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Enjoy this latest chapter.
Sunrises passed, and Darkpaw continued to meet with Scorchwind as she slept for more medicine cat training. They didn't go back to the Dark Forest, and although Jayfeather never outright accused them of going, he seemed like he had known what had happened.
It was becoming dangerously close to the half-moon meeting time. Pondclaw eagerly awaited the day that she would become Pondstar, ruler of PondClan. Though the other cats, besides Quailpaw, weren't as enthusiastic as she, she felt that it would be a break for everyone to get away from StarClan.
This could be a whole new era, a new Clan that can defend themselves without the help of a bunch of dead cats. Pondclaw sneered as she thought happily about her future in PondClan.
She thought about Quailpaw, how he was so willing to cling onto her fur like a kit. He was desperately in love with her, and Pondclaw had promised him the spot of deputy. She sort of regretted telling him that, but it wouldn't matter. He'd get ripped to shreds by a Tribe cat or be abducted by an eagle or something of the sort.
Berryfrost was a real prize. His fur was smooth and sleek, and he bounded with energy greater than three cats. He would produce great offspring, but he was enamored with Shiningsky, who was duller than ever now that Lionpaw was gone.
It was pretty much her fault. Nothing has changed since Darkpaw became medicine cat, anyway. Pondclaw thought to herself. I'll just keep trying.
With a grin, she strolled out of the warriors den and saw Willowleaf organizing a patrol.
"Border patrols are unnecessary now, so we'll take a hunting patrol. Raggedwing, Lightheart, come with me. And take Quailpaw." Willowleaf instructed. Raggedwing's wound was healed now, thanks to Darkpaw.
The three cats assembled and followed the deputy out of camp. Pondclaw watched Quailpaw as he moved without being her shadow. He was clumsy, weak, a bad hunter. He had no desirable qualities, except that he was a fantastic follower. He never questioned Pondclaw and always knew what to do when she called him.
I suppose I can be grateful for that. Pondclaw thought as they disappeared into the forest. Her ears twitched and her eyes flickered to the fresh-kill pile. It was of decent size, even though the hunting parties were so small. There were hardly any cats left in ThunderClan, so the need for food was lower than ever.
"Tomorrow is the half-moon already…" Pondclaw turned to hear Darkpaw speaking to Deadpath at the medicine cat's den. She was treating a thorn stuck in his paw, and he didn't seem very happy about being near the dark colored she-cat.
"Yeah, what of it?" Deadpath grunted.
"The medicine cat meetings usually took place then, but Midnightstar confined Cloudheart to their camp." Darkpaw replied, applying marigold to Deadpath's paw. The bloodied thorn lay nearby.
"Oh," Deadpath said simply. "Do you know where Berryfrost is?"
Ah, right. Berryfrost is friends with the RiverClan cat. I don't think he's too fond of me, which is why I don't want him in the new Clan. But if Berryfrost insists on him, I have no choice. I have to play to Berryfrost's good side. Pondclaw debated internally.
"I don't know, but don't walk too hard on that paw when looking for him!" Darkpaw tried to joke as she finished applying cobwebs, but Deadpath just shrugged and walked off, purposely stepping down harder on his injured paw. Darkpaw sighed lightly, but Pondclaw heard it. She padded over to the medicine cat and limped on one leg like it was injured.
"Darkpaw, my leg is really aching, do you have anything for that?" Pondclaw asked, pouting.
"Let me see." Darkpaw grumbled, looking over her leg and prodding it. Pondclaw made appropriate painful sounds as she poked her.
As Darkpaw looked through the herb piles, Pondclaw spoke.
"Is StarClan telling you anything important about the Dark Forest?" She asked, fiddling with her so-called injured leg.
"Yes, we're doing everything we can." Darkpaw replied shortly, and picked up a few herbs in her mouth.
"But is everything enough? Can StarClan really get rid of such a powerful force?" Pondclaw questioned, inching closer.
"Is your leg even injured?" Darkpaw accused, dropping the herbs to speak. "If you have no medical business, leave my den."
"Oh but I have business with you, Darkpaw. Your skills will help the new Clan thrive. Why won't you join us?" Pondclaw almost hissed, but kept calm.
