Book 1: Echoing Voices - Warriors

Chapter 16

Drizzlepaw's POV

Now darkness, is not my old friend. Drizzlepaw groaned as he slowly sat up. Something in his head felt like it was being hit with a rock each time his heart pumped.
"Ugh, where-"
He cut himself off when his pupils adjusted onto the lighting.
He was completely alone. In a dark abyss. With an eerie silence, Drizzlepaw pushed himself to his paws. He grimaced and as he stood on his paws, swaying slightly. Drizzlepaw blinked slowly and as he took a step, he walked as if he had eaten too much catnip. He shifted his gaze around, trying to figure out where he was. After a while, he was able to make out the shapes of rocks and whatnot.
"Auburnpaw?" he murmured in an exhausted tone.
There was no answer.
Figures. He probably left.
Drizzlepaw let out a long sigh and began to explore, his steps were still uneven and he walked like he was limping on both paws.
Where am I...?
This place was like the tunnels under the ThunderClan territory. Could the tunnels back there lead all the way here?
Drizzlepaw padded along for he had no idea how long. It was still dark and for all he knew, days had past, though he highly doubted that. He really just wanted some company, he would even take Ripplewhisker. He started to feel uncomfortable with the silence and sometimes some rocks would fall from the dirt ceiling.
He was completely convinced that Auburnpaw had stopped the foxes, but the question was; where was he?

Drizzlepaw continued to wander and flattened his ears at the sound of a whimper. His eyes narrowed and his gaze shifted slowly.
He went completely still and waited to be sure that there was an actual whimper. Drizzlepaw pricked his ears and there was another whimper, this time it said words, "W-what do you want?"
It was a she-cat for sure.
"Maybe I should be asking you that." he grumbled.
Drizzlepaw lowered his head and dragged his tail as he started to stagger towards the voice.
"N-no. Don't come any closer." the cat warned.
Her voice wavered with fear. Drizzlepaw decided to take a long shot, "You're too afraid to actually threaten me." he muttered.
There was a long pause.
"You're in no state to fight." she finally replied.
Drizzlepaw had to agree with her there.
"Look, I have no intentions of hurting you. I just have a few questions."
Again, there was a long silence. Drizzlepaw almost got the feeling the she-cat had left, but eventually, she stepped out from behind her hiding place and he could detect the outline of her body. She looked maybe a moon and a half pregnant, he couldn't tell what her fur color was, because it was so dark. She must have been able to tell Drizzlepaw was sort of hunched over and he had the scent of dry blood matted all over him. He only just realized that his wounds were closed somehow, even if he still staggered everywhere like he was about to die. His main concern was food, but other than that, he was basically in an okay state.
Though it made him wonder, how long had be been unconscious? Was it really long enough to let his wounds scab over?
He was yanked out of his thoughts when the she-cat spoke, "What do you want?" she asked quietly.
She still doesn't trust me. I mean, I wouldn't either honestly.
"I just want to know where I am and how to get out." he replied in a calm manner.
He was sure he didn't have the most kind and comforting voice, it always just sounded like he couldn't care any less about anything. Which was kind of true, but he was going to die and this she-cat was pregnant so if they were stuck down here, they would all die. Lot's of dying outcomes.
"We're in sort of an underground confinement. I have no idea how to get out or how long I've been here." she whispered.
Drizzlepaw thought she was going to start breaking down, but he didn't hear any signs of it other than her voice breaking slightly.
"So...we're stuck?" he murmured, mostly just talking to himself.
The she-cat fell silent once again. This pause was the longest so far.
Does she have a thing for causing a dramatic effect or something?
"I'm Lavenderseed." she introduced herself, sounding as if she was more composed.
Right, because that's appropriate to say after the information you just — wait.
"That's a Clan cat name." he breathed.
Lavenderseed seemed to flinch, "I-I..." she stammered.
"My name is Drizzlepaw." he interrupted, "Drizzlepaw of RiverClan." he meowed.
Lavenderseed's body seemed to relax as if the weight of her stomach just disappeared from her shoulders instead of her belly, "WindClan." she replied, her voice more clear.
Drizzlepaw tried to hold back his own relief, "How did you get here? Do you know where the others are?" he asked and he staggered closer to her.
She didn't move away when he got close enough to see the color of her hazel eyes and the pattern on her face. She was a grey cat with black around her eye and ear.
"I was traveling with Meadowfern-"
Drizzlepaw couldn't help himself, he interrupted, "Medicine cat of WindClan."
Lavenderseed nodded, "What's your rank?"
"Medicine cat apprentice." he answered, "And it's obvious you're a queen." he added.
Lavenderseed blinked and hung her head, "Meadowfern wouldn't leave my side when I lagged behind during the evacuation. We both got separated from our clanmates in the fire. It's my fault she got trapped."
Drizzlepaw's ears pricked, "Trapped?"
"Yes. Meadowfern and I gained help from a nice she-cat named Sapphie. In the middle of the night, we were attacked easily and forced into unconsciousness when we tried to fight back. It happened too fast for me to see the cats' identities. When I woke up I was here, with a long scratch down by spine, it's healed now."
When Lavenderseed finished, Drizzlepaw had to take a moment of thought before he replied, "Auburnpaw of ThunderClan and I were attacked by foxes. I was about to die before the cats came to my aid, but I fell unconscious before I could see them. I woke up here with my injuries scabbed over."
They were both silent for a while, unsure of what to do.
"We're going to be stuck here forever." Lavenderseed uttered.
Thanks for lifting the mood. My mind hasn't gotten enough negative thoughts already.
"The cats probably have a reason for taking us and putting us in here. Have you met anyone else in here?" he asked.
Lavenderseed shook her head, "You're the first." she replied.
Drizzlepaw took in a deep breath, "Well we have to get out of here somehow."
Lavenderseed lifted her gaze towards him, "I've tried. I might as well have walked until my pads were raw. There's no way out."
Again with the spirit-lifting. He thought.
Drizzlepaw's tail lashed slightly and he kept his head low as normal, his gaze level with her's.
He opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted when someone else spoke, someone unfamiliar.
"Clan-scum! Get over here." the voice spat.