The Beaten Path
Wildfire: HI! WAZZUP!
Iceclaw: Yo!
WF: UM! HI! I will let my assistant do da talkin' here! Iceclaw front and center!
IC: Yeah, Wildfire doesn't read many FanFics so she doesn't know how this goes. I do though!
WF: I never said you could speak! 50 PUSHUPS! IN ADDITION, YOU WILL CALL ME MASTER OR LORD WILDFIRE!
IC: Yes, Master –goes on ground and does 1 push up- one mouse in the fresh-kill pile! Uhhh!*pant pant* I'm done, can't do…any….more...-drops down on floor, dead-
WF: GET YOUR FREAKIN' TONGUE IN YOUR MOUTH AND GET UP! -GETS DOWN AND WHISPERS IN ICECLAW'S EAR- I am scared! Help me!
-Spottedleaf and Yellowfang fly down and hit Iceclaw hard on the face then disappear. Iceclaw gets up, rubbing her head-
IC: WHAT THE HECK! I thought medicine cats were nice!-looks over at Wildfire who is staring into space- what are you doing?
WF: Wha! Huh! Did someone say somthin'? I think meh assistant can speak! OMG!
IC: She forgets things a lot, now what are you looking at Master?
WF: When did you start calling meh master? Oh, yeah! Um, I wasn't lookin' at nothin' I was thinkin'… I didn't know StarClan cats had WINGS! –Gets up and dances around- I want to be just like them! –Climbs up on a huge rock- Look at me peasants! I can fly! – Somewhat heroically jumps off the rock- I BELIEVE I CAN FLY! I BELIEVE I CAN TOUCH THE SKY! – unfortunately that "flying" only lasted 2 seconds, perhaps less, falls to the ground- OH! THE PAIN! *cough* *gag* I-I…did I FLY Iceclaw! DID I FLY? DID I TOUCH THE SKY? –suddenly breaks into song and dances around AGAIN- OH! I FLEW! I WAS A BALLERINA! I TOUCHED THE STARS THAT CRADLE US IN OUR EARTHLY PIT OF DEATH!
IC: Okay… lets discuss the story now, this story will be featuring many couples such as LeafxCrow-cheering comes from Leafpool and Crowfeather, who are sitting next to each other in the crowd, then suddenly break off and slide away from each other-
WF: OH! YOU'RE HERE TOO! YOU HAVE NO PRETTY WINGS! AHHHHHH! WAHH! Anyway, don't break away! You are meant for each other! –Suddenly breaks off into song…HORRIBLY OFF TUNE! - CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT! –Pauses-… I forgot the rest! WAH! NO ONE UNDERSTANDS THE PAIN OF NO SONG! COME ON! I GETTING THE VIBES FOR A SONG! YANKEE DOODLE WENT TO TOWN RIDING ON A… uh …a… peanut jar? NO NO!
IC: Of course, Leafpool and Crowfeather are here dumbo! Every single warrior cat is out here in our audience! Leafpool and Crowfeather please step in stage.
Said cats get up out of their seats and Crowfeather sits at the very left side of the stage while Leafpool on the very right.
IC: Together, next to each other… center of the stage….-the two cats obey and sit down, their pelts brushing against each other- Good, the next couple is… SandxFire! Come on stage! Take a seat next to Crowfeather!
Firestar quickly grabs the seat next to Crowfeather and whispers something in his ear then makes all color leave his face.
WF: HEHHEHEHEHEHE I wonder what he said! Don't worry everyone! I can read minds! –Concentrates completely on the two cats. - UGH! Knowledge too huge to bear! –Passes out- Wait! Before I pass out…PEACE! LET THE POLAR BEARS LIVE! OH, and Iceclaw I LOVE YOU! –Passes out-
IC: Like a sister, I hope… Lets see, you! Buff tom in the center! Throw her against a wall and see what happens!-Buff tom walks up on stage-
Buff tom- The name's Little Croissant, if I may! I am a French pussycat! Please let me throw thus annoying furry ball into the wall. –Picks up Wildfire and Throws her to the wall- That should do it!
WF: ELLO! THE WORLD WELCOMES MEH! –stops talking and gets up to stand head to head with the "French pussy cat"- Yo What up DAWG! LI'L CROISSANT MAN! HI-FIVE! –Little Croissant Hi-fives her back- LONG TIME NO SEE! AM I RIGHT? HOW ABOUT A WEE CHAT? –Looks at the audience- THIS IS MY MAN LI'L! He is meh bestest bud! He is EL PUSSYGATO! AM I RIGHT?
