Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors, but I do own the characters created for this story. Please don't steal any of them.

Chapter 2

Granitetail, Springfoot, and Summerflower dragged Softcreek's lifeless body back to camp. Skunkpaw and Smudgepaw, Granitetail and Softcreek's youngest kits, followed them with their tails dragging in the grass.

Ghostpaw followed his mentor through the entrance tunnel. His entire body felt numb. He couldn't stop thinking that it was all his fault that Softcreek had died. He could have stopped it from happening!

"Oh, Softcreek," Ghostpaw heard Lightdew whisper. Her voice choked halfway through.

A stab of anger coursed through Ghostpaw. Why hadn't be been able to stop it? He'd been able to walk through Rowanstar's dream last night, hadn't he? So why couldn't he stop a cat from dying when he knew the cause of their death moments before it happened?

Cottonpaw padded over, his tail drooped in sadness. "I heard she was trying to save Springfoot."

Ghostpaw, who was still fuming inside, only nodded.

Cottonpaw glanced at him, his green eyes full of curiosity. "What's the matter, Ghostpaw? You're acting like you've got a thorn you can't get out of your fur."

"You'll just think I'm crazy," Ghostpaw replied.

His brother looked surprised. "Ghostpaw, you know that you can tell me anything." Cottonpaw sighed. "Look, if you don't want to talk about, then I can wait until you're ready."

Ghostpaw sighed. Unlike he and their sister, Ashpaw, Cottonpaw always acted like he was already a warrior. He always did his duties without complaining. He didn't retaliate when he or Ashpaw tackled or pawed at him playfully. Their own mother had even once said that Cottonpaw was like an elder in the body of an apprentice.

Cottonpaw looked at him expectantly.

"Alright, alright!" Ghostpaw said. He glanced around. "Come over here."

The two padded over to the entrance to the dirt place. Ghostpaw had found an area, hidden from sight from anyone passing by, beneath the brambles of the bush that marked the entrance of the dirt place. It wasn't really big enough for the two of them, but he was pretty sure he could make it bigger within a few seconds.

"Wait a moment," Ghostpaw said before ducking underneath the brambles. He began to paw around, pushing the brambles around until there was a nice space big enough for him and Cottonpaw. "Come in!"

Cottonpaw dragged himself inside. "Is this that secret hiding spot you refused to tell anyone about?"

Ghostpaw laughed at the memory. When they'd been kits, he had always won when they played hide and seek. Nobody had ever been able to find him in here.

"Yes, it is. But it use to be so much bigger back when we were kits," Ghostpaw said. "I had to move it around a bit so we could both fit in here."

Cottonpaw nodded. "It's a good place to have a private chat. So, are you going to tell me what's bothering you?"

Ghostpaw sighed. "Yes."

Cottonpaw waited patiently.

Ghostpaw knew he couldn't hold it off any longer. "When we were out chasing after the fox, I saw it kill Softcreek."

"Well, I would imagine you would, if you were fighting alongside her when it happened," Cottonpaw said.

"No, that's not what I meant," Ghostpaw said irritably. "I saw it kill her before it happened."

Cottonpaw paused. "What do you mean before it happened?"

"I saw...I had like...I don't know, a vision or something," Ghostpaw said, having difficulty explaining. "It was like I was watching it, but in my head, I guess. My eyes were open and I was seeing it happen. Then, it went away and I could see around me again."

"And that was how long before the fox killed Softcreek?" Cottonpaw asked.

"I'm not sure. It all happened really fast," Ghostpaw replied. He looked at Cottonpaw. "I tried to stop it, Cottonpaw. I shouted. But I guess that wasn't enough. Softcreek died, and I could have prevented it. It's all my fault."

Cottonpaw's paw came up and hit Ghostpaw in the back of the head. "Don't you ever say that again!" Cottonpaw said sternly. "It wasn't your fault! I don't know what it was that happened to you, why you saw Softcreek die before it happened, but death is one of those things you can't stop! There was nothing you could have done to prevent her death!"

