Untold Lies Chapter 8: Lionheart's Capture
Title says it all...not much explaining to be done with this chapter. Thanks billybob579 for helping me with this chapter.
"Alright. I'll be called Horn." Liontooth said as he looked at Greyfur. "Let's go." He said as he started for the large Twoleg place. this is when that cat attacked me Arrowhead thought. The cat didn't show up this time. who was that? "Grey- I mean Rim, what if they come for me? Will we keep running or will we stay?"
Rim didn't look up, she focused on her forepaws. "I don't know." Horn sighed but didn't say anything. They padded on in silence until the first thunderpath was in front of them. good thing we had Lightheart "How are we going to get across?" Rim asked.
Liontooth looked around. "This way." They followed the thunderpath until the path lifted off the ground and made an arch. they walked under it while we ran across...that's not fair! Arrowhead followed them everywhere they went. He saw how they found Sandy and their friends. They found that enclosed area by getting cornered in it when a pack of wild dogs chased them. He saw how they fought them away and how Horn led his friends and claimed the territory as their own. Arrowhead followed them moon after moon. It was peaceful and Arrowhead thought that Rim had been lying to him about Horn. He still followed and observed the territory even though he started having doubts. He was about to give up hope until one day they returned from hunting and found ten cats in their home. "Who are you?" Horn asked, dropping his two mice.
A silver she-cat padded up to him. Horn stepped back once he realized who she was. "It's good to see you again Horn."
"Zee!" Horn growled. "Why are you here?" Rim huddled close to Horn.
"Why are you being so hostile? Don't you remember what happened last time?" Zee asked. Horn didn't answer so she continued. "You were hard to find. We had to interrogate your former leader...oh, what was his name?" She paused and thought. "Oh! Yeah, I remember, Roundstar."
"You what?" Horn growled.
"Roundstar didn't cooperate so we killed him after prying answers from him." Zee answered plainly. what kind of cat does that! Arrowhead thought. "You are coming with me."
Horn stepped back another paw step. "What makes you think I will?"
"Why must you be so hostile?" Zee asked. She gave a loud yowl and four more cats appeared behind them. "Unless you want your friends and mate to be killed, I suggest you come with me."
Horn looked beat. He glanced at his friends and then at Rim. "I want your word that you won't hurt them."
"You have my word." Zee replied. "Come, let's go." She led her cats and Horn away. Horn didn't get to say goodbye. Five cats surrounded him as they left. Arrowhead followed the large group of cats. They avoided thunderpaths and twolegs as they made their way to the heart of Twoleg place and out on the far side.
As they past they came across a plain and past the last Twoleg den. Horn tried to make his esceape. He barreled through two cats and jumped over one. He ran as fast as he could toward the plain. Arrowhead was hoping he had escaped, but lost it when he saw Zee sprinting toward him. She jumped and hooked her claws into him. He rolled as he felt her weight crash down on him. "Now why would you do that?" She asked as she caught her breath.
"Your just going to kill me. I might as well fight back." He spat back.
"But your still worth something to us. We will kill you afterward." Zee said slyly.
"I'm not going to help you! What don't you understand?" Horn hissed. "If I wouldn't do it the first time you asked, why would I change my answer the second time!"
Zee narrowed her eyes in irritation. "Because you don't want me to kill your mate and friends. And when your kits are old enough to become, I think they are called, Warriors, I will hunt them down and kill them." She growled.
Horn froze. "How do you know about my kits?" He asked weakly and bewildered.
"We know all, Liontooth. Your kits are apprentices now, but will become warriors soon. And if you don't help, they won't make it to their warrior ceremony." She said plainly.
Horn felt bitter defeat. "Don't hurt them." He whispered. "I'll help." Zee looked happy again and then ordered that Horn be put in the middle of all of them. They continued past the plain into mountains. where are they going? Arrowhead thought. They followed a path only known by Zee and a few others. They traveled down and walls surrounded their views. Arrowhead looked at the sky, which was cloudy. He continued onward behind the group of cats and followed closely. Zee led the group of cats left and right. Arrowhead finally figured out what this place was. it's a maze! A mountain maze! He realized he should have been memorizing the turns they were taking but he didn't want to go back now. They finally exited the maze and Arrowhead found a fortress on the other side. who are these cats? He thought to himself. He looked left and right but found only cats. They were guarding a mountain cave that lies inside the mountain. Arrowhead was tempted to go exploring, but he forced himself to follow Zee and Horn.
Zee walked up to a tom that padded outside the massive population of cats. "Zee. Have you brought the cat you were sent out to find?" He asked.
Zee nodded, "Yes, Streak," She said as she and her group of cats bowed. She stood up again and waved her tail for her captive to come forth. "Here he is." She purred as Horn was shoved up to them.
