A/N It is here…dun, dadundundundundundun, dadadundundundundun, dadadadaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!! BOOK 2 CHAPTER 1!!!!!!!!!!! It has been a moon since Tigerstar took over, just for heads up. Enjoy!
Book 2 Chapter 1 Discovery
Whitewing
It has been one moon since Thunderclan became corrupted. The questing cats came back for quite a shock. Brambleclaw was immediately sentenced to death, Hollypaw became Hollymist, and Lionpaw became Lionblaze. Squirrelflight is pregnant with Brambleclaw's last litter of kits, and Leafpool is under constant surveillance.
As for me, well, nothing. They keep me locked up in Firestar's den, where there's no escape. The only thing from keeping me as fat as Daisy (who does NOTHING now) is pacing and clawing at my cell's walls. I spend my time exercising, screaming at my guards just to bug them, visits from my parents(occasionally), and grieving over Birchfall, my love. It's a sad, sad life.
I was in the middle of one of my "escape" plans when Shadedsoul walked through the entrance. "Go away." I hissed quietly, still in concentration.
He sat down. I turned to him with a snarl. "Get lost."
He sniffed, looking as if he were about to cry. He's been like this for a while now. "I need someone to talk to."
I looked at him with contempt. "If you value your entrails, I suggest you leave. This fox-hole is depressing enough already."
"I'm sorry." He whimpered, and started to leave.
Now I felt sort of bad. He actually apologized. But I got over it once I saw him swat Millie's kit, Bumblekit away like a pesky fly. I sighed and slumped in my nest. Tonight is a full moon, I wonder what will happen at the gathering. I shivered. For some reason, this part of the cave always was cold.
I wish Birchfall was here. But he's dead, Tigerstar sent a patrol to find him, and saw his corpse just after we jumped. Just thinking about it made me wail out in despair. Suddenly, a drop of icy splashed on my ear, making me hiss with surprise.
Water! But where did it come from? I looked above me to se a crack that ran from the ceiling to behind my nest. Curious, I scraped the moss away, revealing a hole just big enough for me to squeeze through. Cautiously, I went inside it, realizing it turned into a winding tunnel. Following the tunnel, I soon came to the exit. I gasped.
It opened into a rocky cliff top that overlooked the whole lake. Every Thunderclan cat could fill up the clearing and still fit with ease. I( could see everything. I stepped to the edge over looking Thunderclan camp. Seeing it for the first time in a moon filled me with such emotion, I opened my mouth and the most peculiar and strange thing happened.
A steady tune drifted from my voice and made a beautiful sound. I've heard of it in legends, but I never thought a cat could do it. Sing. It was a wonderful feeling. I sang louder and louder, and started to add words with it.
A sad, sad ending follows this tale
A tale of two lovers trapped with no trail
To guide them and advise them to ignore their hate
When evil was upon them it was too late
For not even them could escape their fate
Should they flee, or should they stay?
No one knows…No one knows…
My throat closed up and I couldn't finish it. I couldn't hold it in any longer. I wailed at the top of my lungs, cursing the heavens and all below it. When my tantrum was over, I was shaking so much my legs gave way and I laid down, setting my paws on my head. To my surprise, the entire camp was silent.
Oh Starclan, I thought as I was sure they heard me. And when I mean them, I mean Tigerstar and my guards. I sprinted to the tunnel, only to stop and look at the back corner of the clearing. A clear, silver pool collected there, and a tiny stream ran down from the tunnel to my bed. Well, at least the water problem was solved.
I'll deal with it later. Dashing down the now slippery tunnel, I barely had enough time to cover the wall when Tigerstar burst in.
"What was that?" He snarled dangerously close to my frightened face. Starclan help me.
Birchfall
"NO!" I roared as I woke from another nightmare. It's been happening ever since Holly has revived me.
"Oh, shut it." Holly murmured as she turned the other direction.
Holly's voice reminded me of when we figured out we are brother and sister…
"So this clan thing you're from, is it starving, or going hungry by any chance?"
Holly's question caught me by surprise. "No, not any more, but in our old home there was, and I lost my brother and sister, Larchkit and Hollykit."
She sniffed at the poultice she was lathering on my back. We were north of Thunderclan territory in a makeshift den in a thicket. "I'm sorry." She murmured.
"Why did you ask?" I asked.
She shrugged. "I was just wondering. I remember my father carrying me to another cat, and I remember I was starving. It was a very sad departure…" She trailed off, lost in her memories. She shook herself.
