Enterance Passage
This is the entrance passage of the Cave of the Past.
You hear strange noises coming from inside the cave..... it is too dark to see further into the hole..... you enter, all your senses alert.
Sparktalon's Promise
Sparktalon stirred from his sleep in the Darkclan Warrior den and got up, shaking moss from his pelt. His dreams were haunting him once again, the story of the dying kit he tried to save. It had been a week ago, when a kit called Petalkit had wandered out of the camp, and fell into the lake. Sparktalon had happened to be on a solo hunting patrol, and heard the wills of the kit. He had even jumped into the lake, but had failed to save her. The whole clan was buzzing about the death of the kit, trying to find the culprit. Some cats were even suspicious with him, as he had come back with a soaking pelt. Even his mate, Fernfeather, was the slightest bit of suspicious. He didn't say anything, for he didn't want to ruin the record of his ranking, and no one might believe him. He shook his head, clearing his thoughts, and went into the camp.
the sun was shining, and Fernfeather was sitting by the fresh-kill pile. She looked at him urgently, as if something was wrong, and beckoned him over. She whispered in his ear quietly. "They're watching you, they're suspicious." She nodded her head in the direction of a group of cats, who were eying him with hate in their eyes. What's wrong? What did I do? He got a piece of fresh-kill, before remembering he had to hunt, so he put the water vole back and got up. "Fernfeather, would you like to come hunting with me?" Fernfeather nodded, and at that moment, a strong cat called Tawnyclaw glanced at Fernfeather. "I'd like to come too. May I?" Sparktalon nodded. They could talk about why every cat looked so suspicious at him. They padded out of the camp together, side-by-side. The air was fresh, with the scent and sound of rushing water. "Seems like a nice day," mewed Tawnyclaw. "How about going to the river? We might find some water voles." They headed for the river, at a medium-speed. Once they got there, they split-up, Sparktalon hunting downstream. He spotted a squirrel just tail-lengths away, and dropped into the hunter's crouch. He pounced on the squirrel quickly, and with the hope of a clean kill, blood splattered onto his muzzle and paws. It was about a heart-beat later when a sharp 'thump' came from the water. Sparktalon cursed silently, and whipped his head around towards the disturbance. He was almost swept up by the sight; a white kit, eyes closed, in the shallow water, wounds on hinges, paws, with only half-a-tail, and one lost eye. Sparktalon gasped; this was Petalkit. She had somehow survived, and he was going to bring her to the medicine cat's den immediately. He wasn't going to pass the chance to prove he was inoccent. He rushed over to the kit, putting the squirrel down. He licked her ferociously, hoping to keep her warm despite the cold water. She was alive, her breath coming in soft rasps, but her one good eye remained closed. A sudden twig snapped behind him. He looked around with caution. There was Fernfeather, her eyes wide. She dropped her large rabbit she was carrying and gave an enormous gasp. Sparktalon's eyes filled with joy. "Fernfeather! I found Petalkit! She's alive!" Fernfeather stammered silently, and let out a wail of distress. "Don't fool me!" she snarled, "You killed that kit! You killed Petalkit! Look at the blood on your muzzle and claws! And look at Petalkit's scratches!!" Sparktalon was stunned. Fernfeather - his mate - thought he actually killed a kit? "N-No! You don't understand! I just found her laying here-" He was cut off by a thundering crack of bushes, as Tawnyclaw burst out of the trees. "Fernfeather! What- " Tawnyclaw stopped dead at the sight. "Sparktalon killed Petalkit!" mouthed Fernfeather, starting to burst into tears. "My mate killed a kit!!" she wailed, staring at the half-dead kit. "N-N-No!" stammered Sparktalon, wide-eyed. "I found h-her! We c-c-can take her in n-now, and the medicine c-cat will help h-her!" He saw Tawnyclaw pounced onto Sparktalon, yelling, "Fernfeather! Go! He is dangerous, I will bring him to the clan, bring Petalkit and run!" Fernfeather swiped up the wimpering Petalkit and ran off. Tawnyclaw's eyes flooded with malice. "So," he began once Fernfeather was much out of ear-shot, "no one was supposed to find that kit. I thought I had done it through, tossing it into the river." Sparktalon's eyes widened. "Yeah, thats right." continued Tawnyclaw. "I killed that pathetic little thing. Well, I tried, at least." "Wh-Why are you telling me you did this?" stammered Sparktalon. Tawnyclaw's eyes filled with malice once again as they narrowed. "Because, you fool, you will not live to tell the clans... you shall be exiled... no...... worst.... death sentence." The broad-shouldered Warrior grinned, as a patrol was scented. "You'll have to pretend I've knocked you out for now." And the next thing he saw was total blackness.
