I padded back to camp without Shadow- He said he would meet me back at camp. I was still shocked that Shadow had acted so coolly when I told him I was not tribe-born. Who would of thought? I pushed the thought to the back of my head- I had duties to do. The tribe was waiting my the rock pile when I arrived- No time to waste. I hurried over and scrambled up the rocks. "Okay." I began, trying to force back my grin. I could not. "Crag, would you lead a border patrol? Take any cat you want. But head for the..Uhhh... Water border. And, Petal, same for you, but go towards the dead tree. Echo and Wolf, please lead hunting patrols. Go to the usual spots. Echo, you take the To-Bes- They could us the training." Echo glanced over her shoulder hesitantly. "All five?" She asked. I nodded. "Wolf, you take the remaining cats."I finished, and hopped off the rocks. My belly grumbled. I was heading for the pile when Stoneteller padded over. "Ah, Raven. There you are." He greeted me. I grinned. "Hello." I responded. "I think Dark and Sandy are ready to become full tribe cats." I purred happily. "They do deserve it." I agreed. "When should I asses them?" Assessing To-Bes sounded exciting- All I had to do was casually offer to take them on hunting patrol, then a border patrol, to asses their skills. If I think they are good enough, they become full tribe cats.
"Tomorrow." Stoneteller decided. "Great!" I meowed. With that, Teller turned and padded off. I continued to the prey pile. It was low. I remembered the mouse and seagull Shadow had brought me, and my heart ached. I grabbed a scrawny fish and sat in the shade. Prey should be returning back now that its White-Water. I thought. "Raven!" I looked up to see Swoop padding over, a grin that lit up her eyes spread across her face. "Hi!" I called, swishing my tail in greeting. "Come sit." She sat beside me. "I have exciting news." Fang and Swoop had recently become mates, so that could not be the news. "Okay. What is it?" I prompted, finishing the fish. It hardly took an edge off my hunger, but I tried to ignore that and focus on Swoop. "You won't believe it!" She gushed. I waited. "I'm expecting Fangs kits!" That got me on my paws. "Kits? Swoop, thats amazing! I'm soo happy for you!" I yelped like a To-Be. Cats turned. The few closest congratulated her, while the rest of the camp came over to see what all the fuss was about. "Oh my!" Echo purred. Echo had left her patrol with Wolf and came back early. "Darling, thats fabulous! Come, come, lets go make you a nest in the nursery!" I laughed happily as Swoop protested. "Alright, alright." Echo sighed, finnaly giving up. "Well, while we're all gathered here, I have some news, too." Echo meowed. Her tail swished happily. "Kits! I'm expecting Wolves kits!" I gasped. More kits? Was it possible? "Whats going on here?" I turned to see Stoneteller approaching. "K-Kits!" I stuttered. "Two litters!" I watched the Healers eyes light up. "Kits? This is wonderful!" He exclaimed, looking ready to race around camp like a hyper kit. "Go help Wolfs patrol hunt!" He ordered. "We will need extra prey for this!" I nodded and raced out of camp.
"Isn't this great?" Crag asked. It was almost night time now, and the whole tribe was feasting- Wolfs patrol had returned with more than enough prey to feed the whole tribe- Including Shadow and Daisy. It was the first good meal I had gotten in weeks. I had given the mouse and seagull from Shadow to the To-Bes, even though he told me to eat one of them.