"I trust StarClan, and if you can't do that, you'll never be a true Clan cat!" Darkpaw spat, "Get out of my den!"
Pondclaw huffed and left, mimicking Deadpath's actions of his injured paw. She stomped on the ground and walked outside of camp. A leaf fell and rested near her paws; she crushed it with her claws and kept walking.
Tomorrow, PondClan will rise. Pondclaw's grin grew wide as she stepped across the forest floor, knowing that she would rule only the following night.
The next night, Pondclaw sat impatiently as the camp guard. She had made sure that she would be the one to guard the camp, in order to escape cleanly. Quailpaw had managed to keep Tigerkit and Flamekit quiet as he led them out of the nursery without waking Flowerbelly. The two kits could hardly contain their excitement and they bounced around like rabbits.
"You have to be quiet, kits." Quailpaw whispered, "If you don't stay quiet, we won't be able to be PondClan!"
The two kits quieted down and huddled around the brown spotted apprentice. Moments later Berryfrost and Shiningsky emerged from the warrior's den. They had to creep past the sleeping warriors, and did so successfully.
"This is it from ThunderClan?" Pondclaw said in a hush, and Quailpaw nodded.
"Deadpath and Darkpaw refused to come." He reported. Berryfrost and Shiningsky glanced at each other awkwardly.
"Then let's go. Quailpaw, lead our patrol to the ShadowClan border and meet with Shadefur, Lilykit, and Coldpaw. I'll be behind you in a moment. Make sure everyone is prepared to run." Pondclaw instructed. Quailpaw paled.
"Run? But why?" He asked, but Pondclaw struck his question down with a glare.
"No questions, do as I say." She commanded, and the feeble apprentice nodded. He rounded up the ThunderClan cats and headed for the border. Shiningsky took one last look at the camp she called home for so long, but Berryfrost nudged her gaze away. He showed her his sad smile, and she gave one back. The two walked together behind Quailpaw, with Flamekit and Tigerkit at their heels.
Pondclaw padded after them softly, until she could see the ShadowClan border. Shadefur and her two kits were waiting there; the queen's eyes were darting nervously around. Pondclaw decided to head back.
She padded loudly into camp and stood near the entrance before yowling so all ThunderClan cats could hear: "All cats old enough to catch their own prey, wake up!"
Cats drowsily arose from their dens with arguments of the time of night. The half-moon shown in the night sky, and the stars of Silverpelt seemed dim.
"Pondclaw?" The voice was Raggedwing's, "What are you doing? You've woken up the whole Clan!"
Deadpath was the second to notice her, and he growled menacingly at her presence. "This can't be good."
The remaining warriors, Lightheart, Hornetflight, Willowleaf, and Spottedface, peered out of the den to check out the problem.
"Pondclaw, what's the matter?" Spottedface blinked, unsure why she was woken up so late.
Stormstar and Darkpaw gathered, and neither spoke a word. Stormstar only stared at Pondclaw, and she stared back. No one made another move until there was a scream from the nursery.
"My kits! Where are Flamekit and Tigerkit?" Flowerbelly screeched, running out of the nursery entrance.
"Hey, where are Berryfrost and Shiningsky?"
"Quailpaw is gone too…"
Darkpaw felt her heart drop into her stomach. Shiningsky left… for Pondclaw's new clan…
"Cats of ThunderClan!" Pondclaw shouted, "We have decided to leave this cursed lake for a better life, under skies where StarClan does not dwell! Where StarClan does not exist, the Dark Forest is sure to not exist either!"
"What?" Deadpath hissed, moving closer to the traitor. "How dare you…"
"Halt!" Stormstar growled, getting ahead of Deadpath. "Is this really what you want, Pondclaw? Is this really what the cats you have forced to follow you want?"
"No one forced anyone to do anything, Stormstar. They all came out of their own free will." Pondclaw added icily. "We'll be leaving, and we expect none of you to come into our territory. No Clan cat must ever come to the mountains unless they have their heart set on joining PondClan."
"The mountains? But the Tribe lives there!" Lightheart pointed out.
