Ghosts of the Clans (COMPLETED)

Chapter 9

It was half-moon. The day Redpaw. Pouncetail and Olivepaw were going to meet Penny. Redpaw overheard Pouncetail requesting to hunt with him and Olivepaw during sunhigh with Blackfoot- no- Blackstar, and both their mentors. Sol had left ShadowClan and Blackstar's faith had been restored after receiving a message from StarClan. Tawnypelt, Tigerpaw, Dawnpaw and Flamepaw had returned as well, four sunrises ago.

"Come on, you two! It's time to go hunting!" Pouncetail's cheerful yowl was definitely false; Redpaw had to hold back a snicker, despite the serious matter. He flexed his claws in and out, surprising himself with a twinge of pride.

Ever since Tigerstar had visited him, they practiced fighting techniques. After only five days under the strict training, Redpaw had learnt to be stronger, faster, smarter. He had even managed to overpower Whitewater once in a training session! 

They set off at a quick pace, hurrying to the abandoned Twolegplace silently, without exchanging a single word. Redpaw and Olivepaw pelted along beside their father, whose face was grimly set.

A lean tortoiseshell-and-white shape was already there, watching as they crested over the rise and halted in front of her. Penny stood up, arched her back, and wound around Pouncetail, her fur gently brushing his and their eyes locking together.

Pouncetail jerked backward from her touch, his neck fur spiking up. "I should probably do to you the same thing you did to my son," he growled, his claws unsheathed. Penny's yellow eyes widened in mockery. "Really, Pouncetail. I taught you to hunt when you were bad at it. I helped you brush up your skills. Do you think you can defeat me in battle? And wow, I thought that Redpaw was our son, not just yours. It seems like you've forgotten..."

Pouncetail shifted his paws as Penny went to Olivepaw, sniffing her. Olivepaw avoided her mother's gaze, standing still as a rock. "What do you want?" Redpaw's mew came out harsher than expected. "Why, I just want a little family reunion. I haven't seen you all for such a long time."

Pouncetail's paler yellow eyes met hers again, alight with suspicion. "You want to bring Redpaw and Olivepaw with you, don't you? Well, you can't. They're ShadowClan now!" For a moment, Penny's mask slipped, and pain flashed through her face. Then she recovered her composure, drawing herself to her full height. "Pouncetail, you've already forgotten that I have literally no cat now? Can't you just be a little generous, send me one- or both- of them to ease my loneliness? Or you all can come..." Her voice was soft, barely audible.

Pouncetail looked indecisive, and at that moment Olivepaw burst out, "We don't want to leave ShadowClan! But Penny, can't you just come with us? The cats that killed your mother are actually good cats, I promise, and we all live by the warrior code. They won't kill Clanmates!"

Penny touched Olivepaw's flank with her nose gently, as if she had never given her daughter away. "I can't, Olivepaw. What would be your Clanmates' reaction if a loner suddenly came to camp, saying that she had kitted you two? It would be ridiculous. Besides, Pouncetail and I are no longer mates..."

Sympathy for his mother throbbed in Redpaw's chest, but he forced himself to choke out, "I can't, too. I'm a loyal warrior." "An apprentice," Penny returned sharply, making him flinch as she had just swiped at him.

"Enough! Penny, I've had enough of your load of dung. If your purpose is really for a family reunion, then we're going. There was no point in coming here." Pouncetail suddenly stood up, glaring at her. Penny also spun around to face him, baring her long fangs. "But, dear, it is not. You see, you betrayed me, broke my heart. And now, I will do the same to you." Her gaze flicked to Redpaw, and in a swift move she lunged and pinned him down, one paw raised. But Redpaw had grown since the last time they had met, and kicked out strongly with his hind legs, unbalancing her.

Underneath her shiny coat, Redpaw was shocked to find that Penny was quite bony and weak, so tumbled off him easily, already panting. He heard a low growl from Pouncetail, and Olivepaw's whisper. "Don't. It's their own fight."

Despite her state, Penny still faced Redpaw defiantly, her hackles raised. When she charged, Redpaw dodged to one side, scoring his claws along her side and letting out a hiss when her claws trapped his tail, pinning it down. Unable to move freely, Redpaw twisted to face her, rage burning in his yellow eyes.

Penny gasped for air, then barrelled into Redpaw, her paws flailing as they struck at his cheek and shoulders. Confined in the tight space, Redpaw could barely move, feeling blood trickle from the wounds.

But the fight turned when Penny's ear- the torn one- brushed against Redpaw's mouth. He bit into it, relishing his mother's shriek of agony as he took hold of it and raked his hind claws across her chest and belly. Penny collapsed, scarlet froth forming at her muzzle.

Something was wrong. Injured, or even dying cats don't act like that... she must be sick! Redpaw realised with a sickening jolt. No wonder she had seemed so crazed.

Pouncetail hadn't noticed anything was off. He was still glaring at Penny with hatred, though Redpaw saw a spark of grief in his yellow eyes- grief for the loss of his mate. "Pouncetail! Penny's sick or something!" Redpaw screeched, concern for his mother overpowering him.

Upon hearing her brother's yowl, Olivepaw sprinted towards them, anxiously examining the tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat. "What's wrong with her?" Pouncetail sounded more annoyed than worried. "Badly sick. We have to take her to Littlecloud." Redpaw's breath grew bated as he saw his mother's yellow eyes close.

"No, Redpaw." "What?" "I said, no, Redpaw. The warrior code did not allow me to become mates with Penny. By bringing her to camp, I'll literally be admitting that she was my mate. I would be punished for breaking the warrior code!"

Olivepaw stared at the two arguing toms, thunderstruck. Was Pouncetail, whom had always said that he loved Penny with all his heart, going to abandon her now? Evidently so, for he swept his tail and ordered, "Come on."

Redpaw glanced back at the trembling body. "Come on!" "I'll come back to camp later," Redpaw stared into Pouncetail's eyes. Despite Blackstar having said that he couldn't stay out by himself, Pouncetail shrugged and walked away, with Olivepaw following, her head bowed.

Seems like she won't join me, Redpaw huffed to himself as he crouched beside Penny's body. The dying she-cat's yellow eyes fluttered open and she croaked, "Redpaw... I heard." "I'm sorry about Pouncetail's behaviour. He's a fox-heart." He told her bluntly.

A raspy purr came from deep within her chest. "You always had spirit, my dear son. I'm sorry that I attacked you... twice. The vengeful spirit within me just wanted to avenge Sunny... she was a great mother." "You were, too." Redpaw gave Penny's ears a lick, just as he remembered her doing so many moons before.

Penny let out a sigh. "No, I wasn't. Don't try to deny it, Redpaw. Just..." her chest heaved once, then fell still. Redpaw heard her last words breathed out before his mother vanished from the living world. "Just tell Olivepaw that I loved her...and you too."

He threw back his head and let out a wail that seemed to echo all the way to the ShadowClan camp.