Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors, but I own my characters.
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Shandril Wielder of Spellfire: Thanks! :D
Princess of Lightning: Yeah… Freddy does have a really long story.
Little Black Inkblot: I enjoyed writing Terry's personality, and if he weren't a traitor, then he might have made another appearance later.
Moonstar of FireClan: Actually, Seth and Acidpaw have met. Seth attacked him. If you go back to chapter one of book one, it was Seth who injured Acidpaw's shoulder. Bad Seth. No, Quietpaw isn't Maddie. And yes, isn't Seth sweet? He's a giant teddy bear at heart. Then something happened. You'll find out what happened in this chapter. As for Roaringbreeze… he's still out there… lurking… stalking… Ah! Behind you! Kidding, kidding.
Mintytooth: I hated having to make Whitefire die. But it was necessary.
Ghostfur: Thanks for reviewing! Your pen-name is cool. That was a really random comment.
Homemade Pancakes: Thanks! Urgh. I can understand why you didn't like the beginning. I wrote it last year, and when I looked back at it recently I gagged. My poor eyes… my poor readers' eyes. I'm going to have to edit the first chapter, maybe when I'm done writing the series. Yes… the mysterious December… Mwahaha… I'm glad that you like the story as it is now! Thanks again for reviewing!
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A/N: As an apology for the late update of the previous chapter, here's an extra-long chapter! Also, I'm putting the finishing touches on the next chapter. I actually have all the remaining chapters planned out, so now reviews shouldn't be so few. Shouldn't be. So… There might be some late updates due to that horror called homework. But other than that, it's going well, so enjoy the chapter!
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Chapter Six
Freddy's Story: Part Three
"As I was saying, Seth had changed dramatically…"
Freddy began to tell his story once again.
Flashback…
"Seth!" exclaimed Freddy, "I thought I'd never see you again!"
Seth was with December, Freddy, and Maddie in the enclosed area of the Upwalker nest.
"Same here," replied Seth. He sounded a little distracted, "Where's Greenstone?"
Maddie shook her head and scratched nervously at the ground.
"He disappeared? When?"
"Right after December got sick," explained Freddy, "We woke up in the shed and he was gone. Then we were caught and brought here."
"Those horrible Upwalkers," snarled December, coughing once, "They held us too tight!"
"Yes… horrible," muttered Seth.
"Come."
"It's the Funkypelts," mumbled Seth, "They're calling me. I need to go."
"Okay. I'm coming," meowed Freddy. He followed Seth up the stairs.
"NO!" howled Seth, "If they see you… Look. Just don't follow me, okay?"
Freddy stopped, starting in shock at his best friend. What had gotten into him?
"You stupid animal! Don't make any noise!" more senseless shouts of Upwalkers came from behind the door.
"I don't understand what's wrong with him," whispered Freddy, "We're such good friends…"
Maddie nudged her brother and licked her rib cage. She clawed at the ground.
"You're right, Maddie. That scar on his side wasn't there when we last saw him."
December nodded. "I noticed that too."
Freddy frowned, "I wonder what happened."
"I have a bad feeling about this…"
A few hours later, Seth came back to the room that the cats were being held in. His front legs and back were dripping with blood.
"Seth!" yowled Freddy, "What happened to you?"
Seth collapsed onto one side, gasping for breath. Maddie rushed over and started cleaning his wounds. She shot her brother and December a glance that clearly read: 'Don't just stand there! Help me!'
The two toms approached and helped, as requested.
When Seth finally came to, the dog was immediately bombarded with questions about how he got his injuries.
"It beat me up…" whimpered Seth, "The Funkypelt…"
The dog would not say another word.
Maddie never took her eyes off him. December stood next to her.
"He'll be okay," he reassured, "He's a Doberman. There isn't a kind of dog stronger than him."
Maddie leaned against the white cat. Thanks…
December's ears went pink. He thanked his lucky stars that Freddy was asleep.
Every day it was the same. Seth would leave early in the morning and come back late at night, covered in injuries. Every day, he would speak less than the day before.
One night, Seth came back and he looked like a different dog.
"What the…" muttered Freddy.
