The days passed by quickly, and within that time, Rainbowheart was growing more and more worried. It wasn't the trainees though, that worried her. No, they were doing outstanding from her point of view. It was her last visit from StarClan that worried her. Ever since that night, Dewstar's and Foxflower's words continued to echo in her mind.
It was now the fourth day- the day of her meeting with Bloodstorm. Rainbowheart was sitting down, watching Suzie and Spike perform a tag-team technique on Buck. She was only barely paying attention however. Her mind kept going back to all of the warnings that had been given to her. Just thinking about them gave her the worst foreboding feeling.
"Rainbowheart, they're almost done," Jade, who was sitting next to the warrior, whispered.
"Huh- Oh!" Rainbowheart snapped back to reality, "Sorry, thanks Jade."
The white cat looked at her friend worriedly, "Is everything alright Rainbowheart? You've been a tad distant lately."
Rainbowheart averted her eyes, focusing more on the bout that was ending. "I'm fine, just a little bit tired. I'll be fine though." She smiled approvingly when Suzie and Spike finally pinned Buck to the ground.
"Well if you say so, but you know that you can always talk to me if you've got a problem," Jade said warmly.
"…thanks Jade," Rainbowheart answered, thankful that the cat cared. She touched her nose to Jade's ear in appreciation, before padding off to congratulate the victors.
"Good work you two. Now since it seems that you've all got the technique down, I think that it's time we move on to two-on-two…"
Oh Rainbowheart, I wish you would tell us what was wrong, Jade thought to herself.
She gave a heavy sigh, and padded over to the den. She had not felt like joining in the training today, instead wanting to help Star and Streak take care of the still-healing Shell. She stopped at the entrance to the den, where Rockslide was entertaining Sparrow and Topaz with a story.
"…and the water suddenly flooded down the river, sweeping away everything that was in its reach. I tried to swim away, but it was no use. There was no doubt about it- I was a goner for sure," the old tabby said.
"But you weren't though, you're right here," said Topaz.
"Yeah, so what happened next?" asked Sparrow.
"Oh well you see- Oh, why hello there Jade. Need to pass through do yah?" The old tom got up and moved to the side.
"Just to check up on Shell," said Jade.
"I just gave her some food a bit ago. Think that she might be asleep by now though."
"Well, at least she's eating," Jade looked at her two kits, "Are you being good for Rockslide?"
"You don't need to worry about them giving me trouble. I don't think that I have ever met such well-behaved young ones," Rockslide stated with extra enthusiasm.
"Hmm, neither have I," Jade eyed her kits, "Are you two up to something?"
"No, but Rainbowheart said that if we want to be apprentices, then we have to behave," Sparrow said smiling.
"I can't wait to be an apprentice!" Topaz jumped up on all fours.
"I can't wait to be in a clan," Sparrow joined in her brother's excitement.
Rockslide seemed a bit puzzled, "What's so great about being in a clan?"
"Are you serious?" Chris padded over from the training group. Everyone was exempt from training for the rest of the day, due to the meeting later on. "A clan is about being free. Being great in your own way. Defending your clan and friends, and training others to be great and cool and awesome." The young tom gave his fur an embarrassed lick, "At least, that's what I think..."
"So you're in a clan?" Rockslide asked.
"Umm… no, not exactly. But I've heard from Rainbowheart about the clans that she came from. She's gonna create a clan after she helps us beat Bloodstorm," Chris exclaimed enthusiastically, tail swishing.
"She's not going to help us beat Bloodstorm Chris." Buck had padded over to join in the conversation. "All she's doing is training us, and then she's leaving. Nothing more than that."
"But she can't leave. We need more trained cats to fight him," Chris said, whining. His ears flattened against his head.
Buck shook his head, "Well it looks like we've got no other choice. I've already talked to her, and she has yet to change her mind."
Jade could see anger shining in Bucks eyes. "Please, don't be mad at her for her decision Buck." All eyes were on her. "She is not one to fight without a good reason, I can tell."
Rockslide took a keen interest. "But she says that she is a warrior. Warriors are supposed to fight aren't they? I mean, look around, she's training you lot to fight."
"Yes she's training us how to fight. But has she ever mentioned anything about killing?" Jade pointed out the one thing that no one had thought of.
"She doesn't want to be responsible for any deaths?" Buck questioned, shaking his head, "There is no way we'd get through a fight without killing some of those blasted monsters."
Jade frowned, "She does not want lives taken, and I'm sure some of the others would agree with her. I do not want anyone to die either, honestly. "
"But lives have already been taken. Granted they aren't all taken by the strike of claws, but they are still lives lost." Buck stared at Jade, "Can't you see that? Can't anyone see that?"
She cocked her head, "Buck, you're going to get yourself into trouble one day if you don't think things through. You're a good cat, but you need to consider others' feelings too. Do not be so quick to judge others, just because of their refusal to your demands." She got up and went into the den to check up on Shell.
Buck didn't know what to think at the moment. He sighed, "I guess we will have to wait then. Rockslide have you seen Hazel?" He directed his attention to the older tom.
"I think that she said something about practicing her hunting skills. Last I saw her, she had gone past the stump," said Rockslide.
