Howdy! This is chapter 6 of Sudden Dreams. Just a small reminder, if you guys have any good OC's, please out them in the reviews, I would be super happy. Or else, I would have to make all the warriors for RockClan by myself. Anyways, happy reading!
Chapter 6
Frostpaw blinked. Where was she? The familiar scent of herbs and seed wafted into her senses. Am I in the medicine den? She tried to sit up, but immediately felt pain shuddering through her bones, and collapsed again. "Frostpaw, are you awake?" Flamenose appeared into sight and spotted Frostpaw grimacing. "Great StarClan, stop moving!" He snapped. Frostpaw froze at the ginger medicine cat's sharp tone.
Flamenose padded over to her and gave a few sniffs. "Okay, you need to rest. You are no shape for doing anything." Frostpaw sighed and relaxed onto her bedding.
"Where's Ravenkit?" She asked, looking up the stony den ceiling.
"Oh, of course. I'll go fetch her." Flamenose murmured, and walked out of the den without another word.
…
Frostpaw heard voices coming from outside. "She's awake? Really?" A excited voice squealed. Frostpaw purred. Ravenkit! The black-and-white she-cat emerged into view and spotted Frostpaw looking up at her with a curious expression. "Frostpaw! I knew you would wake up!" Ravenkit thrust her muzzle into Frostpaw's pelt, but was intercepted by Flamenose.
"Ah, ah, ah, she's still resting. Don't fool around or else I'll have to kick you out." He mewed, and strolled back to his herbs. Ravenkit rolled her eyes.
"Grumpy Flamenose," She muttered under her breath as she lay down beside Frostpaw. Frostpaw stared up her, and started to feel something different. Something had changed while she was asleep.
"Ravenkit, what happened while I was asleep?" Frostpaw asked, twitching her whiskers suspiciously. Ravenkit looked at her for a moment and let out a purr.
"I became an apprentice, that's what! Stormear is my mentor now, and also the Clan deputy." She responded, her green eyes glittering with happiness. Frostpaw gave her friend a quick lick on the ear. Suddenly, the shock hit her. Wait, Stormear is the deputy now? Where's Stoneclaw?
"What happened to Stoneclaw?" Frostpaw said slowly, afraid to hear the answer. Ravenpaw's eyes clouded with grief.
"He's with StarClan now." She answered quietly, looking away.
Frostpaw gulped. "How long have I been out?"
"Almost a quarter moon."
Frostpaw gasped. Almost a quarter moon! The last thing she remembered was her vision blurring in the nursery. Oh, and I'm glad Ravenpaw is okay. How had she been out for that long? How much training had she missed? Questions boiled inside her, threatening to burst out. She tried to stand again, but fell back down promptly.
"Frostpaw! Stop moving! Youngsters these days," Flamenose scolded from across the den.
"Sorry," Frostpaw muttered back. Ravenpaw sighed and got to her paws.
"I'll be back when you're better rested." She mewed sympathetically, and stalked out of the den. Frostpaw looked sadly after her. StarClan, why was I out for so long?
…
"Okay, okay, that's it, slowly," Mintheart muttered nervously. Frostpaw was pulling herself to her feet, achingly. When she was up, she took a few steps and there wasn't any pain whatsoever.
"Hey, Flamenose, I'm fine now! I can go to training!" Frostpaw exclaimed, padding around the den. To her disappointment, the ginger medicine cat shook his head.
"Not a chance. The muscles on your upper back are still a bit strained, and you can't go around pleasing Firemoon when you haven't even pleased yourself." He droned on matter-of-factly. Frostpaw groaned in frustration.
"It's for your own good, Frostpaw." Mintheart said sweetly, and licked her daughter's fur to groom it. Frostpaw instinctively pulled away.
"You can walk around the camp, sure. Just don't get into any funny business." Flamenose said. Frostpaw let out a squeal of delight and pounced outside.
It had been about a half-moon since the rogue attack. Leaf-fall had come, the orange and red leaves were scattered all around the camp. Frostpaw breathed in the fresh air, ruffling her fur. She remembered doing this when she was a kit. She padded down the stones and into the clearing, towards the fresh-kill pile. Stormear was busy organizing another patrol. "Hey, Mintheart, lead another border patrol for me, will you? The one along the tunnels. Take Owlpelt, and a few others." Frostpaw saw her mother nod and pad off to talk to Owlpelt. Taking a squirrel from the fresh-kill pile, she saw Rosestem and Silverfeather chatting with each other atop a log. Oh, right. Rosestem, Crowfur, and Pineleaf all became warriors yesterday. Frostpaw looked them enviously. One day, I'm going to be a warrior, too.
