over to her son.
Briarflight then set down Gravitykit. "This kit was in our territory," he mewed. "He was going to catch some prey, but instead was attacked by two Dark Forest warriors," he growled. "DarkClan has taken care of the Dark Forest warriors and we would have been here sooner if Gravitykit wouldn't stop whining about seeing those two Dark Forest warriors killed," he growled once more.
Gravitykit shot Briarflight a glare, before running to his mother. "Mother, mother!" he exclaimed. "Guess what?" he excitedly asked.
"What?" Midnightgaze mewed.
"Redstar was one of the cats killed in the attack!" Gravitykit then started to bounce up and down with glee. He then landed on one of paws weird, and then he stopped.
Splashheart then looked at the little kit with shock. "Are you sure that it was Redstar?" she asked.
Gravitykit quickly nodded.
"It's great that Redstar is dead and all, but you shouldn't go out like that Gravitykit," Midnightgaze mewed. "You had us worried," she mewed.
Gravitykit looked at his paws. "I'm sorry," he apologized.
"It's ok," Midnightgaze mewed, licking her son's head. "Now go back in the nursery and stay by Brightfur's side," she ordered.
Gravitykit nodded. He then started to walk over into the nursery, before stopping and looking at his mother. "You'll be ok, right?" he asked.
Midnightgaze hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I'll be ok," she mewed.
"Are you sure? What about daddy?" he asked.
"We'll be ok," Whiteflame mewed, padding up beside Midnightgaze. He then nuzzled Gravitykit with his muzzle. "Now, go in nursery," he mewed.
Gravitykit nodded. He then rubbed his parents' fur with his head. "I love you guys," he mewed, before running into the nursery.
"We love you two," Midnightgaze choked.
"Remember to use the Belly rake move on any Dark Forest member that comes into the nursery!" Whiteflame called.
"I will!" Gravitykit mewed before disappearing into the nursery.
Splashheart then walk in front of Briarflight. "Thank you for bringing Gravitykit back," she mewed, while dipping her head. "We owe DarkClan a favor," she murmured.
Briarflight nodded. "I think it's 'bout time I head back to my Clan," he mewed.
"Do you want a warrior to come with you?" she asked. "Dark Forest may be looming around every corner now," she mewed.
Briarflight shook his head. "Thank you, but I'll be alright," he mewed.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
He nodded. "I'm sure." Briarflight then dashed back into the forest.
Splashheart then gathered her patrol together. "Are you ready, RockClan?" she asked.
The whole patrol nodded, but Splashheart could see the worry in their eyes.
"Let's go!" she yowled.
The Clan yowled with her.
Splashheart then started to lead her patrol into RockClan's territory. I don't see any Dark Forest members yet. Splashheart then sniffed. But I do smell their stench.
Strider then padded up to Splashheart's side. "Why didn't you stay behind?" he growled. "You might get killed!" he fretted.
Splashheart then looked at Strider. "I'm the leader of LostClan," she mewed. "Leaders always stick with their Clanmates at hard times," she mewed.
"I guess you're right," Strider mewed before licking Splashheart's cheek. "Just stay safe, ok?" he mewed before walking away.
"Where're you going?" she asked.
Strider cocked his head. "You said once we get to the center of RockClan's territory, that we split up," he mewed.
Splashheart then looked around and saw that he was right. We got here faster than I thought. She thought. Splashheart then turned around and saw her Clanmates walking in different directions.
"Now you be safe," Whiteflame mewed to Midnightgaze, before running off.
"You too…" Midnightgaze mewed.
This must be hard for her, yet I don't know why I don't feel the same connection with Strider. Splashheart thought.
"You will soon," Midnightgaze mewed, looking at Splashheart.
Splashheart smiled. "You know, it's going to be hard keeping secrets from you with you reading my mind and all," she mewed.
"You can read my mind also," Midnightgaze mewed.
