Okay, I wish to hear no complaints on the length of this chapter! This is nice and long. 2,745 words. However, it does suck. No, I'm not degrading myself, it's a fact. Featherpaw was being EXTREMELY difficult to write and just would not cooperate. The sentences are choppy and the word choice is awkward. I'm not sure why, but I got super stuck writing this. Meh. Next chapter will be better, and I leave you with a fantastic cliffie! Review answers!
starbomb: tis indeed a sad tale of woe, is it not?
Ashheart15: tehe *evil laugh* we shall see. I am infamous for being hard on my characters, am I not? I doubt it shall be that easyyy xD
Random Falcon: THANK YOU! Ah gosh, reviewers like you warm my heart! And yes, both Dark and Lion are aware of Raven's twoleg past :)
Raintail of RiverClan: hehe, thank you. It was really boring compared to this chapter!
Viper3332: Maybe, maybe not xD And good job on restricting your reviews! *hands Rosepaw plushie*
Silvertail of Shoreclan: Tis was :/ Oh well, I hope I made up for it with this one. And Rosepaw will not commit suicide, I promise!
XxBlazestormxX: PLOT CHANGE indeed xD What will crazy monkey do next? Will Thornpaw turn murderous? Will Ravenwing become a kittypet? Will Featherpaw return to Shadowfur? WHO KNOWS?
The Endless Hourglass: Wow, congratulations! I am so happy for you!
Sierra of the Stars: Your long awaited action has arrived my good friend :)
TearStainedAngel: she is a lucky little duck. But you have mee :')
Darkflight of DeathClan: Oh no no, it's okay! I was wondering where you went though xD Names are coming soon!
Juniperleaf of BlazeClan: Don't you just? I think it brings her character more into perspective
Mistyflower68: You are most certainly welcome :) It can? Well, that just warms my heart!
kingszey: that is true!
Galefire: I don't know, she just went bonkers on me. Really hard to write, I just love her so much. Thank you so much for the compliments :D Just made my day!
Snowflower3618: No, no! I meant metaphorically, she's kind of drawn away from her kits since Darkflight's death. You know, painful memories and all that jazz.
Sparrowclaw of ThunderClan: Here is your update! And again with that word, ALMOST. I will make you cry, actually cry, if it's the last thing i do!
Spottedflame: I know, it's awesome, and i hate you for it xD I miss him too :'(
Blitzhorse: hello there! I saw all your alerts and was wondering when you were going to review this story! Thank you so much for your amazing compliments and the overall amazingness of your review! And you're australian? that is just Awesome! As for your question...tehe, I'm not telling! That would just give away the whole ending xD (which is epic on many proportions). Thank you for reviewing and welcome to the familia! *huggles and hands Ravenwing plushie*
Continuing!
Chapter 23
Featherpaw
Hard ground. Dusty paws. Dry throat. Watery eyes. Cold, piercing wind. Flattened whiskers. Freedom.
Featherpaw was running. Her long legs moved gracefully, carrying her slender body easily. She had already covered most of the ground. She needed to get there, fast. Featherpaw urged her paws to move even quicker.
It was time to initiate the first step of their plans. Featherpaw tilted her head back to check the sun's position, relieved to find it was only sunhigh. She would be there soon. Featherpaw was going home.
At last, the jumble of rubbish cans and broken down houses came into view. The young apprentice gave a huge sigh of relief, slowing and flattening her wind-blown fur with rapid strokes of her tongue. As she approached, a warning caterwaul rang through the air, and a dark tom slunk through the shadows to her side. His orange eyes gleamed at her and a low purr sounded from his throat.
"Welcome back, Feather," Snake sneered. Featherpaw glared at him, claws sliding out instinctively.
"Take me to my father, Snake," she hissed, fur bristling and eyes narrowing to elegant blue slits. "Unless you wish to join Spot." Bile rose in her throat as she said those words, and Snake flinched and drew back.
"Very well," he spat. Featherpaw struggled to repress the horrible images threatening to flash through her mind. She hated what she used to be, and what she had to become for the next few minutes. Snake led her through the long, winding alleys. Cats withdrew at their presence, eyes widened and narrowed with combined fear and hatred.
At last, they arrived at Shadowfur's huge box. Featherpaw shoved her way past Snake and glared furiously at the guards. "You know who I am, mouse-brains. Let me past, or suffer the consequences," she snarled. The guards exchanged hesitant looks before drawing aside. Featherpaw stalked past them angrily, fur bristling.
Shadowfur's den was just as dark as she remembered. Featherpaw felt her skin crawl at the sight, flashes of innocent blood spilt going through her mind. Shadowfur's dark blue eyes gleamed at her from the center.