Ghostpaw lashed his tail. "Why'd you have to hit me?"

"To emphasize my point!" Cottonpaw replied. "Listen to me, Ghostpaw. I think StarClan might have big plans for you with this ability to see something happen before it does. Rowanstar could see and speak to StarClan in his dreams and while he was awake. It would only make sense that you're special, as well."

Ghostpaw wasn't about to tell Cottonpaw he'd been walking in Rowanstar's dreams last night. He heaved a sigh. "I hope you're wrong. I don't want to have a destiny like Rowanstar's."

Cottonpaw stood up. "Well, I'm sure Rowanstar didn't want his destiny either. You have a destiny, Ghostpaw. It's up to you whether you follow it or not."

Ghostpaw watched his brother drag himself out beneath the brambles.

Why did Cottonpaw always have to make sense?

"Ghostpaw!" Ashpaw ran over to where he and Cottonpaw were sitting, watching the cats sitting beside Softcreek's body. "Cedarspirit told me what happened. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Ghostpaw replied. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Ashpaw flicked his ear with her tail. "You just witnessed the death of one of your Clanmates! You must feel sad, or...or something!"

"Shhh!" Cottonpaw hissed at her.

Like usual, Ashpaw ignored Cottonpaw. "Why aren't you upset? You must be in shock! I'll go fetch Maggotstripe, she'll know how to..."

"I don't need Maggotstripe!" Ghostpaw meowed, slapping Ashpaw's mouth with his tail to get her to stop talking. He glanced around to make sure that nobody was close enough to overhear. When he saw that everyone was busy, he looked back at his sister. "Look, I'm more interested in something else right now. Okay?"

Ashpaw's silvery green eyes filled with curiosity. "What do you mean?"

"I saw Softcreek die before it happened," Ghostpaw whispered.

"What?" Ashpaw yelped.

"Shhh!" Cottonpaw hissed again.

"What do you mean you saw her die before it happened? Did you have a dream? Is that why you jerked awake this morning?" Ashpaw said, lowering her voice finally.

Ghostpaw shook his head. "It was like a dream, but I was still awake. The...the dream or whatever it was came only a few moments before it actually happened. We were about to attack the fox when I had the vision."

Ashpaw sat back and curled her tail around her paws. "What does it mean?"

"What?" Ghostpaw said, blinking in surprise.

"What does it mean?" Ashpaw repeated. "Why did you see it happen before it happened? Were you supposed to stop it from happening?"

"No," Cottonpaw said. "Death is not something you can prevent."

Ghostpaw perked his ears. "Why are you so adamant about that? How do you know that death can't be stopped? If I can see it happening before it happens, I can stop it. Right?"

"It doesn't matter," Cottonpaw replied. "If you stopped someone from dying, it would mess up the...I don't know...the whole world."

Ashpaw snickered. "You're mouse-brained, Cottonpaw. That sounds totally ridiculous."

Cottonpaw shook his head. "Not to me. It makes total sense to me."

"Well, we aren't mouse-brained like you are, so it sounds like total fox dung to us," Ashpaw replied.

"I don't care whether it makes sense or is total fox dung!" Ghostpaw said. "I just want to know why I saw something happen before it happened!"

Cottonpaw and Ashpaw glanced at each other.

"Ghostpaw, we want to help you," Cottonpaw reassured him. "The only thing is, we have no idea how."

"What if it's something we can't help with?" Ashpaw said wonderingly.

Ghostpaw's vision suddenly went dark. His entire body tensed as his vision came back, displaying a scene that made his fur stand on end. He watched a young, silver and white tom with black stripes chasing after a squirrel. It was obvious he didn't realize how close he was getting to the cliff that was part of the ThunderClan camp. The squirrel darted left and disappeared. Ghostpaw cried out as Shadepaw, the tom he was watching, skidded to a stop and slipped over the edge of the cliff.

