Chapter 3

Fangpaws POV

As the ferns rustled I saw Hawkeyes, Blazeclaw and Dapplesong emerge into the clearing. Peering around them I expected the dark kitten I had met yesterday to follow them. Disappointment crashed down on me like a Darkclan warrior. Running up to Dapplesong I wearily asked "where is Storm?" I asked thinking that that was the kitten's name. "He decided to stay with Tiger Lily, his friend. Ask Blazeclaw." The warrior explained gently. Nodding I ran over to Blazeclaw. "Who is Tiger Lily?" I asked murmuring the odd name. "He was my brother when I was a kitten. We were separated and went to different homes." He explained before turning back to his mouse. "Oh." I said silently before padding in the direction of Sunpaw. "Hey, Sunpaw ummm." My voice trailed off as it was filled with nervousness. Holding back a giggle she finished my sentence "do you want to go hunting maybe?" My gaze lit up as I nodded and let her go first.

Heading into the woods we headed over to the twolegged nest. "Why are we going here?" Sunpaw asked nervously. Stopping I turned and told her about Storm. A hurt look came over her face. "Where does she live?" "She? Storm is a tom he lives behind the fence." Her face brightened up as she ran under my chin and purred before slowly looking at the large fence. Shrinking away she covered her nose. "Eww, Kitty pet scent." She noted as she drew back in a snarl as the dark tom jumped up onto the fence.

"Fangpaw! You're here to visit!" he meowed then noticed the vicious orange she-cat. "Hello, there my name is Storm." Calming down Sunpaws fur began to lay flat again. "Hi, I'm Sunpaw." She answered back still hiding behind me. Whispering something in her ear she finally came out. Touching noses with the strange kitten I scented a Moonclan patrol coming. "Moonclan patrol!" I hissed in her ear. Perking her ears up, she turned and darted with me into the forest.

"We will attack at once!" I heard from Crowstar as I entered camp. "What's going on?" I whispered into Crowfoots ear. "Duskclan keeps crossing the borders for herbs. Snowshine is getting sick of it." Nodding I turned back to Sunpaw and started to tell her what was happening. "Crowfoot, Hawkeyes, Sunpaw, Fangpaw, Rockstone, Talonpaw, Dawnpaw, Fernheart, Oakclaw, and Dapplesong." Yowled Crowstar into the crisp evening air. Setting out into the woods I walked next to Sunpaw. "What's wrong?" I asked her as I saw her shake. "Little nervous." She confessed. Nodding I pressed my pelt at hers.

Crowfoots POV

Walking close to Rockstone I thought of how many moons had passed and how many battles we had had. Stopping short lost in thought. "What's wrong?" I heard Hawkeyes voice break in. "Nothing." I answered quickly before headed back over to Rockstone who sat patiently at the edge of the border.

Nearing Duskclan camp I smelt rabbit fuming from the camp. Then I felt Rockstone tense beside me. "You o.k.?" "Ya just had a feeling for a moment. Never mind." Suspicion coated his meow but I pretended not to notice it. Then Crowstar gave the alarm. Streaking down the hill I saw Hawkeyes head somewhere. Turning my head I saw him head toward the medicine cat den. Then I saw Stormflower creep up behind him. She had her shoulders bunched up ready to pounce. Hissing I flew down the hill faster. Yowling I tried to warn him, but I wasn't heard over the yowls and hissing of fighting cats. Just then I remembered Stormflower was a warrior before a medicine cat. She wouldn't kill another cat though would she? I wasn't going to trust her. Just then my nightmare came to life. Tackling my father I heard a hiss of surprise come out of my father. She took him down fast, hitting the ground a cloud of dust blew around them. A few cats stopped to look but then began to fight again.

As the dust cleared I saw the motionless figure of Hawkeyes. He was lying on his side with his flank slowly rising and falling. Rushing over to him I looked into his eyes and saw there wasn't anything I could do. "…Is that you Crowfoot?" he asked in rasping meow. "Yes, father, it's me." "Starclan is calling for me. I want you to tell your mother I love her and will watch over the clan from Starclan. Good bye son…" his voice trailed off and by now Rockstone had joined beside me to help our father off to Starclan. "Good bye dad." I murmured. As his eyes glazed over I turned to Stormflower. Then without second thoughts I leapt at the murderous cat. Eyes large I yowled Hawkeyes name as I tore and scratched at the she-cat. Without mercy I watched out of the corner of my eye as Acornpath stared in horror as his mentor slowly was killed in front of him.

