Hey, everyone! Ugh. I was writing this chapter and my Chromebook shut off on me for no apparent reason. So the chapter was deleted and I had to rewrite this. So it isn't what I originally had in mind, but it'll have to do. So Sweetpaw is two moons into her training, that is why she is able to fight better than a newbie would. Here's the chapter! I promise to update both stories this weekend sometime.
SilverFlash: I love the puppy dog eyes. You have found my weakness! Also, the bazooka that does fire and murderous polar bears is awesome. I want to cuddle a polar bear even though it would probably eat me.
NightHawk The Warrior: Thanks so much for your review. I understand what you mean about not having another Shadowstar. However, I didn't plan on shadowkit and shadowpaw becoming leaders. Even if I wanted to make another Shadowstar, I don't think it would matter too much because the first Shadowstar is close to fading away.
Chapter 4: Heartache
Greenleaf has fled to Leaffall and it is almost Leafbare. The sun shone coldly on the cold, frosty forest. I followed my mentor happily along to patrol the Windclan border with my mother and Fernpaw. I sighed content when the fresh scent of the lake and my home blew across my scent glands. I sat at the border and gazed across the moors. Fernpaw came to sit next to me. Our mentors walked along the border renewing it. "I hope they stay on their side of the border," I murmured to him. Fernpaw just snorted without saying a word. We stayed silent, just watching the wind play wth the grass. It was kinda peaceful until a Windclan patrol stepped out of the heather and right up to the border. They were very scrawny. Much skinnier than normal and their eyes gleamed with hunger.
I stepped back cautiously toward my mentor. Bramblestar and Dovewing padded up to us and sat down. "We haven't crossed the border, Oatclaw."
The pale brown tabby tom stepped forward and dipped his head. "I know, Bramblestar. I just hate having to do this." His patrol stepped closer to the border. Dovewing gasped and slid closer to me and her apprentice. She managed to find out what he meant.
"Windclan. ATTACK!" Oatclaw and his patrol launched themselves over the border. He didn't attack my leader but flung himself at Dovewing. I was faced with a mottled brown she-cat. We circled each other, trading a few swipes. Then she lunged at my leg. I yowled and clawed her face. She let go of me and I jumped on her and started to thrash her sides. Fur clumps flew everywhere and I didn't let go until she squealed like a little kit. I watched her run off before turning to see who was next. Bramblestar was fighting three warriors at once like it was nothing. I didn't see Fernpaw and I suspected Oatclaw already ran off. I went ti find my mother nad Fernpaw. Even though I don't particularly like the latter, he is still my clanmate. I smelled fresh blood and started to trot toward its source. "Dovewing," I whispered, trembling. I quietly slid through the bushes until I found the source. I wasn't prepared for what I was seeing. Fernpaw standing over my mother with a triumphant grin, his claws bloody. My mother, covered in wounds and a deep slash in her throat. The blood wouldn't stop running. She was dead. Murdered. Gone. No, she can't be dead. What about me, Flamepaw, Bumblestripe, Lightwhisker, and Dawnheart. She said that she would never leave.
Seeing her body made me want to kill whoever did this. Then I froze. I remembered the elder's tales of cats who went to the Dark Forest for killing. I didn't want to go there. "Mother." I whimpered. I looked at Fernpaw. "Fernpaw, what happened?"
The dark gray tom turned towards me with a malicious glare. "She was in the way. So now I can finish what I started." He snarled.
I backed away. "You mean, you did this?" He let out an evil cackle. Then he lunged. He headbutted me int the flank and I staggered back. His teeth sunk into my leg and started to shake it. I yelped and slashed his ears and face, trying to get him to let go. I twisted quickly and snapped my teeth around his tail. He growled and wrenched his tail free. Fernpaw let my leg go and tackled me to the ground. I clawed his stomach in an attempt to get him off. Fernpaw then went for my throat. Out of nowhere, a dark brown blur shot towards us.
