Darkness Rises: Dark clouds

Chapter 9

"Get out. I know this is just a dream. You cannot hurt me." Haunted hissed, surrounded by darkness.

"You know what's going to happen, don't you? Darkrise clan will find their way back to you eventually." The dark shape in front of her had stepped into the light. Haunted couldn't see it's face, which was covered in shadows. He looked scary. He had small spots along his back, as well as stripes on his face. The rest of him looked silver, or light-colored from what she could tell. His three striped tails and his legs were dark-colored. Haunted could see a few white spots, and black stripes.

A cat with three tails. She couldn't see the colors of his eyes.

"I can handle them. What are going to do?" Haunted responded threateningly. "I can no longer be connected to Darkrise clan."

"Wake up, Haunted."

"I can see you! Who are you, hiding in the shadows?" Haunted thought she was going crazy.

"It is only a matter of time, now."

"What's wrong? You have seen them before. These are the spirits of those who were lost. You know where you are, Haunted." The dark cat moved away towards the shadows.

Time.

..........................................

Ginger stepped a paw into Smoky's den.

"Are you feeling okay?" She asked.

Glacier stepped towards Smoky. "You should get out of the den. Do you want to go on a walk with us, or something?"

"Whatever." Smoky looked up. They could see the strange glow in her eyes.

"Come on, you can't just stay in there." Glacier led them out of the den.

"Where are you guys going?" Honeybee glanced at Glacier, Ginger and Smoky.

"Just trying to get Smoky out of the camp." Glacier responded.

"Yeah, good luck with that." Luna had sat by Katy as they were talking by the camp entrance.

Smoky growled quietly under her breath.

"Are you alright?" Ginger worried.

"Let's go then." Glacier had ran out of camp before Smoky and Ginger caught up.

........................

"Just like old times, isn't it?" Ginger tried smiling at Smoky.

Smoky did not look excited. She walked slowly behind them.

Just then, a bush rustled quietly, Smoky jumped in front of Glacier and Ginger, growling.

"Hello?" Ginger muttered, glancing at Glacier.

"Hello. I am not interrupting, am I?" The strange voice was heard from the bush.

The cat had stepped into the light. Glacier had noticed three tails and a dark, shadowed face.

"Depends, who is speaking?" Smoky hissed, standing in front of the strange cat.

"I have never been threatened by a kitten before. How scary." The cat replied, jokingly.

"Stop trying to be mysterious. Why have you come to speak to us?" Smoky asked.

The strange cat had sat in front of Glacier, Ginger and Smoky.

"I am only here to make a deal with you." He responded.

"And that is?" Glacier had stepped up in front of Smoky.

"Well, you know the three clans, don't you?" The strange cat started. "There's Moonrise, Sunflare, and Darkrise. Everybody has heard of them. There were many cats in the clans. Some who may have been driven out by something. Some who have left their clan members behind."

"And your point?" Ginger stepped up so the three of them stood in a line.

"Ginger!" Glacier hissed. "Me and Smoky can handle this."

"Silence." The cat spoke again. "What if I told you that a new clan of outcasts had stayed in the mountains? The mountains are cold, dangerous. It always snows there. What if I told you that you have been chosen for a new mission, to bring this clan home? And to stop the harshness of the mountains."

"Seriously? Is this a trick?" Smoky glanced back at Glacier and Ginger.

"The Frostclaws? Haven't heard of them before? Outcasts from many clans." The cat stood up.

"And what are we supposed to do about that?" Smoky hissed threateningly, "How would we get there?"

The strange cat had moved one of his tails. A portal had opened, it must've led somewhere.

"I can come back here once you're ready. Smoky, was it? Get some rest in your den." He started to walk away, past the bushes. The portal closed when he waved one of his tails.