Hello, people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, now. I DID update-as I promised. It may have taken a little- (pauses)-LONGER than usual, but please don't sue me. I beg of you! -throws herself at mercy of reviewers-
Well, sorry if this chappie is a bit rushed. It's the longest one I've ever written-9 FREAKIN PAGES ON MICROSOFT WORD IN 12 FONT TIMES NEW ROMAN!!!
my angry rant is over.
Please enjoy,
Pearla
"Firpaw!" Gingerpaw's yowl sounded joyfully. "Firpaw!!"
The edge of the territory was perfect; as Gingerpaw had expected. Already hundreds-or so it seemed-of cats were milling around, looking slightly lost, but relief vibrated from them in soothing waves.
Fresh-kill was already overflowing near a small Maple; some cats had already been hunting for their friends and kin. Broad leaves from overhead cast shadows across the earthy ground; it was still mid-afternoon. Warriors were licking badly scarred apprentices and some were tussling on the ground.
Firpaw looked up, startled; but when she saw Gingerpaw's face her own eyes filled with an almost overwhelming happiness and relief.
"Gingerpaw!" she yowled, and with one swift movement she leaped up and raced forward to press her muzzle to the orange apprentice's. The force of her impact made Gingerpaw stagger-Smokecloud gave a warning mew, but Firpaw ignored it.
"Thank StarClan! We thought you were DEAD!!"
The young warrior snaked his tail protectively around her neck as Firpaw examined her for injuries. It was embarrassing but, well-nice-to be cared about this much. They had barely known each other for a few days, and yet Firpaw was happy as can be.
"She needs rest," Smokecloud protested and Firpaw beckoned with her tail for Gingerpaw to go with her. He dipped his head to the frosty-pelted she-cat. "I'm glad you're safe, Firpaw, but Gingerpaw has to come with me."
"What-oh!" Firpaw's eyes widened and she looked mildly surprised as she stopped prodding Gingerpaw's side for cuts or bruises. "Who's this, Gingerpaw? Are you two mates?"
Gingerpaw, who had been swallowing, gagged suddenly on her own spit. Smokecloud's eyes widened.
"No!!" They yowled at the same time; Smokecloud ducked his head away sheepishly. "We're best friends," Gingerpaw explained, even though she felt like she wanted to go hide in a hole somewhere. "N-not mates! Great StarClan, Firpaw, I haven't even been an apprentice for two moons yet!"
Firpaw flicked her tail and nodded, though she seemed taken-back.
"O-okay…"
"Rest, Gingerpaw!" Smokecloud hissed, and jerked his head towards where Rosepaw was laying, Snowpaw by her side. "Now!"
Gingerpaw had to suppress a laugh. It couldn't have been more obvious that he was trying to escape.
Firpaw trailed close by as Smokecloud led her to the Birch tree. Gingerpaw protested; for a moment she unsheathed her claws and sank them into the ground. "I want to see everybody!"
"Don't make me carry you again," Smokecloud warned.
By now other cats were noticing her presence, and various screeches of delight were heard. "Gingerpaw!"
"Gingerpaw! She's alive!"
"Gingerpaw!"
"Gingerpaw's back!"
"My, my," Smokecloud looked faintly amused as he scanned the clearing. "Aren't we popular?"
"Gorsepaw's here!" Firpaw suddenly mewed, and a dark, mottled brown tom bounded over, covering her ears in licks by the time he had reached her.
"Are you okay?" He finally managed to say, and Gingerpaw returned his greeting.
"Yea," Gingerpaw swiped her tail over his ears. "Smokecloud-this is Gorsepaw, WindClan's medicine cat apprentice," she said, sounding slightly awkward making introductions after a few days in captivity. "He took care of us all when we were in BloodClan camp."
A few more cats came up to voice how worried they were, how glad they were she was okay, and a couple of kits wanted to hear her story.
"Did you kill Falconclaw?" One squeaked joyfully.
"Did he kill YOU?" Another asked, causing Smokecloud to let out a snort of laughter.
A black she-cat and Irispaw were pressing muzzles together joyfully; while Asterpaw quickly dashed around the clearing, handing out herbs and treating wounds. Snowpaw was helping, but never strayed too far away from Rosepaw's side. The rosy apprentice was lying down, looking joyful but exhausted.
Surveying the scene with a dizzy delight, Gingerpaw took in everything: the flying birds, the cats: her friends, the leaves scattering the ground already dotted with silver petals, the colors of the sunset. It all seemed so perfect-even though just moments ago Death had been whispering in her ear…
"Gingerpaw!" another voice yowled, but this one was furious and familiar. The orange apprentice felt something knock the breath out of her from behind.
Another attack? Already?!
She whipped around, Smokecloud hissing in annoyance, only to find a pair of narrowed amber eyes glaring back at her.
"You MOUSE-BRAIN!!" spat the brown and white she-cat, striking her across the ears with a blow from her paw. "You mouse-brain!!"
Gingerpaw was stunned for a moment, before letting out a squeak and trying to nuzzle her in glee. "Flowerpaw!"
"Oh, none of that!" Flowerpaw warned, still looking extremely irritated. She was still the same, mean sister that everyone knew and loved. At least one thing seemed the same. This fact seemed to calm Gingerpaw a little. "Are you hurt?"
"Don't 'are you hurt' me! Do you know how worried I was?" Was the response. "I nearly killed a guard to try and get to you, but then there was the attack, and Smokecloud said he would go to you-well, indirectly at least, you know how I feel about toms, but-"
"It's great to see you, too, Flowerpaw," Gingerpaw purred, licking her sister's cheek warmly; interrupting her angry rant. "You didn't have to kill a guard for me."