He was sporting a black collar with platinum spikes, but that was not what was the most different. Seth's ears used to be long and floppy with velvety fur, but now they were short and triangular, and they stood straight up. His tail was also quite long before, but now it was just a stump.
December shook his head sadly. "It's called 'docking' I think."
Maddie put her head to one side.
"It's when dogs are taken to the Vet and their ears and tails are cut shorter," explained December. The two other cats looked horrified.
"Why would a Upwalker do such a thing?" growled the orange-and-white tom, shaking in anger. His long fur bristled.
December shook his head. "I'm not sure."
The three cats were silent for a moment, when December looked up sharply.
Maddi put her head to one side. What is it?
"My father once told me that some dogs' ears and tails were docked when they became fighting dogs," he answered.
"But Seth… isn't going to fight, is he?" asked Freddy, "I mean, the Upwalker does beat him, but… it wouldn't make him fight, would it?"
No one replied.
One day, Seth came back with a nasty bite mark on his right foreleg.
"What happened?" asked Freddy automatically. He wasn't sure that his friend would answer.
December already knew the answer. It was what they feared.
"They… They made me fight my own kind. Another Doberman. He was only six months old… I knocked him out, but he still left a mark on me."
"That's horrible!" hissed Freddy.
Seth didn't hear him. He was already asleep.
The worst had been confirmed: Seth was now a fighting dog.
The next day, Seth came back nearly torn apart. He was bleeding from so many places that the three cats were afraid that he wasn't going to survive the night.
Freddy couldn't sleep out of worry for his best friend.
"Freddy?"
The orange-and-white cat jumped.
"Seth? You're awake? What happened?"
"I was up against a Mastiff. I won, but I was tired, but the Funkypelt didn't let me rest. It made me fight a Tosa dog. I… I lost. And the Funkypelt was angry with me and beat me," Seth was silent for a moment, "Listen, the Funkypelt is beating me worse every day… every time it does, I feel this horrible rage… Like I want to kill something. It's corrupting me! It's the same when I fight other dogs! Sometimes I lose control! It's messing with my head! I'm scared that one day I won't hold back and I'll hurt one of you. I'm so afraid… I don't want any of you to get hurt because of me."
Seth's eyes were squeezed shut and he was trembling. Freddy grit his teeth. How dare these Upwalkers do something so cruel to his friend?!
"It won't happen," assured Freddy.
"Th-thanks."
Seth's fights went on for two weeks. Every day he came back battered. Maddie was up for many nights in a row taking care of his wounds. She was so worried about him that December had to drag her away while Seth was sleeping, so that she could get some rest of her own. The white cat and Freddy were worried too.
The orange-and-white tom thought more and more about what Seth told him that night. What if Seth was right? What if he couldn't hold back anymore? What if Seth lashed out at one of them? What if someone got hurt? What if someone got killed?
One night, the Funkypelt came down to the little enclosed space with Seth. Seth was not hurt in any way and had a look of fury in his eyes. His paws and fangs were covered in blood that was not his own.
Maddie stepped towards him. She nudged him gently.
Suddenly, Seth whirled around and sunk his fangs into her throat, growling viciously. Her eyes widened in shock and she staggered back.
"Maddie!" yowled December. He rushed towards her and crouched down next to her, "Hang in there, Maddie! You'll be okay!"
"My sister!" howled Freddy, joining December beside her.
Seth watched with a look of horror on his face. "What… what have I done?"
"Yes! Good dog!"
The Funkypelt started petting Seth and scratching him behind his shortened ears. The Doberman didn't react at all.
"Maddie… No…" he whispered.
The Funkypelt returned upstairs.
"Maddie!" wailed December, "Don't go! You can't do this to me! Maddie!"
"Stay strong!" whispered Freddy, "Maddie… please!"
Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice rang out. It was raspy and sounded hoarse.
"…Don't blame… Seth… blame… Upwalkers… Freddy… best brother… cat could have… December…best… friend…" The light dimmed from Maddie's eyes as her breathing stopped.
"NO!" howled both toms.
Seth ran over to the wall and started hitting his head violently against it. His breathing was shallow and shaky. Tears leaked from his eyes and blood trickled from the broken skin on his head. "WHAT HAVE I DONE?! WHAT HAVE I DONE?! MADDIE! NO!"
