HEY THERE! I finally updated. I personally think I failed this chappy XD but anyways, since I haven't updated the chapters of fanfiction for such a long time, please spare my life! :) Anyways, yeah, school and all is just cool. Enjoy this chappie!!
Chapter 12
"I told Onestar about your catch," announced Heathertail the next morning as Moonpaw immediately bounded up from her sleep. "He saw it himself. He was so impressed he decided that you can go to the Gathering tonight." Moonpaw's dark blue eyes glinted with joy. Looking envious but consumed with joy, Fernpaw congratulated her, "Wow, Moonpaw. I can't believe it! You've got to tell me about it! Promise!" Moonpaw nodded blissfully. I'm going to go to my first Gathering already, Wingfeather! Moonpaw announced to her father joyfully. My plan is going on very well so far! Some day, I might even become leader just for you, too! She grinned. When she met her mother when she returned from a hunting patrol, she told Brightmoon about it. Her mother was delighted, and purred, "I knew you would become a talented warrior. You are amazing, Moonpaw." Proudly, Moonpaw lifted her chest high as her mother instructed her to fluff up her fur to make herself look bigger.
*******
Placing her silver paw carefully on the soft surface of the log bridge, she cautiously stepped slowly across it to reach the Gathering island. Brightmoon led her swiftly to the clearing, and by the stench of fish and frog, Moonpaw learned that ShadowClan and RiverClan had already arrived. After the WindClan cats settled, ThunderClan soon arrived. As all the cats splat up from their Clanmates, Moonpaw settled down beside a small ShadowClan apprentice. The ShadowClan tom was handsome, and his pelt was a pale gray, his paws a pitch-black. His chest was pure white, and his amber eyes were determined. He grinned and introduced himself, "Hi! My name is Shadepaw." Narrowing her eyes, Moonpaw replied curtly, "I'm Moonpaw." Smugly, Shadepaw lifted his chest. "I caught six frogs two days ago. That's how I got to come!" he boasted immodestly. Mouse-brain, Moonpaw spat silently, and shot back, "Well, I caught a rabbit as big as me on my first training session yesterday." Shadepaw didn't look impressed, and Moonpaw stalked off. She concentrated on what Onestar was telling the other Clans until the ShadowClan apprentice came again.
Shadepaw pressed closed to Moonpaw, who pulled away in disgust. "What was that?" she growled softly as Onestar finished his announcements. "Why can't you like me?" Shadepaw suddenly pleaded, his amber eyes gleaming with adoration that made Moonpaw back off. His black paws were trembling with emotion. "I just wanted you to think I was amazing," he murmured shyly. Flushing wildly, Moonpaw muttered, "Well, that certainly rebounded." Shifting his paws, Shadepaw pressed his gray pelt against her and begged, "Please, Moonpaw. I'm so lonely." Irked, Moonpaw shot back, "It's against the warrior code." Admiringly, Shadepaw's eyes glimmered and he mewed, "You're so perfect, Moonpaw." He spoke her name like it was something sweet as fresh-kill. "Why can't you just have a single flaw? A flaw like liking me…"
"Oh, stop it," Moonpaw pleaded desperately. She didn't know why, but emotion flowed inside her. She wanted to become a perfect warrior. How could she do so if she fell in love with Shadepaw? But I already like him so much, she thought, angry at herself. This has to be a trick. He's all cocky and now he's so… sweet. She turned her head away, avoiding Shadepaw's warm gaze. Suddenly, Shadepaw seemed to brighten up, and whispered, "Do you like me? Oh, Moonpaw, please, I beg you. Meet me outside the territories, Moonpaw. There is a place beyond ShadowClan territory— please meet me there two nights later, the night of the half moon. I will be waiting for you by your territory. I'll lead you to a safe place no one would know of, I promise!" He beamed and soon padded away happily as the Gathering broke up.
Should I go? A curious voice in Moonpaw's head sounded. Another one growled, Of course not! That is disobeying the warrior code. The first voice echoed dreamily. But Shadepaw. Moonpaw shook her head in disgust. I can't believe I just thought that! Oh, Wingfeather, I'm so sorry. I won't go. I won't… but I want to so badly! Why does it have to be me— "Hello, Moonpaw? Come back down from Silverpelt!" a voice loudly called out. Moonpaw snapped out of her thoughts and glanced at where the voice came from, and faced Hivepaw, Heathertail's daughter. The light brown tabby apprentice rolled her eyes. "Finally," she purred. "Come on, Moonpaw; let's go back to camp now." Staring back at the island once more, Moonpaw ambled away thinking of one thing and one only: I love Shadepaw. I have to go.
