I'm am a horrible person! I haven't updated in like a week! *facepalm* So, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so sorry. Please accept my apology! If I don't get any reviews, I deserve it, because of the update delay. Review Answers:
Lunarwing-Hawktalon: Thank you so much! And I think Stormpaw might... Here's the next chapter! I hope it pleases you!
XxXxNeverShoutNeverxXxX: Thanks, BFF! What does your name mean, may I ask?
starbomb: Will Shadow be okay? I kept you waiting for so long! I'm so HORRIBLE!:*( So sorry! Dustypaw! STAY ON OUR SIDE! AAAAAHHHHH!
Nightfall POV
"You're back!" said the tabby tom delightedly. The dark she-cat revealed herself and padded up to meet him.
"Yes, but I think she suspects me. Redpaw's a smart apprentice, Tigerstar." she said worriedly. Tigerstar shook his head.
"It won't matter. When will you be ready for your next misson?" he questioned. Nightfall gave her paw a brief lick.
"I can leave now." she confirmed, and turned to leave. Tigerstar held up his paw to stop her. "What is it, Tigerstar?" she asked, confused. Tigerstar came up to stand beside her.
"Make sure she's lifeless before you leave. We want to crush her spirit, not bend it." he said. Nightfall thought for a minute, and then nodded.
"I won't fail you, Tigerstar." she confirmed, and disappeared into the darkness.
Redpaw POV
Why me? Why, why, why? Redpaw thought as she woke from another dream. Shadow was acting as strange as ever, curling her lip whenever she touched her, and hackles rising at a lot of things Star said about the Dark Forest. But no one noticed except Redpaw.
Star had again refused her plea to be taught how to use her powers, and instead had been given a lecture on the importance of secrecy.
Dustypaw stirred beside her, and opened his eyes slowly with a wide yawn. At the sight of Redpaw, he scowled and rolled over. Dustypaw had been in a bad mood lately. Especially when awoke from sleeping. He also smelled strange. Kind of like Shadow's recent scent...
"Dustypaw..." she addressed, trailing off.
Without looking at her, the yellow tom quietly answered, "What?" Redpaw gulped.
"Would you like to go on a walk with me, Dustypaw?" she asked, kneading the earthen den floor with her paws nervously, heart pounding.
Dustypaw turned over and stared at her in shock. He rapidly got to his paws, and blinked at her with enormous blue eyes. "Wha-what about Stormpaw?" he asked, confused. Bits of moss and bracken still clung to his fur. "I mean, yes, I would like that a lot." he corrected himself. Redpaw's pelt burned.
"There's nothing between Stormpaw and I. We're friends, that's all." she said. Dustypaw sighed with relief and stared smugly at something behind her. Redpaw twisted her head backwards, her eyes catching on a gray tom slumped against the den wall.
"Stormpaw..." she started, and the tom turned.
"I don't care anymore Redpaw, and you never did." he snarled, and departed with his tail drooping and his ears flattened against his head. Redpaw swallowed, and whimpered. Dustypaw, sensing her distress, entwined his tail with hers and brushed his muzzle against her cheek.
"He was a jerk, Redpaw, and he didn't deserve you." he whispered, running his tail along her flank.
I wish I could believe that... Redpaw thought regretfully. Maybe she did have feelings for the gray tom, but now they didn't matter. He was gone forever.
And anyways, she had Dustypaw. Wasn't this what she wanted ever since she was a kit? It was. She had never even considered Stormpaw until a few sunrises ago, but Dustypaw had one her heart over when he was a Twoleg! Yes, Redpaw loved Dustypaw, and no one else.
The sunlight blinded her momentarily after the cozy shadows of the apprentice's den. Dewdrops laced the surface of the thorn barrier, miniscule transparent orbs that shimmered in the sparkling aura of the day. Her pelt felt warm, and her pads touched the soft ground pleasantly. This was where she wanted to stay forever. Right now, she wasn't burdened with the prophecy, with extra training, and her powers were the least of her worries. Simple perfection was the only element existing in her world.
"Let's go down tot he lake for a drink." Dustypaw suggested. Redpaw nodded mutely, purring quietly. A starling warbled, and a warm western breeze swirled around the two young cats, as if announcing to nature their union.
The glassy green water lapped at the shore, and moistened the tips of the apprentices' toes. Redpaw's pink tongue embraced the liquid, and ripples spread out across the surface, growing larger and larger as they went. The same reaction followed Dustypaw's encounter. Redpaw's muzzle curved into a mischievous grin, and her right forepaw left the ground and pressed against Dustypaw's back. The pressure surprised him, and caused him stumble and splash into the lake.
"Hey!" he yowled. Redpaw jumped back in order to avoid the spray of sand and water and erupted from Dustypaw when he fell into the water.
Dustypaw's fur matted to his skin, and seaweed and gravel clung to his hair. Redpaw broke into a series of giggles, greatly amused by Dustypaw's appearance. The yellow tom mock-growled, and flung himself at Redpaw. The water that had soaked his fur transferred to Redpaw's ginger pelt when they touched, and she shrieked at the surprising cold temperature.
"Serves you right." Dustypaw mewed with a smile. Redpaw laughed, and pushed him over. Both cats went tumbling into the lake. The cool water moved with their bodies, giving way to the weight.
"Are you two thinking of joining RiverClan?" came a cheerful mew. Dustypaw and Redpaw both turned to see Spottedear laughing at them from the bank. They both got out quickly, embarassed. Spottedear rolled her eyes. "C'mon! You guys are having your second assessment today!" she said. Shock filled Redpaw.
