Early morning sunlight streamed down onto the forest floor as Nightpaw climbed a tree stump to get a better vantage point to look for prey. Two moons had passed since she'd begun her training and in that time she'd become good friends with the other apprentices, Moonpaw, Firepaw, Greypaw and Ravenpaw. The only ones she didn't get on with were Sandpaw and Dustpaw but then no-one really got on with them so that was okay. She was on a hunting patrol with Tigerclaw, Runningwind and Moonpaw but the two warriors had already gone back to camp leaving the two apprentices to carry on catching prey by themselves and Nightpaw was enjoying the freedom.
She sat up, ears pricked as she spotted a familiar grey shape heading towards her. Purring quietly with amusement of the trick she'd just thought of, Nightpaw quickly raced up an ash tree and along an overhanging branch. Keeping her claws sheathed, she dropped on to the grey cat's back hissing "Thunder Clan scum."
Her trick backfired a bit though when Moonpaw whirled around, trying to dislodge her attacker hissing "Ambush!" before going into a roll and flattening Nightpaw beneath her into the ground.
"It's me, Nightpaw." Nightpaw screeched but Moonpaw didn't move. "What's that, Shadow Clan cat, I can't hear you down there." Moonpaw purred, pressing Nightpaw's head into a dirt.
"Okay, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Nightpaw gasped with laughter as she struggled free and climbed to her feet. "You knew it was me all along, didn't you?"
Moonpaw purred as she started to wash the dirt out of her fur. "Maybe. Or maybe I just wanted revenge for you flattening me."
"Serves you right for creeping up on me." Nightpaw purred. "I bet you were going to try some trick on me."
"Moi?" Moonpaw blinked at her, her amber eyes wide with innocence. "Besides, I wasn't creeping. That was my best stealth attack."
"Stealth? You still stalk as slow as a snail. I'd have fallen asleep by the time you reached me." Nightpaw teased.
"A snail!" Moonpaw grinned. "I believe you have another date with the dirt, Nightpaw."
Moonpaw leapt at Nightpaw and they rolled around in a mock-fight for a bit before Moonpaw pinned Nightpaw to the dirt. Nightpaw remembered one of Dawnpaw's favourite moves and went limp. As soon as Moonpaw loosened her grip to let her up, Nightpaw sprang to her feet, firing Moonpaw off into the undergrowth. "Surprise is a warrior's greatest weapon!" Nightpaw crowed out her sister's favourite quote. Moonpaw got to her feet, quite unbothered by her defeat as she shook out her pelt.
"Well, I'd better get back to hunting. If Mousefur finds me nattering and playing, instead of feeding the Clan, she'll hang me over the river by my ear-tips." Moonpaw grinned. "I'll catch you back at camp, Nightpaw."
Nightpaw watched as Moonpaw bounded back into the forest before turning and heading on in a different direction. She had just missed a squirrel when she smelt something strange in the air. It was the scent of... Shadow Clan! Nightpaw buried the prey she'd already caught and dropped into her best crouch and stalked forward, following the scent. Not long after, she caught the scent of Firepaw heading in the same direction she was going. Nightpaw picked up the pace. He might need help.
She ran full-pelt, crashing through the bushes as she caught sight of his ginger pelt. Emerging into a clearing, the sight she saw in front of her brought her up short. Firepaw was sharing a rabbit with a old dark grey Shadow Clan warrior who jumped up guiltily when they caught sight of her.
"Firepaw, what are you doing?!" Nightpaw asked, completely shocked.
"My thoughts exactly." A stern voice mewed behind her. Nightpaw turned around to see Bluestar, Tigerclaw, Darkstripe and Willowpelt. They all looked furious.
"Nightpaw, what are you doing here?" Willowpelt snapped at her as Bluestar, Tigerclaw and Darkstripe crowded around Firepaw and Yellowfang. "I hope you haven't done something stupid again."
Nightpaw felt her jaw drop with indignation. That was so unfair. She'd only just got here and at any rate, what was this 'again'? When had she ever done something stupid? "No, I haven't." She snapped back, resentment bubbling in her chest. "I was hunting actually."
Willowpelt's eyes narrowed. "I don't believe you."
