Warriors As Humans!

Chapter Two

So here is Chapter Two! Reply to Reveiws:

Robinwing Of RiverClan - Thanks! I plan to write more chapters, because this is by far my favourite fanfic so far . . . :3

I hope you like the chapter! Oh and i'm really sorry, but hence forth my mum will only let me on my laptop on weekends, so it will take probably about 1 to 2 weeks for the next update. but hey, at least i'm not banned from it all the time! On with the chapter!

Ferncloud grabbed Fox's hand and set off at a frog march, leaving Holly, Jay and Ice to jog behind and try to keep up.

"Wait, Ferncloud!" Holly called.

"Yes dear?" Ferncloud asked over her shoulder, but didn't stop striding through the closely-set trees.

"You haven't told us where we're going."

Ferncloud sighed and slowed to match Holly's pace. The forest here was normally beautiful, with birds singing and sunlight filtering through the trees, but today it was grey and dismal, and full of shadows.

"At the gathering the other night," Ferncloud started, making sure that everyone was listening, "Onestar, the leader of WindClan, threatened ThunderClan. He said that if we didn't give them a chunk of our territory, bad things would happen. Then yesterday, Onestar and one of his warriors, Crowfeather, visited Firestar and said that if the land wasn't theirs by dawn today, they would attack before sunset."

Jay's eyes widened. "So that's what they were doing at our camp yesterday! I thought they just wanted a chat with Firestar," he added sheepishly.

Ferncloud nodded. She stopped by a gnarled tree trunk that looked worn and weathered, and sat down in front of it. The children copied.

"So anyway, Thornclaw had the brilliant idea," she said drily, "That the whole Clan should go hide in the tunnels. I was against it – the tunnels are way too dangerous! I tried to tell them, but would they listen? No. So –"

"Wait," Holly said, holding up a hand. "There are tunnels in ThunderClan territory?!"

Ferncloud nodded reluctantly. "A whole network of them, just under the soil. You could find one, you know, if you looked hard enough – not that I'm suggesting it! But anyway, I managed to get Dustpelt, Fox and Ice's father, on my side, and I thought that he had managed to convince Firestar not to go through with Thornclaw's plan. I must have been wrong." She let out a weary sigh.

A cold knot of fear settled in Holly's belly. "So ThunderClan has evacuated to the tunnels?"

Slowly nodding her head in confirmation, Ferncloud gazed through the trees. "They could be anywhere. Oh, and did I tell about the other part of Thornclaw's amazing plan?

The four children shook their heads.

"No? Well, the tunnels can take you practically anywhere. They could even take you inside WindClan territory. See where I'm going?"

Holly had an idea, but it was so stupid that she decided not to voice it. She shook her head.

"Well, this is rest of Thornclaw's plan: to sneak into WindClan territory before they get home from the failed attack on ThunderClan, and ambush them at their camp."

Holly gaped like a fish. That had been exactly her idea! But how could ThunderClan do something like that? Surely it was against the Warrior Code?

Jay frowned. "Wait a second – if they were so worried about the attack they actually evacuated camp – why leave us behind?"

Reality hit Ferncloud just then; Holly could tell by the look on the woman's face. "Indeed, Jay, indeed . . ." she broke off into un-comprehendible muttering, then got up and started pacing the tree trunk.

"Well, we were all tucked up into corners of the tent last night, hidden from anyone that entered the tent, weren't we? All except for Squirrelflight . . . and she's the only one that isn't here! They must have been frantic, looking for us that morning, and they must have decided that we'd left the camp for an early walk. Maybe they looked for us on the way, but obviously didn't find us, because we were all safe at camp!" Now Holly got up and started pacing. A slight drizzle had started to fall, and her boots left imprints in the soggy soil.

Jay scowled. "But wouldn't they have sent a scout back to the camp to look for us? I just can't see Firestar leaving us behind, no matter how dim-witted he is."

Ferncloud turned a scorching glare on Jay. "Don't you dare talk about your leader like that! Show some respect! As for the scout . . ."

Frowning, Holly tried to think of a reason. The hair lashing her face and neck was soggy now, what with the rain getting heavier by the minute, and Holly really wished she was in the comfort of her lovely warm tent . . . and then it came to her.

"That's it!" she snapped her fingers, and the others stared at her. "They did send a scout, but just at the wrong time. They must have sent it when I was in the tent, hidden in the corner with Ice! And Jay was . . . standing outside in the open, waiting for me," Holly mumbled that last part. She felt embarrassed. Her great speculation had been wrong, and now the others would probably laugh at her. I mean, how could someone not see an eleven-year-old child standing right in the middle of a campsite? They'd have to be blind.

But Jay was shaking his head. "I was on the toilet," he corrected. "They must have taken Lion, though, since he was sitting on the floor having a sulk."

Holly knew that she would be forever grateful to her brother for that, and she tried to show it in the warm smile she gave him. "That must have been what happened," she agreed.

Taking Ice's hand again, Holly helped the little girl to her feet and turned to Ferncloud. "So, where do we go now?" She asked, staring into the forest.

"Well, that's the question isn't it?" Ferncloud wouldn't meet Holly's gaze, making her instantly suspicious.

Jay felt it too, judging by the look on his face. "Ferncloud," he said slowly. "Do you actually know where we're going?"

Ferncloud was silent. All that could be heard was the endless drumming of rain on the forest floor, and the occasional cry of a startled bird. It was nearly lunch time and they still hadn't found their Clan-mates – Holly tried not to imagine what was happening to them at that moment.

