Blossompaw's Escape
Part Four: The Newcomers
Ten more sun cycles until the second full moon. Blossomfang had ten days to find the Sparkling Stream to cement the fate of Ashclan. After her encounter with Zilla the she cat had given Blossomfang a wide berth of space. In fact she almost seemed to go back to normal, she reconciled with Cookie and wrapped the whole clan around her paw. Blossomfang was trying hard to get over their conversation, but she couldn't stop seeing the she cat as a snake, slithering in the undergrowth of the forest.
Maybe it was all in her head. Sure Echo had said some harsh things, but that was just to stake a claim to Flintmask. Echo seemed loyal enough to Ashclan, she even said she enjoyed the 'setup'. Blossomfang decided just to ignore everything that had happened between them and start over. It was for the good of the clan that it's warriors didn't hate each other. Blossomfang decided to talk to Whisperheart about it, seeing as he was the only other one who seemed off put by Echo.
"Whisperheart?" she said as she walked into the medicine cats den. He was showing Icy how to create a splint for a broken leg, their paws working furiously on bandaging a stick with cobwebs. Whisperheart looked up as he heard his name being called.
"We are working!" the small she cat snapped. Whisperheart gave her a stern look. She sighed and faced Blossomfang. "Sorry," she grumbled.
"No, I'm sorry for interrupting, I can come back later," she chuckled at the apprentices antics. The young she cat had a temper with everyone but her mentor. But she was a fast learner, and might just be the medicine cat the clan would need after Whisperheart's time.
"Lets go for a walk Blossomfang, I can tell you have some things you need to get off your chest," Whisperheart suggested and left Icy alone to her own devices. His apprentice didn't even notice his departure, she was too enamored with getting the splint to be perfect.
When they were out of hearing shot of the camp Blossomfang blurted, "Echo hates me and doesn't think I'm fit to be leader!"
She slapped her tail over her mouth at her outburst. There was a twinkle of humor in Whisperhearts eyes.
"Would this have anything to do with Flintmask?" he guessed.
"How did you know?"
"Echo's been all over him, and I know you were getting closer to him."
"Part of it does have to do with Flintmask...I just get a bad feeling about her though. She seemed so nice at first, but now it's like she's a completely different cat. I can't even explain what she said about Starclan, it was awful."
"You are right Blossomfang, something is very wrong with Zilla. I wish I could tell you more," he said softly, blue eyes thoughtful. He seemed like his mind was somewhere else.
"Have the stars shown you any signs?"
"No more about the Sparkling Stream if that's what you're asking. But something is coming, I can feel it in these old bones."
Blossomfang didn't even bother asking for more details about what Whisperheart had seen. He was mysterious as they came. But she felt some relief by realizing she wasn't alone in noticing Echo's weird behavior. Whisperheart headed back to camp to check on Icy's progress, Blossomfang lost herself in thought. If and when she found the Sparkling Stream she could prove to Echo Starclan did exist, and then maybe she would come to her senses. It was the best shot at least at putting their strange feud behind them.
So once more she plodded into the forest, keen on the search for the answer to all her problems. It was only after she was well away from camp did she realize she was completely neglecting her duties as leader. She wasn't supposed to be running off each day, she was supposed to be encouraging her clan mates and teaching them about the warrior code. When was the last time she'd even checked on their training progress? Astrid had finally started training, and it had completely slipped her mind to ask the young apprentice how it was going.
Maybe Echo was right, maybe she was just some self righteous she cat playing leader. With spirits low she decided to go hunting to clear her mind, and maybe bring back a few squirrels as an apology to the clan. No sooner had she spotted a sparrow nibbling among the grass seeds that it took to flight, startled by an approaching cat. Blossomfang looked up and saw Bugs wandering around, looking lost and slightly miffed.
"Bugs?" she asked with concern. The old Siamese tom glanced up at her with evident relief.
"Blossomfang! Boy am I glad to have stumbled upon you, I'll tell you something, these woods are spooky," he rambled as he sidled up to her. Her whiskers twitched with amusement.
"Spooky how?"
"Well I was just minding my own business, taking a stroll through the trees, when I fell down a hole. The ground just slipped right from under me! I was in this weird cavern, with a big ole creek running right down the middle. I didn't know how to get out of the cave and I was trying to scramble up the wall, but these stiff joints can't do things like that no more. Then I heard these whispers, spooky as I said. They kept mumbling about following the water, so I did and I found my way out of the hole. But I was super lost in the forest and have been wandering for hours-"
Blossomfang cut him off in his never ending description of events.
"Wait, wait. Repeat that part about the creek and the whispers again?" she said quickly. Bugs shrugged without much thought.