Her jaw dropped even further. What did Willowpelt think she'd be doing all day? "Believe this!" Nightpaw darted through the trees and quickly returned with the prey she'd caught, a thrush and a pigeon, shoving it under her mother's nose. Who sniffed it, gave a snort of contempt as though Nightpaw's prey wasn't good enough and stalked away to join the other warriors. Nightpaw stared after her, a mouse-tail away from screaming with anger but settled for gouging deep, deep, grooves into the floor with her claws until the warriors were done scolding Firepaw and asking questions to the Shadow Clan cat.
Soon they were padding back towards camp. Yellowfang, the Shadow Clan cat was a prisoner and Firepaw was in disgrace for breaking the warrior code and looked utterly miserable. Nightpaw was tempted to speak to him but she had no words that she could think of to say and at any rate her mouth was full with her prey. a thrush and a pigeon.
Bluestar called a meeting where she announced that Yellowfang was now a prisoner and as punishment for breaking the warrior code, Firepaw had to look after her. Nightpaw felt like working out her anger by seriously injuring Dustpaw and Sandpaw who were openly laughing at Firepaw after the meeting.
Instead, finding a tiny thread of calm, she managed to pad straight past them and deliberately sat right next to Firepaw and Greypaw. She opened her mouth to speak but Greypaw got there first, motioning with his tail towards Yellowfang. "I'd go and see Yellowfang if I were you. She doesn't look very happy." Nightpaw turned to see the Shadow Clan cat openly glaring at them.
"Well here goes." Firepaw sighed, climbing to his feet. "Wish me luck."
"You'll need Star Clan on your side for that one." Greypaw replied.
"Call out if you need a hand." Nightpaw purred. "If she looks like she's going to murder you, I'll shout 'Fox!' and then Greypaw can cover her with dirt and leaves to 'hide' her."
Firepaw purred with amusement and trotted off to Yellowfang. Nightpaw watched him go for a moment before turning and making her way over to Moonpaw and Dawnpaw with Greypaw behind her. The four of them grabbed a big rabbit and shared it together.
-x-
"Dawnpaw!" Frostfur yowled and Dawnpaw abandoned her play-fight with Moonpaw and hurried over to where she stood with Lionheart, Firepaw, Greypaw and Nightpaw.
"You four are about to reach another important stage in your training." Lionheart mewed.
"What's that?" Greypaw mewed, his fur fluffed up with excitement. Dawnpaw's excited heart raced to match his as he pressed into her side.
"Bluestar wishes you four to accompany her on her journey to the Moonstone. She wants you to rest now for an early start in the morning. But first, go to Spottedleaf. She'll give you some herbs to give you strength and quell your appetite. You leave at dawn." With a flick of his tail, he was gone, moving across the clearing to Bluestar's den.
"Congratulations." Frostfur purred to them. "Off you go."
The four of them raced over to Spottedleaf's den in a flurry of excitement but Dawnpaw wasn't too hyper to notice that Firepaw's eyes brightened as Spottedleaf emerged into the sunlight. Their aunt, for she was-had been- Redtail's litter-mate, showed them some carefully made leaf wraps explaining what they were and what they did.
"Eat them just before you leave." she told them.
"Thanks Spottedleaf." Firepaw meowed and they all bent down to pick up their parcels. Spottedleaf leaned over to Firepaw and rubbed his cheek with her nose, whispering something into his ear and Firepaw let out a purr.
Dawnpaw and Nightpaw were the first to leave, walking side by side to their den. "So what do you think about those two?" Dawnpaw was interested to know whether her sister thought that it was against the warrior code or if she had the view that love conquered everything and they should go for it.
"About what two?" Nightpaw turned to her with a completely puzzled expression in her eyes. "Frostfur and Lionheart?"
Dawnpaw rolled her eyes. Was Nightpaw blind? "No. We already know they're mates. I'm talking about Firepaw and Spottedleaf."
