Right after I uploaded chapter 8, I thought, 'hey, why don't I start on chapter 9?' and thus this was finished. We're not to the war yet--that's next chapter. But some of you will like this chapter and others of you, namely myself, will not. I'll let you figure out what on earth I'm talking about. Please enjoy!

Chapter Nine

A frigid breeze is coming over me. Frost seizes my limbs, and I feel my heart stop. My body is drifting on an icy current, taking me away from the reality of the world I once knew. I'm afraid, and yet I'm not. I'm regretful, and yet I'm not. I feel at peace for the first time in my whole life. A sweet purring that seems to come from all directions drowns out thoughts of Rowanheart, Nightstorm, and Wolfpelt. I see nothing ahead of or behind me.

Everything's so cold. Where am I?

"StarClan."

The voice has no owner—at least none that I can see.

Who are you?

"It doesn't matter." The voice laughed. "You're not staying long."

Why have I come here?

"It's simple. You died."

I died?

"Yes. The Dark Forest did quite a number on you, Skyeyes. You lost too much blood. Rowanheart and the others tried to patch you up, but they couldn't find any herbs to stop the bleeding. In the end, you died."

But I'm not going to stay here.

"No, Skyeyes. You have to go back. We can't let this curse go on any longer."

There's a light shining far off in the distance. It warms me. It warms my face and warms my heart. I shut my eyes and smile at the way it caresses my fur. The light brushes against me as if it were alive, and when I open my eyes again, I see that it's over taken my vision. I'm bathed in light.

It feels so good here. I want to stay.

"I'm sorry, Skyeyes, but you'll have to suffer for a bit longer."

A fuzzy figure is approaching me. He's bigger than I imagined from hearing his voice. As he grows closer, I see pale gray fur underneath layers of charcoal black stripes. The stripes swirl into target-like shapes on his flanks. His whiskers are longer than any cats' I've ever seen, and they twitch in amusement at the sight of me. He has this feeling of familiar strangeness about him, as if I've seen him in some other world a long, long time ago. He steps up to meet me with his eyes brimming with pride. Seeing him reminded me of the feeling I got by looking at Dawnpaw for too long. While our eye color and fur color are different, I watched the sheen of his fur and pictured looking at myself in a puddle. I saw the shape of his face and the ripple of his muscles. He bore so many of my qualities, and yet I didn't know who he was.

"It's time that you live up to your full potential, Skyeyes. No more leaning on your fellow cats. No more using Dawnpaw as an excuse. Your sister is with us now, and it's time to stand on your own feet. You are strong, and you can prevail. I know you can."

Who are you? What is your name?

"My name is Elmwhisker. I have, and always will be, a part of you."

---

A droplet of something cold landed on Skyeyes' cheek as she grudgingly dragged herself back into her tattered body. An unavoidable smile spread across her lips. The weight of mortality landed square on her shoulders, but the remnants of the freedom of StarClan remained. She wanted to go back to that peaceful world that stole all her worries. Elmwhisker's words echoed in her head. I have, and always will be, a part of you. Just who was this strange cat? Why did she feel so calm in his presence? She slowly opened her eyes. At first, her vision was flooded with the blinding white light of StarClan. Then everything began to darken and take shape. She saw the jagged stalactites that hung from the cave ceiling. She saw a pair of yellow eyes belonging to a lone bat staring down at her, its head twisting this way and that in curiosity. Lastly, she watched a droplet of water as it came into focus and grew larger and larger until it landed on her face in the corner of her eye.

"I can't believe she died. StarClan were supposed to be protecting her."

Skyeyes recognized the sweet voice of Nightstorm and felt relieved. Her friends were somewhere nearby. She opened her mouth to call out to them, but her throat was dry. She tried to stand to run to them, but her limbs were numb and unresponsive. She lay there and waited for the moment to pass.

"We tried everything, Nightstorm," Rowanheart murmured. Skyeyes felt overjoyed when she heard him. "We just couldn't stop the blood. I'm…I'm sure that StarClan have done this for a reason."