My second assessment? I completely forgot! she thought. Dustypaw looked equally stunned. Spottedear flicked her tail irritably.
"Well, don't stand there gawking at me! Get goin'!" she said, annoyed. The apprentices followed her as she padded away into the towering oak trees.
"I wish I'd practiced more." Redpaw mumbled, worry welling up in her chest. She hadn't hunted birds in for a quarter moon.
"You'll do fine." Dustypaw said, brushing his tail against her face. She stared into his amber eyes, feeling comforted.
Spottedear turned to them. "Okay." she said. "Your assessment goal is to hunt five birds. You can also hunt rodents, but to pass the assessment you need five birds. Got it?" she said, studying them for a sign of comprehension. Redpaw gulped, and nodded. Cloverpaw came up to stand beside her.
"Sorry I'm late!" he said. "I slept in." he explained sheepishly. Spottedear sighed. Cloverpaw bit his lip. "Don't worry! My mentor explained what I had to do before I left camp!" he said.
Spottedear smiled. "Thank StarClan." she said. "Now, Cloverpaw, Dustypaw, Redpaw, you have until sun-high. Go!" she yowled. All three cats rushed away from her.
Prey-scent hung thick in the air, and the sounds of scuffling and the vibrations of tiny padding indicated the little mice, voles, and shrews hiding in leaves and in burrows. But that wouldn't help her now. She needed to find birds. "Birds..." she reminded herself, and listened for wing-beats and chirping.
A pigeon perched on a low branch, eating berries off of the tree.
Redpaw crouched, her tail low to the ground, and targeted her prey. Paw-step by paw-step, she inched her way up to the tree, soundless.
A twig snapped loudly in the bushes, and the bird froze. It caught side of the ginger cat at the foot of the tree, a tail-length away, and darted away.
"Fox-dung!" she cursed, clawing at the bark. She turned to see the source of the snapping twig. It wasn't fox dung, it was Foxclaw. Redpaw growled at her mentor.
"What do you want, Foxclaw?" she asked, her tail twitching. Foxclaw's eyes were filled with sadness.
"Follow me Redpaw, I'll show you." he said, his voice strained with grief. Redpaw glared at him with her fiery green gaze, but obeyed, and stepped away from the tree, leaves crunching carelessly under paw. Foxclaw's steps were shaky, and his head was bent low. Redpaw was confused, esspecially when she entered camp.
"Cherryface!" she wailed, and rushed to her mother's body. The white and ginger she-cat's throat was torn out, and her fur was died crimson. She burried her face in the cold blood-stained fur.
Foxclaw padded over solemnly and bowed his head. Redpaw hissed and unsheathed her claws, causing him to jump back in surprise.
"What right do you have to mourn over her?" she gurgled, taking a step closer. Foxclaw regained his posture and sat back on his haunches, glowering at Redpaw.
"Because," he said, turning away. "She is my sister." he whispered, and padded away. Redpaw was purely bewildered. The truth came crashing down.
"No..." she said, taking a step back. "No..." she trailed off, and turned to her mother's carcass, as if for answers. Cherryface remained sickeningly silent.
"Cherryface, you can't leave me! You can't!" she wailed, crouching. Acornmist came up beside her, and brushed against her.
"It was her time." her father soothed. Redpaw collapsed in a heap, tears leaving dark traces on her cheeks and she cried out into the sky.
A dark shadow lurked, staring down at the scene below. A satisfied smirk spread across her face.
Foxclaw POV
"Why? Why her?" Foxclaw screeched, flinging himself at the dark brown tabby. Tigerstar deflected his attacks effortlessly.
"There was no other way." he said, his deep voice lacking sympathy. Foxclaw stared at him.
"What about Stormpaw? Or Acornmist? Or Dustypaw?" he snarled. Tigerstar stared down at him menacingly. He padded past the raging red tom, not looking at him, but at the horizon.
"You know that we can't kill Stormpaw. He can fight better than anything we've ever seen. Redpaw never grew close to Acornmist. And Dustypaw is too important." he explained, his amber eyes flicking over the dark depths of the forest. More recruits were arriving as the evening faded into night.
Foxclaw yowled again, and dug his claws into the earth.
"Why did you do this to me?" he said. Tigerstar turned on him, facing him with his amber eyes burning with fury.
"This whole operation is about me, not you. You could never accomplished this by yourself. Face it. You need me. And aren't a few trivial sacrifices worth a place at side when the clans fall?" he hissed. Foxclaw shrank back away from the enormous tom.
"I-I don't want to do this anymore, Tigerstar." he said, turning away, unable to bear the amber daggers piercing his flesh. Tigerstar padded closer to him.
"Yes, yes you do." he whispered. "Remember how this will be so much better this will be for the clans." he reminded him.
Foxclaw let out a shriek. "NO!" he yowled, and clawed at Tigerstar, but the evil Dark Forest leader had vanished from his side, and now was staring at him from the front.
"You cannot defy me, Foxclaw!" he said, cackling. Foxclaw turned tail and ran as fast as he could. His heart hammered in his chest. His feet pounded against the slimy earth. Thorn-sharp claws tour at his pelt, and blood spattered on the ground below.
"NO!" he called again, before his vision shattered.
So, what did you think? Also post which team your on. Team Dustypaw or Team Stormpaw? Toodles!