"The kits?" I asked. Duh. "Yeah. It is." Crag smiled, satisfied with my response. "How 'bout you?"I asked, trying to be polite. "Of course." He responded. "Its great for the tribe." Before I could ask him what 'great for the tribe' meant, Fang pulled him away, leaving me alone. I sighed. My mind was spinning. The day had been crazy. Suddenly, I caught Shadows grey pelt out of the corner of my eye. And what about Shadow? Had he forgotten about asking me to leave? "Raven, can we talk?" I was not at all surprised to hear Shadows voice. Of course he had not forgotten! He was Shadow, after all. "Okay." My voice wobbled. The handsome tom nodded swiftly and led me sneakily out of camp. Once on the beach, he started talking. "Have you thought about it?" He whispered to me. I shook my head. "Okay." He sighed. "Shadow.. I can't leave now. My tribe needs me. After the kits are born, i'll bring you my answer." His eyes lit up. "Okay." He purred. I changed the topic. "How much longer are you and Daisy here for?" Shadow sighed. "Daisy said she's done. We'll leave tonight, she said, if possible." My shoulders slumped. "Oh."I breathed sadly. "I.. I wish you could stay." He shook his head firmly. "No. I would distract you from your job." I had to agree. "We should go back." I decided. "I have to assign the night patrol." Shadow nodded. "Let them walk us out." He offered. I agreed it was a perfect idea. So it was settled. I assigned the night patrol to Starry, Petal, Stripes, and Wing. I wanted to go, but Stoneteller insisted that I stayed in camp and got rest- I would assess the To-Bes at dawn.
"Okay, follow me! And stay on our side of the border!" I called to Sandy and Dark. It was a little bit past dawn, and we had already covered half of the eagle territory. We called it that because it was known to see eagles roaming the skys here. Probally because it was one of the best places to hunt.
Teller thought it would be the perfect place to test Darks Tribe-Gaurd skills, and Sandys' Prey-Hunter skills.I admit, it might be a little dangerous, but sometimes dangerous is okay. "Dark, keep your eye out for eagles." I reminded the tom. He flicked his tail in acknowledgment, his eyes scanning the sky. I turned to Sandy. "Look for prey." I told her. But the little she cat was already stalking a seagull, her sandy pelt blending into the the beach.
The prey reminded me that little prey can be found her, unlike the No-Fur place. I shuddered. With Swoop and Echo in the nursery expecting kits, both due in a few moons, the tribe needed more prey than ever. A squawk, quickly caught off, jerked me from my thoughts. I turned to see Sandy holding the seagull looking smug. "Great catch!" I exclaimed. Sandy dropped the bird at my paws. "Thanks!" SHe purred proudly. I opened my mouth to speak, but the shadowy figure of an eagle caught my eye. I slowly closed my mouth. Should I say something? No. I decided, staying silent. I would let Dark figure it out. A few minutes pasted. In which, Sandy discovored a pool of fish, covered by a dead bush, as if some one had just came and dumped dozens of fish into the pool. Sandy and I caught as many as we could carry, before placing the bush back in place. I promised to send out a patrol later to catch more. Just as I was saying we head back, Dark whispered. "Eagle!" Sandy froze. Every kit has to learn what to do when a eagle approaches- Freeze. No sudden movements, no loud talking. If it dives, run.
"Lets head back to camp." I murmured, hardly moving my lips. With out waiting for agreement, I picked up Sandys' seagull, letting the two To-Bes take the fish. We began slowly shuffling through the sand. I could see the rocks that surrounded the camp. It seemed so far away. Suddenly, the eagle shot down with a loud screech. I squeezed my eyes shut. Tribe of Endless Hunting, protect us! I prayed silently. The large bird screeched again,this time sounding excited. That was it. "Run!" I yelled, taking off. The To-Bes did not hesitate. letting out yowls of horror, they fled along side me. The back of the camp came closer. I pressed harder, tail streaming in the wind. "Wait!" Sandy Yelped. I skidded to a halt. Dark had stopped and was staring up at the eagle. "What are you doing?!" I Barked. Fear and anger entered my voice. "You'll get us all killed!" Dark glanced back calmly. "No." He responded simply. "This is what I trained for." I gulped, but made no move to save him. The eagle would leave. It had to. But it did