Untold Lies Chapter 18: Untold Lies
Well, this is my last chapter, all answers are accounted for and alot of action is included.
Pitch black darkness was all he saw, all he felt. Endlessly falling and yet not hitting anything. Am I dead? Arrowhead asked himself. He felt his fur tugging at him as he fell, but he felt no wind. Have I lost? Am I lost? Since his eyes were closed, he felt tired and his muscles and body were relaxed. Only his mind, heart and memories refused to stop working. He could not move his legs, yowl for help, and could barely breath.
Is that it? Is that all you have? Is that your true strength? A furious voice said. Arrowhead knew that voice even though he could not remember who.
What? No, I was prepared to fight to the death. But I was too weak and could not force my memories to overcome Nightsign's. Arrowhead thought silently.
I thought you were stronger than Nightsign. I almost overcame him when we fought. He used this same technique against me, but when we fought, I did not have the one thing you do. The distant voice explained.
What is it? What am I missing? Arrowhead pleaded for an answer.
I did not have you, but now, you have me. Arrowhead felt air rush into his lungs as he took a fresh, deep breath. He opened his eyes just enough to see himself falling into a distant light that grew. He panicked when he realized that he really was falling and felt a strong blast of wind continuously tug his pelt.
Arrowhead let out a yowl of alarm as he fell faster and faster. Arrowhead saw an island, no, not an island, the island from the four clans. He quickly realized that he was on a crash course into the water and that he came from the sky. Don't fight, let me handle your safety for now. The voice said calmly.
"Who are you?" Arrowhead asked frightened. He scrambled his paws to try and gain control and to keep from diving head first into the center of the lake.
Your brother, Wolfstar. Wolfstar's voice said. Arrowhead felt his mind whirl with memories of the cat that was his brother and how they could not escape Nightsign without each other but Arrowhead was too late then.
Arrowhead let himself relax and trusted his brother's voice. He closed his eyes and tried to anticipate the fall. A heart beat later, he felt the sting of hitting the water, which knocked the breath out of him. Water enclosed over his head as he scrambled to the surface.
He felt the water tug on his fur and pull him until he felt solid ground and his head burst the surface. He took a deep breath and dragged his soaked body onto the bank. The waves lapped at his hind paws as he coughed up water on the sandy bank. You're safe now.
Arrowhead looked around for his brother but saw nothing. "Where are you?" Arrowhead asked.
A ghostly cat appeared in front of Arrowhead. His ragged pelt and scarred body denied the power that he held. "It is good to see you alive. You almost died back there." Wolfstar spoke in a whisper.
Arrowhead picked up on why he was whispering. He must have still been in his memories and Nightsign could have been listening. "Thanks for saving me. But I still have a fight to win." Arrowhead responded quietly. He forced himself to his paws. His muscles resisted, but he managed to stand.
"You can't fight him alone." Wolfstar growled. "Are you that insane?"
"No, I never said I was going alone. You're coming with me. Only together can we kill Nightsign." Arrowhead responded.
Wolfstar nodded. "Open your mind. I will make sure I don't leave you."
Arrowhead took a guess at how to open his mind, and Wolfstar put his head to Arrowhead's. Arrowhead felt Wolfstar become part of him. It felt like he had two minds and twice the power he did have. Now we can defeat him. Wolfstar's thoughts were Arrowhead's thoughts now. Arrowhead looked at his reflection in the lake water. His pelt color was no longer his solid grey-blue color, but now he had Wolfstar's white fur collar around his neck and black stripes
across his back.
"Together we look like Greyfur." Arrowhead commented.
Yeah, I guess so. Wolfstar's thoughts responded.
"Time to kill Nightsign. Does he know that I am still alive?"
I suspect not.
"Good. I want revenge." Arrowhead thought of Echo Cave and the water turned to the stone floors and the trees turned into stone walls. Arrowhead glanced around the empty cave that had lost its evil glow. "Where did he-?"
"Arrowhead!" Arrowhead glance around as searched for Thundertail's voice.
"Thundertail! Where are-?"
"He is not dead! He can't be!" Spot growled. Arrowhead spun in every direction looking for his clanmates.
