Book 1: Echoing Voices - Warriors

Chapter 17

Drizzlepaw's POV

"Whatever you do, don't give them your real name and don't let them think we know each other." Drizzlepaw ordered under his breath to Lavenderseed, who looked as if she was just going to fall over out of terror.
"What are you fleabags waiting for?" the voice boomed.
"We're coming, keep your fur on." Drizzlepaw snapped back, showing no signs that he was scared, he honestly wasn't sure what to feel.
"Actually, keep talking because I can't seem to find your wretched scent in all this smelly dirt because they match too well." he sneered.
As Drizzlepaw lead Lavenderseed closer to the cat's voice, the cat let out a low growl, "You have no right to speak to me like that you little piece of crowfood."
Drizzlepaw's ear twitched and he rolled his eyes.
This cat needs to up his nonexistent threats.
Drizzlepaw just ignored the cat's words once he approached it. It, was a tom. Drizzlepaw had no idea what his pelt color was, but he guessed it was ugly.
"Follow me." the cat grumbled somewhere between his spits of insults.
Drizzlepaw glanced back at Lavenderseed, who's legs seemed like they would just shake right off.
He was about to mouth to her 'calm down' before he realized it would be too dark. He turned his head away, he couldn't make it obvious he knew her.
Drizzlepaw padded after the tom silently, while the tom still uttered curses under his breath.
Drizzlepaw rolled his eyes at the fact it was so easy to get this guy riled up.

The tom lead Lavenderseed and Drizzlepaw through the tunnels. Drizzlepaw had no idea how the ton padded around so easily and the three somehow ended up at an opening. Drizzlepaw couldn't hold back his excitement when he saw the light. Actual sunlight.
Lavenderseed even let out a breathe of, it sounded like, relief. Either that or she was hyperventilating and would pass out at any moment.
Drizzlepaw liked the first option more.
They had all been silent for the whole time until now, the random tom spoke.
"You go out first. Another cat will be there to meet you." he growled.
Drizzlepaw twitched his ear and narrowed his eyes, but past the tom willingly. He didn't look back to check on Lavenderseed, but he could tell she was following. Drizzlepaw's gaze connected to the tom's, they both shared a slight glare, but there was some kind of emotion there that he couldn't quite pick out.
Drizzlepaw turned his head away and continued out of the tunnel.

Once Drizzlepaw stuck his muzzle out into the open air, he felt like he was no longer closed in. It made him appreciate the open world. He took in a deep breath, but the free feeling was cut off.
"So, you're the trouble maker that brought the fox into our territory."
Drizzlepaw slowly lowered his ears and shifted his gaze towards another unknown voice.
"Who are you?" he grumbled.
The cat was a dark tabby tabby tom his eyes were...abnormally black. Drizzlepaw had to stop himself from backing away, just for the sake of safety.
"My name is Ravine. I'll be taking you to the leader, Raven." Ravine meowed, his tail flicking as he started heading in a direction that Drizzlepaw guessed was suppose to be towards Raven or whatever.
"So...do you guys give away so much information this easily all the time orrrr...?" Drizzlepaw asked.
Ravine almost seemed as if he was going to laugh.
"There's not much to hide. You will probably never see me again anyway. Or the cat that lead you through the tunnels." Ravine replied.
Drizzlepaw's ear twitched curiously, "Oh good, you had me worried." he answered half-sarcastically.
Nope, still worried I'm going to be murdered in cold blood and they're going to corrupt Lavenderseed's kits or something.
Ravine didn't talk for the rest of the time, Drizzlepaw made no effort the bring up a conversation. He didn't feel like talking while he thought of a plan.
Even without talking, no plan.
We're definitely going to get out of hear at this rate, he thought sarcastically.