Freddy, trembling, looked at Seth.
"HOW COULD THEY DO THIS? I KILLED HER, AND THEY PRAISED ME! THEY PRAISED ME! WHY? WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM! I KILLED HER… I'M A MONSTER!"
"Seth…" whispered Freddy.
"DON'T COME NEAR ME! I MIGHT KILL YOU TOO! PLEASE! STAY AWAY!"
From that moment on, Seth's rage-spasms, as December called them, became more and more frequent. When he was sane, he would stay as far away from his friends as possible.
After two days, December padded towards Seth, whose muzzle was buried in his paws.
"Seth?"
"Wh-what are you doing?" stammered the dog, his shoulders shaking, "St-stay away… please… I'm b-begging you."
But December didn't back away. "I want to find a peaceful place to bury Maddie. I don't want her to rot here."
Seth flinched. "I'm so s-sorry."
December ignored his apology. If he said anything about it, then it would probably trigger a rage-spasm. December wasn't trying to be mean, he just had to be extremely careful about what he said. "All I need is a chance to get out."
Seth jolted to his paws, an angry yet sorrowful look in his eyes. "I… can't just let you leave! The Funkypelt… it'll kill me! You're crazy!"
"If you cared about Maddie, then you'd understand."
"Of course I care about her! But… I killed her… I…"
Seth broke off, not knowing what to say. Finally, he continued, his eyes hard and glittering coldly.
"Fine. I'll see if I can create a diversion. If I die… no, if the Funkypelt kills me for it, then all the better. I don't want to live."
December clenched his teeth. He hated seeing his friend like that, but he didn't say anything about Seth's will, or lack thereof, to live.
It was the next day when the Funkypelt opened the door to get Seth that December slipped out of the Upwalker nest with Maddie's body.
As the Funkypelt opened the door, Seth sprang forward, grabbing the Funkypelt's furless paw in his jaws and biting down hard, dragging it down the stairs. The creature screeched in pain and started kicking Seth in the ribs and stomach, attempting to get him off. Seth held on, growling furiously and withstanding blow after blow delivered by the Funkypelt.
December's eyes widened as he watched his friend getting beaten from the top of the stairs.
Seth let go of the Funkypelt, its blood dripping from his fangs. "What are you doing? Run!"
December was as frozen to the spot. The Funkypelt kicked the dog hard in the ribs again.
"This is your idea of a diversion?!" yowled the white tom, "You're going to get killed!"
Seth's eyes darkened. "That's the point. I—"
The furless beast had slammed its foot into Seth's chest, and the dog coughed up blood. The Funkypelt held a struggling Seth by the collar.
"Just go!" he howled. He glanced at Freddy, "You too! Get out while you have the chance!"
"Seth… I can't just leave you here!" hissed Freddy.
"Listen to me! I'm not the dog I used to be! I won't be able to live with the shame of knowing that I killed my best friend's sister! It would be best if I died! This is what I want!" Seth's eyes glistened with tears, "GO!"
December ran and didn't look back. Freddy dashed for the stairs. The orange and white tom reached the top and looked back at Seth, who was now on the floor, gasping for breath.
"Seth!"
"Go," he panted, "Forget about me, go!"
Freddy was torn. Should he just leave Seth? The Upwalker approached Freddy, shouting incoherent words.
"You don't have much time!" howled Seth, "Run! I'm not asking you, I'm begging you!"
The Funkypelt had a look of rage in its eyes at it came closer and closer to Freddy. Seth staggered to his paws, panting heavily. He launched himself onto the Funkypelt's back, sinking his teeth into its shoulder. The furless beast yelled in pain and began pounding Seth on the head.
The two friends' eyes locked. There was a pleading look in Seth's eyes.
Seth wasn't just buying Freddy time to escape, but he was preparing for his own death.
Freddy would not allow that.
The cat leaped at the Upwalker, yowling furiously.
Freddy landed on the Funkypelt's head, clawing away some of its fur.
It howled in fury and fell to the ground.
"What are you doing?" growled Seth, "Get out of here!"