Splashheart nodded. "I hope Mistyleaf won't get a hold of our connection," she murmured. "Who knows what she'll use it against Rockstar for," she mewed.
"I still don't know why she was sent to the Dark Forest…she didn't kill Scarletpaw, and you know it Splashheart!" Midnightgaze exclaimed.
Splashheart nodded, remembering the story Midnightgaze told her about Mistyleaf's past.
"Well, well, well," a cat growled behind Midnightgaze and Splashheart.
Splashheart tensed but made sure not to show fear. Splashheart then turned around and saw a black tom and a tortoiseshell she-cat.
"Hello," the she-cat growled.
"You two are Dark Forest members, aren't you?" Midnightgaze growled, unsheathing her claws.
The black tom nodded. "But your fight isn't with us," he mewed.
"Yeah," the tortoiseshell she-cat murmured. "Your fight is with our leader, Mistyleaf," she mewed. "Come, we'll take you to her," she mewed.
Both Splashheart and Midnightgaze were hesitating for a moment. What if these two Dark Forest warriors are going to ambush us? Splashheart thought.
"Don't worry," the tom growled. "Mistyleaf will shred us to pieces if we attacked you two," he murmured.
"I guess we should give them a chance," Midnightgaze said in her mind to Splashheart.
Splashheart nodded. "Ok," she started, "take us the Mistyleaf please," she ordered.
The tom nodded and started to walk were RockClan's camp was. He then slid through the entrance followed by the tortoiseshell she-cat, Midnightgaze and Splashheart. He then led them to the leaders den.
Splashheart sniffed sighed. This place smells like Rockstar…
The black tom then poked his head in the den. "Mistyleaf?" he asked.
"What is it, Blackfire?" Splashheart heard Mistyleaf growl.
"Mosspelt and I found Splashheart and Midnightgaze," he mewed.
"Really?" she asked. "Bring them in," she ordered.
Blackfire dipped his head. "As you wish," he murmured. He then walked in the den with the sisters behind him.
Mistyleaf was lying down in Rockstar's old moss bedding and then looked at them both. "Nice," she murmured. Then she got up and started to circle around the two sisters. "You two look pretty cleaned up for a battle like this," she mewed. Then she stood in front of Splashheart. "What ever happened to you darling?" she asked. "You were missing for like a moon," she mewed.
Splashheart bared her teeth. "None of that matters now, Mistyleaf," she growled. "Let's get this battle done and over with," she hissed.
Mistyleaf then took a step back. "Now?" she asked. "What about your mother?" she asked once more. "I'm not going to battle you two, until I get to battle with your mother," she growled. "Now, do your little connection thing," she ordered.
"Um," Midnightgaze mewed. "How in StarClan's name are we going to retrieve a cat from StarClan?" she asked.
Mistyleaf shrugged. "I don't know, you tell me," she mewed.
"Well," Splashheart started, "even if we did know, we wouldn't show you," she growled.
Mistyleaf then hissed. "Well, I've learned something from your connection," she mewed. "Remember that time when you saved Rockstar because she couldn't get back to her body?" she asked.
Midnightgaze nodded.
"How do you know about that?" Splashheart asked. "Have you been spying on us?" she asked, growling.
Mistyleaf shook her head. "No, I haven't been spying on you, but I do know about your connection more than you think I do," she murmured. "Now, show me your connection before someone gets hurt," she order, eyeing Midnightgaze with unsheathed claws.
Splashheart felt uneasy with Mistyleaf staring at Midnightgaze like that.
"You won't get anything out of us Mistyleaf!" Midnightgaze blurted out.
Mistyleaf just shrugged. "Very well," she growled. Then she slashed Midnightgaze's neck like lightning.
Midnightgaze yowl but then it was replaced by gaging sounds, she then collapsed to the ground.
