Chapter 10: This is Just the Beginning
"What do you mean, Leafpool?" Barkface asked. Leafpool sighed. If she said this, it would mean spilling Brambleclaw's secret. But it might be their only hope.
"Brambleclaw used to be visited by Tigerstar. Sometimes he'd come to me with wounds that I had no idea how he got. I was in one of the dreams once." Leafpool replied.
"Well, how does this help us?" Kestrelpaw growled, "I mean, this doesn't help at all. We can't just go into the dream and expect to beat Tigerstar."
"No" Leafpool mewed, "But we can wake them up"
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"Choose wisely Lionpaw" Tigerstar growled, "I am giving you one more chance""He doesn't have to do anything for you!" Brambleclaw hissed. Tigerstar growled.
"You're right" Tigerstar hissed, "I already have you here. Now I can truly have my revenge"
Lionpaw snarled and lunged for Tigerstar. Tigerstar simply sidestepped out of the way, sending Lionpaw sprawling into the dust.
"Lionpaw, think about it" Tigerstar mewed as Lionpaw stood up, "Think of all I could teach you. You won't be just another one of Brambleclaw's kits if you join me. You will be the feared Lionstar"
"I know what's best for him!" Brambleclaw hissed, "He's my son!"
"Well he's my grandson. And I believe he's tired of living in you shadow" Tigerstar replied.
"You don't know what's best for him, Tigerstar!" Brambleclaw hissed, "I do! And he has never lived in my shadow"
Suddenly Lionpaw pulled away from Brambleclaw and glared at him. He stepped beside Tigerstar.
"No, you don't know what's best for me" Lionpaw hissed at Brambleclaw.
Brambleclaw's eyes widened. Cinderpaw stared at Lionpaw.
"Lionpaw…" Cinderpaw mewed softly. Lionpaw ignored her.
"I'm not you!" Lionpaw hissed at Brambleclaw, "I'm me! I'm Lionpaw."
Tigerstar growled in agreement. Brambleclaw looked stunned.
"What are you talking about Lionpaw?" Brambleclaw hissed. Lionpaw shrugged.
"Oh, I don't know. Everyone is comparing me to you!" Lionpaw hissed, "Why me? No one should do that!"
"No one is comparing you!" Cinderpaw growled stepping forward. Lionpaw, again, ignored her.
"But like I said," Lionpaw growled, "I'm not you, Brambleclaw"
Tigerstar let out a deep rumble, probably the closest he ever got to a purr.
"Scourge, Darkstripe," Tigerstar mewed, "Leave. This matter is for me, Hawkfrost, Brambleclaw and Lionpaw"
Tigerstar turned to Cinderpaw and mewed, "I have no use for you any longer"
Tigerstar touched the pool where Cinderpaw's reflection lay, and Cinderpaw disappeared.
"Now, Lionpaw, let me explain the plan" Tigerstar growled. Lionpaw shook his head.
"No thanks" Lionpaw growled, "Why should I listen to you?"
Tigerstar's eyes widened in surprise.
"But you said-"
"That's what I said," Lionpaw growled, "But, I lied. I did exactly what I wanted to do. I made you release Cinderpaw" With that Lionpaw lunged for Tigerstar.
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"Cinderpaw's awake!" Barkface yowled as Cinderpaw opened her eyes. Brackenfur purred and covered his daughter with licks.
"Are you ok?" Leafpool asked, "What did they do to you?"
"Nothing…" Cinderpaw muttered in reply, "I'll be fine"
"Are Lionpaw and Brambleclaw ok?" Heatherpaw rasped. Cinderpaw shook her head.
"I think we lost Lionpaw"
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"Fool!" Tigerstar hissed shoving Lionpaw off him, "Do you really think I can't bring them back here?"
Lionpaw got to his feet and replied, "You can't. It's too late to do that Tigerstar"
"And why is that?" Tigerstar hissed. Lionpaw growled.
"You bring them to dreams using that little pool, right?" Lionpaw growled. Tigerstar hissed and lunged for Lionpaw. Lionpaw sidestepped out of the way.
"You can't use that puddle if it's not there" Lionpaw growled. Without waiting for a reply Lionpaw ran toward the puddle. He wasn't entirely sure how to get rid of it. But he had one idea…
Lionpaw hissed when he felt a searing pain on his back. He collapsed to the ground, his head resting in the small pool of water.
"Fool" Tigerstar repeated, digging his claws into Lionpaw's back, "You've chosen your own death"
Out of nowhere sounded an angry yowl. Tigerstar's weight was off him and Lionpaw could stand. Lionpaw saw Brambleclaw and Tigerstar fighting a few fox-lengths away. Where was Hawkfrost?
Lionpaw turned around just in time to see Hawkfrost disappear into the bushes. Lionpaw had the feeling he was long gone. Now Lionpaw could continue.
Lionpaw grabbed some leaves off a nearby bush and started to place them over the pool. Just as he'd suspected, the leaves absorbed the water. Soon the pool was nothing more then a puddle.
"Just a little more…" Lionpaw growled. Lionpaw continued to place leaves on the puddle, until finally it vanished. For a moment Lionpaw couldn't believe it, but then he was jolted back to his senses by something ramming into him. Lionpaw snarled and started clawing madly, expecting to see Tigerstar. But he didn't.
Instead he saw Brambleclaw. Brambleclaw got off him and both of them stood.
"Lionpaw" Brambleclaw rasped. Lionpaw just now saw all the wounds Brambleclaw had. He had many cuts and was bleeding in many places.
"Yeah?"
"Well done" Brambleclaw purred. Lionpaw purred.
"Where's Tigerstar?" Lionpaw asked.
"He left" Brambleclaw replied, "That's all I'm gonna say. Now, we need to get back"
"How?"
At that moment, both cats started glowing. Lionpaw felt numb for a moment, and his eyes closed. When they opened he was on the moors of WindClan again.
"Lionpaw!" Cinderpaw mewed in relief as Lionpaw opened his eyes. Lionpaw smiled up at her.
"Are you alright? Can you walk?" Leafpool asked. Lionpaw stood up, and then nodded.
"Good" Brackenfur mewed. Crowfeather, Barkface and Kestrelpaw were helping Heatherpaw to her paws.
"Let's head back" Leafpool mewed finally, "Thanks to Barkface and Kestrelpaw. See you at the next Gathering"
Lionpaw dipped his head to Barkface and Kestrelpaw, then locked eyes with Heatherpaw. They both stared at each other for a moment before Crowfeather stood in between them.
"Bye" Lionpaw and Cinderpaw mewed to Heatherpaw. Brackenfur stood by Cinderpaw and supported her while Leafpool did the same for Lionpaw.
"See you all at the next Gathering" Heatherpaw purred. Her purr was raspy, and she still looked weak. But Lionpaw could tell she would pull through.
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"You missed it" Hollypaw mewed racing toward Lionpaw when they entered the camp, "Brambleclaw fainted, but Jaypaw took care of him!"
Jaypaw was standing proudly by the medicine cat den. Leafpool walked over to him, probably to praise him.
Brambleclaw padded out of the medicine cat's den. He looked at Lionpaw and walked over to him, his eyes too hard to read.
"It's over" Brambleclaw mewed to him as Cinderpaw and Brackenfur left, "We've won"
Lionpaw knew that it was not over. Tigerstar wouldn't rest until his revenge was fulfilled. This wasn't the end, it was just the beginning.
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You know what that means… -drumroll- SEQUEL! Sorry if this chapter seemed terrible, poorly written, unreal etc. The sequel will be different. I'll have the Epilogue and sequel summary up today!