Welcome to Chapter 4! Leaf-fall and Leaf-bare are going to be skipped. This is like my longest chapter in a while.
The early morning sun covered the camp with a warm glow. Everyone was happy. The harsh leaf-bare was over, taken place by the warm new-leaf. Finchpaw unfortunately had died of greencough.
Flightpaw streached in the morning light before watching Twilight the fox kit play with his foster brothers and sisters. "It's almost time for their apprentice ceremony," she thought, "I wonder… is it possible for Twilight to become a warrior?" She broke out of her thoughts as Coltpelt asked her where Darkpaw was.
"He's in the elders den," answered Flightpaw, "Talking to Whitepaw."
"Thanks," Coltpelt trotted to the elders den.
Flightpaw walked out of camp, giving a slight nod to Silentheart who was guarding the entrance. "I'll hunt," she thought, "Since Bramblepelt is on patrol and Darkpaw is training." Flightpaw walked through the forest happily watching the birds flit through the trees and the squirrels and mice on the ground. She didn't really feel like hunting. It didn't feel right at that moment. The wind shook the new budded trees overhead. Flightpaw looked up. Wondering what it would be like to fly. Fly with the wings on her back. She shook her head, "No," she scolded herself, "No. I won't. I won't fly. I promised mom. I won't fly." Flightpaw was about to take a step, but froze instead. She could smell Streamclan warriors on the wind. And the smell was getting closer and closer. "Whose there?" she called.
Three cats met her on the path. One was a grey she-cat that Flightpaw recognized from the last gathering. Greyfur. The other two, a light black tom and an orange tom were unfamiliar to her. However the orange tom looked like an apprentice to Flightpaw.
"Look!" hissed the orange tom, "It's a Nightclan cat. All alone!"
"Quite Snakepaw!" ordered Greyfur.
The other tom smiled at Flightpaw, "Hello. My name is Runningclaw. And this is Greyfur and Snakepaw. We wish to speak to Lilystar. Waterstar would have come instead but-" He glanced at his fellow warrior and apprentice before continuing, "she has been busy."
"Really?" Flightpaw made her fur lie flat, "I mean of course." She turned tail and lead the Streamclan warriors back to the camp. Silentheart's eyes widen when she saw them coming. Her claws unshealthed. "It's okay!" called Flightpaw, "They just want to speak with Lilystar."
Silentheart looked the Streamclan cats over for a second before stepping aside. Flightpaw went inside first. She showed the cats the direction to Lilystar's den before running over to Twilight who was napping in the shade. Flightpaw grabbed him by the scruff and placed him in the nursery.
"Hey!" complained Twilight, "What was that for?"
"There are mean cats outside," lied Flightpaw, "They hate red colored cats like you."
Twilight nodded like he understood, "When I get older and become a warrior, then I'll teach those mean cats a lesson or two!"
Flightpaw smiled sadly, "If you can become a warrior," she thought. Out loud she said, "Stay here until those mean cats leave."
"Alright, Flightpaw."
Flightpaw slipped out of the nursery and saw the Streamclan cats leave Lilystar's den and leave the camp. Lilystar headed for the Highstump. She jumped onto it and yowled, "Let all cats who are able to gather their own prey gather here under the high stump."
"What's this about?" wondered Darkpaw as he and Flightpaw sat under the highstump.
"Maybe something to do with those Streamclan cats who were here," suggested Flightpaw.
"Streamclan cats?" wondered Darkpaw, "Maybe. Oh! And I heard that Sparrowpaw is going to be a warrior!"
"Really!" cried Flightpaw, "That's great!"
They fell silent as Lilystar continued, "First, I'm proud to add a new warrior to our clan. Sparrowpaw. Starclan look down upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to learn your noble code. Sparrowpaw. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect the clan at the cost of your life?"
"I do."
"Then from this day forth you will be known as Sparrowtail."
"Sparrowtail! Sparrowtail!" yowled the clan cats.
When the noise died down, Lilystar continued, "You will sit vigil tonight Sparrowtail. Now three Streamclan cats told me some disturbing news. Treeclan one of the most peaceful clans in the forest has attacked Streamclan for no reason at all, and Waterstar believes that Nightclan will be next. I want all cats on guard."
"But what if Waterstar is lying?" asked Spiderpelt.
