Chapter…14! I'm getting farther faster than I imagined, that's for sure.
Wolfpaw curled up in his den, exhausted. The training today with Hollyleaf and Ivypool exhausted him, especially for the bout he did with Hollyleaf. Recalling those blazing green eyes, full of fire, and another emotion, making it seem like she wasn't staring at him. Wolfpaw had noticed the glassy look in her eyes, like as if she was reminiscing, but he had shaken it away, to focus on the fight.
Howlpaw had gone off to see Hazeltail's new kits, the newest addition to ThunderClan. Only Wolfpaw was in the nest, the other apprentice, his brother Lightpaw, was eating outside. He seemed to have gone hunting today, instead of doing battle training.
When Howlpaw returned to the nest, Wolfpaw scarcely opened his eyes to stare at his sister. Her pelt was matted with dirt; the new moves that Ivypool had taught them required a lot of scrambling in the dust if you got it wrong. She curled up next to him, pressing her pelt against his. Wolfpaw shifted closer, reminding himself to clean her pelt tomorrow, which was a mess.
When Wolfpaw closed his eyes, he felt that he immediately fell asleep.
That night, he didn't dream of the mysterious she-cat again. The one he had dreamed of for many moons, and yet he had never known her name. She looked like Tawnypaw, an identical replica.
Instead, he found himself in a strange forest. Trees littered it, but did not clog the wood, and only several bushes dotted it. Grass was what was underfoot, along with some leaves. Stars blazed overhead in the night sky.
Wolfpaw found himself alone for a while, wandering the woods, looking at every tree. Every tree was different, a different type, either white or brown, birch or hazel, willow or oak. Yet, only two trees were the same. They looked exactly the same, and planted right next to each other. And what peculiar, they each had five leaves. The leaves were a bright green, almost like Hollyleaf's eyes from yesterday.
A warm breeze swept between the trees, curving through them. It brushed across Wolfpaw's dark pelt, ruffling his fur. The breeze seemed to carry a voice, the familiar mew that was always beside him in the nursery. Be wise, dear brother. Streakpaw's kind mew murmured in Wolfpaw's ear.
Wolfpaw let out a yowl. "Streakpaw!" He called. "I'm sorry! I wish you had never died…I miss you!"
The whisper came once more. Do not regret; the stars had my destiny lain out many moons before. I am content among them, among our ancestors, among the loved and remembered. I am happy, I am with a friend. I am no longer lost, and yet…I wish that we both could've lived to see my warrior name. Hidden regret appeared in his mew, and Wolfpaw realized that we must mean him and Tawnypaw.
"Streakpaw…" The name caught in his throat. Sorrow tore at his heart; and longing for his brother once more. During his lifetime, Wolfpaw had never been there for him, and now…
Do not regret, Wolfpaw. There is no room for regret in the destiny the stars have lain out for you. I have seen it, Wolfpaw, I have seen all your destinies. I have seen all the options, changed by choice. And I now understand what must happen. Remember, Wolfpaw. The wolf and the howl of it always go together.
His voice faded into silence, only followed by the calls of Wolfpaw. "Wait!" He yowled to the night. "What do you mean?" But he was only answered by the howls of wolves in the distance.
linelinelinelinelinelineline
Golden light streamed in from the trees, signaling the day to come. Stretching, two cats walked out from underneath a yew bush, pelts brushing. Before them, small cats came and went, some carrying prey, others walking with another, talking.
The two managed to squeeze through a tunnel made out of gorse, which led them into the forest. The trees seemed to be a golden color, the leaves bright green. It was always full of bright colors and admiring scenery. Underpaw, the grass was green, and mixed with small white flowers.
The two cats stopped by a large group of boulders, with small cats gathered around the rocks. Some were sunning themselves, some were sharing tongues, and others were talking. A small tabby noticed the two, and looked up. "Hey!" He called to them.
