The War of Eternity

Chapter 18

Starclaw's POV

She was terrified. One moment she was peacefully sleeping in her prison cell, the next she was being ripped out by her sister who had never harmed a fly before, and flying away back to her home. She didn't know what possessed her sister like this, but she didn't like it. She hated it. She had always thought of her sister as a ripple pod.

Ripple pods grew in the little lakes around the forest; they were little seed-looking plants that were attached to the lake floor by a vine. They attracted bugs with their sweet and sugary smell but once a bug landed on them they opened up and produced such a strong smell that was infused with acid that killed the bugs instantly, leaving them free to eat.

Her sister was kind of like that in the sense that she was kind and sugary on the outside but strong and deadly on the inside. She had never seen her sister's strong and deadly side used like this before. It was like all her kindness had been sucked out like a vampire sucking blood.

From how tightly Finn was clutching herself and Moonstone she guessed that he was just as startled. She wondered if she should talk to him about what was happening. Besides, it seemed like her sister had momentarily lost her hearing because when she had tried to tell her to go back for Finn she looked like she had no clue what she was saying.

She wondered if this was how her sister was going to be like from now on or if this was just temporary. She hoped that the second option was the case. She didn't like this new side of her sister, Moonstone was so cold, too distant. Starclaw also worried that this much power would overwhelm her. This kind of power would slowly -if not right away- eat at anyone's sanity.

The color of the amazing forest came into view distracting her from her worrying thoughts. The lush colors of the forest were almost blinding after so many days of seeing grays and blacks. She was now grinning so wide her mouth hurt.

Starclaw then realized that they couldn't land in the village or wolves would think that Moonstone was attacking. So instead she grabbed the base of her sister's wings and moved them so that they made them glide towards the treetops far enough away from the village where hunting patrols wouldn't spot them.

Once the friends landed and Starclaw and Finn had climbed off, Moonstone leaped into the air again, flaming like there were still enemies before circling the clearing from above. She looked over at Finn. This could be the perfect time to talk to him about whatever was going on with her sister.

Finn was looking up at Moonstone, concern, and worry written all over his face. She walked over to him and put a paw on his shoulder, "come on, let's go on a walk. Besides, we need to talk." He looked hesitant, so she said, "I know you're worried about Moonstone and I feel the same, but we need to give her some space and maybe it will wear off. She will be fine. She looks like she has more power than ever right now, so I'm sure she can protect herself."

Finn sighed, looking up at Moonstone again with a sort of longing look on his face, "I know, but we were just apart from so long......."

She led him away towards a path in the woods, "I know, and I also know you care about her." Even in the dim light of the moon, she could see his cheeks color, "don't worry, I won't tell anyone or tease you....yet. Mmmmayyyybeeeee once all this is done. But anyway, how do you think Moonstone got this way."

"I guess that she got angry at the guards for taking you, prisoner." His voice had a jealous tone at the end. What was that about? "So she just snapped and became like this to free you."

Finn then seemed sad, so she asked, "what's wrong?"

"It's none of your business!" He snapped, whipping his eyes furiously, "I'm going for a swim." He stormed away without another word.

Starclaw sighed and started walking back towards the clearing. When she was close to it, she could smell smoke in the air. She raced towards Moonstone to find out what she got into this time.

When she arrived, she found the whole clearing up in flames and her sister in the center on fire herself but not burning. Moonstone was flaming out into the fires, making them bigger. If she didn't stop that soon, then the village would soon be coming to investigate, and they couldn't find Moonstone here in her abnormal condition. If they did, they would never trust her again.

The flames started to come near Starclaw from where she was standing a few feet back. So, she raced towards where she saw Finn run off, knowing that he was the only one who could stop Moonstone before it was too late.