A/N: Here you are. Running will be put off for a few more days to a month. Depends on my mood.
Chapter Two
When this event happened, it was not predicted by any cat in StarClan. The chances were extremely low of a kit sacrificing herself or himself for their sibling, no matter how much they could feel emotions from the old world.
As Mosskit willingly gave her own life up to protect Shadekit, something happened in Blossom's lair. Her other eye, ripped out by Silver, came back with only a thin scar to show what happened. And the eye that had been there forever?
It turned back to green.
The full story need not be told, but after moons, Blossom's conscience —only still there because of those words, I'm sorry, mother— came to her and made her realize this voice in her heart was evil. It wasn't going to help her get anywhere when she dedicated her life to revenge. Quite like the cats before her, she had power she no longer wanted and started a rebellion against herself, fighting an inward battle, tearing herself apart.
I understand it was complete agony. Being her half-brother whom she killed in cold blood, I should know the feeling.
But it is impossible to escape from the voice and live a normal life. The only way to get rid of it was to pass it on like Silver did —I have no idea how many times she thinks she has to apologize to me and the sacrifices, because all she ever wanted by giving the power to Blossom was to escape— and then after you pass it on, you die. No second chances.
Nothing but a flooding river of regret.
The first few days after Mosskit's incident passed in utter chaos. It had been raining nonstop, making the cats all cower in their dens. Prey was still delivered, no one got sick or died, but there were dark clouds that swallowed the blue sky and the warm sun, and water fell rapidly down from them.
Pit-pat. Pit-pat. The rain hummed a gentle melody in Mosskit's head. It soothed her jumpy nerves and sang to her, making her wonder who gave her this blessing, this falling water.
The ashen kit laid on a flat rock, head on her paws. She watched the droplets move down to meet the muddy earth, feeling moistness on her soft fur. It was a strange, foreign experience, this being wet.
I can't believe that she actually enjoyed the rain. Back in the old world, rain was one of the worst things that could happen.
Mosskit loved the rain. It was cooling and calming and kept her isolated from the rest. She didn't want to be with anyone, not even Shadekit.
Her brother. Shadekit. He had caused all of this.
So why did she still love him more than anything? More than the rain?
Love is a complicated thing. I died before I got an opportunity to experience it, and so I don't understand much. I never loved my father anyway.
She struggled with her feelings as the rain continued to fall. Because she loved Shadekit, she went in his place. Was it her fault or his?
Or no one's?
It would be better to die than to condemn herself to a life like the adult cats, not caring about anyone but themselves. Shadekit, no matter how great he was, would just be another cat in the millions, all with the same, monotone personality.
If they had been born in the old world, things would've been better. She wouldn't be sentenced to death because of a pact. She would have a Clan that loved her.
Did anyone love her here, in this world?
Mosskit shook the thought away like it was an annoying beetle. Love wasn't a part of this new world. She stared into the gray wisps in the sky, water clouding her sight.
StarClan. Were they up there? Why weren't they doing anything? Why wouldn't they help her?
Oh, we were there. We watched as the Clans slowly became spoiled kittypets, as their nobility dissolved into laziness. But the power of the voice was like nothing else. Even StarClan couldn't save anyone from Blossom's revenge.
All the warriors claimed that StarClan was useless, that they couldn't do anything for the cats like their goddess Blossom could. Mosskit ignored them, dreaming she dreams and mulling over the old world.
"Mosskit?"
A dark gray kit, pelt slick with the rain, padded up to her with an aura of uncertainty. Mosskit could feel the fear radiating from her brother and felt a fresh wave of guilt hit her.
All her fault.
"Yeah?" She didn't turn around. She didn't want to look at him.
"I'm sorry."
"Why be sorry for something I did?"
"If I hadn't been so scared, I could've said no. I could've went in your place."
"And cause both of us to go? No."
"But Mosskit—"
"I chose to go. Live your life to its fullest, brother. Appreciate what you have in the new world."
Wise words for a young kit. They get so philosophical because of the threat that hung over them.
"O-okay." Shadekit was shaking in the cold water. Mosskit hadn't realized how cold it was until now. She stood up, lifting herself off the rock.
"Come on. Let's go back to camp."
And all through the long walk home, the rain continued to fall.
The black she-cat paced around her lair —a dark cave with swampy, muddy ground that reminded her of her old home— with an increasing amount if aggravation, caused by both the voice and her change. She flicked her tail from side to side with uncertainty.
Stop it. I'm trying to digest the blood.
"You can shut up," Blossom snapped to her blood-tainted heart. "I'm finally one part free of this curse. I'm not going back to two red eyes."
You wanted me. You were consumed by me. How did this happen?
"At least we have one thing in common," Blossom muttered through gritted teeth. "What caused this? Who saved me?"
I hope we get the kits extra soon this moon.
"Shut your—" Blossom started, but she was interrupted by a sudden, high-pitched shriek that was uttered by none other than he goddess herself. Flaming claws were grasping her belly, contracting her insides like a python and its prey. "Stop it! Please!" Her green eye flickered from the natural color to blood red and back again.