"Welcome, daughter," he meowed mockingly, standing. Featherpaw glared at him, sitting and wrapping her tail around her white paws.
"I wouldn't mock me, Shadowfur. I have important news," she threatened in a low voice. A voice that didn't sound like Featherpaw. No, she needed to be Feather right now. Just plain Feather.
Shadowfur tilted his head curiously, meowing "Oh?" in a faintly interested voice. Feather wasn't fooled. She knew his tricks, the ways he manipulated words to his advantage. What he didn't know was she had learned as well.
"Yes. Send your cats out and we can discuss it," she purred in a silky voice. Shadowfur froze, eyes confused for a split second before he wiped all emotion from them.
"Very well, Feather," he growled. Three cats that had been lurking in the shadows slunk out, casting Feather hate-filled glares. Shadowfur began to pace, and Feather could see his fur was bristling. "Continue. Why do you choose to come crawling back now, dearest Feather?"
Featherpaw tossed her sleek head, examining her sharp claws in the dim shadows. "You gave me three moons. I decided in one. Those Clan cats are fools, and will crumble under your authority," she hissed resentfully. Shadowfur nodded, sitting again.
"Good, I knew you would see reason. So, when the time comes, you fight with us," he purred. Feather nodded, pushing away the urge to sink her claws into his throat. She wasn't stupid. He still had two cats hidden in the shadows. She'd be dead before she got two steps close.
"I must return now. I'm in enough trouble as it is. Ravenwing's brats are covering for me, but they can only do that so long," she spat in a disgusted voice. Shadowfur nodded, approval shining in his dark eyes.
"You have made the right choice." Feather turned and trotted out, blinking in the sudden harsh light. Snake tilted his head questioningly, and she gave a nod. He stepped aside and let her pass without another word.
It was after sunset when she finally trotted into camp, exhausted and carrying a few pieces of prey.
Thornpaw hurried up to her, eyes carrying the distraught look they'd had since Rosepaw's episode a few days before.
"Well?" he hissed under his breath. Featherpaw could only nod, staggering over to the prey pile. He followed, supporting her with his strong shoulders. He helped her to her nest and as she curled up, she gave him a grateful glance.
"Thanks," she rasped before setting her head down and falling into a dark sleep.
Dawn light was spilling into the cold den when Featherpaw awoke. Rosepaw slept across from her, mewling with fear at an unseen phantom. Featherpaw remembered her telling of the nightmares she suffered from, and wondered what hell she faced when she closed her eyes.
Standing, Featherpaw stumbled over to the young she-cat, wrapping her body around her. Featherpaw began to clean her ears gently, crooning sweetly all the while. She had dim recollections of her mother doing the same when it rained, or when she was sick. Soon, Rosepaw fell silent and seemed to sleep more peacefully.
Thornpaw stuck his head in, stopping short when he saw Featherpaw and his sister. Featherpaw jumped to her paws, stammering excuses and picking her way around the sleeping apprentice.
"No, it's okay," he mewed, raising his tail to stop anymore apologies. Featherpaw was surprised. "Thank you, for helping her. The nightmares are becoming more frequent. I don't know what to do," he sighed. Featherpaw was struck by how old he seemed. His eyes, once so joyous, were tired. His broad shoulders drooped forward.
"You are already doing everything you can," Featherpaw purred, brushing past him and out to the clearing. Ravenwing waited for her by the gorse tunnel, as well as Gingerstrike and Fernstep.
Featherpaw watched as Ravenwing and Fernstep fell into a comfortable pace beside each other. The two she-cats chatted about old times, telling stories and laughing. Featherpaw wondered at their easy friendship.
Featherpaw had always been curious about Fernstep. The queen's gold eyes always had a ting of grief to them, a shadow darkened since Maplepaw's death. Featherpaw cringed with guilt at the thought.
They suddenly came to a halt. Featherpaw gazed around, realizing they were in a clearing near a little stream. "Ravenwing, what is it?" she asked. Gingerstrike looked just as bemused as her. The two older she-cats gazed around, eyes glowing softly.
"Darkflight," Ravenwing murmured.
"Stonepelt," Fernstep whispered.
Featherpaw exchanged an utterly confused glance with Gingerstrike, wondering what had come over her mentor. Ravenwing turned to face them, eyes glowing softly.
"This is where it all began," she purred. Featherpaw was not only sincerely bemused, but also a little scared. Beside her, Gingerstrike was gaping at his mother, eyes wide.
"So, this is where you first found Ravenwing?" he asked excitedly. Featherpaw turned to him, realizing he had also lost his mind.
"And where I first saw Darkpaw…and Stonepelt," Ravenwing murmured. Fernstep remained silent, eyes closed as she soaked the memories of the little glade. Featherpaw remained silent until they began to move again, noticing Ravenwing's lighter step and Fernstep's waving tail. A trip to the past seemed to have rejuvenated the she-cats.
