Chapter 13: The Four Decide

The remainder of the day passed numbly for Lightpaw. She vaguely remembered the new dogs being introduced to Mountainstar and Goldentail, then being put to work with the rest. She had been told to hunt.

She sniffed around. Thank goodness that newleaf had come; there were some new shoots of catmint, and prey was bountiful. After catching two mice and a blackbird, she returned to the camp with the other dogs.

By sunset three of the 13 sick dogs had almost totally recovered. But Raincloud was still coughing heavily, and his breath came in ragged gasps. Lightpaw was anxious to see him, but once she came back from hunting she was sent to ThunderClan by Mountainstar. "We need more catmint than our borders hold" he told her. "Perhaps Firestar will aid us."

She nodded and took off for the ThunderClan border, her heart heaving, her belly growling. The sun had started to dip in the sky. As she leapt over a log, she fell on someone.

"Gah!" came the yelp. Lightpaw struggled to pull herself out of whatever she had landed on. Two ice-blue eyes blinked at her and a voice growled, "Lightpaw, geez. Look before you jump over a log, and accidentally land on your poor friend Runningpaw, who's been hunting and gathering herbs all day and she's really exhausted!"

Lightpaw staggered off, looking embarrassed. "Gosh, sorry Runningpaw." The brindle-and-white dog stood up, shook herself, and then cocked her head at Lightpaw. "What are you doing?" "Mountainstar said I should go and ask Firestar for more herbs."

Runningpaw's eyes widened. "But we already went there once." Lightpaw shrugged. "I dunno. Ask him if you want to know." Runningpaw shivered. "No, thank you! I know he's our leader, but sometimes he scares me."

"He's my mentor" Lightpaw defended him. "And he's a great leader." Runningpaw flicked her tail. "I never said that! But he's a bit tall." Lightpaw rolled her eyes. "Someday, we'll be tall too." "Not that tall" Runningpaw insisted. Lightpaw sighed in reply.

Runningpaw yawned. "I've already caught a shrew and a sparrow. Can I come with you?"

A face peered out of the bushed excitedly. "Hey, a mission! Can I come too?" Lightpaw nodded. "Sure, both of you." Her eyes gleamed with amusement. "Have you caught enough prey, Blackpaw?"

Pretending to scoff, the brown-and-black apprentice nonchalantly turned so she could scratch her neck. "Of course. A vole, and some bird."

As the three apprentices strode off to ThunderClan, Lightpaw sensed that someone was following them. Smirking, she had an idea. Leaning in to her friends, she whispered, "Whatever I say, act like I'm telling the truth, okay?" Curiously, they nodded.

Lightpaw raised her voice. "Gee, am I glad, guys!" "Oh, why?" asked Blackpaw in an equally raised voice. "There was a load of dung back there, and I didn't step in it! You didn't either, did you?"

Runningpaw made a big show of inspecting her foot. "Nope, not me!" "Me too" said Blackpaw, glancing towards the brambles where Lightpaw had heard something earlier. "It was by a big patch of ferns, wasn't it?" she asked Lightpaw brightly. Lightpaw gave a huge shudder. "Oh, it was all over the place, like something had already walked in it, and it was smeared across the ground! In some places, you couldn't even tell it was there, aside from the smell, and the lavender masked the stench!"

There was an exclamation from the brambles and a white dog tumbled out, jumping around like she had hot embers attached to her feet. "Eww! Yuck! Gross! Get it off!"

The other three watched with humor in their eyes until Icepaw noticed them. She paused from her bounding, and then resignedly said, "There is no dung, is there?" "Nope." "Joy."

"Wanna come with us, Icepaw?" asked Blackpaw. "We're going to ThunderClan to get herbs." "Sure" agreed Icepaw. "I gave the whatever-the-mouse-dung it was to Cedarpaw. I kept forgetting the names of the herbs, and he's such an annoying know-it-all by always correcting me. Sometimes he's a mouse-brain of a brother." Runningpaw nodded sagely. "Believe me, I know." Blackpaw cracked a smile.

They headed off again. After about a minute, Blackpaw asked hesitantly, "Have any of you thought, you know, about taking a mate?"

Lightpaw's eyes widened and all the others turned to look at their friend. Blackpaw ducked her head, embarrassed. "Sorry" she muttered. "I was just—"

"Actually, I have" said Runningpaw. Lightpaw leaned in, eager for information. "Tell!" she begged. Runningpaw looked away, then mumbled incoherently.

"Come on!" urged Icepaw. "Look, if you say, I will." Runningpaw nodded, then muttered, "This may sound odd, but…Falconpaw." Lightpaw smiled. "Well, he'd be lucky to have you, Runningpaw." Runningpaw's eyes blazed. "You mean it?"

Blackpaw grinned slyly. "I wouldn't bet on that. Have you seen the way he moons over Lightpaw?"

Lightpaw shook her head firmly. "I don't believe that." "You've been gone for three days" pointed out Icepaw. Lightpaw snorted. "I think I'd have noticed that earlier, thank you."