"Reason my ass," hissed Wolfpelt. Yes, even the sound of his voice brought overwhelming relief crashing over Skyeyes. "StarClan have no power here. The Dark Forest has done this of their own accord. She made it this far pretending to be her sister. They must still think she's Dawnstorm."

Skyeyes felt a pang of sadness hit her when she heard her sister's name. But it's not Dawnpaw's name, she told herself. The warrior Dawnstorm never existed. Dawnpaw will always be Dawnpaw. She's the immature brat who killed herself and ruined the Clans' chance to stop the curse.

"I can't even imagine what she must've been thinking," Nightstorm said, and Skyeyes heard the beginning of a sob in her voice. "I don't know if…I don't if I'd have the strength to do what she did. When I heard my name called, I tried to put myself in the paws of Duskpelt, and I pretended to be as eager as he was to face the Dark Forest. But the truth is, every Selection I went to before that and heard another clanmates' name being called, I was so relieved. To get that feeling of 'thank StarClan it's not me' is…it's something so sinful and yet so natural at the same time. To then find out that you're going in that cat's place, it…it must've been heartbreaking."

Rowanheart told them, Skyeyes thought sadly. I wanted to be the one to say it.

"I didn't think of myself when I heard my name called," murmured Rowanheart. "I thought about Splashfoot, my mother, and I thought about Koipaw, and whether Pebbleclaw would teach her to be the warrior I wanted her to be. I thought about how I'd wanted so badly to see her grow, and that I'd…I'd never get the chance."

She heard Wolfpelt snort. "I only thought of how I'd go down," Wolfpelt meowed. "I don't want it to be something shameful, you know? I wanna be able to go into StarClan feeling pretty high on myself."

Nightstorm purred. "That's so typical of you."

The cats feel silent, and Skyeyes tried to move again. No luck.

"We…we should probably get going," mumbled Rowanheart. "She'd want us to try and make it to the exit even if we're not part of the prophecy."

"Haven't you realized it already?" asked Wolfpelt. "The prophecy is null. It's over now. We're on our own, and we've got to prove to the Dark Forest and to StarClan that we don't need any kinda outside force to move us."

Skyeyes heard soft pawsteps. Sh felt something pressed against her flank, and she realized as she breathed in the scent of ShadowClan that it was Nightstorm. The she-cat let out a heavy sigh. "You reminded me so much of my Leafwhisker," she whispered into her flank. "Good-bye then, Skyeyes. Be at peace."

I'm alive, I'm alive! Skyeyes wanted to scream, but she couldn't make the words come out. She tried to move and stand, but she couldn't. Please look at my face! Please! My eyes are open! See!

Nightstorm stepped away, and Skyeyes smelled pine. A nose pressed into her shoulder, and Skyeyes felt prickling run down her spine. Wolfpelt had touched her claw marks. "See ya," he muttered. "You uh…you had spunk."

He moved away, and lastly, Rowanheart rubbed his head against her flank. "Bye, Skyeyes," he whispered. "And I'm not mad. I've never been mad at you."

Skyeyes continued to struggle as she heard their footsteps walking away. Elmwhisker, please, don't let them leave me! I can't do this on my own! Please!

She heard a faint chuckling in her ear. Oh yes you can, his voice whispered. But I'll let you keep up with 'em just for fun.

Strength flowed into Skyeyes' limbs, and she scrambled to her feet. She tossed her head about and searched for her friends. She thought she'd lost them until she caught sight of Rowanheart's tail. "Wait!" she shouted. She heard her voice echoing off the walls. "Wait!"

A flurry of footsteps sounded through the cave, and the three cats burst into the light, their faces covered in shock. "Skyeyes!" Rowanheart shouted. He raced over to her and knocked the poor she-cat over onto her back. Though her wounds hurt, she laughed and purred as he showered her cheek and fur with licks and purred all the while. He rubbed against her and laughed into her fur. "You're alive! You're alive!" Rowanheart exclaimed. "Great StarClan!"