What's the matter? Did I push you too hard?
The voice was taunting her, daring her to start fuming and get consumed again by her anger and greed for revenge. Blossom wouldn't fall for it this time. She couldn't.
I must admire my sister's courage through these times. Her voice was trying to tear her apart, and yet she stood strong; a bit more like herself again each day. The StarClan cats had mixed opinions about our Blossom, but we could all agree on the trait of courage in her true, pure heart.
"My goddess!" A brown-and-white tabby ran up to the entrance of Blossom's cave. what was once a small speck in the distance enlarged to Thrushwing, one of the goddess's most trusted WindClan spies and worker.
"There has been mayhem in all the clans. I have spoken to the others and they have reported this also."
"Reported what?" Blossom commanded, her voice made cold by the poisoned heart. Her green eye flickered back to red for a brief moment.
"A strange substance, miss, in the sky. It is of a dark, gloomy color called gray, and it looks wispy. Water falls from it nonstop."
Whoopsies, the voice teased. It looks like you've been so apprehensive the past few days that your emotions have been passed on to the Clans.
Blossom unsheathed her claws and sank them deep into the boggy ground, feeling damp dirt envelop the sharp black weapons. "Those are clouds. They will pass in a few days, and tell the Clans I am sorry for the . . . inconvenience."
"Of course. Miss?" Thrushwing asked tentatively. "If I may ask a few questions . . . ."
"Ask away. I have all the time in the world."
"Are you okay? How did you get your face back? And what's wrong with your eye?"
"No, I don't know, and nothing's wrong with it. The green is a good thing."
"Oh." Thrushwing shuffled her paws.
"It happened five days ago, if you must know."
"Five days!" Blossom's worker stared at her goddess. "That's when the rain started. And that was they day of the sacrifice ceremony . . ."
"Tell me exactly what happened," Blossom commanded briskly. "Do not leave out a single detail."
The she-cat dipped her head quickly in a show of respect. "Rainstar called Shadekit, one of our two kits, up to become the sacrifice. The other kit, the first-born Mosskit, insisted on going in his place, and Rainstar made her the chosen one. I do not know what made Mosskit do this in such a foolish way."
"What made her do it?" Blossom felt a faraway, faded memory become stronger.
"Blossomkit!" A blue-gray she-cat shrieked as a tiny kitten stood in front of a monstrous, striped creature that was called a badger. The kit shook, her black fur soaked and plastered to her sides from the rain. "Get away from it!"
Blossomkit backed up, the badger's beady black eyes boring through her. She felt queasy with fear as the animal launched itself towards her and closed her eyes, waiting for the impact.
But it never came. Yowling with the ferocity only a mother could have, the blue she-cat intercepted the badger and tussled with it, kicking it's belly and slashing her claws mercilessly. Tiny Blossomkit watched in fear as Blueflame pinned the badger to the ground.
"Do not," Blueflame said, her breath coming in ragged gasps, "ever go out again until you are six moons old."
The ash black kit looked at the ground. "I'm sorry, mama! But-but—"
"But what?"
"Why did you risk your life to save me?"
Blueflame's eyes softened as she looked at her child.
"Never forget, my little flower. It's because I love you."
"Excuse me?" Thrushwing made Blossom snap back to the present. "Miss? Why did Mosskit act like that?"
"Like what?"
"Let herself die in the place of her brother."
"That . . . ." Blossompaw traced the swampy ground with a claw, subconsciously making a distinct outline of a badger. ". . . . is complicated. You wouldn't know."
"I want to know, miss."
"That was love in front of your blind eyes. Pure love, true and untainted. Unlike a certain heart." The last sentence was directed to the vicious voice, which retaliated by squeezing her organs.
"Love?"
"I told you that you would, not understand. Leave, now." Blossom turned her back on the bemused spy and padded into the corner of her den.
How dare you? the voice boomed passionately once they were alone.
"All I did was remember. What's wrong with that?" Blossom challenged.
You remembered love. Love is poison. Love will weaken you and taint your desire for revenge.
The dark she-cat bristled. "You are the poisonous one, not love. Love makes you stronger if it is handled correctly."
If it is handled the way you are thinking of, it will weaken you.
"The way I'm thinking of is happiness. I love, and yet I am strong."
The voice gave a ragged sound, as if it was choking. You do not love, nor do anyone else. You are strong because of me. Listen to that truth. Give your soul to me. Be consumer. You want revenge, remember? You want to kill your father.
"Mosskit knows love." Blossom tried those strange words out. It had been moons since anyone had known love.
Do not think of her! The voice's harsh tone sent a chill running down Blossom's spine. She is an absurd creature. You are mine, and my power will be yours.
"I don't want your power!" Blossompaw cried. "I don't want it!"
Her heart sliced through her again, punishing her, trying to send her into a furious rage like the one she'd had on that fateful night.
You can't run away, Blossom. I will haunt your dreams and follow your paw steps until your last breath, and you will never be free.
A/N: About 2100 words. Not my best chapter.