Bramblestar wrenched Fernpaw off of me and pinned him to the ground with his strong huge paws. "YOU DARE TO ATTACK MY APPRENTICE and you didn't even go for help for DOVEWING, YOUR OWN MENTOR" He caterwauled with fangs out. I trembled in fear. I have never seen Bramblestar so angry. "Get up. Try anything funny and I'll show you exactly how dark the Dark Forest really is." He snarled. Bramblestar shielded me from Fernpaw as the dark gray apprentice struggled to his paws. Bramblestar turned towards me. His fiery amber eyes turning soft with sympathy. "I'll carry her back. Your mother was a brave warrior, Sweetpaw." I nodded, a tear escaping my eye. We padded in silence through the forest back to camp. Bramblestar growled at Fernpaw often on the trek back.
When we got to camp, Flamepaw was in the clearing. "What happened, Sweetpaw." I shook uncontrollably and my brother pressed against my side. His eyes wide with shock and concern. Fernpaw went to sit under the Highrock and Bramblestar flicked his tail to Badgersnout and Icecloud to come over. The three cats talked for a moment quietly before the two warriors went to guard him.
Then my leader laid my mother's body in the middle of the clearing. "She's dead. Murdered." I whimpered. Flamepaw reared back his head and caterwauled in grief before flinging himself down next to our mother's side. I followed him and laid down.
"NO!" I heard my dad and older siblings yowl. They thundered over and laid around us. Our grief was being shared and we all shed tears. I still can't believe she's gone. She was my everything. My mother.
Bramblestar gently nudged me in the shoulder. He crouched next to her and licked her between the ears. "I need you to tell the clan, what happened, little one. I didn't get to see all that happened." I nodded quietly and followed my mentor to the Highledge. When the clan saw Bramblestar and me up there, they all turned to look. He didn't have to call us together. We were all mourning Dovewing. "Dovewing was murdered. Sweetpaw was able to find out who did it and how it happened." The clan gasped in shock and turned to look at me. Bramblestar stepped back and curled his tail on my back. I took a deep breath and began. "We were ambushed by a Windclan patrol. I saw my mother fighting another cat but lost her. When I went to go find her and Fernpaw, I saw Fernpaw standing over her. She was dead and there were multiple bleeding wounds. I asked Fernpaw what happened and he turned to glare at me. H-He said that she was in the way and now he can finish what he started. We fought and Bramblestar came at just the right time. Fernpaw was about to kill me." I stepped back dazed and sad. The whole clan was caterwauling for the blood of Dovewing's murderer.
Jayfeather came and led me away to treat my wounds. I was shocked as memories flooded over me from the last time I was in here. Fernpaw, Fernkit then, had attacked me and I went to Jayfeather. Jayfeather protected me and then healed my ears. I still had nicks from that day, but I was no longer hurting there. "Your wounds aren't really serious, but I don't want an infection to settle in." Jayfeather walked to the back of his herb store and drew out cobwebs and a few green leaves. The sting from the herb soothed my aching gashes. Jayfeathe continued to apply the medicine and cobwebs until I was completely covered. "There, you are done." He flicked his tail in dismissal and I dragged my tired paws out of his den.
The sun was just now setting over the camp. Bramblestar gently touched my flank. I looked up into his wise amber eyes. "Go get something to eat. You need to eat to be strong for the vigil." I nodded and he flicked his tail over my ears before leaving to take his place at Dovewing's head. I dragged my paws to pick up a mouse.
Honeypaw came over and gently pressed her flank against mine. "Hey, I'm sorry for what happened. Do you want to share a mouse with me? No one should be alone after their mother dies." I nodded gratefully and we headed over to eat our mouse. We were just finishing up when Bramblestar called us together from Highledge. Honeypaw quickly buried our remains and sat among the other apprentices.
I followed her and wrapped my ginger tabby tail tight around my paws. "I've called you here, to witness the fate of a murderer." He began calmly. "I have decided on Fernpaw's fate along with the guidance of my senior warriors and elders." At the mention of his name, Fernpaw raised his head high and defiant. "Fernpaw, you have murdered a fellow clanmate and attempted to murder another. I hereby banish you from Thunderclan. You are no longer Fernpaw, but Fern. You are now a rouge and if we see you after sunset today. My warriors have permission to kill you. Now Leave." Fernp-Fern just left without a word.
Before he left the tunnel, he turned back and glared deep into my eyes. "Be careful, Sweetpaw. I will kill you." Then he plunged into the brambles, never to be seen again.
So how'd you like it? I'ma gonna go and attempt to do my chemistry homework and study my Spanish work and practice my choir songs before I fall asleep.