Dappletail (guest): Dumble is only the best ;)
Lilypaw plucked up a still-warm mouse from the huge pile at the front of the cave. Blistery winds slammed against her as she scrambled to get away from the yawning entrance. She could barely see anything outside; it was all just a blur of snow and sleet.
The dark tabby was relieved to finally have something to eat. Every cat had waited far too long- then again, it was amazing that only that nice tom Dark and some ShadowClan cat were able to bring this load back. Apparently they had struck gold when the Tribe tom came upon the burrow. They managed to snatch up hundreds of full-grown and baby mice from within the frozen earth, all fresh and juicy.
Lilypaw slunk around, dodging cats with no challenge at all. She kept her head and tail low in an effort to keep Seedpaw, or Seed- Lilypaw scoffed at even the mention of this new name- from seeing her. The ginger apprentice had clearly been happy ever since she left ThunderClan, and Lilypaw knew it was because of her. Now she wants to be around me all the time. But that's only because she wants me to think the opposite of the truth.
She found Cinderheart and Lionblaze with their kits among the mess. The new family was sheltered under a small overhang close to the ground, huddled in the corner where they were somehow able to keep Honeykit, Flintkit, and Stonekit contained. Well, more so the first two Lilypaw noticed as she approached closer to them. The sophisticated gray tabby was sitting at his mother's paws, allowing her to give him a thorough washing on his head. However, the little runt didn't seem to mind at all; Lilypaw thought she even saw his little body quivering with delight.
"Hey there, Lilypaw!" Lionblaze greeted warmly. Honeykit and Flintkit scattered and spun around every which way before bouncing up to her. Quickly they backed away, however, at seeing the mouse.
"Aw, not that stuff!" Flintkit whined, diving under his father. His brother wriggled away from Cinderheart and calmly padded over to investigate.
"I still cannot determine why you despise fresh-kill. We won't have Cinderheart's milk forever," Stonekit pointed out reasonably. Lilypaw set the mouse down and started to dig in willingly knowing that the mates had already had a plump mouse of their own.
"Well, for now mother's milk is what we have, and that's what I like," Honeykit retorted. "Speaking of milk… ?" She glanced at Cinderheart hopefully.
"You'll suck it all away before you're two moons old," their mother remarked jokingly before laying down to allow her offspring to suckle.
Lionblaze purred in amusement and shifted to let Flintkit dash to his siblings. Then he turned and faced Lilypaw with a grim expression. "Not to worry you, but I've been concerned lately." His amber gaze slid from his mate and kits to the tabby apprentice.
"What, about Seed? Trust me, she's fine here. Just fine," Lilypaw mumbled steamily between mouthfuls. She shuddered in pleasure as her stomach was filled.
"This isn't right, Lilypaw. Cinderheart won't hear any of this around the kits, but she's around the kits all the time." Lionblaze looked desperate. "This isn't right. The weather will only grow worse, and have you heard about that queen and her kits who were stolen a few moons ago? Who knows who's next." The golden tabby pinned his eyes shut, and Lilypaw tilted her head, curiosity filling her as well as the delectable meat.
"The apprentices are missing their training. Food is scarce; these mice caught here were just something lucky. Kits will continue to grow up thinking this is their home. I heard that several cats almost died during the journey here… someone could actually die if we ever go back."
Lilypaw polished off her meal, lapping every last piece out from between her claws. "What are you saying?"
Lionblaze looked alarmed as he realized that his kits were finishing their feeding. "I'm saying… I'm saying that some cats should head back towards the lake and check-"
"Check what?" Lilypaw asked.
"Check… check to see if the flood is, I don't know, gone. I want to get out of here as soon as possible."
Cinderheart moved forward to sit beside her mate. "What are you two talking about?" Honeykit and Flintkit were squabbling just behind her, and Stonekit was walking towards the older cats, ears pricked. They would definitely overhear now.
"Just… how proud I am of our kits," Lionblaze lied smoothly, running his tongue across Cinderheart's cheek in a swift motion. Lilypaw smirked at him for fibbing to her sister; at least it was a minor lie this time.
