A loud, piercing ringing ran through Russetstripe's pounding head as she opened her eyes slowly. Her throat was dry and sore as she looked around, examining her surroundings. She looked up to see the roof of a cave arching over her, and just when she lifted her head to study the world in front of her, a thick-furred tom with dark gray fur stood right in front of her, his eyes like daggers.
"Who are you, and what do you want?" Russetstripe demanded, lashing her tail furiously.
"Such a brave she-cat, to start screaming at me when she is the one in danger here," growled the cat in front of her. The rogue's voice held a thick hint of danger, menacing and terrorizing, but Russetstripe refused to waver. She held the rogue's gaze, her ears flattening.
"Just tell me what you want," Russetstripe repeated.
"The hidden jewel," the tom snarled. "That is what I want. Hand him to me, and you will be unharmed. Refuse to do so, and I can't promise you'll make it out of here alive."
"And if I say no?" Russetstripe unsheathed her claws.
"Then the entire Iga village will be sent to decimate your entire Clan." The tom swiped his tongue around his lips.
"You know me…?" Russetstripe took a step back.
"Of course I do, Russetstripe of WindClan." A chill ran down Russetstripe's spine as the tom spoke her name. "Iga has spies everywhere, you see. We know everything about you and your Clan. Don't you have a little lover somewhere… in another Clan?"
"Threaten him, and you're the one who'll die here today," Russetstripe snarled.
"If the hidden jewel hadn't come to your Clan, you would be safe," the rogue snarled. "But he did, and there is no turning back. Like I said, give him to us and we will not touch your Clan. But if you don't, every cat you love will die."
"I won't give him to you." Russetstripe curled her lip. Hotaru was a good cat and a loyal warrior. He had assisted in the defeat of Gorseflight and the rescue of Iceheart and Wildheart. He hunted for them in leaf-bare and leaf-fall and defeated many enemies alone. He was a good friend to several WindClan cats, and he loved Iceheart with a passion. Hotaru was a WindClan cat now. And Russetstripe would not cave into Iga's will, that was for certain.
"You care about him that much?" the rogue inquired.
"He's a Clanmate," Russetstripe hissed. "He's earned our loyalty, and Clanmates protect each other. But I don't think any Iga cats know the meaning of loyalty. You do what your master tells you because he brainwashes you or he rewards you. You don't do it because you are loyal to him."
"You're a fool." The gray tom raised his hackles. "Hotaru is not worth dying for."
"Russetstripe!" Two cats shared the yowl, and Russetstripe looked up to see Runningflame and Brambledusk breaking into the cave. The rogue turned on his heel, his eyes wide with shock, and Brambledusk launched himself onto the tom as Runningflame raced over to Russetstripe, his green eyes wide with worry.
"Are you okay?" Runningflame demanded, looking her up and down.
"I'm fine!" Russetstripe gasped. She looked up to see more cats swarm into the cave – but they weren't Clan cats. No, their fur was tattered, their claws were knife-like, and their eyes gleamed with bloodlust. The rogue who had held Russetstripe hostage threw Brambledusk against the rocky wall with so much force that Brambledusk grunted as he hit the ground. Russetstripe raced over to Brambledusk, but the rogue held his claws against Brambledusk's throat.
"Not so fast," the rogue sneered. "Not unless you want your friend's guts all over the floor."
"Let him go!" Russetstripe snarled.
Runningflame's tail lashed back and forth. "You think you're the only cat who's capable of killing?" he growled. "I can prove you wrong."
"I don't care about any of you," the tom hissed, still holding his claws to Brambledusk's throat. Brambledusk glared defiantly at the tom. "All I want is the hidden jewel. He must return home so we can continue our destruction of all the cats in the mountains."
"And then the lake," Runningflame growled.
"Yes." The rogue bared his yellow stained teeth at Runningflame. "But we cannot do that without Hotaru. He was born with a gift, and he has used that gift and turned against us!" He pressed his claws against Brambledusk's throat. "If Hotaru uses his gift for the Clans, then the Clans must die!"