Horn growled as he saw the leader of these cats. "So your the leader?" He hissed.
Streak slashed Horn. He held back a yowl as he saw his blood on the ground. "You will address me as Streak, your new leader." Streak growled.
Horn spat at him. "Never. I would rather die than let you have your way."
"The first part could happen early, but the second part will happen, no matter what." Streak replied. "Zee, you are to take him to his new...home." Horn hissed as Zee shoved him forward. "I will see you again." Streak said as he watched Horn leave. I don't know what Streak wants, but he isn't going to get it, we will make sure of that Arrowhead thought.
Zee led Horn to an area well guarded left of the cave. Two cats moved aside to let Zee and Horn through. Arrowhead looked amazed that the mountain area opened up to a huge cave. He noticed that the ground had given way and left a small island of land and the only way on or off was a narrow piece of land. the perfect prison Arrowhead thought to himself. Zee led Horn to the beginning of the entrance. "Go." She said.
Horn glared at her and took a couple of paw steps onto the narrow entrance. He turned back and Zee spiked her fur. He looked back at the island and then back at her. "Why are you doing this to me?" Horn asked.
Zee narrowed her eyes but didn't answer. Horn went to the island without another word. Arrowhead decided to use this time and explore the mountain. He memorized the maze, which took him, what he felt like was, forever. He tried finding out what Streak planned to do with his father was, but nothing came up. Arrowhead found out that the cave served as both a home and a frontline for attackers. The deepest part of the cave was Streak's den and Zee's den was close by. He tried counting how many cats there were on the mountain side but stopped after 30. Moon after Moon passed and Arrowhead guessed that he and his friends were gathering their army to fight Wolfstar.
One day Zee was edgy and Arrowhead wondered why. He tailed her until she, eventually, went to Streak's den. "Is it time?" Zee asked hopefully.
Streak nodded. "It is. Your in charge of our home while I am away." Zee almost burst with happiness. "You make the decisions around here. I could be gone for many moons, please try to be merciful to our prisoner. I don't want to come home and find him dead."
"Don't worry about a thing here. I will take very good care of this place." Zee answered happily.
"Then I'm gone." Streak said leaving his den. They padded outside of their fortress/home. Streak nodded and then headed into the maze. Zee waved her tail and she headed back into her fortress. Arrowhead stayed for one more moon, waiting for anything about his father's task and memorizing the area. Nothing happened so he decided he had stayed long enough.
He curled up and fell asleep. He woke up in Echocave with the stub tailed tom and Froststar standing over him. oh no Arrowhead thought. The tom grabbed Arrowhead by the scruff and threw him across the cave. "Nice too see you too." Arrowhead said as he scrambled to his paws.
The tom growled, "I told you we would kill you if you went."
"I had too! I have to know what happened to my father and how all this is connected with Nightsign!" Arrowhead replied.
"You don't understand do you?" Froststar asked shocked.
"Understand what? How can I understand anything if you keep it hidden!"
"You are meant to kill Nightsign and save your clan, nothing more!" The tom hissed. "You were not meant to know how much you do now."
"I'm not meant to know any of this? I am not your claw that you can just send into battle with whoever you want! I am Arrowhead of Echoclan-"
"No your not! You chose the path of a rogue! You are not a warrior any more!"
Arrowhead couldn't believe what he just heard. "That is NOT your decision to make! I am loyal to Echoclan! Why do you think I'm here! I am protecting Echoclan by finding out why Wolfstar wanted me to find our parents. It's all connectible, but no one has tried, but I am. And you will not stop me, Roundstar!"
Roundstar's eyes got big and he took a step away from Arrowhead. "How do you know me?"
"I know you and you won't get to find out. Every cat was taught that Skystar was leader before Froststar. Apparently not. We were taught lies to protect a cat who can't fight his own battles! Roundstar, if you want me to help you, you will not come to me again, or you will be on your own." Roundstar had never been this beaten before. He was furious that a cat had found out who he was. He hissed at Arrowhead and then faded into the shadows of the cave. Froststar looked at him. She couldn't understand how Arrowhead had beaten him at his own game of secrets. She nodded and then faded as well.
The sun had broken the horizon as Arrowhead opened his eyes. Rim was awake as he got up and stretched. He padded out of the narrow alley to find her watching it. He padded up to her and sat down. "We used to watch the sunrises together." She said with sadness. "How are you going to Horn?" She asked after a long pause.
"He's been found." Arrowhead answered. Rim looked at him, like she couldn't believe him. "He's being held in the mountains on the far side of this place."
This chapter was fun because I got to make Zee an evil genious. It's fun thinking of ways too make your characters struggle. :)