Warriors: Darkness In The Clans 3: Melt

Chapter One

Holly slipped through the clearing, the stars shining and making their black fur glow. They blinked, the holly leaves and berries on their neck poking their skin. They sighed. "Ghost, how longer until we reach our new land?" They asked.

Ghost shrugged. "Ask Shade, not me." He responded. Holly rolled their eyes. Ghost was about as helpful as a dead leaf!

"You remember our last land?" Their eyes glowed with homesickness, "I miss it. I liked the mountains."

"You only feel that way because we spent eight seasons there. Almost nine, if Shade didn't have that vision." Ghost snorted.

Holly frowned. Didn't he feel the same way? "It's the longest time we've stayed put." They mewed.

"True."

Ghost narrowly avoided a fallen branch, and Holly stumbled over it. Shade raised his tail, signaling for the cats to be prepared. Holly's heart beat with excitement. Finally, they were almost there! Shade trotted onward. Holly's stomach rumbled. "Shade, can we rest? I'm starving." They complained.

"But we're almost there!" Shade protested, although his cats mewed in agreement. "Fine. We'll stay here for a bit. But we can't stay here long."

Holly plopped down onto the ground, letting out a sigh. Finally. "I'm so hungry, I could eat a hawk!" They whispered to Ghost. Ghost nodded in agreement.

"Want me to catch something for you?"

"Go ahead." Holly rolled onto their back, their eyes closing slightly.

"Wake up, sleepypaws!"

Holly awoke, their dream of running in the mountains disappearing into nothing. They groaned, rolling over. "What?"

"Here." Ghost nudged a small mouse towards them. They mewed their thanks, tucking into their prey. Ghost curled beside them, resting his head against their shoulder.

"Want some?"

The two cats shared the mouse, and Holly burped loudly. Ghost laughed. "Did you enjoy your mouse?"

"No." They joked, "I hated it so much, I ate it right away."

Ghost pressed his nose against their cheek. "You're funny." He purred.

Holly entwined their tail with his, their heart beating madly. Ghost was their best friend- how could they love him? "Wanna go explore?" Holly sprang up, eyes shining. Ghost nodded slightly.

"What if we see a fox?" He worried.

"You're such a worry-wart! We'll be careful. We'll show them that attack we practiced in the mountains!" They made a pose. Ghost giggled.

"Okay. Should we ask Dizzy to come too?"

Holly's gaze flickered uneasily. They didn't like it when Dizzy was with Ghost. She was always so pushy with him! But Ghost liked Dizzy, so they nodded in agreement. "Okay."

Ghost bounced excitedly, and, grabbing Dizzy, the trio padded into the gloomy forest.

Holly's fur spiked up. Ghost pressed against Holly, shaking. The forest seemed to close in on them, the swirling, misty darkness creeping closer across the floor. "This place is really scary..." Ghost mewed shakily.

"Wanna head back?" Holly asked.

"Nonsense! He wants to keep going. Right?" Dizzy nudged him, and Ghost squeaked, nodding quickly. "See?"

Holly narrowed their eyes, but said nothing. They moved forward, leading the way through. The group spotted a calico cat, and their fur lifted along their spine.

The calico cat simply stared at them, blinking calmly before padding towards them. "Hello." His voice was high pitched, but had a certain coldness that made Holly's fur stand on end. His eyes were brown, but were cold as ice, lacking emotion. Holly backed away. They sensed this cat wasn't a good cat. "Don't worry. I'm just a medicine cat, I won't hurt you." The cat licked a paw.

"Who are you?" Holly demanded.

"Who are you? You're the one intruding on clan territory." The cat responded flatly, looking through leaves as though he were uninterested in them despite his tough words. Holly growled.

"We didn't know there were already cats here. We'll leave." Ghost offered softly. Holly could tell he was shaking. He was bristling against their pelt. Holly wrapped their tail protectively around Ghost.

"No need." The cat licked his chest fur. Holly didn't trust him. He seemed as though he barely cared about them and their group. "I don't mind you staying here. I'm just a medicine cat. I don't fight. But stay away from my clanmates. They've been on edge lately. Especially one cat. Snaketooth. He's dangerous."

Holly tipped their head. "Why?"

The cat hesitated before saying, "The reason is not for outside ears. But it's not a good time for the clan." His voice cracked, grief flashing briefly in his brown eyes.

Holly's heart ached with sympathy. They had assumed he had been cold when he was just trying to hide the pain he felt. Holly pressed their muzzle against their shoulder comfortingly. The cat didn't stop them, but moved away after a bit. "Did something happen to you?" Holly asked, concerned.

"Ehh..." The cat picked up his herbs, his blank stare returning. "You have to go. My clanmates will soon be patrolling this border."

"Wait, what's your name?" Holly called.

The cat turned, looking at them before whispering softly.

"My name's Berryfrost."