"Does that matter? Now, so long." Pondclaw finished, and quickly turned tail and fled. Deadpath and Darkpaw had their fur bristling, neither liking the turn of events.
Spottedface went over to Flowerbelly to calm her down.
"All of my kits… even Pondclaw… they're all gone!" Flowerbelly sobbed.
"Only Scorchwind is gone forever, Flowerbelly, and he has an important role up in StarClan now. You should be proud of him. Be proud of Flamekit and Tigerkit too." Spottedface soothed her.
Darkpaw walked up to Deadpath and glared at him.
"Are you going to do something about this?" She demanded, and the RiverClan warrior stared down at her angrily.
"I'm going to stop this and get rid of the problem at its core." Deadpath insisted, and ran off towards the ShadowClan border.
"Wait! Deadpath!" Darkpaw called out with surprise as the older cat darted away. He's going to kill Pondclaw! She thought with sudden realization, and hurried after him.
Pondclaw arrived at the border, and all cats were present.
"Ready to run? Let's move." Pondclaw panted, and sprinted back into ThunderClan territory, close to the lake's border.
"Pondclaw, wait! Ah, let's go!" Quailpaw ran after her, and the other cats followed. Shadefur carried Lilykit, and Berryfrost and Shiningsky carried Flamekit and Tigerkit.
"I can carry myself!" Tigerkit squealed, but Shiningsky kept a firm grip on his scruff as they ran.
Pondclaw ran along the border of the lake in ThunderClan's territory to the WindClan border. Deadpath or any other cat would head there, where she had told them she would be going.
But Deadpath, in his rage, chose to follow Pondclaw the long way. Darkpaw saw his error and went to the WindClan border, and saw blurs moving along the lake border. She ran to stop them.
"Pondclaw!" Darkpaw growled as the blurs approached. Pondclaw noticed the apprentice blocking her path, and with a smirk, pushed her out of the way and ran past her. Darkpaw stumbled into the water and gasped as she scrambled back to the sand. The other blurs were too far behind Pondclaw to see what had transpired.
If Deadpath had shown up, I would have killed him. But I guess he isn't coming. Pondclaw thought nonchalantly, and decreased her pace to look back at her Clan.
Quailpaw had a shocked look on his face as he saw his sister wet and furious. However he only slowed down, he didn't stop. He ran past her, looking away. Next came Shadefur and her two kits, who didn't give Darkpaw a second glance. Berryfrost and Shiningsky came to a stop at Darkpaw.
"Darkpaw!" Berryfrost gasped, and Darkpaw glared at him. She looked over to Shiningsky, who had a horrified expression.
"Shiningsky… why would you join them?" Darkpaw demanded, but her sister only looked at her paws. "Berryfrost, why would you let her?"
"Pondclaw… Pondclaw isn't a bad cat. She just wants the best for us, to not be under StarClan's skies." Berryfrost mumbled.
"Pondclaw is a bad cat! She's turning all of you against StarClan!" Darkpaw hissed. Berryfrost looked past her at the fading PondClan cats in the distance. He nudged Shiningsky and began to run past Darkpaw. "Don't you run away!"
Shiningsky stared after him desperately, and began to follow. Darkpaw blocked her path.
"Are you really going to leave, sister?" Darkpaw questioned, a fierce fire in her eyes. Shiningsky broke her gaze and ran. Darkpaw stared after her in anguish, and started to walk back to ThunderClan camp.
At the edge of the mountains, Pondclaw stopped to face her Clan.
"Cats of PondClan, we'll settle just past here." Pondclaw announced, surveying the faces of the cats that would be with her.
Shadefur was looking at Lilykit, keeping her nearby, who was looking at Coldpaw for a chance to play. Coldpaw was looking at Flamekit and Tigerkit, who were with Berryfrost and Shiningsky. Berryfrost looked at Shiningsky, who was looking at her feet. Quailpaw was the only one really looking at Pondclaw.
"Anyway… let's go." She growled, and walked through the rocky slopes. The Clan followed.
"We won't go too far in, we're not in a state to fight with the Tribe." Pondclaw confirmed, and they walked until they came across an alcove in the rocks. There seemed to be a tiny cave there, along with rocks acting as cliffs hanging over the ground below. The cats headed there.
