Chapter 5

Chapter 5

 Bluekit blinked open her eyes slowly, pushing back the tiredness which threatened to swamp her. Her pelt felt heavy from an invisible weight, and her senses were numb and pitiful.

She looked around her, seeing unfamiliar territory before her eyes. Tall trees towered above her and the sounds of prey scuttled along the forest floor.

Something grabbed her attention out of the corner of her eye, swivelling her head she tried to see what it was.

A large tortoiseshell tom sat behind her, his expression mildly amused but warm all the same. Bluekit scrambled to her paws, shaking off droplets of water from her pelt as she did so. Why was she soaking wet?

"Awake at last, little one." The tom's voice rumbled, "It's been a while."

"Where am I?" She asked sleepily, hoping that this strange cat would tell her.

"You are safe." He mewed slowly, his wise eyes boring into hers. That's no answer! She thought, narrowing her blue eyes and glaring back at him.

"Tell me where I am!" She hissed, unsheathing her claws.

But the tom just purred indulgently, his whiskers twitching in amusement. Bluekit lashed her tail in annoyance and wished that she had been out of camp before, then she might recognize some of this wild forest.

"Rest little one, you should be thankful for a good sleep."

"Why? Why should I be thankful?" Bluekit mewed shrewdly, not trusting this cat one little bit.

"Because I saved you from an untimely death." The tom mewed, inclining his magnificent head towards her.

He saved my life? The thought echoed through Bluekit's mind as she tried to remember what happened, but all she could think of was running into tunnels of blackness. However, the distrust for the strange tom vanished almost instantly. If he had saved her life, then he shouldn't want to do any harm to her, surely?

"What happened?" She asked, tipping her head to one side.

"I found you in the lake after following your scent in the tunnels, you were swept into an underground river. I'm surprised you're still alive, but I was there to save you so it is not so much of a surprise." The tom mewed grandly, his stately figure hovering above her head.

"How could you scent me through water?" Bluekit mewed frowning, assuming his story was true - which would explain the water on her pelt - then it would have taken great skill...

"I have learnt the fine art of scenting even the faintest of smells, yet yours was particularly divine I must say." He mewed softly.

It was almost as though he was flirting with her, those soft tones and amber eyes like honey. To be honest, Bluekit almost fell for his tricks. But she was cleverer than this stupid tom thought she was. She wouldn't fool for his lies, but she'd play along with them. Pretending to scuffled her paws in embarassment, Bluekit blushed.

"Wow. You must be some cat from StarClan to be that cool." She mewed, her voice awed.

"StarClan? I've met those cats - they're stupid and irresponsible, not to mention arrogant - full of their own fur. Please don't tell me you believe in that load of mousebrained tales." The tom mewed, his voice mocking and aloof.

Bluekit paused for a moment. This tom knew StarClan! But he said that they were stupid. Was that true? After all, she was still in the Nursery, it could be just a mousebrained tale like he said, the real StarClan cats just being selfish and arrogant. Perhaps this tom was telling the truth.

"I-I don't believe in StarClan." Bluekit mewed weakly, but her voice firmed as she repeated herself; "I do not believe in StarClan."

"Bluekit!" Lionstar's yowl sounded from behind her, filled with joy she whirled around expecting to see her leader's face as happy as hers to have found her. But his amber eyes were burning in pure fury as he looked at the other tom.

Huh? What's wrong with him?  

"ThunderClan." The stranger snarled, curling his lip back in disgust.

Oh, right - he's an enemy... Bluekit thought, a little sheepishly.

"Go away Sol, or I'll make you." Lionstar growled, his voice showed not a flicker of doubt.

"Oh really? I have a feeling that you won't be able to actually." Sol mewed, his voice softer than a purr, but even more sinister than Bluekit could ever have imagined.

Suddenly without warning, Bluekit found herself being picked up by the scruff and lifted up and away. The forest floor was moving fast beneath her, Sol's teeth digging into the back of her neck as he carried her away from the patrol. But the patrol was gaining on him.

Yowling in terror, Bluekit tried madly to get herself free of Sol's jaws. To think that she had almost trusted him!

"Hold on Bluekit!" Bumblestripe's cry came from behind her, and hope soared in her belly. Her father was here. Perhaps he'd forgiven her for Mountainkit, maybe he loved her again? It was too much to risk setting her hopes on, because this might just be a spur of the moment sort of thing. But still, she just clung onto that hope - for it might just be true.

Sol skidded to a halt, and Bluekit found herself dangling over the hollow in surprise.

He's going to drop me over the hollow! 

Letting out a frightened yowl, Bluekit could do nothing but stay completly frozen.

"Sol." Hollyleaf's snarl broke into her thoughts.

The pregnant she-cat stepped towards them, her green eyes blazing. Something must have happened between the two of them before, because her agonized hatred was even more ferocious than Lionstar's fury.

Bluekit shivered. She felt for the first time a fear of Hollyleaf.

The she-cat unsheathed her claws, and leapt at Sol with her forepaws outstretched.

Bluekit felt Sol's fear pulse through him as the tom stepped back a pace in surprise. He wasn't so sure of himself now.

Hollyleaf bowled into him, thrashing and scratching wildly, her claws hitting him on every blow. Bluekit squealed in fright as she came close to the edge of the cliff. It was such a long way down... She'd surely break every bone in her body if she fell.

Sol lost his footing, his backpaws scrambled and kicked as they shot over the edge. He was holding on by his forepaws as Hollyleaf stood over him.

Without warning, the tom gave a surge of energy and wiped out a raking strike at Hollyleaf's belly, letting her blood spill out of her as she cried out in horror and disbelief.

But Sol had a malvelont look in his eyes. He'd lost his grip on the cliff, but he'd managed to do what would set his spirit in peace before he died - kill Hollyleaf's kits. Now he tumbled down to the hollow carrying Bluekit with him, but he would die happily.

Bluekit suddenly realised something as she began to fall with him. She was going to die too.

Yowling and crying in horror she screeched out in help but she was falling, falling, falling into nothing...