Chapter 22: It's Such A Mystery!
Hollystar couldn't quite grasp the meaning of Darkpaw's appearance in her life. They were both black with amber eyes. That didn't normally happen. In all her life, she hadn't met two cats with the exact same pelt and eye color. Unless it was someone's kit, or siblings, that didn't generally happen. Hollystar would've loved to go to the moonpool to speak to StarClan about it, but she didn't have the time. Unless Blaze or some other cat without a mentor was willing to help him, which she was sure no one would be, Darkpaw would be on his own for the day she would be gone. For some reason that fact alone scared her.
"Hollystar?" It was Cloudbreeze. What the medicine cat was doing up so late at night, Hollystar didn't know.
"Enter." Hollystar ordered.
Cloudbreeze slowly stalked into the den. Her eyes were clouded with worry and fear. She constantly looked behind her, even with the small space within the den, "I'm worried about Nightpaw. Something's wrong."
"What could possibly be wrong?" Hollystar questioned, "I thought you had her wounds healing quickly."
"That's the problem." Cloudbreeze whispered, "They heal a bit, then get worse. And she's talking nonsense. About some 'mother'."
Hollystar's eyes widened. Blaze had said 'mother is coming'. Is this was he meant? Was his possession only the first wave of attacks on her Clan? Or was Nightpaw's words another warning? She thought back to when Darkpaw had been Cat. So far, in the few days he had been here, he had somehow gained the respect of most cats. Even if he did kill Crackfoot.
"Hollystar?" Cloudbreeze's mew jolted Hollystar out of her thoughts, "Is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine, Cloudbreeze." Hollystar growled, "Now, go to sleep or tend to Nightpaw. I don't want to deal with all of this right now. It's late."
Cloudbreeze hesitantly nodded and turned to walk away.
Hollystar sighed when her medicine cat left. If Nightpaw was sending signs, if Blaze had been sending signs, this was a lot more significant than she thought. It all started when he came to ShadowClan. All of the pain her Clan had been put through. Crackfoot's death, Blaze's possession, Darkpaw's sudden anger when Nightpaw was attacked. It didn't make sense. How could one little apprentice change the way her whole life turned out? It made her angry just to think about it. But she couldn't do anything. She couldn't stop the rising fury of the spirit ruining her life. She couldn't stop the fact the Darkpaw was most likely the cause of all her troubles.
"Hollystar..."
Her head snapped up at her name, knowing the voice came from her head.
"The angel has come. And he is breaking all of StarClan's rules."
Hollystar growled. One thing she couldn't stand, was when a mouse-brained cat thought he was above StarClan. StarClan was the Clans' main source of protection.
"Stop him."
That order was all she needed. Hollystar smirked devilishly. She was raised for this kind of mission.
I woke up, with the moon still shining bright and the warmth on my back still there. I suddenly had a very bad feeling in my bones. I groaned, because I don't like bad feelings. That usually means something dramatic is going to happen. Can't I have a normal day for once?
My thoughts were disrupted by a giggle from the life form next to me. I knew she was still asleep, but I glared at her anyway. Even when she can't say anything, she's annoying as hell. Ha. Demon joke. Anyway...this was going to be a very long apprenticeship. Unless I can break Nettlepaw's happy streak I'm stuck with this thing attaching herself to me every night. Before you get too curious, my strange and explainable emotions from the night before had indeed vanished. I was back to being my normal not-caring-at-all self.
Then I caught a strange scent. It was sort of like how a rogue smelled, with a hint of blood and fear. Definitely a cat. Most likely a she-cat. I sniffed again. The smell somehow gave me the exact location of this strange she-cat. And I could tell she had black fur. Amber eyes. A constant thirst for blood.
And she was humming the lullaby.
I quickly scrambled to my paws. The sudden warmth on my back disappeared. For a heartbeat, I missed the warm heat and wanted to just lay back down and soak up the comfort, but my curiosity for this strange she-cat was overwhelming. I hadn't exactly gotten a proper tour of ShadowClan territory, but that didn't exactly matter right now. I could smell my way back. It seemed all of my senses had increased immensely.
I followed the scent to the lake. You know, the one where I almost died. Where some cat had decided to save my life. I still don't know who that was...Anyway, I followed the scent to there. No she-cat. No cat at all. My immediate thought was that it was a trap. I looked around, sniffed for any ambushers. Nothing but the she-cat. She must be pretty confident in her skills to think she could beat me. That, or she didn't know me.
"Whoa..." She spoke. Well, whispered. But I can hear everything in the world anyway.
