Welcome back to the long long long overdue chapter 13 of The Rise of Swiftstar. I know it's been over two years since I last updated this story, and I'm very very sorry. I've battled with many things and I'm finally ready to continue this. So, hello again lovely people of fanfiction, let's get back to business.
On with the story…
"I hear that she's not really the daughter of the leader."
"Fool, we all know that." The second voice snickers at the first. They're both males by the sound of their voices.
"Yeah but, why take her then?" The first voice asks. His voice sounds slightly younger than the other.
"Because fool we want a reaction, we want to really shake ThunderClan to its core." I realize then that they're speaking of me, and that I'm laying down with my eyes closed.
"You don't need to call me a fool Birchyowl."
"Oh whatever Staghoof." I hear another cat approach, they clear their throat and silence the two warriors.
"Staghoof, Birchyowl, you two need to move, or are we going to have an issue?" The voice is one of a female, but it still sounds strangely powerful and threatening.
"Of course not Creamblossom, go right ahead." The cat enters the den like area I'm in.
"Hello Swiftpaw, I can tell you're no longer unconscious, your breathing is no longer perfectly even. Why don't you try and open your eyes for me?" I open my eyes and I see a large white she cat with yellow markings in her fur, her green eyes gaze at me, laced with pity and what may have been fear, but it disappears quickly.
"Hello, I'm assuming you're Creamblossom?" My voice is raspy and nearly unrecognizable.
"Correct dear child, I would be the head Medicine Cat of WindClan, how's that head feeling?"
"Sore, throbbing, but what else is to be expected?"
In the ThunderClan camp
"Shinestar! You're awake!" Gingerfur's happy voice wakes me even further. I open my eyes to see her concerned face greeting me.
"Hey, did they get Swiftpaw?"
"Um, no, not just yet. Heatherstrike just sent a warrior to negotiate actually."
"Oh? Who?"
"Roughpelt, her mentor seemed best to talk to the other side."
"I should be there to help her, I'm the leader of this clan."
"Shinestar, you only have one life now, you can't go and risk another deadly fight."
Back at WindClan
"Lillystar, hi." Creamblossom enters the leaders den slowly, the grey and white she cat turns to greet the head Medicine Cat.
"Creamblossom," The leader dips her head. "How is the prisoner?"
"Her head wound is shallow and will in no way threaten her life."
"Good, I think_" A yowl stops her from finishing.
"Intruder approaching camp!" The leader runs out of her den, shoving Creamblossom in the process. She looks down at the camp to see a lone ThunderClan warrior enter surrounded by a border patrol.
"Who is this?!" Lillystar yowls down to the patrol. The warrior shoves Milkpaw out of the way, earning a warning snarl from Brownadder.
"I am Roughpelt of ThunderClan, and I come to negotiate about my apprentice, Swiftpaw!" The leader's face goes from defensive to satisfy. Little did the warriors know, the silver apprentice could hear all from her own prison.
"ROUGHPELT!" Swiftpaw's raspy yowl rings out.
"Bring the prisoner and Roughpelt into my den!"
(Now from Swiftpaw's pov)
"You can't keep me here forever!" I growl angrily at Lillystar.
"Swiftpaw, I understand under these circumstances, but I thought you knew better than to disrespect a clan leader."
"Please, I don't want to listen to this mentor-apprentice bickering. What did you come here to say Roughpelt?"
"What do you want in exchange for the apprentice Lillystar?"
"Hm well, I want Shinestar to come and face me, not send some warrior that's been mentoring my prisoner for a mere moon. You may leave now." Roughpelt's fur began to raise on his spine.
"Roughpelt," I interrupt. "I'm being treated well here, being fed, they give me water, and treat my wounds. Please, go back now and return later when Shinestar is ready. I'm sure a few days won't hurt anything."
"Swiftpaw…" He trails off.
"Stop, Roughpelt, go, now." He dips his head at me.
"Lillystar, I guess I'll be seeing more of you soon." My mentor's words are laced with venom, he smiles at me, dips his head and walks out.
"For some seven or eight moon old kit, you're brave, I'll give you that Swiftpaw. You can return to your den now."
"Wait Lillystar, I have a small negotiation of my own."
"Oh?" Her blue eyes seem curious now.
"Yes, so if you want to lessen the wrath of ThunderClan, which we both know will come down on you hard, you'll listen and really listen to my proposition."