Li'l: I don't even know you wee one! BUT! YOU ARE AS THE AMERICANS SAY…uh what do the Americans say?
IC: That's all right…ahem let's continue. The next couple is… SquirrelxBramble! Step up on stage next to Leafpool!
WF: OOOHHHH!!!! NO SPILLING ICEY! There is a wee secret in this stuff but I ain't no person to spill! It ain't my thing! Ya know what I mean! –Walks up to the couple and whispers SOMETHING in their ear-
Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw: WHAT! WE DIDN'T PAY FOR THIS!
WF: OH, but you DID! –Shows them the contract- SEE!
S and B: AW SHOOT! YOU PEOPLE ARE EVIL! AND WHEN WE GET OUT PAWS ON YOU-
WF: GETTING A LITTLE ANGRY I SEE! GUARDS TAKE THEM TO THE BACK! –Guards suddenly appear out of nowhere…-
Guards: YES, BOSS!
IC: Don't take them! Everyone is kinda upset! Everyone signed the contract! Leave them alone! You two, -turns to Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight- go sit next to Leafpool, next to each other and shut up! Go away guards! Theses are our main couples! Others not as important are SorrelxBraken! (Cheers erupt from the two cats) FernxDust (cheers)! BrightxCloud (Cheers and awws)! TawnyxRowan (Cheers, mostly from ShadowClan)! StormxBrook (cheers)!
WF: And from our StarClan cats that couldn't make it today… that have, pretty wings… are BluexOak (Cheers)! YellowxRagged (Cheers from mostly ShadowClan and ThunderClan)! And Spottedleaf, who looks down on Firestar (Cheers, even from Sandstorm)! BrindlexWhitexWillow (cheers and gasps, 'he had TWO mates?)! Feathertail, who is looking down on Crowfeather (Cheers), SilverxGray, nobody's really sure if he's dead, and we don't want to spoil (sobs and cheers)! That's about it, right?
IC: Yes, now you tell me to do the disclaimer.
WF: UH HUH! AND The Couples list will change the further you get into the story!
NEVERTHELESS, for now SO LONG FAREWELL I'll SEE YOU HERE TOMORROW!
IC: WOULD YOU QUIT SINGING AND WAVE!
WF: NOW, WE PRESENT YOU, THE PROLOGUE!
IC: WAIT I MUST DISCLAIM! Disclaimer: Wildfire does not own the Warriors series or any of its characters...Except the over twenty OCs that will come in the story later.
WF: SO LONG FARE-
IC: SHUT UP!
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Prologue
Midnight gazed up to the starry sky, a bright red star glowed over her.
"The color of blood; StarClan is not with the starry cat…" whispered Midnight. Suddenly, a small star floated towards the fretful red one… it seemed to be over powered by the red star, the way the red light shone brighter then it's ghostly one. Midnight shuddered, 'Was this one of Starclan's prophecies?' She wondered.
"A beaten path," StarClan breathed around her, "Will be walked once again." The salty tang of blood washed through her mouth.
She spat out the threatening taste and looked up at the stars and sent a silent prayer to StarClan, 'Please, don't let it be more trouble for the Clan cats.' Midnight silently pleaded, but something inside her told her that it would be worse than the trouble with two legs.
She looked back toward the sky, her eyes glazed with horror. A star clear enough to see through showed the face of a cat, it was being drawn towards the bloodthirsty star. Midnight, backed away, the cat was familiar, its gleaming amber eyes, dark brown fur and broad shoulders… "No!" Midnight growled out the stars. "I can stop this!" She yowled at the stars.
Midnight clawed at the ground in frustration, "I must warn the medicine cats!" She growled.
Midnight leaped on to a very tall rock. She bowed her head at the dark sky, "A beaten path will be walked once again" She whispered, "A cat of gleaming amber eyes will be drawn to the rage of no other than kin, it is not alone." Midnight finished, remembering the stars of blood and terror.
Midnight looked at the stars; the chilling prophecy was gone.
As Leafpool set out for her meeting at the Moonpool, her pelt still prickled with uneasiness. Brambeclaw's first day as deputy had gone well; he gave orders with a quiet authority and he worked harder than any cat on his patrols. But she couldn't forget her vision of Tigerstar shadowing him as Firestar announced that he would be deputy. Somehow, she knew, Brambleclaw was still in contact with his murderous father. And that meant the whole Clan was in danger.
