Chapter 27

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"No games, Vixenpelt," Bubblestar growled, leaning closer to her threateningly.

She sneered. "Let me finish, why don't you?"

Her eyes narrowed, Bubblestar leaned back again.

"I desperately wanted the three of us to be together. With me in WindClan, Vixenheart in ShadowClan and Vixenfur in RiverClan, we never got to see each other. And it was so lonely." There was a yearning in Vixenpelt's eyes as she continued her story. Vixenfur's eyes were glazed over. "So I..." Vixenpelt paused and exhaled deeply. "I came up with a plan."

Vixenfur's features pulled into a sharp frown and her eyes dragged up to look at Vixenpelt with resentment. "A mouse-brained plan!" she snapped.

Vixenpelt's tail twitched, but she didn't acknowledge Vixenfur. "I wanted ... I wanted to bring all of the Clans together so that every cat could be together."

Bubblestar's eyes widened in surprise.

"I know what you're thinking," Vixenpelt spat angrily. "'How stupid is she?' You don't know what it's like to be the odd one out in your Clan, with cats that you could fit in with so close at hand and—and yet so far away!"

A pang shot through Bubblestar's chest and her mouth opened slightly in surprise. She did know what it felt like. She knew exactly what it felt like. But she'd never thought of going to those extremes to get what she wanted...

"I do," she mewed weakly, her voice cracking. "I know how it feels. But I ... I would never concoct a plan like that, it's—absurd!"

Vixenpelt fixed her with a piercing, unreadable gaze. "Really?" she asked after a long moment. "Has it really never crossed her mind that if the Clans were one you could be with whoever you wanted whenever you wanted?"

Bubblestar's jaws parted, but no sound came out. Had she thought of that? It would be easier, she had to admit. There would be no problem with her and Coyotefur being together. She glanced sideways at the striking tom holding Chipmunkstripe down. He seemed to feel her gaze, and looked up to meet it. Her heart swelled and she looked away.

"It has crossed my mind," she admitted, her voice clear and level. "But it's just one of those fleeting things that you know can never happen."

Shoulders shaking, Vixenfur snapped suddenly, "Get on with the story, Vixenpelt!"

Vixenpelt turned slowly to look coolly at her sister. "I was a young and naive warrior. I thought I could do anything—who hasn't at some point? So I approached my leader about it and asked if she ever considered joining with the other Clans to make one big Clan. She was appalled at the thought, saying 'there's four Clans, and that's that,' not thinking twice about it." Hate boiled in the ginger she-cat's eyes. "I wasn't about to give up, though. In fact, I had more reason than ever to want the Clans to join together. I'd fallen in love. With a warrior from RiverClan."

Bubblestar held back an exclamation of surprise. "Who—"

"Dreamfur. He wasn't deputy yet. Just a young warrior, like myself. He was so nice to me, and I wasn't even part of his Clan. At Gatherings he could make me laugh and awed me with his courage and confidence." Her eyes shone with affection. "I wanted him so badly, almost as badly as I wanted to be together with my sisters. So I went to Hornetstar, the leader of ShadowClan at the time, and told him that WindClan wanted to join with ShadowClan, RiverClan and ThunderClan."

Bubblestar was speechless; her jaw hung open slightly as she listened to the story.

"When I was on a patrol around the RiverClan border, we ran into a hunting patrol. I causally put in that WindClan wanted to join with them and the other Clans; they were also stunned and quickly made an excuse to rush back to camp.

"By the next Gathering, ThunderClan had found out about it too. It was brought up, and my leader was furious. She said she had no such plans, and this produced hostility. When the Gathering was over I was sent to do all of the apprentice's dirty work; it took all night and almost all of the next day for Cranestar to gather herself again and contain her anger enough to speak to me." Something flashed in Vixenpelt's eyes, and Bubblestar suspected it was fear as she recalled the scene. "She asked why I did it and I said I wanted to be with my sisters and with Dreamfur." Vixenpelt swallowed hard. "She went stiff and fixed me with a stare that I shan't soon forget. She took a deep breath and told me to leave her."

"Cranestar was very quiet and irritable in the days that followed that," Coyotefur jumped in suddenly, making Bubblestar jump. "I was only a kit, almost an apprentice, and old enough to remember something like that." He sighed, his eyes shining suddenly. "My littermates and I knew to stay away from her as not to bother her and push back our apprenticing. Although she did make us apprentices only a few days before—before the battle."