Splashheart stood in horror as she was watched Midnightgaze's body convulsing on the ground. "Midnightgaze!" she yowled. "Don't worry! I'm going to use the con-"
"Splash-Splashheart," Midnightgaze choked, interrupting Splashheart. "D-Don't use the connection!" she ordered. "Mistyleaf will just use it to get to Rockstar!" she yowled.
"But…you'll die," Splashheart choked.
"Splashheart, please don't do it," Midnightgaze pleaded.
Splashheart then heard Midnightgaze's breathing. It started to get slower and slower. "What about Whiteflame, Gravitykit…what about me?" she asked.
Midnightgaze didn't respond.
"Hurry up Splashheart!" Mistyleaf called. "Make you decision," she demanded.
Splashheart's head spanned with dizziness. I need to save Midnightgaze! But if I do, Mistyleaf will use our connection to fight with Rockstar! Great StarClan! What do I do? Splashheart thought. She then looked at Midnightgaze, who was barely alive. Splashheart sighed. I know what I need do. Splashheart then ran to her unconscious sister. She closed her eyes and let her connection flow into her sister. Splashheart opened her eyes and saw a light around Midnightgaze and herself. Midnightgaze then shot open her eyes, which had no pupils, and looked at Splashheart with determination in her eyes.
"Yes, YES!" Mistyleaf mewed with joy.
"Splashheart?" asked Midnightgaze. "Did…did you actually do it?" she asked. Then she gasped. "Your pupils!" she yelled. "They're-"
"Gone?" Splashheart mewed, finishing Midnightgaze's sentence.
Midnightgaze then looked at Splashheart with slightly angry eyes. "I told you not to save me!" she growled.
Splashheart looked at her paws. "I had too…" she murmured.
"Splashheart, you-"
"Rockstar, here I come!" Mistyleaf yelled, interrupting Midnightgaze. She then jumped between Splashheart and Midnightgaze.
Splashheart tried to yowl with pain because she felt like she was on fire, but nothing came out. She tried to move but she was frozen. Great StarClan… Splashheart thought. What's going on? Then everything with pitch black and Splashheart couldn't see a thing. Splashheart then started to panic. What have you done, Splashheart? She scolded at herself. She blinked and saw that she was in a forest, but not in RockClan's territory. Finally she was unfrozen and started too looked around. She was standing between a pretty, green, lush forest, and a dark, scary, shadowy forest. Splashheart gasped. "The Dark Forest…" she murmured.
"And I'm guessing that's StarClan," Midnightgaze mewed behind Splashheart, almost making her jump.
Splashheart nodded.
"Yes!" Splashheart heard Mistyleaf mew.
Splashheart turned around and saw Mistyleaf crushing every StarClan flower she could see.
"StarClan," the gray she-cat murmured. "It's the place that Rockstar didn't allow me to go to," she mewed.
Midnightgaze cocked her head. "What?" she asked.
"I never told you?" Mistyleaf asked, looking at the two she-cats. "Well, it all started-"
Before Mistyleaf could finish, a flash of black-and-white fur slashed Mistyleaf's pelt. Mistyleaf gasped with pain.
"Hey!" she snapped.
The black-and-white thing then stood up from StarClan's tall grass.
Splashheart gasped.
"Rockstar…" Midnightgaze mewed.
Rockstar nodded, but then Mistyleaf pinned her to the ground.
"You know, I do hate it when I'm interrupted when I'm talking," she growled.
Rockstar growled and bit one of Mistyleaf's forepaw. Mistyleaf yowled with pain and jumped off of Rockstar. "We're supposed to keep that a secret Mistyleaf!" she snapped.
"Keep what a secret?" Splashheart asked.
Rockstar looked at Splashheart. "Nothing dear," she mewed, before slashing Mistyleaf's ear. "Now," she growled, looking at Mistyleaf, "go back to the Dark Forest were you belong!" she ordered.
