Post by Chocolate-Fawn on Sept 23, 2018 17:05:31 GMT -5
Prolouge
It was late. Larchfoot hated going on the solo night patrols. He would rather be in his comfortable nest with his mate Icefall. He blinked tiredly. He looked around then thought he saw glowing eyes in the bushes. Larchfoot blinked. There was nothing there. He shook his head and looked at the ground.
"I'm just tired," he thought to himself. Larchfoot's blue eyes darted around his surroundings. Everything went dark.
Chapter 1
Redfang walked through the brush. Squirrelstar told him to go look for Larchfoot who mysteriously disappeared last night while on a patrol. It was raining which it much harder to find the older warrior. He shook his head as a droplet got on his nose. Redfang sneezed. Redfang wanted to find Larchfoot so they could both go back to camp and get dry. His sister would've enjoyed this weather. His mother always joked that Dappleblaze should've been a RiverClan cat instead of a ThunderClan cat. Suddenly a Redfang caught a scent. A scent he hated smelling.
"Blood." Redfang started following the scent towards the lake. He hoped Larchfoot didn't get into some sort of trouble. Redfang than saw it. He wish he didn't. It was Larchfoot's body laying at the shore of the lake. His blood was draining into it. Blood came out of the tabby tom's mouth. It was horrifying. Redfang just stared he didn't know what to do but cry.
Chapter 2
Larchfoot was quite light for a cat his size. Redfang kept breathing in the blood smell. It was defiantly fresh. Whoever killed him must've taken their sweet time in doing it. It wasn't a fox. Nor was it a badger. But the thing was... there was no scent. Not of a cat, badger, or fox. Redding's fur bristled at the thought. He walked into camp. The cats who were outside stared at him with shook, horror and grief. The deputy Ivypool ran inside Squirrelstar's den the moment she saw him. The chimera tom slowly and carefully put down Larchfoot's bloodsoaked pelt in the centre of camp. Icefall emerged from the medicine cat den with Jayfeather and ran up to Larchfoot crying.
"She must've been expecting his kits," thought Redfang sadly. Icefall and Larchfoot's kits will never meet their father. Dappleblaze, Redding's sister emerged from the warriors den and ran up to Redfang.
"What happened to him?!" she yowled in shock. Redfang looked at his sister with sad eyes. He couldn't bring himself to tell her. Redfang shrugged sadly.
"I don't know. One minute he and his mate were talking about kits and the next he's dead in the lake," Redfang said starting to cry. His tears fell onto his fur and on the ground. Despite being older than him by a couple moons Redfang and Larchfoot were great friends. He and his sister never knew their parents since they were found on the territory one cold leaf-bare night.
"I'm going to say goodbye," meowed Dappleblaze walking slowly towards Larchfoot's body. Squirrelstar emerged from her den and made a gesture at Redfang to come over. Redfang walked towards her den. Ivypool was waiting for Squirrelstar to come back inside. Redfang sat next to her and watched as Squirrelstar walked in.
”Redfang,” she meowed calmly, “tell me every detail of what happened.”
Chapter 3
Redfang shuffled his paws. “Take your time,” meowed Squirrelstar putting her fluffy tail over her short legs. Redfang looked at Ivypool, than at Squirrelstar.
”After you told me to go and find Larchfoot after a couple minutes... I-I smelled blood. It was fresh. I followed the scent towards the lake where I found Larchfoot’s body,” breathed Redfang fear stricken at the thought, “he must’ve been laying there all night. The thing was...” Redfang didn’t speak. He put his tail over his face.
”What?” asked Ivypool looking impatient.
“There wasn’t a scent of a badger, cat, fox, or dog on him. Only his and the scent of blood!” he responded shivering. Ivypool’s fur rose up in fear. She looked absolutely horrified. Squirrelstar remained calm. She looked behind her for a moment.
