Lighttail's Courage (A Warrior Cats fan fiction)

Chapter four

"Come on Lighttail, wake up!" Lighttail groggily opened her eyes. A figure swam above her. She tried to get up but a dazzling pain came from her head, and she could see stars above her. "Please Lighttail! Wake-up!" A voice whispered in her ear. It was an achingly sweet, familiar scent. "Its me, Rosefur. You must wake up my sweetheart. Once you do, I might not be there, but I'm always with you." Like coming out of freezing water, Lighttail gasped and sat up. The room spun for a couple moments, until her vision cleared. Once it did, she saw Barkfur was nose-to-nose with her. "YOU! Get away you lousy, mangy, disgusting name of a cat!" Lighttail hissed, but she knew it was no use. She would lose in a heartbeat if it came to a fight, and now everything that had happened was coming back to her. "Listen to me Lighttail-" Barkfurs voice sounded genuine and urgent,  but Lighttail interrupted, knowing not to trust him now. "I don't have to listen to you, flea brain!" Barkfur's eyes were bulging with worry, and his fur was bushed up with fear. "I know your mad, but just hear me out."

 Lighttail hissed before sitting down, knowing she couldn't do anything else, her head spinning crazily. She felt the gash on her neck, and noticed dock, marigold and cobwebs on it. "Who did this?" she demanded. Barkfur flicked his tail impatiently. "I did. I stole them from the medicine den." Lighttail snorted and got up again, intense anger bubbling so hard inside her she couldn't hold it in. "No you didn't. You don't care about anyone of anything! I hate you, and I curse every person in your dirty family!" Instantly she felt terrible as she saw Barkfur's eyes cloud with pain. "Yes I deserve that. But please hear me out." Lighttail sat down and whispered an apology, still mad but knowing she didn't mean anything she said about his family. "Thank-you." Barkfur mewed, his eyes wild with fear. "We have to get out of here. You are being held prisoner in Darkclans camp. I started acting like that with Ivyshade because I wanted to come back to Darkclan to get info on them. Bramblestar sent me." 

Lighttail was wary. "Why should I believe you?" Barkfur narrowed his eyes."Because I'm your only chance for survival. Look at me, they want to kill you. So I'm going to volunteer to kill you, but right before I do, I'm going to tell you to run, and get back to Thunderclan." Lighttail laughed. "That is the stupidest plan I've ever heard! Why should I believe you?" She mewed, noticing how Barkfur's was beginning to panic. "Because I'm your only chance for survival! Now listen to me, do as I say." Knowing that she had no other choice Lighttail gave up and went along with his dumb plan, thinking miserably that she would probably die trying. Reviewing the plan, she suddenly realized the consequences for him if it went well. "No Barkfur! You'll never make it back. Why are you doing this?" Lighttail weakly sat down, realizing that he would die. 

"I'm sorry about what I said. You would never do those things. But I won't let you die." She mewed. Barkfur waved off the apology and was looking at her with worry in his eyes. "Don't make it right Lighttail or be the hero. You can't right now. Just be careful. I can save myself this time." Lighttail drew herself up. "I know how serious this is for you. But I'm not leaving without you." Barkfur shook his head. "No Lighttail, you can't-" Suddenly, Ivy appeared at the doorway, and Barkfur immediately started being silky, nudging her flirtatiously. Lighttail almost couldn't believe it was the same fearful tom she was talking to a couple moments before, and she wondered if her head was spinning so hard she was imagining it. 

"The prisoners awake!" Ivy laughed. "Nice job Bark. She's sure in for a treat." Ivy and Barkfur nodded knowingly at one another, and then led Lighttail out into the clearing. To her dismay, a whole crowd of cats jeered at her as she walked in. "Kittypet!" "Mouse-brain!" "Long live Darkclan!" The shouts echoed in her ears, but Lighttail stood strongly, surprised she wasn't shivering. Barkfur pushed her into the middle of the circle, where Tiger and Hare stood next to one another."This is the cat who tried to kill Ivy?" Hare laughed. "I'm so scared." Tiger mocked a fearful face while Leaf shivered and let out mock cries of pain. Lighttail hissed. "You should be!" The clearing burst into yowls of laughter. "Who wants to compete?" Leaf yowled. Stomach churning, Lighttail watched as numerous cats offered to step up.