Chapter 10

It was a fitful sleep full of great clans and stars, but once Echopaw woke up, she could hardly remember anything. She clawed her way down the tree, huffing. She weaved through the brambles, and she thanked StarClan for her small build and shorter fur. The cats had started to shed their leaf-bare coats, into green-leaf ones, which made it easier to pad through the forest. Sniffing for herbs, she parted the bracken, where only two still-growing coltsfoot plants stood. She flicked her ear back as there was a rustle in the bracken behind her. She heard tiny whispers, and turned around. She padded straight for the bramble thicket, where two kits were, eyes wide and indignant.

Echopaw looked down at them, "What are you two doing out here? You know you should be at camp with your mother!" The two kits looked shameful; she noticed they were Embertail's two she-kits.

Sunkit, the eldest, mewed indignantly, "You can't tell us what to do; you're just a medicine cat!"

Echopaw looked down on her, "And your still a kit, I am older than you. Even if I am a medicine cat, you still have to follow the warrior code." Sunkit attempted to attack her, but Echopaw held her still with a glare like flint. Her narrowed green eyes scared the little kit out of her wits, where Echopaw picked her up by the scruff. With one paw, she scooped Willowkit from under the bramble. Grumpily, Willowkit followed her back to the camp. Echopaw assumed that she knew if she tried to run, she would be caught faster than you could say 'mouse'. She ducked underneath the tunnel, wincing as a loose bramble thorn cut her ear.

Embertail greeted her with a grateful voice, "Thank you so much Echopaw! I didn't know where they were, I thought they were dead!"

Echopaw glanced down at the two kits, "See? Your mother was worried sick, the forest isn't sunshine and happiness." She looked at them, "This world is cruel." She turned tail, padding into the medicine cat den. She didn't know what had triggered the last words, but she had just said them. Maybe her dreams. She called over Shimmerpaw, spotting a hollow with nothing in it. Next to it was the moss and bedding material. Echopaw asked her, "Why is this here?"

Shimmerpaw shrugged, "Dunno, I guess its extra storage space."

Echopaw grinned, "What if we plant catmint in here? We'd never run out because it would be cared for!"

Shimmerpaw nodded, "That's a great idea! We'd be strong while the other clans have no chance against greencough." Echopaw bounded deeper into the den, which was a network of small tunnels. She found Milknose, and explained what she had in mind for the den. He approved of their plan, and sent them out to retrieve a catmint plant. Shimmerpaw flicked her tail for Echopaw to follow. Echopaw weaved through the bracken fluently and gracefully, Echopaw sighed. She was relieved that she had the skill too not step on a thorn by accident. Shimmerpaw lead the way, an abandoned twoleg nest. Echopaw breathed in the heavy scent of catmint. There was plenty growing here, sure to spread further. She began scraping at the dirt, which was still hard from the freezing months before. Shimmerpaw helped her until the whole plant was out, with roots clumped in a ball. Echopaw winced, her claws sore from clawing at the cold dirt.

They each had a clump of catmint in their jaws. Echopaw was about to spring over the remains of the fence when a loud snap of a twig sounded behind them. Echopaw whirled around; claws unsheathed. A fox stood infront of them, teeth bared. Shimmerpaw shrieked in terror as it lunged forward, grabbing the young apprentice in its jaws. Echopaw hissed in rage, springing onto the back of the fox, her long, hooked claws tore through the fox's flesh. It yelped, dropping Shimmerpaw. She sprang off the fox, hissing. An idea came to mind, she prayed it would work. She backed up into the brambles, wincing as the thorns snagged at her fur. She saw the fox's eyes light up with satisfaction. She hissed inwardly, Or so you think! She spun around, jumping onto the base of a tree, and with tremendous force, back onto the fox. She locked her jaws on its forehead, staying on stubbornly. The fox let out a shrill howl of pain, trying to shake her off. In its struggles, the fox grabbed her hind leg in its jaws, tugging with extreme force. She bit harder, feeling something pop. She churned fur paws, scratching at its eyes. The fox threw her off and retreated into the bracken, yelping. Echopaw sighed, exhausted. The tree bark had splintered her paws, making every step painful. Shimmerpaw stood, trembling, her wounds bleeding. The one on her back was slowly stopping.