"Oh, Lionblaze, you know how impolite it is to brag, even to family," Cinderheart chuckled as she twined her tail tightly with his. "Must I educate you about this when you're an adult warrior?"
Lionblaze disentangled his tail from hers and now draped it over her shoulders. "No, of course you don't have to." He turned to Lilypaw and winked. "Sorry, Lilypaw."
Lilypaw gave one last wave to the couple with her tail and commenced to pad away, looking to see if she was needed anywhere.
To be honest, Lilypaw didn't mind the Tribe's cavern so much; however, she wasn't too fond of the weather outside. She despised the cold; the tabby failed to remember time and time again the last time her pads and nose were warm.
I thought I was part of a prophecy… but nothing really happened. Lilypaw sighed and sat down in her nest from the night before, crammed among other large tufts of moss and crunchy, dead grass. I bet Seedpaw messed it up by leaving. Her claws flexed again at the thought of her sister, jubilant as can be up here with the Tribe cats. She had ran away from ThunderClan because she felt like she didn't have a secure place there. She had ran away because of Lilypaw. It's all my fault… Cascades of tears slid from Lilypaw's eyes… or was it her imagination? I need to go apologize to her. She's my sister, after all.
OoOoO
Lilypaw found her littermate nestled among a cluster of Clan apprentices and a Tribe to-be, Pine.
"… so one day Pine and I were out with Stormfur, and you wouldn't believe this, but Pine slipped and started sliding down the mountain out of control. Everything was slick with ice at this point, and while Stormfur started screaming for help, I took action and chased after him." Seed's green eyes flashed to Pine. "Right? Didn't that happen?"
The light brown tom kept his tail low and nodded solemnly, though a grin was still clear on his face.
Lilypaw moved closer and hid out in the back of the crowd, prepared to appear at any time. But… Seedpaw should finish her story first. I can't believe that she's only been here a quarter-moon or so and is already the life of the party!
"Somehow I managed to keep a grip on the slippery stuff, and I scrambled down the mountains after Pine. Eventually I caught up to him by controlling my speed to make my descent firm and efficient. I grabbed his scruff and hauled him back up to the slope, where Stormfur gratefully welcomed us with open paws!"
The dark tabby recognized two RiverClan and two WindClan apprentices who had probably returned from their detached cave with some warriors. Snowpaw and Dewpaw were also cheering on their former Clanmate, both pairs of amber eyes glittering with admiration. "Hey, excuse me," Lilypaw muttered to them, and they nodded politely and stepped to the side.
It didn't take long at all for Lilypaw to reach the front of Seed's itty-bitty audience. "Oh, h- hello, Lilypaw," Seed greeted her sibling with a quivering voice weaker than a leader losing their last life.
"Could I speak to you, please?" Lilypaw asked swiftly. She felt uncomfortable with all the cats her age staring at her. I don't have a second tail. They don't have to gaze at me like that.
"Um, be my guest," Seed offered, regaining her boldness partially. She waved her tail and moved to the side, making a place for her sister next to her.
"I'd prefer our discussion to not be a source of entertainment for a bunch of apprentices," Lilypaw growled, growing a bit agitated. She whipped her head around and pierced the other felines with an annoyed look.
Seed sighed. "Fine, then. Follow me." She rose to her paws and padded confidently toward the cavern exit.
Lilypaw caught up to her, calming down a bit now that it was just her and her sister. "Why are you heading outside? It's-" Seed and Lilypaw froze just before their paws could hit the snow. The dark tabby's eyes were wide in awe, while her sister chuckled.
"You didn't notice?"
The sun towered, huge and intimidating, over the mountain tops that rose from the horizon like spiked fur. Its heat burned down on the snow, which was melting rapidly. Without the hail, there was nothing more to power it. It was late in the day, but it looked like morning.
"How about we talk a walk?" Seed suggested, calmer than stagnant water in a pond.
"I guess so…" Lilypaw mumbled. "Is it alright for us to go alone?"
"As long as we don't stray too far," her sister assured her. "Come on! I have some… some things to say too." Seed's voice faded with each word. Quietly the littermates strode out of the cave, leaving the congested area behind them.