***
Moonpaw padded side-by-side with Hivepaw back to camp. Hivepaw was a pretty cat; she was a small, light brown tabby with light blue eyes and one white and one black paw. Her father was grumpy Breezepelt, who actually warmed up toward Moonpaw (she never expected him to) after Wingfeather's death. When they returned, they were greeted by Fernpaw and Brightmoon, with two hyper kits for the addition. A queen was chasing them around, scolding them angrily. "What was it like?" Fernpaw piped up loudly. "Was it exciting? Did they fight?" she batted her paws to the thin air, and started to wrestle nothing. Purring, Moonpaw replied, "Pretty boring. They didn't fight or argue," she added jokily. Fernpaw grinned and teased, "Did you see any cute toms?" Moonpaw flushed in agony and mewed sternly, "No!" Her sister jumped up in surprise and her tail drooped. "Why are you so mad about this?" Shaking her head clear, Moonpaw quickly answered, "Nothing." Fernpaw cocked her head and observed her sister's eyes, but just shrugged. Brightmoon pressed against Moonpaw. "How was the Gathering?" Flatly she meowed, "Fine." Blinking, Brightmoon returned to the nursery. All Moonpaw could think of was: Shadepaw, Shadepaw, and Shadepaw.
***
Mists of the night surrounded Moonpaw. "Moonpaw, you can't do this," a thick, strong voice growled with such force it sent a shiver across Moonpaw's spine. Am I dreaming? Moonpaw questioned herself. But what's with this voice? The voice continued: "Wingfeather will be so upset with you." She jumped up. The voice knew what she was thinking. Did the voice knew, knew that she liked Shadepaw so much? Most of all, did Wingfeather know? "I am upset with you too." Suddenly, Moonpaw couldn't feel her paws, and she dropped down, swallowed by a hole of darkness. "AH!" she screeched loudly. "Help!" But nothing replied to her yelp, not a single cat heard her. "Falling in love with a ShadowClan apprentice is the last thing you're supposed to do," the voice continued sharply. "You are supposed to be perfect." Something seemed to reach a paw toward her consciousness, and her mind rippled in sharp pain.
"Who are you?!" Moonpaw screamed as deafeningly as she could. "I am the you inside you. The perfect you. You are the flawed side. Allow me to take over." Dubious about the voice's words, Moonpaw growled mutinously, "I'm myself! You can't control me; I'm going to go see Shadepaw two nights later and you can't stop me!" She struggled to keep her voice high as she shrieked out each word. Oh no, she thought, furious with herself. I just said I was going to see Shadepaw. Moonpaw shook her head continuously with all her strength, making herself dizzy. "You will regret, Moonpaw. You cannot love him. You have to be flawless." Irritated, Moonpaw scowled. "Flawless! What do you want from me?" "All I want is for you to stop thinking about him. You have to train and become flawless." Flawless, there was the word again. Moonpaw was irritated. The voice kept mewing. "I have plans for you, Moonpaw. You, the stream of the moon will be mine. We together will take over the Clans." W-what? Moonpaw thought, bewildered at the treacherous words of the strange voice.
"You do not know what you, with such powers, can do. Moonpaw, you can beat the strongest, biggest apprentice with one single claw. You can hunt down another cat if you wish to, for your powers are too strong for other cats. Only you can do these things ordinary cats can't do. Wingfeather had been right all along and that is that you are perfect. Fernpaw will never be as smart, swift or strong as you. You won't need your kin. You are special." Moonpaw staggered upward, feeling dilapidated. Her legs barely had any strength left. It was as if the darkness was swallowing her up along with her force. "Moonpaw, you cannot run away from the truth. You are not destined to have a flaw. Your fate is to support me as we begin our revolution." After those last words, all faded away in blackness.
I hope this chappie wasn't too choppy. I mean, okay, it's stupid how Moonpaw just falls in love with Shadepaw, but surprise, surprise. Plus, the voice in the dream is totallly lame XD
Well, please just spare my life friends... But you're going to get surprised by the twists I'm going to put in Moonpaw's life! :D
~~Rainy