Chapter 13
Blizzardfangs POV
A lot changed after Crowstar died, a cloud of darkness seemed to linger within the camp. Life had to go on and Dapplesong became Dapplestar and took Oakclaw as his deputy and Sageflower had her kits. Their names are Frostkit for the white stripped gray she-cat. Sageflower wanted Anhaga to name the black tom, he named him Shadowkit. Dapplestar named the second tom Willowkit, who was all brown except for white paws, chest and spot between his ears. I still didn't understand why she wanted Anhaga to name Shadowkit, but I think he finally felt like he was one of us.
It was half moon and time for Sharppaw and Glistenpool to go to Starpool.
Sharppaws POV
Ferns brushed my stomach and I lifted my head as I smelt other medicine cats coming toward us. "Where's Stormflower?" I heard Glistenpool ask Acornpath. "She has retired and I now represent as Darkclans medicine cat." He announced with a hint of sadness lagging in his meow.
The smell of water hit my nose and I figured we had neared the Starpool. I felt Glistenpool turn toward me as I saw beside the pool, my tail trailing along the water's edge. "It is time for you to become a full medicine cat of your Clan Sharppaw." She announced after heartbeats of silence.
"I, Glistenpool, medicine cat of Moonclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the way of a medicine cat, and with your help, he will serve his Clan for many moons. Sharppaw, do you promise to uphold the way of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan, and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?"She asked and I could tell that her eyes where shining with pride.
"I do." I murmured.
"Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your true name as a medicine cat. Sharppaw, from this moment you shall be known as Sharpnose. StarClan honors your knowledge and certainty, and we welcome you as a full medicine cat of Moonclan." Ravenfeather, Acornpath, and Waterwhisker cheered on my new name.
Settling myself down at the Starpool I instantly began to dream. Sunlight bathed my pelt as my eyes met Crowstars. "Sharpnose come with me." He hissed quietly. Following him through the forest I saw a circle of cats and they all seemed to be looking into a puddle. "What is this about?" I asked, confused. "Just come." He insisted.
Searching the cats faces for signs of threat or sadness, but nothing could be found. "Sharpnose, we have summoned you here under dire circumstances." An elderly tom began. "Wait, wait, wait." I stopped them. "Who are you?" I meowed as I looked at each of the cats. "I am Duskbelly." She elderly tom spoke. "I am Waterpelt." A pretty gray she-cat meowed. "My name is Breezetail." A gruff black tom spoke from behind Duskbelly. "You know who I am." Crowstar meowed and took his spot beside Waterpelt.
"So why have you called me here?" I asked annoyed. "A drought is coming and only the darkest angles can save you." At first I thought they meant the Dark Forest, but that wouldn't make sense. "Who are these dark angles?" I meowed but it was too late they all bounded away into the dark. I tried to yowl for them to stop but I couldn't.
"Wake up Sharpnose, it's time to go." Glistenpool lightly taped my back with her forepaw. Rolling over I looked up and opened my eyes. I expected to see darkness, but instead I saw a cat. "Glistenpool what do you look like?" I asked franticly. "I'm gray and have stripes." She answered. "Why?" "I can see you!" I yowled with happiness. "No you can't." she meowed back, full of shock. "Yes I can, Ravenfeather is black and Waterwhisker is grayish/blue and Acornpath is brown." I meowed beaming with excitement. "We must get back to the clan right away." Glistenpool said her farewells and we streaked through the forest.
It was amazing to finally see my territory. Then suddenly she stopped. "What happened in your dream?" she asked. "Duskbelly, Waterpelt, Breezetail, and Crowstar where there they told me a drought was coming and only the darkest of angles could save us." I answered as my eyes scanned the Sky Oaks for the first time.
"Let's get going again then." She meowed and I wondered what was making her so edgy.
"Dapplestar we must talk to you right away!" she yowled and rushed us both into his den. I could feel the other cats' eyes staring after us as I disappeared within the dark depths of his den. "Yes what is it?" his eyes searched our faces and stopped at mine. "Sharppaw your eyes." He paused "there not fogged." He finished and tilted his head. "I can see." I announced. "Yes he can see, but we have another announcement we can talk about his eyes after." Glistenpool hissed angrily. "Go on." Dapplesong meowed. "A drought is coming and only the darkest of angles can save us." I meowed. "What does Starclan mean by that?" Dapplesong asked Glistenpool. "I believe they are referring to the three new members of our clan." She meowed. "Echoshines kits?" Dapplestar meowed, confused. "No I meant Anhaga, Acelan, and Algera." She meowed and I sensed that she was hiding something. "What was your dream about?" I confronted her. The words made her freeze.
"Dies." Was the only word she was able to murmur. "What! Who dies?" I pleaded her to speak on. "Who dies?" I repeated. Whipping her head across her shoulder she whispered a name. I just caught the name. "Badgerclaw." My eyes widened with fright for my friend. "How?" I whispered. "I was not told how he would die." She meowed gravely. "Should we tell him?' Dapplestar meowed. "I don't see why we could go on without breaking the news to him." Glistenpool almost yowled at the leader. "Ok, Sharpnose would you mind telling him, I don't think Glistenpool as the heart to tell him. "Yes Dapplestar." I meowed then slowly turned, taking one last look a Glistenpool. She was shaking and her eyes where wide and her claws gripped the ground like the roots of Sky Oak.
