Sandclan's Destiny Book 3: Blackout

Chapter 14: Slipping Secrets

Larksong, a warrior sat beneath, Tigerleap called out, "Yeah. And Goldenfern's over there, you see?" He gestured to a clump of thistles.

Cougarfang narrowed his eyes, and saw two glints of amber among shadows. They were dim, and they darted around suspiciously. He saw the entire silhouette move to reveal, from behind the thistles, a crack in the wall.

"Is that your version of a camp prison?" Bigstar spoke through gritted teeth. Cats from SandClan riled, and with gasps rising from the crowd, hostility began to shake their pelts. Cougarfang led their anger by unsheathing his claws.

*~*~*

Snowybreeze shot up and screeched. Her claws grasped at the moss for her dear life, and heat prickled from underneath her thick fur. She frantically stopped herself from falling although she was rigid as a board. She gasped, fighting for air although her lungs were already full. She let her gaze shoot around the area, thankful for the gift of sight for the first time.
"Blacktangle!" She screeched. Then she remembered-- her mentor has been dead for a long while. It wasn't Snowybreeze's fault for forgetting; Blacktangle has never visited her from StarClan, and the she-cat's body had never been found. 

Another she-cat that Snowybreeze often dreamt about, or yearned for, was Juniperleaf. Her friend from GreenClan, who would sometimes come to Snowybreeze with herbs that the letter medicine cat would refuse to leave camp and collect herself. Despite being a GreenClanner, Juniperleaf was incredibly kind and friendly.
Snowybreeze heard pawsteps outside, and hoped it was her medicine cat friend.

Two cats entered the den without warning, one warrior concerned and the other one blatantly irritated.
"What's all this wailing about?" Dappledfern snarled, "Get back to sleep and let us do the same!"

Snowybreeze's breathing would not return to normal. She was dazed, and everything looked fuzzy and out of focus. She glared at Dappledfern, studying the she-cat intensely, refusing to believe she was real. "Are you...? Are you...?"

"You're crazy, that's it." She approached the medicine cat and raised her paw, equipped with claws and more than ready to swipe.  Before she could do anything, a tail interrupted her.
"I don't think striking a startled medicine cat will do any good." He lashed his tail at Dappledfern's face until she backed away, even more irritable.

"Fine." She eyed them up, "But if this is some sort of... affair..."
Coalspots' dark blue eyes glared at her with little humor. Dappledfern finally left, and Coalspots turned towards Snowybreeze. "What happened?" He asked gently.

She looked up at him with wet amber eyes, "It happened again." and she sniffed, "I keep dreaming it! It's like dying, or it's worse because I'm still conscious. What could it mean?"

*~*~*

'Tigerstar' climbed down and padded forward, claws clacking against then stone until he met up with Bigstar. He looked up at her boldly, his muscles rippling beneath his dark pelt, to intimidate the others. "Get out. Blizzardstar's not here, and I don't see what you want with Goldenfern anyway. Now stop encroaching upon my Clan." He spat at her paws, "I don't do that to SandClan, do I?" He asked mockingly in a falsely innocent voice.

"I thought this was a war. Well fine. Wars have battles, don't they?" Bigstar reared up, looming over Tigerleap until the tom moved back a few spaces. "Well then, let's battle!" She lunged forward and smashed into Tigerleap, pinning him down and lifting him in her jaws and shaking him violently.

My friend, Blizzardstar, I can avenge you in the same way you always helped me. During gatherings you protected me-- why couldn't I have done the same to you?
She whispered in his ear. "Tell me where she is." I am done compromising. For moons and moons I've been patient. I'm not Morningstar.