literature

Big Ol' Ghostfiddle RP | Part 2

Deviation Actions

Published: Jan 16, 2014

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Literature Text

_{= Iittlequeen
- mod2amaryllis

For the rest of the day, Cricketleap couldn't focus on her warrior duties. She was distracted and agitated--every bit of prey managed to escape her. She stayed quiet, not wanting to betray to her Clanmates what was bothering her so much. That night, she dreaded returning to the den. She knew Phantomscream would most likely have retired already, but she'd have to step past her to get to Risewing's nest.

"Cricketleap?" A tentative voice came from behind her, belonging to the very she-cat who Cricketleap had been avoiding. Phantomscream was staring at the ground, ears pulled tight to her skull and her tail lowered. "C-can we talk, please? Take a walk with me?" There was a note of hope in her voice and she rose guilt-riddled blue orbs to Cricketleap's face.

The red warrior jumped a bit before turning to meet Phantomscream's pleading eyes. She felt herself freeze, uncertainty and doubt shining in her expression. Her first instinct was to deny her, but with a resigned sigh, she nodded. "Alright." Hesitantly, she gave her friend's flank a quick brush with her tail before walking ahead of her.

The older she-cat let out a breath of relief and scrabbled after Cricketleap, ears pricked. "Let's check the borders while we're out." Phantomscream suggested, falling into an uncertain step just behind Cricketleap. Hopefully by the end of the night, they'd be side by side as usual. They padded on in silence as the silver warrior tried to sort out the jumbled mess in her head.

Cricketleap let things carry on in silence for a while--she could sense Phantomscream's discomfort. She was still annoyed with her friend, but she didn't want her to think she wouldn't listen. She turned back and offered a concerned frown. "So...what did you want to talk about?" She didn't slow down, but she swiveled her ears readily in the tabby's direction.

Phantomscream cleared her throat several times, the speech she had prepared fleeing her mind in an instance. She stepped up to Cricketleap's side, letting their pelts brush. "I, uh, I wanted to apol-" the tabby's words were cut off as she whipped her head to the side, nostrils flaring. "Oh no." She croaked, voice edging higher with hysteria. "Oh no, oh no."

"Well, what've we got here?" A new voice purred. A sleek silver she-cat with dark tabby stripes and amber eyes slipped from the underbrush, eyeing the two.

Cricketleap's fur immediately bristled in alarm as an unfamiliar she-cat emerged from the bushes. Instinctively, she stepped in front of Phantomscream and withdrew her claws, bearing into the rogue with a vicious glare. "What are you doing here? This is ShadowClan territory!" she barked, drawing her lips back in a snarl. She felt a touch of suspicion as she studied the silver rogue--something about her was eerily familiar.

Behind Cricketleap, she could still faintly hear Phantomscream harshly whispering "Oh no" to herself. The tabby gave Cricketleap an uninterested once over before shifting her attention to the cat behind the red warrior. "Phantomscream, darling, what are you doing over here in Shadowclan? Not betraying your precious Thunderclan kitties are you?" The sneer was present on the she-cat's face but her voice was soft as silk as she spoke. Phantomscream's breath hitched in her chest.

Cricketleap's face fell in hollow disbelief. She looked between Phantomscream and the rogue, finally seeing the resemblance. "This is..." she hissed, shaking her head. "Your mother?" She felt a sudden stab of protectiveness as she saw the terror in her friend's eyes. Her entire body was shaking, as if she was a mouse trapped in an adder's gaze. Her eyes slid back to the rogue, a new type of animosity shining within them. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh lookie, you've finally put two and two together. Quite surprising really. A brute like you couldn't have much brains in there." Arielstrike chuckled, her eyes never wavering from Phantomscream's face. "So what, dear? You moved to Shadowclan cos dear ole Darkshadow bit the dust?"

Suddenly Phantomscream was lunging forward, stopped only by Cricketleap's body, her face contorted in a hideous display of fangs and fury. "TAKE THAT BACK! DON'T YOU DARE SAY HIS NAME!" She yowled, fur raised and puffed out, watery blue irises on fire with hate. The rogue simply laughed again and turned to study Cricketleap.

Cricketleap shoved Phantomscream back with her shoulder, shocked at the she-cat's violent outburst. "Phantom!" she snapped. "Calm down!" She whipped back around to spit at the rogue, "And you, don't talk to my friend that way." Her head lowered dangerously as her voice deepened. "You are a trespasser here. I won't tolerate a single step out of line." She took a threatening step toward the older she-cat. "Now get out." Without looking away from Phantomscream's mother, she placed her tail comfortingly around the silver tabby's shoulders.

Ariel's amber eyes flickered between the two cats for a moment before brightening with realization. "Oh. Oooohhh." She drawled, lips curling back in a snarling smile. "You're quite the tomish looking she-cat. And here I thought my daughter.." her head shook, a look of mock sadness taking over her features. "It's a shame, relationships like these are abominations. Disgusting," she spat, becoming animated a bit as she spoke. Phantomscream's growling ended on a whimpered gurgle as she caught on to her mother's train of thought. "Figures you would be such a disappointment, Phantom dear."