Since the number of cats staying in the den had accumulated- Hazel and her family, along with Cliff, Hampton, and Star were permanent residents at the moment- each of the cats staying had to do a fair share of work. So Rainbowheart had been giving the extra guests, extra hunting exercises to practice.
"Thank you. I better go get her. Rainbowheart said something about wanting to see how her hunting techniques were coming along, before we leave for the meeting." Buck turned around and left to find the she-cat.
Chris slumped over on his side when Buck left. "Hey Rockslide?" He didn't look at the old cat, but was watching the kits, who had become disinterested in all of the talk and were now play-fighting.
"Hm?" grunted the old tabby.
"Where do you plan on going after Bloodstorm is beaten?" questioned the young cat.
"Well I suppose my family and I would go back to living where we were before," came Rockslide's the reply.
"And… what if this doesn't work? What if Bloodstorm is still in control? Where would you and your family go?" Chris was staring at the ground in front of his paws.
Rockslide was perplexed by the young cat's unusual question. "That's not like you to be asking such a question Chris. Are you ok?" The old tom was genuinely concerned. Even though he had known Chris for only a few days, he knew enough to know that something was troubling him.
Chris sheathed and unsheathed his small claws, "I just… have this bad feeling." He was silent for a minute or two, before he spoke up again, "You didn't answer my question. Where do you plan on going, if Bloodstorm stays in control?"
"I don't know." Rockslide genuinely had no clue where he would take his family. Obviously they would need to find another twolegplace to live in. At his and Shell's age though, it would be tough. He didn't want them all living near the Peace Reapers any long though.
Thinking about the question made him a bit curious, and he asked the same thing to Chris, "Where would you go?"
Chris had no idea either. He was still pretty young, and he knew that the Peace Reapers already knew who was training with Rainbowheart. Although Chris was still a scrap of fur, he knew that if Bloodstorm won it out against them he would drive out or kill all of them. There was however, another option that he was considering, instead of lucking it out on his own. "I… well I was thinking... that I might join Rainbowheart, Streak, Jade, and the kits."
"You mean be in a clan?" Rockslide questioned.
"Yeah, I mean from what Rainbowheart tells us, a clan works together to survive. The strong fight for and feed the weak. Everyone helps each other, and no one is left to fend for themselves," Chris said, flicking an ear.
"Hmm… sounds nice," Rockslide responded. Hearing what Chris had said, made him think carefully.
"I know. That's why afterwards, I think that I might-"
"Alright everyone, it's time!" Buck shouted from the center of the clearing.
"Guess that's me," Chris muttered. He got up, but dipped his head to Rockslide, "Thank you for listening Rockslide."
"You just make sure to help protect the others young one," Rockslide said.
Chris smiled, and then padded over to join the growing group of cats.
Suddenly, as Rockslide gazed at the assembly of cats, a shimmering form appeared out of the corner of his vision. He squinted, knowing very well his eyesight was terrible these days. "What in the sky's name…"
The cat he was seeing, appeared to be a blue-grey tom glaring at the group. At first Rockslide thought it was Blue, but realized otherwise. The sudden appearance of the cat startled him, but just as he was about to call out to the others, the cat vanished. Just as quickly and suddenly as he had appeared.
This sent a chill up Rockslide's spine. "Be safe, all of you," he muttered quietly as he trailed inside the den.
All of the cats who weren't going to the meeting had already gone home. Using the time they had before the meeting, Rainbowheart went over a few things. "So Brick and Chris, you both will continue following Blue. You said that you've seen him talking to a few Peace Reapers?"
Brick nodded in confirmation, "Yes he has."
"He doesn't seem to know that we're following him either," added Chris with a hint of pride.
"Alright then, both of you will keep an eye on him. Since he has no clue that we know about his little secret, he'll most likely not be at the meeting. As for the rest of us," Rainbowheart addressed the others, "No one is to start a fight, or cause any reason for Bloodstorm to be suspicious. Though I know, hostility towards the Peace Reapers is unavoidable, please don't use your claws to show it."
"I still think that you're out of your mind," Hampton commented. "Bloodstorm won't care if we don't start the fight. He'll start it himself."
"I agree with Hampton," Apple said. The tom never really spoke, so it caused him to gain a lot of attention. "Look, I know that you want to get through this whole thing without bloodshed, but that isn't really going to be an option for us." He stopped for a moment, not knowing if he should go on.
"Please continue," Rainbowheart was interested in what the tom had to say.
"I um… well you see Bloodstorm only thinks one way, and that way is with his claws. He doesn't see things with reason. He doesn't show others kindness, only what his power can do if you don't bend to his will. I know this all too well, too, because I was one of the first to stand up to him," Apple stated quietly. He looked Rainbowheart straight in the eyes. "I don't know what you think that you can accomplish, no disrespect, but the only way that that cat will see any reason, is to beat him. Hard and mercilessly if necessary."
Rainbowheart was taken by surprise, in Apple's sudden aggression. Looking deep in his eyes, she could only imagine a much younger and happier cat once resided. One filled with hope, and determination. The cat before her now, seemed aged with bad experience. This cat's young spirit had been long broken.
"If my way does not work Apple, then you all can take into consideration your statement," Rainbowheart said, turning away from him.
The warrior glanced around at the assembly of cats. All of the loners were going, except for Hazel, who would stay behind with Jade and Rockslide to look after Shell and the kits.
"Ok, let's go."