not. It kept streaming down. Finnaly, at the last moment, Dark shot his paws into the air and grasped the birds wing. It let out a screech of anger, but did not give up. It easily shook the To-Be off into the sand and readied itself for a fresh attack. Dark struggled to his paws and faced the bird again. "You don't scare me!" He yowled boldly. This is bad. The eagled rose up a few feet, and dove. "Sandy!" I screeched, digging my claws so hard into the sand, they hurt. "Go get backup! Hurry!" The she cat nodded and raced off, kicking up sand in her wake. I watched her till she disappeared from sight. Then, without thinking it over, I launched myself at the eagle. "No!" Dark, who was struggling to hold onto the wing, groaned. Why? I'm helping you! I told him silently. The eagle stopped struggling and eyed us back and forth. Finnaly, it turned its white head back to me and cawed. Dark gasped. My stomach dropped like a stone. He tossed Dark brutally off, sending him skidding in the sand. I tried to hid my fear and kept my teeth gripped onto his wing. Dark, recovered, snapped directions. "Don't hold on with your teeth! Use your claws. Would you rather loose your teeth or a claw?" I gave him a quick nod and dug my claws into the feathers before unlatching my jaw. The eagles eyes narrowed. It tried to fly upwards, but was slow and clumsy and only made it a few feet before it stopped, screeching in frustrations. I gulped. The bird started flapping-Hard. It did not move. Ha. I felt a wave of satisfaction. Got you! But I realized, once it was too late to tighten my grip, that the eagle was trying to shake me off. I yowled as my claws slowly unlatched from the feathers. I might only be a few feet high, but I would still get injured if I fell. As my last claw came undone, I prayed I would land in the water. With that, I shut my eyes tightly and waited. I expected to feel pain in my head first, because the eagle had dropped my backwards, but instead I felt unbearable pain on my back. I opened my eyes and screeched. The eagle had not meant to drop me- It had grabbed my in its talons. I struggled. "D-Dark-!" The more I struggled, the tighter the grip caught. "Hold on!" The To-Be yowled. He sounded so far away. Darkness tinted at the edges of my vision. A sudden peace fell over me. I should just stop fighting it... "Raven." I jerked my head up. The pain flooded back. I groaned. "Raven, hang on." It was Mouse Ears voice. I looked around for her, but she was no where to be seen. "Mouse Ear? Are you here to welcome me to the spirits? I'm ready." I mumbled. "No." The voice whispered in my ear again. "You have so much to live for, dear one. Fight it..." The voice drowned away. She was right. I did have much to live for. "Hang on, Raven! I'm coming!" Through the blackness, I saw Dark sprinting across the beach. "No.." I gasped. He seemed like a black blur. The last thing I saw before I allowed myself to float away into the darkness was Dark dragging the eagle down to the ground, and the yowls of other cats... So many cats... Its only one eagle. I wanted to tell them. No need for backup! "Raven!" The screech was the last thing I heard..
"Is she dead? Healer, please! Help her! Help her!"
"I've done all I can, Starry."
"No! Healer, please! Please, i'm begging you!"
I listened to the sobs. Who where the talking about? I should help whoever it is. I am the Healers To-Be, was I not? Wait.. Who am I? I tried to lift my head, but only to stop as pain shot through my body. Oh. It was me who had gotten hurt. The memories from the eagle attack flashed back. "Umppghhh!" I grunted, opening my eyes half way. The sobbing stopped. "Your alive!" Starry screeched. I did not respond. Why was everything so bright? Oh, thats right. My eyes have been closed. "Raven? Raven, say something." Starrys whiskers tickled my nose as she leaned in. "I...Need.. Moue Ear.." I explained quietly. Where was my mother, anyways? Wasn't she worried? Maybe she's out looking for prey. "What? Raven, Mouse Ear-" Starry began, but a new voice cut her off. "Starry, don't pester. Making her believe against something she has said can damage..." I di not hear the rest. "Did I save Oak from the eagle?" I wanted to know. I tried to sit up but Starry pushed me down. "Yes. Yes, you did." That was the new voice. I craned my neck to see an old tom. I bristled. "Who are you?" I snarled. Starry muffled a gasp. I glanced at my sister. Did she know this tom? Could he be are father?
