Post by Chapter 6 on Apr 5, 2010 13:01:38 GMT -5
Chapter 6
Leafpool dreamed. She was in the Dark Forest, that she could be sure off. She shivered, remembering the time she’d seen Brambleclaw here with Hawkfrost and Tigerstar. And she’d actually thought Hawkfrost was evil! What a fool she’d been! She padded forwards confidently. She’d been here each night for moons; she knew where to go now. She padded into the clearing to see Ashfur and Hawkfrost already there. Ashfur immediately spotted her and purred with joy.
“Leafpool!” he mewed waving his tail in greeting.
“Hey Ashfur,” Leafpool mewed with a smile, touching noses with him, not seeing Hawkfrost’s look of jealousy and hatred at Ashfur. She turned to Hawkfrost, with her same smile. “Hey Hawkfrost. It’s nice to see you again.” That seemed to lighten him up.
“Same to you Leafpool,” he mewed with a smile, “As always.”
“It’s nice we’re all here together,” she purred, sitting down and wrapping her tail around her paws. Hawkfrost nodded curtly, giving Ashfur a glare which he returned with narrowed eyes. I wonder what all that’s about, Leafpool thought.
“It is,” Hawkfrost mewed turning back to Leafpool, “And since your now out of Firestar’s grip,” he purred, “You’re a free cat.” Leafpool purred at that, knowing he was right. Without those wretched cats watching her every move, hissing betrayal at her, the day had passed blissfully. The only down side was she was now away from Ashfur, and although she liked her new freedom, she missed his company.
“So, what about those hunting lessons?” Ashfur asked smiling at her. Leafpool smiled back at him.
“Sure,” she purred, “I couldn’t have to better teachers.” Hawkfrost nudged her shoulder affectionately and Ashfur blushed.
“Thanks Leafpool,” Ashfur mewed, his smile even broader now, “Well I suppose we should see what you can do first.” She nodded and moved swiftly into her best hunters crouch. She crept forward as fast as she could; doing her best to remember everything Cinderpelt taught her about it.
“Not bad,” Ashfur mewed.
“Not bad?” Hawkfrost scoffed, “No offence Leafpool but I’ve seen kits do better than that.” Leafpool felt a bit put out. Cinderpelt had always said she’d been fine at it.
“Hawkfrost don’t be so harsh!” Ashfur scold, his tail lashing in irritation, “She’s pregnant remember? Have you ever seen a queen try and hunt?” Hawkfrost glared at him for a moment before giving a snort.
“Yeah, you’re right,” he looked at Leafpool apologetically, “I’m sorry Leafpool. That was rude of me.” Leafpool smiled at him, forgiving him instantly.
“That’s Okay,” she mewed, “You need to be honest with me. Otherwise I’m never going to be able to survive on my own.”
“Well maybe we should save the hunting until after you’ve kitted,” Ashfur suggested, “After all, the father is supposed to provide for the mother while she’s carrying the kits.” Hawkfrost bared his teeth at him.
“What are you saying we pad into WindClan camp and get Crowfeather to hunt for Leafpool?” Hawkfrost snapped. Leafpool grunted, lashing her tail angrily.
“Even if he did,” she mewed, “I wouldn’t take anything from that crow-food eater. I’d sooner starve to death.” Hawkfrost and Ashfur were immediately on their paws.
“No!” Hawkfrost hissed, “You WOULD accept the food. You must keep yourself alive!”
“Don’t you ever talk like that Leafpool!” Ashfur joined in, “You can’t die. You won’t die. I’ll make sure of that.” Leafpool felt shocked by their reactions, why did they feel so strongly about her death? It was only a joke! Her face obviously reflected her shock because both toms smoothed their fur and sat back down again.
“Sorry I hissed at you,” Hawkfrost mewed, “But death before my time is not a fate I would have choosen for myself. And its not one I would want for you either.”
“He’s right,” Ashfur mewed, looking at Hawkfrost as though he wished he didn’t have to agree with him, “Don’t worry Leafpool, I’ll provide for you until you’ve kitted and the kits are strong enough to be without you for a while.”
“Really?” Leafpool purred her thanks, “Oh thank you Ashfur. But, what about ThunderClan? I won’t have you getting into trouble for me.” Ashfur didn’t look phased.
“I don’t care what they think I’m doing, or where they think I’m going,” he mewed unconcerned, “They can do what they like. You are all I care about.” Leafpool blinked in surprise. Did…did he really mean that? She also felt waves of pure fury coming from Hawkfrost.
“Leafpool,” Hawkfrost mewed stiffly, “I think you’d better go get some sleep. Me and Ashfur need to talk.” His tail twitched, not taking his icy eyes of Ashfur. She yawned.
“If you say so,” she mewed. Whatever was wrong between them, they could sort out between themselves. “Goodnight.”
