Hey guys. If you're reading this, I love you guys. Well, kind of, because you're reading my story? Anyways, sorry, this will be a shorter-than-usual chapter, but I wrote it halfheartedly. I didn't feel like writing it, but I knew I had to update someday. So I chose today. Read and Review!
Chapter 9
A moon had passed since Blackstar's death. Russetstar had long ago received her leader name and nine lives from the Moonpool, and was now the respected leader of ShadowClan. Sparrowpaw, Thrushpaw, and Swamppaw were constantly annoying Swiftpaw, and she and Starlingpaw had became much closer. All the changes were happening faster and faster around Swiftpaw, and for the first time, she couldn't keep up. She wasn't sure if she liked the changes or not. Just as a cloud of thoughts swirled past her mind, a silvery gray body landed on her. "Ouch!" growled Swiftpaw, turning to see Thrushpaw's big green eyes eyeing her gleefully.
"Hey, Swiftpaw!" meowed Thrushpaw in greeting. "What are you thinking of?" Touching her nose with the gray apprentice, she taunted, "How annoying you are." Shocked, the gray she-cat wailed, "Oh, no! You don't like me?" Her eyes were watery, she looked like she was about to burst her head open. Grinning, Swiftpaw rasped her tongue over the new apprentice's ears. "Of course I like you, mouse-brain." Just then, a dirty black tom pounced onto her along with a black, white, and tortoiseshell tom. "How about us?" mewed Sparrowpaw playfully. "Do you like me and Swamppaw?"
Snarling lightheartedly, Swiftpaw replied, "No, I hate you two." The two toms returned her a mocked grin. They began to talk about the on-goings of the Clans, and the black Swamppaw declared with his green-blue eyes gleaming, "My mentor, Shadeclaw is a violent and bloody cat!" Pretending to snore, Swiftpaw growled, "Wow, that is so interesting." Sensing her sarcasm, Swamppaw retorted, "As if you know anything interesting."
"Oh, I do," yawned Swiftpaw. "I know that you're not interesting." Laughter broke out between Swamppaw's siblings, and he glared at them with his big blue eyes. Changing the topic, Sparrowpaw meowed, "Well, Toadfoot isn't a very good mentor either. He's not nice." Swiftpaw told them, "That's because you two are so naughty, so you need to get strict mentors." Defensively, Thrushpaw mewed, "Hey! Don't be so mean to my brothers. They are fun cats!" Rolling his eyes, Swamppaw growled, "Thanks a lot, Thrushpaw." The small silver she-cat blinked, surprised at her brother's tone.
Suddenly Swiftpaw heard Darkpool calling for her. She sighed and staggered upward, padding away from the three siblings. Darkpool led her to a border patrol consisting of her, Frogpaw, Starlingpaw, Dawnpool, Darkpool, and Tigerheart. They were going to patrol near the RiverClan border. The muddy ground was damp under her paws as the patrol treaded through the woods. They were near the Greenleaf Twolegplace, and a horrible memory flashed inside her head.
Baring his teeth, Jacques meowed, "Yes, it is of my pleasure, Susan." The siblings advanced towards Swiftpaw, frightening her as much as ever. They were like warriors… but too aggressive… and had no honor of the warrior code! Swiftpaw's eyes widened; she could not bear the dreadful memory. Then another one stung her head. That night was the darkest night ever. The rattling of rain and dampness of it concealed Jacques' and Susan's scent as they sneaked out of the fox hole they were imprisoned in. They snuck into Blackstar's den and killed him. During that quarter-moon, Blackstar had already caught greencough and was as weak as ever! His remaining three lives were no use, for he had lost two from disease and the two rotten mange-ridden, flea-bitten-pelts had planned it for so long. Swiftpaw was just about to fetch some wet moss behind Blackstar's den (it was where Flamepelt collected many moss for moons), and then she saw it, the shadows, and everything. She felt like screaming, but instead forced herself to shut the memory tight and deep inside her head.