"How is she?" A tight voice asked. I turned slowly, so I would not hurt myself, and saw a handsome grey tom in the doorway. I purred. Why had Starry not told me about this tom? "Starry? Who is this tom?" I asked. The tom gasped, looking shocked and hurt. "You.. She.. What... No!"I was surprised by the toms outburst. I tried to stay polite, though, like Mouse Ear taught us. "I'm sorry. Am I supposed to know you? I'm sure my mother, Mouse Ear, will straighten this all out when she comes back-"
"Raven." The tom knelt beside me. I tried not to shrink away. "Raven, its me. Shadow." I smiled uneasily. "Oh.. Yes, of course. Uh.. Shadow! Hows.. Your kits?" I was making a wild guess that a tom as handsome as Shadow had kits. Shadow looked hurt. "I.. I don't have kits." He whispered. "Oh!" I exclaimed, embarrassed. "Sorry." I shrugged and turned back to Starry, fighting away tears. Who where these cats? What where they doing here? Wheres Jay, Oak, and Willow? "Shadow. May we talk?" Starry asked. The tom nodded, glancing at me one more time. I looked away, uncomfortable. I did not know this tom. And yet... "Raven!" A voice, thick with happiness, jerked me out of my thoughts. Another unknown cat burst through the entrance. "Swoop, don't-" The old cat, who Starry had called Healer, tried to warn, but the she cat ignored him. "Raven, your awake!" The cat, Swoop, I guess her name is, exclaimed. I narrowed my eyes. "Has Mouse Ear invited the whole NoFur camp over to our little camp by the river, or something? Because I don't know these cats." Swoop froze. "Don't.. Don't know me?" She whimpered. Healer stood up. "Swoop, please. It will take her a few days to recover from shock. Eagles are brutal things; shes lucky she lived." The cats left the room. Did that eagle hurt me bad? I wondered. I glanced over my shoulder, wincing slightly, and saw deep cuts linning my pelt, making me look like a tabby. Oh, no.. My tail was weird. It seemed to be half its normal size.. I'm imagining it. I decided. I laid my head on my paws and closed my eyes.
"Raven." I blinked open my eyes. "Oh! Mouse Ear! There you are!" I purred, smiling up at my mother. "I was wondering where you went-" Mouse Ear sighed. "Please, dear, listen. This may not make sense to you know, but in a few days time, you will understand." I shut my jaws and nodded for her to go on, slightly confused. I tried not to let it show, though. "You must go with Shadow. After Swoops birth, and Echos, of course, you will understand." I smiled. "Oh.. Mother.. Shadow.. I-I don't even know him, Mother. Go where with him? I don't want to-" Mouse Ear shushed me. "Just remember this, dear one.
The kits held in the paws of a great warrior will grow and flourish. But the kit raised in the paws of death and injustice will bring terror to the tribes..
"Ahh!" I woke, gasping. Birds tweeted outside. The sun was shining. But the dream.. I shuddered. "Oh. Your awake." I noticed a small cat in the corner. As she turned, I realized her eyes where grey. I shuddered. She was blind. Poor thing. "Hello." I greeted the kit. "Who.. Are you?" The kit hesitated before answering. "I'm Holly." She said finnaly. "I'm.. a Friend of Starrys." I gazed at Holly suspiciously. "Starry never said-"
"Raven!" Starry padded in. "Hey, Holly!" She gave the little she cats ear a lick. Holly flinched away and patted at Starrys nose with her tiny paw. "Mo-om!" She whined. I froze. "M-Mom?" I stuttered, staring up at Starry, who gazed back, looking slightly worried. "Starry, thats amazing! Congratulation!" She relaxed. "Thank you." Starry responded lightly. "Holly, go out, would you?" The kit nodded and bounded out. "So." I purred as she settled down beside me. "Whose the father?" Starry shook her head. "I donno. I found them, under a bush, by the place Mouse Ear di-" She broke off. I gasped. "Oh! How sa-"
"Raven, thats not what i'm here to talk about." Her voice was sharp. I quieted. "I just want to know.. What do you remember about the eagle attack?" I pondered that for a moment. "Well.." I started, slowly. "Oak and I where hunting by the river, and he saw a eagle. I told him to stay still, but then it dived. Oak attacked it, but almost got carried away, so I attacked it, and it grabbed me in its talons, and then you, and Mouse Ear, and Oak, and Willow, and Snake-" Starry cut me off. "Snake?" Her voice wobbled. I nodded. "Yeah. Our dad. Anyways, I heard them yowling and then..." I shrugged. "Darkness." Starry nodded slowly. "Okay. Thank you. One more question. What do you remember about Snake?" I laughed uneasily. "Remember? Starry, hes still alive. Hes just outside the den, I bet-" Starry lashed her tail. "Answer, please." I blinked. "Right. Sorry. Well, I know that once left with Jay, but then they came back the next day, and-" "I see." Starry meowed quietly, her voice wobbling. "T-Thank you."