"I'll fight alongside you!" protested Freddy, "We can win!"
"No! Leave here! Leave here…" Seth hesitated, then his eyes hardened, "I'm forcing you to go!"
Seth suddenly picked up Freddy by the back and threw him up the stairs. Freddy somehow managed to land on his paws.
"Seth! I'm coming back to help you!"
"No you won't!" snarled Seth, "Come back down here and I'll kill you!"
Freddy took a step back. Had he triggered a rage-spasm?
No, thought Freddy, That's not it…
Seth wanted to save him and didn't care about the price he might have to pay.
"I'm sorry!" yowled Freddy before turning and running away, tears pooling in the corner of his eyes.
Seth smiled for the first time in months. Freddy was so stubborn.
Freddy looked around wildly, searching for a way out. He saw a door and sprinted towards it. There was a pet door there, and he dashed towards it. He could smell the outside air. So close to freedom…
I'm sorry, Seth… and thank you…
Just as he was about to burst through the pet door, something grabbed Freddy by the tail and flung him against a wall. He moaned in pain and everything went black.
When Freddy opened his eyes, he was back in the enclosed space where he was before. He was on the bottom stair, and the door above was shut tight.
Seth lay against a wall, unmoving. He was badly bruised up, and a long bleeding wound ran along his left foreleg.
"Seth! Are you alright? Answer me! Seth!"
The dog didn't wake up until the next morning.
"You hesitated. Why?"
"I… I didn't want to leave you there," meowed Freddy, looking at his paws, "You were going to die."
"Well I'm still alive now, aren't I?" growled Seth. His jaws clicked together and he glared at Freddy, "And I wanted to die! What part about that do you not understand?"
The dog lunged at Freddy, taken over by rage.
Freddy leaped up onto a bookshelf, scrambling up to the top to avoid Seth, who stared angrily up at him.
The dog blinked once, snapping out of his furious trance.
"Freddy, promise me one thing," he whined, temporarily sane, "Just stay up there, okay? Don't come anywhere near me!"
Freddy nodded. What else could he do?
One week later, the Upwalker left and another had come. She was an old female Upwalker who let Seth and Freddy outside.
I have to get out of here, thought Freddy, I have to find December.
Seth's anger was permanent now. He was no longer the best friend that Freddy once had.
Four times Freddy had tried to escape, and the Upwalker had just watched and laughed as Seth beat him up worse and worse. It was when Rainpaw and Acidpaw came to get catmint from the garden that he had asked them to return. By the time they had come, Freddy was nearly dead.
End Flashback…
"That's horrible!" exclaimed Rainpaw, "I knew Twolegs could be bad, but I never thought that one would enjoy watching suffering!"
Acidpaw snorted. "Goes to show that you can't trust anyone anymore."
"I knew dogs were ill-tempered creatures, but I didn't realize that they could change their personality so quickly like that," meowed Silverdiamond, "But getting back to you, your injuries are fully healed. You're good as new, Freddy, so you can leave."
Freddy looked at his paws. "Actually… I was sort of hoping that I could… that I could stay. I originally thought I should go to PrairieClan, but Greenstone isn't there…"
"You'd have to speak to Pantherstar about that," meowed Silverdiamond. She glanced at Rainpaw and Acidpaw, "You two, escort Freddy to Pantherstar. She will decide."
Both apprentices nodded before turning out of the Medicine Cat den.
"Hey, wait up!" called Freddy, catching up to them. His eyes widened when he stepped into ForestClan camp for the first time. When he had come here the first time, he was unconscious. He immediately started asking questions about Clan life.
"We'll answer your questions after," meowed Rainpaw, "First, we need to see Pantherstar."
The three younger cats approached a hollow tree stump.
"What's this?" asked Freddy excitedly.
"The leader's den," replied Rainpaw, "Our leader, Pantherstar, sleeps here instead of in the Warriors' den."
Acidpaw bristled. "Or the nursery, for that matter. Because that's where she should be."
"Why?"
"Because she's a horrible mother who neglects her own kits."
"What?"
"Don't listen to him," advised Rainpaw, shooting a glare at her black-furred friend, "He's just a bit bitter towards Pantherstar."
