Through the Lion's eyes
Hello I'm back in business. Don't worry I'll get back to working of Melting Ice and Raging love soon for those who've read it. Oh And I'm redoing over the Clan Allegiances because of the gathering and I forgot to Add the important cats for Wind clan and River clan. Please check back before reading on this chapter.
Me: Hello time to get this chapter up and running
Firetail: You know what you have to do…
Me: Dx fine. I don't own warriors. Teehee It belongs to Erin Hunter
"Talking"
'Thoughts'
Dreaming
//Lionpaw has a weird dream the night after becoming an apprentice. He explores all of Thunder clan for the first time and even starts some training. Graycloud's punishment has taken effect as Crowstar has exiled her out of the clan for breaking the warrior code.//
"Crowstar what do about Lionpaw? How do we tell him about Graycloud?" meowed Lightfeather. It wasn't even sun rise and Crowstar was in the warrior's den. Every cat knew it was going to happen but they weren't sure how to cover it up for Lionpaw.
"I say we make it look like she died" Stoneclaw meows hearing murmurs of agreement from his den mates.
"How do we make it look like that? We always manage to have the body to burry" Meowed Hawkstorm
Mudshadow yawned with little interest but pretended to listen to please Crowstar. But finally he spoke up "We can lie and say a fox got her. Or perhaps one of those dogs."
Crowstar gave his son a nod, their matching golden eyes clashing. "Very good, does everyone agree?" he meows
All the cats gave a nod, all agreeing to fake it off as death.
"Good, Lightfeather, I want you to go about your day training him as if nothing happened. Its dawn now, you can take him and a few others on Dawn patrol. Remember no one must mention a thing to Lionpaw about what his mother had done, he is not ready"
Lionpaw felt a paw job his side and he awoke to darkness. He was dreaming all the things he saw the previous day. Luckily in his sleep, he's able to picture and dream of things normally. "What is it? He asks
"Wake up Talonpaw, you two will coming with Me, Mudshadow and Hawkstorm" Lightfeather meowed.
"Mudshadow? I want to come to" Nightpaw mewed over hearing them in her sleep. She really wanted to get to know her brother who was an experienced warrior. He golden eyes were pleading as she stared at Lightfeather.
"Yes of course you can, let's go" Lightfeather meowed and left the apprentice den waiting for them outside.
"Why do you care if Mudshadow is with us? You have Oakpaw" Lionpaw meowed getting up and stretched, careful not to hit Silverpaw.
Nightpaw's golden eyes glazed over in admiration. "He's my older brother, and he's a warrior, I want to get to know my other brother, besides Oakpaw is a medicine cat, our lives are different. I much rather be with warriors" she said
Lionpaw sighed, hadn't he gotten through to her at all yesterday. He just poked Talonpaw, "Wake up you fur ball. We on dawn patrol" he meowed a little too sharply because of Nightpaw.
"I'm up already, Come on then" meowed Talonpaw as he got out of his nest and followed the other apprentices out.
Lightfeather flicked her tail and walks out of camp, Lionpaw was right behind her, Hawkstorm was next with Talonpaw beside him And Mudshadow taking the rear with Nightpaw following him. Nightpaw admired her older brother almost as much as she admired Crowstar, her father.
Lionpaw could feel the awkwardness rolling off the black and brown tom. 'Guess he's unsure how to handle his younger sister…now that I mention it I don't recall having Mudshadow around while we were still kits' he shrugged, he didn't care, wasn't his kin He could make out some of their conversation.
"Mudshadow could you teach me some moves later?" It was Nightpaw, he could tell how light and cheery her voice was. 'Ugh, this is so not like her, she really sounds like a she-cat' (AN// yea Nightpaw is like the tom boy of the group, not a girly she-cat type)
"Um…shouldn't Rosethorn teach you those things, she's more experienced anyway" Mudshadow replied coolly yet Lionpaw could feel how rapid his heart was. He knew he wanted to get along with his little sister.