Quick as a WindClan cat, Russetstripe launched herself at Brambledusk and pulled him out of the rogue's way, while Runningflame lunged onto the rogue and rolled with him on the ground. The other cats who had swarmed into the cave threw themselves at Russetstripe and Brambledusk, and soon all three cats found themselves in a heated battle as blood splattered the walls of the cave.
"Why do you care so much about Hotaru?" hissed a pale ginger tom as he leaped on top of Russetstripe, his claws digging at her throat. "Isn't it easier to let him go? To give him to us?"
"You want to destroy us regardless of if we give him to you or not," Russetstripe snarled as she slashed her back claws against his stomach. "Having him on our side in the fight against you will prove very beneficial. And, like I told your leader, he's our Clanmate! We never give up on Clanmates!" Fury furthering her resolve, Russetstripe used her back claws to sink them into the rogue's stomach and throw him off. Just as the rogue hit the ground, Russetstripe leaped on top of him again, but the rogue was fast and kicked her off. Russetstripe rolled over neatly and turned to grab the rogue's throat in her jaws.
If this was a Clan cat, Russetstripe was sure she could break his neck and end it all right there. But these were cats from the village of Iga, ruthless killers who fought without honor. The rogue snapped his jaws at Russetstripe, his teeth landing on her muzzle, and Russetstripe jumped back as they crawled down her throat. Missing the death blow by half a second, Russetstripe felt herself growing angrier and angrier by the second. She pivoted to the side and slashed her claws down the rogue's ears, splitting both of them open. The rogue gave her a grin as blood poured from his wounds and lunged at her again. Russetstripe slipped under his stomach and bit the end of his tail, shoving him back as fast as she could.
Just as the battle went on, a voice, pure and innocent but seething with rage, called out, ringing through the cave and cutting through the bone of every single cat. "Blade! Stop this!"
The fighting rogues skidded to a halt. The rogue who had been fighting with Runningflame pushed him away and yowled, "It's Hotaru! Get him!"
Russetstripe turned her head to see the silver cat standing at the entrance of the cave with Iceheart by his side. In seconds, Hotaru leapt at Blade, throwing him off Runningflame and rolling with him on the ground. Hotaru wrestled Blade down and stared at him with piercing amber eyes. Blade gazed back at him, lashing his tail.
"Come back to Iga," Blade growled. "I don't know what you think you found in WindClan, but if you stay, Saizo will come back and kill all of you. We'll be right behind him. You know Sandayu wants the Clans after he takes over the mountains. Soon, every single cat in every land will be under his control."
"I won't let that happen!" Hotaru exclaimed, his yellow eyes blazing with fury. "I won't let him hurt Iceheart, or Harewhisker, or Scorchstar, or Brambledusk, or Russetstripe!"
"He already has," Blade hissed. "Be on the winning side, Hotaru. Don't become an enemy of Iga. You know what awaits traitors."
Hotaru's amber eyes narrowed. In less than a second, his teeth met Blade's throat, and the rogue thrashed in Hotaru's iron clad grip, but Hotaru did not let go. Eventually, Blade stopped moving, and once the rogues saw their leader's dead body in Hotaru's grip, they turned and fled out of the cave. Runningflame turned on his heel and chased after them.
"Runningflame!" Russetstripe called out. "Come back!"
At Russetstripe's cry, the ginger-and-white tom turned back and headed back into the cave. His fur was fluffed out and his tail was lashing. Russetstripe knew that he wanted to chase after the rogues, but she wanted to let him know that their first priority was Hotaru and Iceheart. Russetstripe dragged her gaze back to Hotaru, who got off Blade and walked away from his dead body. Iceheart stared at Brambledusk, her blue eyes wide.
"Brambledusk…" Iceheart gasped.
"Iceheart." Brambledusk focused his yellow eyes on his niece and padded over to her. The silver-and-white tabby stood still as Hotaru walked over to her. Brambledusk pressed his nose against Iceheart's and let out a sigh. "Oh, Iceheart, how did we get here?"
