Chapter 2
"Goldenpaw! Goldenpaw!" the cats of ThunderClan cheered, including Nutpaw, Barkpaw and Swallowpaw beside their mentors, Mouserunner, Badgerclaw and Emberfall. The new warriors Treeleaf, Flightwing and Crystalshine also cheered. Dewriver's kits: Dawnkit and Spiderkit also cheered. As Goldenpaw ran down to touch noses with her mentor Swampfoot, Swampfoot purred in her.
"You'll be the best warrior in all the clans," Whether I want to or not. Thought Goldenpaw recalling the chilling prophecy from five moons ago. But nothing could ruin the day she'd been waiting for for six moons. Foxfur and Mouserunner beamed with pride and even Runningpaw was cheering. Goldenpaw smiled, this was the way it was for every other apprentice in the clan. Swallowpaw ran up to Goldenpaw after the ceremony was done.
"Congratulations Goldenpaw," she purred.
"Thanks," Goldenpaw responded happily. I have friends, just like everyone else, I'm like everyone else, so why do I keep repeating it as if I'm unconvinced? she wondered.
"Goldenpaw!" Swampfoot called, "I'm taking you for a tour of the territory!" They walked on Goldenpaw looking around at everything. When she saw each territory she wondered, what would it be like to live there? I wonder if there are cats in prophecies there? She hoped so, and maybe she could meet that cat. She had heard of a leader, Firestar who had so many prophecies about him and his kin that even he lost track. He seemed fake to her. She had believed in him when she was a kit, but he seemed to perfect to be real. A cat who enjoyed and accepted being in a prophecy, a cat who suffered so much and never cared but was still great…. as if. "Goldenpaw!" her mentor jolted her out of her thoughts, "another two steps and you'll be in ShadowClan territory!" She suddenly was aware of where she was putting her paws.
"Sorry!" she yowled. Swampfoot smiled.
"Don't worry I crossed the border because I smelled squirrel my first day, my mentor, Smallfire yelled almost as much as the ShadowClan cats," he purred. Goldenpaw purred back. "Tonight's the gathering," Swampfoot meowed. Goldenpaw had nearly forgotten.
"Will I go?" she asked.
"Of course, all new apprentices go, all new warriors too," Swampfoot meowed.
"So that means Flightwing and Crystalshine will be going?" she asked. Treeleaf had been made a warrior two moons before Flightwing and Crystalshine.
"Yes," Swampfoot meowed, "Come we're approaching the lake." The lake was huge and sparkling in the sunlight. Across the border she could see a RiverClan cat teaching apprentices how to fish. She saw a WindClan cat showing his apprentice the territory. She could see the branch that connected the shore to gathering island.
"Beautiful isn't it," Swampfoot meowed, "come on I'll show you how to hunt." Goldenpaw couldn't stop purring today was going to be the perfect day.
"Show me your stalking position," Swampfoot commanded. Goldenpaw crouched down the way she'd seen apprentices crouch down.
"Lift your tail up just a bit," Swampfoot commanded. Goldenpaw did so and caught the scent of mouse. She stalked through the bushes. She caught the scent of something funny mixed mouse and she burst into the clearing. Runningpaw was standing with Barkpaw. They were talking nothing else was happening. Goldenpaw sighed in relief. The mouse scent was still fresh, and she crouched down lower. Her tail lifted slightly and she focused carefully on the bushes which were squirming ever so slightly. She pounced feeling the wind on her flattened ears. When she stopped in the bush the mouse was centimeters from her. The weird smell was stronger than ever. She blinked again and saw a large black paw standing on the mouse, claws outstretched. The creature had a huge snout with ice blue distant eyes, it was glaring at her. This must be a ShadowClan cat….. on ThunderClan territory.
"Get off my territory ShadowClan cat!" growled Goldenpaw, feeling brave. The creature made a weird sound that Goldenpaw could barely understand.
"Did you call me a cat?" the creature asked angrily.
"Yes!" Goldenpaw growled, she jumping on and the creature's forepaw.
"I can't allow you to hurt me cat, you have to be warned," the creature snarled.
"What do you mean?" Goldenpaw asked. Terror gripped her and she stood stock still.
"I'm sorry cat, you have to be shown," The creature barreled past her. She chased it trying to think of something. The creature exploded into the clearing he walked up to Runningpaw and Barkpaw.
"two kitlings, what shame" his eyes flashed momentarily with regret before he advanced on Barkpaw. Goldenpaw and Barkpaw battered him with their paws. But that didn't stop from sinking his teeth into Barkpaw's neck. The brown apprentice screamed and then fell still. Goldenpaw stood there in terror. Runningpaw was almost literally paralyzed muttering,
"B-b-b-b-ba-bea-beast!" He shrieked and his eyes glazed in fear.