”You can go give your final farewells to Larchfoot,” she mumbled. There was grief in her voice. Redfang understood. Larchfoot was her daughter Sparkpelt’s son. Redfang walked out of the den and towards Larchfoot’s body. He put his nose to his friend’s fur. He started crying.
”I should’ve been there,” he whispered, “I could’ve protected you from whatever killed you.” Redfang laid down next to his friend. He didn’t know what else to do. Redfang will find out who or what killed Larchfoot. He will find them. If it takes him weeks, moons, he will not rest till the murderer is found.
Chapter 4
It's been a moon since Larchfoot's death. His mate Icefall recently moved into the nursery. Redfang still couldn't talk with anyone, not even his own sister. It was leaf-fall so he spent more time hunting then spending time with cats.
"Hey Redfang!" Redding's ears pricked up. He saw the deputy Ivypool walking towards him.
"Yes Ivypool?" he responded putting down his piece of prey. The tabby she-cat sat down, moving her tail.
"Can tonight you go on a border patrol with my patrol?" she asked. Redfang hesitated for a moment before responding to her question.
"Of-Of course Ivypool," he mumbled. Ivypool noticed his trembling.
"I know how it is to lose someone you care about," she said looking less serious and more kind. Redfang remembered moons before he and his sister were born how Ivypool's sister, Dovewing left the clan to be with her ShadowClan mate Tigerstar.
"I'll see you tonight then."
Redfang walked towards the entrance to where Ivypool, Snapfoot, Plumclaw, and Dappleblaze. His sister looked at him than at Ivypool.
"Are you sure he's ready?" she asked. The tabby looked at her.
"Of course he is. Everyone be sure to be careful the fog's coming in," she said, "we will be splitting up to cover more ground."
After a while the group splitted up. Ivypool went with Plumclaw and Dappleblaze went with Snapfoot. Redfang was alone to patrol the WindClan. He was kind of scared. This was how Larchfoot died... The chimera shook his head. His green eyes darted around. Ivypool was right, the fog was coming in and it was very heavy. He padded slowly making sure to be careful. He felt very nervous. Redfang jumped after hearing a sound. He looked around.
"It was just a twig," he told himself. But it wasn't. Staring right at him, through the bushes. Were dark, glowing amber eyes.
Chapter 5
Redfang stared in horror at the eyes. He heard whispering all around him. He can only make out "you ruined my life". Redfang stumbled backwards and watched as a shadowy cat emerged from the bushes. The only colourful things on it's body are the freckles on it's face those cold amber eyes.
"The Shadow is lonely. The Shadow is hungry. The Shadow wants love. The Shadow wants revenge," it said as it creeped towards Redfang. He unsheathed his claws getting ready to attack. But the shadow-like creature was bigger and stronger than him. So he had to resort to his only main force of protection. Running. He started running away. But he wasn't watching where he was going. The fog covered the lake and Redfang fell in. The last thing he saw was the Shadow laughing.
Chapter 6
Redfang blinked open his eyes. He saw Alderheart waiting for him. The ginger tom looked at him and smiled. He walked towards Redfang.
"Oh good you're awake," he said smiling.
"Wh-What happened?" Redfang said coughing. The chimera shivered. Alderheart looked confused.
"You really don't remember?" Redfang shook his head. He looked around and saw his sister's apprentice Larchpaw walking towards him with a piece of prey.
"Dappleblaze told me to give this to you," she meowed, her blue eyes glittering. Alderheart made a gesture with his tail for Larchpaw to leave. She bowed her head in agreement and left.
"You fell into the lake. Ivypool's patrol was able to fish you out but you were barely alive. You kept mumbling something about 'the Shadow'," stated Alderheart. Now Redfang remembered. He was trying to escape the Shadow but he didn't see the lake because the fog was covering it. Redfang looked at his paws in embarrassment.
"Can I tell you something once Jayfeather gets back?" asked Redfang looking down. Alderheart nodded.
"You'll have all the time. You need to stay here for another few days anyways."
More coming soon