She raised her head high. "I do not like Falconpaw." Runningpaw smirked. "Oh really?" "Yes" insisted Lightpaw, but the other three looked like they could use some persuasion.

"Actually, I have my eye on someone else."

Her eyes widened in horror. Oh, I did NOT just say that.

"Really?" Blackpaw's eyes lit up. "Who's the lucky he-dog?" Lightpaw said the first name that came to mind. "W—um, Cedarpaw."

Icepaw smiled widely, showing all her teeth, Blackpaw laughed, but Runningpaw looked at her curiously. "You stammered" she accused Lightpaw. "I didn't!" she protested. But Runningpaw still looked certain that she had.

Not wanting to talk about it, Lightpaw turned to Icepaw. "You said you'd tell, so tell" she pushed. Icepaw sighed and scuffed her paws in the dirt; they all realized that they had stopped and hurriedly picked up the pace.

"Well, you know how Flamepaw and I have been best friends forever?" The others nodded eagerly. "I've kinda, sorta, come to like him."

Lightpaw noticed Blackpaw jerk her head and the apprentice's claws inched out and dug into the dirt. "F-Flamepaw?" she asked as if she hadn't heard. Icepaw nodded guiltily.

Then Runningpaw looked at them with a stern, serious gaze. "Guys, we're hiding things from each other. I don't think there should be any secrets between us. We should choose who we will try for our mates now, so we're not confused when we finally become warriors."

The others glanced at her in surprise. Then they all nodded. "Yeah, Runningpaw's right. We should be able to trust each other" said Icepaw.

"Okay" said Blackpaw. She took a deep breath. "The truth is, that I like Flamepaw a lot." Icepaw gazed at her with pain in her eyes. "We have a problem" the white dog murmured. Blackpaw looked back at her. To Lightpaw's surprise, and she chided herself afterwards, the brown-and-black apprentice leaned forward and touched noses with Icepaw. "We'll figure this out" she murmured. "I won't let it destroy us."

Runningpaw stepped forward as they walked. "I actually don't like anyone" she announced. "I might someday, but I don't yet."

They all turned to Lightpaw. She took a deep breath and searched inside herself.

It was a battle. Four lines dripped red blood from her stomach. A cat reared up to make the killing blow when it's life was taken by a dog with dagger claws.

~Six, Coming Storm

Two eyes, deep as pools of water, looked into hers, haunted but blazing with fear and concern for none but her.

~Six, Coming Storm

It was a cold whitesnow day, but as she padded down to sit in front of the Middle Rock, a voice said, "Here, guys, I saved you a spot" and two eyes burned right through her, she never felt warmer.

~Nine, Prophecies

The moon was high and full, and a dog bounded up to her and said excitedly, "Come on, it's going to start in a moment." Later, a little golden cat said, "That gray dog looks tough" and her heart beat quicker.

~Nine, Prophecies

Training was done, but the blaze of battle had not yet worn off. Lightpaw strode out of the hollow with her fur touching her training partners. Her tail waved in happiness, though she didn't notice, and when their tails entwined, he didn't pull his away.

~Ten, Mission

He was rumbling happily at the prospect of more brothers and sisters. She dared herself, and she nudged him, saying, "Another sibling or two to put up with, eh?" When the dog with them had to leave, she told him casually she was going to sun on the rocks. And he said as he saw his sister that he might join her. Her eyes widened and her brain shut down for a second or two.

~Ten, Mission.

She took a gulp and said as steadily as she could, which was a strangled kind of whisper: "I think I'm in love with Windpaw."

There were murmurs of surprise. Lightpaw looked at Runningpaw almost pleadingly, and the brindle apprentice gave the slightest of nods.

They reached the ThunderClan camp in silence. The gray cat Ashfur met them at the entrance. "DarkClan apprentices!" said a young cat with wide eyes, his fur still fluffy and soft. A light gray queen emerged from the nursery, scolded her kit, and then brought him back inside.

Firestar walked up to greet them. Lightpaw was a bit lost in thought when he said, "Welcome to our camp. What can we do for you?" Lightpaw was pushed by Runningpaw and she cleared her throat and raised her head just in time to answer Firestar. "Um, Mountainstar sent us to request herbs."

Firester let out a sigh. Lightpaw realized how tired he looked. "Ah, yes. Herbs. A few of you came by this morning. How are your dogs?" She dipped her head to him. "Three have almost recovered out of the 13 that had fallen ill." She closed her eyes slowly.

"One of them is my father."

Firestar nodded gravely. "My condolences. My cats have gotten sick as well, and we are running out of catmint." He turned away. "Among them is my deputy Brambleclaw. And I don't know how they'd gotten the disease."

Lightpaw nodded. "We'll tell Mountainstar that herbs are unavailable."