"Ah-Ah-ah… Wolf," the creature scolded to Runningpaw and Runningpaw just nodded.
"as for you, miss she-cat I suggest you don't try to stop our pack, or more will end up like your little friend…" as he walked away he cast Goldenpaw a look of utmost pity before his eyes became cold again. She returned out of the clearing covered in blood, her yellow eyes glazed with fear.
"B-Barkpaw is d-dead, R-Runningpaw, still there, tell clan b-beast!" Goldenpaw stuttered.
"Barkpaw is what?" asked Swampfoot.
"Dead, beast, help, tell Wrenstar," Goldenpaw gasped. Swampfoot burst through the bushes into the clearing. Barkpaw's body layed where he and Goldenpaw had fought the wolf. Swampfoot layed beside his son's body keening softly.
"T-tell Swallowpaw, and Nutpaw, tell them now!" Swampfoot commanded. As Goldenpaw walked away from the clearing tail drooped low and head down she heard Swampfoot looking at the sky and whispering.
"Windsong…. is he there Windsong? Are you and your kit safe in StarClan," Swampfoot meowed. Goldenpaw trudged toward the apprentice den. She found Swallowpaw and Nutpaw sharing a vole.
"B-beast, Barkpaw, huge beast," she meowed to Swallowpaw and Nutpaw.
"You sound like Runningpaw, what do you mean?" Swallowpaw asked confused.
"Barkpaw was killed by...a..a wolf," Goldenpaw stammered.
"Barkpaw? killed?" Nutpaw yowled.
"Y-yes," she stammered. Then she fell to the ground jolting in shock.
"Tell us where he is!" a white and brown tabby stood them. Wrenstar signaled Badgerclaw, Diamondclaw, Emberfall, and Nightface. "Swampfoot and Runningpaw are there I trust," Wrenstar meowed grimly. Goldenpaw just nodded.
"I-I'll take you to the clearing," Goldenpaw meowed. Then she bolted out of the camp the patrol beside her. When she reached the clearing Swampfoot was still there. Underneath him was the body of Barkpaw and beside him the terror-stricken Runningpaw.
"NO!" Swallowpaw and Nutpaw cried in unison and crouched beside their father. To Goldenpaw's relief no one asked her to speak her about what happened until that night when they were leaving for the gathering. Wrenstar padded up to her signaled with her tail to walk with her.
"I need to know what happened," Wrenstar meowed, "I tried Runningpaw but all he'd say on the matter was beasts coming to get us, I'm sorry but I need to know." Goldenpaw nodded. She told Wrenstar everything from the mouse to the wolf's threat. "I see," Wrenstar meowed finally, "I must think, but until I make a decision enjoy the gathering." Goldenpaw nodded and raced off. A massive amounts of cats filled the island.
"Hi!" a young apprentice with RiverClan scent walked up to her grinning.
"Hi, I'm Goldenpaw," Goldenpaw meowed.
"I'm Moonpaw," Moonpaw responded.
"You're from ThunderClan!" Moonpaw meowed, clearly pleased with herself for recognizing the scent.
"You're from RiverClan!" Goldenpaw responded.
"Don't we smell nice?" Moonpaw asked.
"Yes…. just like dead fish," Goldenpaw joked.
"Oh, well you smell like...um some weird creature thing!" Moonpaw meowed.
"Apprentices, apprentices be nice!" a RiverClan she-cat meowed.
"Have you met Brightwillow? She's my mentor!" Moonpaw meowed. Goldenpaw shook her head and dipped her head to Brightwillow, just as Wrenstar started to speak.
"ThunderClan is thriving this green-leaf," she began, "We welcome two new warriors, Flightwing and Cyrstalshine, as well as a new apprentice Goldenpaw!" she paused as the other clans called,
"Flightwing! Crystalshine! Goldenpaw!" ShadowClan, RiverClan and WindClan cheered.
"But we also have lost," Wrenstar continued, "to a grim creature known as a wolf, a fine apprentice named Barkpaw, should any of you see a wolf I would advise you not to attack." A the gray RiverClan leader stood up, addressing the clans.
"Thank you Wrenstar for that warning only fool's could believe-" Lakestar began but was cut off by pitch black clouds covering the moon.
"The gathering is over!" Graystar, the leader of WindClan announced. As cats flooded off the island Goldenpaw realized something. This is StarClan's way of saying that the wolves are a problem, that they're dangerous and should not be taken lightly. And that the prophecy is true. Goldenpaw sighed, nothing was going to be the same again.