By then they reached the border, and Dawnpool began, "I hope we won't meet any RiverClan border patrols, they're not very assertive—" Suddenly, a growl came from the other side of the border, "And must I say that, too." Swiftpaw's fur bristled at the voice, and when she turned, she realized it was Voletooth who had spoken, and his newly named apprentice Hummingpaw held her chest high. The RiverClan patrol consisted of Voletooth, Hummingpaw, Dapplenose, her apprentice Tumblepaw, Mistystar, and Rainpaw. Rainpaw, amusement flickered in Swiftpaw's amber eyes as Rainpaw gave her an uncertain glance.
Dapplenose grunted, "As if you ShadowClan cats are any more passive!" Mistystar flicked her tail, signaling silence. "Enough. Darkpool, your patrol may mark your scent markers first." Awkwardly, Swiftpaw watched her mottled gray mentor mark the borders. Later on, Dapplenose did the same, and both patrols departed. What was that? Swiftpaw asked herself, slightly puzzled. On the way back to the camp, her paw pricked on a pine needle. A dot of scarlet emerged on her pad, and she decided to visit Flamepelt and Littlecloud when they returned.
"Wow, those fishy RiverClan are sure pesky," Tigerheart mewed, hilarity dancing in his amber gaze. When they entered the camp, Swiftpaw raced toward the medicine cat's den. Flamepelt was sleeping, and Littlecloud was out of sight. Quickly, Swiftpaw prodded Flamepelt's back with a paw, and the ginger tom's green eyes opened. It at first held a look of horror, but quickly returned into a casual glance. "Oh! Swiftpaw, what are you doing here?" Rolling her eyes, she announced, "I pricked my pad on a pine needle, and there's a dot of blood. Do I need to treat it?" Flamepelt observed her small wound, and meowed, "I will put a small piece of cobweb there to soak up the blood first. I'll use marigold then to prevent infection…" As the tom began to work, Swiftpaw inquired, "Why were you so… nervous when you woke up?"
Green eyes of anxiety met amber. Flamepelt sighed, and replied, "Well, Littlecloud was out collecting herbs, so I just thought about napping for a few heartbeats. But then I had a dream… a prophetic dream! Yellowfang and Raggedstar came to me… By the way, Yellowfang was a former ShadowClan medicine cat, and Raggedstar was a leader. Yellowfang croaked, 'The stream of the moon will collide, the falling stars will destroy and find flaw, the storm will clear the path of perfection, and the speed will collaborate with storm to save it all.' Then, Raggedstar stepped forward and meowed, 'RiverClan is of the same situation, and things you do not know of will arise. Prophecy they know is that the stream and the moon will collide for flaw, and fate is for speed and storm to unfold. You will learn the true meanings of them if your speed will collaborate with storm… you will know all you have to know.' It was so awkward… but I got to tell Russetstar! I've never received a prophecy before!"
Cocking her head, Swiftpaw congratulated her friend halfheartedly. A prophecy… didn't Rainpaw mention that, too, in the Gathering? So, if speed is me and storm is her… we might save— something! That's exciting! Swiftpaw couldn't wait to boast to Rainpaw that she had already figured out part of the prophecy. What would those two be able to do? They were in different Clans, though… But it had to mean them! Or… could speed possibly be anyone else? No! I want it to be me. Wait, it has to be me! And Rainpaw! Her eyes lightened up, and all of a sudden she was a hundred percent sure the prophecy meant her. Although she didn't know why, she was so certain about it.
"Cool prophecy," Swiftpaw finally conceded. The ginger medicine cat gazed at her with a puzzled gleam in his eyes. She thanked him for treating her pad, and exited the den. Then, she picked a thrush from the fresh-kill pile to eat with Starlingpaw. The moment she heard Flamepelt's words, she knew that her life would no longer be the same. Or will it?
So... was that okay? I hope it was. I know the ending of this was lammmee, but I just couldn't think of anything else. Yay! Okay, we're starting to figure out more and more pieces of my lame prophecy, eh? Ooh, ooh ooh! So keep your ears pricked for Flaw!! ;)
Special thanx to my reviewers: Wildstar272819. WOOT, I love your reviews! Keep reviewing for my sake!!
Nightshimmer~ yup, the allegiances just spent so much time.
Shadowhawk~ WOOT! My friend!
and everyone else!! Thanx for reading!! And REMEMBER TO LEAVE A REVIEW!