"A bit?" snarled Acidpaw, "Don't make me laugh!"
"Sh!" silenced Rainpaw as they drew to the entrance of the Treestump. She looked into the den, "Pantherstar? Are you there?"
Soon, Pantherstar's cream-furred form emerged from the Treestump. "Yes? What is it Rainpaw?"
Rainpaw nudged Freddy forward. "Go on, then."
"Um… h-hi," he stammered.
"She can smell your fear-scent and won't be very impressed," hissed Acidpaw into Freddy's ear.
Freddy immediately stood straighter. "Hello, Pantherstar. I was wondering… I have nowhere to go… and… I don't want to leave ForestClan, if that's alright with you."
Pantherstar looked at Freddy through narrowed green eyes.
"Basically, you're saying that you want to be part of my Clan. Very well. However, you can be sure that you will never be deputy or leader," hissed the leader. She seemed to greatly dislike the former kittypet, "I'll call a Clan meeting immediately."
Pantherstar leaped up onto the Treestump and called, "All those old enough to catch their own prey, please meet me here under the Treestump!"
As soon as the Clan was gathered, Pantherstar began to speak.
"As you all know, a kittypet by the name of Freddy has been residing within the ForestClan Medicine Cat den for the past moon and a half. He wishes to have a chance to prove himself, so he will be granted a mentor," her green eyes bore into Freddy, "It is not guaranteed that he will have a name as a Warrior, but from this moment on, he will be known as Dogpaw, for just looking at him reminds me of the dog who caused my unborn kits to die. Hawktalon will mentor him, seeing as he has no current apprentice."
Acidpaw felt himself bristle. He was about to hiss a rude comment when someone else beat him to it.
"How dare you!" yowled a tiny voice.
Redkit stood at the edge of the nursery, her long ginger fur puffing out in every direction. Her ice blue eyes glinted in anger and her tiny pin-like claws were unsheathed.
"How dare you say that Hawktalon has no apprentice!" she snarled, "You're blind! Or stupid! Acidpaw is right there, you pathetic excuse for Clan leader! I hate you! I wish you'd died instead of Redstar! Even if I wasn't born, it's better that you were dead than turn this Clan into the foxdung that it is! I think I speak for more than one of us when I say that you should not have been chosen Clan leader! Sometimes I wonder what StarClan was thinking when they gave you nine lives!"
"Redkit!" came Feathersoul's sharp reply.
Acidpaw had never seen the gentle queen look so angry.
"Don't let me hear you say anything like that ever again! Respect your Clan leader, no, respect your mother!"
"Make me!" hissed Redkit, spitting the ground in front of Feathersoul, "Why should I respect Pantherstar? She's a stupid leader who hasn't done anything for me as her kit! What kind of mother doesn't even nurse their own kits?! What kind of mother doesn't give a foxdung about her own kits?!"
Tears of anger and frustration pooled in Redkit's eyes as she turned and sped out of camp.
Pantherstar, still up on the Treestump, looked unfazed. She looked down on the rest of the Clan.
"This meeting is over. You may resume your duties."
Acidpaw approached Hawktalon and Dogpaw. Hawktalon's shoulders were shaking angrily. He looked at his elder apprentice.
"Acidpaw, I don't understand why she does this to you. This isn't fair," Hawktalon looked back at his other, newer apprentice, "I have nothing against you, Dogpaw, I'm glad to train you in the ways of the Warrior. Please don't blame yourself for the death of Pantherstar's unborn kits. You had nothing to do with it."
Dogpaw nodded, dipping his head in respect to Hawktalon. "Thank you."
"I would have Acidpaw show you around the territory, but he's still under punishment for another eighteen sunrises…"
Acidpaw rolled his eyes. "Don't remind me."
"Acidpaw!" called Falconbeak, "Chores!"
"I did them at dawn," meowed Acidpaw, smirking, "It would be so much wiser for me to go and hunt. They prey won't be running for much longer, seeing as it's leaf-bare—"
Falconbeak snarled. "You stay in camp under punishment!"
The deputy stalked away.
Acidpaw grinned. "I'm going to take a nap now. See you."