The flaming colored apprentice nearly bumped into Lightfeather but was glad he stopped in time. They were close to Shaodw clan border. "Hmm…scent markers is where they should be…I think we better freshen up our markers" Lightfeahter meows and everyone brushes their pelts against trees, marking it as Thunder clan territory.
Lionpaw smelt Mudshadow shift positions with Hawkstorm and felt amused how when wanted to get away from the younger apprentice. His pelt flushed in embarrassment as he heard his stomach rumble.
"We'll get food soon. Just after we patrol the rest of the place" Lightfeather told him and leads the way to Wind clan. Suddenly every fur on Lionpaw's back prickled his gray eyes wide.
"What is wrong with you?" Talonpaw asked earning the looks of the whole patrol on Lionpaw.
"I smell…smell…fox" Lionpaw meowed lowly opening his mouth. The other did the same. "This is fresh…we need to keep a heads up. Forget Wind clan, Crowstar needs to hear about it" Lightfeather swiftly leads her group back to camp to tell Crowstar.
Graycloud was walking; the safety of the forest long left her. Her blue eyes were glazed over in exhaustion. "I really do hope I find Firetail, we can be together again" she mewed softly her heart fluttering like a love stricken apprentice. She had been trying to find him since she left but no use.
She chose a nice place to rest for now and curled into a ball and listened to the sounds around her in hopes of falling asleep. Before her eyes closed good she felt something sharp poke her sides. Hissing she looked up to see a black tom "What do you want?" she was unsure how to react if the tom attacked her but calmed down when she saw his caring eyes stare at her.
"Are you okay? You should be in some kind of shelter...would you like to follow me?" he asked calmly
Graycloud sat up and looked at him "Who are you? I don't want to follow a complete stranger" she responds
"I'm Max, well that's what the up-walkers call me" he meows and his flicks his tail. "Come on you need to get some shelter" he said and walks off, Graycloud follows behind.
They suddenly came to an old abandoned two leg barn and he opens the door to see hay and the smell of mice and other cats mingled together. She thought she could smell something familiar but wasn't sure.
"Lay down, I'll be back with a nice juicy mouse" Max walks out of the abandoned two-leg barn and heads out
"What a nice tom, I wonder if Firetail is around here…" Graycloud murmured softly as she started walking around to pick up different cat scents which weren't much, meaning it wasn't a lot of cats here. She yawns and remembered she didn't really have much sleep. 'I wonder how my kits are…' These were her last thoughts as she went to sleep.
Lionpaw sat at the entrance of the apprentice den, eating a plump mouse. He was a little tired from the dawn patrol. Crowstar had already given the warning that no cat goes out alone and to watch for the fox.
"Hi Lionpaw" it was Silverpaw, the silver apprentice took a seat next to him carrying her vole and started eating. "I wonder if we will run into the fox…maybe we can fight it" She mewed. Lionpaw could feel how nervous and excited she was. He could tell she wanted to show off her skills.
He took another bite of his mouse "I guess…I just hope it doesn't get in camp." He replied knowing that if he had to fight one he would have to be more careful then any cat. 'Being blind makes it so much harder…but I'll show everyone what I can do' he finished his mouse in a few more gulps. Suddenly he could hear the thudding of paws and yowling, the scent of blood and fox clung to him.
"Crowstar!! There was a fox attack we need some back up" yowled Shimmerpelt. The silver she-cat's fur was covered in blood.
"Okay, Blazeclaw, Stoneclaw, and Hawkstorm go on and assist them" Crowstar ordered. Lionpaw could feel something other then fear from the leader. Was it satisfaction? He wasn't sure but wished he could help them out. He could hear the thudding of paws leaving the camp.
Oakpaw was already out with Skypool, waiting with cobwebs and other herbs for any injured cats.
Lionpaw wondered who was all in the patrol fighting the fox. He suddenly realized his mother wasn't around, he hasn't seen her all day. He instantly worried for her and prayed she would return.