Mistyleaf looked at Rockstar with disbelief in her eyes. "I belong to the Dark Forest?" she asked. "I belong in StarClan you mouse-brained piece of fox dung!" she growled, clawing Rockstar's flank. Mistyleaf then jumped on top of Rockstar and pinned her to the ground again only this time, Mistyleaf had Rockstar on her stomach. "It's time they learn the truth, Rockstar!" she hissed.
"No!" Rockstar yelled. She tried to get up but it was unsuccessful.
"Mother!" yelled Midnightgaze. She then jumped on top of Mistyleaf, but Mistyleaf then flung Midnightgaze off of her.
"Stop it mouse-brain fool!" Mistyleaf hissed at Midnightgaze. "Now, do you want to know why I want revenge on Rockstar?" Mistyleaf asked the two sisters.
Splashheart stood there while Midnightgaze nodded.
"Midnightgaze, do you remember when Crookednose told you that I was killed at Moonpool?" she asked.
Midnightgaze nodded.
"Don't say it Mistyleaf!" Rockstar pleaded.
"Quiet you!" Mistyleaf growled. "The cat who murdered me was…Rockstar," she mewed.
Both Midnightgaze and Splashheart gasped.
"What…?" Splashheart asked.
Mistyleaf nodded, and then she got off of Rockstar. "Care to explain Rockstar?" Mistyleaf asked.
Rockstar got up and looked at her paws.
Splashheart glared at Rockstar with disbelief.
"Was it really you mother?" Midnightgaze asked.
Rockstar nodded. "Yes, but…I did it for the Clan," she mewed.
"What?" Mistyleaf asked.
Rockstar nodded. "There's more you need to know sister," she mewed, looking at Mistyleaf. Then she cleared her throat. "When I became a warrior, this old wise cat named Rock told me that I was destined to become leader of ThunderClan," she mewed. "Rock took a warrior from every Clan and told them that they were to become leader and name their Clan after themselves. Unfortunately, every cat that was supposed to become leader had a curse," she murmured. "My curse was to be banned to the Dark Forest when I died, even if I was a good cat. Rock told me a couple of nights later that I could break my curse if I killed the cat I loved the most. Then that cat would be sent to the Dark Forest," she mewed.
"You loved Mistyleaf more than Tanglepelt?" Midnightgaze asked.
"No, I didn't even like Tanglepelt-erm Tanglepaw at the time," she mewed. "Anyway," she continued, "I was up day and night wondering what I should do. Then finally, I made my choice…" Rockstar mewed, looking at Mistyleaf.
"So, you cared more about yourself than me," Mistyleaf growled. "Hmph, pathetic," she hissed.
"I did it for my Clan!" Rockstar hissed.
"What does killing your own sister so you won't go to the Dark Forest have to do for the Clan?" Midnightgaze asked, hissing. "I bet you were the one who killed Scarletpaw!" she hissed.
Rockstar looked at Midnightgaze with shock. "I would never hurt an apprentice!" she growled. "He drowned in the lake before I could save him," she mewed. "I then licked him dry and cut his throat open, making him look like Mistyleaf killed him," she mewed.
"How cruel!" hissed Midnightgaze.
"Look, now you've gotten your own two daughters against you, Rockstar!" Mistyleaf sneered.
"Not I," Splashheart mewed.
Mistyleaf spun around and looked at the blue-and-white she-cat. "What? After what your mother has done?" she asked.
"I admit, what my mother has done did anger me, but I'm mainly mad at you Mistyleaf," she hissed.
"What? Why?" Mistyleaf asked, growling.
"You've killed many innocent cats Mistyleaf," Splashheart growled. "I'm happy my mother sent you to the Dark Forest. You're the one who deserved to go, not my mother," she hissed. "I'm glad she made the choice to kill you. Who knows what kind of cat you would have been if you were still alive," she mewed.
Mistyleaf looked at Splashheart with disbelief. "How could you think that?" she asked. "I could have been you greatest aunt ever if I were still alive," she murmured.
