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  • “ You betrayed the clans, mother. You betrayed me and my friends.” He moved closer to Moonpaw.
    “ The worthless clans are dead . Duskpaw, and your worthless friends are going to join them. “ She paused,” Duskpaw, my son, you and your friends could’ve been part of the winners .Then you wouldn’t be stuck in this rat hole, and your friends wouldn’t be saying their last goodbyes .”
    “ Is ‘Worthless ‘ the only thing you can say, you fox-heart?” Moonpaw cut in. We are not going to die, we are not going to die, she repeated.
    “ This one has spirit. Echomist wants that. Where is the last apprentice?”
    “ Echomist?! “

  • Crowfang gulped. “Any form of punishment is acceptable. Killing prisoners is encouraged. No being kind to prisoners. No having prisoners as mates. Claws unsheathed at all times.” His own claws dug into the ground. “The punishment for breaking these is death.” He couldn’t help but shudder– was he going to die for trying to keep Foxtail alive?

  • “See?” Echomist meowed. “You know the Code, but still you break it. You stuck up for a prisoner, which is being kind to them. But I won’t kill you for that, don’t worry. I’ve found something much more appropriate.” She leaned closer to Crowfang. “It would be a shame for something to happen to your precious little mate, wouldn’t it? Don’t think I don’t know, Crowfang. I’ve known for a very long time.”

    • Crowfang shook his head. “She’s not my mate,” he insisted. “She was my friend, before, but we were never mates.” He took a deep breath, a decision solidifying in his mind. Foxtail had made her choice. It was time to make his. “And though we were friends before, it’s clear now that she will never accept the Dark Forest’s leadership, or my decision to remain loyal to them. I will only sabotage myself by continuing to protect her.” He looked up, forcing himself to meet Echomist’s eyes. “But I won’t make that mistake again. I am loyal to the Dark Forest only, not any traitorous prisoners. Do what you want with Foxtail. She means nothing to me now.” He continued to meet Echomist’s cold gaze, waiting for her response.

    • Crowfang turned, refusing to break her gaze. “I’m not lying.” And he wasn’t. He was done with Foxtail, with the clans, with all of it. “And I’ll prove it as many times as I have to. I am loyal to the Dark Forest only.” A thought occurred to him. “I can prove it to you now. If you want Foxtail dead so badly, I’ll kill her for you.”

  • (It seems like I missed a lot, so I’m going to skip past Foxtail screaming angrily about Skykit’s death.)

    Foxtail dropped a rabbit into the fresh-kill pile and looked for the her former apprentice.
    “Moonpaw! I need to talk to you!”

    • “ Yes Foxtail? “ Moonpaw mewed. She walked over to the she cat, her former mentor, with Duskpaw at her side.
      Duskpaw ‘s mother died, mysteriously , before she could take the apprentices to Echomist.
      That’s what we get, trying to live in a foxhole like this, Moonpaw thought.
      “ You should be in trouble, getting yourself into a mess as deep as this” Foxtail said sternly. She glanced at Duskpaw, and Spotpaw, who was still sleepy and grumpy, for missing out of all the action, “ And dragging your littermate in with you.”
      Spotpaw sat up suddenly,” I chose to be dragged into this, Foxtail. Moonpaw is my littermate, and I will continue to support her in anything she does, even if it involves that fur-ball over there.” She flicked her tail at Duskpaw.
      “ Your mentor should have taught you manners , Spotpaw.”
      But then, a hush fell over the clearing.
      “ Who are you?!” Foxtail asked.

        • “ Whatever you want.” She knew Foxtail hates the dark forest cats.
          I’ll do anything to have at least a fighting chance against those Mouse hearts.
          “ Can I help too?” Duskpaw asked,” Theses cats turned my mother from the clans, and they deserve to pay.”

            • “ Okay, but there is one small problem, where are they? “ Moonpaw asked.
              Spotpaw say up again,” If Moonpaw is coming, I’m coming to. “

                • “ So, you are saying, to find someone who knows where they are, go to where they are, sneak into there, get them out of there, and then what? Get away from the dark forest cats? Find more cats and make a clan somewhere? Become kitty-pets? The one that is reasonable is the second option.” Duskpaw asked Moonpaw’s former mentor, Foxtail.

                • “ Fine, I think I could fine out where they are, but for the rest, I’m not sure.” Moonpaw mused .
                  She and Duskpaw exchanged a glance and she thought, Seedsky will help us. She has to, or we’ll never find thoses kits.
                  “ We will save Thunderkit and Shadowkit “ She mewed instead,” But three cats aren’t enough. We need more support, do you know anybody?” Moonpaw asked Foxtail.

  • Quailsong was trembling still with grief her kit her new born kit died as quickly as it came now here other two kits were being raised by dark forest. Maybe it’s time to give in she said sadly maybe I should just let them kill me

  • Moonpaw padded along the edge of a river, and Spotpaw and Duskpaw cried out,” Seedsky, Seedsky, we need your help.”
    Moonpaw shook her head, and pointed to a hollow, in the middle of a trunk. “ She’s in there, and Shhh! We don’t need to announce to every cat what we are doing,” She whispered.
    Duskpaw stopped her,” Let me go first and, no offense, but Spotpaw, you smell like fish. “
    “ I fell into a puddle, and felt hungry, so I ate one of the fish.” Spotpaw said, irritated.
    Moonpaw walked into the hollow, and looked down a deep hole. She then climbed down the pit and someone whispered softly ,” I’ve been expecting you, Moonpaw.”

  • Quailsong looked in horror as she watched the cats fight. She turned to echomist “what can I do to become a loyal dark forest cat”? I want to become loyal so please tell me what I have to do. Quailsong thought in the back of her head this is for the best.

    Thunderkit cried I want milk milk he cried from the nursery. Shadow kit turned to him knock it of she said. Momma will never give us milk you know that beside she’s to busy. Shadowkit pointed to echomist saying see she’s way too busy