Here's Chapter 4! Hope you like it!
(Here's what you should know: Much is revealed in this chapter and Ravenpaw makes a certain request that Firestar isn't sure what to do about)
Chapter 4
Every cat that had heard Graystripe's exclamation suddenly looked up at Highledge.
Firestar emerged from his den. "Ravenpaw?" The leader exclaimed. "What are you doing here? Where is Barley?"
Ravenpaw dipped his head. "Firestar, I have much to tell you. May I speak to you and Graystripe," he paused, looking around at the cats that had gathered around him. "Alone, please?"
Firestar twitched his tail and swept his gaze over the pretty she-cat at his old friend's side.
"And with Silverpaw, of course." Ravenpaw added quickly, running his tail over his companion's flank.
Okay, everyone, please return to your duties. Ravenpaw, Graystripe… Silverpaw, follow me."
The four cats walked to Firestar's den as Graystripe continued to stare wide-eyed with shock at the silver-gray tabby.
"So," Firestar said as they sat down. "Ravenpaw, you have much to explain." He swished his tail at the sleek dark tom, letting him know to begin speaking.
Ravenpaw shuffled his paws. "I don't really know where to begin, so I guess I'll introduce Silverpaw." He gestured at the blue-eyed she-cat. "Silverpaw found me a couple moons after you left with Millie, Graystripe." Ravenpaw nodded at the gray tom. "But she wasn't Silverpaw yet, of course, but-"
Graystripe interrupted. "Can you please just explain why she look exactly like Silverstream?!" The warrior looked as if he had seen a StarClan warrior.
The Silverstream look-alike stepped out in front of Ravenpaw. "Maybe I should explain this part of the story." She meowed calmly. The silvery-gray tabby looked at Graystripe. "I look like Silverstream because I am her daughter," she paused. "And yours."
The silence fell upon the den so loudly; Firestar couldn't process his thoughts.
"M-my daughter?" Graystripe choked out. "B-but that's impossible! Silverstream only had-" Suddenly the den was silent once more as the gray warrior looked at his old friends. A look of understanding passed between the three toms as the remembered the mourning of Silverstream, and her "dead" kit.
"You're alive!" Firestar exclaimed. "But… how?!"
Silverpaw shrugged. "I don't know." I lived with some rogues for while before I found Ravenpaw. He told me I looked a lot like someone he knew a while ago but at the time brushed it off. Ever since then he's been training me as an apprentice."
Graystripe closed his slack jawed mouth. "But, how did you figure out that you were my daughter?"
"I kept having dreams… about being by a river and seeing a silver cat." She paused. "And a lot of blood."
Ravenpaw hopped in. "Then, I told her about you and Silverstream," He acknowledged Graystripe. "We actually just assumed that you were Silverpaw's parents." He admitted sheepishly.
Firestar cut in. "Wait a minute… where's Barley?"
Ravenpaw and Silverpaw suddenly looked very sorrowful. "Ravenpaw's tail drooped. "Barley," he struggled to get the words out. "He died a few moons ago. Right before we were going to tell him we wanted to come find the clans."
Silverpaw stroked her tail along her companion's shoulder. "I think he knew we were going to leave anyways. Remember Ravenpaw, he said he would watch over us wherever we went." Sadness flickered in the she-cat's intense blue eyes.
Firestar and Graystripe exchanged a look of sadness. "Barley was a great cat. He always took care of us when we were passing through and for that we will forever be grateful to him."
Graystripe nodded in agreement. "He will be honored among the clans no matter what skies he walks."
For a fourth time, the den was cloaked in silence as the four cats grieved the old loner.
Firestar looked at Silverpaw after a moment. "So you've been training as an apprentice?"
"Yes. Ravenpaw has been mentoring me...Actually, we cam here hoping to-"
Ravenpaw slapped his tail over Silverpaw's mouth.
Firestar encouraged Ravenpaw to speak. "You came here to…"
Ravenpaw shuffled his paws bashfully. "We came here wondering if we could receive warrior names… and join, well re-join for me, the clan."