When the patrol had finished, Ravenwing asked Featherpaw to hunt a little before returning to camp. Obediently, Featherpaw set off into the forest, though her muscles still ached from the long run yesterday. She had managed a good cover story by asking her mentor to hunt all day, from dawn to sunset. Ravenwing had accepted it and had asked no questions when Featherpaw had stumbled into the clearing.
Now, Featherpaw made her way towards Four Trees, hoping to find some prey before moonrise. As she neared the great trees, an unwelcome scent drifted with the wind.
Featherpaw opened her mouth, lifted her head, and pricked her ears. Her whole body was on high alert as she strained to make out the scent again.
WindClan. Growling low in her chest, the young apprentice crept through the undergrowth, following the scent as it grew steadily stronger. The shadows camouflaged her tortoiseshell pelt and she was careful to keep her eyes half-lidded, not wanting a gleam to give her away.
Baiting her breath, she called on all her training to keep her hidden as she snuck up on the enemy.
At last, hushed mews reached her ears and a glimpse of a pelt through the bushes alerted her to the WindClan patrol. Peering through the intercrossed branches, she found a terrifying sight.
Cloudstar crouched in front of what seemed to be all her warriors and apprentices. The moonlight bleached their fur silver and they were discussing the battle strategy.
"…behind, burst in, and demand the territory we need. The cowards will agree immediately," a brown tabby tom hissed. Featherpaw barely kept herself from clawing his ears off. Impudent piece of fox-dung, she thought with disgust.
"ThunderClan are braver then you give them credit for, Gorseclaw," a blue she-cat retorted, gray eyes flashing dangerously.
"Yes, Skypelt, we know. Ravenwing is the greatest fighter the clans have seen in seasons, Leafstar's battle strategies are legendary, all that mouse-dung," Gorseclaw sneered. Skypelt stood, forepaw raised threateningly.
"You will show respect to your elders," she spat, ears flattened. "I have seen more battles in my lifetime than you ever will. Over-confidence ruins even the greatest of warriors."
Gorseclaw looked away sullenly, muttering about ThunderClan and sniveling mice. Featherpaw had heard enough and turned to creep away. Just as she was about to break into a sprint, two cats slunk from the shadows, eyes gleaming.
Featherpaw's eyes widened, and she unsheathed her claws. The warrior she recognized as Rainstep. And the apprentice…her stomach plummeted. Blackpaw.
"I'll sound the alarm," she threatened. That gave them pause. In Blackpaw's eyes, she saw the agony of indecision. She wanted to beg that he let her go, but couldn't ask that he betray his Clan like that.
"We'll kill you," Rainstep growled. Featherpaw barely bit back a gasp of disbelief.
"You wouldn't kill me. Warriors don't kill," she meowed, a note of desperation entering her tone. Rainstep let out a mirthless laugh, reminding her painfully of Shadowfur.
"Oh really?" he purred. Featherpaw's eyes darted around, searching for an escape route. Then, an idea slid into her mind, one of Ravenwing's lessons.
If you can't go around or under the enemy, go over them.
Sheathing her claws, Featherpaw crouched low. As she expected, Rainstep mirrored her move.
"Come get me," she hissed. The warriors gave an angry snarl and charged.
"Featherpaw!" Blackpaw yowled, eyes wide with horror. Featherpaw leaped forward, building momentum until she was only a tail-length away. Then she jumped.
There was a simple beauty of hanging in the air, even for a split second. When her paws left the ground, Featherpaw closed her eyes and felt the wind whistling past her. For a split second, all troubles fell away and she was lost in the feeling of being able to fly.
Then her eyes snapped open and her paws hit the ground again, behind a shocked Rainstep and beside an awed Blackpaw. "Going to have to catch me!" she called as she burst into a sprint, pouring her heart into her legs as she ran to warn her Clan.
Behind her, light paw steps ran also, and fear filled her heart. WindClan were fast, the fastest in the forest. She wasn't sure she could beat a determined WindClan runner trying to bring her down. Featherpaw pushed her legs to go faster and faster, telling herself that one pace faster and she would fly. She just had to run faster.
Then she heard the paws miss a beat, followed by a huge oof. Twisting her head, she saw that Blackpaw had tripped over a root. Purring with amusement, she realized WindClan cats were used to running in open moors, not through undergrowth. All the better for her.
At last, the moonlit clearing came into sight, cats sleeping peacefully. Whitefoot, who sat sentry, gave a startle yowl as she sprinted past him. "WindClan! WindClan!" she caterwauled, pulling to a halt and yowling the word over and over until the warriors began to pour from the dens.
