Warriors: The Dark Realm (Complete)

Chapter 3

 "You said there's more cats here?"

 Snowtuft nodded. "I've met a few."

 It's been a while since Snowtuft and Bristlefrost met Antpelt, and they've been once again trying to come up with a plan. Bristlefrost got to know Antpelt a little better, and although a little skeptical, she found the brown tom all right.

 Bristlefrost's ear flicked. "Maybe we could go and meet them? Maybe they have ideas of how to get out of here."

 Snowtuft flashed her a warning look. "Ashfur might be here."

 Bristlefrost trembled. Her whole body shook.

 The memory of her death came back in her mind. She was back in the dark water, her neck wound pulsing with pain. She saw Ashfur's scared expression in front of her as he kept sinking helplessly, and in the end fading away.

 She shook her head and raised her head. "Well, we won't find him! Besides, didn't you say nobody can kill anyone?"

 Snowtuft tilted his head. "That's true, but you still wouldn't want to meet Ashfur, right?"

 "No." Bristlefrost whispered, lowering her head. The memory of her death crept back in her mind when she felt a tail tip on her shoulder. She raised her head and saw Antpelt looking at her.

 "You remember your death, don't you?"

 Bristlefrost nodded. "It's just.. so odd.."

 "I do too." Antpelt looked away. "I might, sometimes, sound angry at Ivypool for killing me. But who isn't mad at their killer?"

 Bristlefrost tilted her head. "Why did you train in the Dark Forest?"

 Antpelt shrugged. "I thought they could make me stronger, and a better WindClan warrior."

 "But I remember you said that you were sent directly to the Dark Forest after you died. Did you see no StarClan cat after you died? Did really no cat from there visit you first?"

 Antpelt didn't respond.

 "That's enough, Bristlefrost." Snowtuft looked at her. "I know you're curious, but this isn't a subject that should be taken lightly."

 Bristlefrost looked at her paws, self-consciously. "Sorry." She whispered guiltily.

 "It's all right." Antpelt raised his head. "I was foolish to trust them, anyway. I just thought I could be a better warrior."

 "All the Dark Forest trainees did." Bristlefrost sighed, then got up. "Anyway, I say we should just walk around and see if we can meet any more cats."

 Snowtuft looked at her. "Are you sure? Remember the black mist around us. What if we get lost from each other? What if we never find each other again?"

 Bristlefrost paused. She looked at Snowtuft. He was a few paw steps in front of her. She signaled for him to stay still and she backed off. She took a few steps back, and the black mist was beginning to hide Snowtuft, although she could still see tints of white. She rushed forward again. "We won't get lost." She meowed. "We just have to stay close to each other. And if one of us don't see each other anymore, just yell to stop."

 "All right." Antpelt got up, then looked around. "So, which way do we go?"

 Bristlefrost looked around, and almost instantly felt dizzy. The Dark Realm was a lonely place. Everything was black, no matter where you looked. She could hear whispers in the distance, and she shook her head. Everything looked the same!

 Bristlefrost hesitated, then walked forward. "Follow me!" She meowed over her shoulder, and began walking faster when she heard paw steps behind her.