Bubblestar's ears pricked in alarm. "Battle...?"

"The hostility of the lie caused the other Clans to attack—not that we didn't have anything to do with it, we were hostile too. In that battle, I tried to speak with Vixenfur and Vixenheart, taking them aside, to apologize. They didn't know what to say..."

Vixenfur suddenly let out what sounded like an attempted growl but came out as more of a whimper. She tried to say something but only a squeak ripped from her throat and then she choked and had to stop. Bubblestar could plainly see the effect on both of the she-cats.

"A warrior jumped on me when we trying to talk, and I threw him off and started fighting him. Vixenheart urged me to stop and set things straight but I ignored her." She chuckled dryly and without amusement; it was a dark and dangerous sound. "She tried to step in physically and tell me I was battling a cat from RiverClan, our sister's Clan. I pushed her away, and the warrior took the chance to slash at her neck." She found she was suddenly shaking, and had to lie down in a failed attempt to steady herself. "There was so much blood," she choked out. "And she died. Right there in front of my eyes. Because of me."

Vixenfur let out another whimper.

"So I lost it and tore that RiverClan's warrior throat apart as viciously as I could..."

"The rest was all a blur," Vixenfur meowed suddenly. "The next thing I knew, and Vixenpelt knew...it was morning and the war was over. It was clear why the battle had started."

"I was exiled," Vixenpelt meowed coldly, the menace back in her and the vulnerability dispersed. "Around the outskirts of the forest I met Chipmunkstripe, who had also recently been exiled for the murder of three cats."

Bubblestar involuntarily swung her head around to face the other she-cat in alarm. Chipmunkstripe smiled back wickedly. "I was too crazy for them."

"So—so why attack the forest?" Bubblestar managed, looking away from Chipmunkstripe.

"I came back for revenge on Barkfang and his family. They were urging Cranestar to throw me out, all disgusted that I had done what I had, and then ended up killing my sister. And I did get my revenge." She smiled crookedly at Coyotefur. "Right, Coyotepaw?"

He snarled, hatred flaring in his eyes. "You are a heartless beast."

"Why come back now?" Bubblestar insisted.

"We got captured by Twolegs and were thrown into this place that they call a 'zoo'. They captured hundreds of other animals and showcased them all off. Then they moved to a new location—here." Something made her eyes bright with darkness. "And I thought it was perfect. I could tell all these stupid animals that they could be free if they did one thing for me. So I found ways out and animals slowly started to escape—and then tonight the hole was big enough for all of the animals and we made our move. To finish the job."

"And you failed," Bubblestar sneered, unease bubbling in her stomach.

The bright darkness sparkled in her eyes. "Did I?" she whispered.

Bubblestar's heart moved like a rock. Everything seemed to be moving suddenly in slow-motion. Vixenpelt let out a piercing whistle and kicked Bubblestar off. Chipmunkstripe slashed at Coyotefur and leapt away from him. Something rustled in the trees around the camp and a large white blur tore through the barriers protecting it. It let out a roar, swinging its head around. Its black nose stood out from its white fur, and it was as big as the lion. Bubblestar's stomach sank to her paws and her breath caught in her throat.

Then she jumped to her feet and ran right at it as time seemed to speed up and everything turned into a crash of blurs—she was yelling at all the cats quickly swelling into the camp as she charged the animal—they were following closely behind her—they were listening to her guidance—

The next thing Bubblestar knew, she was slowly opening her eyes to sunlight filtering in through the medicine cat's den. She scanned the area, and then moved her head and tried to climb to her feet. A sharp pain shot through her and she collapsed again with a grunt.

"I didn't say you could move yet." Honeyclaw's voice rang through her den.

"What...what happened?" Bubblestar asked, panic setting in.

"You hissed and spat and clawed and bit at that thing Vixenpelt called a bear until it clawed right back. You lost one of your lives and have been unconscious for three days," Honeyclaw explained.

The RiverClan leader's heart began beating faster and faster. "Three... What happened after that, is the camp okay, is the Clan okay, and what about Vixenpelt and Chipmunkstripe and that bear thing? What's—"

"Calm down," Honeyclaw hissed. "The camp was left a little broken and damaged but we're working it on it. S—" She paused and swallowed. "Some cats died."

Bubblestar's eyes widened in horror. "What? Who—?"

Sadness shadowed the medicine cat's eyes. "Specklefoot, Otterstream, and Doubletooth. And Ribbonpaw's ear was torn off, but he'll be okay."

