A New Era
Chappie 12 is out! Hope you enjoy it! Anyhoo… I didn't explain too much last chappie, only that ShadowClan wanted Runningnose exiled. And he was. Poor Runningnose. An elder too.
Crystal Cavern: Hello everybody! I brought a few friends with me today. Say the disclaimer, m'kay?
Firestar: Crystal Cavern doesn't own warriors.
Mistyfoot: Yah, and we're happy she doesn't. (glares are Crystal Cavern)
Littlecloud: Thank you for reading!
Squirrelflight: Keep those reviews coming! Crystal Cavern wanted you all to know that she lives off reviews.
Crystal Cavern: (laughs) Yes, yes! I eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So... I want you all to review!
~Crystal Cavern
P.S. Sorry this chappie is short too. I'll make the next one super long, I promise! Provided, that you review, of course.
Chapter 12: Run-Away and Exiled
A paw poked Hazeltail, making her open her eyes. She scanned her surroundings. Right in front of her was a cat with a runny nose. There were pine trees all around her. Most of the sun's rays shone through the branches, making her squint. The thick undergrowth, ivy, and other plants blocked most of the sunlight in ThunderClan. The light hurt her eyes. Where am I? She thought.
Her nose hurt, and her pads were sore. Then Hazeltail remembered. She was a run-away. A fugitive. There was no chance that she could return to ThunderClan.
"You're not from ShadowClan." The cat in front of her calmly said. "What are you doing on ShadowClan territory?" The sudden comment made Hazeltail had forgotten about the cat.
Hazeltail looked around in disbelief. "I-I'm in ShadowClan?" She gasped. "Oh no! I'm so sorry! I'll leave right away!" Then she sniffed. The scent of ShadowClan was strong. She was in ShadowClan. The cat right in front of her was a ShadowClan cat. That was obvious, but she'd never seen him before. His tips of his muzzle and ears were grey. He looked like an elder, an old wise cat. Great, she thought, I'm caught by an elder. I'd better apologize. But the words that escaped her mouth were not that. "Who are you?" She asked. "I've never met you during gatherings before."
The cat in front of her twitched his ear. "I'm Runningnose. I was ShadowClan's former medicine cat. When you were born, I was already an elder. That's probably why you've never seen me."
Hazeltail sat up. "Runningnose…" She thought about the name. "I've heard about you!" She suddenly exclaimed, as if she suddenly remembered something important. "Longtail once told me a story about you!"
Runningnose nodded, a bit surprised. "Which one?"
Hazeltail looked down at her paws. "Well… Actually… It wasn't about you. You were just in it. Like a side character." Hazeltail sighed, unsure about how Runningnose would take it. "In truth, it was about Yellowfang and how she joined ThunderClan all those moons ago. He said that you became ShadowClan's medicine cat after that."
Runningnose nodded. "So that's how I'll always be remembered…" He looked at her, his eyes sad. "Only when Yellowfang left, did I become a full medicine cat. When the illness from the carrion-place spread, I couldn't stop it. I was useless. And now I am exiled." His expression showed that he regretted not being able to help much.
For a second, Hazeltail felt pity for the old elder. But then, she realized something. "Exiled?!" She yelled. "What are you talking about?! Why are you even here? Elders don't hunt!"
Runningnose's gaze hardened. "Enough chit-chat." He said. "Tell me. Why are you in ShadowClan's territory? What are you doing here? I may be exiled, but I'm no traitor! I will inform ShadowClan if you stay any longer."
Hazeltail stiffened for a second, and then she sighed. I guess everyone has his or her secrets. "Go ahead. Life can't possibly get any worse for me. I'm a ThunderClan run-away."
Runningnose gave a mrrow of laughter. "What are you talking about? Life can always get worse. You're life can't be as half as bad as mine."
Hazeltail looked away. That's what you think. You're not me.
Runningnose looked at Hazeltail. "Tell me. Who are you? What happened?"
Hazeltail lied. She felt she couldn't completely trust the elder yet. "I'm Lionblaze. The fierce warrior, Lionblaze." She hoped that she sounded convincing enough. Her pelt color was close to Lionblaze's, so she felt that it just might work.
Runningnose nodded. "Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw's daughter, Lionblaze, huh? From the stories I've heard, I thought that you were a tom. In fact, I was sure you were a tom."
"I take that offensively. What's wrong with being female? Well. I am widely known. I am a good hunter and I am a fierce fighter. I just can't believe my gender was suddenly switched. You can't believe all rumors, you know." Hazeltail's ears felt hot from the lie. "I'm just not good with words."
Runningnose nodded. "You haven't answered my second question yet. What happened? A well trained warrior doesn't trespass on another clan's terrirory."
"I'm not trespassing. I was…" She thought. "I was delivering a very important message to Blackstar." She then quickly realized that she was setting herself into a trap. "But it's not important anymore. Don't ask." She quickly added.
Runningnose flicked his tail after a while. "I see." Then, he got up and started padding towards ThunderClan. "Come with me then."
Hazeltail was surprised. "Where will you take me? I refuse to go back to ThunderClan." She tried to sound firm. I refuse to go back to where nobody appreciates me. Nobody trusts me there. There is no point in returning.
Runningnose looked back. "You will come with me."
Hazeltail got up. "But where?"
Runningnose snorted. "Only StarClan knows that. We'll find a nice place to live." Then Runningnose's gaze became distant. "Right now, the four clans are in turmoil, but help will arrive, although, and with it, a great sadness. Trust will be hard to gain. Friends will turn into enemies. We will have to stay solitary. If you come with me, you are accepting these terms."
Hazeltail was a bit confused by his words, but she accepted them. She made up her mind. This was fine. She was fine. It's better to be with someone who was a real friend then a bunch of cats who didn't trust you. She would go with Runningnose and they would live somewhere. She would care for the old elder, because she respected him. She would be respected as well. Life would change for her, perhaps for the better.
Yes. She thought. We are a run-away and an exiled. Clan life is not for us.
"I'll come." She said. With her pain gone, her hope renewed, she ran after the elder.