Author's Note: Before I start this chapter, I want to inform you that there is still time to enter your short story for the Feather and Snow contest. Remember - if you win, your character will be added into the prequel of Secrets and Witnesses - and they will have a major role.
Please read Chapter 6 in order to have more information.
All entries are due October 31, 2012 4:00 PM Eastern Time.
Thanks!
Featherstar's POV
"Featherstar,"
Featherstar turned her head to see Cloudfall standing there in the moonlight. She couldn't help but admire how the moonlight turned his pelt silver and how well-built his muscles were. They had broken up just three nights ago. Even though Featherstar was positive Crowstorm was the One, her heart still ached with guilt...
Stop. she scolded herself. If you want to be in a relationship with Crowstorm, you have to be committed to it!
"Have you had any...progess with your research on DarkClan history?"
Instantly she felt guilty. Featherstar had been so caught up with the whole Crowstorm-Cloudfall-love triangle thing, she had forgotten what was truly important - the truth about DarkClan's past.
"Er...yeah." Featherstar lied. "Yeah. So close to uncovering the truth, actually."
"Really." Cloudfall raised his eyebrows. "Anyways...I'm going to sleep. Sleep well, Featherstar." He lightly tapped her shoulder with his tail and then quickly ran into the warriors' den.
Featherstar sighed and padded to her den. She didn't know what DarkClan's history was - she didn't even know where to start.
Suddenly, an idea formed in her head. Sure, it could quite possibly fail, but she could at least try...
Featherstar settled down in her moss nest, picturing the cat in her head, her eyelids slowly drooping...
She was plummeting down a dark hole. Featherstar frantically curled up into a ball, feeling the wind buffeting onto her pelt. Horrible thoughts filled her head...horrible memories...finding out that her parents were dead...seeing Snowsong being crushed by Larkflight's final blow...
She hit the hard ground. Featherstar lay their splayed on the ground for a few moments, trying her best to catch her breath. Where was she? Surely this was only a dream...Featherstar hoped that it was only a dream...
Featherstar got up and brushed off the dust on her pelt. Then, she started walking. To where? Well, she didn't know. She just plunged into the darkness ahead of her.
Featherstar shivered as spiders crawled on the ground. This dark and dreary place was eerie - the only thing you could hear were raindrops dripping down on to the ground.
Suddenly, there was light. Featherstar was standing in a hollow. There were trees everywhere that were covered with vines and mold. It wasn't very bright in this hollow - in fact, the light was very dim. But it was better than the previous darkness that Featherstar had encountered.
Featherstar looked to her left and noticed a she-cat right next to her. The cat was rather pretty, with smooth, dark gray fur, twinkling green eyes. She seemed to be talking to some cats that Featherstar couldn't see. Soon after, the she-cat started screaming. Alarmed, Featherstar attempted to rush forward to help.
Crash. Featherstar banged into the air. Frowning, she tentatively lifted up her paw and touched the place where she had crashed. She felt a hard and solid object. It must be invisible walls, Featherstar thought, turning around and moving away from the she-cat.
This continued - Featherstar encountering cats that she had never seen in her life. And all of them were enclosed with invisible walls. And all of them were screaming like a badger was on their tail. After a while, Featherstar noticed something.
A sparkling white she-cat with green eyes. Featherstar scampered towards the she-cat and braced herself to banging into the wall.
It didn't happen.
"Hello, Featherstar. Its been a long time."
Snowsong's POV
I smile as Featherstar stares at me with awe.
"Wh-what happened?" Featherstar meows, circling around me. "I...I thought you were dead. For reals!"
I laugh, but then I immediately frown. This isn't like my normal personality. Is hell somehow...changing me?
"Its a...a long story." I say.
Featherstar sits down and wraps her tail around her paws. "And I dare say we have enough time for it." I just stare into her twinkling eyes.
"Fine." I sigh. And then, I tell her everything.
Ever-y-thing.
"...and then thats when I got plopped into hell right here," I gesture at the screaming cats.
Featherstar blinks. "This is...hell? But its...much lighter than I expected."
I nod. "Yes, but every one of those cats are in their own personal horrors - things that they want to forget, things they fear, things that they didn't want to happen..."
"Well, where is Darkstar now?" she asks.
I shuffle around. "Well, he's back in StarClan alright. Back with...with Claire Cassidy."
Featherstar stands up. "Well then, what are we waiting for?"
I blink. "Wh-what do you mean?"
"We're going to StarClan to stop Claire!" she trills.
"That's...that's not safe," I stammer. "Snowsong...she might kill me."
"C'mon Snowsong." Featherstar begs. "We'll have to go. This is your only chance of being released from Claire and finally continue your happy afterlife in StarClan."
I stare up at the dark sky. "I...I don't know. I think it would be best if I just disappear and die once and for all. I am one that has had too many second chances. It just isn't natural."
Featherstar's eyes widen. "Lets...lets not think about that. Lets just head to StarClan."
Nodding, I get up.
"What do we do?" I ask.
"Close your eyes and imagine StarClan." she meows. "Keep on imagining it, and hopefully we'll get transported there."
I reluctantly close my eyes. I think of the den where I first met Valerie, the meadows where Rosestar and Larkflight rest, and...and where I met Claire.
There is a loud zap, and I'm suddenly shooting upwards.