OoOoO
"So what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" Seed meowed, sitting down a large, flat boulder that appeared to have eroded over time.
Lilypaw swallowed and carefully took her place on a more bumpy rock across from her sister's. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry."
Seed looked taken aback. "Sorry? Sorry for what?"
"You know what I'm sorry for," Lilypaw growled. "I'm sorry for everything that happened back in the stone hollow. After that morning when I woke you and the other apprentices up for the third time, and you were told that you weren't doing so well in your training, I, I just… I thought we weren't getting along so well. But maybe I neglected you a bit. I mean, Honeyfern came to me and-"
Seed's nostrils flared the heartbeat their late sibling's name touched the chilly air. Her tail stuck out straight behind her, as though it were frozen in place that way. "Honeyfern? She's been coming to me every night. What did she say to you?"
"She said you weren't ready to talk or something like that. I haven't heard from her since we had to evacuate the camp."
Seed gaped. "The first time she came to me, it was when you were trying to talk to me. I ignored you because Honeyfern told me to." She stood and scraped her claws along the rock, leaving actual marks in the hard material. "I can't believe this; Honeyfern was trying to drive us apart!"
"I wonder if she's trying to do the same thing with Poppyfrost and Cinderheart?" Lilypaw wondered aloud as the thought of the older two sisters popped into her head.
A snarl erupted from Seed's throat. "She's jealous because she's the only sister who didn't live. Molepaw makes no difference because, well, he was the only tom. But Honeyfern didn't survive to start families like Poppyfrost and Cinderheart! She didn't live with a sister she was close to because Poppyfrost and Cinderheart usually stuck together, like you and I used to before all this started."
Lilypaw couldn't believe it. "So… what do we do?" Fear tugged at her heart, making it beat faster. Honeyfern's chilling words and her gentle prods to sleep from a few moons ago were stained in the tabby's memory. She realized another thing Honeyfern had been left out of. "The prophecy…" she whispered.
"Prophecy?" Seed had been stalking back and forth in front of her boulder, eyes blazing. Now, however, she had halted and was staring at Lilypaw curiously. "What prophecy?"
"A seed will be planted and lilies and poppies will sprout; but can the cinder ashes save them all from the storm that approaches?" Lilypaw recalled the night when Bramblestar interrupted her sleep to inform her about this prophecy he had received from Honeyfern. But why would she be the one who gives it to him when she's trying to start a rivalry between us sisters?
Seed was astounded. "Great StarClan!" Lilypaw was warmed to hear her sibling use a Clan name. "This whole time I was in a prophecy! All four of us were! It sounds like Cinderheart has to save you, Poppyfrost, and I."
Lilypaw shrugged. "Bramblestar woke me up one night while we were traveling up the mountains. Apparently he received it from Honeyfern." Just then, a cold realization hit her as soon as she finished speaking, but Seed formed her thoughts into words first.
"It's a fake." Seed glanced at Lilypaw. "Before we figured out that fox-dung's intentions, you all thought it was real. And I did too, but not for long."
Lilypaw was heartbroken. "So we were never special after all? How can I tell Bramblestar, and the others?"
"We'll tell 'em somehow." Seed sighed and shook her head. "So there was no prophecy from StarClan for the Clans coming to the mountains. Nature just took its course and the lake flooded with no intentions of our ancestors."
Lilypaw leaped to her paws, ears flattened in anger. "Well then, let's go tell everybody!" Seed nodded curtly in agreement. Then, tails kinked over their backs, the sisters returned to the cave.
OoOoO
Poppyfrost was hopping on three paws over to Lilypaw and Seed as they reentered the cave. The sun's short-lived shine was now fading away like dawn fog, and dark was setting it. It was the Clans' second night sleeping in the Tribe's cave. It can't be like this forever.
"You two have to come with me!" the tortoiseshell gasped, barely able to catch herself from falling on top of her younger sisters.
"What happened to your paw?" Lilypaw mewed, nodding her muzzle in direction of Poppyfrost's front paw, which was slathered in a sour-smelling poultice and reinforced with a crackly, dry leaf.
