Hey guys! This is my newest contest fic for The_Warrior_Writer. Enjoy!

~Blaze

Round 2: Prompt: The rival Clan is about to attack, but if you tell your leader they will kill your sister, who they have hostage. Min: 500 words.

Hostage

She ran through the forest frantically, chest heaving and wind streaming through her fur.

I need someplace to think. She thought. The black and white she-cat jumped over a log and took a sharp right, dodging around the camp to the other side of her Clan's territory.

Ok, so Kestrelstar has Lilyfeather. How did he even get her? Did she trespass on IceClan's territory? Nevermind that... how am I going to get Poolstar and the rest of the Clan over there in secret?

She ducked under some hanging vines, padding into a copse that she knew not many cats knew about. This late in the day they probably wouldn't be around anyway. She padded into the clearing and stood in the center, letting the evening sun shine on her pelt.

Alright, lets back it up. What do I know?

Well, we were patrolling the IceClan border when Lilyfeather and I saw a bunch of cats gathered at our border, including Kestrelstar. We overheard their planning to attack us in the middle of the night. As we were trying to run away to tell the Clan, they heard us running. They immediately attacked us, and I was lucky enough to escape.

As I was running, however, Kestrelstar said "If you tell anyone in your Clan about anything tonight, your sister dies."

So here I am. Wondering what to do like a fool while night time draws closer and closer.

The black and white she-cat walked back and forth across the clearing, tail lashing and fur standing on end.

So should I say something? How would Icestar know if I did? We could stage it, have the Warriors waiting in their dens, pretending to be asleep...

As she thought, a small voice spoke up in her head.

Maybe I could just stay here. Pretend that I was kidnapped too, make up a story, avoid the whole battle. The Clan is strong; one less warrior won't make us lose.

She shook her head, claws kneading the dirt beneath her paws.

Then tomorrow I do what? Beg Icestar nicely for Lilyfeather back? A Warrior of an enemy Clan is a great bargaining tool. Who knows what they could ask for with her life on the line.

"Ok, I'll run back to the camp and tell Poolstar." She told the air around her.

"Tell me what?"

The voice caused her to jump in surprise. She whirled around, seeing no one in the clearing. Wait- were those eyes?

Green and yellow flecked eyes peered out from beneath a bush that lined the clearing. They were followed by a silvery gray body, that stepped casually out from under the bush.

"Poolstar! What are you doing here?" She asked.

"Well, I typically sit here to meditate. I'm more curious about you, Willowshine. You were so distracted when you came here that you didn't even notice me! Is there something you want to tell me?" Her kind eyes and soft words did much to soothe Willowshine's beating heart.

"Poolstar, while Lilyfeather and I were by the IceClan border, we overheard a plot to attack our Clan. They heard us as we were running, and kidnapped her as we fought to get away." The black and white she-cat explained. "They told me they would kill her if I told you about the attack."

Poolstar sat on her haunches, eying Willowshine. The she-cat felt as though her leader was staring into her soul.

"They threatened Lilyfeather, yet you decided to tell me anyway?" She observed. Willowshine averted her eyes nervously.

"Well I was thinking it over and it doesn't make sense for me to keep it from you. One way or another some cat is going to get hurt, and I just realized that it would be easier to fight against IceClan and have the Clan help me get Lilyfeather back instead of me trying to do all of it by myself." Willowshine admitted. Her whiskers twitched in surprise as Poolstar let out a loud purr.

"I am proud of you,my daughter. This was a tough decision for you to make. But instead of acting rashly, you decided to stop and think about it. That is what I look for in future leaders."

Willowshine's jaw dropped.

"Mom, are you..." Poolstar waved her tail in dismissal.

"Lets focus on keeping the Clan safe and getting Lilyfeather out. Then later, you and I can have a much awaited talk about the future."

The leader nudged her daughter before padding out of the clearing, tail gesturing for her daughter to follow. Willowshine shook her head again, mind going in a whole new direction. She darted out of the clearing, tail raised to the sky as she became filled with excitement for the future.

Word Count: 790