"I…" Iceheart's voice trailed off.
"Are you okay?" Brambledusk looked Iceheart up and down, and Russetstripe winced as she noticed a long gash stretching from her shoulder to her stomach, crusted with blood and still trickling with more crimson liquid. But she was still standing as she stared her uncle in the eyes. Iceheart nodded.
"I'm fine," Iceheart whispered. Hotaru looked at his paws.
"What were you two thinking?" Brambledusk finally asked, his eye whiskers scrunching. "Running away while your Clan was in danger?"
"I…" Iceheart looked over at Hotaru. "I had to follow him."
"Why did you leave?" Brambledusk swung his head to face Hotaru.
"I can't be around WindClan, anymore…" Hotaru rasped. "I'm… too dangerous."
Iceheart faced Hotaru. "No, you're not!" she exclaimed. "Come back with me, Hotaru. Come back to WindClan. We can fix everything, I swear!"
Hotaru shook his head and walked over to Iceheart, touching noses with her. He met her deep blue gaze, holding her eyes, and Iceheart stared at him. He's doing it again… that gift he has… "Forget about me, Iceheart. You have to go back to your Clan."
Iceheart held Hotaru's gaze, and Russetstripe hitched her breath, wondering if Hotaru's gaze would make Iceheart cave and leave him alone. Every cat stared at the two cats, and no one said a word, completely focused on the interaction between Iceheart and Hotaru. Why isn't it working? Russetstripe thought. Iceheart stepped closer.
"Forget about me," Hotaru repeated.
Runningflame padded over to Hotaru, and with the gentleness of a father, he draped his tail across the tom's shoulders and said softly, "The reason it's not working is because you don't want it to work. It will not obey you if you do not truly feel it."
"I won't leave you, Hotaru," Iceheart declared strongly as she pressed her nose to Hotaru's shoulder. "Wherever you go, I go."
"But I want you to go back to your Clan." Hotaru glanced at Runningflame and then back to Iceheart.
"I'll only go if you come back with me." Iceheart's ears twitched.
Brambledusk dipped his head. "You're a WindClan cat too, Hotaru."
"If I go back, Iga will just try and kill everyone I care about!" Hotaru exclaimed.
Russetstripe clicked her tongue. "They're already going to try to do that, regardless of if you're in the Clan or not. Iga has declared war against us, and we need to fight back. The only way we can do that, Hotaru, is with you. You're the only cat who knows how to fight Iga."
"Come back with us, Hotaru," Brambledusk repeated. "For Iceheart… and for WindClan."
Hotaru exchanged a glance with Iceheart. Then the tom nodded, resolve and determination blazing in his yellow eyes as he squared his shoulders and nodded to both Brambledusk and Iceheart. His gaze rested on Runningflame and Russetstripe for a fleeting second. "Okay. I'll come back."
"Thank the gods," Iceheart breathed out.
"Brambledusk and Russetstripe are right." Hotaru held Iceheart's gaze with his own steel one. "I need to help WindClan face Iga, and Iceheart… I'll come back with you. Because I love you."
"I love you too, Hotaru," Iceheart whispered, her blue eyes glowing. "Always."
Hotaru nuzzled Iceheart's cheek and the two cats purred loudly before the silver tom looked at Runningflame. The reality of the situation seemed to sink in when his eyes widened and he asked, albeit very loudly, "Who are you?"
"I'm Runningflame of RiverClan," the ginger-and-white tabby introduced himself. "I came here to help."
"Why?" Iceheart asked.
For the first time, Runningflame was silent as he met Iceheart's gaze. Then he spoke, his voice calm and firm. "It's the right thing to do." But behind those words were a hidden meaning. Russetstripe gazed at the cat she loved.
