Chapter 12

Hope for Swishpaw

The sun was sinking below the horizon as Swishpaw looked into the sky. The days were going by very slowly ever since he had seen the two cats. What did these dreams mean? They couldn't be for nothing.

"Swishpaw!" Swishpaw jumped as he saw Stormtail giving him a hard look. "Are you losing your hearing already? You're going to become an elder in a few moons if your hearing doesn't improve. Now listen up! Dont' you remember that we have moonrise patrol? How could you have forgotten? Creamfur and Hazelfrost are waiting. They're not going to stand out in the cold forever."

"Right, Stormtail. Real sorry that I forgot." Swishpaw waved his tail in the air as he followed Stormtail to the end of camp. The air was getting colder in the coming leaf-bare. It was coming quicker than any cat had excepected.

"Finally!" gasped Hazelfrost. The tortoiseshell she-cat looked as though her paws were going to fall off with cold. "I thought that you weren't going to come at all. Creamfur and I were thinking about leaving without both of you."

There was a touch of truth in her voice but there was affection in her voice and Hazelfrost would never leave without him and Stormtail. That was definately for sure.

As the four cats padded outside of camp they saw Pouncepaw and Rushingbreeze coming back from patrol and Swishpaw flicked his tail over Pouncepaw's ears in farewell and Pouncepaw did the same.

The air outside camp was cold and Swishpaw squeaked as a swift blow of wind flew over him. As they headed towards the IceClan part of the border Swishpaw let out a squeal. The air was cold and it touched his paws to the tips. As the moon was rising higher into the sky, Swishpaw heard the night owls appearing and the wind blowing harder.

"It's going to be a very cold night so lets get a move on," grumbled Hazelfrost letting out a faint snarl. "I don't want to be late. The moonhigh patrol can leave early if we get back quick enough. You know, they always want to get the patrol over with so they're always waiting."

"Like it'll happen," spat Creamfur. "I just want to get going. It's sort of a long walk to the IceClan border."

When the cats arrived at the IceClan border Swishpaw let out a snarl. "IceClan's been crossing our border! I can't wait till I can get my paws on their faces."

"What did you just say?" A black tom named Shrewpaw padded up to Swishpaw, his amber eyes glowing in the darkness. "Did you just say that you wanted to get your claws on our faces? Well, if you want to do that you'd better get going before my claws are on your face first!"

"Well then, bring it on, Shrewpaw," hissed Swishpaw unsheathing his claws getting ready for a fight. "I'll have you die first if anything comes along."

"So you say..." Shrewpaw's voice trailed off as a white tom let out a growl, a warning note for Shrewpaw and Swishpaw.

"Sorry, Smokeclaw," grumbled Shrewpaw backing away from Swishpaw slowly.

"Like you even think that," hissed Swishpaw before his mentor could object. "I bet that IceClan cats are fat! They must get so unlucky."

"Don't ever dare to say that to an IceClan cat again!" Before Swishpaw could say anything Shrewpaw was on top of him and he was in a hole of darkness.

-----StarClan-----

"Swishpaw! Stop being so mean to cats and you'll always get hurt like you are." Swishpaw opened his eyes and saw Jayfur and Crowfur leaning over him. "I can't believe you lost that fight! It's true that you shouldn't have said what you said but Shrewpaw wouldn't have been too hard to fight."

"Sorry, Jayfur," muttered Swishpaw, deeply embarrassed with with what had just happened. "I didn't know. I'm not too far into my apprenticeship and if you think that I should have been better I will be next time and you'll see what happens."

"Oh, Jayfur. Don't be too hard on him," soothed a voice. "It's hard for him to keep the secret about Clearpaw and ever since the two cats that he saw it's going to be hard for him to keep that. The dark gray she-cat with yellow eyes was a bit cute."

Swishpaw spun around and saw Whitefrost appearing with Cherrystem. The two cats looked happy and lively.

"But can't you help me?" cried Swishpaw feeling like a newborn kit and half wishing that he was one. "I need your help to keep this secret. I really do."

"We can help you," murmured Cherrystem giving Swishpaw a lick. "All you have to do is remember that knowing everything is sometimes worse than knowing nothing. I think that you should remember that and you'll be good. Clearpaw is an energetic cat and you could be taking that away if you tell her that she will be able to predict the future and go into other cats minds. It will just hurt her more."

"Will it really?" asked Swishpaw.

"Yes, Swishpaw. It will just hurt her more and she will never want to be alive again. Except when the times comes she'll be ready for it and she won't be as afraid as she is now." Whitefrost's eyes were loving and there was sympathy inside of them. "I don't think that you would want to know this secret until you were a warrior. Would it have scared you?"

"I guess so," whispered Swishpaw. "Thank you."

As the four cats began to fade, Swishpaw knew that there was more hope and that these four cats had helped him feel a tiny bit better.

Sorry it look so long to update! Been sssssssssssssoooooooooooooo busy!

CherrystarofDarkPalace

NOTE: I won't be able to update so much anymore. :( I'm going to be really busy but I'll update as often as I can! :)