Lost In The Stars (Book Two)

Chapter Five- Cloudpool

Blurrypelt, Bloodshed's deputy, had his teeth fastened in Cloudpool's scruff. He was dragging her somewhere, but she couldn't tell where. She noticed some other cats dragging StoneClaw and Coldwind, also. She had seen Owlflight and Ashpaw escape, but where was Moonbeam?

Cloudpool wished she hadn't wondered that. She saw a pool of red that had formed on the banks of the river, then a moment later, she saw the body. Moonbeam was so horribly injured that Cloudpool could hardly make out the silver and white fur beneath the thick coat of blood.

No. Her heard ached for the MudClan deputy. Yet another cat killed by Bloodshed. How will we ever survive?

Suddenly, Cloudpool was being dragged into cold water. Is he going to drown me? She thought, but her thoughts were answered when she broke the surface again. Then she was dragged along the dirt floor of GreenClan territory, and finally, thrown into a hole.

Another cat landed on top of her with an oof. She sat up blinking, and realised that it was Stoneclaw. Coldwind was dumped in a moment later, then five guards were placed around the hole.

Cloudpool looked up at them. She only recognized one, Coldstream, the former GreenClan deputy.

"Coldstream." Coldwind growled at him. "Why are you here? You were deputy. You had a chance to be leader of GreenClan. Here, you're nothing but a warrior and a traitor. Why would you give up being deputy?"

"I have given up nothing!" Coldstream spat. "GreenClan will soon be destroyed. I have a promised place here. Blurrypelt will make me deputy when he becomes leader."

Coldstream flattened his ears. "Why are you holding us prisoner?"

"As bait." One of the smaller cats replied. Cloudpool's heart lurched as she realised that the she-cat looked just like Coldwind. Another Bloodshed lookalike? She wondered if the cat was from another litter of Bloodshed's kits. It could be possible, seeing how small she was.

"Who are you?" Coldwind growled.

"My name is Frost." She replied. "I'm your sister, Winter."

Well, my theory is confirmed. Cloudpool thought. Coldwind glared at Frost, his eyes burning with hatred.
"Oh, and these are my littermates, Leopard and Feather." Frost flicked her tail towards the two cats beside her. "And this is Scar." She motioned to the black cat beside Coldstream. Scar had a hideous scar that disfigured his face, slicing through his eye and down to his neck.

Not a cat that I would like to meet in battle. Cloudpool shuddered. Coldwind didn't seem to find any of the cats threatening at all. He should, if he knows anything.

Stoneclaw stood up suddenly. "Look, I know meeting your little siblings is nice and all," He whispered to Coldwind. "But we really need to get out of here."

"Maybe they can help us." Cloudpool whispered back. "If you can convince them."

"Coldstream and Scar are there, too." Coldwind growled. "That would never work."

"Wait, I have an idea.." Stoneclaw murmured. "It's so stupid, it might just work."

He explained his plan to the others, who nodded along slowly. "Okay." Coldwind muttered at last. "I'll go first."

He suddenly leaped out of the cave. His long body made it easy for him to jump high, so he managed to land on the ground beside Scar. He threw the old cat into the cave and leaped at Coldstream.

Cloudpool and Stoneclaw jumped forward and began clawing at Scar's fur. Cloudpool reopened the cut on his face, earning a loud wail of pain. A sharp pang of pity shot through her, but she forced herself to go on, tearing at the tom with all of the anger she could manage. This is for Frost, my baby, who Bloodshed cruelly named his own daughter after.

Then, finally, Scar stopped struggling. Cloudpool climbed her way out of the cave, where Coldstream and Coldwind were still thrashing around furiously. Bloodshed's younger kits watched in horror, too afraid to move.

"You three." Cloudpool greeted them. "Help us, please, and we will give you anything in return. I mean anything." She begged.

Leopard narrowed his eyes. "Oh, yeah? Why should we help you? You just murdered Scar!"

"Help us get out of here unseen," Coldwind panted, "Or Coldstream dies." He had the older cat pinned beneath his paws, a claw pressed to his throat.

Frost glared at the cats. "Fine. But, we have one rule." She turned to her siblings and the three said something in hushed whispers. Then she turned back to the others, "Take us to your leader. We wish to speak to her."

"Fine." Stoneclaw spat, as Coldwind released Coldstream, sending him fleeing into the trees.

"This way," Feather said, "Quietly."