This chapter takes place approximately 2 days after chapter 1, Final Farewell.
The leaves of a bush rustled as Willowpaw emerged from behind it, with a small mouse dangling in her jaws. It was the evening of the third day after Earthpelt had made his announcement and they were still on their way to their new home. Earthpelt assured the other cats that within a four day trip they could reach their destination. He claimed that he was shown where to go by a bunch of Starclan cats in his dreams, and that they also told him that it was their destiny.
Most cats were unbelieving, but they were inspired by Earthpelt's determination of bring them to a better place to live, so they continued to follow him.
The journey proved difficult when you were traveling with almost half of your clan. They tried to move faster, but other members of the group, like Nightwing's kits and Purestream, whose swollen belly looked like it was going to explode any moment now. They also often had to pause to hunt, and Willowpaw would come around to all the cats and check if they have a scratch, or if the pads of their paws are fine after hours of walking. And she even had to help with hunting herself if the prey was scarce in the area.
So Willowpaw padded up to the small clearing to see Eaglescreech and Morningglow guarding the makeshift camp. She gave them a small nod and walked on to find Nightwing watching her kits play with leaves. She dropped her mouse in front of Nightwing and the Queen gave a purr of thanks.
"How are the kits doing?" asked Willowpelt.
Nightwing took a bite of the warm fresh-kill. "They are healthy and growing stronger every day. I think this journey is a big challenge for them, but they are all very excited. I haven't seen them ever with as much energy as this!" She paused and Mistykit bundled up to the half-eaten mouse and gave it a sniff. Nightwing then called over her other kits and proceeded to chew up the rest of the fresh-kill for them to eat.
Willowpaw smiled and padded over to Purestream, who was uncomfortably sitting in an awkward position, and grooming herself. She looked up as Willowpaw approached.
"Oh, Willowpaw" She exclaimed, "I feel like the kits are trying to push their way out inside me!"
Willowpaw sat down beside her and touched Purestream's shoulder with her tail soothingly. "It'll be fine as soon as we reach the new camp. Then I'll find some herbs and help you deliver the kits."
Purestream touched her nose with the medicine cat apprentice's muzzle. "Thank you." She said.
In her dream, Willowpaw was padding in a forest. It was similar to the one they were traveling in now. However she could not see the sun, as it was usually seeping through the tree canopy and onto the ground below. Here, fog floated past, and everything was dark. Suddenly Willowpaw heard a swish and saw a shadow dart around a bush.
A cat?
And then she saw another. And yet another.
Turning around, Willowpaw saw that all around her, shadowy cats were milling about, and they seemed to be whispering something. The sound got louder and louder, until the whole forest was filled with the chorus of a single word.
Willowpaw
The cats' mews were anxious and pleading, and there was nothing that she could do about it.
Willowpaw. Willowpaw. Willowpaw.
Willowpaw looked around, horrified. And then the shadows of trees and cats alike blended into one massive spinning tornado, with Willowpaw falling in the center.
"Willowpaw!"
Willowpaw's eyes flashed open and she scrambled up, looking for the source of the call.
"Willowpaw! Wake up!" It was Sootclaw. He stood by Willowpaw's temporary nest, prodding her with a paw. "It's Purestream! She's kitting!
Willowpaw bounded over to Purestream's nest with a thick twig. By now, the noise had awakened most of the clan, and they were all tired and confused. Sootclaw paced back and forth, with a pained look on his face, glancing over at his mate every so often. Nightwing was trying to calm down Purestream, and the apprentices, Sagepaw and Redpaw, sat nearby, awaiting any orders from Willowpaw.
Willowpaw had never helped a Queen give birth on her own, especially without any herbs. So she found a fat twig for Purestream to bite on. When she saw the twig, Purestream's eyes wided. But suddenly a shudder overcame her, and Willowpaw quickly shoved the twig into Purestream's mouth.
"I can feel the kits coming" Purestream's mew was muffed by the twig.
Willowpaw carefully put one of her paws on Purestream's belly, just like how her mentor showed her. Instantly, she could feel a kit squirming trying to get out. "The first one's coming!" She yowled "Purestream, PUSH!"
Purestream pushed with all her might, and a little wet bundle popped out. It rolled to Nightwing's waiting paws, who began to lick it furiously.
Sootclaw, padded up and glanced fondly at his new son. "Is this it?" He questioned the medicine cat.
"Yes. One healthy kit." But Willowpaw's attention turned to Purestream, who still hadn't stopped bleeding. "Redpaw!" She turned to the apprentice. "Go fetch some cobwebs!"
Redpaw was gone and back within a heartbeat. He handed over a small wad of cobwebs "Sorry, these were all I could find" He muttered.
Willowpaw applied the cobwebs onto Purestream's bleeding belly. But even so, Purestream's breathing slowed, and her eyes gently closed. Sootclaw's face was a mask of horror. He lean down to put his nose on Purestream's muzzle, and found that she was still breathing.
"Please, don't go!"
But Purestreams was slipping away. And with her last bit of energy, she opened her eyes. The last thing that she would ever see was Sootclaw's bright and pleading golden eyes, staring down at her. Then her vision began to blur…but she could see her mate's eyes like the last dying embers in a forest full of ashes. So she heaved in one last breath as whispered ever so softly, one word, which only Sootclaw could hear.
"Emberkit"
Willowpaw woke in yet another dream. I haven't had this many weird dreams when I was back in Shadowclan! But the thought made her a little sad; as she remembered the friends she had to leave behind to pursue Earthpelt's idea of a new clan. But in this dream Willowpaw felt more…familiar.
Am I in Starclan?
No, It can't be…
As she was pondering this, a cat stepped out silently from behind a tree. To her astonishment, Willowpaw saw Purestream padding towards her.
Purestream smile gently and touched muzzles with Willowpaw. "You are going to become a wonderful medicine cat one day. Soon." Then she sat down beside Willowpaw.
Purestream continued. "I just wanted you to know that, although I'm gone to the cats of the soon to be Earthclan, I will always be watching them."
"From…St-Starclan?" Willowpaw stuttered.
"No, from now on, I will be part of a clan called Pureclan. I will help you and Earthpelt build your Earthclan, and I am sorry that I cannot exactly be part of it. But if you need me, I will always be here." She gestured with her tail and their surroundings. For the first time, Willowpaw realized that they were in an open field, with crisp turquoise blades of grass, tall trees with white bark and silver tainted leaves. The sky lit up the nearby stream with colours of twilight. Wow, thought Willowpaw, Pureclan is magnificent! She was so focused on this that she didn't realize Purestream got up and was getting ready to leave. And as Willowpaw leaped up, the sparkling Pureclan cat turned her head and her kind gaze fell upon the little medicine cat apprentice.
"Remember Willowpaw…Pureclan will be guiding you every step of the way. And even if you don't believe it anymore, Starclan will too"