Hoping for a sign when she shared tongues with StarClan at the Moonpool, she padded through the forest and emerged through the trees where it gurgled around the stepping-stones. Barkface and Mothwing were waiting for her, and in the twilight Leafpool could just make out the shape of another, smaller cat~ Willowpaw! Leafpool had forgotten that this was the night when the young gray she-cat would be officially received by StarClan as Mothwing's apprentice.
"Hi," she meowed, bounding up to them. "Willowpaw, it's great to see you."
Willowpaw ducked her head in shyly. Her eyes shone; she looked to excited to speak. "Hi, Leafpool," she mewed. "It's great to be here."
To Leafpool's relief the apprentice did not mention the dream they had shared with the catmint. Barkface might overhear, and he would think it very strange that another Clan's medicine cat had to guide Mothwing's apprentice.
"Where's Littlecloud?' Leafpool asked. "He isn't usually late."
Barkface shrugged. "No idea. He may have gone ahead."
"We'd better get on. The moon will be up soon," Mothwing added.
Leafpool could see tension in every hair of her friend's pelt. She could understand why. Mothwing was about to present her apprentice to StarClan when she herself didn't believe in them. She must be terrified of what would happen. Perhaps StarClan wouldn't even accept Willowpaw when her mentor couldn't reach them.
No, Leafpool comforted herself. Feathertail came to Willowpaw in my dream, and promised her she would have lots more dreams of StarClan.
She wished she could comfort Mothwing, but in front of Barkface, she couldn't even admit that the problem existed.
The four cats had just crossed the Thunder Clan border when a yowl sounded from behind them and Littlecloud raced up to them.
"Sorry," he panted. "Cedarheart turned up with a thorn in his paw just as I was about to leave. Welcome," he added, dipping his head to Willowpaw. "Don't be nervous about tonight. You'll be fine; you've got a great mentor."
Mothwing said nothing, but Leafpool didn't miss the flash of panic in her eyes. The cats continued their journey to the Moonpool, Willowpaw stayed in the front, talking with Barkface and Littlecloud while Mothwing walked silently next to Leafpool. The ThunderClan medicine cat couldn't resist saying her thoughts aloud to Mothwing.
"Mothwing," Leafpool started. "How are you going to handle StarClan now?" The words slipped out of her mouth before she could even think. "I'm sorry, I meant no offense." She said.
"Its okay," Mothwing said, "You're probably just as worried as I am." The golden she-cat paused. "I'll do the same thing I always do, don't lap the water." She whispered to her friend. "I don't care about what StarClan thinks; all they ever do is send messages and visions that are more like riddles than prophecies!" She hissed back, turning away to Leafpool.
"You'll never be able to teach Willowpaw properly unless you believe in StarClan." She growled. "Or is that my job?" She yowled. Willowpaw, Barkface and Littlecloud stopped and looked back at her with eyes full of confusion. Mothwing looked at her with eyes that seemed to say, what did you do! "T-To walk on your territory an-and get some-some catnip for Mousefur myself?" she said, it was the very thing that came in came in her head. Mothwing looked relieved and the other medicine cats turned away. Willowpaw stared at her mentor for a few seconds longer before turning back to the path ahead of her.
"Willowpaw will be fine!" Mothwing hissed. Suddenly she softened and her neck fur lay flat. "Sorry… you're right," she gulped, "I'll-I'll lap the water this time." Her green eyes swirled with hope and fear, and then they sparkled. "I'll do what's best for Willowpaw."
Leafpool nodded in satisfaction, and then walked the rest of the way to the Moonpool in silence.
The moon floated high in the sky by the time the medicine cats pushed their way through the barrier of bushes and stood at the top of the hollow. Willowpaw stared in delight at the silver stream pouring down the rock in front of her, and the bubbling Moonpool that seemed to be full of starlight.
"It's so beautiful!" She whispered.
Barkface took the lead down the dimpled path to the waterside. Mothwing followed with Willowpaw just behind her, while Leafpool and Littlecloud were last.
Beside the pool, Mothwing turned and faced her apprentice. "Willowpaw," she meowed, "is it your wish to enter the mysteries of StarClan as a medicine cat?" Whatever she believed privately, she knew the ritual well enough~ and sounded as if she meant every one of them too.
Willowpaw's gray fur, turned to silver in the moonlight, was fluffed out in excitement and she held her tail high. Her eyes were filled with awe as she replied solemnly, "It is."
"Then come forward."
Willowpaw padded up to her until both cats were standing on the very edge of the Moonpool. Mothwing raised her head to gaze at Silverpelt; Leafpool wondered what she saw up there. Her voice was very high pitched and almost shaking as she went on with the ceremony; she looked more nervous than her apprentice.
