Chapter 7: The warning lights
Blackpaw sat down beside Foxpaw, he started licking the blood off his claws. His pelt was a mess, the black fur sticking out at all sorts of angles not that he minded, it made him look a little more ferocious. It felt good to have sliced up Swiftpaw a bit, that arrogant freak! She thought she was the best warrior in thunderclan! Little did she know she was in the presence of the greatest warrior that had ever lived! However, Tigerstar couldn't help but wonder how that piece of dung had run so fast. It wasn't normal, let alone not possible. If the Darkforest has power, and is able to send me, Brokenstar and Hawkfrost back, then Starclan could have made their own preparations... If starclan's greatest hope to defend the clans against him and his followers was Swiftpaw, then Tigerstar wasn't worried at all.
Not at all.
"You did what?" came a quiet voice from above.
Blackpaw looked up, even Tigerstar was shocked by what he saw. Lionblaze, claws unsheathed and eyes blazing like a wildfire, his teeth were gritted in a snarl and his pupils were tiny slivers of black. His fur was ruffled up, so he looked even bigger than normal, which was saying something because Lionblaze was one of the tallest cats in the clan.
"Pardon?" Blackpaw replied purposefully arrogant.
"YOU TRIED TO HURT MY DAUGHTER?!" Lionblaze yowled, all the thunderclan cat's heads snapped round to watch the drama. Blackpaw narrowed his eyes and glared up at the deputy. "Well, she was asking for it, she's such a arrogant freak!"
The clan gasped and Lionblaze hissed in rage. "Arrogant?! You're the arrogant one around here Blackpaw!" came a snarl from Snowpaw.
Bramblestar was studying Swiftpaw, checking how badly she was wounded, he then locked his amber slits on Blackpaw. "Blackpaw, Foxpaw, what you have done is irresponsible, we do not attack our clanmates! You will sleep in the elders den for half a moon and will care for the elders every need."
Blackpaw decided there was no point in arguing. "Fine." Foxpaw growled but meowed his acceptance of the punishment.
Thanks Tigerstar, now I am one of the most hated cats in the clan. But it's not even me!
Oh please just shut it. No one can hear your pitiful mewing. Why don't you annoy me so much now?
Because you block out my voice, you can only hear me when I'm screaming.
But you're not screaming now.
No, I am not, but I am screaming on the inside.
Wolfpaw felt his claws slide out as Blackpaw argued with his father, no one hurt Swiftpaw and got away with it. He felt a nudge on his shoulder. Wolfpaw looked around and saw the large, muscular tabby Bramblestar standing beside him. "There's been enough blood spilled today, don't add to it."
"She's not your kin. If she was would want to get revenge."
"I will make sure they are punished. But for now, take care of your sister, when you can of course."
Wolfpaw looked at him in confusion and then looked at Swiftpaw and suddenly understood. Snowpaw was helping her walk and was licking her wounds, murmuring to her quietly. Wolfpaw couldn't help but feel a slight pang of jealously. Was Snowpaw tearing their closeness apart?
"You need to understand Wolfpaw, was Swiftpaw ever going to be alone for long? She's one of the most popular cats, toms admire her courage and adventure."
Wolfpaw nodded the laughed. "That's if Lionblaze lets them go anywhere near her!"
Bramblestar nodded his approval and then quickened his pace so he was walking with Lionblaze. Wolfpaw decided to catch up with Songpaw, Stormpaw and Ravenpaw.
"Hi Stormpaw!" Wolfpaw grinned.
"Hi Wolfpaw, how's Swiftpaw?" Stormpaw smirked.
"Swiftpaw and Snowpaw sitting in a tree-" laughed Ravenpaw.
"Oh come on guys leave him alone." Songpaw quietly meowed.
"Fine..." came the sad reply.
Wolfpaw cuffed Ravenpaw round the ears, and gave her a smirk. Her eyes grew with a playful light and she leapt onto Wolfpaw, only just knocking him down. Ravenpaw flicked her tail over his face then got off him. Dewpaw looked at them with entire amazement and then walked off with Songpaw chatting to him.
Wolfpaw felt the Greenleaf sun tingle on his grey pelt, he scattered some dirt in Ravenpaw's face hissing playfully. The black green eyes she cat hissed in surprise and gave chase, her skinny legs carrying her with ease. Ravenpaw was easily faster than him, with her shorter fur she speeded through the thunderclan trails, leading back to the camp. Wolfpaw was behind her, his longer fur making it harder for him to match her speed. Dirt sprayed in his face, from Ravenpaw in front of him, birds tweeted and the wind brushed his fur, the sunlight shone on his friend's black coat, making it gleam. Suddenly Ravenpaw tripped over, tumbling forwards, Wolfpaw tripped on her tail and they both, in a bundle, rolled down the hill to the camp, laughing all the way.
Jayfeather crept through the bushes, listening to the training session. All the cats that could possibly be part of the prophecy would be here, now he could see which cats looked like they were special. He hid under a bramble bush, its harsh thorns clawing him. He gritted his teeth as one pierced his skin, he would need to put marigold on that. He locked his ears on the training apprentices. Who were the suspects? Snowpaw, Dewpaw, Amberpaw, Blackpaw, Foxpaw, Songpaw, Ravenpaw, Stormpaw, Wolfpaw and Swiftpaw. That was way more than five, meaning he would have to narrow the apprentices down. He laughed quietly as he heard Snowpaw hiss at Blackpaw. The fluffy black apprentice deserved all the hatred; he was such a flea brain. Jayfeather could tell they were lining up, ready to start running. All the apprentices squealed happily full of excitement. Then suddenly, a rush of paws filled Jayfeather's ears, they were starting to run, jumping, slashing and hissing at their opponents. Suddenly light filled Jayfeather's eyes, he could see! His blue orbs locked on Swiftpaw, who was racing alongside Ravenpaw, except she was running at the most impossible speed, easily drawing ahead of Ravenpaw, who was at the limit of speed her legs could take her. Whereas Swiftpaw was running faster than a windclan cat, without even panting. Her face wasn't twisted in pain from fatigue, it was full with a grin as she took in the wind that hit her. Jayfeather knew that Starclan had wanted him to see this, it meant that Swiftpaw was one of the five! "She's the first, probably the most easy to spot, you will have a harder time to find the others." Jayfeather growled as he heard the normal grouchy tone of Yellowfang. His vision turned back to black, and Jayfeather found himself digging his claws into the ground. "The five have come but the enemy is ready." Yellowfang insisted.
"What enemy?" Jayfeather hissed.
"We don't know, but Starclan is turning dark, the wind grows colder just like last time. But it's now worse, cats are vanishing Jayfeather." Yellowfang whispered.
"What?!" Jayfeather hissed. "You have to tell me more!"
But it was too late, his words faded on empty air as Yellowfang's shape grew transparent and then non existing.