“Night Leafpool,” Hawkfrost mewed standing infront of Ashfur, with his back to him, so he couldn’t talk to her, “Sleep well.” He touched noses with her and she gasped. He was stone cold, colder than anything she’d ever felt before. It was like the feel of Moonstone, only he didn’t smell of the stars. He just smelt…normal. She backed away with a small smile, dipping her head in farewell before disappearing through the bushes, and into the darkness of a dreamless sleep.
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Once Leafpool had disappeared through the bushes Hawkfrost turned on Ashfur, snarling.
“What do you think you’re playing at?!” he snapped, teeth bared.
“What do I think I’m playing at?” Ashfur hissed, his tail fluffed out, “Who do you think you are, mooning over Leafpool like that?”
“Leafpool is the most beautiful she-cat I’ve ever seen,” he growled possessively, “Such a she-cat belongs to me, and me alone.” He shoved his muzzle in Ashfur’s face, “Stay away from her!”
“You’re dead!” he spat, “What can you offer her that I can’t? I can be there when she’s awake, as well as when’s she’s asleep! The only way for you two to be together is if she dies!”
“She will one day, and when she does, I’ll be here,” Hawkfrost mewed, standing tall, his eyes gleaming like chips of ice.
“Not on my watch!” Ashfur snarled, “As long as I’m here Leafpool won’t be going anywhere, and I’ll do my best to make sure she goes to StarClan.”
“Even if you don’t,” Hawkfrost quizzed, circling him, “No, we want Leafpool on our side remember? We want her to join us.”
“Is this not good enough?” Ashfur hissed, “She’s here. What more do we need from her?”
“She can help us defeat ThunderClan,” he mewed, “And when her kits are old enough, they can help too.”
“Your insane!” Ashfur spat, “Leafpool would never agree to that! And putting her kits in danger is out of the option.” Hawkfrost narrowed his eyes, did this fool truly believe he would let any harm come to Leafpool or her kits?
“I won’t let them be hurt you fool,” Hawkfrost snapped, “Watch ThunderClan and imagine this when you do. Leafpool returns in the middle of a Gathering. They can’t fight then. She can speak out then without any threat to her. She can announce ThunderClan as the fools they are, reveal there plans, fake of course, and get the other clans to attack them. And then…” Hawkfrost scored his claws across the ground, “The clans will be easy to pick off.” Ashfur flicked his tail.
“I admit, it is a good plan,” he mewed, “But Leafpool is mine Hawkfrost, I will win her heart and don’t you forget it. Remember, without me you’d have got nowhere.” With that, he whipped around and disappeared through the bushes. Hawkfrost sat down with a calm smile that looked wrong on him, to innocent. Then he burst out into laughter, cackles of long, hearty, dark and sinister laughter.
Leafpool dreamed. She was in the Dark Forest, that she could be sure off. She shivered, remembering the time she’d seen Brambleclaw here with Hawkfrost and Tigerstar. And she’d actually thought Hawkfrost was evil! What a fool she’d been! She padded forwards confidently. She’d been here each night for moons; she knew where to go now. She padded into the clearing to see Ashfur and Hawkfrost already there. Ashfur immediately spotted her and purred with joy.
“Leafpool!” he mewed waving his tail in greeting.
“Hey Ashfur,” Leafpool mewed with a smile, touching noses with him, not seeing Hawkfrost’s look of jealousy and hatred at Ashfur. She turned to Hawkfrost, with her same smile. “Hey Hawkfrost. It’s nice to see you again.” That seemed to lighten him up.
“Same to you Leafpool,” he mewed with a smile, “As always.”
“It’s nice we’re all here together,” she purred, sitting down and wrapping her tail around her paws. Hawkfrost nodded curtly, giving Ashfur a glare which he returned with narrowed eyes. I wonder what all that’s about, Leafpool thought.
“It is,” Hawkfrost mewed turning back to Leafpool, “And since your now out of Firestar’s grip,” he purred, “You’re a free cat.” Leafpool purred at that, knowing he was right. Without those wretched cats watching her every move, hissing betrayal at her, the day had passed blissfully. The only down side was she was now away from Ashfur, and although she liked her new freedom, she missed his company.
“So, what about those hunting lessons?” Ashfur asked smiling at her. Leafpool smiled back at him.
“Sure,” she purred, “I couldn’t have to better teachers.” Hawkfrost nudged her shoulder affectionately and Ashfur blushed.
“Thanks Leafpool,” Ashfur mewed, his smile even broader now, “Well I suppose we should see what you can do first.” She nodded and moved swiftly into her best hunters crouch. She crept forward as fast as she could; doing her best to remember everything Cinderpelt taught her about it.
“Not bad,” Ashfur mewed.
“Not bad?” Hawkfrost scoffed, “No offence Leafpool but I’ve seen kits do better than that.” Leafpool felt a bit put out. Cinderpelt had always said she’d been fine at it.
“Hawkfrost don’t be so harsh!” Ashfur scold, his tail lashing in irritation, “She’s pregnant remember? Have you ever seen a queen try and hunt?” Hawkfrost glared at him for a moment before giving a snort.