"A horrible thing to do, kill a kit." The soft whispers of cats flooded Sparktalon so his senses. He could make out the loud, miserable wailing of the mother to Petalkit. He opened his eyes; he was in the middle of the clearing in the camp, the eyes of every cat watching him. The leader spoke, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the high-rock for a clan meeting." at these words, more cats came out of their dens, casting suspicious glances and whispers at Sparktalon, which he could make out, "That dirty cat! Not even a cat, to kill a kit and hide it!" Sparktalon hung his head down, as the leader announced his exile. "First, Fernfeather has decided to become medicine cat apprentice because of the inccident. Her ceremony will be held tonight after the exile of Sparktalon." Sparktalon's eyes widened with this announcement, followed with a defying sight; Fernfeather and Tawnyclaw, tails entwined. Even though his mate was now going to be a medicine cat, she was with Tawnyclaw, and, even if she could have a mate, she would choose Tawnyclaw? She didn't even believe her mate? "This," continued the leader, "means exile for Sparktalon." Sparktalon's mind went confused. Why - Why my mate? What had he done? Where would he go? But one thought sparkled in his mind: I will not die for nothing. He leaped up, snarling, towards Fernfeather, who gasped. If she didn't believe him, no one would. As he did what he did, everyone in the clearing gasped, some, spat words like 'Traitor!'. He couldn't take this. He was going mad. His mate was dead, but her kits... where were her kits? She had kits.. two......... He ran towards the nursery and came back out with two kits; one's scruff in his jaws and one under his chin. He struggled out of the territory, with no cat in pursuit. his mind spinning, he stopped just outside the territory, put down the kits, and settled down himself. With a small nap, he dreamed. Although it wasn't all that like a dream, it seemed real. He dreamed of Fernfeather, but she seemed to glow with all the stars. His mind had cleared, and he was back to normal. He glared at his mate with hatred. "You," he began in a snarl, "betrayed me. I thought you - out of all cats - would look through to see the truth. But you didn't even try. I saw you, you were with that excuse for a cat." Fernfeather's eyes filled with sorrow. "I apologize deeply. Now I found the truth, being a part of Moonclan-" "It serves you right!!" wailed Sparktalon, depress and hatred in his voice making it croak. "It serves you right!" Fernfeather's expression was a mixture of regret, pain, and love. "I love you, Sparktalon." Sparktalon filled with rage. "You became a medicine cat! You were with Tawnyclaw! You - are - not - my - mate!" Sparktalon whipped around, and heard Fernfeather gasp in a whisper, but he did not look back. He did not love this cat.
He woke with a start. He killed his mate. His only love. His head aching, he got up with much effort. The kits were trembling. "I want to go home, Daddy!" one squealed. "I'll be back for you. Stay.. stay here. I promise." vowed Sparktalon, and off he went. He headed towards the Thunderpath, tears in his eyes. "I have to do this. " he muttered to himself. A monster came into sight, its lights glazing the night sky, which Sparktalon had just noticed the time. He ran, towards the monster, onto the Thunderpath. There he stood, waiting for the hit. He had to die. He killed a cat. But then, right in a heart-beat, he had a flash-back. He was eating a mouse with his mate - the newborn kits - the joy on her face - the times they shared; good and bad - everything, his whole life. The joy of having a mate, a beautiful, gentle mate. But then Petalkit, the fear in her scent - the look on his face - the 'thump' of the dropped rabbit - his mate running with the kit - the two cats, tails entwined - but then, Sparktalon's promise. He had vowed. He came back to the real world, on the Thunderpath, rain pouring down, his pelt soaked. What had he done? The kits were waiting in the rain, probably dead. They had faith in him - they were waiting - their whole life if they had to. He began to run - he had to get back to his kits. To their kits. But then it hit him - he flipped, and fell onto the hard stone, the scent of blood surrounding him... everything went foggy....... but then the last thing he heard before all was gone, out of the mist, his mate's voice.... 'We forgive you, and I will wait forever until the end of time, even if it takes forever.'