Jay was outraged. "How the hell are we meant to 'rescue' our Clan-mates if we don't even know where they are?" he fumed, stomping around their little clearing furiously. "So much for our 'rescue mission.' It's all just a wild goose chase!"

The look Ferncloud gave him was darker than even Tigerstar's heart. "Now, you listen here, Jay," she spat, all attempts at self-control abandoned. "No, I don't know where we're going – we'll just have to improvise, won't we? It's not my fault; not even Firestar knew where a tunnel entrance was! They had to search for one, and we will too! All you have to do is get up off your fat, lazy backside for one and actually do some work! Or is that too much for you?" not waiting for his answer, Ferncloud stalked off into the trees, dragging Ice and Fox behind her.

The sky was even greyer than when they had left camp. Rain lashed the trees relentlessly, and thunder clapped. Holly was soaking. But the rain hadn't just drenched her clothes; it had drenched her heart in a cold, murky wetness. She was grumpy, tired, and hungry, and quite frankly not in the mood for Ferncloud's excuses.

"Now you listen here, Ferncloud," she shouted, marching into the trees after her and grabbing her arm, making the Queen turn and face her. Normally, she tried to respect the woman that had fed them when Squirrelflight's milk hadn't come, but now, standing in this rain-sodden forest, she snapped. "One, don't you dare talk to my brother like that! And guess what? It is your fault that we're lost. You should have asked, for crying out loud!" Now that she had let out some of her steam, Holly didn't have to say anything else; she was contented with the look of shock that had settled on Ferncloud's face.

Ferncloud stepped forwards and raised her hand, as if to slap the ignorant little girl that had just gobbed off at her. She obviously thought better of it. Her face slackened, and filled with a such a deep anguish that Holly suddenly pitied the frail woman before her.

"Dustpelt," she whispered, and her voice, filled with pain, cracked. She let go of her children's hands, staggered backwards and slumped onto the nearest tree stump, her head in her hands. Deep sobs shook her shoulders and wracked through her body.

"Why did he go, Holly?" she asked, her voice as quiet as the breeze that rustles leaves on a hot summer's day. When she lifted her head from her hands, her face was a tear-stained mess, mascara dripping down her cheeks.

"Because he had to," Holly replied softly, sitting next to Ferncloud and giving her shoulder a comforting squeeze. "He did it to protect you, you know? You, and Fox and Ice."

Jay gave Holly a scorching glare. "What, now you're gonna comfort her? Have you forgotten who got us into this mess?"

Returning his glare with double the fire, Holly promptly ignored him and turned back to Ferncloud.

"Look, Ferncloud, I know you're upset," Holly spoke with more firmness now. "But we're never going to find Dustpelt or anyone else just sit here all day and hope for the best."

More thunder boomed in the silence that followed, until finally Ferncloud straitened her back. Her eyes hardened with resolve. "You're right, Holly."

Ferncloud got up. "We're just gonna have to find the tunnels on out own."

After half an hour of wondering around the forest, they eventually came to an old, crumbling fox den. Ferncloud's face became a white a sheet.

"I'm going to need to go in quickly and see if it's a tunnel entrance," She explained, not meeting Holly's eyes. She was trying to sound brave for the children's sake, but there was no masking the terror in her eyes. She was fingering one of the beads on her necklace, like she always did when she was nervous.

Holly found her behaviour odd. Even Fox didn't look as scared as she did. "Ferncloud," she asked slowly. "What's up? It's not because of Dustpelt again, is it?"

Giving a tight smile, Ferncloud leant against the side of the fox den. "No it's not. It's just that I'm worried about our Clan-mates . . ." Her voice trailed off unconvincingly. Then she sighed. "Oh, I guess I better tell you. My mother, Brindleface, she died in a tunnel similar to this one when it collapsed on her." She glared at the tunnel loathsomely, as if silently blaming it for the death of her mum.

Holly gasped. Jay's sightless eyes widened. "Will it collapse on us?! He exclaimed.

Ferncloud looked utterly hopeless. "There's no telling Jay," shaking her head, she repeated; "Absolutely no telling." Then she stood up a little straighter, shaking off her uneasiness. "That's why I'm going in on my own, and you're going to wait here." Her tone was not to be argued with; so of course, Jay started to argue with her.

"No! We're coming with you!"

Ferncloud shook her head. "No. Wait here, and look after Fox and Ice. I'm going in." And with that she let go of her necklace and turned to go.

"Wait!" Holly caught her arm. "Why have you got a cloud on your necklace?" She pointed at the intricate painting of a storm-cloud on the bead Ferncloud had been playing with.

"It's meant to represent the cloud that covered my heart when my mother died," Ferncloud explained, not looking back at Holly. Then with a last "Wish me luck!" she disappeared into the tunnel.

A rumble of thunder and a flash of lightning followed her departure.

Holly's mind was buzzing. When you became an apprentice, the leader gave you a necklace with three plain white beads on it. During your apprentice years, it was your job to paint one thing on each bead, something significant that had happened to you. When it was your turn to become a Warrior, your leader would name you after one of your painted beads, hence the reason Fern became Ferncloud. Holly wondered what her beads would have on them.

Rain pattered on the ground. Fox shivered. Ice stubbed her toe on a tree root and started to wail. But when she stopped, the silence was deadly.

That is, until it was shattered by Ferncloud's terrified scream.