The ginger tom backed off of her and let her up as the other two came over, smiling broadly. "I can't believe it," chuckled Wolfpelt. "I really can't believe it." He looked her over with a smirk. "There is a StarClan."

"I was with them," Skyeyes murmured. "It was…it was amazing. I met a cat named Elmwhisker."

At the sound of that name, fear flickered into Rowanheart's eyes. He lashed his tail in annoyance as the others caught it and looked over at him. "What's wrong, Rowanheart?" asked Skyeyes.

"You don't remember him?" the RiverClan tom asked. "He was the ThunderClan deputy before Tigerheart. He uh, he died, in a battle with us. He and my apprentice, Flintpaw, were fighting too close to the river when it was flooding. I ran over to stop them, but they went in before I got there. I ran along the river to try and save them. They were moving so fast I thought I'd never get there in time. When I reached them, Flintpaw was clinging onto a rock, and Elmwhisker was latched onto his tail. Flintpaw couldn't hold him much longer. He…He told me to save Elmwhisker, even if he was from another Clan. But I couldn't. I pulled Flintpaw out, and when I got him onto the rock, Elmwhisker lost consciousness and slipped under the water. I could've saved him if I wanted to, but I…I was selfish. I let him die."

"Oh." Skyeyes shuffled her feet. "He didn't mention you. I'm sure it doesn't bother him anymore."

Rowanheart shrugged. "Want to know the best part?" he asked with a frown. "Flintpaw died. He died two moons later after a monster hit him. He never got a chance to be a warrior, and Elmwhisker died for nothing."

The three cats exchanged glances. "And his sob story emerges!" chuckled Wolfpelt. "There, doesn't it feel better to get it off your chest? Now we can keep goin'. We can keep goin' and get Skyeyes to the exit." He winked at her. "I don't care whether the prophecy was meant for you or not. I just know that StarClan picked you for somethin'. I wanna be able to help you do whatever it is."

Skyeyes purred. "Thank you, Wolfpelt."

"Well, are we gonna stand around any longer?" Wolfpelt asked. "Let's go already! First Skyeyes slows us down by dyin', and now you're all standin' around! Come on!"

He ran a ways away from them and laughed. "Hurry up!"

Nightstorm rolled her eyes. "Moments ago he would've led us back towards the entrance," she chuckled, "and now he's this eager to meet his death." She shook her head and started off towards him, muttering, "I'll never understand toms. I never will."

Rowanheart turned to Skyeyes and rubbed his cheek against hers. She flinched: he'd rubbed her hurt cheek, and she hadn't been expecting it. "I'm glad you're alive," he whispered. "Are your wounds still hurting?"

"A bit," she replied honestly. "But not nearly as much as before." She let out a purr. "I feel like a leader who's lost their first life. It's so strange to be back after I was…gone. Not even I can believe it."

The RiverClan tom brushed his pelt against hers. "I'll stay here," he whispered. "I promise. I'll make sure you don't fall."

Skyeyes nodded. They began to walk away, and Skyeyes looked back at the puddle of blood she'd been lying in not long ago. She smiled at her past and looked forward towards the future.

---

They'd been traveling for a few hours—although it felt like a few hours, the cats were beginning to understand that time didn't pass here—when they came across their next obstacle. When Skyeyes first saw them, she didn't even think of them as something dangerous. She remembered crouching down beneath the overpass to shield herself from the bats. She remembered feeling those leaves against her pelt, and when she saw the plants growing all over the walls and ceiling of this section of the cave. The others were just beginning to notice them by the time that Skyeyes felt queasy.

"They're kinda pretty," mumbled Nightstorm as she looked up and down. "They're everywhere. I don't remember seeing any other plants anywhere in this place."

Wolfpelt began to growl as he looked at the plants. He curled a lip. "Freakin' Dark Forest trick," he growled. "Stupid plants! Oi, stop that!" he hissed when he saw Nightstorm leaning in to sniff one. He raced over and sliced the flower right off. "Don't get too close to them! There's no telling what they are!"