"Starry! Can we talk?" I turned to see Swoop poke her head in. I glared at the she cat. She was still here? Where the other ones, too? Starry stood up. "Of course." Starry responded. "I left you some prey." She added, turning to me. I noticed a bird laying at my paws. "Thanks." I ate the bird quickly, and tried to sit up. I grinted my teeth against the pain that pulsed through my body, but it was no use. I flopped back down, gasping, my sides throbbing. "You okay?" The 'Healer' was standing in front of me. I shrugged. "Yeah.." I mumbled. Why should I tell him? "Good. I'm sorry, I never introduced myself." He extended a paw. I snorted. He looked hilarious. "I'm Stoneteller. I'm Mouse Ears... Dear, dear friend."
"Oh." I relaxed. That sounded okay. "Well, then, can you find Mouse Ear for me? I haven't seen her for awhile." Stoneteller nodded. "Of course. But first," he added, picking up berrys and wrapping them in leaves. "Eat this, please." I glared at the herbs, recognizing them immediately. "Poppy seeds and Honey-Leaves? Why? The poppy will only sooth my pain, and the honey-Leaves.. Well ,they just taste good." The tom smiled. "Good with herbs, I see? Eat." He dropped the herbs in front of me and padded to the back of the den where he grabbed a paw full of moss, and soaked it in a small pool. As I chewed the bitter herbs, I told Stoneteller about Snake. "You must know him, of you know my mother." I told him. "Snake taught me all about herbs." The tom smiled. "I would like to meet him someday." Stoneteller murmured, placing the water down beside me. "Now." He turned away. "Get some rest. Hopefully, we'll see you tomarrow, Raven that Flys at Night." I was too tired from the poppy seeds to try and make sense of his words. With a sigh, I drifted off into sleep.
A moon passed. I tried my best to get to know these cats, but it was hard. The only cat I got comfortable around was Shadow- He was so nice! And he seemed to know so much about me. Stoneteller checked on me plenty of times a day, asking if I 'knew anything' yet. I answered the same every time. "I know a lot, Stoneteller." He would just sigh, ask me if I needed anything, and then leave. I spent most of my time sleeping or thinking about the dream. I could not figure out what she had meant, 'You must go with Shadow'. I asked Shadow about it, one morning. He stopped smiling and got this faraway, secretive look. He did not answer for awhile. Finnaly, he had mumbled 'I don't know' and left.