"Warriors of StarClan, I present to you this apprentice. She has chosen the path of a medicine cat. Grant her your wisdom and insight so that she may understand your ways and heal her Clan in accordance to your will."
Leafpool's heart twisted with pity for her friend, recognizing what each word was costing her. Everyday she lived a lie, but this was worse than everything else, to call on starry spirits she did not believe in where all the other medicine cats would hear her.
Mothwing waved her tail at Willowpaw. "Crouch down and drink from the pool." She instructed, her voice was high and crisp.
Willowpaw obeyed her mentor. Mothwing and the rest of the medicine cats took their own places at the edge the pool, and stretched out to lap up a few drops of the silvery water.
Just as Leafpool was about to lap from the pool she saw from the corner of her eye a dappled golden pelt sit up and shuffle her paws. Leafpool got up too, and looked at Mothwing; her green eyes were swirling with emotion.
"Leafpool," Mothwing started, looking the ThunderClan medicine cat in the eyes, "Do you think StarClan will share dreams with me? Even if they are real, I mean." The RiverClan medicine cat was still not confident about StarClan.
"Of course!" Leafpool said, Mothwing still didn't look sure, "Don't worry, I will be here for you." Leafpool said as she guided her friend to the Moonpool. They lay down next to each other; Mothwing pressed her golden pelt against Leafpool's brown one as they lapped at the water and drifted into a sleep filled with cats with stars in their fur.
Leafpool stood in an empty clearing, no moon glimmered in the sky, only stars glowed brightly. One star, however, was glowing red, the color of blood. It seemed to absorb all the happiness in her, making her blood run cold. Leafpool shuddered, Why would StarClan be with be with that star? She thought.
"I suppose you're wondering the same thing StarClan is." Said a sweet voice, Leafpool turned around to see a dark tortoiseshell she-cat walking up to her, Spottedleaf sat down beside her, and pointed a white paw to the red star.
"You mean StarClan doesn't know what it means?" Leafpool said, her voice was filled with shock, and her eyes bore into the former medicine cat. Spottedleaf laughed and faced the present ThunderClan medicine cat.
"We do not know everything Leafpool." She said, her amber eyes met Leafpool's, "no matter how much we would want to, we don't. All we know is that such a star is not part of StarClan, it thirsts for power, and that it came with a prophecy."
"What's the prophecy?" Asked Leafpool, she already felt worried with 'Blood will spill blood and the lake will run red' and now this? Maybe this prophecy will help understand the last one.
"A beaten path will be walked once again…th….br…cl…" Spottedleaf's words started to slur and she started to fade. "T…fr….de…"
"No! Do not go! Wait!" Leafpool pleaded, "Tell me all of it!" Although, once those words escaped her mouth, Spottedleaf disappeared. Everything around her started to fade into the darkness, she looked up at the fading sky, and another star had begun to move toward the red star. "Is this what Spottedleaf meant? A beaten path will be walked once again?" she whispered to herself.
The other star moved faster and faster to the red one, until, it was directly beside it. Then, the light from the red star seemed to increase; it blazed into Leafpool's eyes. She would have looked away in the pain, but something was drawing her to look at it. She gazed at the yellow star, it's light was getting less visible by the moment, it's strength was fading. It tried to break away but the red star was too strong. The yellow star soon died out, as did all the other things in her dream, she felt herself fading away. Blackness shrouded her as she woke by the Moonpool.
Brambleclaw pushed the thorn barrier and sniffed the air, thinking he could pick up RiverClan scent…or maybe ShadowClan. He could not see Hawkfrost, "Hawkfrost!" He called anxiously.
No reply, there was an eerie silence.
He felt alone, then, turned to see a large thrush through some bracken. It reminded him he had not eaten that morning, so, he dropped into the hunter's crouch. In the same heartbeat, something heavy crashed down on the thrush. He let out a yowl of alarm. The figure turned to him and he noticed the ice blue eyes.
"Hawkfrost, is that you?' Brambleclaw said, "What are doing! You scared off my prey!"
Hawkfrost shrugged, "It doesn't matter it's just one piece of prey! You can order cats to give you prey once you're the leader of ThunderClan and WindClan!"
Bramble claw stood and faced his half-brother was right, but he would still have some explaining to do if one of his clan mates saw him with a RiverClan warrior! "You're not supposed to be here anyway!" Brambleclaw growled
"It doesn't matter as long as I stay two fox tails from the lake!" Hawkfrost defended himself. Then, he flicked his tail toward a frond of bracken, "We can go in there, hopefully one of your clanmates won't see us."
