The Deputies ⋙ { warrior cats fan-fic }

» ten

          Snowflakes tickled her whiskers as Ravensplash treaded on, her slender tail held low to the ground. Up ahead, a large, rocky crag rose from the ground. A curtain of ice draped over its edge and icicles dotted the two sides that joined to form a sharp peak. Darkivy's hazel eyes flashed with recognition, "This is it," she murmured, "We're almost there."

          Ravensplash gave a small nod, feeling her heartbeat quicken. "Stay close to me," she called over her shoulder to the patrol, "We'll go around to the far side of camp and wait for Hawkstar's signal." She flicked an ear and focused her amber eyes ahead of her, veering to the left of the icy crag in an attempt to stay downwind.

          The eerie silence split like glass as a bloodcurdling cry sounded from behind the patrol. Ravensplash whirled around, her breath heavy. A thick fog had materialized in the forest and now crept in from all sides, obscuring her vision. She squinted through heavy eyelids as the ghostly clouds of white wove their way around dark umber tree trunks, but it was impossible to see anything. Frostlion narrowed his deep blue eyes, "It's the others! They've been ambushed!"

          "Fall back and help them!" Ravensplash ordered, unsheathing her claws and breaking into a sprint. Frostlion and the others sped ahead, kicking powdered snow up behind them as they went. Ravensplash was distracted at the hammering of paws behind her, and she glanced backwards to see that Darkivy and Mistpaw were hanging back. "Hurry up!" she snarled, "This is your Clan we're fighting for!"

          Darkivy met her eyes, but the expression within them was unrecognizable. The dark tabby slowed her pace even further without breaking eye contact, and eventually came to a complete stop. Mistpaw halted beside her.

          Anger reeled in Ravensplash's gut and she whipped around, rearing on Darkivy. "What in StarClan's name are you doing? Get your tail in there and fight!"

          But the she-cat just stared with flaming eyes.

          "Our warriors are in there too!" Ravensplash hissed, her fur standing on end, "You're a sick coward, Darkivy," her sharp amber eyes flickered to Mistpaw. The apprentice looked stunned, even frightened. "And you," growled the deputy, "You're a pathetic excuse for an apprentice."

          When the two cats just continued to stand motionless, Ravensplash whirled and raced away. Whatever, she thought bitterly, I'm going into battle.

          She had barely gone two foxlengths when razor-sharp claws dug into her hindlegs and dragged her backwards. Ravensplash felt her chin smash the ice with such force that it went numb just seconds later. She watched with shock as her jaw left droplets of red in the pure white snow. The ice scraped her skin and she continued to be pulled backwards.

          Her eyes flashed in alarm and she rolled to the right, kicking her backlegs to free them from her attacker's grasp. Ravensplash leapt to her feet and her vision refocused to reveal Darkivy standing, panting in front of her. "What do you want from me?" Ravensplash questioned through bared teeth.

          Darkivy's fur began to settle, "Just come with me to camp."

          Ravensplash flexed her long claws, "I will not!" she spat, "My Clan is in danger. You brought us here. If you'll just help me now, I promise we'll get your camp back. I promise Cedarpatch will be okay."

          Just then, a nearby bush rustled as a figure crept out from behind its shelter. The figure was a small tom cat, with lanky brown legs and a skittish air about him. Ravensplash's eyes widened, "Cedarpatch?"

          Then, there were a dozen other cats in the clearing, all smelling of IceClan. They appeared from behind trees, from underneath clusters of bramble, and from the depths of snow-packed hollows Ravensplash hadn't noticed until now. She scanned the area increadously, feeling as if all the breath had gone from her body. When at last she spoke, her voice was icily calm, "Somebody tell me what's going on right now, or I will slit every last one of your throats."

          "I think it's better you see for yourself."

          The voice came from a large, entirely black tom with soft yellow eyes. Ravensplash recognized his appearance and distinctive low voice. Ebonystride, she thought bitterly, The other deputy of IceClan.

          "Just come with us," Darkivy pleaded, "We're not going to hurt you."

          Ravensplash scanned the line of cats, suspicion alive in her amber eyes, "Aren't you all supposed to be being held captive in your own camp?"

          Laughter rumbled in Ebonystride's chest, and he signalled for his warriors to get into formation around Ravensplash. "All in due time," the tom promised, "Everything will become clear soon. But if you want the truth, you're going to have to start by coming with us."

»   - - -    «

There were two enormous white pines at the entrance to the camp, and when Ravensplash glanced up, she saw that cats sat in their branches, watching her with dark eyes. She felt a shiver run through her body, but kept her steps confident and her breath even as she rolled back her shoulder blades and refocused her gaze ahead of her. The snow had grown much deeper and the fog much thicker. She wondered how IceClan cats even found their way around their own territory.

And it was so cold. In all her life Ravensplash had never been so cold. Further back, her jaw had begun to throb, but it had quickly gone numb again from the rapidly declining temperature.

Beside her, Darkivy walked with Mistpaw. The two of them hadn't said a word, but Ravensplash could tell by the energy in their movements that they were excited about something.

The tunnel to camp was made of beautiful, dark wooded trees that were bent in by the weight of the icicles encrusted on and around their branches. The ice glinted like crystal in the light as the cats made their way through the tunnel. Ravensplash inhaled the frigid air, preparing herself for what may lay on the other side.

When they broke out of the tunnel and into the camp, Ravensplash had to squint and allow a moment for her eyes to ajust to the brightness. Everything sparkled from the beams of sunlight that somehow cut through the layer of fog and into camp. The snowflakes still fell, but slower and more gently than outside, blocked somewhat by the covering of trees that lined the edges of the large clearing. The dens were hollows dug into the sides of snowy hills, sheltered by bushes of bramble and large trees. A huge, dark gray boulder sat at the center of camp, with a plentiful fresh kill pile lying sheltered by its overhang.

And everywhere, cats milled about, though many stopped to stare as the patrol entered the camp. Ravensplash gaped in awe; not a single StreamClan cat was in sight.

This was not the image of a Clan struck down by a long-despised enemy, this was the image of a prospering family that stood as strong and as successful as ever.

She'd been lied to.

// a.n.
hey friends! sorry that took literally an eternity to update. school is crazy and sophomore year sucks and i have loads of work. but please leave a vote, comment, and share this story with warriors fans. i love ravensplash, she is my bb and she needs lots of support. adios.