Lets Get out of this Town

Got it all figured out inside of my head
There's a bag packed up at the foot of my bed
You say the word, baby I'm all set

Ivoryflame waited outside of camp, her heart pounding so loud she was surprised that the clan couldn't hear it. Her breath was shallow as she looked up to the stars, which were twinkling just as bright as ever. Was she really ready to reject everything she'd ever known? So was Striker... but he hated where he was. Ivoryflame didn't. But what was here? Her sister who didn't trust her, a dangerous cat set on killing her....

We'll cover our tracks
Tell a couple white lies
Make sure we got a good alibi
And by the time they catch on
We'll be outta there sight
Long gone baby

Striker padded out of the bushes, his white pelt gleaming under the moon "Are you ready?" his eyes were filled with love for her, and Ivoryflame's doubt washed away. "Ready." she purred, rubbing her cheek against his "More than ready."

Striker smiled "Alright, I know the perfect place to go. Quiet, simple, no trees. Nothing like this place."

"You go ahead, I'll catch up." Ivoryflame purred, he tried to pretest, but the look in her eyes made him nod "Alright"

Ivoryflame gazed at camp "I'm sorry Ebonywave. I'll never forget you."

Let's get out of this town tonight
Nothing but dust in the shadows
Gone by morning light
Somewhere we won't ever get caught, ever be found
Baby, let's just get out of this town

Her paws silent across the grass, even with the legs, she soon caught up to Striker. Striker looked at her "Are you sure-"
Ivoryflame shook her head "I am Striker. I'm no use to them anyway. And... I don't want to live anywhere where loving you is forbidden."

Striker purred "Me neither."

Walking so close to eachother that their pelts brushed, Ivoryflame looked behind her, where JayClan was slowly dissapearing behind her.

Don't need directions
Don't need a map
If we get lost I'll be good with that

Soon, the green forest gave way to black and her home was gone. Yet, Ivoryflame didn't regret it. She didn't feel sad, didn't want to go home. In fact, she wanted to run further. Further into the approaching hills.

Yeah, we'll find a way to make the time pass
Windows rolled down with the heat on high
Stars all aligned in a runaway sky
Holding my hand as the miles roll by
Long gone baby

"Tell me more about your home." Ivoryflame whispered as dawn began to break through the black night
Striker sighed "Awful. I mean, it didn't used to be. When I first met you, I loved the place. My father... he was leader, and my mother was the healer. It was great. My brother was going to be leader and I was going to be healer... and my sister, Mai, she was going to be the lead advisor.
That all changed the day Me, Mai and Mom, her name was Jana, went to gather herbs one day. I... I ran onto a clans territory, and... well, the clan caught me and Mai. They... they killed Mai before Jana got to me. I watched her die... bleed out in front of me, gasping. She told me..." he swallowed "She told me she didn't want to die..."
"Jana s-saved me... but... she was so sad after Mai died. She was depressed... and we found her in a lake one day. Drowned."

Ivoryflame's eyes widened "Striker..."

"Craw... my father, he... well, blamed me. I was exiled. I lived there in ridecule."

Ivoryflame sighed, looking up at him, he continued "I'm glad I found you Ivoryflame... or... I don't know what I'd have done."

Let's get out of this town tonight
Nothing but dust in the shadows
Gone by morning light
Somewhere we won't ever get caught, ever be found
Baby, let's just get out of this town

Ivoryflame looked at him "No, Striker. No..." she licked his cheek "You saved me." I didn't even know who I was. You've changed me... in ways I never imagined possible" She purred "And now, we'll spend forever together. They'll never find us."

She looked up at the hills winding above her, the amber grass crunched beneath her paws. She was free. Finally free. She didn't have to worry about what the clan though, or whether she would die the next day in some horrible way. "We're long gone."

She wondered vaguely if the clan had discovered she was gone yet. Would they? Ebonywave would. She'd suspected her of planning this yesterday. Or maybe she was out with Finnick?

