Book 1: Echoing Voices - Warriors

Chapter 23

Ivypaw's POV

Ivypaw sat in defiance.
Raven was pacing slowly and a tom named Ravine was placed at the entrance of the den. This has been going on for exactly two days and Ivypaw was really beginning to starve, but they'll be giving her water tomorrow so she wouldn't die. She had asked why, Raven never replied.
"For a piece of food, all you have to do is tell me is what you were doing." Raven meowed simply.
Ivypaw scowled, "I don't even want to say how many times you've said that." she growled.
Ravine seemed bored of this whole thing. Raven, however, did not look like she had any intentions of giving up.
"And I don't expect you to even know how to count that high." the black she-cat responded.
Ivypaw let her growl grow louder in her throat. Raven's only reaction was a twitched ear.
"Anyway, I suppose you need a push." Raven continued.
Ivypaw made no effort to even reply, there wasn't much of a point. Raven didn't even glance at her, she motioned her head towards Ravine, who nodded. The lithe red tom shouldered his way out of the den-tunnel-thing and the last thing Ivypaw say, was his tail tip disappearing.
"Whatever you have in mind, it's not going to work." Ivypaw muttered lowly.
Raven twitched her whiskers, "I guess we'll see."

Ravine didn't take long. He padded back into the den trough another tunnel entrance that Ivypaw never noticed, there was another set of pawsteps though. Ivypaw expected it to be another one of Raven's followers, but it was a scrawny she-cat. There was enough light in the cave to tell that the she-cat was a grey tabby. Ivypaw recognized her immediately.
"Ashfrost." she breathed.
Ashfrost didn't seem to hear. She looked like a living corpse. It seemed like her fur was hanging on her skeleton and she hadn't touched a scrap of prey in days. Even her eyes just looked dull.
"What have you done to her?" Ivypaw hissed, spinning her head around to face Raven.
The she-cat blended with the shadows. Her eyes were the only things that could practically be seen, other than the outline of her body and her white ear-tips.
"I've done absolutely nothing, literally. I'm pretty sure Ashfrost, here, manages to find water in what little moss there is down hear." Raven observed.
She began to circle Ashfrost like a piece of prey. Ashfrost didn't seem to mind or even notice. She just continued to stare at nothing blankly. Ivypaw felt a pit in her stomach. Her last words to her mentor had not been kind, but seeing Ashfrost in this state didn't make her satisfied.
"Ashfrost, why don't you tell Ivypaw what happened?" Raven cooed into the grey she-cat's ear.
Ashfrost blinked slowly. Her movements were stiff as she raised her head and eyes. It was only then when her gaze locked with Ivypaw's. Ashfrost seemed to almost have a look of relief, but acted as if it was painful to make any expression.
"I...Ivy...." Ashfrost tried to whisper.
Ivypaw ignored Raven and Ravine and quickly padded over to her clanmate.
"Don't speak, it's okay." Ivypaw assured her.
Raven continued to circle, but now, it was the both of them. Ravine had went back to his spot that was probably the only escape.
"Do you know what Ashfrost has done?" Raven hissed to Ivypaw.
Ivypaw sent a glare at the she-cat, "I know plenty, but she doesn't deserve this." she spat.
Raven's ears perked slightly, as if the statement just intrigued her more.
"Oh, but you don't." she meowed and stopped walking when she reached Ashfrost's side, "I guess you should tell her. She won't believe me."
Ivypaw narrowed her eyes carefully.
What's this she-cat talking about? Talking is the last thing Ashfrost needs, but why would that concern her. Why would Raven even care about what Ashfrost has done? Questions upon questions began to pile up in Ivypaw's head.
"I...I'm sorry-" Ashfrost broke off into a coughing fit.
It sounded awful, the sound of Ashfrost's dried thrust coughing up the dust she had inhaled while being secluded in these tunnels for who-knows how long.
"She needs water." Ivypaw insisted.
Raven looked thoughtful, "I guess if the subject can't speak, she's worthless."
She exchanged looks with Ravine, who left once again.
"Subject?" Ivypaw questioned.
Raven turned her attention back into the Clan cats, "Well, it's a way of calling it. After this, I don't think you'll care much."

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yeah, this chapter is super short, but it's for a good reason. If I continued, it would get too long.
So I'ma just spread it out more
~Kái