Arrowhead, we have to find Nightsign! Wolfstar hissed. He is trying to force the spirit world and Echoclan together.
"What does that mean?" Arrowhead asked.
He is trying to force Echoclan itself into his memories, his world! He is in the real world now! Stop him! Wolfstar commanded furiously.
"I thought I was in the real world! How did I fall asleep?"
Your body is in your memories, you are not asleep. When Nightsign sent you into darkness, you officially became part of this world, but you are still alive.
"Then how do I get to the real world?"
Focus your mind and heart. You can't ask this cave to become the real world, you have to force it. The barrier that protects your world from this one has been weakened by Nightsign. It should be easier to force this cave to become the real one.
"Alright. I think I get it." Arrowhead closed his eyes and remembered Echoclan. He felt the cave shift beneath him as he felt his memories flow through him and then out into the cave.
Arrowhead opened his eyes to a yowl of pain. "Lilystorm!" Arrowhead almost launched out of the cave but Wolfstar prevented him from moving his back legs.
Stop! All of your friends' memories are gone! He has stolen them! It takes a moment for Nightsign to concentrate on one cat. Lilystorm was probably his last victim, so his concentration is at its highest. We have to wait until he is off guard! Wolfstar warned.
"I am not going to let her or anyone else die!" Arrowhead forced himself to move. He took one step and then another, but Wolfstar still refused to let him go yet.
Not yet! If you want to save them then you have too wait!
"I can't! I have to fight!" Wolfstar's control tightened and Arrowhead felt pain shoot through his entire body.
Then fight! Wolfstar growled inside his head. Arrowhead and Wolfstar struggled against each other until Arrowhead stopped. Alright, now I think its safe.
Arrowhead gained control over his body again and ran out of the cave. He found Flypaw's body on the ground in front of the cave entrance. "No." Arrowhead felt weak against his enemy.
Arrowhead, you can still save her.
"That's only if I can beat Nightsign." Arrowhead sighed with sadness.
You can and will.
Arrowhead did not respond. Instead he scaled the path back to camp. He saw more of his clanmates' bodies scattered all the way to camp. Arrowhead saw Greyfur's and Liontooth's bodies lying together under the stone arch that led into camp. "Greyfur, Liontooth." Arrowhead growled in rage. Arrowhead entered into the empty camp to find Thundertail, Lightheart, Spot, and Stoneshade all in the center, unconscious. "No!" Arrowhead refused approach them. He headed for the warriors den which was empty. He made his way to Threelegs' den, avoiding his unconscious friends in the center of camp. Only the cats that were in Threelegs' den originally were in there. Arrowhead then ran to the leader's den. Arrowhead looked away to find Lilystorm's unconscious body. Threelegs was behind her and Arrowhead guessed that she had tried to defend him. "I will end that dead spirit!" Arrowhead's rage was unmatched. He could have taken on an army of badgers and foxes. Arrowhead turned and left the cave to go find the cat that he promised to kill.
He is here. Wolfstar warned.
"Good." Arrowhead responded.
Nightsign stood in the clearing alone. Arrowhead's friends' bodies were gone. "I thought you might have-" Nightsign stopped when he realized Arrowhead did not look like Arrowhead. "Who are you?" Nightsign asked confused.
"I am Arrowhead of Echoclan, the cat you thought was dead." Arrowhead growled enraged. "I have traveled to many places, each time I have stopped you. But now I realized, that you were wasting time! You lied to Wolfstar because you knew I would betray him and kill him. You lied to him and made him believe he was stronger than me. But he saw through your deception and he told me to find Greyfur and Liontooth. Wolfstar wanted to direct me to Liontooth because he was the only cat who escaped that remembered Roundstar. But Roundstar showed himself to me. Liontooth did not hold the answers but Roundstar did. The one cat you tried erase from existence! Streak trained you in this way, but then you betrayed him and he tried sending the one cat that not only eluded you, but killed you as well!"
Nightsign looked shocked but he gathered himself quickly. "Liontooth was not the only cat that escaped me. You have as well. Twice now! The first time when you slept in Riverclan and again now! Now it's time for one of us to die!"