What seemed like moons later Blazeclaw came back supporting Brownflower. Shimmerpelt walked back with a lot of scratches and Stoneclaw and Hawkstorm returned with Shadowflame. Crowstar came back and instantly went to his mate who was in bad shape. "Skypool c-"
"I'm already on it Crowstar, come on Oakpaw, here's some excellent practice. Hand me some Cobwebs" she meows and Oakpaw instantly handed her the cobwebs and under her instruction he was working on the injuries of cats.
"Crowstar…we are sorry to report we only chased away the fox, not kill it…and that the fox had killed and ran off with Graycloud" meows Stoneclaw voice chocked up in sadness.
"What I'll get her body if it's the last thing I do" Lionpaw yowled, pelt bristling. 'How could they sit and watch that fox carry her away?!?' He started for the camp entrance but was stopped by Hawkstorm. "We can't lose more cats…she's gone" the experienced warrior told him.
Lionpaw felt his whole world fall apart. And he suddenly couldn't take his weight and collapsed. He yowled and wailed in pain, the only one who cared for him is gone.
"You may sit a vigil for her" Crowstar told him. Lionpaw felt some sympathy rolling off him and sighed. He walked away from everyone he just felt like he could just die right there. His pelt burned in anger as he felt the eyes of cats staring at him.
Lionpaw curled in a ball of the apprentice den and started crying; his body trembled and shook as he tried keeping it in control. He felt a warm pelt next to him, he smelt it was Snowpaw, he felt sadness come off of her. "W-what is it?" he asked and felt her lick his cheek.
"It's okay Lionpaw…I'll be here for you" came the soft voice of the white she-cat. Lionpaw started feeling her calm warmth, almost the same feeling he feels from Graycloud.
"She's gone…the only cat who cared about me…who loved me even if I was blind…I'll never see her again…maybe I could meet her sooner" he mumbled and suddenly felt anger and pain from Snowpaw as she lashed her paw at his ear.
"Don't you dare kill yourself to join Star clan sooner" she hissed, blue eyes narrowing. "And …don't you realize that I do care about you…Nightpaw, Silverpaw, Talonpaw, Oakpaw, we all do…we always cared…we didn't care that you were blind…but if you truly think Graycloud is the only one then…fine" mewed Snowpaw, tears of frustration brimming in her eyes. Lionpaw was too hurt to care what he had said to her and only heart her paw steps leaving the den. He just wanted to close his eyes and sleep in hopes of sleeping his pain away.
"Lionpaw…Lionpaw wake up" Lightfeather poked the ginger apprentice awake. "Get up, Crowstar wants you to attend your first gathering" she meowed
Lionpaw lifted his head, his grey eyes dull and with no emotion in them. He just nods his head, getting out of his nest. "Oh, like that will take the pain away" he muttered though he had to admit it would be his first time. He pushed some of his pain aside to follow his mentor out of the den to see Silverpaw, Nightpaw, Oakpaw waiting, obviously going to the gathering. He felt their sympathy for him as well but said noting to them as he joined His mentor, Crowstar, Blazeclaw, Mudshadow Hawkstorm, Skypool and Rosethorn.
"Hi Mudshadow, this is our first time coming to the gathering as siblings" Lionpaw heard Nightpaw mew and he shook his head. The black apprentice was bouncing along side him, golden eyes wide in wonder. He felt burning jealousy seeping from the brown tabby known as Oakpaw. 'Can't you see Nightpaw your ignoring Oakpaw?'
"Yes, now I can tell everyone my little sister is now an apprentice." Mudshadow said finding some joy out of it.
"Oakpaw, go and make conversation…Mudshadow is your brother too" he whispered to the shy tom and felt Oakpaw's paw steps leaving him to go talk to his kin.