"Shadepaw, no!" Ghostpaw gasped, his vision returning to normal suddenly.

"Ghostpaw, what's wrong?" Ashpaw asked, her neck fur bristled.

Ghostpaw didn't answer. He looked upward, his ears perked and his entire pelt standing on end. His eyes darted along the upper edge of one of the cliff walls of the camp. If he could just get there in time, perhaps he could break Shadepaw's fall! Ghostpaw ignored his siblings questions and ran toward the cliff. He could hear Shadepaw's fast pawsteps, closer and closer to the edge!

There was a sudden shout high above them. Ghostpaw looked up and watched Shadepaw falling straight toward him. For a moment, he felt a sharp pain.

Then everything went black.

Ghostpaw slowly woke to the sound of Stormypelt whispering to Maggotstripe. He opened his eyes and lifted his head. Why was he in the medicine cat's den? He spotted Shadepaw in the nest beside him, and, suddenly, everything came back to him. He remembered the vision, his frantic running to the cliff wall, and Shadepaw falling...right on top of him.

"Ghostpaw!" Stormypelt gasped. His mother walked over to him and touched his cheek with her nose. "How are you feeling? Does anything hurt?"

He stood up and stretched. There was a slight pain in his back, but it didn't feel too serious. "My back is sore."

Maggotstripe padded over. "I would imagine it would be, after an accident like that. Do you know what happened?"

Ghostpaw stopped in the middle of a yawn and closed his mouth. What could he say? He couldn't reveal that he had known Shadepaw was going to fall. They would probably think he had gone completely insane.

"I remember hearing a shout and looking up to see someone falling right at me," Ghostpaw replied.

Stormypelt wrapped her tail around his shoulders. "That was Shadepaw, dear. He was chasing some prey and didn't realize how close he was to the cliff."

"He's lucky you were there to break his fall!" Maggotstripe commented. "You kept him from breaking any bones...or worse."

Ghostpaw realized that worse meant death. A chill ran down his spine as he remembered Cottonpaw talking about how bad it could be if he stopped someone from dying. He wondered, briefly, what Cottonpaw and Ashpaw were thinking about what had happened.

He glanced at Shadepaw. "So he's going to be okay?"

Maggotstripe nodded. "All thanks to you."

Ghostpaw glanced at Shadepaw again. Was it possible? Had he saved Shadepaw from being badly injured?

Or worse?

"I cannot believe you did that!" Ashpaw gasped later the next morning.

Ghostpaw had been in Maggotstripe's den for only a day. The medicine cat had told him he should rest around the camp for another day before returning to minor apprentice duties. She told him that if the pain got worse, he had to go see her immediately. Shadepaw, though not seriously injured, had to stay for a few more days so Maggotstripe could monitor him.

"Did what?" Ghostpaw asked, pawing at the fresh-kill pile as he looked for something to eat.

"You saw it happen before it did, didn't you?" Cottonpaw asked.

Ghostpaw chose a juicy looking mouse and padded away. He dropped the mouse and laid down. "Can't I eat in peace?"

Ashpaw snorted. "Even StarClan couldn't keep us away from you right now!" She lay down beside him. "You have to tell us what happened!"

Cottonpaw lay down on his other side. "You got this look on your face like you were terrified, but your eyes weren't really focusing on anything we could see. And then, you tensed up like a badger was attacking you."

"And then you shouted, 'Shadepaw, no!' and ran off like your tail was on fire!" Ashpaw continued.

"A few seconds later, Shadepaw fell over the edge of the cliff and landed right on top of you," Cottonpaw said. He held up a paw and unsheathed and sheathed his claws. "Both of you were knocked out on impact. Maggotstripe came rushing over and looked over you both. She said Shadepaw had StarClan looking over him when they placed you there at just the right moment."