I opened my eyes and breathed in the fresh morning air. Sunlight streamed through the entrance. I thought about going back to sleep, but then I remembered. The patrols! Scrambling up, I made a dash for the entrance, only to fall back onto the ground withering in pain. "Raven..?" I looked up and saw, through my pain, Swoop. She looked uncertain, like she did not know if she should be her or not. "Swoop..!" I gasped, groaning in pain. "Am I glade to see you! I.. Forgot about my wounds!" The she cat relaxed. "Oh! Thats right! Here, let me help you." Together, we managed to get me back to my nest with minimum pain. I realized that I was in Tellers den. In a part that I had rarely been in- The medicine den. I groaned. "Am I that bad?" I asked Swoop. She eyes my back. "Afraid so." She responded, nodding. I glanced over my shoulder, which was a mistake. Pain shock through me, making my fur prick. "Oh." Deep scares lined my back, shoulder, and even a few on my paws. But the thing that shocked me most was my tail. It had a stumpy end insteand of a pointed one. And it seemed just the slightest bit shorter. "My tai!" I gasped. This did not make sense. Eagles did not bite. Swoop nodded sadly. "When the eagle finnaly let you go, you fell onto a bunch of dumb NoFur stuff, and cut your tail open. Healer was worried it would get infected, so he took it off." I gulped sadly. Suddenly, Swoop burst out. "Oh, Raven, I missed you so much!" I gave her a funny look. "I.. I've been here the whole time, right?" Swoop shook her head violently back and forth. "No! It was like... You weren't you! You were talking about wanting to see Mouse Fur, and Oak, and Jay, and Willow, and you seemed to.. Have forgotten us... And.. And.." I tried to remember the past few days. It was fuzzy, but I could make it out. "Oh! Swoop, i'm so sorry!" I gasped. "I.. I just.. Miss my parents so much! And Jay... And Oak.. And Willow.. I just, couldn't face it that they weren't there to help me." Swoop nodded. "Its okay." She meowed. "Swoop? Raven?" Starry was standing in the doorway, grinning. "Oh, I missed you!" Starry exclaimed. Soon we were all laughing and talking until Stoneteller raced in, a wild look on his face. "What is it?!" He demanded. That only made me laugh harder, though. "Whats so funny?!" The leader growled. I took a deep breath and stopped laughing. "Sorry, Stoneteller." I meowed to the tom. Relief took over his expression. "Raven, your back!" He purred. "So I've been told." I snorted dryly. Swoop laughed. Starry stood. "Swoop and I should go get some prey." She meowed. Swoop nodded and heaved herself to her paws. "She's right." Swoop agreed. I noticed her huge belly. How long has it been since she announced she was expecting? I tried to remember. But the last few days where kind of a blur, so I could not tell.
Once they left, I thought about the last few days. If I had had any important dreams over the last few days, I needed to know about them. Then, it hit me. Of course! The dream from Mouse Fur! I needed to leave with Shadow after Swoop and Echos birth.. But why so soon? Was it because of the prophecy? The kits held in the paws of a great warrior will grow and flourish. But the kit raised in the paws of death and injustice will bring terror to the tribes.. I shuddered just at the thought. Whose kits? Would they be mine? The kit raised in the paws of death and injustice... Just thinking about it made my fur prick. Shaking myself, I considered going back to sleep. I would just have more dreams. I decided. So instead of going to sleep, I looked around the den. What could I do... Suddenly, Stoneteller barged in again, hodling a wad of cobwebs. "Hi, Stoneteller!" I greeted the old tom. He nodded back. "Hello, Raven." He rasped briskly. "How are you?" I shrugged as has he came over to apply fresh cobwebs to my wounds. "Fine. Just bored." Teller laughed. "I understand. The good news is, you should be able to leave the den by tomorrow! The wounds won't be healed, but-"