"No time to explain yet. Just come with me!" Poppyfrost ordered urgently. She steered them clumsily toward the small overhang where Lilypaw had talked with Lionblaze earlier. Now, however, he and the kits had cleared out and left only Cinderheart, who was sitting hunched under the gaping hole.
Poppyfrost reached the area first and sprawled on a nest. Lilypaw and Seed sat down tentatively, careful not to destroy any nearby bedding.
Cinderheart's blue eyes were swimming with sadness as she faced the two apprentices. "I'm afraid to say this, but… our prophecy's over."
Seed opened her mouth to speak, but Poppyfrost interrupted her. "Oh, we never told her about it-"
"No, Lilypaw told me," Seed verified. "The thing is, the prophecy isn't true. It never happened. It never was an omen of any kind. Here are the clues:
"First off, Bramblestar received the prophecy, not Jayfeather. Usually a medicine cat gets omens rather than leaders.
"Second, Honeyfern was the cat to give him the prophecy. She has been working against Lilypaw and I to drive us apart. I don't know what she's been doing to you two.
"Third, we didn't have any powers. We didn't miraculously survive a disease, rescue a kit. We didn't save or do anything special. Therefore, this so-called 'prophecy' was a bust."
Poppyfrost nudged her injured paw, yellow eyes wide. "While Stoneteller was tending to my paw, he saw something in his pool. He saw…" She glanced at Cinderheart.
The gray tabby leaned forward. "He, well, they both saw the faces of Dovewing and Ivypool."
"Huh?" Lilypaw inquired. "What's so special about them?"
Cinderheart glanced at her paws. The other three stared at her. A feeling started to creep up on Lilypaw that the new queen knew something they didn't.
"Um, nothing… that I know of," Cinderheart answered hurriedly.
"So this was all for nothing," Poppyfrost flung her head side to side in disapproval. "And as for Honeyfern, well…" A faintly audible snarl made her lips draw back.
Devastation hit Lilypaw hard. How could this have happened? How could it all have just been nothing? She felt worthless, and there was no doubt her sisters felt the same.
Why did Honeyfern do this?
OoOoO
Lilypaw knew she was in a dream when small stars sprung from her paws each time she took a step in the grassy field she had woken up in.
She lifted her head and raked her eyes over her surroundings. I must be in StarClan. All of a sudden, Lilypaw felt the friction of her pelt against another. She met the green gaze of Seed, who seemed just as puzzled as her.
Then Cinderheart caught up to them, and finally Poppyfrost, who admired her healthy front paw in relief.
"There you are." Lilypaw drew back as Honeyfern's breath smacked against her nose as though Sorreltail were giving her a light, scolding tap from when she was a kit. "I got all four of you right here before me."
Poppyfrost leaped forward, shielding her sisters from the chilling tabby. "If you must take one of us, let it be me." She ducked her head, eyes closed as pain came off her pelt in waves. "I'm the least important anyway."
A mocking laugh tumbled out from Honeyfern's well-shaped jaws. Why did she have to be so mean? "You're the least important?" She snorted. "Keep talking, Poppybrain."
Cinderheart pushed past the tortoiseshell, her attractive blue eyes glimmering with malice. "You've fooled us all, Honeyfern. You could at least leave us alone now, and not invade our personal lives."
Honeyfern shook her head and rose to her paws from her sitting position, bearing a smirk tainted with malignance that ruined her commonly soft and kind face. "I have risen to a great power in StarClan, sisters," she purred. "And I'm not about to back down."
Seed thrust herself forward between Poppyfrost and Cinderheart, leaving Lilypaw as the only one cowering back. "I would like to know how you got past Firestar and all those legendary StarClan cats that aren't crowfood like you," she spat.
"I have my ways," Honeyfern replied, voice tinged with frost. "They all gave me sympathy when I died. Did you know how easy it is to collect the power of idiotic cats who compliment you? I managed to convince them to devise a faux prophecy for me; in turn I gave it to Bramblestar." A growl thicker than blood left her lips, and the barren field the five she-cats were in shook as Honeyfern buried her claws in the earth, anger radiating off her light brown fur like the steady thrum of rain. "That was the only flaw in the plan. It should have gone to Jayfeather, or even Briarlight- Bramblestar is too stupid to even realize how dangerous it can be to reveal a prophecy so soon." Her tail lashed. "Medicine cats are clearly wiser."
