Visiting Willowtail

[Silentclaw]

Phantom easily moved past all the sentries in Shadowclan camp, careful to have the wind blowing his scent away from him. He needed to talk to Willowtail, even if the she-cat would not want to listen to him. He moved into the shadows as he waited, hoping that it would be the she-cat who walked into the den, and no one else.

[Willowtail]

Willowtail's paws were sore as she padded through the silent Camp. A late night foraging for herbs was not the best idea during leaf-bare, but the Medicine Cat had been running dangerously low on marigold, and Arrowpelt was worn out from the training. Dropping ehr bundle of herbs with the rest of the supplies, Willowtail lifted her head, a familiar scent teasing her nose.

Padding swiftly from her Den into the Camp, the she-cat scented the air, and traced the scent to the shadows close to the Nursery. Recognision flashed in her lime orbs, and she opened her jaws, preparing to raise the alarm. But something inside Willowtail, something in her subconcious, stopped her from betraying the Rogue that was hidden in the shadows, for she knew in her bones that he had come because of the message.

Returning to her Den, Willowtail moved from one side to the other, careful not to wake Arrowpelt as she walked. Slipping out of the back of the ferns, the Medicine Cat moved silently around the perimetre of th Camp, stalking the Rogue. At the last moment, Willowtail spotted his creamy form and sprang, landing heavily on his shoulders.

[Silentclaw]

Phantom quickly rolled over, shrugging the cat who jumped on his back off. He turned, silver blue eyes flashing, intent on pinning the cat down and killing it. That's when Willowtail's scent caught in his throat and he saw the she-cat's grey form. He quickly moved away. "Willowtail, you shouldn't sneak up on a cat like that!" Phantom hissed indigently, keeping his voice down. "I could have killed you! Or worse, you could have been seen with me if I had yowled." He he let out a sigh and relaxed, eyes turning back to their liquid gold color. "I need to talk with you. Now." He added in a urgent voice.

[Willowtail]

"I do not take orders from a traitor!" Willowtail hissed, her green orbs flashing. Her lip curled into a snarl, and she stepped backward, fading into the shadows as her gray pelt provided excellent camouflage. Swiftly, the Medicine Cat moved round and whispered, "I will speak to you on two conditions. 1: I remain hidden. 2: You leave once we have discussed."

[Silentclaw]

Phantom felt irritated at Willowtail for once at her strange attitude towards him that always presisted when he met her. "Willowtail, I won't agree, not this time. For once how about we have a conversation where you aren't hiding in the shadows waching with narrowed eyes as if you hate seeing me." Phantom felt as if an icy hand gripped him suddenly. "Unless you do hate me. Is that true Willowtail?" Phantom sat down, and waited for an answer.

[Willowtail]

As she crouched, hidden by the shadows that shrouded her form, Willowtail opened her mouth to tell the Rogue that yes, she did hate him. Yet, she found that no words came from her throat, and instead, the Medicine Cat hissed, "Do not cross the line, Phantom," Spitting his name out like it was venom, Willowtail continued more quietly, ehr voice cold, "You came here to talk, so talk before I call my Clan."

[Silentclaw]

"Answer the question Willowtail," Phantom hissed back. "The answer will decide if I'm wasting time here. Do you hate me?" His tone gave little room for ducking the question, and one only had to look to see he was detirmined to have an answer. Silently, he waited.

[Willowtail]

There was a long pause before Willowtail replied. The air crackled with tension, and her gray hackles bristled as she pondered her answer. "No," Willowtail mewed at last, her voice cold. "I do not hate you Phantom. Now what is it you want?"

[Silentclaw]

Phantom mentally shrugged. He doubted he could get the she-cat to say anything else, and didn't think it wise to push her anymore. "I suspect the Night is becoming suspicious of my true purpose in the rouges. To be honest, don't eat in camp anymore." Phantom began to pace. "Savannaheart seems close to revealing my identity and Blackthorn has been acting peculiar. Or at least she was last time I saw her..." His voice trailed off. Phantom sighed."I haven't seen a friendly face for what seems to be forever. Honestly I'll go crazy if I have to look over my shoulder, wondering if someone is watching me. Than I learned you're having kits again. Willowtail, what do you plan for them?" Phantom asked, finishing his long talk at last. He sat down at last, apparently worn out from talking so much. He waited for Willowtail to respond.

[Willowtail]

"I am glad Blackthorn gave you your message, Phantom," Willowtail mewed, her voice neutral as she felt sympathy for the tomcat who ahd blighted her life. "Blackthorn is a friend to ShadowClan. She has relatives here and visits her Brother, Arrowpelt. Savannahheart is a fool, you should not worry about her. The Night...The Night is a heartless piece of foxdung," Pausing, Willowtail remembered how she had told her son the truth about being kin. "Brightsun knows that I am his Mother. And my plans for the other Kits...I don't know. I am still thinking about it. But one thing is for certain and that is that you are not coming into contact with them, Phantom."