"Hey…Lionpaw…sorry to hear about your loss" Silverpaw meowed and walked along side him, pelts brushing. He could feel her pelt brush against his and felt how cautious she is. 'Do I really act terrible to where the apprentices have to be so nervous' (AN// He obviously doesn't remember how badly he had upset Snowpaw's feelings)
"Thank you…I just feel so empty inside" Lionpaw mews softly as he continue to follow his clan mates. He could smell he was now out of the Thunder clan territory but was by the lake's edge of Wind clan's part of the lake.
He suddenly got an image of his clan mates, the moon shining on their pelts. He was in awe of Silverpaw. The moonlight made her glow and sparkle as if she was a star clan cat. 'Wow…she looks amazing…' he then wondered how he was suddenly able to see. He saw a starry figure he was unsure of. But he knew it wasn't his mother.
"You're not alone...look within the clan" meowed the mystical cat and suddenly vanished.
"Come on, we aren't allowed to stop at the lake on Wind clan territory" meowed Skypool and nudged Lionpaw along. He wondered what that was about. 'Star clan is mouse brained…I am alone…no one'
Crowstar flicked his tail as signal to lead everyone into the gathering. Lionpaw could smell all the clans mix into one.
"Be careful we have to cross the tree bridge" Silverpaw whispered to him as she took her time walking across the bridge. Lionpaw, determined not to let his blindness stop him walked with confidence feeling with his paws how wide the bridge was so he knew to stay centered and not embarrass himself and fall off. He felt Silverpaw touch his flank with her tail.
"Come on, lets chat with some apprentices" mewed the silver apprentice and leads him throughout the island. He smelt Nightpaw come on his other side 'Oh and I thought she was going to be glued to Mudshadow for this whole gathering'
Silverpaw stopped with a group of cats who appeared to be apprentices. Lionpaw could smell it was Shadow clan and Wind clan.
"Hello, my name is Silverpaw" Silverpaw meowed, sitting next to them.
"I'm Nightpaw, and this is Lionpaw" Nightpaw mewed flicking her tail to the blind cat
Lionpaw rolled his eyes "We've just been apprenticed" he adds deciding to be friendly
"That's great, this must be overwhelming then, and this is only my second one." meowed a cream colored she-cat with an odd fluffy tail. "By the way my name is Rabbitpaw, from Wind clan"
"Whoa your eyes are grey…and they look sort of strange" meowed a Shadow clan apprentice.
"It's because I'm blind" Lionpaw answered his pelt prickling slightly daring one of them to say anything.
"Thunder clan is getting so very mouse brained, letting a blind cat be a warrior" meowed another Shadow clan apprentice
"Darkpaw, Fogpaw stop being mouse brained. It's clear he is better at things like hearing and smelling. By the way I'm Maplepaw" meowed the pretty tortoiseshell and white apprentice. Instantly Fogpaw dipped his head "Sorry about that Lionpaw" he meowed
Lionpaw blinked and turned his head to where he heard Maplepaw. Suddenly his pelt started tingling. He didn't understand what was going on he felt he want to have her close and not let her out of his site. He was also impressed at how she made one of the apprentices apologize. 'Maplepaw must be like the leader of the apprentices'
"Nice to meet you… are you from Shadow clan too?" asked Silverpaw glad Lionpaw didn't get upset like he normally would. She felt uneasy at how the two cats were staring at each other.
"Yes, and this is my very first gathering, its interesting to see the other clans" Maplepaw responded coolly.
"River clan is here" Lionpaw meowed before any of the other apprentices could smell of see them. Silverpaw purred and touched Lionpaw's shoulder with her tail.
"See you two, didn't I tell you this tom had a great nose to cover his blindness" she mewed and he just smiled. Glad someone other then some of his clan mates understood.
Suddenly a black tom from River clan came up to them "Hello, I'm Duskpaw" the black tom seemed very friendly and it came in waves for Lionpaw. 'For now we can get alone…till danger threatens our clans…then we are enemies'
The apprentices continue to talk for a bit until it was time to start. Nightpaw turns away and walks off to sit next to Mudshadow. Lionpaw already knew her eyes were fixed on her father.