“Yeah, you’re right,” he looked at Leafpool apologetically, “I’m sorry Leafpool. That was rude of me.” Leafpool smiled at him, forgiving him instantly.
“That’s Okay,” she mewed, “You need to be honest with me. Otherwise I’m never going to be able to survive on my own.”
“Well maybe we should save the hunting until after you’ve kitted,” Ashfur suggested, “After all, the father is supposed to provide for the mother while she’s carrying the kits.” Hawkfrost bared his teeth at him.
“What are you saying we pad into WindClan camp and get Crowfeather to hunt for Leafpool?” Hawkfrost snapped. Leafpool grunted, lashing her tail angrily.
“Even if he did,” she mewed, “I wouldn’t take anything from that crow-food eater. I’d sooner starve to death.” Hawkfrost and Ashfur were immediately on their paws.
“No!” Hawkfrost hissed, “You WOULD accept the food. You must keep yourself alive!”
“Don’t you ever talk like that Leafpool!” Ashfur joined in, “You can’t die. You won’t die. I’ll make sure of that.” Leafpool felt shocked by their reactions, why did they feel so strongly about her death? It was only a joke! Her face obviously reflected her shock because both toms smoothed their fur and sat back down again.
“Sorry I hissed at you,” Hawkfrost mewed, “But death before my time is not a fate I would have choosen for myself. And its not one I would want for you either.”
“He’s right,” Ashfur mewed, looking at Hawkfrost as though he wished he didn’t have to agree with him, “Don’t worry Leafpool, I’ll provide for you until you’ve kitted and the kits are strong enough to be without you for a while.”
“Really?” Leafpool purred her thanks, “Oh thank you Ashfur. But, what about ThunderClan? I won’t have you getting into trouble for me.” Ashfur didn’t look phased.
“I don’t care what they think I’m doing, or where they think I’m going,” he mewed unconcerned, “They can do what they like. You are all I care about.” Leafpool blinked in surprise. Did…did he really mean that? She also felt waves of pure fury coming from Hawkfrost.
“Leafpool,” Hawkfrost mewed stiffly, “I think you’d better go get some sleep. Me and Ashfur need to talk.” His tail twitched, not taking his icy eyes of Ashfur. She yawned.
“If you say so,” she mewed. Whatever was wrong between them, they could sort out between themselves. “Goodnight.”
“Night Leafpool,” Hawkfrost mewed standing infront of Ashfur, with his back to him, so he couldn’t talk to her, “Sleep well.” He touched noses with her and she gasped. He was stone cold, colder than anything she’d ever felt before. It was like the feel of Moonstone, only he didn’t smell of the stars. He just smelt…normal. She backed away with a small smile, dipping her head in farewell before disappearing through the bushes, and into the darkness of a dreamless sleep.
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Once Leafpool had disappeared through the bushes Hawkfrost turned on Ashfur, snarling.
“What do you think you’re playing at?!” he snapped, teeth bared.
“What do I think I’m playing at?” Ashfur hissed, his tail fluffed out, “Who do you think you are, mooning over Leafpool like that?”
“Leafpool is the most beautiful she-cat I’ve ever seen,” he growled possessively, “Such a she-cat belongs to me, and me alone.” He shoved his muzzle in Ashfur’s face, “Stay away from her!”
“You’re dead!” he spat, “What can you offer her that I can’t? I can be there when she’s awake, as well as when’s she’s asleep! The only way for you two to be together is if she dies!”
“She will one day, and when she does, I’ll be here,” Hawkfrost mewed, standing tall, his eyes gleaming like chips of ice.
“Not on my watch!” Ashfur snarled, “As long as I’m here Leafpool won’t be going anywhere, and I’ll do my best to make sure she goes to StarClan.”
“Even if you don’t,” Hawkfrost quizzed, circling him, “No, we want Leafpool on our side remember? We want her to join us.”
“Is this not good enough?” Ashfur hissed, “She’s here. What more do we need from her?”
“She can help us defeat ThunderClan,” he mewed, “And when her kits are old enough, they can help too.”
“Your insane!” Ashfur spat, “Leafpool would never agree to that! And putting her kits in danger is out of the option.” Hawkfrost narrowed his eyes, did this fool truly believe he would let any harm come to Leafpool or her kits?
“I won’t let them be hurt you fool,” Hawkfrost snapped, “Watch ThunderClan and imagine this when you do. Leafpool returns in the middle of a Gathering. They can’t fight then. She can speak out then without any threat to her. She can announce ThunderClan as the fools they are, reveal there plans, fake of course, and get the other clans to attack them. And then…” Hawkfrost scored his claws across the ground, “The clans will be easy to pick off.” Ashfur flicked his tail.
“I admit, it is a good plan,” he mewed, “But Leafpool is mine Hawkfrost, I will win her heart and don’t you forget it. Remember, without me you’d have got nowhere.” With that, he whipped around and disappeared through the bushes. Hawkfrost sat down with a calm smile that looked wrong on him, to innocent. Then he burst out into laughter, cackles of long, hearty, dark and sinister laughter.