Ravine stopped by a pile of rocks.
"Don't tell me you named a pile of rocks 'Raven' and claimed it as your leader." Drizzlepaw muttered under his breath, only half-hoping it wasn't loud enough for the large tom to hear.
If Ravine did hear him, he made no sign that showed that he did.
From the corner of his eye, he could see Lavenderseed trembling with fear. She had been silent the whole time since the first cat shoes up to escort her and Drizzlepaw out of the tunnels.
There hasn't been anything too terrible about these guys so far. Does she know something?
He pushed the thoughts away, too late to think about that now.
"Raven! Get out here!" Ravine called.
Drizzlepaw held back a snort, Great respect this guy has for his leader.
It didn't take long for a black cat to appear from the other side of the rock pile. It was a she-cat who had a lean shape and pure green eyes. They were light silver. If her eyes hadn't looked so focused, Drizzlepaw would've thought she was blind. Raven seemed as if she could just melt into a shadow if it wasn't for her one white ear. Her gaze held no emotions as she nodded to Ravine.
"Leave us." she ordered.
Ravine dipped his head and quickly trotted away. Drizzlepaw shot a look at Raven, she barely looked older than an apprentice. As Ravine left, Raven leapt down from the pile of rocks, her thin black tail flicking.
She slowly circled Drizzlepaw and Lavenderseed, her silver eyes were the only things that made Drizzlepaw very uncomfortable. They way the light reflected off of them and they darkened whenever Raven turned away from the sun. It sent shivers up his spine. It creeped him out.
"I hear you brought problems to my cats. You and another cat attracted foxes and scared off our prey with your chase." Raven meowed.
Her voice had no emotions to them. Drizzlepaw had no idea whether she was angry or amused by this whole situation. He decided not to answer.
"Why am I here?" he asked.
Raven circled the two clan cats one more time before standing in front of the rock pile. This was when Drizzlepaw realized she was smaller than him. He really wanted to ask how old she was, but decided that would be inappropriate.
"That's not the question you should be asking." Raven replied, her voice cold, but yet again, Drizzlepaw couldn't tell if she was actually angry or not.
Drizzlepaw narrowed his eyes slowly, her silver eyes made himself question if his blue eyes actually reflected light off like her's did. He gave his head a small shake. What kind of a thought was that?
"I'm not going to play your game. Just answer my question." he muttered.
Raven's ears pricked slightly she almost seemed engaged now.
"Curious. Because you are standing in a submissive position, yet you fight back." she meowed.
Drizzlepaw scowled. He stood with his head low because keeping his head level with the ground was too much effort. He liked to be close to the ground. His tail was always low because...again, too much effort to lift it up.
"Hey, I'm not submitting to anyone, cat." Drizzlepaw grumbled.
Raven looked away from him and it felt like the weight of a whole tree was lifted off him. She decided to speak to Lavenderseed now.
"Kits?" Raven muttered and narrowed her pupils.
And I thought she couldn't look more creepy. Drizzlepaw flattened his ears to the side.
"Isn't he a bit young for you?" Raven asked, glancing between Lavenderseed and Drizzlepaw.
Drizzlepaw started to cough and Lavenderseed's jaw just dropped. It might have just fallen right off if it wasn't attached to her.
"What?" Drizzlepaw demanded.
Raven finally showed some kind of emotion; amusement.
"Calm down. You're as bad as Warren." Raven meowed and stepped away from Lavenderseed.
Drizzlepaw glared at the black she-cat, "Warren?"
Raven perked her one white ear as if she hadn't heard him properly, "He should have been the cat that lead you out of the tunnels." she answered.
Drizzlepaw shifted his paws slightly. This she-cat knew every little thing that happened in this place.
"How many cats do you have in your group?" he asked.
Raven twitched her ear and glanced sideways as if she was thinking, "Unclear. My cats roam around when they want. I don't really keep a close eye on them, they have as much freedom as they want." Raven explained.
Drizzlepaw glanced at Lavenderseed, who had closed her jaw and was now staring at her paws.
"Do you know each other?" Raven asked.
Drizzlepaw hesitated, he didn't want to answer too quickly, but he also didn't want Lavenderseed to say yes.
"No." he answered.
Raven narrowed her silver eyes slowly, she didn't believe him.
"I believe I haven't asked for your names." Raven moved on.
Drizzlepaw didn't let himself relax. He felt uncomfortable about this whole situation.
"Er...Breeze." Drizzlepaw answered.
Raven stared at him for an uncomfortably long while. The light circled the rim of her eye before she lifted her chin slightly, making her eyes look completely white from the reflection of the sun.
"And you are?" she asked Lavenderseed.
Lavenderseed seemed to flinch when Raven acknowledged her.
"I-I'm...." Lavenderseed continued to stare down at her paws, "Flower."
Raven stayed still.
Drizzlepaw had to admit, this cat knew how to by creepy. He couldn't tell if she was doing it on purpose or not. If she wasn't, she had some serious issues. If she was...well she still had some serious issues.
"Well, since you two don't seem to know each other, perhaps you might know someone else." Raven finally spoke.

Raven lead Lavenderseed and Drizzlepaw towards wherever. Neither of them had any idea to what was happening, but eventually, they came upon another tunnel entrance.
There must be different entrances to these tunnels.
Raven ducked her head in and Drizzlepaw heard her speak a few words he couldn't make out. Before long, Raven stepped back out and sat down.
"Now, we wait." the small she-cat meowed.

Within moments, an oddly familiar ginger pelt was shoved into the sunlight, followed by a lighter tabby, who was on its paws.
It was a she-cat. Drizzlepaw caught himself from reacting when he figured out who it was; Meadowfern.
Meadowfern let out a hiss into the den. Her usually nicely groomed fur was matter and was sticking up in different areas. Her light green eyes were dark and seemed to had lost their shine.
How long had she been under there?
Meadowfern ignored Drizzlepaw and Lavenderseed and turned right to the orange lump of fur.
This time, Drizzlepaw couldn't hold back a reaction.
It was Auburnpaw.