"Maggotstripe also said that it wasn't the highest part of the cliff he'd fallen from, but the fall still could have done serious damage if you hadn't been there to break the fall," Ashpaw finished.

Ghostpaw had finished his mouse by the time they were done. He licked his lips and looked at Ashpaw and then Cottonpaw. "It sounds to me like you already know everything that happened. What more do you need from me?"

Ashpaw hit his flank with her tail and grunted. "Don't play mouse-brained with us, Ghostpaw! You had a vision, or a dream, or whatever it is, didn't you?"

"I can't hide anything from you two," Ghostpaw grumbled. "Yes, I had a vision, or whatever, before it happened. And before you go on and on about how it's possible I just stopped Shadepaw from dying, and that I messed up the whole world by doing so, Cottonpaw, I have to say that I think that I was able to do something this time because Shadepaw wasn't going to die in the first place."

"This time?" Ashpaw said, her whiskers twitching.

"Yes," Ghostpaw said. "I tried to stop Softcreek from being killed. But, I've been thinking about it, and I realize that there wasn't anything I could do. Cottonpaw is right, Ashpaw. If someone is destined to die, they are going to. There's nothing, not even visions or dreams, that can stop death."

Ashpaw looked at her brothers. "Okay. So, maybe Cottonpaw isn't so mouse-brained after all."

Ghostpaw padded through the dark forest. He felt the moist grass beneath his paws and watched the wind send the branches dancing. The air was cool and clean as he breathed. He spotted a patch of dappled grass and walked over to it. Another breeze blew through, shaking the leaves and making the dappled patch quiver and move under his paws.

It felt so peaceful here in the forest at night. He closed his eyes and listened to the chirping crickets and the rustling of leaves and branches as the wind blew. The sounds suddenly changed, and when he opened his eyes he was no longer in the forest. In fact, he was standing on the top of a grassy hill with the whole night sky spread out above him.

With a gasp, Ghostpaw looked up and drank in the beauty of the twinkling night sky. Far off, he could see the dark surface of the lake. A forest sat off to his right and a marsh to his left.

He was on WindClan territory!

There was the sound of pawsteps nearby. Ghostpaw ducked down and quickly hid in a holly bush. He peered out and watched a pretty, white she-cat stroll up. Her blue eyes reflected the moonlight. The light from the moon made her fur look silver.

It was Moonpaw, his cousin from WindClan. Her father, Brownclaw, was Stormypelt's brother. Ghostpaw had only met her once during a Gathering on the island where the Clans met every full moon, in peace, to report about how their Clans were doing.

Why was he dreaming about Moonpaw?

The white she-cat looked up at the night sky. She gave a contented sigh as her eyes scanned the stars.

A cat suddenly appeared beside her. Moonpaw jumped and turned.

"Calm yourself, sweet apprentice," the black and white she-cat meowed.

Moonpaw's blue eyes were wide. "Who are you?" Ghostpaw was surprised that there was no trace of fear in his cousin's voice.

"I am Angelstar," the she-cat replied. "You were not born yet when I died."

"Angelstar!" Moonpaw breathed. "I've heard so much about you! Sunnystripe told Mudpaw and me so many stories about you! I want to be just like you when I become a warrior. I'm going to try my hardest so that, someday, I can be leader!"

"Ah, yes, Sunnystripe," Angelstar said with a purr. "He and I grew up together. Of course the old tom would know many good stories about me. You want to be just like me?"

Moonpaw nodded.

"It pains me to say this, Moonpaw, but your destiny will carry you in a much different direction than that of a leader," Angelstar said. "A winded ghost, a flaming tiger, an eagle's feather, a fern of green, and a blazing moon shall come together. Their destinies entwine to heal a love divine. The sunhigh sky is split in two, and the morning dew will give a clue. Follow the ancient path of the river to find the sky, or all shall watch the sky die.

"One friend from old, one who is quite bold. Two groups at war. The bold are looking for more. Know that conflict is not the answer. Find the eyes of terror and know that all is secure.