"What?!" Nightpaw mewed sharply. "But-" She broke off, shouldering her way past Dawnpaw and rushing inside the apprentice den. Dawnpaw hesitated, startled for a moment by her sister's reaction before following her inside. Nightpaw was already curled up in a ball as though she were asleep, her parcel off to one side so Dawnpaw carefully put her parcel next to Nightpaw's before curling up on her own. Nightpaw would talk to her about whatever had upset her when she wanted to.
A cold wind blew down the back of her making her shiver and she knew there was no way she'd be able to fall asleep by herself. Maybe she'd better snuggle in next to her sister. She raised her head and sleepily blinked open her eyes to find where her sister was but all she was met with was blackness. "Nightpaw." She cried, feeling all alone. Then she saw a shape move towards her out of the darkness. She squinted and then felt her jaw drop as her eyes adjusted.
"Redtail!" She squealed, flinging herself upon the tortoiseshell warrior and covering him in licks. "What are you doing here?"
"Hello, little one." Her father chuckled, touching noses with her. "Am I not allowed to visit my daughter?"
"No. It's just- I'm not dead, am I?" Dawnpaw gasped as a thought struck her. "You haven't come to take me to Star Clan."
"Don't worry." Redtail purred, running his tail along her spine as she let out a huff of relief. "You're just sleeping. I just wanted to come and see you. To tell you that I love you and Nightpaw and how proud I am of you both. If you could tell your sister that, I would be most grateful."
"I don't understand." Dawnpaw asked, leaning away from where she had been breathing in the scent of her father for a moment to look up at him. "Can't you tell Nightpaw yourself?"
"Her connection with Star Clan is not as strong as yours, little one."
"Why not?" Dawnpaw frowned as a look she well knew slipped across her father's face. It was a look that the older cats always wore when they were unsure whether she was old enough to know the answer to her question or not.
"Dad. Tell me."
Redtail dipped his head to her reluctantly. "Because you've already been here, Dawnpaw."
"What? How?" Dawnpaw gasped, backing away a few paw-steps from her father who gazed down at her, his amber eyes brimming with emotion as he relived the memory he was about to tell her.
"It was a difficult birth. Willowpelt had been ill for a long time while she carried you and Spottedleaf told us that she wasn't sure if any of you would survive. When Nightpaw slipped out alive and strong, we were so happy. But then you arrived..." Redtail hesitated, glancing down at her and pulling her back into him with his tail. "You weren't breathing. You were a stillborn. Spottedleaf tried to get you breathing but it didn't work. Your mother and I resigned ourselves to only having one kit."
"You gave up on me?" Dawnpaw gasped, shivering slightly at the thought that she had been dead or so close to death.
"You have to understand little one. We hadn't expected either of you to live. We thought you were dead and your sister needed us."
Dawnpaw sighed. She understood but that didn't mean she had to like it. "So? What happened?"
"A miracle." Redtail purred, giving her a lick. "Maybe Star Clan felt pity for us. Maybe it wasn't your time to die. But you came back to us. Just as Spottedleaf picked you up to take you outside to bury, you let out the most indignant yowl at being separated from your warm nest." He let out another chuckle at the memory and licked her again. "I have never thanked Star Clan more than I did in that moment."
Dawnpaw stayed silent for a moment, contemplating what she had just been told. "Thanks for telling me, dad." She let out a small purr eventually, nuzzling her father though she still felt shaken by the story she'd just been told. She was just sitting back down ready to begin a normal conversation with her father when something caught her attention out of the corner of the eye. A ball of light flared above her, disappearing as quickly as it come. "What was that?" She wondered, turning back to Redtail.
Dawnpaw let out a yowl of shock. Her father was on his feet, fur all spiked, his amber eyes huge as he stared at her and as she stared back, a single drop of blood formed at the base of his throat and dropped slowly to the ground. Then another made its way down the same crimson trail down her father's neck, reddening the dusty floor and then another and another, blood beginning to ooze out of a deep slit across Redtail's neck. "Dawnpaw..." Her father choked. "There's something...you need...to know. T-"
Suddenly the darkness around them fell away and Dawnpaw found herself in a forest. Alone but for a pool of blood at her paws. "Dad." She screeched frantically spinning on the spot. "DAD!" Without warning a loud screech echoed around her, getting louder and louder and Thunder Clan pelts exploded from the bushes racing past her. Following them came huge dark warriors, their eyes glittering cruelly. And out of the shadows that followed in their wake, Dawnpaw heard a high desperate cry filled with grief and rage. One she clearly recognised.