[Silentclaw]

Phantom nodded, his face masking his emotions perfectly. "I knew you'd tell me I wouldn't see the kits Willowtail, though I..." He trailed off. "Silentpaw also knows about... us, though I am surprised you told Brightsun. As for the night being heartless, I already knew that. What worries me most though is that she controls a large force that will follow her every order and that she has an imagination when it comes to torture. Some days I wish I'd never left Shadowclan.."He trailed off again and closed his eyes for a moment, clearly thinking of something.

[Willowtail]

Her voice hardened as she responded. "Then why leave in the first place?" She spat, her eyes flashing demons as she stared at this fool of a tom.

[Silentclaw]

Phantom was no fool, whatever Willowtail might think. He opened his eyes and stared into Willowtail's with a peircing gaze. When he spoke his voice was low and calm. "I left because Shaodwclan could never give me what I desired most of all."

[Willowtail]

Stabs of pain ran through her body as his harsh words were voiced to her. Her eyes not betraying a thing, Willowtail silently wondered if her love meant anything to this cruel Rogue, and if so then why did he abandon her? If he did cherish what was between them, then surely he would be true to it? Oh well, Phantom was a lost cuase as far as she was concerned, but for her Kits, it meant far more. If any of them should discover the true treachery of their Father, would they ever forgive herself or the Rogue? So many questions, so many hidden answers. "Did are love mena anything to you?" The words were out before she could stop them.

[Silentclaw]

Phantom's eyes opened in surprise. "Of course it did, Willowtail. It meant the world to me than, and it means the world to me now. The only thing I have is my love for you." He stood again. "It was Shadowclan that made me leave. The only useful thing I ever did here was spy on the rouges and hunt. Even than, no one besides you seemed to care. So I tried to spy from the rouge's ranks. They needed me far more than Shadowclan did, and in a way I needed them, so that I could find the one thing that my life was missing. Purpose." He looked up at the stars, lost in thought. "It also made me be able to be close to the Night. I could watch her, and plot against her. Now... I'll die happy if only it means taking her with me.' Unconsiously he sheathed and unsheathed his claws. He turned back to Willowtail. "Do you understand what I'm telling you?" He asked quietly.

[Willowtail]

All this time during the conversation, Willowtail had remained hidden in the shadows, unseen by the one who had hurt her so much, but now she stepped forward, moving slowly and gracefully, her belly not yet rotound by the Kits she carried. Her green orbs were pale, more silver than the usual yellow most cats' night eyes were coloured, and the anger was visible, concealing the hurt, loss, confusion and taint of love that would have been revealed if she chose. The moonlight silvered her pelt, making her appear as young and innocent as her Daughter, Silentpaw. A young cat with an old cat's eyes. "I understand that you left of your own free will, breaking the Warrior Code and to a further extent, my heart," Her voice was not bitter, for she only had the strength to let her sadness show. "It is blatant that you wish to destroy The Night, as we all do, and I sense there is a Prophecy, unknown to me, that has decreed it. What I don't understand is why you still love me. You attacked me when I was heavily pregnant, carrying our Kits, and killed your own son before he had a chance to take his first breath. You claim to love me, but why do you hurt me so? When I see you, Phantom, I feel empty. Before the other emotions kick in, such as rage and desire, I feel lost and in pain. And it not only effects me. Silentpaw's eyes, so like yours, are haunted and she takes it hard that she is confined to Apprenticeship and the fact that I cannot restore the entire strength she would have had, no matter what herbs I use. She will always be slightly smaller and prone to sickness. She has a strong will, but the damage done to her is irreversible. And so is the damage done to my heart. I don't want anymore harm to come to any of my children."

[Silentclaw]

"Nor do I," Phantom said quietly. He could see, looking into Willowtail's eyes, that she still did not understand. He didn't know if she just couldn't or wouldn't. Still, he had no time left to convince her. "I'm sorry I've caused our family pain, and still can't tell you why. I'm sorry I can't just cease to exist, as you seem to want me to. I'm sorry I can't seem to be able to help you as I once did." He seemed to sigh as a wind ruffled his fur. He was thin, the outline of his ribs showing beneath his ribs. He turned away, moving towards the shadows of a tree. "I can only say I'm sorry so many times Willowtail." He was silent for a moment. "I must go now Willowtail. I'm sorry I couldn't give you any answers. You are a medicine cat and may try to communicate with Starclan. If you can, try to see a she-cat named Seabreeze. She was my mother. She may give you some answers. Good bye, dearest." He lept onto the tree, than to the other side and was gone.