"WindClan!" she panted, legs trembling. Leafstar approached, Ravenwing at her side. Her green eyes were narrowed with fury and a snarl erupted from her.
"Ravenwing, bring all the warriors and apprentices. We shall make Cloudstar pay for her foolishness," she growled, turning and stalking to the entrance. Featherpaw fell in step with Thornpaw and Rosepaw until she was called to Ravenwing's side. "Show us where you saw them, Featherpaw," her mentor murmured.
The young she-cat nodded, and the walked in silence. Featherpaw was impressed by their stealth. A huge band of cats should make noise while walking, but from these warriors, there was not a breath of sound. Only Snowpelt and the elders had stayed behind.
Featherpaw halted them when the gorse came into view. "WindClan is just over there," she whispered, gesturing with her tail. The foreign scent was overpowering.
Leafstar nodded and signaled with her tail. Blackfur, Grayclaw, and Lilyspeckle broke off from the group, slinking with the shadows.
Leafstar strode through the bushes, head raised proudly. "Cloudstar!" she yowled, authority, power, and anger in that one word. "Stop this foolishness!"
The white she-cat sat in front of her warriors calmly, showing no surprise at the leader's sudden appearance. Featherpaw and the rest of the warriors stayed hidden.
"Really, Leafstar, you're losing your touch. If you expect to beat me with simple words, then you're very wrong," the icy she-cat purred. Her eyes glinted with greed and power.
Leafstar growled, her claws sliding out. Beside Featherpaw, Ravenwing sucked in a deep breath.
"Again I say it. You are a fool, Cloudstar. You think I came here on my own?" she snarled. She raised her tail and the ThunderClan warriors stepped through the gorse. Cloudstar's eyes widened.
"WindClan, attack!" she screamed, leaping towards Leafstar, who echoed the battle cry. "To me, ThunderClan!"
Featherpaw surged forward, eager to rip some fur. Above, the moon still smiled down on the grim scene and the cold stars gave no sign they saw what was happening.
Featherpaw slammed into a young cream she-cat, whose blue eyes glowed with hatred. "ThunderClan scum!" she spat. Featherpaw snarled and raked her claws down her face.
"I think you got the clans mixed up!" she growled, swiping her paw under the she-cat's, who tripped and fell. Featherpaw leaped on top of her, raising her claws to inflict some serious damage until the cream cat squirmed from under her.
"Slow, just like all ThunderClan cats!" Petalfur jeered. Featherpaw raked her claws down her face again.
"Get your facts right, mouse-dung!" Leaping forward, Featherpaw threw her whole body underneath the warrior, rolling until she was on top and biting down on her shoulder. A glow of pride filled her for a brief moment as she remembered how long it had taken her to perfect that move. Petalfur broke free and ran off, wailing.
Featherpaw looked around, aching for a new fight. Echostep was handling two warriors with ease, her agility superior to even the WindClan cats'.
Rosepaw and Thornpaw fought side by side, Rosepaw easily scoring her claws down the tom's flanks and face. Thornpaw pinned him and gave him a warning bite to the ear before jumping off and letting the beaten warrior run away.
Featherpaw turned back to the battle, praying she wouldn't have to fight Runningpaw or Blackpaw. The battle was beginning to turn in favor of ThunderClan, as the WindClan cats fled. Leafstar and Cloudstar still fought each other, both covered in blood but untiring.
Featherpaw suddenly caught sight of Gorseclaw, fighting a tired Jaypelt. Lunging forward, she remembered what the tom had said about ThunderClan.
"Still think we're cowards?" she screeched, raking his stomach with her hind legs. Her forepaws dug claws into his shoulders and she bit down on one of his paws. The warrior gave a scream of agony.
Satisfied, she let go and watched as the brown warrior fled, ears flat and whimpering in pain.
Just as she was spinning to find a new warrior, a bone-chilling wail rose above the clamor of battle.
Featherpaw spun to find Ravenwing's head bowed over a bundle of bloodied silver fur.
Ooh, who is it do you think? Anywhoo, announcement time!
So, I updated my profile picture. If you wish to see the real Darkflight, just go to my profile and see my handsome little tom.
There are three cats in this story based on real cats in my life. Here they are!
Darkflight: In real life, he is Atticus Finch, my own kitty.
Gingerstrike: In real life, he's my neighbor's cat who visits us from time to time. His name is Cheddar.
Echostep: Also my neighbor's cat, we don't see her as much as her brother, Cheddar. Her real name is Ms. Otto
And that is all folks! Oh, and I'm playing hooky today, skipping school. Just a fantastical day, I think! And it's my brother's birthday! He's turning 10!
~Ciao, Monkey!~