Longshadow's curse

Chapter Seven

“Rippledpool?” Barkface’s eyes were their normal brown, instead of red. His dark brown face was covered in new pink scars. “Rippledpool!” He mewed and pounced on her, burying his muzzle in her fur.
        “Uh, Barkface?” Rippledpool mewed awkwardly. Barkface had never been one to show affection, and the fact that he had almost killed Stonepelt did not make it any less surprising. He looked up at her and seemed to realize what he had just done, and shrunk back, his eyes became their normal dull glare.
        “My apologies, Rippledpool. I am quite happy to have run into you…” He meowed.
        “Literally.” Rippledpool mewed. Her eyes gleamed, and she felt as though she had just found out a secret, the secret of Barkface’s soft side.
        “Yes. I have come to ask to return to camp, I, I, I don’t know what had come over me when I attacked Stonepelt. It was as though I was being controlled.”
        “Yes. I can’t accept you back into the camp just yet, but I will tell Sparrowstar. But I have to go!” Rippledpool meowed quickly, and dashed off.
        “I’m back!” Rippledpool meowed as she dashed into the camp. Vinepaw and Rockpaw peeked their heads out from the elder’s den, they had probably gotten in trouble again. Whiteclaw came out of the nursery, with two of her kits following behind, and Sparrowstar leaped down from an alder where she was keeping watch. Sparrowstar came up to Rippledpool can nuzzled her shoulder.
        “Welcome back Rippledpool. Did you have a safe journey?” She mewed.
        “Yes, but I saw Barkface on the way back.” Sparrowstar’s eyes narrowed.
        “That piece of crowfood! Tell me where you saw him so that we can get some answers!” Sparrowstar hissed, her tail swishing violentlly.
        “Whoah, whoah, it’s not his fault!” Rippledpool mewed. Sparrowstar tilted her head. Rippledpool sighed. There was a lot to explain.
        “I’ll tell you all about it. Could we go somewhere private?” Rippeldpool asked. Nodding, Sparrowstar led her to a very tall oak. After helping Ripplepdool climb up to the first branch, she darted into a large hollow.
        “Here we can talk without the rest of the clan knowing. When I was just an apprentice, I would come here, because, well, that’s another story entirely. But this hollow is made for stories. look around, the bark is scratched and dented and worn, so many stories have happened here.” Sparrowstar fixed her gaze on Ripplepdool. “And I can tell that another one is about to begin.”
        Rippledpool began to speak. She told Sparrowstar about her dream, about Mapletail’s refusal, and about how Barkface had appeared.
“One measly kit has brought this curse upon us? But who…” Sparrowstar twitched her tail and whispered the name. “Longkit. Longkit is the one who brought this curse upon us.” Rippledpool nodded. She has known that ever since she had gotten the message.
“But Sparrowstar, what are we supposed to do about it? We can’t just kill the kit, nor can we let him stay! THis is matter of life and death!”
        “We have to find the one who they said was blind. At the Twoleg bend. She’ll help us.” Sparrowstar muttered. “I must speak to the clan. Please, prepare some herbs for our journey to the gathering. The elders will need them.” WIthout waiting for a nod, Sparrowstar leaped right out of the hollow straight to the ground, and dashed towards the StarTree.
“All cats gather for a Clan meeting!” Sparrowstar yowled.
“Again?” Drizzletail sighed, padding out of the warriors’ den.
“Yes. I have some news for everyone.” After all the cats had gathered, Sparrowstar began.
“Cats of MountainClan, a new danger has come upon us. That of a curse.” The cats in the crowd gasped. “This curse was brought upon us by Longkit.” Another gasp. Whiteclaw leaped forward and snarled.
“Sparrowstar, I respect you and the Clan, but blaming a couple insane cats on a kit? That’s nonsense! You’ve got bees in your brain! Absolute nonsense!” Whiteclaw hissed. Sparrowstar stood taller.
“It all adds up Whiteclaw. In Rippledpool’s vision, they said that a long shadow had been covered over the camp. And that one kit had started it all. That kit is Longkit. We will not kill him, nor remove him from the camp, we must be careful. There shall be at least four cats in the camp at all times to stop any who might be cursed.
“Four cats? We’ll never be able to do patrols or hunting with that many cats at the camp!” Foxtail yowled.
“Silence! That is my order! Tomorrow is the gathering, and I will bring a smaller amount of cats with me. Mothear and Cindermask, Vinepaw and Rabbitpaw, Lightpatch and Notail, and Ripplepdool, you will accompany me to the gathering. The rest of you will relay patrols and hunting parties as normal. Return to your duties!” Sparrowstar ended the meeting, and the cats dispersed.