"There was a stream and some creepy voices echoing in the cave, that's all I know."
"Did the stream...sparkle at all?" she pressed eagerly.
"Nah, it was pretty murky if you ask me."
"Still, do you remember where it was? I'd like to check it out...for clan purposes."
"I wouldn't be able to find it unless I walked right into that hole again," Bugs said apologetically.
"Oh well, I'll look later. Lets get you back to camp."
Blossomfang rested her chin on her paws, letting out a deep sigh. The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting the camp in a warm glow filtered through gaps in the roof. Bugs was recounting his little adventure this afternoon to the whole clan. She couldn't stop thinking about it. He fell down a hole, found an underground stream, and mysterious voices guided him back out? Either Bugs truly was crazy after all, or he had stumbled upon the Sparkling Stream.
Maybe that's why she hadn't found it, she was looking in all the wrong places. The Stream was underground. But then again Bugs had denied it sparkling at all, he described it as murky. None the less she knew she needed to check it out.
Suddenly Flintmask was beside her, his fur smelling of pine and salty air. She lifted her head quickly, blue eyes on guard.
"Hey Flowerfeet...I mean Blossomfang. Still haven't gotten used to not using your nickname anymore," he chuckled to himself and settled down. She blinked, unsure of how to respond.
"How's uh, training, uh going?" she said lamely.
"Fine, Astrid is making up for lost time that's for sure. Shiverspot's is gonna have her paws full with that one."
"That's great, really it is," she said earnestly. "And how's training Zilla going?"
"Echo you mean, she says that's her real name at least. She's learning really quickly, and she's a great fighter," Flintmask described almost fondly, then his gaze focused on Blossomfang. "But I didn't come to talk to you about training, there's something bothering you."
"It's hard to explain...do you think Foxtooth and Fawndapple will let us stay here when the full moon arrives? Or will the deal be over?"
Flintmask hesitated for a moment before replying. "They haven't made up their minds yet."
"Exactly," Blossomfang said, frustrated. "They aren't sure yet whether or not I'm just some babbling cat spewing off stories about a lost clan. They need to see from themselves, they need Starclan."
"So that's whats got you so wound up lately? Not being able to talk with Starclan?"
"Yes, they stopped visiting my dreams so suddenly. It's like being a kit again, with my mother watching my every move. And then suddenly I'm thrown out of the nursery blinded. I have no idea what to do, I don't know how to run a clan!"
"Echo says as long as we stick together we don't need Starclan to guide our pawsteps..." Flintmask started.
"Of course you'd side with Echo," she spat bitterly, regretting the words as soon as they'd left her mouth.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he fired back. She tried to backtrack but she only came off as more abrasive.
"It just seems like you are wrapped around her paw...sometimes."
"Well maybe I should be talking to Echo then instead of you!" he retorted and stood up, shaking moss off his orange and ashen pelt. Blossomfan's eyes eyes widened and settled down into a scowl.
"Fine. See if I care," she declared with a humph of finality. She curled into a tighter ball and faced away from him. She heard him pad out of the den and back to where the clan was sharing tongues before everyone would settle down for the night. How could I be such an idiot? She thought bleakly. I just chased him right into Echo's paws, now I've lost my best friend.
Not wanting to stay in the claustrophobic den any longer she stepped out of it. It seemed like all eyes turned to her, except Flintmask didn't even lift his head. She nodded curtly before slipping out of camp and dashing into the forest. Shadows danced in her vision as night fell rapidly. Her heart beat hammered against her chest, sending blood pumping through her veins. She forced her legs to move faster, carrying her through the maze of trees. She was blinded by embarrassment and hurt. Echo was right, Flintmask didn't care about her - that was perfectly clear.
She shook her head, trying to clear away the persistent thoughts. Instead she focused her attention on keeping her paws moving. She reached a steady tempo of running, wear she was just on the brink of pushing herself too hard. It reminded her of when she fought with Chance, way back when they had escaped from the testing facility. They fought and Blossomfang did what she knew best, she ran.
And now she was running again, far away from her problems and fears. She wondered what would happen if she just kept running, if she never stopped again. The clan would remain a distant memory and she would run fast enough to evade Ashstar and Adderfang visiting her dreams. But instead of continuing to run she slowed her pace until she was at a light jog, then she stopped all together. Collapsing on the ground she let out a sigh of defeat. Her lungs were begging for air after so much exertion. After she had finally caught her bearings she stood up and walked a few paces in the direction she thought camp was facing.
Then the ground fell from underneath her.
Sorry this update has been so slow. I accidentally deleted this chapter and had to rewrite it, urg. Anyways tell me what you think in the comments! Surprised by Flowerfeet and Flintmasks fight?
