Alone #2: The Ebony's Roots

Chapter 1

Ebonywind looked around the meadow. There was a slight wind, bringing her the scent of other cats.

"Hello, daughter." A golden-brown she-cat appeared in front of her, hostility in her voice.

"Mother! Please, turn back time. I don't want to know!" the words were blurted from her mouth.

Ebonywind stared at her dream self. I don't want to say that!

"Would you really rather?" Luckystar said coldly.

"Yes!" her dream self said eagerly.

"So be it." Luckystar's eyes were full of hatred. "You were the kit I never wanted. The kit that never behaved. I didn't want you anyway, you were the youngest and weakest, and you were supposed to be a tom, a spitting image of Rainfall. You killed the memory of him!"

Luckystar ended in a screech and sprang at her with her claws unsheathed.

Dream-Ebonywind backed away, hissing, and latched a sharp claw onto her mother's shoulder.

"No!" Ebonywind wanted to yowl. "Stop fighting! She's my mother!"

But the words didn't come out.

Ebonywind's eyes slammed open and she stood up, gasping for breath. Her fur was matted and a large cut in her pad throbbed painfully.

Mother...

She lay back down in a futile attempt to rest. It didn't work. Sleep didn't come to her, and she was grateful.

"Get up, Ebonywind," a voice rasped at her ear.

"By StarClan, you piece of fox-dung, get away from me!" Ebonywind cursed, pawing her deputy.

"That's not like you, Ebonywind," Flamefall said, inspecting her former apprentice with concern.

"Go away, Flamefall," she muttered.

"Ebonywind, I command you to get this instance!"

Ebonywind grudgingly got up and began to groom her muddied pelt. Flamefall wrinkled her nose in disgust before padding pointedly out of the den.

A couple heartbeats later, Ebonywind was out of the den.

"What's up with you?" a small voice mewed mischievously at her side.

The beautiful white she-cat blinked her blue eyes at Ebonywind. "Everything," she breathed in reply.

Frostpaw frowned. "I know what you mean. I used to be in the Dark Forest, you know. Everyone looked at me with so much suspicion. I hated it."

"Thanks," Ebonywind said although it hadn't helped at all.

The next cat to approach her was Ashpaw; Frostpaw's littermate.

"Frostpaw tells me-" he began weakly.

"Go away!" she yowled.

Cats turned to look at her curiously.

"Ebonywind, I want to talk to you." Rowanstar strode up to her seriously.

"Fine," she growled.

"What's up with you?" Rowanstar said once they entered the safety of his den. "You're surly and moody and you haven't gone on any patrols!"

"I'm fine, Rowanstar. Get that through your skull!"

Ebonywind slapped her tail on her mouth. Even as unhappy as she was, she couldn't be rude to her leader!