Chapter 10- Cindercoat's Secret
Lionclaw didn't feel like going back to camp that night, so he curled up and fell into an uneasy sleep. He remembered waking up at least seven times before dawn.
He sat up and licked the ruffled fur on his chest.
The least I could do is figure out this fox-dunged prophecy. Maybe then Lionheart will leave me alone, Lionclaw sighed to himself.
Alright, so it said:
Lion will strike the river's surprise. That must mean that RiverClan will try a surprise attack. But since I already know about it, I'll be the one to tell Firestar.
Lion will save his kin and clan. Simple enough.
Lion will Honey and Thyme. Honey and Thyme? He hadn't a clue.
Only when the Cinder burns for the last time. Lionclaw closed his eyes and searched for some relation to Cinder, and then immediately thought of Cindercoat. Only when the Cinder burns for the last time…?
"Great StarClan!" Lionclaw couldn't help saying aloud. "Cindercoat is going to die!"
A rustling noise made him spin around in surprise. There standing, glowing in his golden fur, was Lionheart. "Yes, Lionclaw." He said. "And you will be the one to do it."
Lionclaw's heart beat faster. "What do you mean?" He demanded.
Lionheart's face grew grim, yet sympathetic. "You will have to kill her."
Lionclaw's heart leapt to his throat. "No! I can't do that! I'm not a murderer!"
Lionheart didn't reply. He slipped silently back into the bushes.
"Wait!" He yowled. "Stop!" He searched the bushes frantically, but his guidance had gone back to StarClan.
"I'm not a murderer." He said weakly. "I'm not a murderer."
Hollywhisker was on dawn patrol with Berrytail, Brightheart, and Foxpaw. "Remember to keep a look out for my brother." She told them.
Berrytail said, "Let's hope a fox hasn't got to him."
Hollywhisker's eyes widened and she turned on him. "Really?"
Berrytail flicked his tail across her shoulder. "Only joking." He reassured her.
Hollywhisker's eyes looked hurt. "He's been different lately." Berrytail nuzzled her cheek.
Brightheart shared a significant glance with Foxpaw. "Let's split up," she suggested. "We'll find him faster that way."
Hollywhisker, who was leading the patrol, nodded. "Alright. That sounds perfect."
"Come on Foxpaw. Let's see if the trees near WindClan are bare yet."
After they had left, Hollywhisker looked up at Berrytail. "Are you sure that a fox or badger hasn't gotten to him?"
Berrytail gave her a gentle nudge. "I'm positive. Besides, if he did run into any foxes or badgers, he would have shown them a thing or two about what a ThunderClan warrior is capable of."
Hollywhisker laughed softly. "Thanks Berrytail." She said, leaning against his shoulder. "You always have the right things to say."
Lionclaw reached camp just as the dawn patrol was coming back. Hollywhisker rushed over to him, covering him in licks. "Where were you?" she asked frantically. "I was worried."
Lionclaw shrugged her away. "What are you, my mother?"
Hollywhisker looked up at Berrytail, who was beside her, as if to say, See what I mean?
Lionclaw started to pad away from them.
"Wait! You haven't told us where you were yet!" Berrytail called to him.
"What? Is it against the warrior code to get away from camp for awhile?" Lionclaw snapped.
"You missed the apprentice ceremony." Hollywhisker said earnestly, and then added, "Whisperpaw is Jayfeather's new apprentice."
Lionclaw didn't know what made him say it, but he blurted out, "That's just great! A blind cat teaching a cat that can't speak. ThunderClan really is falling apart; just like Leopardstar said."
Hollywhisker opened and closed her mouth, as if disagreeing with herself whether to say something or not. Finally, she yelled at him, "Firestar is your leader, not that fox-dung Leopardstar!"
"Firestar won't be leader much longer." Lionclaw said coldly, remembering his leader lying in the mud, blood rushing from his throat. He shook his head to clear that sick thought.
"What are you talking about?" Hollywhisker demanded. Then her voice became softer, "You haven't been yourself lately, Lionclaw."
Lionclaw ignored her and walked away.
The rest of the morning, he went on with his warrior duties, as every cat should. Kill Cindercoat? He kept asking himself. StarClan wants me to kill a cat?
They must have made a mistake, he thought determinedly.
But it continued to eat away at him until he went searching for Jayfeather. He found him in his den, sorting herbs.
"What is it Lionclaw?"
He took a deep breath. "StarClan sent me a prophecy."
Jayfeather's ears pricked forward. "Yes, and what did they say?"
Lionclaw held bit back a harsh laugh. "I'm not telling you."
Jayfeather's voice was bitter. "Then why come here at all?"
Lionclaw tipped his muzzle higher. "I need you to tell me something." When his brother didn't respond, he continued, "What can you tell me about Cindercoat?"
He was surprised to see Jayfeather flinch. "Why do you want to know?"
This time he didn't hold back. "Because StarClan wants me to kill her."
Jayfeather looked up sharply. His blue eyes flashing. "You're sure of this?"
"Yes." Lionclaw replied.
His expression was cold. "Lionclaw, there are certain secrets that medicine cats know. How many lives a leader has, when they themselves will die, and sometimes…sometimes by rare occasion, when a cat has been reincarnated."
Lionclaw took a deep breath. "Are you saying that….Cindercoat is reincarnated?"
Jayfeather turned towards him, his eyes pleading for him to understand. "It was an accident."
"What was an accident?" he asked, confused.
Jayfeather looked at his paws. "I don't know if I should be telling you this, but…when Cinderpelt died, it was at that exact moment that Cinderkit was born. So instead of going to StarClan, she went inside Cinderkit's body."
Lionclaw was still confused. "But what happened to Cinderkit's soul?"
Jayfeather shook his head; for the first time in his life, he looked scared. "Lionclaw…"
He leaned closer to hear his brother.
"…she had no soul."
Confused? Well, you're supposed to be! Things will be clearer in the next chapter, so stay tuned. : )
--MOOsey
