Forest of Souls

Chapter 4

((//A.N: Back from my trip! Missed you guys so much <3

Flowertail pricked her ears as voices raised outside.

"...claimed...nine lives..."

A wave of cold shock fell over her.

StarClan wouldn't give a murderer nine lives, would they?

"I don't believe a word she said!" Tigerstar's loud growls broke over the rest of them.

"I spoke to Maple." Moonpaw's familiar voice mewed.

Maple was with them?! And she didn't try to leave?! What's going on with that bee-brained she cat?

"She said she went with her to the Moonpool and that Littlebird had received her nine lives." 

She's probably lying.

Flowertail tried to shake off the pang of guilt she felt at the thought.

Maple was nothing but rude to me on the journey, and if she was willing to stay there, she'd probably be willing to lie for Littlebird.

"I wouldn't believe her either. Cats from outside of the Clans can't be trusted." Berryheart snarled, and Flowertail's pelt prickled defensively.

Menace is just fine, thank you!

"I could go and find out if Littlebird really did get nine lives." Menace suggested, and Flowertail almost shot out of her nest.

Is he deranged? Never! He can't do that! I won't let that mouse-brained-

"No, it isn't safe." Tigerstar mused.

Thank StarClan. As long as he doesn't sneak out of camp anyways...

Flowertail paused.

***

Menace paced anxiously just outside of the ShadowClan camp. Cliff watched him from where he was sitting under a rowan tree.

"I know that dumb look. You're going to do something stupid." Cliff mewed calmly, grooming himself.

"No, I'm not." Menace snapped. "I'm thinking."

"Right then, why don't you think quietly?" Cliff snorted.

"Aren't you worried about Maple and Flowertail at all?!" Menace huffed, staring at the tom.

"Of course I am." Cliff flicked his tail irritably. "But you're not going to help anyone or anything by stomping around and scowling at everyone and everything. At least be useful."

Menace almost snapped at the obnoxious tom, just stopping in time.

He's right. I'm not really doing anything now.

"I'm going to go visit Flowertail. She might be awake by now." Menace told him instead. He turned away, padding to the medicine den.

She must be upset after seeing Icepool.

Thankfully, the medicine den was empty, so Menace had time to speak to her alone.

"Hey Flowertail." He meowed, sitting beside her hopefully. He blinked happily as her eyes slid open in sharp slits.

"How are you feeling?" He asked quietly, watching her turn away without responding to him.

"I'm really sorry about Icepool." He touched her shoulder with his tail tip. "I get it if you don't want to talk about it."

He sighed when she still remained silent. "Can you at least tell me if you feel sick at all?"

...

He peered at her expression, puzzled by her monotone emotionless face.

"Flowertail?"

Alarm prickled through him as he noticed a faint yellow glow in her eyes.

This isn't the real Flowertail! It's an illusion!