With a flick of his tail, Acidpaw entered the apprentice den.
From inside the nursery, Lionkit watched his mother returning to her den, his green eyes blazing angrily. Pantherstar knew that kits weren't allowed out of camp on their own, yet she didn't even send anyone out to look for her only daughter.
In an unusual display of out-of-character fury, Lionkit marched up to the leader's den, determined to make Pantherstar see the stupid things that she was doing. How dare she look so uncaring about her kits!
"Mother, I—" Lionkit stopped dead, his eyes wide at what he saw.
Pantherstar was curled up into a tiny ball, tears staining the fur of her cheeks. She looked up at her son.
"What is it, Lionkit?" she replied feebly before turning away, tucking her muzzle into her front paws.
Lionkit took a few steps forward, in awe at the fact that his mother, leader of ForestClan, was crying.
"Mother…" Lionkit pushed his head under her paw and wriggled closer to her so that her front leg was resting on his back. He licked his mother's cheek, "It's okay… It'll be okay…"
Pantherstar licked her son between his ears. "Thank you."
Soon Lionkit drifted off to sleep…
Lionkit walked through a dark forest. Suddenly, a black form caught his eye.
The kit spun around. "Wh-who's there?"
"No one," replied a voice. Lionkit realized that it was his voice. He had been having dreams of himself becoming a black cat very often.
"Lies," hissed Lionkit, "You'll just come out of the dark and scream in my face: 'I'm you!'"
The voice laughed evilly. "Quite right."
All of a sudden, the black cat emerged from the shadows and pinned him down, sinking his teeth into his throat. Lionkit's vision blurred, then refocused.
Well, this is new… he thought.
Lionkit tried to open his mouth to speak, but he couldn't.
He found himself walking forward instead. He saw a tabby cat that looked like Indigokit, but a lot older. He was severely injured with one of his front paws at a strange angle. There was also a scar passing over his left eye.
"Kill him," meowed a female's voice.
Then he heard himself say. "As you wish, my dearest."
What…? But I don't want to hurt that cat…
"Please…" rasped the cat in front of him, "You don't want to kill me, do you? S—"
"Silence!" yowled the female's voice. Her voice was directed at Lionkit now, "Hurry up and kill him. He ruined my life!"
"Of course, dearest," he purred.
Lionkit felt sick.
Please leave this poor cat alone, he prayed.
But Lionkit felt his legs keep walking.
No…
Lionkit leaped at the other cat.
No!
Lionkit sunk his fangs into the other cat's throat.
"NO!"
"Are you alright, Lionkit?"
Lionkit blinked open his eyes. Feathersoul stood over him.
"Pantherstar brought you back here when you started tossing and turning in your sleep. She was worried."
"I see…" Lionkit mewed. He glanced out of the nursery. The sun was setting, "I've been sleeping for a long time!"
Feathersoul laughed. "Of course you did! You always sleep that long!"
"Where's Redkit?"
"She isn't back yet. And the patrol didn't see her. I'm worried. It's all my fault! I shouldn't have snapped at her like that!"
"It wasn't your fault, Feathersoul," Lionkit thought for a moment. "If she hasn't been found, then clearly she doesn't want to be found."
"Yes… That's just like her… but how do we know whether she's alright or not?"
"That's simple," mewed Lionkit matter-of-factly, "Send Acidpaw looking for her. She respects Acidpaw a lot, and she's really close to him, so she would go to him."
"Really?" asked Feathersoul, "I never thought Acidpaw was close to anyone."
Lionkit shrugged. "You learn something new every day."
"I'll ask Pantherstar to send Acidpaw to look for her, then," affirmed Feathersoul, stepping out of the nursery, "Lightningkit and Soulkit are with Hollythorn, just so you know."
Lionkit nodded. He hoped Acidpaw could find his sister.
Medicine Cat den…
"It's time to go, Rainpaw," meowed Silverdiamond.
"Huh?"
"Medicine Cat meeting," reminded the Medicine Cat, "It's the half moon."
"Oh, really?" meowed Rainpaw, "It is! I nearly forgot!"
"You can't forget when you take my place as Medicine Cat."