Suddenly Icepaw interrupted. "Who was it who came earlier?" "A black and white patched dog, a brown and white patched, and a black and tawny apprentice" replied Firestar after some thought. "That'd be Swiftwind, Browntail, and Snakepaw. Wait a minute—Swiftwind had gone into the medicine dogs den to see Foxheart, and he and Snakepaw had practiced battle moves afterwards! Then they traveled here, your deputy greeted them, and he got the sickness, therefore passing it on!" realized Icepaw.

Firestar sighed wearily again. "Well, now we know why, but it won't help."

Then up to him came a light ginger apprentice who spoke to him urgently. Firestar nodded, and the apprentice ran off. "Brambleclaw is worse" he murmured. "Squirrelflight must be distraught, but she cannot see him." Lightpaw decided it was time they left.

As they headed back to camp, she said aloud, "I feel terrible." Blackpaw nodded. "I know. We might cause the deputy's death!" She actually looked a little frightened. "What if ThunderClan breaks the alliance? What if Firestar declares war?"

"He won't do that" Runningpaw assured her friend. "Firestar is forgiving and loyal." "Maybe we should give them some herbs" Icepaw spoke up. "Let's see how our own warriors are doing first" said Lightpaw grimly.

They returned back with more bad news: Riverwind had lost the only she-dog that had survived the day. She was left with one he-dog, a small black and gray pup named Littlepup for his size. But Raincloud was recovering, and two more, Oakpaw and Longstride, were feeling much better and had joined their clanmates.

Lightpaw reported the news to Mountainstar. His gaze was grave. "ThunderClan must not lose their deputy." Herbs were given to Skycloud, a small fast dog, to carry to ThunderClan, and she left just as Mountainstar called a clan meeting.

He looked down upon his clan. "Since the outbreak of greencough has kept us all away from a duty that should have been performed earlier, I shall do it now. May I welcome the new members of DarkClan: Bird, Owl, Feather, Frost, Flower, and Eagle." There were barks of greeting. "But they are not true warriors until they receive their names."

He beckoned them up underneath him and they stood, their heads slightly bowed. "Do you all promise to uphold the warrior code, even at the cost of your life?"

Owl raised his head and gazed challengingly around, then growled, "I do." Bird shook off her hesitation and said, "I do." Feather had no wait. "I do" he agreed steadily. Neither did Eagle. "I do" he said with a glance at Feather. "I do" said Frost a bit nervously. "I do" agreed Flower as she touched Frost's flank with her tail.

"Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Owl, from now on you shall be known as Owltalon. StarClan honors your strength and bravery, and accept you as a full warrior of DarkClan." He rested his head on the new warriors, and Lightpaw saw nothing but raw determination in Owltalon.

Mountainstar moved on to the next dog. "Bird, from now on you shall be known as Birdsong. StarClan honors your courage and heart, and accept you as a full warrior of DarkClan." Birdsong trembled slightly as Mountainstar touched her forehead, but the slight fear in her eyes was replaced by the blaze of a warrior.

"Feather, from now on you shall be known as Bravefeather, because of your noble needs in saving an apprentice from death." Lightpaw shuddered as she recalled almost suffocating, and the determination she always felt when the tawny warrior was around. He had certainly earned his name. "StarClan honors your bravery and nobility, and accept you as a full warrior of DarkClan." Bravefeather looked almost too modest, but it was obvious that he was happy with his name as Mountainstar rested his head on the former street dog.

"Eagle, from now on you shall be known as Eagleblaze. StarClan honors your strength and willingness, and accept you as a full warrior of DarkClan." Eagleblaze grinned and he looked directly out into the clan as Mountainstar greeted him.

"Frost, from now on you shall be known as Frostwater. StarClan honors your loyalty and respect, and accept you as a full warrior of DarkClan." Frostwater was positively shivering as Mountainstar looked her in the eyes with the wisdom of a clan leader. "You will do good as long as you believe you can" he told her. She nodded and sat a little higher.

"Flower, from now on you shall be known as Flowerdrift. StarClan honors your courage and faith, and accept you as a full warrior of DarkClan." Flowerdrift was smiling as Mountainstar rested his head on hers.

"Owltalon! Birdsong! Bravefeather! Eagleblaze! Frostwater! Flowerdrift!" the clan chanted, but suddenly there was a howl from the Entrance Rock.

Everyone looked up to see Skycloud's light yellow eyes glazed with horror and sadness.

"Firestar took the herbs and much of his clan is healing."

She had to take a deep breath before continuing. "But there was a cost. Brambleclaw's dead."

We were too late, Lightpaw thought numbly as she looked up at the stars. StarClan, forgive me.

A/N: So, Lightpaw and the others had some bonding time. And the best part...

BRAMBLE's DEAD!!! Yay, party time! I already have the next deputy for ThunderClan, which will go nicely in getting rid of my other hated character. Oh, and Swallowcall hasn't had her pups yet. She's still in the nursery.

The next chapter is almost half-way done, so until I post that,

Reviews are loveee,

Wolf