If we leave tonight and drive fast enough
All our troubles will be just like us
Long gone baby

Striker smiled "We're here." he led her to a small hill, where the amber grass was taller than them "Just in here." he led her through the Amber grass into a dark, cool cave. A pool of water was in the middle. The walls were braided with grass and two freshly made beds sat in the corner, a small pile of fresh kill was packed at the other corner, along with herbs Ivoryflame recognized from the Medicine Cat den "I... had some time to prepare." Striker whispered sheepishly.

Ivoryflame purred, looked out through the entrance. Golden Plains stretched out in front of her. The air smelt sweet, and small birds of prey flew in the sky, she could hunt them.... if she tried.

"This isn't it." striker purred, he led her down a series of tunnels until they finally came across a small stream. Water trickled down from all around the walls, feading into the stream. A small light came through a crack on the far side of the wall, hitting the water and casting colors across the entire room. "I call it the Shimmer Cave." Striker whispered "Amazing... isn't it." green grass crunched under her paws... just like home.

She sat with Striker in the Shimmer Cave until Nightfall. The Colors cast around began to fade slowly, leaving only the trackling of water. Smiling, she padded through the tunnels, emerging in the warm cave. She finally felt free. She padded over to Striker and curled up next to him.

As she closed her eyes, she felt his gaze upon her "I love you." and she fell into warm, bright, swirling colors.

Let's get out of this town tonight
Nothing but dust in the shadows
Gone by morning light
Somewhere we won't ever get caught, ever be found

Yeah let's get out of this town tonight
Let's get out of this town tonight
We won't ever get caught, ever be found
Baby, let's just get out of this town

[SONG (c) Carrie Underwood]

Finding You

Ebonywave padded through the forest. It had been a few moons since she had run away from Finnick's camp. Everyday the sorrow tore at her, distancing her further and further from the clan. It was just too much for her. Sometimes she would sneak off of JayClan territory to the waterfall Finnick had told her. His scent was stale now, almost gone from the water. But she'd still curl up on the cold stone, sometimes staying the whole night. She'd go back to camp with ice sticking to her fur, and her teeth chattering. Fellstar tried to ask her questions of where she was going, but she always brushed them away. Once, Ebonywave got so badly sick she could barely walk.
Now, she found herself once again in the cave behind the waterfall. Tears welled at her eyes and she sat down, facing towards the waterfall that was frozen in places. Her black and white pelt was soon soaked, and she was shivering so badly. But Ebonywave seemed to be in a different place as she sat there silently. Silently, slowly dying on the inside.

::---::

A silver tom padded through the territory. His long tail whisked from side to side, and his ice blue eyes seemed to be hardened down with some emotion. Scars laced his body, but they were mostly covered by his long fur. Though the ones that weren't, showed his true life. He had fought vicious battles, and usually his opponent didn't live.

But now, he walked up a secret slope to a cave hidden behind a waterfall. He looked up when he got to the cave, and his eyes slightly widened. Sitting there, was a small black and white she-cat, who was soaked to the bone. Ebonywave.

He stared at her. Her ribs were visible beneath her wet fur, and she just looked horrible. He took a step forward, then another and then he was by her side. He grabbed her scruff roughly, but then carefully dragged her down the rough stone. Once he was on snow, he walked faster, going back to his camp.

He walked in, dragging her behind him. He was met by a black cat, Aesir. Aesir narrowed his eyes, but then Ebonywave's eyes finally opened. She sniffed the air slightly.

"F-finnick...?"

Finnick stared down at Ebonywave as her eyes closed just as fast as they had opened. Finnick turned to Aesir.

"We have to help her."

Aesir snorted.

"If you wanted to help her, you should have brought her back to her own clan."

Finnick growled.

"If you value one thing, that thing is she-cat's. Let her live!"

The black cat shook his head.

"She's an enemy."

Finnick took a step forward.

"I'm going to be leader soon. Don't try to say we all can't notice how you're getting older. I know your joints are sore."

Aesir snarled.

"I am fine. And as long as I'm leader, I make the decisions. I want you to kill her."

Finnick shook his head.

"What if she wasn't an enemy. What if she... joined our group."

His father laughed.

"She's blind, and crippled. She will be of no use either way."

The silver tom shook his head.

