X Disclaimers X

Chapter 8- Is being helpful bad?

Diamondpaw's POV

Why Darkstar insists that I go on the earliest patrol, I'll never know. What makes me even more annoyed is that no one else is coming. Darkstar said, and I quote,

"You'll be fine, the worst thing that could happen is… Well just don't think about the things that could go wrong like badgers, drowning, rouges, and rival clans and you'll be fine!"

Sending an apprentice out all by herself, even before dawn! It is really dark still, and I can't see far ahead because the fact that it's also snowing. Starclan hates me, I knew it. I think they hate every cat but right now, they're torturing me.

….

I trudged around through the snow for a few more moments when I thought I heard a cat's yowl of pain and fear. Curious, I headed off towards the frightened voice. Spottedfire had taught me one thing- and that was to defend the innocent and the hurt as you would if it was someone you love, even it is an enemy. Love your enemies by who they are and what they do instead of judging them based on their parents or clan. I headed off at my full speed, the once soft snowflakes felt like ice raining down.

Soon, in the distance came the outline of several cats. One was small, maybe an apprentice. The others were larger, either warriors or rouges. Now that I was closer, it sounded like it was the apprentice crying out. No one saw me, and I took this as an opportunity. I crouched down, blending perfectly into the snow and crept forward. As soon I as I got into striking distance I used the leap-and-hold move Darkstar had taught me to jump on the largest warrior. Quickly and silently I scratched my opponent on the muzzle and jumped off. I stayed silent and out of view for a few moments then attacked the other warriors. I repeated this until the smallest warrior cried out

"It's Starclan! They're telling us to stop!"

The one not too far from him nodded and announced "Yeah. Let's get back to camp!"

I watched as their figures faded out from my vision and then turned to the apprentice and asked

"Are you ok? Did they hurt you in anyway?"

He stood there shaking "N- no."

"Can you make it back to camp?"

"Yeah."

"That's good!" I mewed as I turned to walk away

"W- Wait. Can you come back to camp with me? My dad will want to meet you, I'm sure of it!"

"Well, okay. It's not like anyone expects me back soon."

I followed the outline of the apprentice until we came upon a rocky camp with overhanging trees on either side. By now there was enough light to see who I helped out, and I must say he had the strangest pelt I ever seen! At first glance his pelt was a whitish color, but if you looked closely he had a slight greenish tint to it. His cheeks blushed when he caught me staring and muttered

"You don't need to stare you know."

"I'm sorry!" I squeaked, embarrassed that I was caught staring

"You do get used to it eventually." He said with a shrug "By the way, my names Grasspaw."

"My name's Diamondpaw." I stated

"Well Diamondpaw, follow me."

I had no choice but to follow Grasspaw because I felt that if I left his side, one of the warriors of his clan would attack me. Grasspaw turned his head to look at me several times to make sure I was still following. Eventually to break the awkward silence between us he stated

"Earlier I thought you were a snow spirit, you know with the whole blending into the snow and attacking quickly thing. Well, as you probably guessed, I'm a Skyclan apprentice." He paused "You don't seem to be Riverclan, as you kinda attacked one of their patrols and you can't be Shadowclan, your pelt is too bright of a color. What clan are you in then?"

"I'm from Windclan."

"Cool! That's where my dad's from! Does he know you?"

"I can't remember." I muttered

"Oh, that's alright then. He might remember you though." Grasspaw cheerfully declared

"Maybe."

Before I took another step though, something attacked me. It knocked me over leaving me on my back standing tall next to me, a paw lightly touching my underbelly to keep me from struggling. I heard Grasspaw asked in an annoyed tone

"Songpaw! Why did you just do that?"

The she cat named Songpaw angrily stated "She's an intruder; I'm just following my training."

"She saved my life!"

"She's a Windclan spy. You know how much dad hates THAT clan." Songpaw hissed

"No he doesn't! He only hates one cat there!" Grasspaw defended

"If she ends up being a spy then it's YOUR fault!" Songpaw warned letting me get up

"Thanks Grasspaw." I whispered

"No problem." He stated with a slight shrug

"Songpaw, that was very rude of you." A gray tom with a fluffy tail and darker stripes on his back declared. Why did I have a feeling I recognized him? "Oh, Grasspaw, who's your friend there?"

"Her names Diamondpaw, she's from Windclan." Grasspaw answered

The tom paused a moment "Diamond. Paw?"

"Is there something wrong?" I asked

"No….." He muttered, his eyes staring off into space

"Dad?" Grasspaw questioned

"Oh. Sorry about that." Grasspaw's dad replied

"Well what I was going to say was that this is a Windclan apprentice who helped me earlier. She fended off a Riverclan patrol all by herself by using stealth and speed."

"She did?" The tom asked with a slight look of confusion on his face "Well as Grasspaw and Songpaw may or may not have said, I am their father. Featherstar of Skyclan, originally Windclan."

No wonder I thought I recognized him! How could I have been so stupid? I bowed my head in respect

"It's a pleasure to meet you sir."

"No need to be so formal!" Featherstar laughed "You have grown up so much since I last saw you, or your siblings."

"You remember me?"

"Yeah, but you were really small and young when I came to visit. When I was about to go home I heard you say 'Why do you have to go? I want you to stay! Please?' I wanted to say something nice to not hurt your feelings so I replied 'You can come to my camp whenever you want. Alright?' And you agreed."

"Now I remember." I said thinking back

"Hey dad!" Grasspaw mewed "Do you think that Starclan would accept her not only as a Windclan apprentice but also Skyclan?"

"What are you getting at?" I questioned

"The thing with the symbols showing unity! That thing!" Grasspaw shouted

"Now I understand. You see, every Skyclan cat has a symbol showing their name. This one is mine." He explained pointing to a star with a feather on it "It changes with your name so let's say for example; Grasspaw. He has a symbol of a grassy paw and when it changes it will match their warrior name. However, few cats are forbidden from getting their symbol. Songpaw doesn't have a symbol. No one knows why though."

"WHOA! That sounds so cool!" I shouted "I want to see if I can get a symbol!"

"Alright then. In the name of Starclan I will give this young one, her symbol. Do you want this?"

"Yes please." I answered

"Now I will give you your symbol from Starclan." Featherstar stated as Grasspaw told me to close my eyes for a second

"Ok…" I replied, closing my eyes for a moment. I waited a few seconds then reopened them. Softly I asked "Where is it?"

Grasspaw pointed it out "There."

I glanced down to where he pointed. Near my heart was a diamond in the shape of a paw. It was the color of blood and stood out a lot on my pure white pelt. I gasped "It's so pretty!" but then I thought a moment "But what if Darkstar sees it?"

"Don't worry! It usually disappears once you leave Skyclan territory." Grasspaw assured

"Oh, ok." I smiled but then I noticed the time "Oh dear Starclan, I've got to go!"

(Grasspaw's POV)

Me and my dad watched as Diamondpaw ran out of the camp. I noticed the worried expression on his face though so I asked

"Is something troubling you? Something you saw?"

He glanced at me "Yes. I saw a troublesome future indeed for Diamondpaw."

"Why didn't you warn her?" I yelled angrily

"If I told her, she would try to change the future and her destiny will never be fulfilled."

Xx The end without a happy ending! See you next time! Please review so I know what I can improve! xX