Quailpaw surveyed the area and grinned. "This place looks great! What do you think, Pondclaw?"
"It looks alright for now. We're far enough into the mountains to not be cursed by StarClan." She spat, and made to explore the niches.
Berryfrost stayed close to Shiningsky, hoping she wouldn't break down. It wasn't like her to show her emotions outright, but he wanted to make sure.
Shiningsky felt Berryfrost brush against her pelt, and was oddly calmed. But I don't love Berryfrost. She sighed, which led to Berryfrost saying, "Let's explore, it might cheer us up."
His careful use of 'us' let them explore like the others.
"I'm gonna sleep right here!" Flamekit announced, finding a clear spot under an overhang.
"Nuh-uh, I am!" Tigerkit pushed his sister out of the way.
"Don't hurt yourselves; we're not on soft ground like by the lake now!" Shadefur warned. "Do you think there's any grass around here to gather?"
"Possibly." Pondclaw decided, "I'll go exploring with Berryfrost and Quailpaw to find grass around our new territory." Shiningsky sank to the ground at this news, knowing she'd have nothing to do.
"Pondclaw, how are you going to become Pondstar without the Moonpool?" Lilykit asked innocently from Shadefur's side. Pondclaw blinked at the tiny kit, and realized she had a good point.
"She'll find a way, Lilykit." Shadefur nudged her kit towards the playing Flamekit and Tigerkit. Pondclaw gave an approving nod to the queen and gathered her patrol. The three cats left the spot in the rocks and went further into the mountains.
Berryfrost and Quailpaw stayed far apart from each other, while Pondclaw led. Suddenly the patrol stopped as the scent of a Tribe cat wafted through the air.
"It's only one cat, we can take him on." Pondclaw growled, and they waited for the Tribe cat to emerge.
It was a black furred tom, thick muscled and calm. His eyes were bright green, and Pondclaw stared at them until he turned towards her. The foreigner approached the small patrol.
"Who are you? You're not from the tribe." He demanded.
"My name is Pondclaw, and this is Berryfrost and Quailpaw." Pondclaw introduced.
"Oh, Clan cats. Why are you not by the lake?"
"We don't follow StarClan anymore." Pondclaw insisted. Berryfrost felt empty as she said it.
"Well, I don't follow the Tribe of Endless Hunting either." The cat shrugged. "I'm Night That Falls Swiftly, call me Night. I was exiled for my beliefs."
"Oh, you'll fit in perfectly with us then!" Pondclaw purred, stepping closer to the stranger. Quailpaw felt his fur rise; he didn't trust the dark tom. Berryfrost had no opinion of him.
"I'm sure I will, Pondclaw." Night purred back.
"Do you happen to know where to find nesting material around here?" Berryfrost interrupted, and Night nodded.
"Follow me, I know a great place not too far into the Tribe's territory. We can jump in and leave before they spot us." Night said, and he led the patrol next to Pondclaw, much to Quailpaw's dislike.
"Who does he think he is?" Quailpaw spat, walking next to Berryfrost now.
"What do you mean?" Berryfrost asked, his whiskers twitching.
"He just waltzed right over and Pondclaw is already fond of him!" The apprentice moaned. Berryfrost held back laughter as he realized that Quailpaw was jealous of the attention.
"He's helping us out, so be grateful." Berryfrost offered, but Quailpaw said no more. The four cats entered the foreign territory, grabbed mouthfuls of soft grass that seemed to grow out of nowhere, and rushed back to PondClan territory. Not a single Tribe Cat found them, or got anywhere close, for that matter.
"Thank you, Night. Would you like to stay with us?" Pondclaw offered as they dropped their grasses on the ground. Berryfrost and Shiningsky began piling the grass up into nests.
"I'd be happy to. This group has a lot of potential." Night said smoothly.
Potential, huh. Pondclaw wasn't sure if he was buttering her up or telling the truth, but it didn't matter to her. Berryfrost was out of the picture now that Night was present. His build was perfect and his attitude wasn't bad either. She had a feeling he'd fit in just fine.
Longest chapter yet. Sorry if the next update takes a while :x