Lost Hope: Book 4: The Darkest Shadow

Chapter 24

Forestpaw was in some sort of den, if it could really be considered that. It was underground, almost pitch black, and was being guarded by a big burly tom who barely spoke and threatened to torture her to the worst degree if she dared leave. Viperfang had made similar threats, so Forestpaw felt compelled to stay where she was, even if it was cold, damp, claustrophobic, and just overall uncomfortable.

    She wasn't sure how long she'd been there, and she didn't think she'd be able to even if she saw the outside, excuse from what she had seen, the Dark Forest was, quite literally, dark, as if it was night all the time.

    If she was being quite honest with herself, she was really bored. She had to sit in this damp hole while her Clanmates moved on without her. She felt saddened by the look she imagined on Amberpaw's face.

    "I don't want to lose another sister," he had told her.

    I'm really sorry, she thought with a whimper.

"So pathetic," Viperfang said, waltzing in.

    Forestpaw didn't meet her gaze.

    "Really," she said. "I mean, life here is so much more unpredictable and exciting, don't you agree? Your life as a boring medicine cat is over; you should be rejoicing!"

    "I miss my life," Forestpaw murmured sadly. "Why did you kitnap me?"

    "Well it's more like apprenticenapping," Viperfang said mildly. "Besides, you were getting in the way of some more technical parts of my plan, and we can't have that."

    "Plan?"

    Viperfang smiled. "Do you think I train silly little apprentices for fun?"

    Forestpaw remained silent.

    "All you need to know is that your will be seeing the end of the Clans very soon, and," Viperfang added with a smirk that sent a shiver down Forestpaw's spine. "There's nothing you can do to stop it."