"Can you get me Badgerclaw?" I asked Ashfeather gently. Nodding she scampered over to the warriors den. A few moments later Badgerclaw stalked in. "Yes?" he asked gruffly. "Well hello to you to." I hissed sarcastically. Rolling his eyes he plopped down in front of me.
"Be careful for a while." I started out. "What?" he meowed suddenly scared. "Starclan has given a prophecy to Glistenpool and all they said is that you were going to die." I answered and turned my head away, not wanting to meet his gaze. "Did they say how?" he meow was merely a whisper now. "No." I replied and he bowed his head and thanked me for telling him. I didn't get how he was happy he would die but over the next days he was rather pleasant and paid more attention to Blizzardfang. At that instant I realized just how precious life is.
Blizzardfangs POV
"Good morning Anhaga." I breathed happily. "Morning." He rasped and slowly got to his paws and stretched. For the first time since he got here he was allowed in the warriors den at night. There was no room for another nest so Badgerclaw nicely allowed him to sleep in his nest, which was placed next to mine. "I'm taking Acelan out to see the territory and to hunt." I told him as I blinked at the morning sun. "Ok, have fun." He meowed and walked over to the nursery to visit Shadowkit. Shadowkit and he had grown close. Plus it was cute seeing Anhaga's softer side.
"Acelan if you're feeling up to it I thought that maybe you and I could take a tour of the territory." I called into the medicine cats den. "Oh no, he is still weak from the snake bite and we were lucky it was only a guarder snake and not an adder." Glistenpool stepped in front of Acelan before he got up. "I'm not weak; I'm as strong as any other apprentice." He meowed. He called himself an apprentice, I noted. That must mean he wants to join the clan.
"Thanks." Acelan meowed after a while of walking through the woods. "For what?" I asked him. "You made Anhaga smile." He replied. Stopping I watched as he kept walking and stopped at one tree. "This was the tree where you found us a moon ago." He commented as he circled the trunk.
"Your welcome." I mumbled and walked over toward the Darkclan border; I could feel Acelans eyes following me. I flicked my tail to tell him to come with me.
As we neared the Darkclan border the ferns rustled and out stepped Dreampaw. "Dreampaw! What are you doing in our territory?" I hissed and the fur rose off my back. "It's Dreamheart and it was an accident I tripped." She paused and noticed Acelan. "Who's he?" she asked. As Acelan began to answer I slapped my tail over his mouth. "Stormpaw." I answered as she finished turning and left.
After what seemed like moons Acelan spoke. "Why did you do that?" he asked. "If I told her you were a loner she would call us weak, non-clanborn warriors. I'm sick of being called that and I don't think you should have to put up with that." I answered and walked off along the river.
"Would you like to go back now?" I asked as he began to lag behind and a yawn over took his answer. Nodding we walked through the woods silently. It was weird no sounds where to be heard as we walked, I think Acelan noticed it to cause he kept his ears perked.
"Where are we going?" I asked as most of the warriors in our clan where gathered by the entrance. "Fireclan set markers on our territory, where going to teach them a lesson." Clovernose hissed and her eyes glistened with excitement. Taking a glance toward Badgerclaw I could see he was antsy. "Acelan stay here." I meowed and joined the raid patrol.
Anhaga you're coming too." Dapplestar called to him across the clearing. His eyes sparked up and he fell in step beside me. "Why are we attacking them?" he asked as we walked. "The set scent markers on our territory."
As we walked I noticed that there was no sound amongst the cats. Had something happened while I was gone? I asked myself silently.
"Anhaga stay by Blizzardfang." Dapplesong instructed. "Oakclaw come with me, Clovernose go with Rainheart. Echoshine, Seedpelt, and Ashfeather join Badgerclaw and Ravenwing; you will charge through the middle while Anhaga and Blizzardfang go around one side and Oakclaw and I the other." He announced as we neared the border. "Everyone stay back then fall in." he added.
"I will protect you." Anhaga joked. Smiling I bumped into him sending him into Badgerclaw who through a dirty look at me. "Joy killer." Anhaga whispered. "Hush, we are nearing their camp." Oakclaw shot at us.
"Attack Moonclan!" Dapplestar hissed and charged down the hill and veered off to the right. "Go left." I called to Anhaga. "Blizzardfang, look out!" he yowled. Just as I turned my head back a Fireclan warrior tackled me. "Moonclan apprentice, tss, easy!" The white she-cat hissed. "You're an apprentice, I'm a warrior." I challenged her. Smirking she clawed at me again. Hissing I unsheathed my claws and flew one across her cheek. Wincing in pain she drew back and shook her head. Scarlet drops hit the bare, sandy floor. Glaring she turned and scampered off to fight Meadowpaw.
