Zodiac (warrior cats)

Chapter 37

Cold waves of snow ravaged through ShadowClan camp,the pine trees blowing furiously in the savage wind. Howls came from the angry storm, keeping Hollowsong awake in the warriors den.
Piles of the cold mass covered the entrance to the den, some of it even blowing into the warriors nests.
"I can't take much more of this!" the new deputy of ShadowClan, Eclipsefall, snapped through the darkness.
"Well you don't have much choice" the eldest warrior, Greenclaw, told him sternly. "I've seen worst Leaf-Bares than this. One time when I was just a kit, the snow was piled up three fox-lengths high."
The youngest warrior Redbird gasped, her amber eyes round in fright. Hollowsong simply snorted and plopped back down into her nest, wrapping his fluffy tail over her nose.
"Maybe I should check on Moonwater" a worried mew came from the queens sister, Huskpelt.
"I'm sure they're fine" Greenclaw calmed her, "The queens have the best den in all of ShadowClan, not to mention the apprentices are staying in there with them."
Since a branch fell on the apprentices den two sunrises ago, the apprentices had all moved into the nursery until it could be rebuilt.
"Did you hear about Dawnpelt?" a whisper came from the former queen Squirrelclaw, "She died last night."
A gasp came from Huskpelt, "Poor Flametail and Tigerheart. They must be devastated!".
"Better an elder than a kit" Eclipsefall meowed bitterly, probably remembering the litter Goldenheart lost last Leaf-Bare.
Hollowsong had befriended that litter, what were their names again? She only remembered the lone she-cat of the litter, Leopardkit.
Much death had come to ShadowClan in the recent moons, two days before Pumpkinpaw was apprenticed, he was run down by a monster on the Thunderpath.
And even the day before that, Owlclaw, a senior warrior, died in is sleep from Green-Cough. Hollowsong wished she had a power that would help her clan mates, not kill them.
But most of ShadowClan didn't even know she had a power, they all treated Umbershade like the main Zodiac. Big deal, she snorted silently while giving her sleeping brother a glare.
He can disappear in darkness, what good can that do in a battle? At least I can fight with my power! Maybe it was time for Hollowsong to reveal her power to ShadowClan after all.
But how?
* * *
Trekking through the lumps of snow covering the ground, Hollowsong picked through the fresh-kill pile until she found a toad that looked at least faintly appetizing.
"Not much to choose from I'm afraid" her father Grizzlyfur meowed, his spiky brown fur covered in icy snow.
"I can go out on another hunting patrol if you want?" Hollowsong offered, after all her father was one of the senior warriors now.
Grizzlyfur shook his head and smiled, "You've worked more than your share today Hollowsong, go eat and relax."
Thankfully bowing her head to her father, the brown she-cat padded through the snow until she found a quiet place outside the warriors den. Biting into the toad, Hollowsong groaned as she almost cracked her tooth, the toad was practically frozen solid!
Tossing it aside with a sneer, the brown she-cat looked up to see the two apprentices Wolfpaw and Spiderpaw looking towards her.
"She must feel so pathetic without a power" Wolfpaw chuckled, "I mean all the other Zodiac's have great powers, and what does she have?".
"Nothing" his brother Spiderpaw burst out laughing, making Hollowsong flex her claws, wanting to cuff the two toms over their ears.
"That's it!" she yowled, finally having enough of this nonsense.
"What's it?" a confused Foxshadow asked as he passed by, his eyes flickering at Hollowsong. Ignoring the Medicine Cat apprentice, the ShadowClan Zodiac tensed her muscles and padded up to the two bratty apprentices.
"I do have a power you little runts" she growled, as Spiderpaw only burst out laughing once more.
"Yeah?" Wolfpaw turned his gray head in amusement, "Then prove it all mighty Zodiac, lets see what your power is?".
Narrowing her eyes, Hollowsong briefly considered sending the two to drown themselves into the lake, but she just needed to prove her point.
"Hollowsong don't" Umbershade warned, his pitch black eyes watching her warily.
Ignoring her brother, the brown warrior padded one pawstep at a time, closer to Spiderpaw. Bending down to his level, Hollowsong opened her jaws to whisper into his ear.
"Go throw yourself into the brambles near the nursery" her voice wreathed through the cold night air, as Wolfpaw only laughed more and more.
But the laughing soon ceased, as the black and white apprentices eyes grew a hazy onyx shade, and he turned towards the nursery.
"What's he doing?" a pregnant Appleleaf asked as the apprentice walked by her.
But no one answered, their eyes were set on Spiderpaw who was only a fox-length from the brambles. Hollowsong curved her mouth in satisfaction, now everyone would know she had a power!
"Stop him Hollowsong!" her brother growled pleadingly, "This isn't right, Spiderpaw's one of your clan mates."
Rolling her eyes, the brown warrior pushed Umbershade aside and walked towards Spiderpaw.
"Stop" she commanded, and in the same instant the toms paws stopped dead. And then all at once his eyes returned to their normal yellow shade, and Spiderpaw looked around in confusion.
"Wow!" a squeak came from Flintkit as he ran out of the nursery, "Hollowsong has the best power in the whole world!". The tiny tom raced towards her, but Moonwater grabbed him back in a snarl.
Most cats were still either looking amazement at Hollowsong, or glaring in horror at her. But she didn't care what they thought, it was her power and she was going to use it.
Turning away to see Scorchstar padding her way, the young warrior briefly wondered if she was in trouble.
I should have just told Spiderpaw to jump in the snow, not brambles!
"That was very impressive" the dark gray leader meowed while bowing his head, "I wished you would have shared that power of yours with us earlier. Its quite...how do I put it?" Scorchstar lifted his paw as his claws sparkled in the moonlight, "It's quite Baneful."
The leaders eyes held a secret poison, as if when he looked upon Hollowsong, all he could see was a weapon to destroy the other clans with.
"Yes..." he meowed to himself with a smile showing his fangs, "You'll be quite useful in the battle against ThunderClan in a moon. Quite useful indeed..."