I looked behind me to find the carrier of the voice. It was...practically me...in she-cat form. Same pelt, slightly sleeker on her. Same eyes, a bit darker color with hers. Just...different gender. It was kind of like Hollystar and me, but you could tell we were different because she was older. A lot older. With me and this she-cat...it was like we were born from the same mother. But that couldn't be true. Opin had only given birth to me and Joann. And Opin wants me dead. I don't know why.
"Whoa..." I repeated. Then I shook my head free of any mystic trance of disbelief.
"Is this some kind of joke?" She growled.
"I don't know, are you sent here to mess with my brain?" I growled back.
"Of course not!" She spat, "I follow my own rules and my own orders!"
"Oh...another bragger...perfect."
"What do you think I'm bragging about?! Last time I checked, I was about to attack you."
"I didn't feel anything. No claws ripping apart my flesh and me screaming out in pain. Or see anything for that matter, until you decided to open your mouth."
"I was whispering. How did you even hear that anyway?"
"I'm Supercat. You haven't heard?"
"No, in fact, I haven't." Her eyes widened, "Wait...you're one of those rogues from the twoleg place near here, aren't you?"
I growled and shook my head, "I used to be. But now I'm not. Those mouse-brains can go die for all I care. They've endangered me enough already."
She smirked, "Just because you've stolen my pelt and eyes is reason enough for me to kill you." Then she leaped.
I smirked right back, relieved at the chance to fight someone without the regret of taking their life. She seemed strong. Her scent gave off power. Not to mention her little she-cat muscles. As our claws clashed, I slowly felt fear rising within me. And her. She obviously wasn't used to being matched in skill. I have to admit, I wasn't expecting it to be this hard to beat her. Then again, a lot of weird things are happening to me.
As we both ran out of breath, I backed away, "Perfect." I murmured, "Just amazingly perfect." It was more of a growl. I hated it when I was overpowered. By a she-cat no less. I'm not usually bothered by gender differences, but it was quite obvious that toms were superior in fighting skill than she-cats. It was a fact of life.
The she-cat growled at me, "You are the first cat who has ever matched my skill." Her voice was neutral. I held back a laugh and continued glaring. But you have to admit it was funny that she was angry at me. I'm not really used to cats being angry with me. It doesn't happen. They're usually quivering with fear.
"Not my fault I'm a demon." I smirked, and slowly stalked closer to her. I wanted to conduct a test. To see if she was like other she-cats I had contact with. To see if she became so flustered that her black pelt turned a slight shade of red, "Then again, maybe it is." I laughed at my own joke. It's funny because I had chosen to follow that stupid mouse into that stupid lake.
She remained silent as I grew closer to her.
Then I remembered why I had decided to track down this doppelganger she-cat in the first place, "What were you humming before I found you?"
Her eyes slightly widened. Surprise. Fear? That's what I scented anyway, "It was a simple lullaby," She mewed, "though I have no idea how you heard it."
"I already said I was a demon, didn't I?" I hissed, not really meaning to hiss. I just really wanted to know where she heard Opin's lullaby. Her weird, crazy, murderous, lullaby, "Just please...where did you hear it?"
"I was simply passing by a place where the forest was dark, and I heard it." She replied, not giving much enthusiasm into her answer, "Quite a catchy song, don't you think?"
I got closer to her face, still interested in my little experiment, but focused on the lullaby, "It is something you do not want to hear around me. Most likely you will die."
The she-cat laughed. Really. Evil. Laugh. I hate those things. Unless I'm the one laughing. Then it's okay.
"I can't die." She grinned, "I've survived millions of battles. More than you can imagine. More than you could ever take in your entire lifetime."Then before I knew it, I was pinned to the ground. The she-cat was grinned like a madman, "Good night, sleep tight, hope I gave you quite a fright." Then she smiled that smile that I use so often. She definitely wasn't like most she-cats. She was deadly and scary and just like me...without the whole Opin fiasco.
"Oh...you did." I replied coolly. She struck my neck for the death blow. I guess it's too much to hope for no more drama. I'm dead again.
(you like that cliffhanger I did there? Yeah...I did that on purpose. Because I feel like torturing you. It sucks not knowing what happens next right? Well, this is what you get humans, for coming up with these unexplainable things.)
Broken of Towering Trees - Here is your present. I hope you like it. If you think something needs changing with her personality or something just let me know.
This is the longest chapter I have written. 1,800 words. Usually it's 1,500 or something. I feel so proud of myself. And I also hate myself for leaving this on such a wonderfully tragic point. Don't you love me?
-Moon