Chapter Ten

I told ya so !

dont own warriors!

Shadepaw stared around in shock as the first flickers of dawn came over the horizon. Where was Littlepaw?

It was still too dark to see the entrie Thunderpath, but she couldn't make out his tabby figure. She debated if this was a good thing or a bad thing.

"Littlepaw!" she cried, desperatley.

No response.

"Littlepaw!" she wailed, begging for the apprentice to yell back to her, but even more praying to StarClan that a monster had not claimed him.

"Shadepaw!"

Shadepaw spun around, relaxing instantly as she spotted Littlepaw scampering towards, only limping slightly from his torn claw.

"Oh Littlepaw!" she cried, running over and pressing her muzzle agaisnt his. She then held back, embarresed.

"Whats wrong?" laughed Littlepaw.

"I couldn't find you!" Shadepaw cringed. "I thought..." she lowered her voice to a mere whisper. "I thought a monster got you!"

Littlepaw's eyes softened. He stepped over and licked her ear. "I'm fine." he said soothingly, brushing her flank with his tail.

Shadepaw nodded, calming back down and taking in their situation. "Let's get back to camp." she said quietly.

Littlepaw nodded and the two apprentices padded silently in the direction of camp, unaware that soon, a party of rogues would be heading straight for them.

""""

"Don't just stand here!" Commettail hissed. "Go!"

Jetspeed and Dawningsun raced out of the nursery, with Flickeringfire taking the lead. Jetspeed's heart was going painfully fast. Goldenstar had been leader since before he was kitted. What would ThunderClan be like without him?

The ThunderClan leader lay on his side, blood flowing freely from a wound on his neck. Dawninsun was darting into her clump of ferns, coming back in moments with cob webs, marigold, and poppy seeds.

Runningspirit was watching from a distance, a terrified look in his eyes. Despite their recent arguments, Jetspeed knew that his friend needed him. He padded over to the ginger tom.

"Is he..." Runningspirit whispered, unable to finish the sentence.

Jetspeed shook his head. "No." he murmured quietly. "He's still hear."

Runningspirit let out a shaky sigh. "He can't die Jetspeed." he said. His deep hazel eyes met Jetspeed's and he was shocked to see that they were deep with fear. "I can't be leader! I never should have been chosen for deputy!"

Jetspeed touched his nose to his friend's muzzle, trying reasure him. He tried to think of something to take the deputy's mind of the dying cat infront of them.

"Guess who's the father of five kits?" Jetspeed said after a few moments.

"Five?" Runningspirit gaped, his eyes huge with pride.

Jetspeed nodded. "We're gonna be needing a lot of mentors for them."

Jetspeed found it strange that in the fast few moons, he and Runningspirit had grown farther and farther apart. Now, they were brought otgether in a time of tragedy.

"You really mean that?" Runningspirt said slowly.

Jetspeed nodded."I couldn't think of anyone else I'd rather choose."

Runningspirit gave a small smile. "I've been a really mousebrain that last few moons Jetspeed-"

"Don't worry about it." Jetspeed smiled.

"I'm sorry about your dad.. and Shadepaw." Runningspirit mewed.

Before Jetspeed had a chance to reply, their came a wail from the clearing infornt of them. The two toms turned to looked at a mournful looking Dawningsun.

"Goldenstar is dead."

"""""

Shadepaw and Littlepaw were so tired, that Shadepaw could barely scent the rogues.

It was a good thing Littlepaw did.

"Quick!" he hissed. "In that bush!"

The two apprentices hurled themselves into a nearby bush, and Shadepaw felt her heart beat faster and faster as she heard hurried footsteps. Soon, several rogues came into view. She could see their wounds, and realized that they must have attack the camp!

Littlepaw pressed himself agasint her, and Shadepaw saw in his eyes that he would protect her from any of these rogues. But Shadepaw realized that most of the rogues were too busy in fleeing than in trying to scent the occasional pair of apprentices.

And then, the rogues were gone.

"Let's go." Littlepaw whispered, peering out of the bush.

The two apprentices hurled out of their bush and ran. Shadepaw vowed herself not to turn back, because she was afraid that she would see the rogues giving chase to them. She would not let herself get captured again. She would fight.

When they reached the ravine, Shadepaw let herself relax and brought her sprint down to a walk, which turned into a limp. She felt dead on her paws, and wanting nothing more then to be in the apprentice and sleep for a moon. Possibley two moons.

She stepped into camp, and was shocked by what she saw.

"""

The Clan cried in protest. Runningspirit was trembling at Jetspeed's side. Jetspeed and his friend walked over to their dead leader, their heads bent in grief.

Jetspeed buried his head into Goldenstar's battle worn, ragged pelt. He felt like the very Oaks of FourTrees had been ripped down. What was ThunderClan without Goldenstar.

"Go on Runnignspirit! You're our leader now." said and elder, Dreamcloud.

Runningspirit slowly made his way onto the Highrock, hsi tail dragging in defeat. Jetspeed felt so sorry for his friend, who didn't want to be leader.

"Let us all bow are heads and give praise for the life of Goldenstar, who now hunts with StarClan." he mewed quietly.

All the Clan bowed their heads in silence for several moments.

"Goldenstar!" Runningspirit choired after a while.

"Goldenstar! Goldenstar!" The Clan echoed.

Jetspeed joined in, frozen with grief. His gaze drifted over to the gorse tunnel. He saw it twitch.

At first, the warrior thought it was more rogues. But no, it was the very two cats that Jetspeed thought were lost to him.

Littlepaw and Shadepaw.

Okay! Next chapter will probably be the last one!