Echopaw plucked out as many splinters as she could from her paws, and mewed to Shimmerpaw, "Shimmerpaw, I'm going to find Milknose, you'll be alright!" Shimmerpaw's only response was a weak gasp. Flattening her ears, Echopaw began racing back to the camp, stretching her legs as far as they would go, increasing her strides. She practically flew into camp, panting, "Fox…Shimmerpaw, wounded." She almost collapsed in exhaustion. Her hind paw was bleeding heavily, the blood stained her fur. Milknose herded her into the den, where he quickly treated her and flew out of the camp with more herbs in his jaws. She winced, curling her tail around her body, and closed her eyes. But she didn't fall asleep, no no. She stayed wide awake, waiting for them to bring Shimmerpaw back.

She waited and waited, her patience slowly ebbing away until her tail was lashing crazily. Foxtrot emerged from the entrance, a rabbit dangling from his jaws. She dipped his head to her, inviting to share a meal. She twitched her ear, accepting his request. He dropped the rabbit by her, settling down on the other side. She nibbled at the rabbit, ears twitching nervously. Foxtrot however, took a mouthful, chewing thoroughly, and swallowed, before reaching out to take another bite. Sighing, she took a bite, realizing how famished she was. Before she knew it, she and Foxtrot had finished the whole rabbit. She swallowed the last of the meat, still feeling nervous.

She almost jumped with surprise as Foxtrot gave her a quick lick on the check and whispered, "She'll be fine. You'll see." She felt a burning sensation come across her face, but he turned tail and left, tail twitching. Echopaw jumped to her paws when she heard the rustling of the bramble tunnel. Turtleflicker and Milknose were carrying Shimmerpaw in. Her breathing was hoarse, and the cobwebs covering her wound were stained red already. They eased her into a nest, where she winced feebly. Echopaw's heart twisted with grief, and she curled around her friend, grooming the space between her ears. She heard a weak purr rumble from Shimmerpaw's throat until she could tell that she was asleep.

In the days that passed, Shimmerpaw's condition only got worse. The wound to her back had gotten infected, putting her as a massive risk. Every night, Echopaw had stayed up, cleaning her wounds and changing the cobwebs. She wailed inside, I should have treated her when I was with her! It'll be my entire fault if she dies! A chill blew through the den, making her shiver.

She sighed, satisfied with her work, and prepared for her vigil, witting next to Shimmerpaw. Echopaw felt a spark of hope as Shimmerpaw stirred, her eyes were glazed over and exhausted, but she was looking into space. Nervous, she called over Milknose, who was grumpy to be awoken. She whispered, "Why is she doing this? It's scaring me."

Milknose glanced down at his apprentice, and closed his eyes. He whispered in a hoarse voice, "Her brain is swelling from the infection, there's little to no hope for her chance of survival now." Echopaw gasped, and guilt washed down on her. She refused to believe that Shimmerpaw was to die. She quickly padded over to the moss, dipping it in the icy cold stream that passed through the medicine cat den. She packed the cold moss over Shimmerpaw's forehead, flattening her ears.

She heard her whisper, "Echopaw?"

Echopaw crept forward, "Yes? I'm here, you'll live, I won't let you die!"

Shimmerpaw whispered, her voice scratchy as she looked at Echopaw with a distant look in her eyes, "This world is cruel." She fell silent, slumping down into the nest. Echopaw panicked, pressing her ear against Shimmerpaw's chest.

No beating.

No breath.

No life.

This time Echopaw resented her power to see into the past and future, now she knew what had triggered her words to the small kits. Shimmerpaw's death shook her, and made her lose a small shard of her respect for StarClan. She buried her nose in Shimmerpaw's fur, wailing in grief. Yes, indeed. This world was very cruel.

AN: R.I.P Shimmerpaw. ImM SORRY ITS NECCESARY FOR The PLOTLINEEEE!

Anywhoo, woohoo new chapter ehh ;u;

QUESTION TIME:

DO YOU THINK FOXTROT;

-LIKES ECHO

-WANT ECHO AS A FRIEND

-RESENTS ECHO/ WANTS REVENGE?

-LOVES ECHO

-hint; he licked her cheek and whispered in her ear, wtf do you think?-