Chapter 19

Ashwinter and Honeymallow had been held captive by Scourge for two sunrises now. He had changed both their names—Ashwinter was now Misery and Honeymallow was Panic. ' Traditional BloodClan names' Scourge had informed them. Neither understood why they were chosen as RiverClan's payment to BloodClan.

" Can you just tell us, please and thanks?!" Honeymallow burst out on the third day.

Scourge's eyes seemed to well with pain.

That's weird, for a BloodClan cat to show emotion like this. Ashwinter reflected.

" I…it's so hard to explain," the small black cat began, " please do not think badly of me when you hear it."

Honeymallow rolled her eyes. " Whatever. Just tell us and we'll all sleep easier."

Scourge took a deep breath. " I have been monitoring your camp for moons. First I saw you, Misery. As soon as I laid eyes on you, as much as I hate to admit it, I was lovestruck. I didn't know you at all, but your beauty entranced me. Especially your eyes. You seemed to have a certain grace to your movements. Then I saw Panic. I admired your golden pelt, and I noticed you seemed so kind and perfect. I had not decided what RiverClan's payment would be then, but when I saw you two, I decided immediently. Bone told me I should chose only one of you to take back to BloodClan. But how could I when I loved you both? Tigerstar reluctantly allowed me to choose you two. So I told Leopardstar that I had not yet decided what to take from her."

" In other words, you lied." Honeymallow interrupted.

" Well, I feel bad about it now, Panic," Scourge replied.

" Is that all you have to say?" Ashwinter spat, thoroughly disgusted.

Scourge's yellow eyes locked with her blue.

" No. Not quite. I have to tell you the most difficult part still. I chose you two because together you would have been the perfect mate."

Ashwinter snorted. " Yeah, well, we can't magically morph together, so I guess you're out of luck."

Honeymallow nodded her agreement. Scourge flicked his tail.

" Well, let's just say I will miss out on half of my dream. I have decided to let Bone choose one of you for himself. Whoever he does not pick I will take as my own mate."

" Oh, no way. No way." Honeymallow hissed.

His eyes clouded. " I'm sorry. It just wouldn't be fair to either of you…"

" When is Bone going to make his choice?" Ashwinter asked.

" Today or tomorrow. It's up to him," Scourge replied.

Ashwinter grunted angrily and whirled around. She padded back to where her nest was, just outside the big blue thing Scourge slept under. Honeymallow shot an indigent look at the black cat before hurrying after her friend.

" He has nerve, that's for sure," Honeymallow muttered.

" I know. Great StarClan, if he or any other BloodClan cat calls me 'Misery' one more time, I'm going to take them all down myself so we can go back to our Clanmates," Ashwinter agreed so Scourge couldn't hear.

Ashwinter picked at the assortment of leaves, grasses and Twoleg garbage that made up her nest.

" Ashwinter…" Honeymallow warned.

" What?" she snapped.

Honeymallow kept her calmness. " Please keep you temper under control. We need to think about this for a minuet."

Ashwinter stopped shredding her nest. " Fine. But I honestly don't think there is any way around this," she meowed. " And my temper is not a problem!" she added.

" I agree, I don't think we can get out of this. We have to look on the bright side," Honeymallow reasoned.

Ashwinter snorted. " What bright side?"

" Well, we have found toms who love us for us, unconditionally. Maybe we should embrace that fact, because I don't think any cat is coming to save us." Honeymallow meowed.

" They hardly know us, Honeymallow. How can they love us?" Ashwinter asked.

" I see why Scourge renamed you Misery. Stop it with the sadistic persona, will you?" Honeymallow pleaded.

" I don't get yours though. Panic doesn't suit you very well."

" Maybe it's because I am nervous all the time." Honeymallow suggested.

Ashwinter thought for a moment. " I guess so."

" Anyway, we are going to have to make the best of it."

" Yeah…I suppose so. You know, I don't think anything in my life has ever gone right."

" You mean, your parent's lies, your father killed your brother, you killed your father, you hate your mother, you're half-Clan, we got stolen and now we face the weirdest and possibly most awkward situation?"

Ashwinter nodded. " Yup, pretty much."

Paw steps sounded behind them. Scourge and Bone appeared from around the corner of the blue thing. Scourge fixed his eyes on the ground.

" Panic, Misery…Bone has made his decision."