"Goodbye Maplepaw" Lionpaw meowed feeling a bit sad because he had to leave. The tortoiseshell she-cat made him feel like home. Which was strange considering it was a Shadow clan cat.
"Bye Lionpaw, try to come to the next gathering" Maplepaw calls back and with Fogpaw and Darkpaw they go back to Shadow clan.
First Stormstar of Wind clan stepped up he looked to the other leaders. "If you do not mind I wish to go first" he meowed. He then straightens up, his tail wrapped around his paws. "I'd like to report that Wind clan is doing fine, prey is running well. I'd like to announce that our medicine cat, Cloudgaze has retired to the elders den and his apprentice, Featherpelt is now a full medicine cat"
"Featherpelt! Featherpelt!" the clans cheered for the new medicine cat and Lionpaw could feel pride rolling off the she-cat.
"That is all I'd like to report" Stormstar stepped back and Coldstar stepped up
"That was Stormstar of Wind clan, next is Coldstar of Shadow clan" Lightfeather whispered to the apprentices so they knew who was talking. Lionpaw nods his head, paying close attention.
The big muscular brown tom gave everyone a cold stare that made even Lionpaw's pelt prickle. "Shadow clan's doing fine as well." He begins taking a step up. "I would like to welcome Shadow clan's newest apprentices, Maplepaw, Blackpaw and Hazelpaw"
"Maplepaw! Hazelpaw! Blackpaw!" the clans called out. Lionpaw looked to where Maplepaw was and felt how proud yet a little embarrassed she was.
Lightfeather whispered to the apprentices that Lakestar was coming next and Lionpaw nods and pays attention to what the River clan leader has to say.
"I have nothing much to report; just that River clan has a new apprentice as well, Duskpaw"
"Duskpaw! Duskpaw!" the clans called out
"Wow, Lakestar looks like a star clan warrior with his silvery pelt." Silverpaw mews softly. Lionpaw looked at her and wanted to say the same about her. But then he would have to explain how he knew that.
Crowstar steps out; his golden eyes shining like fire in the darkness of the night "Prey is running well in Thunder clan" began Crowstar. "However we ran into a fox on thunder clan territory, we lost a warrior but no other cat has been seriously injured"
Lionpaw felt his heart rip at the mention of what happened today. But Silverpaw pressed close against him for comfort.
"But on a happier note Thunder clan welcomes some apprentices, not all of them can be here but we welcome Nightpaw, Oakpaw, Lionpaw, Silverpaw, and Snowpaw"
Lionpaw felt warm but lifted his head high as his name was chanted by the clans. He felt Silverpaw shrink closer as if embarrassed.
"I declare the meeting over" Crowstar meowed and the leaders nods in agreement. All the clans start gathering together getting ready to leave. Lionpaw went to look for Maplepaw, for some reason he felt a pull towards her.
"Maplepaw, goodbye, lets meet up each time we get to the gathering that way we know if we got to go" he meows and Maplepaw nods her head.
"Okay, see you Lionpaw, you're not so bad for a Thunder clan cat" she said in the similar teasing manor as Nightpaw and walks off. Lionpaw goes and finds Nightpaw with Silverpaw and decides to walk alone.
When they arrived back Lionpaw went into the apprentice den, feeling suddenly drained. He felt Snowpaw look his way and could feel sadness coming from her. He just passed her, his eyes narrowed. 'I've got my own problems' he bitterly thought and went straight to his nest.
"Enjoyed your gathering?" It was Talonpaw
"Yes, and I'm tired… I'd like some sleep"
"Oh, sorry goodnight" and Talonpaw went back to sleep, letting Lionpaw sleep.
'Tomorrow is a new day…a day without Graycloud' Lionpaw closed his eyes thinking of his mother's soft gray pelt and her warmth and love.
Well that's it for now. Now the next chapter will be more about Graycloud and what has happened to her after being banned from Thunder clan. Remember Read and Review
