Chapter 8
Darkness Is Coming
Nightpaw ran to the front of the group as the Thunderclan cats hurried back to camp. After a minute, Nightpaw caught up with Blazestar. She looked up at him and noticed a paniced looked on his face.
"Blazestar, aren't we going to help them?" Nightpaw asked while breathing heavy. Blazestar looked down at her.
"No. Windclan can take care of themselves. We need to get back to camp before those Rogues decide to attack us next." Nightpaw looked at the ground then back ahead of her.
At camp, everything was quiet until the group burst through the gorse tunnel of the camp entrance. Blazestar immediately jumped up on the high rock as everyone started to gather around him. Icepaw immediately ran over to Nightpaw. Icepaw got right up in Nightpaw's face.
"Did something happen? Was there a fight? Come on tell me!" Nightpaw just looked at the ground and frowned.
"Listen up everyone." Blazestar began as everyone turned their attention to him. "Windclan has been attacked by Rogues. Now I don't want anyone to panic. We are Thunderclan cats. We are strong and we don't run away. I want our patrols to be on high alert. If you spot a Rogue on our territory, do not hesitated to drive them out! We will not have our survival threatened by some wandering, flee bitten cowards!" Everyone cheered as Blazestar finished his speech and all the cats dispersed. Blazestar jumped down from the highrock and walked over to Silverfur.
"Silverfur." He said as she stopped and turned to him.
"Yes?" Silverfur meowed with a smile.
"May I speak with you for a moment." Blazestar said with a serious look on his face. Silverfur's smile quickly turned into a frown.
"Of course Blazestar." Silverfur meowed as she followed Blazestar to the leader's den. As they walked back to the Apprentice's den, Nightpaw tapped Icepaw with her tail.
"Let's sneak around the highrock and see if we can hear what their saying." Nightpaw whispered. Icepaw wiped her head around.
"Are you crazy? Do you know how much trouble we could get into if we're caught?" Icepaw shouted.
"Shhhhhhh. I know but Blazestar has been acting strange lately and I wanna know why." Icepaw sighed.
"Fine but if we get caught I'm saying it was your idea." Icepaw said as she followed Nightpaw behind the highrock. They hid in some bushes as they pressed their ears up against the rock.
Inside the leader's den, Blazestar sat down at the back of the den with Silverfur sitting infront of him.
"So is this about that dream I had about Nightpaw or is this about the Rogues?" Silverfur asked as Blazestar looked at her with a stern look. Nightpaw and Icepaw glanced at each other for a minute then put their ears back against the rock and continued to listen.
"Both. Can you tell me exactly what you saw?" Blazestar meowed as Silverfur closed her eyes and tried to invision her dream.
"I saw Nightpaw running toward the Thunderpath." Silverfur began. Blazestar tensed up as she continued. "I also saw another cat chasing her. Then a monster comes down the Thunderpath and then nothing. My dream ended there." Blazestar was silent for a moment as he let Silverfur's words sink in. After what felt like an eternity, Blazestar finally spoke.
"Is it possible that the cat chasing her was one of the Rogues?" Silverfur nodded.
"Yes. I didn't recognize it as from the other clans."
"Do you know anything else?" Blazestar asked. Silverfur shoke her head. "Very well then. You may go. Also please tell Ashfoot I want to see him." Blazestar finished as he turned his back to Silverfur as she left.
Nightpaw started to panic as she moved her ear from the rock. Icepaw just looked at her with a sympathetic look. Nightpaw started to shake as she let Silverfur's words sink in. Am I going to die? Am I going to be killed by a Twoleg Monster on the Thunderpath? No. Please no! I don't wanna die! Icepaw walked over to Nightpaw and nuzzled her nose against Nightpaw's neck. Nightpaw collasped onto the ground and began to cry as Icepaw curled up next to her and rested her head on Nightpaw's side as she tried to comfort her.
"It'll be ok Sis. I'm here. I'll always be with you." Icepaw whispered to nightpaw as they continued to lay together behind the Highrock.
Inside the leader's den, Blazestar layed down and thought about all that was happening and all that could happen. When Ashfoot walked in, Blazestar sat up again. Ashfoot sat down infront of him.
"You wanted to see me?" Ashfoot meowed.
"Yes. Ashfoot let me start by saying that you have always been my closest friend and I trust you completely." Blazestar said with a smile. Ashfoot just sat there a little surprised.
"Why thank you. I feel the same about you but what is this truly about?"
"I need you to do me a favor and it will mean putting your life on the line." Blazestar said no longer smiling.
"For you old friend, anything." Ashfoot meowed.
"Silverfur has recieved a message from Starclan and we fear that Nightpaw's life is in danger. I may not always be there to protect her. So I ask you but one simple thing. Protect my daughter."