"How did you get here?" I asked again, interested in her somewhat familiar past.
"I travel a lot. When my foster mother and her housefolk had to move, I left to travel the world. On my journeys I made some friends and enemies, and picked up some skills along the way, like healing. Fighting is really my specialty, a gang cat taught me every trick in the book. I of course didn't use my kit name, I used a tougher name, Jade, cause of my eyes have a little green in them. Other than that, they're completely amber. Anyway, after leaving the gang, I traveled to some mountains where I met a cat old enough to be father of a tree. He taught me healing and I continued on my way. After that, I came to your territories, but steered clear, I didn't want any trouble. But I did watch. There was a very…attractive looking golden tom that caught my eye. He's an amazing fighter. A moon from my arrival, I find your body practically broken, and rescue you. And that's really my story."
I was silent for a bit. It was a lot to take in. After a moment, I finally asked her, "Do you remember who your parents were?"
She hesitated, thinking hard. "Not my mother, but a little of my father. He had eyes like mine, and his name was…was…I think Dustypelt. Weird name huh? Almost like yours…"
Realization clicked in our heads and we jumped away from each other. "No way." I breathed.
"No way is right! How?"
I was excited now. "Think about it! My dad's name is Dustpelt and you look exactly like our mother! My father took you to live somewhere else when I was young, and your name is HOLLY! I'm not an only kit!" I yelped with joy.
She shook her head. "It does make sense I guess…but it's so weird!" She paused, then shrugged. "But hey, I live around weird. Good to see you brother."
I practically jumped on her in joy. She pushed me off her and hissed. "Stop acting like a kit! Now I know why I'm gifted with some sense. You got the cruddy end of the gene pool."
"What's a gene pool?"
Holly rolled her eyes. "Nothing. C'mon, let's get some sleep."
"Stop daydreaming! We need to get moving!" Holly's voice erupted from Birchfall's side.
"Huh? What?" He looked around, confused.
She hissed, clearly annoyed. "You've been daydreaming since dawn. I've had to do all the work clearing camp. Now let's go."
"Go where?"
"West, I want you to meet the gang. Though we should probably chance your name. Let's see…Birchfall,Birchfall…Aha! How about Splinter? Get it? Because you're- oh never mind."
What? "Holly, I'm not going anywhere. I need to be by Whitewing, no exceptions."
"Birchfall", Holly meowed irritated, "She's not going anywhere. We can still come back some other time. Now let's go."
I had no choice. I was an injured warrior with a sister that had muscles the size of Brambleclaw. "Goodbye my love." I murmured as we descended into unknown territory.
Whitewing
I had to get out of this. "I th-think its called s-singing-sir." I stuttered.
He growled. "Yeah, and it was coming from you. On the cliff."
"I wasn't on the cliff", I defended, "I was in this boring cave trying to do something to pass the time."
"We'll see. Shadedsoul!" Tiger barked, "Was Whitewing in here when she started singing?"
Oh crap. This wasn't going to end well. Shadedsoul looked at me, then Tigerstar. I braced myself. "She was in here, sir."
WHAT?!?! Did he just lie for me? To Tigerstar? His master? Relief and surprise flooded over me and I relaxed my tense posture. Tigerstar narrowed his eyes and stalked out of the cave, leaving only Shadedsoul and me. "Shadedsoul, thank you so much, he would've killed me." I meowed genuinely.
He didn't seem to hear me. Then he answered. "You're welcome. I've just been assigned your guard permanently, so we'll be spending a lot of time together. I just wanted to do a good job for you."
He turned his face away from me. " Tigerstar has given up on me. He says I'm a failure, he has better things to do without me tagging along." His voice cracked with misery.
For some strange reason, maybe out of loneliness, I felt terrible for him. "Shadedsoul, I'm very sorry."
He turned back, with a hard set in his eyes. "I do not accept your pity, but I thank you for feeling something. Oh, and it's probably not a good idea to sneak on the roof again. I don't care because, well, Tigerstar cares, but be warned."
I nodded my head and sat down. He dismissed himself and walked to the entrance. Quickly, before he could see, I sprinted through the tunnel and ran to the clearing. My paw touched icy water, the small trickle turned into a miniature stream.
Curious, I padded to the pool and stared at it. I decided I was thirsty after a while, and bent down to drink. As soon as my nose touched the water, I was plunged into darkness. Everything went black.
A/N Gasp! Pretty good huh? Any who, I was thinking about making a side story about Holly's travels around the warriors world. What do you think? Twistey out.Y!HOh