the sun was shining, and Fernfeather was sitting by the fresh-kill pile. She looked at him urgently, as if something was wrong, and beckoned him over. She whispered in his ear quietly. "They're watching you, they're suspicious." She nodded her head in the direction of a group of cats, who were eying him with hate in their eyes. What's wrong? What did I do? He got a piece of fresh-kill, before remembering he had to hunt, so he put the water vole back and got up. "Fernfeather, would you like to come hunting with me?" Fernfeather nodded, and at that moment, a strong cat called Tawnyclaw glanced at Fernfeather. "I'd like to come too. May I?" Sparktalon nodded. They could talk about why every cat looked so suspicious at him. They padded out of the camp together, side-by-side. The air was fresh, with the scent and sound of rushing water. "Seems like a nice day," mewed Tawnyclaw. "How about going to the river? We might find some water voles." They headed for the river, at a medium-speed. Once they got there, they split-up, Sparktalon hunting downstream. He spotted a squirrel just tail-lengths away, and dropped into the hunter's crouch. He pounced on the squirrel quickly, and with the hope of a clean kill, blood splattered onto his muzzle and paws. It was about a heart-beat later when a sharp 'thump' came from the water. Sparktalon cursed silently, and whipped his head around towards the disturbance. He was almost swept up by the sight; a white kit, eyes closed, in the shallow water, wounds on hinges, paws, with only half-a-tail, and one lost eye. Sparktalon gasped; this was Petalkit. She had somehow survived, and he was going to bring her to the medicine cat's den immediately. He wasn't going to pass the chance to prove he was inoccent. He rushed over to the kit, putting the squirrel down. He licked her ferociously, hoping to keep her warm despite the cold water. She was alive, her breath coming in soft rasps, but her one good eye remained closed. A sudden twig snapped behind him. He looked around with caution. There was Fernfeather, her eyes wide. She dropped her large rabbit she was carrying and gave an enormous gasp. Sparktalon's eyes filled with joy. "Fernfeather! I found Petalkit! She's alive!" Fernfeather stammered silently, and let out a wail of distress. "Don't fool me!" she snarled, "You killed that kit! You killed Petalkit! Look at the blood on your muzzle and claws! And look at Petalkit's scratches!!" Sparktalon was stunned. Fernfeather - his mate - thought he actually killed a kit? "N-No! You don't understand! I just found her laying here-" He was cut off by a thundering crack of bushes, as Tawnyclaw burst out of the trees. "Fernfeather! What- " Tawnyclaw stopped dead at the sight. "Sparktalon killed Petalkit!" mouthed Fernfeather, starting to burst into tears. "My mate killed a kit!!" she wailed, staring at the half-dead kit. "N-N-No!" stammered Sparktalon, wide-eyed. "I found h-her! We c-c-can take her in n-now, and the medicine c-cat will help h-her!" He saw Tawnyclaw pounced onto Sparktalon, yelling, "Fernfeather! Go! He is dangerous, I will bring him to the clan, bring Petalkit and run!" Fernfeather swiped up the wimpering Petalkit and ran off. Tawnyclaw's eyes flooded with malice. "So," he began once Fernfeather was much out of ear-shot, "no one was supposed to find that kit. I thought I had done it through, tossing it into the river." Sparktalon's eyes widened. "Yeah, thats right." continued Tawnyclaw. "I killed that pathetic little thing. Well, I tried, at least." "Wh-Why are you telling me you did this?" stammered Sparktalon. Tawnyclaw's eyes filled with malice once again as they narrowed. "Because, you fool, you will not live to tell the clans... you shall be exiled... no...... worst.... death sentence." The broad-shouldered Warrior grinned, as a patrol was scented. "You'll have to pretend I've knocked you out for now." And the next thing he saw was total blackness.