As they sat close together in the arch of bracken, Brambleclaw picked up the scent of ShadowClan. He wrinkled his nose, "You smell of ShadowClan!"
Hawkfrost narrowed his eyes, "I must've picked off their wreck when I crossed through their territory." He growled. "But, never mind that we are wasting time!" Hawkfrost spat.
Brambleclaw nodded and took a deep breath. He hoped he could find the right words to let Hawkfrost know his doubts about Tigerstar's vision without letting him think he was less committed to becoming leader of his Clan. "This idea of Tigerstar's…that we take over the Clans…I'm not sure it will work…StarClan has decreed there should be four clans." Brambleclaw whispered.
His half-brother flicked his tail, "Like Tigerstar said, that was back in the forest! Listen Brambleclaw, ShadowClan has always been a nuisance; don't you think life would be better if they settled down with a leader that would make sure they stuck to the warrior code? Don't you think you could do a better job leading WindClan than Onestar? Together, we could make sure every cat in the forest was strong and happy. No more battles…no more quarrels over territory…" Hawkfrost explained.
"Well, maybe." Brambleclaw could not argue with the vision Hawkfrost set in his mind. It was true that two strong leaders could rule the forest for the good of every cat. He remembered how ShadowClan had ignored Berrykit's cries for help when he was caught in a fox trap. If I were in charge, he thought, no cat would ever watch a kit in pain without trying to help, no matter where the kit came from! He wanted every cat in the forest to be cared for, but more than anything, he wanted what was best for ThunderClan. "But-"A faint cry interrupted him, "What was that?" Brambleclaw shrieked.
Hawkfrost shrugged, "Some unlucky bit of prey." The cry came again.
"No! That is a cat in trouble! Come on, we have to help him!" Brambleclaw exclaimed. He dived out of the ferns and pelted to where the cry came from. I came again, closer, but fainter. A horrible choking sound followed after. Brambleclaw leaped of a root of a tree and found himself face to face with Firestar.
The ThunderClan leader lay on his side on a narrow path between ferns. Foam flicked his muzzle, around his neck was a thin, shiny tendril leading to a stick driven to the earth.
Firestar was caught in
a fox trap!
Bramble claw leaped forward to help him, only to be
thrust into a tree by Hawkfrost's powerful broad shoulder. "Mouse
brain!" The RiverClan warrior hissed. "This is your chance,
Brambleclaw! If Firestar dies you'll be Clan leader!"
Brambleclaw stared at his half brother in astonishment. What is he telling me to do? Then he realized Firestar was trying to speak.
"Birchpaw told me…Blackstar waiting on our territory…had to come alone." Firestar chocked.
Hawkfrost's ice blue eyes gleamed with triumph as he padded down to Firestar and bent down to whisper in his ear. "But Blackstar isn't here. We are. You are a fool, Firestar. You were too easy to trap."
Brambleclaw felt the ground dip beneath his paws, he couldn't grasp the details, only that the absence of Blackstar and the ShadowClan scent on Hawkfrost added up to something murderously evil, "You did this!" he accused his half brother. "You arranged for Firestar to be here where a fox trap was waiting."
"Of course!" Hawkfrost sounded scornful. "I did this for you!"
Firestar's flanks heaved as he fought for breath, his gaze flicked from Hawkfrost to Brambleclaw. Brambleclaw could see that if he did not loosen the wire at once his leader would lose a life or more. Hawkfrost stepped back, he sneered "The brave ThunderClan leader! Not so powerful now, are you? Come on, Brambleclaw! Finish him off!"
Brambleclaw felt as though his paws were frozen to the Earth. Every hair on his pelt stood on end as he hears Tigerstar whisper in his ear, "Kill him! No cat will know! You can be Clan leader! You can have everything you ever wanted!"
He staggered backwards as Hawkfrost gave him a vicious nudge, his tail lashing angrily. "What are you waiting for? This is what we wanted all along! Kill him now!"
No cat knew what happened next, except Hawkfrost, Brambleclaw, and Tigerstar's sprit, because just then, Firestar had slipped into unconsciousness.
Leafpool walked out of the nursery, she just fed Sorreltail, and her paws felt heavy with the new prophecy…what does it mean…what about the stars? She walked to the medicine cat's den at the other side of the clearing. Her thoughts flashed to a certain WindClan tom. I still love him…but how does he feel about me? Leafpool would have wonder further into her thoughts but, then she heard paws rumble outside her den.