Stepping back I heard her rasp some words before she coughed and slowly suffered at my feet. Turning away I saw a horrified expression on each Duskclan cats face. Smirking I walked to grab Hawkeyes body and bring him home. Without taking notice to the dirty looks and gasps or names, with Rockstones help I walked out of the camp and headed back toward the border. Then remembering something I laid down his body and rushed back. Sneaking into the medicine cats den I took all the herbs that are ours. Dropping them at Snowshine he picked them up then followed me home. Meeting Rockstone I again grabbed Hawkeyes body and headed home in silence.

Emerging through the brambles I rested Hawkeyes body in the clearing and trotted off to Spottedpath. Leaning her on my shoulder I lead her over to his body to grieve for her dead mate. Tears streaming down her cheeks she pressed her face into his cold fur. "I did not kill Stormflower, but she won't forget me anytime soon." "Stormflower did this!" Spottedpath asked surprised and confused. Nodding I turned to where Crowstar stood next to Dapplesong.

Sadness seemed to creep in and cover the happiness in the clan. It covered it like a storm cloud. Turning my head toward the forest then toward Rockstone. Turning back to the forest, I decided to go for a walk. "Want me to come with you?" I heard the soft meow of Patchfeather. Turning to her I softly meowed "no thank you. I want some time to think." Nodding she turned back to grieve for her dead clanmate.

Strolling into the woods, the scent of death pierces the air. Pulling my head down I try to hold back tears but soon give in. Tears streaming I run through the woods. Soon I hear a muffled meow coming from across the Duskclan border. Peering around the bush I notice a small kitten next to another cat's body. Walking closer I notice the kitten has a scar on his side that is oozing out blood. "Hello, what happened here." I meow trying to sound friendly. The kitten stares up at me with blue scared eyes. "You try to hurt me ill shred you." The stripped kitten says puffing out, but I can still see he is shaking with fear. Purring I step closer as he hisses. "Don't worry I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to know what happened." Settling down a bit he shoots a glance at the darker stripped she-cat. "She was my mother, her name was Gypsy. A fox killed her a few moments ago. My name is Echo and she told me my dad was a clan cat. He died though a long time ago." Nodding I tried to comfort the lost kitten. "If I may ask what was his, name of your dad." Sniffling he slowly answers. "His name was Thunderheart, he was in Fireclan. He was exiled after mating with an outsider." Nodding I asked the kit to follow me.

He took one last glance at his mom. "Wait we will bury her." I told him as I dug a hole. Placing her in the hole I said a silent pray before taking the kit in my jaws and charging through the woods. Reaching the camp I emerged through the fern tunnel. Shocked gasps came from the gathering cats. Ignoring them I confronted the leader. "Who is this?" he asked, eyeing the cat. "This is Echo, his mother was killed by a fox and his father was Thunderheart." "Of Fireclan?" he asked surprised. Nodding I pushed the kit closer to the bold leader who walked around then off toward the nursery. Moons seemed to pass before the black leader emerged. "Geyserstream has had her kits while we were at the battle and agreed to nurse the new kit. By the way she had three kits, two she-cats and a tom. Sagekit, Cloverkit, and Sharpkit." He announced to the clan. "Then we must change your name Echo. From now on you will be known as Echokit." As the clan cheered his name Crowstar led him toward the nursery.

Longing to follow I held back for I had to bury my father now. Turning back I thought of all that had happened today. Death, love, new kits, and now burying again. I wondered if Hawkeyes was looking at us down from Starclan. Was he mad I didn't warn him?

Hawkeyes POV

Oh, my dear son how could I be mad. If only he knew I was still there. Then I was blinded by a bright light, and then Nightstar stepped out along with Rainstorm. "It's time to go." He said simply as I walked up into Starclan. Bounding through the sky I took one last look at my sons and beautiful mate and whispered into the wind. "I love you all. I will watch over you forever." Then faded into the air.


Chapter 3 had a ton that went on. hope you like it so far. should i have the kitten hold a dark secret?