"A horrible thing to do, kill a kit." The soft whispers of cats flooded Sparktalon so his senses. He could make out the loud, miserable wailing of the mother to Petalkit. He opened his eyes; he was in the middle of the clearing in the camp, the eyes of every cat watching him. The leader spoke, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the high-rock for a clan meeting." at these words, more cats came out of their dens, casting suspicious glances and whispers at Sparktalon, which he could make out, "That dirty cat! Not even a cat, to kill a kit and hide it!" Sparktalon hung his head down, as the leader announced his exile. "First, Fernfeather has decided to become medicine cat apprentice because of the inccident. Her ceremony will be held tonight after the exile of Sparktalon." Sparktalon's eyes widened with this announcement, followed with a defying sight; Fernfeather and Tawnyclaw, tails entwined. Even though his mate was now going to be a medicine cat, she was with Tawnyclaw, and, even if she could have a mate, she would choose Tawnyclaw? She didn't even believe her mate? "This," continued the leader, "means exile for Sparktalon." Sparktalon's mind went confused. Why - Why my mate? What had he done? Where would he go? But one thought sparkled in his mind: I will not die for nothing. He leaped up, snarling, towards Fernfeather, who gasped. If she didn't believe him, no one would. As he did what he did, everyone in the clearing gasped, some, spat words like 'Traitor!'. He couldn't take this. He was going mad. His mate was dead, but her kits... where were her kits? She had kits.. two......... He ran towards the nursery and came back out with two kits; one's scruff in his jaws and one under his chin. He struggled out of the territory, with no cat in pursuit. his mind spinning, he stopped just outside the territory, put down the kits, and settled down himself. With a small nap, he dreamed. Although it wasn't all that like a dream, it seemed real. He dreamed of Fernfeather, but she seemed to glow with all the stars. His mind had cleared, and he was back to normal. He glared at his mate with hatred. "You," he began in a snarl, "betrayed me. I thought you - out of all cats - would look through to see the truth. But you didn't even try. I saw you, you were with that excuse for a cat." Fernfeather's eyes filled with sorrow. "I apologize deeply. Now I found the truth, being a part of Moonclan-" "It serves you right!!" wailed Sparktalon, depress and hatred in his voice making it croak. "It serves you right!" Fernfeather's expression was a mixture of regret, pain, and love. "I love you, Sparktalon." Sparktalon filled with rage. "You became a medicine cat! You were with Tawnyclaw! You - are - not - my - mate!" Sparktalon whipped around, and heard Fernfeather gasp in a whisper, but he did not look back. He did not love this cat.
He woke with a start. He killed his mate. His only love. His head aching, he got up with much effort. The kits were trembling. "I want to go home, Daddy!" one squealed. "I'll be back for you. Stay.. stay here. I promise." vowed Sparktalon, and off he went. He headed towards the Thunderpath, tears in his eyes. "I have to do this. " he muttered to himself. A monster came into sight, its lights glazing the night sky, which Sparktalon had just noticed the time. He ran, towards the monster, onto the Thunderpath. There he stood, waiting for the hit. He had to die. He killed a cat. But then, right in a heart-beat, he had a flash-back. He was eating a mouse with his mate - the newborn kits - the joy on her face - the times they shared; good and bad - everything, his whole life. The joy of having a mate, a beautiful, gentle mate. But then Petalkit, the fear in her scent - the look on his face - the 'thump' of the dropped rabbit - his mate running with the kit - the two cats, tails entwined - but then, Sparktalon's promise. He had vowed. He came back to the real world, on the Thunderpath, rain pouring down, his pelt soaked. What had he done? The kits were waiting in the rain, probably dead. They had faith in him - they were waiting - their whole life if they had to. He began to run - he had to get back to his kits. To their kits. But then it hit him - he flipped, and fell onto the hard stone, the scent of blood surrounding him... everything went foggy....... but then the last thing he heard before all was gone, out of the mist, his mate's voice.... 'We forgive you, and I will wait forever until the end of time, even if it takes forever.'