Cricketleap felt herself flinch in insecurity. Without knowing anything about her, this she-cat had already picked out all the flaws that made the young warrior lose confidence. She shook it off and regained her harsh expression, slashing her tail through the air and trying to look as intimidating as possible. She froze once again when she heard Phantomscream trail off at her mother's comment. Confused, she glanced back at her friend and met her scared blue eyes. "What is she talking about?”

"I... I don't..." Phantomscream's orbs were flickering frantically between Cricketleap and Arielstrike, her breath coming in short gasps.

"What I'm SAYING," Arielstrike snarled from her position a few tail lengths away. "Is that she-cat's should be with toms, no matter how masculine one LOOKS."

"Mother!" The word was hissed through clenched teeth. "Stop this!"

Arielstrike only sneered more. "I'm glad I left when I did," She continued to growl, tail flicking in contempt. "So I didn't have to watch you grow up and be the ABOMINATION that you are. You're pathetic, Phantomscream, utterly PATHETIC." The Shadowclanner recoiled, stung, tears obscurring her vision. What had she... what had she done to deserve so much hate from her own mother?

"How dare you?!" the red warrior barked, making a quick swipe at the intruder's snide face. "What kind of abomination could she possibly...?" Cricketleap felt her blood go cold as she finally realized what Phantomscream's mother was referring to. Her mind flashed back to an image of her own mother, regarding her kit with shame and disgust. A shiver ran through her body and her jaw went slack. She felt like a complete moron. She couldn't look at her friend as she hissed, "An abomination...like me?" How could she not have noticed? The fleeting looks, the warm smiles... Slowly, she turned to the silver tabby. Her heart wasn't beating as she asked quietly, "Does she mean...?" Her head shook. "All this time?"

Arielstrike reared back as the Shadowclam warrior made a slash at her, Cricketleap's claws snagging just the tips of her velvet nose. Phantomscream let out a low whine, ears flattening to her head and her tail tucking between her back legs. "Cricketleap, I... I can explain!" She mewed desperately, voice taut with fear. "Listen, I kn-"

The silver she-cat's words were cut off as her mother launched her frame at Cricketleap, jaws parted in a furious yowl of anger. "How dare you attack me you mangy fleabag!" Arielstrike snarled.

Cricketleap braced herself, a fierce protectiveness suddenly giving her the courage of a lion. She pushed back forcefully against Phantomscream to bring both of them out of the she-cat's range. When she landed, the young warrior dashed to her flank and snapped at her hind legs, a brutal snarl ripping from her throat. She jumped away from her opponent just as she reached back to retaliate. Cricketleap turned to Phantomscream and screeched, "Phantom, snap out of it! Help me!"

Arielstrike hissed as the red warrior dodged, pushing her daughter out of reach as well. A pained yelp escaped the tabby as Cricketleap nipped at her hind leg and Ariel struck out with said leg, spitting in anger. Her amber eyes were so entirely focused on Cricketleap, that she didn't notice Phantomscream bunching her muscles and leaping at her until it was too late. Mother and daughter tussled in a heap of silver, gray, and black fur, snapping and snarling until finally the warrior kicked out strongly, sending the rogue skidding away.

Cricketleap watched Phantomscream battle her mother from the sidelines, tensed and ready to jump in at any time. But to her shock, her friend was handling the intruder like a vengeful warrior of the ancient Clans. Their fight was charged with hatred, a fury fueled by emotions Cricketleap couldn't understand. Finally, the tabby broke away from her mother, leaping back to stand beside the red warrior as her breath ripped harshly from her throat. Cricketleap gave Phatomscream a small, concerned look before turning back to her mother, bearing her teeth visciously. "Leave our territory, poisonous fox-heart."

One amber eye stared back at the two warriors, pupils nearly invisible. The other was closed due to a gash at Arielstrike's temple that gushed blood. "This isn't the last of me!" She snarled viciously before turning on her heel and fleeing. Phantomscream's legs buckled and she sank to the forest floor, body quivering. "Did that just even happen?" She whimpered, flicking her ear, which sent out a small spray of blood.

Cricketleap immediately let out a hard rush of air as the rogue she-cat left. She turned to Phantomscream, taking a concerned step forward when her friend collapsed. Her mouth moved as if she was trying to speak, but she didn't know what to do. Her mind was rushing frantically at the realization she'd had. She wanted to help, to bend down and lick the blood from the beautiful silver cat's face, but she couldn't. She was frozen. Confused.

Phantomscream kept her head bent low, eyes trained to the ground. Her shoulders were wound tight, talons digging into the earth as she fought to control her breathing and the flare of pain in her chest. She could feel Cricketleap's stare at her back, which only made the warrior tense more. The silver tabby rose to her feet quickly, steeling her legs beneath her. "We should go report to Pallidstar." Phantomscream mewed brusquely.

Cricketleap made a movement as if to help Phantomscream to her feet, but she couldn't let herself make contact with the silver warrior. She stared at her bent head for a few moments, wanting to say so much but only managing to force out, "Yeah...he'll want to know about this."

She beckoned with her tail back toward where camp lie, fur still bristled slightly. "Lead the way then, Cricketleap." She mewed, giving a weak smile in the red warrior's direction. Phantomscream could tell her friend wanted to say more, but had decided against voicing her thoughts.}