"Or the coldest murderer in the world," Splashheart hissed. "You killed Bluestripe, Spottail, Ravenclaw, Splashkit, Rockstar, and your own mate Redstar…isn't that a bit cruel?" she asked.
Mistyleaf stared at her for a moment before jumping on Splashheart. Splashheart then bit Mistyleaf's tail, making the gray she-cat cry out in pain. Mistyleaf then slashed Splashheart's side, making the blue-and-white she-cat fall. Mistyleaf got on top of Splashheart, pinning down all of Splashheart's paws. Splashheart shook herself, but Mistyleaf wouldn't budge. Mistyleaf then placed her muzzle near Splashheart's neck.
"Is this cruel enough for you Splashheart?" she growled, pressing her teeth against Splashheart's neck.
Splashheart tensed but knew she was over for. Suddenly Rockstar rammed into Mistyleaf's side, making the gray she-cat fall.
"No one messes with my baby," Rockstar growled.
She then slashed Mistyleaf's muzzle repeatedly. Then Mistyleaf bit down on Rockstar's forepaw and swung her across StarClan's grounds. Mistyleaf then charged after Rockstar, but Rockstar than sprang up and slashed Mistyleaf's eyes. Mistyleaf yowled with pain.
"Go mother!" shouted Midnightgaze.
"Oh, so now you're on mother's team?" Splashheart teased.
"Well, after that statement you made about Mistyleaf, it made me like mother again," she mewed.
Splashheart giggled and rolled her eyes.
Midnightgaze smiled.
Suddenly a screeching sound came from Rockstar's and Mistyleaf's direction.
"C'mon!" Splashheart mewed. "We need to find them!" Splashheart yelled, before dashing off to the two sisters.
"Coming!" yelled Midnightgaze.
Splashheart then followed Mistyleaf's and Rockstar's pools of blood to a hill. Then the trails of blood stopped. Splashheart tried smelling their scent but only the stench of blood clogged her nostrils.
"Over there!" Midnightgaze panted as she finally got to the top of the hill.
Splashheart looked over to where Midnightgaze was pointing and gasped. It's Rockstar and Mistyleaf…but they're not moving! Splashheart bolted to the two she-cats and gasped at what she saw. Yes, both Rockstar and Mistyleaf were dead alright but something seemed weird. Rockstar's and Mistyleaf's foreheads were touching as blood flowed from wounds that were on each other's necks. Both she-cats eyes were open as they gazed into each other's eyes.
Midnightgaze gasped. "How are they not fading?" she asked in shock.
Splashheart cocked her head.
"Whenever a spirit of a cat dies they fade away but…this is just weird and how did they die like that?" she asked.
Splashheart shrugged, still shocked.
Midnightgaze then looked at Splashheart. "So…does this mean that Mistyleaf's gone forever?" she asked.
Splashheart nodded. "And so is Rockstar…" she murmured.
Midnightgaze then rubbed her sister's pelt with her head. "It's life, Splashheart," she mewed.
"Just doesn't it seem weird that Rockstar and Mistyleaf both died in the same position?" Splashheart asked.
Midnightgaze shrugged then gasped when she looked at Rockstar and Mistyleaf. "Look Splashheart!" she exclaimed.
Splashheart looked at the two she-cats again, only to see that they were fading away. "Weird," Splashheart repeated.
Midnightgaze nodded. "Do you think it's time we head back to the Clans?" she asked.
Splashheart nodded. "How do we get back?"
Midnightgaze rolled her eyes. "Duh, the same way we came here," Midnightgaze mewed, letting her connection flow around her.
Splashheart laughed. "Oh yeah," she mewed. "So, do I jump through your connection like what Mistyleaf did?" she asked.
Midnightgaze nodded. "C'mon! This is kinda painful!" she mewed.
"Ok, ok, ok!" Splashheart closed her eyes and then jumped through Midnightgaze's connection, and then opened them back up to see that they were in the middle of RockClan's territory. "Now, let's go and get LostClan…"