"I won't, don't worry, Silverdiamond."
"Good."
The two Medicine Cats padded out of camp.
"Do you think Acidpaw will find Redkit?" asked Rainpaw.
"If he can't then no one will," meowed Silverdiamond.
"Silverdiamond?"
"Yes, Rainpaw?"
"CanyonClan doesn't have a Medicine Cat… So how are they doing?"
Silverdiamond shrugged. "I'm sure they're fine. CanyonClan is quite strong, and they will no doubt tell us if they need help."
Rainpaw frowned. "But is it against the Warrior Code to not have a Medicine Cat?"
"I… actually don't know, but if StarClan does not approve of CanyonClan's situation, then they'll let Silentstar know," replied the Medicine Cat. Changing the subject, she added, "Let's hurry. We don't want to be late."
The Medicine Cat apprentice dashed after her mentor.
ForestClan territory…
Acidpaw padded towards the Twist. He had been granted permission to leave camp to look for Redkit.
He decided that going to the Twist would be a good idea because he might spot the kit from up there. There was another reason: up in the high branches of the Twist, the air was free of the scent of the Clans. There was nothing but clean air. It was the perfect place to clear his mind. He went up there to forget his troubles.
As Acidpaw was about to leap onto the lowest branch of the giant tree, he spotted a small mass of ginger fur in the higher branches. It was without a doubt the very cat he was looking for. Once again, Acidpaw had a feeling that he had met a cat like Redkit somewhere else.
Silently, Acidpaw scaled the tree and reached the branch behind Redkit.
"Hey," he meowed casually.
Redkit was startled. "A-Acidpaw! How did you know I was up here?"
"I actually wasn't expecting you to be here."
Redkit giggled. "No one expected me to be here. That's the thing with older cats. They think that kits can't climb, so they don't bother looking up. The patrol passed three times."
Acidpaw smirked. "I used to play that trick when I was a kit."
"Really?"
Acidpaw nodded. The two were silent for a bit.
"I suppose I'm going to get in huge trouble when I go back down," sighed Redkit.
"If you look at everyone in the eyes, they don't say anything. If you avoid everyone's gaze, they pester you with questions. As long as you have the guts to lock your eyes with someone else's, you'll be fine."
"I assume you know from experience?"
"Of course."
There was another bit of silence.
"I feel kind of bad saying what I did," meowed Redkit, "It was mousebrained of me to do that. I hope I don't get into too much foxdung."
"Redkit, no matter what you hope, you'll definitely be in deep foxdung," replied Acidpaw, "You have to learn to control your temper. I hate being ordered around and neglected, but sometimes you have to just flatten your ears and give in. That's just the way things are. Believe me, if it wasn't that way, I'd definitely be more rude than I am now."
Redkit giggled.
Acidpaw growled. "What?"
"Nothing, I understand," mewed Redkit, laughing again, "It's just that whenever I use bad language, everyone reprimands me. But you just completely ignored that and said bad words yourself."
"Would you rather I reprimand you?"
"No!"
"Let's go back to camp, otherwise there'll be no fresh-kill for us."
"Right."
Moonstone…
The group of Medicine Cats was gathered around the tiny Moonstone.
"Ready?" asked Whitelily.
Everyone nodded and pressed the tips of their noses against the cold, round rock.
Rainpaw was on the Gathering Island.
Redstar was sitting in his usual place. He smiled at Rainpaw and motioned for her to sit.
"There will be others joining us soon."
Suddenly, Lizardfang, the former ForestClan deputy appeared with his mate Flowerheart. Mangledpaw was with them.
"Greetings, Mangledpaw, Rainpaw," started Redstar, "I am sure you have heard the prophecy many times, but I will repeat."
"What? Again? The same one that Lizardfang and Flowerheart have told me? I've only heard it a bazillion times!"
Lizardfang laughed. "You are indeed just like your father when he was young."
"Wha?" asked Mangledpaw, "Old Basilbrook? I've been told that he was the most serious, stony, boring cat the world has ever seen!"
Flowerheart giggled. "You're right, Lizardfang, there's nearly no difference."
"Hey, don't ignore me!" fumed the white-furred MountainClan apprentice.