The first dipped his head, smiling. "Hey, Ringpaw." The tabby had a black ring around her left eye, and rings around her paws too. "Good hunting?"
Ringpaw nodded. "The best, as always." Then, turning to her friends, she called, "hey guys. Streakpaw and Tawnypaw are here!"
Cats from the rocks crawled over them, glancing at the two and smiling. Some called out greetings, and others just nodded in acknowledgement, not even lifting their heads. A golden she-cat came up behind Ringpaw, her blue eyes shining. "Hi, you two." She mewed quietly.
Tawnypaw smiled, and her and Streakpaw padded to the rocks. "Hi, Mintpaw. Where's Swiftpaw?" Streakpaw asked, looking at Ringpaw.
"I think he's out with his friend Gorsepaw, helping one of the kits." She mewed, looking into the forest. "He said that the kit needed help."
Mintpaw nervously supplied, "he was out looking for Snowkit. That was the kit's name."
Ringpaw nodded. "Thanks. Yeah, he was looking for Snowkit."
A rustle through the bushes nearby alerted the four cats, and a young black-and-white tom stepped out, followed by a white kit, and a ginger-and-white tom. "I told you he would follow us!" The black-and-white tom seemed to have snapped at his companion.
Streakpaw bounded up to them. "Swiftpaw." He mewed, touching noses. "Good to see you."
Swiftpaw smiled, then flicked his tail to the small white kit. "This is Snowkit, one of my old clanmates." The white kit was looking around at everyone, surprise wild on his little face. Behind him, the ginger-and-white tom, Gorsepaw, nudged him forward.
Tawnypaw looked intrigued with the little thing. "Hi there," she mewed to him. "I'm Tawnypaw." Her big eyes seemed round with curiosity and adoration at Snowkit.
Gorsepaw purred in amusement. "It's not that simple, Tawnypaw." He told her. "Snowkit can't hear you; he's deaf."
Tawnypaw recoiled, obviously surprised. "Deaf?" She stuttered. "You mean, he-he can't hear me?"
Swiftpaw let out a mroww of laughter. "Not unless your definition of deaf is different form mine, mouse-brain!" His words were harsh, but his mew sounded softer, and amusement filled his amber eyes.
Tawnypaw grumbled, and Gorsepaw stepped in front of Snowkit. He beckoned the kit with his tail, guiding him to the rocks. "Speckletail-Snowkit's mother-taught me how to guide him. She tried to train him when he was alive, until he was carried off by the hawk." Ignoring the gasp from Mintpaw, he went on. "Yet, when she died, she still trained him, since he was deaf in StarClan. He's still deaf, because it the best he was in when he was alive, yet he was still deaf then." Ringpaw and Tawnypaw nodded, while Streakpaw just had an amused expression on his face.
"So, what clan is he from?" Streakpaw asked, his eyes on the kit.
"He's from ThunderClan, like us. He died right before me, carried off by the hawk. And Gorsepaw is from WindClan, who also died a little bit after me." Swiftpaw flicked his tail to Gorsepaw, guiding the little Snowkit. "Where are your friends from?" His eyes lingered on Ringpaw and Mintpaw.
"I'm from ShadowClan." Ringpaw answered, stepping forward. "I was born before Bluestar was, and was killed by an invasion. Mintpaw, here, she was from RiverClan, and was the medicine cat apprentice. We became friends at a Gathering, and both died. She was killed by greencough. Ironic, huh?" Mintpaw frowned, clearly not happy by the joke, but Ringpaw turned around and smiled at her friend. Then, Ringpaw turned to Streakpaw and Tawnypaw. "Where were you guys yesterday? We missed you down here."
Streakpaw shuffled his paws. "We were talking to some cats from ThunderClan who recently joined StarClan. They were telling us all about our past clanmates. They're really interesting, actually." And, seeing Ringpaw's look of accusation, he added, "They are! You go talk to your clanmates and tell then how fun they are! Anyways, we were talking to Rainwhisker, Sootfur, Honeyfern, Blossomfall, and Dovewing. They told us all about our clan before we were born, and even some of the Great Battle! It was really fun."