"Swiftpaw, spit it out already."
"Listen, I think that it's vital for me to continue training, and I'm sure my leader would really appreciate me not being in some form of isolation, I'd prefer to live in the apprentice den."
"Wow, large demands, let me see. You can move into the apprentice den and go on hunts within sight distance from this camp accompanied by at least one warrior, or two apprentices. That is all I have to say on the matter, remember you are a prisoner here." I nod and turn to exit. "Nope, not quite done yet, Applepaw!" Soon a brown and white tabby tom runs into the den, he smells faintly of herbs and has flakes of leaves on his pelt. "Help Swiftpaw move into the apprentice den." The tom nods and waves his tail at me, and finally get back into the rest of camp.
"So Applepaw," I begin. "Medicine Cat's apprentice?"
"I wish, I would love to train under Mousetail or Creamblossom! I help them all the time, but my real mentor is Jumpingtail. He's really great, if you see him he's the lanky ginger with yellow eyes."
"I see, my mentor is Roughpelt." Applepaw scoffs.
"I hear he is quite mysterious, oh right in here is your new resting place." I laugh and follow him into the odd looking den. Only to find a very familiar brown and white tabby tom, with trademark black ears.
"You." I growl.
"What in StarClan's name are you doing in here?!" He stands and lashes his tail angrily.
"Your clan's leader graciously moved me from a prison cell to the apprentice den, live with it Owlpaw." I snarl at the tabby tom and let my hair raise.
"Oh sure you can sleep in this den but trust me, your stay here will be absolutely awful." I roll my eyes and scoff at Owlpaw.
"Applepaw, where should I nest? The sun is already setting and I don't want to be a bother to anyone else."
"You can take the one next to me, its right over here." He points with his tail to a cushy next lined with mint and other sweet scented herbs, next to it is a brown, dry nest.
"Oh, thank you Applepaw." The yellow eyed tabby laughs and points to the corner of the den and leans closer.
"Don't worry, I have some stuff stashed that you can have." I flash him an appreciative smile and he leans back once again. Owlpaw leaves the den in a huff, leaving just me and Applepaw.
In the ThunderClan camp
"SHINESTAR!" Roughpelt's frantic voice rings through the camp and into Shinestar's den where Gingerfur and Shinestar wait anxiously for news. At his voice Gingerfur runs out and spots Roughpelt in the middle of camp.
"ROUGHPELT! Come now please!" She re-enters Shinestar's den and moments later so does Roughpelt. "So, what is the news?"
"Nothing good I'm sorry to say," The ginger warrior's head drops, "Lillystar insisted upon negotiating with you and only you Shinestar."
"This is ridiculous, Heatherstrike?" The tortoiseshell deputy enters the leaders den.
"Yes Shinestar?"
"Send a messenger to WindClan, tell Lillystar to meet me at the Four Trees in three days."
"Yes Shinestar, of course." Heatherstrike runs out of the den quickly.
In the WindClan camp (again?)
"Goodnight Swiftpaw."
"Oh goodnight Applepaw." I sigh and sink into the nest that I built with Applepaw's assistance. I quickly drift off into a peaceful sleep.
"Swiftpaw?" A soft voice rouses me, I open my eyes to find Ravenpaw looking down on me.
"Oh hey, I think I just had the strangest dream," I laugh. "I was in WindClan." Suddenly I can't breathe.
"You deserve this you ThunderClan fox heart!" Ravenpaw's mouth moves in time with the words, but the voice is not her own. The ThunderClan apprentice den begins to warp until I find I'm in the WindClan apprentice den, with Owlpaw pushing two paws down onto my throat.
"Owlpaw!" I whisper hoarsely. "Please don't do this, it'll start a war, the last thing we all want is a war!" His eyes turn from malicious to amuse.
"You don't get it do you Swiftpaw? That's exactly what I want, it's all that I strive for."
"You're insane Owlpaw, war would destroy our clans!" I look over to Applepaw and his siblings, hope soars into my heart as Applepaw stirs in his nest.
"Swiftpaw? Oakpaw?"
So guys, this is it, I'm back. I wonder if any of my old readers are still on here, guess I'll just have to wait and see. Oh, and to continue an old tradition of mine, I have a question for you all.
Who is your favorite character from the entire series? Please answer in the reviews.
Swiftstar, out.