"Indeed," added Redstar.
"Just get on with it!" growled the MountainClan cat.
The three StarClan cats began to recite the prophecy.
"There are three: one who watches them as a star,
The others do not know who they truly are.
The one of scarlet knows nothing of the diamond breeze,
The one of blazes fled far from the trees."
"Sheesh, don't I know it," muttered Mangledpaw.
"I don't understand either, Redstar!" meowed Rainpaw.
"The Prophecy of the Three Red Sons must be solved…" meowed Lizardfang's voice.
The three StarClan cats were already fading away.
"Oh for the love of StarClan, will you just spit out the answer already?" meowed Mangledpaw impatiently.
But the StarClan cats were already gone.
Rainpaw blinked open her eyes at the same time as Mangledpaw.
"Oh, why can't they ever give me a straight answer?" moaned the long-furred white tom.
"I'm guessing we had the same dream," meowed Rainpaw.
"Yeah. I've been having the same ones since late greenleaf."
"Me too."
They were silent for a moment. The others were still fast asleep.
"I guess we should work on that prophecy," suggested Rainpaw.
"Three Red Suns? That doesn't make any sense!" growled Mangled in frustration, "The sun isn't red! And there certainly aren't three of them!"
"Redstar gave me a hint," meowed Rainpaw.
"Aw, what?! That's unfair!"
"Be quiet, daft furball! Do you want to wake up everyone else?"
"No… just tell me the hint."
"Fine," replied Rainpaw, "Just promise that you won't tell anyone, not even Scarletleaf."
"I promise."
"Alright," the ForestClan Medicine Cat Apprentice leaned towards Mangledpaw and whispered in his ear, "Redstar was Silverdiamond's son."
Mangledpaw's eyes widened. "What? But that's…"
Rainpaw nodded. "Yeah. Against the Warrior Code."
"It still doesn't make sense… Red suns?"
"The answer will probably come in time," meowed Rainpaw. She grimaced, "But when we do figure it out, I bet it'll be bad timing."
Mangledpaw laughed. "Probably."
Scarletleaf stirred and opened his eyes, looking troubled.
"StarClan hasn't been telling me anything…" he muttered to himself.
Soon, Silverdiamond and Whitelily awoke as well.
Before the Medicine Cats parted ways, Rainpaw approached Mangledpaw.
"Meet me here in three moonrises," meowed the ForestClan apprentice, "I have a feeling that if we don't figure out this prophecy, and quickly, something really bad will happen."
Mangledpaw nodded and turned to follow his brother down the tree.
Scarletleaf played the dream he had had in his head. There was a pool of blood, flashes of white and ginger, snapping silver jaws, and horrifying screeches. The ginger MountainClan cat shuddered. He hoped he wasn't going to die. The worst part was, Scarletleaf wasn't sure if his dreams were signs from StarClan or just ordinary nightmares.
Rainpaw padded into camp, concentrated on the prophecy. She had to figure out the meaning at all costs. As she entered the Medicine Cat den, she bumped into Silverdiamond, who had stopped.
Rainpaw's mentor stared at Quietpaw and Dogpaw.
Quietpaw was making motions with her tail and front paws, and Dogpaw, looking focused, was talking to her.
"So wait… You used to be in MountainClan, but they drove you out. When you were a kit, your sibling was stolen?"
Quietpaw nodded fiercely.
"That's terrible!"
Unease crept into the tabby she-cat's eyes.
"What's weird?" asked the former kittypet.
Quietpaw made more motions with her tail, and lifted her head as if sniffing the air.
Dogpaw frowned. "You're right, that is weird…"
"What is?" asked Rainpaw.
Dogpaw looked at her. "She says that when her sibling was stolen as a kit, she smelled CanyonClan."
--
Anyone getting the impression that CanyonClan is going to be in deep foxdung? Also the scene with December escaping and the fight with the Funkypelt, I didn't like it too much. Well, that's a lie, I liked it, but I was not sure whether it was good or not. I think that it was a little repetitive. Please comment on it if you'd like! Oh! Oh! And I was editing this chapter on the bus and I saw a Doberman! Coolness!