Poppyfrost flattened her ears and spat. "I know why you did this, Honeyfern." The dappled queen swiveled and addressed her littermate and younger siblings haughtily. "I know why she did this. And I'm going to tell you all."
Lilypaw felt cold claws of dread and fear grip her belly as Honeyfern approached Poppyfrost from behind. Seed hunkered down on the ground, eyes wide, and Cinderheart tried to speak, but Poppyfrost cut in.
"It's Berrynose. Ever since he and I became mates, Honeyfern has sought revenge on me. But by the time he and I had kits, her fury increased, and she planned to take all her held-in emotions out on us. But now I will end this, once and for all-"
A paw, adorned with five rose-thorn-sharp claws slammed down onto Poppyfrost's throat, bowling the tortoiseshell cat over and choking her from saying anymore.
"Berrynose is out of the question now, sweetheart," Honeyfern purred. Her voice was growing strangely deeper; Lilypaw exchanged terrified glances with Cinderheart and Seed. Just by talking, Honeyfern now proved how fearsome she was. Even stronger than Tigerstar, perhaps? Lilypaw wondered. "I want you all dead. Not living, not suffering, dead. I want none of you to ever feel your paws on earth again. To never feel the joy of seeing your mate and kits each day." The tabby leaned down and snarled in Poppyfrost's ear, "The hiding is over now. No longer will I fake liking you to the others." She lifted her head and stared unblinkingly at Cinderheart, Lilypaw, and Seed. "I have already cast a spell on some loved cats- one for each of you fox-hearted fools. Now I suggest you scram, before I kill you now. Your time will come."
Honeyfern removed her paw from Poppyfrost's neck; the mottled she-cat sputtered and gasped; she had to fill her lungs with air several times before she was able to stand.
Cinderheart leaped forward, comforting her littermate with soothing whispers and apologies for not saving her sooner. Lilypaw felt terrible for not helping Poppyfrost out when she was being choked savagely, ruthlessly… but not she, not Seed, not anybody would dare face up to Honeyfern. I wonder if Cinderheart regrets naming her daughter after this monster.
"Greetings, Honeyfern."
Lilypaw blinked and turned back around from where she and her living sisters were retracing their steps, Poppyfrost stumbling weakly.
She didn't recognize the large tom that appeared out of the mist behind Honeyfern. He had a black pelt with a pale gray muzzle and paws, along with amber eyes now tainted with irritation. Then Lilypaw realized who this cat must be- Molepaw. The only tom Sorreltail and Brackenfur had, who died as an apprentice, who Molefoot was named after. Lilypaw's lone brother.
Seed was gaping too, while Poppyfrost and Cinderheart's eyes filled with love for their brother. "Molepaw-" Cinderheart started, but the tomcat raised his tail for silence.
He ventured closer to Honeyfern, fangs showing that glinted a pearly white, lacking the stains older cats had on their teeth who had consumed much more prey.
"If I had known about this long, long ago, I would certainly have stopped it." Molepaw hissed. Honeyfern looked a bit threatened by him, and she stepped back uncertainly as he stepped forward. For the first time since she entered this dream, Lilypaw felt truly protected. "Honeyfern, I challenge you to a fight. If I win, our sisters will remain fine."
Honeyfern sniggered. "And if I win, the spell-that-cannot-be-uncast stays, and…" She turned and glanced over at Lilypaw and the others. "… one of them dies."
Suddenly Poppyfrost surged forward, yellow eyes blazing. "No." Suddenly her expression softened as she looked to Molepaw. "Molepaw, I can't let you do this. She's unstoppable!"
Molepaw snorted and crouched down, waggling his hindquarters as though he were a kit preparing to pounce on a leaf. "Don't discourage me. It'll only make me weaker. Besides, my mentor taught me a thing or two before I died."
