Warriors: Ashfur's Insanity

Chapter 68

Ashstar woke up to the sound of dripping. He opened an eye and gasped in shock. He was in a large cave with puddles around him. A howl echoed around the cave, and ripples spread out in the puddles around Ashstar. 

Snow blurred outside the cave and it piled up outside the cave, then a shadow appeared in the entrance. The shadow had pointed ears. A long snout appeared on the side, and tiny howling could be heard. Then, there was a low growl, and a large dog-like creature stepped into view, a smaller dog-like creature in it's jaws. This creature set down its pup and flattened its pointed ears and curled its lip back, revealing large, pointed fangs.

Drool dripped from its big mouth. It had a thick, fluffy gray pelt and the creature seemed a bit skinny, but it was tall and huge, and had piercing amber eyes that glowed with hate. 

Ashstar didn't even know what this creature was called, but a familiar name rung in his mind. Mist swirled around him as the creature lunged, its jaws opened so much that it looked as if it could swallow Ashstar whole. 

*GASP* Ashstar woke up, his heart pounding. He was in the forest, still laying under the tree that he'd last fallen asleep under. 

"Ashstar, they're coming for you," A voice whispered in his ear. 

Ashstar unsheathed his claws and turned around, only to see Wolffang. "What do you want?" He growled.

"Those were wolves, incase you forgot. You named me after one, didn't you?" Wolffang growled. "They'll tear your Clan apart!" He hissed, lifting his paws and baring his fangs.

Ashstar didn't want to show his fear of that creature. He rolled his eyes, and his neck fur bristled. "Yeah, right, they're in the mountains, right? They'd never travel down here, and my Clan could easily defeat them," Ashstar growled. 

"Don't act like these creatures are a small group of mice! They're fiercer than dogs!" Wolffang growled.  "So get ready, make your mentors train their apprentices extra hard!"

Ashstar flattened his ears. "Why do you care what happens to my Clan?? You never cared about us when you were alive!" He hissed, standing up and looming over his ghostly son. 

Wolffang shrank back. Then he rose to his paws. "They....came for me...I saved you," He meowed, before fading away.

Ashstar was left confused. 'They'?! What did 'they' mean? A second thought crossed his mind. "I saved you." 

Every night, Ashstar would be haunted by those.... those wolves... he'd have dreams of them. He didn't understand anymore. His stomach hurt more than his brain, which was full of thoughts. He hadn't gone back to his Clan, he'd stayed by this tree for about a moon, watching the river flow, and watching blossoms slowly drift down in front of him. Being away from his own Clan gave him peace, and he didn't have to worry about fighting and arguing. He was surprised a patrol hadn't passed through here yet, when all of a sudden...

"Ashstar!" A voice called.

Was that Jaywing? Ashstar just watched his own reflection for a moment. Jaywing's reflection appeared in the river. 

"Ashstar, what are you doing here?" She growled. "You had us all worried sick!" She growled. 

Ashstar shivered, ignoring her. Then, he saw an image flash in his mind, a wolf that had Jaywing all bloody and clamped in its jaws. He sat up, gasping for air. He turned around and saw a look of concern on Jaywing's face.  Of course she was worried for him.