"GREYPAW!" Dawnpaw yowled, leaping to her feet feeling horrified as her dream vanished. She spun around the den but even the sight of Greypaw and Nightpaw curled safely in their dens couldn't quench the shivers that raked her spine at the horror she had just witnessed.
"Are you okay, Dawnpaw?" A deep voice asked and Dawnpaw spun frantically, sagging in relief when she saw Tigerclaw peering into the den.
"I'm fine. It was just a dream." Dawnpaw mewed, digging her claws into the earth to stop her shaking as she tried to keep the trembling out of her voice.
"A bad one by the looks of it." Tigerclaw frowned at her ginger tail which was still fluffed up with fright. "Want to tell me about it?"
Dawnpaw shook her head. How could she describe what she'd just seen? Tigerclaw would think she was crazy.
Tigerclaw nodded and then told her to wake the others. "We're leaving shortly." He mewed as he left the entrance.
Dawnpaw swallowed nervously and shoved the dream to the far back of her mind, determined to forget about it. Because that's what it was, only a dream. Star Clan cats didn't come to see ordinary warriors, and they certainly only sent prophecies to medicine cats and leaders. Therefore, it was a dream, well more of a nightmare really, she had no idea of how the idea that she could have been still-born had appeared in her mind, but it was still a dream. Just a dream...But Dawnpaw couldn't keep her paw from shaking as she reached out to pat Nightpaw awake.
After she had awoken the others, they forced down their bitter herbs and then met Tigerclaw and Bluestar at the gorse tunnel. By this time, Dawnpaw was utterly calm on the surface though occasionally thoughts of what she'd seen raced through her mind. She was so deep in thought as they walked through the tunnel and out into the woods that she almost walked straight into Lionheart who was just returning with a patrol. "Safe journey." he meowed.
Bluestar nodded. "I know I can trust you to keep the camp safe."
Lionheart dipped his head before turning to his apprentice, Greypaw. "You're almost a warrior now. Never forget what I have taught you."
Greypaw looked back at his mentor with affection. "I will always remember, Lionheart." he mewed, nudging his head against Lionheart's golden flank.
-x-
The journey was long and hard. They travelled to Four-trees and then into Wind Clan territory, avoiding a Shadow Clan patrol. The whole journey Nightpaw walked by herself as if in thought though Dawnpaw had the impression she was deliberately ignoring her and Firepaw but Dawnpaw, too, was content to be alone with her thoughts. The sun was beginning to sink by the time they reached the Thunder-path at the edge of the uplands. Bluestar went first, then Greypaw and Firepaw. Dawnpaw was lucky, a big gap let her cross easily. Then it was Nightpaw's turn. She was waiting on the edge as a monster came closer when suddenly the monster left the Thunder-path and headed straight for Nightpaw. Nightpaw just leaped back in time as it roared past a whisker away before tearing across and cannoning into Dawnpaw's side.
"I thought you were road-kill." Dawnpaw cried, pressing herself against her sister's shaking body.
"Me too." Nightpaw trembled as Tigerclaw darted across.
"Do you want to rest before we go on?" Bluestar asked gently but Nightpaw bravely shook her head. The incidence did have one good point though. As they set off, Nightpaw fell into a spot by her side and they resumed talking as though nothing had happened between them.
Soon they were climbing the hill towards the Moonstone and near the top, Bluestar let them rest until the sun had disappeared behind the High-stones. When they reached the black hole at the entrance to the Moonstone, all the apprentices took it in turns to peer inside but Dawnpaw couldn't see anything. The darkness reminded her of her dream so she was glad when Bluestar announced that only she, Firepaw and Tigerclaw would be going inside although she felt slightly disappointed. If she could go down there and meet with her father, find him alive and well and not dripping with blood, ask him if he'd gone wandering last night and have him tell her he hadn't been anywhere, then she could truly confirm to herself that it all been a dream. The three of them were swallowed into the darkness as Greypaw, Nightpaw and Dawnpaw settled down to guard the entrance.
