Hey everyone, I rewrote chapter 5, if you want to see it. On with the story!
Fernstep paced worriedly in StarClan.
"Fernstep, what's the matter?" Emberstone asked, joining his mate.
She hesitated, than replied, "I'm just worried about Firepaw. We all know very well what Lichenfur will do to her, and other cats that aren't pure-clan cat blood."
"Now Fernstep, everything will be fine. It's Firepaw's destiny." A graceful white she-cat with silver splashes soothed.
"We're all worried about my sister and Skypaw." Cloudpaw added, coming to stand beside the silver and white cat.
Fernstep sighed, but she still felt worried inside.
"Let all the cats old enough to catch their own prey gather for a clan meeting!"
Firepaw woke with a start at Willowstar's call. She got up, groaning slightly. She padded into the clearing to see what her leader wanted so early.
Willowstar began sadly, "Cats of ThunderClan, I announce with sadness that Whitefoot has asked to retire to the elders den. Whitefoot, come forward."
Whitefoot limped forward, eyes solemn. Firepaw noticed that his white foot that had given him his name was missing.
"Whitefoot, we honor you for serving your clan for many moons. You shall be respected as an elder, Lostfoot." Willowstar said and rested her chin on his head as if she made him a new warrior. He licked her shoulder in return.
"Lostfoot! Lostfoot!" The Clan murmured, like he actually had been named a new warrior.
Firepaw called, raising her voice with the rest. She felt a twinge of sadness that her sister's mentor was retiring. Cloudpaw would have been devastated if she had lived. The clan disbanded, and Snowdrift padded over.
"Come on Firepaw, we need to hunt. Splashpaw and Darkfoot will join us." Snowdrift said, nudging her to her feet.
Firepaw nodded, and got up and followed Snowdrift into the forest. At least the day was rather nice.
"We're over here!" Darkfoot called.
The apprentice and her mentor padded over to join the two.
"You two are going to be assessed on your hunting skills. Good luck, but I'm sure you'll be fine. Meet us back at camp at sunhigh." Darkfoot announced.
Their mentors disappeared into the forest. Firepaw stared after them.
"I'm going to head down to the stream." Firepaw said shrugging.
"Okay and I'll head to the Ancient Pine over by the ShadowClan border." Splashpaw said.
"No, don't things are still tense between us and ShadowClan. You'll be safer at the Oak Tree." Firepaw advised.
Splashpaw nodded, and they parted. Firepaw made sure to be quiet as she crept through the forest. She paused, and her jaws parted as she tasted the air. Keeping low, she crept on a thrush. She judged the distance, than launched herself, landing squarely on top of it. She delivered a quick blow to the bird's spine, killing it quickly and neatly. She gave thanks to StarClan for its life, and then buried it and crept on.
Soon, she had caught another bird, a squirrel, and surprised a fish out of the water by accident. She padded back to camp after she collected all her prey.
Her mentor was waiting for her at the entrance. She wondered if it had been Darkfoot only who assessed her. She greeted Snowdrift by nodding respectfully.
"Go put your catches on the fresh kill pile, and then go eat. Splashpaw already came back." Snowdrift meowed, "Good job though!"
Firepaw meowed a quick "thanks", than went to the pile, but first she took a sparrow to the nursery.
"Thank you Firepaw!" Coppersplash meowed gratefully, as her kits climbed all over her, "What do you say?"
"Thank you!" the kits chorused.
"You're welcome!" Firepaw replied warmly.
She exited the den, and padded to the fresh kill pile. She chose a mouse for herself, just as Ashpaw came up to her.
"Firepaw, this is my last meal as an apprentice. Would you like to eat with me?" he asked.
Dumfounded, she stared at him, the mouse dangling from her jaws. She shut her mouth than agreed shyly, as she went over near the bramble patch with him.
"So, you're going to be a warrior after this? I'm really happy for you!" She congratulated him, but inside, she was disappointed they wouldn't train together anymore.
"Thanks! Aw, cheer up; you'll be a warrior before you know it! And when you are made a warrior, I will call your name first!" (THAT sounds really familiar). He said.
She pushed away her regret, and lifted her chin and said, "You're right. I can't wait!"
He purred, than took a bite of his minnow.
"Who caught this?" He said, making a face.
"Me, actually." Firepaw said.
"Nice job." He praised, than they went back to eating.
Firepaw crunched through a bone, than thought about what would happen when she was a warrior. She would avenge her family's death that was for sure! Than what after that though? She continued to eat thoughtfully, and then shoved the remainders away.
"I guess I'll wait at the edge of the clearing or something." She said.
"Sure." Ashpaw said, though he looked a bit disappointed.
Firepaw wandered over to the edge of the clearing and sat down, pondering. Why was Lichenfur so against half-clan cats? Sure it was breaking the code to have a realationship with a cat from another clan, but forbidden relationships were always happening, according to the elders. She thought so deeply, it startled her when she heard shrieking and gagging.
She saw Willowstar writhing on the forest floor in agony, her shrieks piercing the air like a hawk's cry.
"She's having a spasm!" Swiftwater shouted, racing over to her leader, but it was too late. Willowstar had died.
Firepaw bowed her head in grief. Why so many deaths in just a few moons? Was StarClan punishing them? She looked over to Aspenclaw, crouching beside her.
"Aspenstar, you must lead us now." Mothpelt said, dipping her head respectfully.
"Aspenstar." The clan echoed.
"Please, do not call me that yet. I have yet to receive my nine lives, and we must sit vigil for Willowstar. I will go to the Moonstone tomorrow night." He meowed, looking sad.
So, did you like, despite the fact that Willowstar died? Please, review, your kindness will not be unnoticed. No, really, at the end of every story, I do credits, like OC's, reviews, and stuff. You'll see if you read this to the end!