"Anhaga!" I yowled as he was tackled by the Fireclan deputy, he could never take on a full trained warrior. Running full speed toward them I jumped in front of Anhaga as they were squaring off. "Blizzardfang, what are you doing?" Anhaga whispered. "Making sure you don't get killed today." I hissed back. Jumping at Rainwhisker I sent him catapulted into the dirt.
"Please be careful." I heard Anhaga whispered as he went off to fight Smokepelt. "I will." I promised him. Slicing Rainwhiskers side blood began to weep out of the thin line. Looking me in the eyes he raised a claw and brought it down on my right paw. Yowling with pain I whirled around and with my back legs was able to catch him off balance. Then a crack was heard as his back leg bent a funny way and he fell. Shaking his head he slowly rose to his feet. Taking one last look at me he limping away he headed toward the back.
Out of the corner of my eye I spotted Anhaga battling an orange tom. Then the black and white figure of Badgerclaw flew over Anhaga and tackled the smaller tom. The orange tom hissed in fury and rose to his feet. He brought a claw across Badgerclaws side. Instantly blood poured from the wound. Badgerclaw swayed for a few heart beats then collapsed.
"Badgerclaw!" I yowled and rushed to my brothers' side. "Blizzardfang is that you?" he asked. "Yes it's me. Stay alive please stay alive." I begged him. "I'm with her." "With who?" I asked. "Cassie." He answered. Cassie was our friend as a kit; she was killed by a dog shortly before Echoshine came to the barn. "Tell her you can't go with her. Your times not done here." I hissed at him and buried my nose in his fur. "It is my time." He murmured. "It isn't! You can't! You promised you would go hunting with me tomorrow! You never break promised." I mumbled as tears rolled down my cheeks and stained his pelt. "This promise will have to wait till later." He replied weakly. "Please don't die! Please." I looked into his eyes and they still glistened from when he was only a kit. "I'm sorry. I'll be breaking two promise's." he joked. "What's the other?" I asked confused. "I said we would grow old together. Remember when you and me where taking ticks off the elders as apprentices and you kept complaining. So I told you when we're old apprentices will have to do the same for us." He reminded me and another tear fell from my nose. "Ya I remember." We sat there and the battle whirled around us. In his final moments he told me not to forget him and he'll always be with me. "I love you." I whispered. "Forever." He spoke softly "and Always." I finished like the many times we had done that has kits, like the time Frost was taken by a hawk. He sat by my side all night. "Someday we will hunt together again." He promised me and his eyes closed and he took his final breath.
"Stop!" I yowled and everyone froze. "My brother died because of, what, a border skirmish? Fireclan don't ever cross our border again or you will feel the pain of a thousand claws." I hissed from between my teeth. "She is right." Anhaga spoke up and came and stood beside me. "Thanks." I murmured. "Any time." He replied. "Go now." Blazestar told us gently and Anhaga helped me to carry Badgerclaws body back to camp.
"You were really brave back there." Dapplestar came over and walked beside me. "What gave you the courage to confront all of Fireclan like that?" he asked. "I don't take lightly when it comes to my siblings. Badgerclaw would have done the same." I was able to reply before breaking down in tears.
"It's gonna be ok." Anhaga promised as we came to the camp. "What happen?" Acelan questioned as we entered. "The battle." Was only what Anhaga could tell him, because it reminded him of the day his mom was killed. "Sharpnose help me prepare Badgerclaw body." Glistenpool called to her apprentice. "No." Anhaga stopped them. "Blizzardfang and I would like to." He meowed and looked back at me. Nodding Glistenpool said ok and we began to gingerly clean his fur.
"We will mourn over Badgerclaw once he is prepared for vigil." Dapplestar announced and hung his head and said a few words to Starclan and bounded down from High Branch. "Can you get me some lavender from the medicine cats den?" I mumbled to Anhaga who sprinted off to fetch the sweet smelling leaves.
I placed them inside his paws after curling them under his stomach. "Now can you get some moss?" I began, but Ashfeather came over and offered to get it and Anhaga agreed and sat beside me. Pressing my nose under his chin he licked my forehead and we sat in silence.
Carefully we placed Badgerclaw on the moss and replaced the Lavender between his paws. He looked peaceful but not completely. Running off I dug a hole in the ground and soon returned with a lily flower. "How did you keep that all this time?" Anhaga whispered in shock. "Sun bleached will preserve the color. He gave it to me the day I broke my paw. It was his fault I broke it, but I never held it over him after he gave it to me. We were only four moons old anyway." Memories flooded my mind of the day he tackled me and I fell from the hay loft.
"He will be missed and he was a great warrior." Anhaga muttered. Turning his head he mumbled something else. "What?" I asked. "It's my fault." He came close to yowling. Drawing back I shook my head and backed up. "No, it couldn't be." I tried my best to convince myself. "I'm sorry he pushed the warrior away and got killed in the process." He hissed gravely. Shaking my head tears flew through the air. "No!" the yowl sliced through the brisk air.
Im sorry i had to make him die i have a great plan for the future! muhahahahaha