Ringpaw smiled, then turned to Gorsepaw, helping him with Snowkit. Mintpaw did the same, and Swiftpaw padded to the rocks, and started talking to more apprentices. Swiftpaw was a popular apprentice, having been struck down by dogs caused by Tigerstar, who also killed his leader.
Streakpaw turned to Tawnypaw, nudging her. "Do you want to go somewhere else? We can talk, just the two of us." Tawnypaw nodded, and the two headed off, tails twined together.
They came to a ravine, and settled there. Tawnypaw spoke first. "Why were you yowling all last night? I heard you, and you were kicking me." When Streakpaw started to apologize, Tawnypaw just smiled. "It's ok. But, why?"
Taking a deep breath, Streakpaw told her. "I visited Wolfpaw last night." he confessed. "I didn't tell him anything important, except that I told him I knew of his options for his future. And, I also said, 'the wolf and it's howl always go together.' He sounded like he really missed me."
Tawnypaw rubbed her face up against Streakpaw's. "Of course he does, furball! You're his brother! I miss them too," she mewed, he voice getting softer. "I sometimes wish we could've been let alone and lived, so maybe we could've had a real future together. You know I always loved you, and sometimes I even thought about being mates….having kits…" her mew trailed off.
He nodded. "I did too. I love you, Tawnypaw, and always have. Remember that she-cat I met at the Gathering I told you about, Reedpaw? The whole time we came back, all I thought of was how you were prettier than her." Licking her pelt, Streakpaw purred. "Kits had been on my mind too, Tawnypaw. Now I really wish we could've lived…"
"It's too bad we're frozen in time, here in StarClan. If only this was a normal clan too, where we grew up, and earned our warrior names…" Tawnypaw whispered, painful longing filling her voice. Streakpaw nodded, his head pressed up against her fur.
Suddenly he pulled his head up, his voice brightening. "You know, Hazeltail had her and Foxleap's kits."
Tawnypaw looked at him questioningly. "So? How does that help us?" She snapped.
Taken aback, Streakpaw leaned back a little bit. "I just wanted to say that…Howlpaw took a liking to them. I wonder how they'll grow up to be. Their names are Nudgekit, Rowankit, and Runningkit. Runningwind was happy to hear that."
Tawnypaw nodded. "I heard Spiderleg remark that he was, since his mentor was Mousefur, Runningwind's sister."
The two left the ravine, and started walking through the main territory of StarClan, where most cats gathered. They passed many unrecognizable cats, along with some that had faded fur.
"Streakpaw…" Tawnypaw murmured, unsure of where to begin. He looked at her with concern in his eyes.
"What is it, Tawnypaw?" He asked her.
She looked away. "Ha-have you ever looked into the Apprentice Pool?" She mewed, her voice hiding an emotion.
Streakpaw looked away guiltily. "You know I don't want to, Tawnypaw. It'll make me too sad."
Tawnypaw nodded. "I-I know, Streakpaw. But, I-I looked into it, and saw what would've happen if we had both lived. W-we were mates, and we had beautiful kits. I saw myself in the nursery, round with kits, and you next to me, a proud look on your face. Then again, I saw our three kits at their warrior ceremony." She closed her eyes. "They were Silvercreek, Grovelight, and Willowshade. They-they were beautiful kits, and well liked." Tawnypaw stopped, her face screwed up in emotional pain. Next to her, Streakpaw buried his nose into her chest.
And for the rest of the day they settled down in an empty ravine, curling together, falling asleep.
Done! Note the names I used for Tawnypaw's kits; I'm probably going to use them in later stories, since I love the names so much! DON'T TAKE THEM! Thank you and have a nice day. J I also wanted to do a POV of Streakpaw, since he's still one of the four kits, and is still like, living…technically. Well, it played out better in my head.