"Oh!" I broke the tribe leader off excitedly. "I'm so glade! I'm so ready to get out of this den!" Stoneteller nodded. "I should hope so. You've been in this den almost two moons." I let my shock show. "T-Two months? But.. But Swoop! Isn't she due about now?" Teller nodded. "I'm just starting to get the herbs ready for her and Echos births." I nodded slowly. "Of course." I was about to ask further about them, but then I remembered. "Dark and Sandy!" I gasped. "Did they pass?" Stoneteller smiled. "I don't know. Thats for you to decide, Raven. You did assess them." I nodded. "Of course. Umm.." I added as Teller stared at me intently. I thought about how well Sandy had found prey, and caught it. And how she had discovered the fish pool. And how Dark spotted the eagle. And Sandy.. Who ran to get backup even though she knew it was dangerous to go alone. And how Dark attacked the eagle bravely to protect us, even though it could mean death. "They passed." I said finnaly. Stoneteller dipped his head. "They will be happy to hear this. They have been anxious to see you, you know." He added. I purred happily. "Bring them in, would you?" I asked. Healer nodded and left the den, returning shortly with Dark and Sandy. As soon as they saw me, they raced over and started purring. "Raven, are you okay?" Dark gasped. I laughed. "Oh yeah. Totally. I just only almost died, thats all." I tried to make my tone light and playful. Fortunately, they both laughed nervously. "I..I'm so sorry that had to happen! Its.. All my fault!" Sandy whispered, her eyes wide and sad. I beckoned her closer. "Its fine. It was NOT your fault. In fact, you helped me! You ran to get help, even though it was dangerous alone. And, Dark," I turned to the black tom, who also looked guilty. "Dark, you fought the eagle bravely, and when you couldn't fight anymore, you helped me be brave till the very last second." The To-Bes ears perked up. "Really?" Dark purred. I nodded. "In fact, I've decided that its about time you two become full tribe cats." They squealed. "Really? Thank you!" Sandy gushed. I dipped my head. "Of course." Stoneteller padded up next to the To-Bes. "The ceremony will take place tomorrow night." He added, glancing over at me for approval. This gesture confused me. I did not have the right to have a say in this. I was only his To-Be.
"Well."Stoneteller purred, standing up. "I can see you both have an exciting day tomorrow, so you should get some rest." I agreed. After the To-Bes left, I laid in my nest awake for awhile, before finnaly letting myself fall asleep.
I woke into my dream with a feeling of forbidding in my throat. "You.. You can't!" Whose voice was that? I could not tell. All I could see was leaves. I was in a bush, eavesdropping, without even meaning to. "Yes, I can. Face it, Blossom. You can't control me anymore." Blossom?! I struggled to see who was talking to her, but the bush held tight, keeping me captive. "Please! I raised you! You.. You can't!" A laugh followed Blossoms words. "You are not even my mother! You let me live on a lie, Blossom, my whole life, and you think i'm just going to let that slip by?!"
"Yes." Blossom whispered. "Your littermates did, didn't they?" The other cat, a tom, cut her off. "My littermates are weak! They live in a fairy tale where, no matter what happens, they're okay with it!" Blossom sounded choked up. "Please..."
The scenery faded and I opened my eyes, glade the dream was over. But I did not see the Healers den. I saw the huge walls that surrounded Shadows camp. Oh, no. I stood up and looked around. The place was deserted. I could smell the faint sent of Blossom and the tom. They had been here. I realized. But.. Who was the tom? Why had Blossom raised him, if he was not even her son? Why was his sent so firmilular? Suddenly, a tom burst through the entrance, wrestling with another tom. I could not get a good look at either. "Face it, father! I am your kit! Nothing you can-"
"No!" The other tom snarled. "I know your my son. But I can't believe you would do this! You know how much you've hurt your mother?!" The other tom laughed. I finnaly recognized him as the tom who Blossom had been talking to. "Mother? As far as i'm concerned, I have no mother!" The tom Blossom raised shoved the other tom away. Just as he was going for the death bite, a pretty she cat raced in. "Stop!" She snarled. The tom froze. "Sister." He greeted her, drawling out the words. She flinched visibly. Then straightened. She was going to try and reason with him. "Please, don't do this. What will this do to help you? To help us?" The tom snarled. "This isn't about helping. This is about revenge!" With that, he leapt onto the she cat.
"No!" I woke, screaming. Cold sweat covered my fur. I panted heavily. Its over. I realized in relief. I struggled out of my nest, almost forgetting my wounds. I flinched as I stood. The wounds throbbed, but it was not that bad. I padded carefully out of the den, and was greeted by excited cats. "Your okay!"