Honeyfern caterwauled as Molepaw engulfed her in a flurry of brown fur. Molepaw returned her screech, raking his claws down her side. The tabby curled her lip and dug her teeth into her sibling's flailing tail.
Lilypaw watched helplessly as the two scuffled, tooth, claw, and all. Seed tried to move forward and help Molepaw, but Cinderheart stopped her. "It seems wrong to think so, but I feel like this is the right thing for them. It- it's their destiny," the gray tabby mewed to a infuriated Seed.
Suddenly, a sickening riiiip- and then a thud- slashed through the air. Lilypaw spun and found Molepaw, chest heaving, pinning Honeyfern to the ground. The StarClan duo were bloody and battered, but neither looked as if they were about to give up. "Hopefully, when you die this second time, it'll be all the more painful," Molepaw thundered with the tough authority of a leader. Honeyfern thrashed in his grip in a vain attempt of escape, to no avail. "Stop wriggling. It's no use. StarClan has given me strength too, you know," Molepaw went on, nose wrinkled. "Your time is over, you beast. Rot in the Dark Forest." With that, he dug his claws one final time into Honeyfern's exposed throat. She jerked once then fell still- and so did Molepaw.
The tom collapsed suddenly, eyes already glazing over. Cinderheart and Poppyfrost detached themselves from the furious Seed and scrambled over to their brother.
A huge, gruesome gash was in his chest; something Honeyfern had given him before she was defeated. Lilypaw rushed over to the scene too- and noticed that the brown tabby was already fading away.
"Molepaw, no!" Cinderheart squeaked, her lake-blue gaze glistening as she gazed down helplessly at the black tom. Poppyfrost stared around wildly, clearly searching for healing herbs and cobwebs to stop the endless gush of blood pouring out of Molepaw's muscly breast.
"There's nothing you can do," Molepaw murmured. A raspy purr rumbled up his torn throat. Poppyfrost's shoulders sagged as her eyes flicked back over to him.
"But-"
"Nothing," Molepaw confirmed, eerily calm. "You were right to not help me. The reason I died from 'cough the first time was for this. Honeyfern was born with a seed of evil planted in her heart… a- and she…" A series of feeble coughs interrupted his sentence, and Lilypaw felt the beat of her own heart in her throat. "… she was never meant to do any good. That seed finally germinated when Berrynose and Poppyfrost got together. Everything that has happened in our family to this moment was meant to be."
Molepaw's fading amber gaze flashed to Cinderheart. "Don't fret about naming your kit after Honeyfern- this Honeykit will be a strong and loyal warrior all her life. Stonekit is an… intelli- intelligent young cat. He will have a fine life."
"What about Flint-" Cinderheart started, but Molepaw was already on to Seed.
"You are a brave young cat, little sister. I wish I could have gotten to know you better, as well as Lilypaw. But don't let your feelings get ahead of you- you could put others in grave danger from making bad choices.
"Oh, Lilypaw, selfless young soul. Be valiant; you'll never know what's coming next." Molepaw's words plunged Lilypaw into a great state of wonder; whatever did he mean by that?
"Poppyfrost. I do not have long to live. But I know I will go to a good place." Molepaw tugged a weak gulp of air into his failing lungs. "You were correct on your assumpt- assumption about… your- your-"
Just then, Molepaw's head fell back. He writhed a few times, then went motionless.
OoOoO
After waking up, Lilypaw lay in her nest a long time, reflecting.
Honeyfern was dead. Again.
Molepaw was dead. Again.
They had argued, fought, even; battled viciously to the death. Molepaw, as classic epic and meaningful deaths took place, spoke a few many words to his sisters before passing, forever disappearing into a world unknown, an underworld that double-death cats were forced to go to.
Lilypaw was so dazed, she was hardly aware of the meeting taking place in the cave at the moment. All she could think about was her horrid dream.
"… one cat from each Clan will go… "
"And someone from the Tribe… ?"
"… sure… sure…"
The tabby apprentice then sat bolt upright as one word stuck to her like a burden: lake. She crawled out of her nest, cringing as her bedding was shuffled aside and her paws touched cold stone. Lilypaw stumbled all the way to the heart of the humongous crowd, where her fur was warmed from the body heat.