"She isn't," said Scareye entering the camp, "I just went there on Lilystar's orders and the camp has been attacked."
Mummers rose in the clan cats. "Why would Treeclan attack other clans for no reason?" wondered Darkpaw.
Lilystar yowled, and all the cats turned back to her, "I want everyone to be careful. That is all."
The next morning Bramblepelt took Flightpaw out of camp for some fighting training. "You know," began Bramblepelt, "It's almost time for you to become a warrior. I think your exam will be soon."
"Really?" gasped Flightpaw, "That's…amazing! I'm so excited!" Then she remembered the promise she made to Darkpaw. The one where she would tell the clan who she was. The Nightclan special.
Bramblepelt paused, "You smell that?"
Flightpaw sniffed the air and gasped. She could smell Treeclan cats, "Oh no!" she cried, "Waterstar was right!"
"Let's get back to camp!" ordered Bramblepelt. The two cats raced back to camp as fast as they could. When they got closer they could hear the sounds of battle fill the air. Flightpaw left Bramblepelt's side. Her claws unshealthed she raced into the camp and took in the sight around her. Sunpelt and Morningsun were furiously defending the nursery from a couple of warriors. The sounds of whimpering kits came from inside. Lilystar and Scareye were fighting side by side against three strong warriors. The new warrior Sparrowtail was helping Birchpaw defend the medicine cat den. Whitepaw was trying to protect Littlecloud against a large gray tom, but it looked like he would over power her. The tom swatted Whitepaw away with a paw and she went reeling back. Flightpaw rushed over to help. She leaped onto the tom's back and clawed the tom with all of her strength. Whitepaw jumped back into the battle and used the distraction to slash the tom in the face. It yowled and Whitepaw slashed it again. Flightpaw jumped off its back and slashed one of its back legs. The tom decided he had enough and raced out of camp.
"You better run!" Whitepaw called after him.
"You would be a fine warrior," smiled Littlecloud.
"The battle isn't over yet," reminded Flightpaw before running to help Brightclaw who was being overpowered by three cats. Flightpaw attacked the youngest one slashing it in the face, before attacking one of the warriors. Brightclaw attacked the other warrior. Soon the three cats turned tail and ran.
"Thank you for the help," said Brightclaw before rushing back into the fight.
Flightpaw ran to the middle of the camp, panting. This battle was taking its toll on her.
"FLIGHTPAW! LOOK OUT!" Flightpaw looked up to see a large silver tom running towards her. He was moving too fast and Flightpaw was too exhausted to dodge. Flightpaw stared in horror as his claws came closer and closer.
"NO!" Darkpaw launched himself onto the moving cat, and dug his claws into the cat's shoulder. He yowled and trashed around wildly. Darkpaw fell off and hit the ground. The breath knocked out of him. Before Flightpaw could blink the tom tore a large gash into Darkpaw's stomach. Darkpaw yowled in pain.
"DARKPAW!" Flightpaw glared at the tom in anger. In bloodlust. She attacked. Her claws seemed to grow longer as she slashed the tom in the face. It gave a pained yowl and raced out of camp. She was about to follow him when she remembered Darkpaw. Flightpaw rushed over to him. The wound was bleeding severely and his breathing was very slow. "Cinderpaw!" she called.
The medicine cat apprentice bounded over to her sister, "What's-" She noticed Darkpaw, "I have some herbs in Myssticstorm's den… I hope there is enough!" She ran away to the den.
"Flightpaw," Darkpaw opened his eyes.
"You must rest Darkpaw. Save your strength. You are going to be okay. You are going to be okay… it looks worse than it is….you are going to be okay…"
Darkpaw smiled, "Flightpaw. You don't have to pretend. I know...I am going to-"
"Don't say it!" cried Flightpaw, "You aren't! Mysticstorm and Cinderpaw will take care of you! They will make sure you don't…"
"Flightpaw. Show Nightclan. No. Show all the clans. Show everyone your powers." He seemed to see something Flightpaw couldn't see. He looked at Flightpaw with his green eyes into her amber ones, "Flightpaw… I wish we could have become warriors together. Goodbye Flightpaw…"
"Darkpaw don't die!" screamed Flightpaw, "Don't leave me!"
Darkpaw gave her a smile, then closed his eyes.
"DARKPAW!"