Rowanheart led Skyeyes over, and she saw Nightstorm staring at something. She followed her gaze and shrieked when she saw that the plant was moving. It writhed and hissed as it began to curl up into itself. Wolfpelt and Nightstorm leapt back. "Great StarClan!" Wolfpelt exclaimed. "It moved!"

Skyeyes felt Rowanheart's fur bristling beside her, and she heard him let out a growl. "Look!" he cried. "They're moving all over the place!"

The plants were moving and rocking back and forth as if caught up in a breeze. The flowers began to sway as the vines danced and whipped about. Skyeyes looked all over the place and froze. The whole cave was alive with them, and they were inching closer and closer.

"Over there!" Nightstorm yelled.

They looked back to see that the plants were all gathering on the floor behind them. Skyeyes followed their movements and saw that they were traveling along trail of blood she'd left behind. Skyeyes gasped and looked to Rowanheart. "They're coming after me!" she cried. "They're—"

Her words were cut off by a high-pitched scream when one of the vines wrapped around her back leg and began to drag her back towards the masses. She dug her claws into the ground and tried to keep her grip. The plants yanked her back and forth until she felt her claws give way. She lost her grip and keened as she watched her friend racing after he to try and catch her. She lost sight of them as the plants wrapped around her face, her body, and all over her legs. Skyeyes lay, panting and huffing, in a cocoon of the vines, throwing her head around to find some kind of exit. She heard the muffled voices of the others and heard banging and slashing as they tried to free her. She struggled against the vines until she heard a low hiss that made her blood freeze.

Slowly, ever so slowly, Skyeyes turned her head until she was staring one of the crimson red blossoms straight in the face. It swayed back and forth like a giant snake, poised for the attack. She felt her breathing hitch.

"Please," she whispered. "Don't. Don't do this…"

The flower flinched and stood still.

A sharp needle slid out of the petals and grew closer and closer to Skyeyes until its tip pressed against her throat.

"Please," she breathed. "No!"

Claws tore though the wall of the vines overhead, and the flower screeched in anger and retreated. Skyeyes struggled and freed herself as the vines slithered away into defeat. Teeth sunk into her neck, and she screamed out of instinct, but when she saw Wolfpelt, she calmed. He dragged her out of the remnants of the vines and she breathed in cool air.

"Are..are you okay?" he panted.

Skyeyes nodded. "Yeah. I-I-I'm fine."

They heard a low yowl and Wolfpelt swore. Skyeyes looked over to see Rowanheart wrestling with several vines, and not far off was a ball of them, not unlike the one she'd been in not long ago. "They got Nightstorm!" Wolfpelt hissed. "Come help me!"

He raced over and started swiping at the vines that encircled Rowanheart's legs. Skyeyes ran to the ball and began tossing away vines. She heard Nightstorm screaming inside and tried to hurry. Just when she'd torn a hole and got a glimpse of the she-cat within, she heard someone screeching her name.

"SKYEYES GET DOWN!"

She looked over and screamed as she saw a massive red flower coming crashing towards her. She didn't have time to dodge. She didn't have time to escape.

It's over.

A flash of gray filled Skyeyes' vision, and something hot rained down on her flank. She heard screaming coming from everywhere and started to slip down. She hit the cave floor with a gasp. She scanned her body to try and find where the flower had pierced her, but she was free of any wounds. She was safe.

Who had screamed?

"WOLFPELT, NO!"

Skyeyes felt something splatter across her face and caught a glimpse of Wolfpelt hanging limply in the air. That menacing red flower seemed to sneer at him from her shoulder, and all of a sudden, everything clicked.

Wolfpelt had saved her.

"NO!" she shrieked as the plants began to recede, taking Wolfpelt with them. The plants dragged him into the midst, and she caught eyes with Wolfpelt. She lunged to try and grab him, but vines wrapped around her legs and held her still. "Get off of me!" She struggled and bit until she'd freed herself and lunged again to try and grab him. Rowanheart had joined her, and he latched onto Wolfpelt's shoulder. The SkyClan tom screamed in agony as the vines began to swallow him up.