"Frostpaw, you're better now!" Frostpaw whirled around to see Ravenpaw running towards her. The black apprentice gave Frostpaw a friendly lick on the ear.
"Did you just come from a tunnel patrol?" Frostpaw smelled the wet sand on Ravenpaw's sleek fur. Her friend pulled back and nodded.
"I helped Stormear catch a rabbit, but that's not important. Can you train now?" She asked eagerly. Frostpaw gulped, and shook her head. Ravenpaw immediately deflated. "Oh, um, well, you can at least come help me with something." Frostpaw felt a bit better.
"With what?" She said, padding after Ravenpaw. The other apprentice turned around.
"I need to go change Embercloud's bedding, and then check the elder's for ticks with Lionpaw." Ravenpaw informed her matter-of-factly, and continued to pad to the nursery. Frostpaw followed. Embercloud had moved in the nursery a few days ago as well, so there will new kits, which made Frostpaw excited. I wonder if I'm allowed to play with them.
…
"Thanks, Ravenpaw and Frostpaw. That feels better." Embercloud mewed gratefully, blinking her gratitude.
"How long do you think your kits will arrive?" Frostpaw asked excitedly. Embercloud started to look thoughtful.
"Flamenose says in about half-moon, but I think even sooner." Embercloud purred. Ravenpaw nodded, and beckoned for Frostpaw to follow her, but suddenly, Frostpaw zoned out. Her vision blackened and she felt herself fall to the ground, just as she slipped into unconsciousness.
Frostpaw fell onto the ground. "Ouch," She muttered under her breath, and stood up shakily. Looking around, she was a clearing, with soft grass under her paws and a soft breeze blowing through her hair.
"Frostpaw?" Frostpaw whirled around to see a black and dark gray tom stalking towards her.
"Stoneclaw? Am I in StarClan?" Frostpaw stared at the former deputy. Stoneclaw dipped his head.
"Indeed. I am here to tell you something." He said. Frostpaw suddenly felt as if something bad was about to happen. "Brightstar lost a life in the battle." Stoneclaw went on. Frostpaw remained silent with grief, as if an invisible force had clamped her muzzle shut. "She only has two lives left."
"Why are you telling me this?" Frostpaw demanded, voice cracking. Stoneclaw met her gave steadily.
"Because when Brightstar dies, the clan is most vulnerable. The Cobras will attack, and MoonClan will fall if they are not prepared." Frostpaw held the silence. Brightstar will… die? The thought of it just felt so… unreal. The leader was so strong and determined to rebuild the clan. Stoneclaw seemed to notice her hesitation. "Do not fear. The time of this has not yet come. You will understand." I will? Frostpaw questioned. Stoneclaw started to fade, and suddenly he was gone. Frostpaw blinked once, then twice, then…
"Huh?" Frostpaw murmured.
"Are you alright? Do I need to get Flamenose?" Embercloud mewed worriedly. Ravenpaw shoved Frostpaw lightly.
"I'm sure she's fine. Let's go, we've got ticks to find," Ravenpaw bounded out the nursery and Frostpaw followed, not completely sure what had just happened.
…
Frostpaw gave Lionpaw a quick lick on his ear. "That's better," She declared. Lionpaw sighed and sprawled out in the apprentices' den.
"Do you really think Cinderpaw did that by accident?" He muttered under his breath. They had been doing some battle training that morning, and Cinderpaw accidentally nicked Lionpaw on the left ear.
"She got yelled at for it. You know Cinderpaw, she gets carried away sometimes." Frostpaw padded out of the den with a swish of her tail.
The camp had changed a bit. Leaf-fall felt was starting to end, which meant the trees were starting to look bare. Leaf-bare also meant that Flamenose was panicking in the medicine den, sending each and every apprentice out to look for herbs. Everyday, Frostpaw thought grumpily. However, she couldn't stop thinking about the dream she had a moon ago, about Stoneclaw. She was the one who requested battle training. I can't believe Stoneclaw just left me without any useful information, Frostpaw thought, and then leaped down the stones to get herself something from the fresh-kill pile.
"Here, you can have the rest of mine, young'un." Marigoldtoe rasped as Frostpaw approached, and padded off to the elder's den. Frostpaw looked at her worriedly. Marigoldtoe had not been eating much since Smalltail moved into the elder's den. I hope it's not because of Smalltail. Frostpaw started to eat the rest of the vole, when Brightstar bounded out of her den and towards the edge of the clearing.
"It's time for the Gathering."
See, I wasn't lying about the Gathering. What do you guys think of the dream? Now do ya'll get why it's called Sudden Dreams? It's quite literal, I know. Well, I'm still working on chapter 7, so bye!