Brambledusk cleared his throat. "Well, now that we're all happy, we need to get back to camp. We should be able to get to WindClan territory by dark if we go fast." The pale tabby padded out of the cave after Iceheart and Hotaru, leaving Runningflame and Russetstripe behind. Russetstripe watched as they disappeared into the moorland.
"Did you get hurt in the fight?" Russetstripe asked Runningflame.
Runningflame shook his head. "No."
"How did you know where I was?" Russetstripe tilted her head.
"You think I wouldn't notice when my pretty little cara mia went missing?" Runningflame gazed at Russetstripe, his green eyes intense and burning. "Brambledusk and I followed your scent. Brambledusk… he's a good cat." The ginger-and-white tabby tom sighed. "I hope he can watch over you when I can't."
"Oh, Runningflame." Russetstripe butted her head against his shoulder. "There's no one else for me than you." Russetstripe glanced back at where Hotaru and Iceheart had declared their love for each other. Could we ever do that? In public? Russetstripe wanted to ask Runningflame about their future, about where their love would go. But when she looked at the tom, seeing the confident expression on his face, she knew that behind that mask, he was battling his own demons inside. It's not fair to make him answer such a difficult question. She sighed. She didn't want to hide him any longer. She didn't want to lie to her friends and family about what she was doing at night. The love we have is a forbidden love. It's not pure and clean like Hotaru and Iceheart's, it's wrong in every single way. But I still can't leave him.
"Cara mia?" Runningflame asked. "What's with that frown on your face? You know I like it better when you smile."
"Oh, it's nothing." Russetstripe swallowed the lump of pain in her throat. Some day they would have to discuss it. But not now. Not here. She wanted him to herself as long as possible. She didn't want to ruin what they had. Especially not in front of her Clanmates. "Come on, let's get to Brambledusk."
With their pelts brushing, the two cats left the cave and entered the open moorland. Russetstripe could see Brambledusk waiting for them outside the cave, a slight trace of irritation flickering in his yellow eyes. When they appeared, Hotaru and Iceheart walked over. The two cats looked miserable, and Russetstripe guessed it had taken quite a bit of convincing – and talking – from Brambledusk for them to come to terms with what they had done.
"It's time to go," Brambledusk meowed. And, with that, the tom shot off into the grassland. Iceheart and Hotaru were after him. Russetstripe raced after the cats, with Runningflame at her side. The two cats bounded after Brambledusk with their pelts brushing together and the rules being violated.
As they ran, the sun slowly started to dip into the sky as the WindClan scent line became thick and prominent. The setting sun dappled its golden rays onto the moorland and Russetstripe skidded to a halt, alongside the rest of the patrol. They looked at Runningflame questioningly, and the ginger-and-white tabby tom let out a resigned smile.
"I'll go, now," Runningflame said. "I know the way back home."
"Thank you for coming, Runningflame," Russetstripe told him, trying to act cordial, as if she was not heads over heels for the tom. She gave him a stiff nod, while Runningflame focused his forest green gaze on her. In it, Russetstripe could see all the love the ginger-and-white tabby tom had for her, and it shook her to her core.
Brambledusk walked over to Runningflame and dipped his head. He did not treat the warrior as if he was an enemy – no – there was… something akin to respect glimmering in Brambledusk's eyes. It hadn't been there before Russetstripe had gotten kidnapped. What happened? "Thanks."
"You're welcome." Runningflame raked his gaze over Brambledusk and lifted his head to look at Iceheart and Hotaru. "Stay out of trouble, kids. And do the right thing!" Just before he ran away towards the RiverClan scent lines, he looked over his shoulder, gave Russetstripe a longing gaze, and darted towards the marshland. Russetstripe watched him go, a sigh escaping her mouth.
Brambledusk blinked sympathetically at Russetstripe. He smiled, but it was full of so much sadness that Russetstripe had no idea what to say to him. She just gave him a nod and walked away to join Iceheart and Hotaru. Brambledusk hovered back for a while, but Russetstripe turned her head over her shoulder to see that he was finally joining them.
"Let's go back home," Brambledusk said.