Despair washed over Bubblestar. "I missed their burials...?"

"Lots of cats did. Almost everyone was injured or unconscious from both of the battles. Don't feel bad." Honeyclaw's tail-tip touched Bubblestar's shoulder. "You did everything you could to fight that bear. It was noticeably more tired when you were finished with it."

"Thank you," she muttered bleakly.

"I'll get you something for the pain. By tomorrow you should be able to walk around."

And she was. As soon as she woke up, Bubblestar got to her feet and ignored the pain. It was definitely less prominent now. She pushed out of the den and squinted when the sunlight hit her eyes. She looked around. Holes in the barrier were patched up and the apprentice's den had apparently been caved in. Some cats were around it, helping to fix it up again.

Everywhere, cats were limping or licking a wound. It made Bubblestar's stomach twist.

"Bubblestar!" She whipped around to see Ribbonpaw racing toward her, delight shining in his eyes. "Bubblestar, you're okay now!"

Cold claws tore at her heart when she saw the stump on the left side of her apprentice's head. She pushed her head into his flank and murmured, "I'm so sorry..."

Ribbonpaw ran his tongue over her ear. "What should you be sorry for?"

"I let this happen to you..."

"What are you talking about?" Ribbonpaw was genuinely bewildered. "You lunged right for the bear while we all stood and watched in shock. Then you yelled and stuff and we all jumped into action. It was great."

"You lost your ear," Bubblestar mewed.

"Yes," Ribbonpaw meowed, "and?"

Bubblestar raised her head and pressed her muzzle into his. "You're going to be a great warrior, Ribbonpaw. And I'll get on that as soon as all this has been cleared up."

Her apprentice's eyes lit up and his tail swished excitedly. He dipped his head and then ran off to help clean up. She studied him as he raced away. He was a fully grown cat now, not the small kit he'd been so many moons ago. Although it felt like it was just yesterday, Bubblestar thought fondly as she watched him work. He'll be a great warrior.

"Bubblestar, are you sure you're all right?" Dreamfur spoke now, approaching her cautiously. She was glad to see that his straight posture had returned and he was once again holding his head high. She smiled tiredly at him. "I'm fine, don't worry. You're all right?" When he nodded, she was suddenly reminded of Runningsky. Nausea immediately roiled in her stomach. "Is Runningsky—"

"Runningsky was given a proper burial. There's no need to worry," Dreamfur informed her with sympathy in his eyes.

Bubblestar looked down at her paws, her tail drooping lifelessly. "And I wasn't there."

"Don't be ridiculous—"

"I wasn't at my closest friend's burial. My deputy's burial. I missed it."

"There was no way you could have been there, Bubblestar, you were unconscious for three days." Dreamfur licked her ear reassuringly. "I know he's not mad. And you know it too."

"I should have been there," she reiterated, shaking her head.

"Oh, shut up," Nightfur cut in suddenly, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. "Stop with your whining. Runningsky could never really be mad at you, and he certainly wouldn't be for missing his burial because you protected your Clan, and his."

Bubblestar exhaled deeply, grateful for adopted brother's support. She brushed his shoulder with her tail affectionately. "Thank you, both of you." The two toms smiled back at her.

Bubblestar spotted Turtlestorm and padded over to her quickly. "Turtlestorm," she greeted, dipping her head.

"Bubblestar," the older cat responded. "I'm glad to see you're okay." Her eyes shone. "And that you've fulfilled the prophecy."

Bubblestar swallowed. "I did?"

Turtlestorm nodded. "And you did it well. You saved the forest from complete destruction."

Bubblestar looked up suddenly. "Where are Vixenpelt and Chipmunkstripe?"

She shook her head. "They both died. Chipmunkstripe picked too many battles at once. Vixenpelt was trampled by the bear."

Bubblestar was silent for a few heartbeats. "What happened after I passed out?"

"Basically, you had given your orders and everyone was following them. But Coyotefur really stepped up. He somehow managed to fight and bring the injured to the sidelines and lead cats when they got confused. It was amazing, really."

Her heart swelled with affection for the silvery tom. "He is," she murmured. A breeze rustled her fur. "Everything happened too quickly..."

"Sometimes," Turtlestorm meowed softly, "that is the way things are supposed to be."

Was it okay? Was it cheating to skip over that least scene? I thought it was kinda cool. :P Lol I hope you liked it. ;) Please review!