Warriors: Back to the Wild Book#3

Chapter 13

The Daylight Gathering would be happening today. Mousepelt could imagine the Clans leaving now, heading the training grounds. Deathmask and Clawface were laughing about the pathetic fighting moves the Clan cats used. Snowtuft and Thistleclaw stepped in with prey hanging from their jaws. Silversol was grooming herself in the corner, enjoying the sun that shone from the ceiling of the caves.

Mousepelt wondered what these Dark Forest cats thought of the Daylight Gathering. The Clans coming together to train and to remember something called the Great Journey. Clawface seemed to be the oldest, but Snowtuft looked as if he had seen much more. Then again, Mousepelt could feel the lurking presence of more cats watching her as she spilled the blood of cats who had finally accepted her.

Ravenclaw then appeared in her mind. His sweet sent and the warmth of his pelt against her as they slept or ate. Mousepelt wondered of what life they would have had together. Would they have had kits? Ravenclaw probably hated her for leaving. His dream was to be a father and Mousepelt was his last chance. Why did Hollyforest have to die?

Then, was Mousepelt's life really that bad in ShadowClan? Sure she felt used, but... Ravenclaw loved her... Didn't he? At first he didn't seem to care if she was there or not. Then after saving the kits, he admired her enough to give her prey and make her a warrior.

Then Amberheart was made warrior with her. What did that she-cat do? Mousepelt almost died trying to save those kits! She almost froze to death trying to get herbs for ShadowClan and ThunderClan! Amberheart never did anything to prove her worth! All she ever had to do was look pretty. Mousepelt didn't want to hurt anyone, but Amberheart. And the only way to do that was to let her heart turn to ice and kill the cats that liked Amberheart.

Moonglow didn't deserve to die. Silversol killed her. Mousepelt was going to miss the kit she saved from drowning, but if it was getting Mousepelt one paw step closer to hurt Amberheart, it was worth it. Amberheart had to pay.

Mousepelt's anger was so strong she didn't notice Thistleclaw step up and drop her prey down at Mousepelt's paws.

"Eat," the mottled tom ordered, "Silversol is taking you out for more training and revenge, she doesn't want you fainting from lack of food while you're out."

"I don't need food," Mousepelt growled, "and I can take care of myself."  Mousepelt got to her paws and went to see Silversol. "What is it now?"

"We're going to ThunderClan while they're at the Gathering," Silversol stood up, "there is a certain thing I want to test you on."  Mousepelt followed the white she-cat as they made their way out the tunnels.

"What would that be?" Mousepelt asked, getting irritated with the mysteries.

"I'm going to see how strong you've gotten!"

The two trekked through the forest, scenting the cats from WindClan, ThunderClan, and SkyClan that passed on the way to the Gathering. Mousepelt could smell Amberheart among them, close to Foxtail. The brown speckled she-cat suppressed a growl as she followed close behind Silversol. ThunderClan territory was in sight and Mousepelt could hear the sounds of prey scurrying under the leaves. Birds sang in the trees when Mousepelt neared the gorse tunnel.

The scent of milk and herbs hung in the air. Had kits been born while Mousepelt was away? With ears lowered the brown warrior followed her scarred companion as they sneakily made their way behind the medicine den and nursery. Mousepelt could hear bickering in the elder's den.

"Alright," Silversol whispered, turning to look at Mousepelt through narrowed eyes, "Snowsong is in there with her kit, Tigerkit, I want you to go in there and kill them both!"

Mousepelt's heart stopped. Kill a queen and kit? Mousepelt couldn't do that! Even if it would hurt Amberheart, Mousepelt could never harm a kit or it's mother!

"No!" Mousepelt snapped quietly, not wanting anyone hearing them. "I'm not going to kill them!"

"Then you are weak!" Silversol hissed. "If you want respect then show back bone and kill those who could rise above you!"

"I don't want to!" Mousepelt wailed, still keeping quiet.

"Then I'll do it!" Silversol flicked her tail, getting up, ready to kill.

"No!" Mousepelt jumped in front of her. "I'll do it! I'll do it!" Mousepelt lowered her ears before moving to stand beside the nursery. She moved her tail to her mouth and, with the best acting she could, called out. "Tigerkit," Mousepelt used her best Flowerstem voice, "could you come and help me with elders?"  Mousepelt waited as she saw a ginger tom kit bolt from the nursery. He had black stripes on his pelt. Mousepelt waited until the tiny warrior disappeared in elder's den before going in to the nursery.

Snowsong was lying in the middle of the nest with her head on her paws. The white she-cat looked up, her blue eyes stretched wide. She got up and backed away, fear in her eyes. Mousepelt shivered in her fur as she neared the queen.

"M-Mousepelt?" Snowsong pressed against the wall of the nursery.

"I'm sorry..." Mousepelt felt like sobbing and begging the queen to help her, but instead she unsheathed her claws and raised her paw. Snowsong let out a defining shriek that seemed to echo across the forest. Mousepelt raked her claws across the she-cat's throat, blood splattered on Mousepelt's face. Snowsong fell down in a spasm, a pool of blood coming from under her body. Mousepelt felt like screaming. How could she do this to a kit's mother. Who was the father?

Suddenly, a noise frightened Mousepelt from behind. She spun around with her claws unsheathed and raked her claws through a brown tom's throat. Mousepelt stood back as she saw Grasspelt fall down to his death, blood flowing from his neck. He twitched with much pain and confusion in his dark amber eyes. Mousepelt shivered as she looked at both the dead bodies, wondering what she was going to do now.

It's like a nightmare! Mousepelt wailed in her head. She gasped as she saw the ginger scrap with black stripes at the entrance to the nursery. His eyes wide.

"Snowsong! Grasspelt!" Tigerkit shrieked as he buried his face in Snowsong's fur. "Snowsong! Grasspelt! Mama! Papa!"

Mousepelt couldn't take it anymore. She pelted out, ignoring the scents of Amberheart and Ravenclaw as she passed the two. She could hear Ravenclaw hard on her paws. He was the last cat she wanted to face after killing a mother and father. There's no way he'd forgive her!

Finally, Mousepelt gave up and prepared herself to stop, but Ravenclaw ran ahead and stopped her by getting in front of her.

"Mousepelt, please, stop running away from me!" Ravenclaw pleaded. The black tom looked awful. His eyes tired and his pelt matted. "Please come back to ShadowClan, I'm begging you!"

Mousepelt couldn't stand how handsome he still looked after all these moons. "I... I can't!" she cried. "I have too much blood on my paws, I killed Jumbledstar, I killed Moonglow, Snowsong, Grasspelt! I don't belong in ShadowClan with you!"

"I can make it so that it never happened!" Ravenclaw assured, taking a paw step closer. "I'll ask Stonestar to forgive you and we can erase this whole mess!"

"Ravenclaw... I-"

"Get lost!" Mousepelt jumped as Silversol pounced out and stood between Ravenclaw and Mousepelt. "She doesn't love you anymore, don't you get it? She's a Dark Forest cat now!"

"Give her back you filthy piece of trash!" Ravenclaw snarled, unsheathing his claws and eyes blazing.

"Get back to the tunnels!" Silversol ordered, turning her head to face Mousepelt.

"Please, don't hurt him!" Mousepelt begged.

"Now!" Silversol snarled.

With one last look at Ravenclaw, Mousepelt bolted away and slipped in to the tunnels. In the caves, there was no sign of the other Dark Forest cats. Mousepelt plopped down to the ground, put her paws over her ears and screamed as if a cat shredded her heart out.