Squirrelflight stepped in her den. "Hi, Leafpool! Isn't it a great day outside?"
Leafpool's thought could not concentrate on her sister. Her thoughts moved on.
Then, she scented blood.
Her amber eyes widened. "Leafpool? What is wrong?" Squirrelflight meowed.
"Something bad is happening! Badgers, twolegs, rogues, I do not know! Have you seen anything? Leafpool cried.
"No…" Squirrelflight rested her tail on her sister to calm her. "Everything is fine! I am trying to find Brambleclaw, that annoying furball went out without me! I've been trying to follow his scent…but I lost it…" Squirrelflight said sadly.
"No! Everything is not fine! ThunderClan is in grave danger." The certainty of her terror rippled through Leafpool's pelt and struck cold through her bones. "Will you come with me?" asked Leafpool.
"Of course! Where are we going?" meowed Squirrelflight.
"I don't know!" Leafpool's voice rose, "Oh, StarClan! Show us the way!
She and Squirrelflight had hardly walked out of Leafpool's den, when Ashfur pelted into the clearing. His fur stood on end and his dark blue eyes were wild with fear, "Leafpool! Squirrelflight! It is Firestar! He is caught in a fox trap!" he gasped.
"Where? Why didn't you free him?" Squirrelflight demanded, her green eyes blazing.
"Because he's…" Ashfur has gasping for air as if he had just dragged himself out of deep water, "Brambleclaw is there…Hawkfrost is with him! A RiverClan cat in our territory! I could not take them both out at once! So, I had to come back for help." He pointed his tail toward the lake. "That way! Hurry!"
Mothwing picked up some marigold from the moss covered rock in the medicine cat's den. She walked out to Ripplepaw and Beechpaw, who were lying on a nest of bracken and moss. Mothwing dropped some marigold in front of Willowpaw, who dropped her own. She looked down at the two apprentices and their wounds, the two had been play fighting too close to the river. When Beechpaw pushed Ripplepaw to show that he won, but instead of Ripplepaw falling on the ground, he fell off the edge bring Beechpaw down with him.
"Willowpaw," Mothwing said to her apprentice, "dress Beechpaw's leg with this marigold, and then get cobwebs, horsetail, and poppy seeds. I will do Ripplepaw."
Willowpaw nodded, and began to dress the young apprentice's wound, while her mentor did Ripplepaw. "Is he going to be alright?" said a sweet voice. Mothwing turned her head to see Reedwhisker; the black tom's blue eyes were filled with worry. Mothwing's amber eyes locked with his and she could not look away.
When she finally escaped his gaze, she felt lost in her mind and stumbled in her words, "He...he'll be okay…he…he's lucky…that Misty…foot found…um…him when she did…er…or he would've…gotten inflicted…I mean…infected." Mothwing felt embarrassment heat her pelt.
Reedwhisker laughed, "Well, that's good! I'll go get you some prey." He licked Mothwing's ear before rushing to the fresh kill pile. Mothwing's pelt burned with embarrassment.
She quickly finished Ripplepaw's wound and gave him poppy seeds. Willowpaw was already done, so Willowpaw crawled into her nest and the apprentice quickly fell asleep. Rippletail returned with a large fish and dropped it at Mothwing's paws.
Mothwing had not even looked at him squarely, but already felt his presence, "Th-thank…yo...u." she sputtered. Once again, Reedwhisker laughed a sweet tone. Then, left her den.
She quickly ate her fish, then, walked over to Leopardstar's den. "Leopardstar? Have you seen Hawkfrost?" Mothwing asked.
Then, she heard a rustle of moss and twigs as the spotted golden tabby emerged from her den; she sat by the entrance and started to wash herself. "No. Last I saw him, he had gone out hunting." She stopped washing and looked at the medicine cat, "Why?"
Mothwing froze, "N-nothing I was just wondering." She bowed her head and stalked away to her own den. Her words with StarClan wandered through her mind.
Mothwing lapped the crystal water of the Moonpool, a cold sensation swept through her as she laid down to rest. She woke to find herself on a grassy plain, in front of her was a river and she could see boulders piled on top of each other. Sunning rocks! Mothwing thought. But how? I fell asleep at the Moonpool! How am I at the old territory?
"Why, Mothwing, what are you doing here?" said a voice, it was caring and full of wisdom, which reminded her of someone who she missed deeply. "What happened to 'I don't believe in StarClan'? You are right here with me because of it's great powers." Mothwing looked behind her; a long haired, light brown tom stared at her with joy filling his eyes.
