Sunstrike: I thank everyone who read the last chapter. I hope you enjoy this one too. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Moonpaw narrowed her eyes against the rain pouring hammering in her face, blown by the wind. She looked at her paws to shield her face from the storm. Moonpaw grunted as she moved her ginger paws forward.
Ginger? My paws are white.
Moonpaw sniffed the air, detecting the odor of a dog. But this had a whiff of mountains and fresh blood. She bolted forward, her body moving on it's on.
"Firestar! Come back! ThunderClan needs you!" Moonpaw's head turned to see her catching up. Her body was grown-up and her muscles were lean, but powerful.
I must be in Firestar's body.
"You will have to lead them. Keep ThunderClan strong, Moonstar. I know I'm leaving ThunderClan in good paws. My kits, take care of them. Tell Graystripe that he's the best friend. And tell Sandstorm, I'm sorry. " Moonpaw jumped at herself, knocking her head against the stone cold ground. She remained out cold, as Moonpaw sprinted down the mountain path.
A howl broke the air, as the wolves gained on her. Moonpaw stopped abruptly, swiftly pivoting around and attacking the alpha. Moonpaw squealed in pain as thorn sharp fangs pierced her shoulder. She lashed out at the wolf's muzzle and she was released.
Moonpaw jumped back as the ground underneath the wolf collapsed. She turned around as the older Moonpaw and Lionpaw appeared, matching each other's pace.
The alpha lunged forward snatching her off the ground. Moonpaw slashed her claws down his face and he released her. She dangled over the cliff, not enough vigor to lift herself back up.
"Goodbye. StarClan, I'm ready."
Moonpaw let go, watching Lionpaw comfort her older form cry.
She yowled, jolting awake.
"Moonpaw?" a paw poked her side. She jumped her fur fluffed out. All the other apprentices were staring at her. "Moonpaw, what's wrong?"
"What happened? Moonpaw, you're bleeding!" Poppypaw said, looking at her shoulder. "I'll fetch Leafpool. Help her clean it."
Moonpaw shifted, dizzy from losing blood. Lionpaw let her lean on him before she fell.
Hazelpaw licked her wound and Poppypaw came back with Leafpool and Jaypaw, jaws full of herbs.
"How did this happen?"
"She was sleeping, when I felt it against my shoulder. I woke up when I realized it was blood." Hazelpaw elucidated giving her wound a final lick.
Leafpool chewed up the horsetail and licked them into Moonpaw's gash. She hissed at the abrupt pain, struggling to escape the stinging from her wound.
"Hold her still!" Leafpool instructed. Berrypaw and Mousepaw placed their paws on her flank and Lionpaw grasped her scruff. Leafpool finished putting the herbs on her wound, placing cobwebs on top.
"There. Make sure she gets a sufficient amount of rest. And let me know if her wound worsens." Leafpool meowed indicating for Jaypaw to follow her.
"Who's going to watch her?" Lionpaw curled into his nest.
"I will. Poppypaw can sleep in my nest." Mousepaw volunteered replacing Lionpaw at Moonpaw's side.
Lionpaw narrowed his eyes in anger, as Mousepaw coiled around her. He'd better back off Moonpaw! He thought closing his eyes.
Moonpaw let out a groan, pain surging through her shoulder. She felt something shift beside her. She tilted her head at the gray and white lump.
"How're you feeling?" the lump asked, green eyes soft and concerned. Moonpaw felt her ears get hot with embarrassment, as Mousepaw smirked.
"Well? Badger got your tongue?" Mousepaw asked, whiskers twitching in amusement. He stopped when she flicked her tail across his ears.
"No! I do feel like a kit that met a fox. How long was I asleep?" Moonpaw asked, sitting up with a yawn.
"It's sunhigh. You do know that snore as loud as a Thunderpath, right?" Mousepaw purred teasingly, watching her go into an attack position. She let out a mischievous growl, pinning him to the ground.
"What are you two doing?" Lionpaw growled dropping the moss he had under his chin and in his mouth.