After only a few minutes, Tigerclaw burst out of the cave, sending the three of them shooting to their feet. His eyes were wide and he seemed to be shaking.
"Tigerclaw?" Nightpaw asked carefully. "What's wrong?"
Tigerclaw stared at her for a moment as his eyes slowly returned to normal before he growled out. "Nothing. I wanted to check that you were still guarding the entrance." and he stalked off to sit a little way away. Greypaw and Nightpaw exchanged glances and Dawnpaw knew what they were thinking. Tigerclaw was such a brave and fearless warrior. What had happened down there? Greypaw and Nightpaw settled back down but Dawnpaw just stared at Tigerclaw's lonely form before picking her way across the rocks towards him.
"Tigerclaw?" She called.
"Yes." He spat, twisting his head around to look at her. Dawnpaw hoped he had sounded sharper than he had intended.
"Are you okay?" She asked, coming closer and sitting near him.
"I'm fine, Dawnpaw." Tigerclaw answered her shortly, turning his head away.
"Oh." Dawnpaw sat in silence for a moment, staring at the warrior who had most definitely not been fine a few moments ago. "You know, I didn't like the look of it down there. All that darkness and the sides pressing in on me. I wouldn't have even attempted to go down there, let alone get halfway down like you did."
Tigerclaw turned his head to glare at her. "Are you suggesting that I was scared of the dark?"
"No way." Dawnpaw replied quickly.
"Because I'm not. I wasn't. No way."
"Right. Okay then."
"Okay then." Tigerclaw nodded in agreement before starting to his feet as Firepaw and Bluestar burst out of the cave. He started to head over to them but hesitated and looked back at her. "But thanks anyway, Dawnpaw. I mean- thanks."
"No problem." Dawnpaw purred, a warm feeling rising in her chest as she got to her feet and ran after Tigerclaw, following him over to Bluestar.
"What did you learn?" Tigerclaw was already asking.
"We must return to camp immediately." Bluestar meowed and Dawnpaw didn't miss the look of desperation in her eyes as they turned as one and raced down the slope.
Nightpaw could feel her paws growing stiff with tiredness as they hurried on. She was glad when Bluestar stopped to talk to a black and white tom. "This is Barley." Bluestar explained. "He lives near this Twoleg nest."
"I haven't seen any of your Clan for moons." The cat meowed. "How are you, Bluestar?"
"I'm well, thank you."
Tigerclaw stepped forward. "I thought we were in a hurry, Bluestar. What does he want?"
"I just wanted to tell you that there are dogs here now." Barley mewed. "You'd be safer going through the cornfield instead of the yard."
"Thank you, Barley. Until next time." Bluestar mewed.
Barley flicked his tail. "Have a safe journey." He mewed as he bounded up the track.
"Come on then." Bluestar led them towards the cornfield but Tigerclaw hesitated. "You trust the word of a loner?"
"Would you rather face those dogs?" Bluestar replied without looking back and after a moment, Tigerclaw started to follow them. They padded along by the edge of a ditch. Nightpaw could smell prey-scent but she was unfamiliar with the bitter odour. Just as she was thinking about asking Bluestar if they could hunt there was a loud yowl that made Nightpaw whip around. Dawnpaw was struggling and clawing at the earth. Something was dragging her into the ditch!
"Rats!" Tigerclaw spat, leaping for Dawnpaw before she was dragged into the ditch. He had just started to pull her out when a mass of rats swarmed out of it, surrounding them both. Nightpaw raced forward to help but one rat leaped onto her shoulder and another bit down on her leg, dragging her down to the floor. Nightpaw slashed at the rat that was on her leg. It let go but three more took its place. Powered by fury and rage, Nightpaw fought and hacked at her attackers. Around her, yowls and spits told her that the other's were being attacked as well. She killed the one on her shoulder but another two leaped on to her back making her gasp in pain as they bit down. Under the weight of another three rats that joined the first two, Nightpaw didn't have the strength and she sank to the floor. She scratched and bit out wildly but every rat she killed was replaced by another few. Soon she was overpowered by the rats and it looked like she was going to be killed.