Warriors: Empire's End ~Book 5 Series 3~

Chapter 21

Spectrum's POV:

"What is going on here?!" The tom demanded, catching the attention of the two arguing she cats.

Spectrum and Maple both turned to the dark tabby tom in unison, but Maple was the one to reply. "Spectrum is an old friend of mine. Ex-friend now." The thick furred she cat sent Spectrum a deadly glare, which was immediately shot back at her.

"Spectrum." The tom muttered. "You're not from around here are you? You're not a pet."

The black furred she cat smiled widely at him. "Aw, you finally caught on. It's about time."

His fur bristled and he spat at her. "Don't think you can talk to me like that! I will still kill you!" He thumped his forepaws on the hard ground angrily, perhaps as a way to try to intimidate the Promethean.

A nervous laugh escaped Maple's lips. "I'd advise against that, Tiger."

"Oh yeah?" Tiger snarled. "Why?"

Spectrum flicked her tail in Maple's mouth to stop her from answering, and answered the tabby herself. She was acutely aware of all the eyes and ears currently tracking their every move, and she would prefer it if her identity were kept a secret. If she had found Maple in this place, who knew who else from her past would show up. She cleared her throat. "I'm just a wanderer who can put up a good fight."

"So how'd you make friends with Maple, huh?" Tiger asked, staring between the two she cats. "What's the story?"

"It's not important." Maple responded, beating Spectrum to it. The black she cat nodded along with her long-haired foe. There was no need to dig up the past. They had been friends once, just as she and Silvershy had been not so long ago. Spectrum had helped Maple for a while, she had looked after her and trained her as a young kit abandoned by her mother. As Maple grew older, they started arguing. Spectrum got restless and took off, leaving Maple, just as she had done to Silvershy. It was a recurring theme in Spectrum's immortal life. She simply couldn't hold onto relationships. No Promethean wanted her, and she wanted no mortal. Loneliness had become so common she barely acknowledged it anymore.

Tiger cut through her thoughts. "Spectrum, I would suggest you get going before I decide to kill you. If Maple doesn't want you here then neither do I."

"If Maple your mate or something?" Spectrum muttered, her voice filled with mockery.

Maple looked at her paws in shame and Tiger replied. "You could say that."

Spectrum curled her lip in disgust. "I taught you better than this, Maple."

"Then where were you?" Maple hissed back, curling her thick furred tail around her paws. "Where were you when I needed you?"

The black she cat found herself at a loss for words, but she quickly changed the subject. "Whatever. But I'm not leaving until I get what I came for."

"And that is?" Tiger demanded.

"Some new recruits for NoName's army." Spectrum smiled and grabbed Tiger and Maple, blinking them out of twolegplace  and back to the Dark Forest's territory before they could even react.

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Shadeheart's POV:

Shadeheart rolled onto his back, stretching out his limbs as he soaked up the warm sunshine. Leaf-bare was near, but the sunlight was still strong enough to bathe in. Around Shadeheart, some other Dark Forest warriors relaxed in the sun's rays. It was a particularly hot day, and everyone was enjoying it.

The soft pad of pawsteps beside him made Shadeheart peel his eyes open and he saw Bluesnow standing above him, her deep blue eyes watching him gently. Hovering around her paws were the kits, all staring at their father with big grins.

Shadeheart rolled onto his side, propping himself up with his forelegs. "You're out."

"Didn't think it was fair that we're all stuck inside the nursery cave while you all get to enjoy the sunlight." Bluesnow laughed, nuzzling the black furred tom. "And since you're an Enforcer, you can bend the rules for us, can't you?"

"Of course." Shadeheart purred and patted the ground with a pawpad. "Join me. The kits may play nearby." He turned to the six kits crowding around him. "Stay close to us, don't go into any of the dens and don't talk to anyone, understand?"

"We will!" The kits nodded obediently and bounded away to play some games, their joyful squeals filling the air.

Shadeheart smiled and rested his head back on the sandy ground as Bluesnow rolled onto her back beside him. He curled his tail with her's and she purred quietly in response.

Things were beginning to turn normal. NoName's clutch on her warriors had weakened, and they were more free to do as they pleased. But it didn't excuse the fact that just a few fox-lengths away lay the Prison, which was filled with misery and suffering. Shadeheart chose to ignore the prison for once, and let his focus turn to himself. There was no use in worrying about the Clan prisoners when he could do nothing to help them. Maybe one day something would change for them.

It wasn't long before their relaxing afternoon was rudely interrupted by the thunder of pawsteps, and Spectrum burst through the camp entrance with two strange felines in tow. Shadeheart let out a frustrated sigh and climbed to his paws, stretching slightly before approaching the Enforcer. "What's this?"

"None of your business." Spectrum muttered, dismissing the black tom with a lash of her tail. Behind her, trapped by the Promethean's powers, was a dark tabby tom and a black and red fluffy she cat. They stank of twolegplace. New prisoners maybe? Shadeheart wondered, watching the black she cat tug her new friends towards NoName's den.

The rest of the warriors soon joined Shadeheart, asking a series of questions as they, too, watched the Promethean drag the two rogues away. Strike paced close behind Spectrum, but didn't say anything to her. This seemed to be a private mission for the black she cat that no one had been informed about. Even Dime- who was still half asleep outside NoName's den- seemed confused with the whole situation.

Shadeheart grumbled to himself and strolled away to where Bluesnow now sat by the nursery cave, shielding the kits behind her blue-grey form. They'd find out soon enough, all they had to do was be patient and wait.

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Spectrum's POV:

"You got some already?" NoName leapt out of her nest as Spectrum came barging inside, placing Tiger and Maple down in the centre of the den. The red she cat took a long look at the two rogues and tilted her head to the side slightly. "Oh, only two?"

"For now." Spectrum sighed as she seated herself nearby, keeping Tiger and Maple tightly under her invisible grasp. Her head throbbed painfully from the strain it caused her to use her powers for so long, but how else was she supposed to keep two angry rogues under control and still retain an image that commanded respect?

"The moment you let me go I'll kill you all!" Tiger snarled, pushing against Spectrum's grip. The black she cat gritted her teeth and kept him firmly in place. Luckily Maple was smart enough to hold back and save her energy for later. My training hasn't gone to waste on her. Spectrum remarked silently. If I can get her to cooperate she'll be the perfect Dark Forest warrior that NoName is looking for. The black she cat shoved away the twinge of guilt she felt for her old friend. Ex-friend, she reminded herself fiercely.

They were no longer friends. Maple was now just another useless rogue...

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