"Hi Lionpaw, did I miss anything important?" Moonpaw got off Mousepaw, turning to face the tabby.
"Just the usual. WindClan is hunting squirrels on their side of the border." He mewed, cleaning out the old moss.
"Well I'm going to see if there's any fresh-kill. Want to come with me, Mousepaw?" She asked, stretching her back.
"Sure, Moonpaw." Mousepaw nodded, stretching all his muscles.
"I'll see you later, Lionpaw." Moonpaw sauntered out leaning on Mousepaw for support.
"Stupid Mousepaw, I met her first." Lionpaw hissed, tearing up the moss in beds. "I won't let him take him her away from me."
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A half-moon had passed since her dream of Firestar's death and Moonpaw's wound had healed, but her fur still needed to grow.
Moonpaw yawned as Firestar's call roused her from her sleep. "I wonder what he wants. Only one way to find out." She padded out noticing it was almost sundown.
"Come sit over here, Moonpaw!"
Moonpaw craned her neck to see Poppypaw waving her tail at her. Moonpaw nodded and sat between the tortoiseshell and Hollypaw, a black she-cat with green eyes that held a persistent fire.
"Brightheart is expecting kits so Moonpaw will need a new mentor." Firestar looked at the ThunderClan warriors, thinking which cat would be suitable to finish her training.
"Hmmm… Yes, I will complete Moonpaw's training." Firestar spoke after moments of silence and waiting.
"What?" the outraged call came from Ashfur. "You, Firestar, ThunderClan's leader are going to teach that piece of crow-food. "
"Yes, I am." Firestar said, glaring down at him as he pulled away from touching noses with Moonpaw. Ashfur hissed under his breath after the ginger tom went on.
"We also have two new apprentices to join us. Icekit and Foxkit have reached their sixth moon. This is a proud day for ThunderClan, by naming apprentices we show ThunderClan will survive and remain strong. Icekit, from now on until you receive your warrior name you will be known as Icepaw, and Foxkit, your name will be Foxpaw."
"Squirrelflight, you are ready for an apprentice, you will be Foxpaw's mentor. I know you will pass on your courage and determination to Foxpaw, and teach him the skills that will make him a brave warrior of ThunderClan." Squirrelflight pressed her nose to Foxpaw's, staring him in eyes.
"Whitewing, you are ready for an apprentice too. You will be Icepaw's mentor. I know you will pass on your stealth and wisdom to Icepaw, and teach her the skills that will make her a loyal warrior to ThunderClan." Whitewing smiled at her apprentice, before touching her nose.
"Foxpaw! Icepaw! Foxpaw! Icepaw!" ThunderClan chanted, soon returning to their duties.
"ThunderClan should be proud to have Clanborn apprentices." Ashfur hissed to Spiderleg, Thornclaw, Dustpelt, Ferncloud, a pale gray queen with green eyes, and Cloudtail, a long-haired white tom with blue eyes, glaring at Moonpaw who was sitting next to Firestar.
"Moonpaw, it's about you had your first assessment." Firestar said, beckoning Ashfur and Brackenfur over. "Are your apprentices ready for their first assessment?"
"I think Lionpaw can handle it." Ashfur nodded.
"Hollypaw is ready." Brackenfur meowed, staring at his leader.
"Very well, then go tell Lionpaw and Hollypaw that they can join you." Firestar dismissed his apprentice to fetch her denmates.
"Who is giving them their assessment?" Ashfur asked trading glances with the tabby.
"I will. Brackenfur will you tell Brambleclaw, please? Ashfur you can go now."
Firestar sat alone in front of the tunnel, cleaning his paws, when Moonpaw came back with Hollypaw and Lionpaw.
"I've decided to give you an assessment. How where you hunt is your decision, however you must hunt alone. I'll be watching you three out of sight. Bring back as much kill as you can. Start now." The three apprentices ran into the forest.
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Sunstrike: Thanks for reading. Lionpaw and Mousepaw have a rivalry over Moonpaw. Who will win her heart? Lionpaw? Or Mousepaw? Review if you want.