Arrowhead padded into the clearing and stood tail lengths away from Nightsign. "Tell me first. Roundstar called you the 'untold lie'. Why?"
Nightsign purred and answered, "You know that I am Roundstar's untold lie and that I killed him. That's what Streak sent me to do. But then Liontooth knew that I murdered Roundstar and then killed me. But I would not give up, I attacked Liontooth and tried to take his memories, but Roundstar intervened and locked me away. He could have returned the memories that I stole of him in search of Liontooth, but he had to keep me a secret from the clans. He tried hiding me but failed. I became too strong and now he will pay for it. I will become the leader of all the clans!"
"I won't let that happen." Arrowhead hissed.
"Then fight!"
Arrowhead felt the ground underneath him move. He saw himself rushing for the wall. Arrowhead! The worlds are colliding together, the laws of this world are weakened. Force the wall to move! Arrowhead acted on instinct at Wolfstar's words. He closed his eyes and felt the stone wall bend as he crashed into it. Arrowhead looked and saw the stone wall around and above him. He looked at Nightsign who looked amazed. Arrowhead backed out of the hole he created in the stone wall and turned to Nightsign with his claws unsheathed. Arrowhead charged full speed at Nightsign with a plan in mind. Nightsign waited until the second before Arrowhead attacked, but Arrowhead anticipated this and forced the ground to move so that Nightsign would be right in front of him. Arrowhead landed a perfect blow to Nightsign's muzzle. His claws were red with scarlet blood from Nightsign's face.
Nightsign struggled to his paws and asked, "How- How are you doing this? I know I dodged your blow!" Arrowhead just glared at Nightsign, not answering. "So be it."
Nightsign guessed that his worst fear and strongest enemy had something happen to him when he escaped. Arrowhead looked different and he has somehow become stronger than him. Nightsign needed to know what happened. He rushed at Arrowhead but came from the side at the last second of impact. Arrowhead just stood there but how did Nightsign miss his attack? Was he losing his mind? Was he seeing things? He landed awkwardly but attacked again, this time hitting Arrowhead's flank. Arrowhead hissed in fury. Pull yourself together, Arrowhead! You can defeat him! You have my strength with you; you can do it, for your friends! Arrowhead regained his thoughts and glared at Nightsign.
Does Nightsign know about you? Arrowhead silently asked Wolfstar.
If he doesn't, don't give him the chance to find out. Wolfstar responded.
"Tell me, how did you become what you are now?" Nightsign asked calmly. Arrowhead did not know his intentions but he refused to tell him.
Don't fall for it! Attack now! He is trying to concentrate on you! Wolfstar warned. Force the ground under him to collapse! Like you did with the wall!
Arrowhead lifted his front paws before striking the ground and forcing the ground under Nightsign to give way under him.
Nightsign figured that he was forcing everything to work for him, but Nightsign could not figure out how Arrowhead had acquired the strength to do so. Nightsign did the hardest thing to do. He forced gravity to work for him as he jumped out of the large and deep hole Arrowhead had created. Nightsign panted, but only for a second.
Can he do that? Can he force gravity? Arrowhead asked amazed.
It is possible but the fact that it's so hard and strenuous, it is forbidden to be known in Starclan. Wolfstar answered inside Arrowhead's mind.
How did you figure this out? Arrowhead asked suspiciously.
Nightsign told me when I was still alive, but he wasn't able to use it back then. Wolfstar growled.
Arrowhead looked at Nightsign as he tried to figure out a way to end this battle. Wolfstar, is it possible to force the worlds apart? Even for an instant?
Are you sane? That would be suicide! Wolfstar answered.
Just for an instant? If I can get Nightsign in the real world alone, he would be vulnerable. That is the only way I can see of ending this quickly. Arrowhead explained.
That makes sense but the means that you wish to accomplish this by are suicidal! Forcing two worlds apart is insane!
But Nightsign forced two worlds together, if he can do it, so can we.
Your a mouse brain! Wolfstar was tired of arguing and said, Fine. Let me force the worlds apart while you finish Nightsign off.