"Raven! We missed you!" "What happened?" "Can I see your wounds?!"
I just stared blankly back at all the cats. I had forggoten there was this many cats. I scanned them quizzically. Lets see.. Stripes, Wing, Crag, Petal, Midnight, Snow, Holly, Thunder, Moss, Sky, Starry, Fang, Sandy, Dark...
I sighed in relief. Even though I was hurt, I still was Tellers To-Be. I had to make sure no one else was hurt. "Raven?" I whipped around, flinching as pain shot through my body. Starry stood behind me. She was grinning. "I'm so glade your okay!" She gushed. "It was so boring and quiet around here without you!" I purred happily. "Thanks, Starry, I missed you to." I responded politely. "Hows Swoop and Echo?" Starry beamed. "Great! They're due any day now. Swoops been wanting to see you." She added. I dipped my head. "I'll go straight over there." I promised. And I did. I ignored the cats pestering me with questions, and hurried over to the nursery.
Swoops nest was the farthest to the back, with Echos right next to it. "Raven!" They greeted me hesitantly. I almost rolled my eyes. "Hello, Swoop. Echo." I dipped my head to each of the pregnant queens in turn. Swoop gasped in relief, like she had been holding your breath. "Its sooo good to see you!" Swoop purred, shifting. Her belly was huge. I almost called Stoneteller over, out of worry. "How are you?" I asked padding over and sitting down. I ignored my pain as Swoop began to talk. "Oh, great! We've been trying to come up with names for our kits!" Echo cut in. "So far, we have Lavender that Grows In Summer for Swoops kit, and Storm that Rages Through Fire for mine." I nodded in approval. "Those are great names. " I praised. And I was being honest. I could of never thoughto f names as pretty as those.
The queens beamed. We talked until I started feeling a little uncomfortable as they started asking why I was not a queen. "Well.." I began telling them about my dream. They listened, awed. When I finished, Echo spoke first. "Darling, thats absolutely horrible!" I slumped in reilef. That was the perfect reaction. "I know." I agreed, smiling weakly. Swoop piped up. "Raven, you seem to be having a lot of nightmares." I tensed again. "I..I know." I stuttered, slightly on guard. Swoop did not notice my tenseness. "Do you think.." She did not get to finish her sentence. Midnight ran in, looking excited. "Raven, Crags looking for you!" She gushed. I shot an amused glance at Swoop and Echo. "Okay." I responded. "Thanks." I heaved myself to my paws and said good-bye.
Crag was in the clearing with two seagulls. I padded over, not realizing how starving I was."Hey." I purred. "Raven!" Crag purred back, taking a step forward and then stepping back again. He bit his lip. "Here." He nudged over one of the birds. I excepted it, feeling slightly embarrassed. He watched me take a bite before settling down with his piece of prey. "So." I mumbled around famished mouthfuls. "Whats the big deal?" Crag swallowed and replied. "Someone wants to talk to you. Outside of camp." I nearly chocked. Shadow.
It made since. He wanted an answer. I took a deep breath. "Thanks." I mewed, smiling. I scrambled to my paws and started running. "Don't you want the rest of-"
"You have it!" I yowled back at him. I had to give Shadow my answer. My heart thumped hard against my chest as I raced to the border. I skidded to a halt just before I tumbled down the dunes into the Others territory. I scanned the sloppy landscape. Come on... "Looking for someone?" I almost jumped out of my fur. Spinning around, I saw Shadow standing behind me, looking pleased. "Shadow!" I yelped, breathless. I stared into his deep, intense eyes. He was here. "I'm here." He said simply. "Your here." I breathed. We stared at each other for awhile until I finnaly broke it. "Why are you here?" I asked, even though I knew the answer. He caught my eye. "Have you decided?" I sucked in my breath. Had I? Yes. My mind whispered. I breathed in his warm, welcoming sent. Did he know what I had chosen? He must. He knows I love him. "Yes." I whispered, leaning into his shoulder. "Yes, I have."