I know I'm always a mouse-brain! I know I'm never social, that I always sit on my computer all day, even though I do Cross country, drama, soccer, and all this other stuff. You don't have to remind me anymore! I know I'm as good as the fox-dung in the woods behind out house! Great Starclan!
Sorry...I needed to vent. I'm just done. I don't even care anymore. Anyway, here's the chapter. Sorry for the rant.
Chapter 41: The Revealed
Shatterbreeze stalked quietly, her eyes set on a fat fog. Its chest puffed out, letting out a slow croak as it shifted in the stump. Shatterbreeze flicked her tail, taking another pawstep. It took some effort, as the ground was a thick, muddy swamp, and she had to un-stick her paws without moving too fast. She used all of her hind muscles to launch herself forward. Her paws hit the slimy amphibian. She dug her claws into it quickly, and the frog lay still.
"Eww. This is gross. Why are we even hunting frogs and lizards? This is-"
Something twitched a few fox-lengths in front of her. Thick, brown fur, with a bushy tail. Squirrel. She immediately fell into a hunting crouch, forgetting the dead frog. She moved carefully. She shifted her weight on her back legs, ready to pounce.
Suddenly, a golden blur flew out from the bushes, catching the squirrel, and Shatterbreeze, off guard. The squirrel let out a shriek as it was clamped in Sunclaw's jaws. Shatterbreeze yelped, stumbling backward.
"Hey! That was mine!"
"Should have been quicker." Sunclaw spoke around the squirrel's snapped neck. Shatterbreeze bristled, unsheathing her claws. She snarled, launching herself at Sunclaw, but he zipped away. Shatterbreeze landed, growling in anger, when she heard pawsteps behind her. Whirling, she saw Robinbreeze, jaws outstretched, ready to silently steal her prey. Oh, no, you don't!
Letting out a battle shriek, Shatterbreeze charged Robinbreeze, bowling her over. The two shes rolled in the mud, tearing each other up. After receiving a few hard hits, Robinbreeze broke loose, sprinting off. Shatterbreeze snorted, picking up her frog and heading toward the border to deposit her catch in a safe place.
It had been two days since the competition began, and today was the final day. Elites and mentors ran border patrols to make sure the apprentices hadn't left Shadowclan's territory, or that no one else would try to move in. A few Windclan warriors helped out as well. The goal, as everyone soon figured out, was to not only catch prey, but hold onto it as well.
It wasn't a problem for Shatterbreeze. She had found a large tree, with an old owl hole where she stores her prey. She carefully picked her way up the tree, settling in her spot. She took inventory: five frogs, now six, along with six lizards and one crow she found picking at a piece of crowfood. She allowed herself to eat the frog she had caught, choking down the odd and revolting taste. Grimacing, she cleaned her face.
She climbed a little higher to her lookout point. From there, she could see pretty far in a variety of directions. On the edge of her vision were Lynxbreeze and Kestrelbreeze, walking slowly and carefully. Wolfclaw was a little to the right, hiding his prey in what appeared to be an old fox or badger den.
A rustle came from below the tree, and a white she cat stepped out, followed by Blazeclaw. Mistbreeze looked around, then smiled. "I can smell her. She's close."
Shatterbreeze smiled as the two cats searched around the tree, then stopped, confused.
"Where did she go? You said you knew where she is and we could raid her!" Blazeclaw snarled. Mistbreeze hissed, swiping at Blazeclaw. Her claws opened up a gash on his forehead. He stood, growling as blood dripped into his eyes. Shatterbreeze had forgotten how shaky alliances had gotten. The only two that were still together were Kestrelbreeze and Lynxbreeze.
Soon, the two split after a bit of fighting, and Shatterbreeze silently climbed down. She flicked her tail, heading away from both of them. She ran for a bit, staying well clear of any scents. She was headed toward the upper corner of Shadowclan territory, bordering Bloodclan. Suddenly, she slowed. The teritory markers veered in a different direction, yet there was more of the swampy territory across the border. It was as if someone had tryied to change the border, or tried to hide something.
What secret are you keeping? Shatterbreeze rolled in a nearby patch of herbs before darting across the border. She dove into the nearest bush, scanning acrefully for any patrols. When no one called for her name, she trotted deeper into the area. A little stream of rainwater bumped and flowed along. She remembered last night it had rained pretty hard, and it got pretty chilly.
A thirst burned in her thoat. Some water would do her some good. As she took one tongue full of water, she spit it out immediately. What was that horrible taste?!
She scanned the water to see if she had lapped any frog-dung or something. The water was a little murky, but looked fine. She wondered what it could be. She looked up-stream. Maybe it had been something Twolegs did. Curiosty pulled at her paws, and she slowly crept along the edge, scanning the water.
Then it hit her. A stench so foul and thick in the air that it seemed to her pelt. A grimace that comes over her face as she attempts to breathe shallow. She begins stepping away from the source, gagging. After taking a second to try to settle the frog in her stomach, she looked up and saw what the source of the decaying scent that choked the air was.
A ragged, torn body.
Shatterbreeze swallowed loudly, her eyes flickering over the body, studying it. A dark grey pelt. Clumps of fur tangled in its claws, as well as bald, dry blood-encrusted patches of its own. A ladder of ribs jutting out of its scarred frame.
Eclipse.
"Oh, Dark Forest." Shatterbreeze stumbled back. Her vision began to twist and turn as she wobbled.
The dead body disappeared, leaving a pale grey wisp on everything. A patrol of cats, with a ghostly, living Eclipse, appears out of the bushes.
"No! I don't want to see this!" Shatterbreeze screams, but she can't close her eyes. "Eclipse, run!" Shatterbreeze howls at the figures, but they take no notice.
Chill growls. "We're here."
Eclipse growls, rolling her neck. It gives a loud pop. "I'm not going anywhere without a fight."
"Then, elder, you can DIE!" Chill snarls, launching himself at her. Bracken and Ripple join in, clawing and biting the old she. Silver hangs back, calling out words of encouragement to the toms, but Shatterbreeze could tell her heart was defiantly not in it. Silver's voice seemed to echo across the small clearing, although her lips never moved. "This could be Emberpad one day, being torn apart. I will not let that happen, ever."
Eclipse tears her claws through Bracken's muzzle before kicking Ripple in the jaw. Cinder jumps in, grabbing the she's tail and giving it a hard tug. Eclipse lets out a yowl of pain, and she's stunned long enough for the others to pin her thrashing form down. Eclipse's thoughts rings out.
"Shatter, if you ever find my body, you now know the truth behind 'The Meadow'. There is a Windclan cat by the name of Halfpaw. She is a Perceivere. Find her, gather the Powered, and fight back."
Chills jaws clamped onto her neck. Blood bubbled and pooled around his fangs. He let go, watching with a twisted smile on his face as she choked on her own blood. Her voice sounded weaker. "I believe in you, Shatterbreeze. Remember me." With her last gasp for air, her eyes fluttered close.
Chill spat bloody saliva on the body. "Let's go." Chill led the cats away, and the scene ended.
Shatterbreeze found herself curled up on the forest floor, sobbing hard. She picked herself up, brushing away the leaf litter that stuck to her fur. She laid her eyes on the body one more time before heading back before she was caught. I will remember you, Eclipse. Always.