"Let go!" he howled. "Just let me go!"

"No!" Rowanheart cried. "I can't!" The RiverClan tom began to fling broken pieces behind him as he dug and dug to free him. The more he fought the more vines appeared. Skyeyes was frozen with horror at the scene. "I won't let them! I won't let them have you!" Rowanheart gave battle cry after battle cry as he ravaged the plants with all his might. All the while, the fire began to die from Wolfpelt's eyes. Blood seemed to pour from everywhere as if every plant were boring into him.

"Let go…" he mumbled. "Please…"

"No!" The warrior rounded on Skyeyes. "Help me! Help me!"

Skyeyes leapt forward and began to try and cut the vines like Rowanheart had, but the wouldn't break. Her paws grew bloody with the effort, and the vines were rocking like an angry sea. Wolfpelt, in one last surge of strength, slapped Rowanheart paw away. "Let me go," Wolfpelt murmured. "I've done my piece…"

The fire died from my eyes, and he went limp. The plants calmed and began to slide back into a crack in the wall. They dragged Wolfpelt with them. The tip of his tail disappeared, and Skyeyes collapsed onto the ground.

They'd lost another cat.

"No, no, no!" howled Rowanheart. "Fox-dung! Damn it! Wolfpelt! Wolfpelt, no!"

Skyeyes buried her face in her paws. It was her fault. It was all her fault. She sobbed into her fur and shook her head to dispel lingering thoughts of the cheerful tom that sacrificed himself for her.

She felt something brushing against her shoulders and looked up to see Nightstorm, her head bowed and her eyes hardened. She was covered in deep scratches and soaked in blood.

"Nightstorm…" Skyeyes murmured. "You're hurt…"

Nightstorm cracked a smile but didn't look at her. "It's okay," she whispered. "Nothing hurts anymore."

"This is my fault," Rowanheart cried beside them. "I should've tried harder! I should've fought harder!"

"Stop beating yourself up," Nightstorm replied. "He wouldn't want you to."

Rowanheart looked up and met her eyes. He sank to his haunches. "I was hoping we'd be able to make it there together," he whispered. "I wanted us to go together!"

"We don't always get what we want," Nightstorm murmured. "Now stop crying. You're acting like a kit."

Nightstorm nosed Skyeyes onto her feet. "We have to keep going," she whispered. "Wolfpelt gave his life for us. We need to honor that sacrifice." She narrowed her eyes at Rowanheart. "Or are you willing to let his death go to waste?"

Rowanheart sniffed and raised his head. He truly looked like a tiny kit being scolded by his mother. Skyeyes felt the urge to comfort him, but Nightstorm stopped her with her tail. "I'm coming," he mumbled.

The black she-cat turned without another word and began to limp away. Skyeyes saw that her leg had grown worse, and she was leaving bloody pawprints in her wake. Unable to say anything more, Skyeyes followed over her, looking back every few steps to be sure Rowanheart was following. He smirked at her when he met her eyes.

"I'm here," he meowed. "I promised, didn't I? I prom…damn."

He shook his head and lowered his eyes. Skyeyes sighed looked forward. What other obstacles were waiting for her in the abyss? What else would the Dark Forest do to torture her?

She swallowed. Who would they take next?

All of a sudden, the ground beneath her feet lurched, and Skyeyes screamed as the walls began to shake. Clumps of rock rained down on them. They pelted the cats as they rushed to find cover. They crouched beneath a cracked stalagmite and watched the cave buck and twist as if it were in the throws of a massive earthquake.

"What's happening?" Nightstorm shouted over the roar of cracking earth.

"It's StarClan!" Skyeyes cried, remembering Hawkwing's words. "They're winning!"

There, you got your wish. Happy? *sniff* It's always sad when a writer likes the supporting characters more than the main, but...he was fun! Oh well. Next chapter won't be up for a while since I've spoiled you with two. Please R&R!