"What's going on?" she half-whispered, half-croaked to a dark ginger WindClan apprentice who she had almost bumped into a few moments before.
His green eyes flashed as he glanced at her warily. "Who are you?" he demanded, and Lilypaw noticed he was visibly trembling. He just came from the other cave.
"Lilypaw," she replied, gaining consciousness with each breath, shoulder twitch, and tail-flick. "From ThunderClan."
"O- oh," the young tom meowed, his voice distorted from the shaking. "I'm… Quickpaw of WindClan. Or call me Slowpaw, if you like. That's what the kits say, at least." Quickpaw stared at his paws sullenly.
Lilypaw offered a friendly smile, though he wasn't looking at her. "I thought all WindClan cats were quick," she tried, but then realized it was a little too close to home. "I mean, um… I think all WindClan cats are quick. You'd definitely beat me in a race."
Quickpaw lifted his head, suddenly interested. "Really? You think so?" he grilled.
"Of course. Now, what's going on?" Lilypaw repeated.
The ginger tom sighed, fixing his grass-colored gaze on the front of the cavern, where Stoneteller and the four Clan leaders sat talking. Their voices were a buzz in the back of Lilypaw's mind, however; besides Quickpaw, her dream still consumed most of her mind in abrupt, chilling flashes. Honeyfern threatening… Molepaw coming… death… blood… battle… the prophecy was never true…
"The Clan leaders want to send some cats back toward the lake to see how it is," Quickpaw informed her more steadily this time. "Stoneteller is now trying to convince them to bring a Tribe cat as well, but StarClan knows why."
Lilypaw finally focused as best as she could on the argument up ahead.
"Four cats is plenty," Ashfoot was growling. "It shouldn't take any more than a half-moon or a moon. The lesser the amount of warriors, the better."
"Maybe a medicine cat should go, just in case?" Reedstar suggested, creases showing in his dark forehead.
Bramblestar sighed and glanced at Stoneteller. "Stoneteller, you may add one of your cats if you wish, but I don't understand why you would want to. The journey for these four cats will be as harsh as anything, especially since it's leaf-bare."
Stoneteller stared at the Clan leaders incredulously. "Are your brains made of fuzz? With a cat from the Tribe of Rushing Water to assist your oh-so-special felines, he or she can guide them through the mountains to reach this lake."
Rowanstar appeared to be very impatient at this point. "Whatever you want. Now let's get a move on."
The ThunderClan leader faced the curious cats below, amber orbs of eyes unwavering. For a couple heartbeats all was silent; then Bramblestar spoke. "Cats, as I'm sure you have all assumed, we are sending four-" He glanced meaningfully at Stoneteller. "- or five cats to check on the lake. If it is fine, then we shall return to it and give the Tribe no more trouble. If it is not, well…"
"I'm sure it will be safe," Rowanstar snapped.
"We will worry about that if it happens," Bramblestar verified. "So, the ThunderClan cat to go will be Molefoot." Lilypaw found Poppyfrost nearby in the crowd, just as bleary-eyed and grief-stricken as she was. The tortoiseshell stiffened at hearing her young son's name.
Ashfoot moved forward, nostrils flared. "WindClan's cat will be Leaftail."
Reedstar joined the gray she-cat at the edge of the rock. "Icewing, I trust you to represent RiverClan in this journey."
Rowanstar growled and shoved himself to stand a bit ahead of the other three leaders. "Shrewfoot for ShadowClan."
Lilypaw felt Quickpaw tense beside her; then he murmured, "Molefoot, Leaftail, Icewing, and Shrewfoot are going to check the lake."
EDIT: Info on what Molepaw looks like was released! So he's not a golden brown tabby like Brackenfur- he is black with pale gray paws and muzzle. So I edited that in.
Yay, just finished this up today, finally. Poor Quickpaw gets bullied by the meanie WindClan kits.
So... I might have one Tribe queen give birth at some point, so if you have OCs with Tribe names that you would like to submit, feel free to do so :3