"Four is one again, one is four again. Tiger and Lion shall return with all their power. The fate of the forest is in the claws of the kin of the flower. One brother will survive and watch his kin perish by the paws of an ancestor. The lake will tremble with his grief and then the striped chief will be no more."

A look of shock appeared on Moonpaw's face. "What does that mean, Angelstar? Why can't I be leader?"

Angelstar's yellow eyes filled with compassion. "Do not fret, sweet Moonpaw. There may come a time where you will get the chance to become WindClan's leader. But that time will not be for many, many moons."

Moonpaw cried out as Angelstar began to disappear. "Wait! Don't go yet! Why can't you tell me what you mean? Was that a prophecy? Am I in a prophecy?"

Angelstar's yellow eyes were the last thing to go, but the entire time they floated in the air, they were full of pity.

Ghostpaw woke with a gasp. He blinked open his eyes and was nearly blinded by the morning light shining into the den.

It had been a quarter of a moon since his "fortunate" accident with Shadepaw. Both he and Shadepaw were back to their usual apprentice duties, though Shadepaw complained about how he thought he should have gotten more time to rest.

"Good morning!" Smudgepaw said from her nest on the other side of the den. She was the only other apprentice inside. "Were you having a bad dream? You were muttering in your sleep."

"No," Ghostpaw replied.

"Oh," Smudgepaw said, almost disappointedly. "Well, you and I are lucky this morning. Neither of our mentors want us for anything, apparently."

Ghostpaw twitched his ears. "I wonder why?"

"Well, Rowanstar and Thunderstripe took Skunkpaw and Shadepaw out on the dawn patrol and then went for some battle training. Pureheart and Meadowpaw went with Maggotstripe and Ravenpaw to collect more herbs. And then Silvermoon and Oakpelt took Ashpaw and Cottonpaw out to hunt," Smudgepaw said. "So, I guess that leaves us to..."

"Ghostpaw! Smudgepaw!" Cedarspirit's voice called.

"...clean out dens?" Smudgepaw finished.

Cedarspirit's head poked inside. "Get yourselves something to eat and then head over to clean the elders' den. After that, do the nursery and Rowanstar's den. You can finish up with the warriors' den."

Ghostpaw groaned and slumped over.

"The faster you get to it, the faster it will be over with," Cedarspirit said. "Smudgepaw, Granitetail is taking you out on a patrol tonight. Hopefully, you'll be up for it."

"I will!" Smudgepaw said, stepping out of her nest.

Cedarspirit disappeared.

Smudgepaw shook a few pieces of moss from her white fur. "Come on, Ghostpaw! Like Cedarspirit said, the faster we get to it, the faster it will be over!"

Ghostpaw gave another groan before sliding out of his nest. He stretched, shook a stray twig from his pelt, and padded out after Smudgepaw.

Together, they headed over to the fresh-kill pile. Rowanstar, Thunderstripe, Skunkpaw, and Shadepaw were dropping off prey from their hunt.

"Great!" Ghostpaw said to Smudgepaw. "Skunkpaw and Shadepaw are back! They can help us with the dens."

"Sorry, Ghostpaw," Thunderstripe said, "but we're heading out again. You're out of luck this time."

Skunkpaw laughed. "Cleaning dens never hurt anybody!"

"Oh, like nobody ever got hurt while hunting, either?" Ghostpaw retorted.

Rowanstar gave a chuckle. "Maybe you and Smudgepaw can make a game out of it. See which of you can collect the old moss into the largest ball, and then who can collect the most new moss."

Smudgepaw turned to Ghostpaw. "That sounds fun!"

Ghostpaw shrugged. "Okay." His stomach rumbled. "But I have to eat first before we do anything at all."

"I'm going to gather more moss than you!" Smudgepaw taunted.

"We'll see about that!" Ghostpaw replied.

End of Chapter Two