"Mudfur!" she yowled as she ran up to his deceased mentor. "How are you here? How am I here? How did this happen? How could this happen" she pressed her nose into his fur and the scent of the old medicine cat's den filled her nose. Herbs and berries mixed with the scent of WindClan, but also one not familiar to her. It was not any of the Clans, rogues or kittypets. "I missed you!" She opened her yes and stared into Mudfur's amber ones. She smelt his coat again. A beautiful new leaf day with the sun warm on your fur, a cool night with a soft breeze and Silverpelt handing over you, a swim in the river on a warm day, the first snow in leave bare, it was all the good things on one cat's pelt.
"What is that scent on you?" Mothwing asked turning from Mudfur's pelt and sat in front of her former mentor.
"Why, Mothwing," he said a smile gleaming in his eyes as he sat down, "It is the scent of StarClan, and the powers of that Clan lies the answers to all your questions. Mothwing stared at her mentor.
"What are you talking about!" she yowled, "StarClan doesn't exist! This-this is just some dream!" she looked up at her old mentor. She lifted up one golden paw and bit it, hard.
The world went black and the last thing she heard was Mudfur's voice, "Mothwing, remember StarClan! I will help you when every need it!"
Mothwing had woken with teeth marks and blood over her paw, the taste of blood has fresh in her mouth, even though she won't admit it, she remembered the feel of Mudfur's pelt and the wind on her fur that night. It was just a good dream…a very good one!
Hawkfrost has been done since sunrise and wasn't back yet. She hoped he wasn't off with Brambleclaw…he could be doing something very bad if he was with his ThunderClan half brother.
Mothwing shook the thought away and drifted off to sleep.
Crowfeather looked over the stream, into ThunderClan territory. He couldn't stop thinking about their medicine cat, Leafpool. Her scent was always on his nose, a mix of ThunderClan and sweet herbs. No matter how far apart they were, or how long it had been since they last saw each other, He would always look for her at gatherings or when he was on patrol along the ThunderClan border, and when he hunted. Every time, everywhere.
Crowfeather saw her, everywhere. In dreams, he had visions of her, in the warriors' den, the nursery, the medicine cat's den, everywhere. They last met one moon ago, when they stopped seeing each other. About a moon before that the two had run away together, they were warned by Midnight, a stargazing badger, that her kin were attacking ThunderClan.
That night Leafpool's mentor, Cinderpelt, died, protecting a kitting queen from a attacking badger. Leafpool took it hard, saying it was her fault she died.
Soon, after that, Leafpool and Crowfeather met on accident. When his forbidden love told him, she had to take care of her Clan more than ever now. She needed to stop seeing the heartbroken WindClan warrior to regain her loyalty to her Clan. The news hit him like a stone the size of a full-grown warrior. Crowfeather was near hated in his Clan, but he wanted to be with the ThunderClan medicine cat more then anything else. She did not love him anymore. He wanted to say he loved her and would never forget her, but before he could stop himself, he said he said that they should stop meeting each other, and put all four paws in one Clan.
That was it.
He came up with a plan, he would stop thinking about Leafpool… he could not. Crowfeather started to walk away, and then turned back to ThunderClan territory. He wanted to leap over the stream and be with her. To tell her she loved him with all his heart and would do anything for her, he would tell her that he always loved her and always will. He shook the thought away and looked up into the sky.
"StarClan!" He yowled, "Join me and Leafpool together, so even when we're away, we will always be connected!"
Crowfeather looked away, and walked to WindClan camp. Thinking of Leafpool the whole way back.
Little did he or any other cat know, StarClan already joined them together. Forever.
Tawnypelt raced through the trees and made it just in time. The sun was falling down to make a beautiful sunset. She let of a smile. She never missed a good sunset on the lake.
Tawnypelt lay down and loved the way the breeze rippled through her fur. There was only one thing that gnawed at her stomach, right then, she hated it.
Blackstar was gone.
He has been gone since sunrise, he had disappeared after going on a patrol. The other cats in the patrol said he was off with "leader" duties! Who ever heard of a leader having to leave his camp on edge because of "leader" duties!
"Mouse dung!" Said the ShadowClan warrior aloud, "We just move to a new territory and our leader decides to abandon us?"
"You should be in camp, it's getting late." Said a voice.