"If I have to fight you, I will. And we both know who will win. Once she's better, she'll leave. I won't make her join this group. She deserves a better life."

He narrowed his eyes and turned to Ebonywave. He dragged her into his private den and licked her fur until she was dry. He made sure she was warm. He looked at her, memories flooding his mind. He sighed, and sat in the entrance of his den.

At Last.

Fellstar beamed as he leaped up onto the Jaybranch, calling the clan to order "All cats old catch their own prey gather at the JayBranch for a clan meeting!" He smiled as he scented his his daughters, gathered with the rest of the clan under the JayBranch. They had made great strides in their training, developing new ways for hunting and fighting. He remembered when they were young kits, now they were adults, young and beautiful, and it was their due time to become warriors

"I, Fellstar, leader of JayClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in turn.

Ebonypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Ebonypaw, from this moment you will be known as Ebonywave. StarClan honors your determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of JayClan.

Fellstar rested his muzzle on Ebonywave's head and whispered something in her ear. Ebonywave smiled and stepped back.

"Ivorypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Ivorypaw, from this moment you will be known as Ivoryflame, StarClan honors your kindness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of JayClan."

Ivoryflame beamed as he rested his head on her muzzle.

Ivoryflame! Ebonywave! Ivoryflame! Ebonywave!

Fellstar leaped down from the Jaybranch and immediately ran into a cat. He stopped... it was Lightenedcall. "Don't think just because their warriors, they'll live." she hissed and ran off.

Striker

Striker finally got back to camp about moonhigh, and instantly regretted coming back at all. Ehel, of course, had to be guarding camp. Striker attempted to strut into camp, his head held high, but as soon as he came into Ehel's line of vision, the sleek white tom spat at him "Stupid brother. What were you doing out so late anyway?"

Striker shook his head "Nothing."

Ehel hissed and struck him on the head, claws unsheated "Don't lie to me, you were out seeing that she-cat. Fraternizing with Clan cats again." Ehel looked disgusted and Striker cringed "If you are going to take the position of healer, Like you were meant, you cannot be with those vile disgraces of cats."

Striker growled "She is NOT vile. She's not like the other cats."

Ehel hissed "Naive cat, all clan cats are the same. They killed Mae." Just the mention of Mae made Striker's heart heavy with grief "Don't even bring her into this!" Ehel ignored him
"Your lucky I don't tell Craw, he'd demote you. You'd never be healer!"
"Well maybe I don't WANT to be healer!" Striker spat, wincing as Ehel raised his paw to Strike him again, instead, Ehel's voice grew deadly calm "It was our mother's wish that you become healer, and I become leader. Now, understand this you will do as mother wished..."
Striker looked away, he was going to bring it up again
"Seeing as you were the one that killed her."


Striker woke in the morning, his fur ruffled by the wind. As he padded out of his little corner in camp, the usual hisses of "Loser!" and "Weakling!" greeted him, even Craw joined in, his amber eyes glinting as they usually did when Striker walked out.

Ehel glared at him, and Striker made his way toward Makahl, his ears pinned back. The old she-cat smiled at him, her tortoiseshell pelt was now lined with gray. Craw would soon banish her from camp and strand her on clan territory, and he would loose his only ally.

Makahl acted like she didn't realize her days were limited, but her voice was urgent when she talked to him "You have to know your herbs. You're soon going to be taking my place." her eyes were sad "Sooner than you think."

Striker narrowed his eyes, "Makahl?"

She shook her head "If I have taught you anything, its not to dwell on the Negatives boy. I will always be looking down on you,"

Striker looked away "How?"

Makahl winked "The clouds."

"Those big fluffy things in the sky?"

Makahl nodded "When a cat passes, their spirit become wispy, and white, it floats up to the sky, and stays there, so they can look down on the cats they love, in other words a cloud."

Striker felt close to tears "Makahl..."

Craw padded in, shoving Striker aside "Makahl-" he began

"Don't give me the speech, I know whats coming." she looked at Striker "Good luck healer. Look to the sky, if you are ever in need."

Striker watched as Craw led Makahl away, her head held high. There went his tutor. His ally. His one and only friend.