Alright. Arrowhead felt Wolfstar's spirit leave his body.
"What! What is this!" Nightsign asked as he saw Wolfstar's spirit appear from Arrowhead.
Arrowhead's fur returned to its normal color after Wolfstar left. "Hello, Nightsign." Wolfstar hissed furiously.
"Are you ready Wolfstar?" Arrowhead asked, ready to attack.
Wolfstar nodded and Arrowhead sprinted toward Nightsign as fast as he could. Nightsign took Arrowhead head on. Wolfstar let out a yowl of pain as he struggled to separate the real world from the spirit world.
As Arrowhead ran towards Nightsign, he felt the grass under his paws turn into sand and then into rock as Wolfstar split the worlds. Nightsign looked torn and paralyzed as he felt his creation that he became apart of split. Nightsign yowled in terrible agony along with Wolfstar.
"Now!" Arrowhead yowled when he saw that the worlds were split. He unsheathed his claws as he raked them across Nightsign's muzzle, to his face and down his flank in one long continuous attack.
Arrowhead got shoved back by an unknown power as Wolfstar gave in and the worlds collided back together. Nightsign yowled in pain before the force of the two worlds crushed his spirit and he was no more. Arrowhead landed on his back and everything went black.
"Will he be okay? I he going to-?" Arrowhead struggled to regain consciousness to find out who was so worried about him.
"No, he shouldn't, but his pelt- I don't know how to explain this other than it has changed." Arrowhead opened one eye and could make out Threelegs standing in the entrance of his den but he couldn't make out the other cat. Am I in the medicine cat's den? Arrowhead wondered. He tried moving his legs but they were stiff and sore.
"What do you mean 'his pelt has changed'? Pelts can't just change color." The one voice said. Arrowhead remembered the voice now. It was Spot's voice!
"I can't explain it! Maybe the battle had something to do with it." Threelegs responded. Battle? Did I win? Is he really gone? Arrowhead wondered.
Yes, he's gone.
Is it really you? Arrowhead asked.
Yes. We did it! We defeated Nightsign! Wolfstar exclaimed with his 'satisfied' growl.
So, are you going to stay inside of me from now on? Arrowhead asked.
I got permission from Starclan, so yes. Wolfstar answered.
Arrowhead gave a slight purr of approval. "What-? He's awake!" Threelegs yowled happily.
"Arrowhead! Are you alright?" Spot asked as he stood over the half conscious cat.
"Yes, I think so." Arrowhead tried struggling to his paws but had to have support from Spot. "Can you take me to Greyfur and
Liontooth?"
Spot nodded and they slowly made their way across the sunny clearing which had returned to normal. The clearing was empty except for Largetalon who had regained his memories and was working on expanding the leader's den. Arrowhead guessed everyone else was either out hunting or asleep. Arrowhead and Spot entered the Warrior's den and found Greyfur and Liontooth huddled together.
They both looked amazed and proud of their changed kit who saved the clans. "Your alright!" Greyfur mewed happily as she brushed her pelt against Arrowhead's.
"Still sore." Arrowhead winced as she touched on of his sore spots.
"What happened to you?" Liontooth asked as he curiously sniffed his pelt. It still smelled like Arrowhead but there was another scent.
"What do you mean?" Arrowhead asked. He forgot that his pelt had changed since Wolfstar was with him.
"Your pelt, it's changed and there is another scent on you." Liontooth explained.
"Oh!" Arrowhead purred. "You can now see what Wolfstar looked like." Liontooth, Greyfur and Spot looked confused. "Wolfstar is inside of me. He has become apart of me." They still looked confused. "I'll explain later. Spot, can you take me to my friends?" Spot nodded and they made there way back to the clearing.
"Arrowhead!"
Oh no- Arrowhead thought before Lightheart, Thundertail and Lilystorm tackled him.
Your friends are crazy. Wolfstar said.
I agree. Arrowhead let out a purr of happiness even though he could barely breath through the pile of cats on top of him.
The end. I might make another story with Arrowhead and his friends, but for now, I'm not. Hope anyone who reads this enjoyed...it is still pretty confusing though.