Even before Tawnypelt turned around, she knew where the voice came from, Rowanclaw. The ginger warrior had been following her everywhere, telling her to rest and eat, and taking her spot in patrols because she was sleeping. He was a burr in her pelt.
"Rowanclaw, leave me alone for once." She said turning to meet Rowanclaw's eyes. "I don't need to watch over me, I can take care of myself."
Rowanclaw's ears flattened against his ginger head. "I… I'm sorry." He said, staring at his paws. "I just… wanted to make sure you're alright. I, um… worry about you."
Tawnypelt bit back the reply, just leave me alone and stay away from me! I don't need you in my life! Instead, she turned around to face the sun and closed her eyes as these words escaped from her mouth. "I'm sorry for yelling, come lie next to me and watch the sunset." Those were the WRONG words!
Rowanclaw's ears shot up and his eyes gleamed with happiness, "Thank you! Thank you!" he quickly lay down next to her and stared into her deep green eyes. "So... how are you?"
Their idle conversation went on for a bit until the sky turned purple and the two were hardly able to keep their eyes open.
"It is getting dark…he should head to camp." Tawnypelt mewed. Rowanclaw nodded and they both walked silently most of the way back to camp. "I never tanked you all the times that you covered for me when I got in trouble as an apprentice…or when you take my place on patrols…" Tawnypelt could not believe what she was saying.
"I know you don't mean it…you hate me don't you?" Rowanclaw mewed…his voice was so soft she could barely hear him. Tawnypelt had not expected that.
"I-I…" Tawnypelt found herself with nothing to say, "You…I-I…I mean it Rowanclaw…I like you…you are…a sweet cat…" She found herself saying.
Rowanclaw's eyes flashed with anger. "You don't have to lie!" He hissed. "If you want me to just shrivel up and die tell me! And I will!" His voice got softer, "I'll do anything for you." The ginger warrior rushed through the pine trees and into ShadowClan camp without turning back.
Tawnypelt sighed, what does he want from me? He is an enjoyable tom. Realization clicked in her mind. Does he want me to be more than a friend? His mate? She shuddered at the thought. Before I will even think of him as a good friend, he has to learn I can take care of myself.
Tawnypelt looked ahead of her and she froze. If she had walked a foxtail farther, she would have been in ThunderClan territory! The thought of the forest Clan reminded her of her brother, Brambleclaw, the new deputy. Only a few sunrises ago she met him in her dreams, along with their RiverClan half brother Hawkfrost, and their father Tigerstar.
Brambleclaw had sided with their evil father and his untrustworthy half brother despite Tawnypelt sense. She hoped nothing would happen to her brother and he would stop being such a mouse brain. He had to stop listening to Tigerstar! Alternatively, he would end up just like him, his life ended by a supposed Clan leader with one swipe of his dogteeth claws!
Tawnypelt turned back to her territory; she looked back once, and prayed to StarClan Brambleclaw was all right.
WF: That was awesome! –Gets all sparkle eyed- Anyway, did anyone see the cheese pizza I ordered?
Berrykit: Wha? This is yours?
WF: Evil baby kitten! My pizza! Now we can share! La La La! –skips over to Berrykit and enjoyably eats her pizza-
IC: I really thought you were gonna say, 'It's okay Crowy! Leafpool loves you she-' and you were going to spoil so I would have to shut you up.
WF: Yeah I know isn't that cool and your name kinda sucks but still!
Berrykit: And I become a WARRIOR!
IC: My name sucks?
WF: Huh? I was spoiling Berrykit!
IC: Oh, well readers, if anyone knows Reedwhisker's and Rowanclaw's eye color please tell us. We would appreciate it.
WF: ooo and before we go I wanted to say that *sniff* don't judge me by my profile… I am very slow! It is in progress…ya know what? Don't even click on it! It is SO embarrassing!
IC: Mines the same way, but you can click on it! Wildfire! Now you need to say R&R!
WF: Whaddays that mean?
IC: Read and Review! You know what? Just forget it, b-
WF: Wait I wanna end… So long farewell I'll see you-
IC: SHUT UP! Okay, readers, wait for the next chapter that will be up in a while, The Decision.
WF: And in 5, 4, 3- -FLASH, blank screen-
WF: What the HECK! Camera dude! I didn't get to one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. StarClan cats do not have wings, Wildfire is just an idiot.
From, your favorite of the two, Iceclaw.
P.S. #2 YOU'RE MEAN! Anyway, in your reviews please vote who is your favorite of us! Just if ya didn't know, Wildfire and Iceclaw are your choices…OH and only vote once each chapter.