"He got away, anyways," muttered Flowerpaw, but returned her sister's warm welcome all of a sudden.
The feeling of being reunited with at least one littermate got the best of Gingerpaw and she let out a deep mrrrw of contentment.
"Thank StarClan you're safe! I hate you, though!"
Smokecloud laughed and swept his tail over Flowerpaw's ears. "Slashstrike will be happy to see you."
"SlashSTRIKE?!" Flowerpaw's eyes widened. "He's a warrior now? That's brilliant!" There was a pause. "What about Starpaw?"
At this, Gingerpaw realized, Smokecloud looked away. His eyes were filled with something Gingerpaw could not name, and when he spoke his voice was raspy.
"She-she's waiting for you back in camp."
"But what's her warrior name?"
Smokecloud dismissed the question for reasons still unknown. "Let's get you to rest," he said firmly. "You were almost killed!"
Gingerpaw stared at him in affection. Gray fur, amber eyes, same proud, I-am-a-warrior-attitude…
Her Smokecloud! (AN- :D)
"Oh, no!" Flowerpaw insisted. "We're sticking together this time!"
Ignoring the over-exaggerated sigh that heaved from Smokecloud's chest, she swept on. "No way I'm letting her out of my sight! Lilypaw's already gone, so-"
She broke off as Smokecloud's jaw dropped open. "Is she…dead?!"
"No!" Flowerpaw interrupted loudly, her voice suddenly harsh and her amber eyes on fire. Gingerpaw guessed she was trying hard not to think of the gentle apprentice. "No! She ran away. She escaped. We don't know where she is."
"O-oh," Smokecloud blinked, shifting his gaze to where Gingerpaw sat at his side. "I'm sorry. We'll find her when we get back to camp-I promise."
A scraggly purr rose from her throat. She knew she could count on Smokecloud, that as for sure. Flowerpaw began walking in step with her as the two continued on their trek around the clearing.
With a great rush of affection for both of them, Gingerpaw spotted Sunkit and Moonkit crowding around Songbird and Wildflower, accompanied by Lichenkit, Spottedkit, Stonekit, Coalkit, and many more kits that Gingerpaw didn't know.
Amazed but joyous yowls of 'Gingerpaw'! Were quickly voiced around the clearing. About 20 or so cats had rushed up to touch noses with her. Slashstrike was one of them, and after his greeting he quickly licked Flowerpaw's cheek.
For some reason, Flowerpaw looked pleased but guilty. Gingerpaw saw her flash a look at Thrushpaw, who was struggling to make way towards her.
"Hi, Gingerpaw!" He said loudly, pressing his muzzle to her ear. "It's great to see you again!"
Gingerpaw blinked in astonishment. She had so rarely heard his quiet voice: it was low but gentle and he quickly greeted Flowerpaw the same way. The apprentice's eyes softened and she entwined her tail with his. Smokecloud let out a snort, surprised at Flowerpaw's slight yet sudden affection for him.
"Thank StarClan Slashstrike is gone," Gingerpaw silently breathed; seeing the amber-eyed tom already talking with Ravenclaw.
A wave of overwhelm-ment (AN- my own, personal word! D) washed over her, and she swayed for a moment.
Happiness, grief, sorrow, relief, and confusion were too much for her. She wouldn't pass out if she could help it, but…
"Are you okay?" Smokecloud asked softly, laying his tail tip on her shoulder.
"Yea. I'm just tired, that's all. But I don't want to rest. I want to check on everybody. Hey-" She looked around, "-where's my mother? Where are Larkwing and Pantherfoot? Starpaw and Berryleaf? Nimblefoot and Doveheart? Did Doveheart have kits yet? Is Larkwing out of the nursery with Shrewkit? Did Stormstar make Blackpaw a warrior while we were away as well? Was there a vigil for us? Was there a-"
"Calm down," Smokecloud laughed, resting his head on hers. "You've only been gone a couple of days, as hard as it is to believe."
Only a coupe, of days…it had felt like moons!
"Plus, we…" Smokecloud laughed nervously. "Sort of sneaked away. Only me and a couple of others. Funny, huh?'
"Ha ha," said Gingerpaw dryly and sarcastically, though she was trying hard not to laugh. "I'm laughing."
"How's the Clan?" Flowerpaw asked quietly, and Gingerpaw realized that a light brown tom was next to her. "Mintpaw says ShadowClan warriors died."
Smokecloud flinched as if struck by an unsheathed claw. Mintpaw looked guilty at brining the subject up but curious, too.
"Wait," Slashstrike commanded, and Smokecloud stopped just as he opened his mouth. "Mintpaw's from ShadowClan."
"But they won't attack. They lost warriors, too," he argued.
Gingerpaw hesitated; surely this was wrong? But Mintpaw had only sad curiosity, not the curiosity of an evil cat willing to see how much of his enemies had been mercilessly slaughtered.
"We…we lost warriors, too," the gray tom began somberly, and a few feet away Asterpaw looked up, grief clouding her eyes.
"Who?" Gingerpaw's heart abruptly turned cold, and for a moment she couldn't breathe. She knew it…she always knew it… but she never wanted to believe it.
Cats had died while she was away.
Smokecloud looked at her. His eyes flashed with a rage and a sorrow that had been there ever since he had watched Starpaw die.
"You may want to sit down," he said, though it was more of a command. "This may shock you."
&&&
"No!" Gingerpaw yowled, shaking her head frantically. "They CAN'T be dead! They CAN'T be!"
Many cats had their heads turned up towards her directing; some knew what she was crying about and were solemn, but others were merely confused.
Gingerpaw was glad she had lain down. Or else she would have fainted then and there.
Rosepaw's eyes were huge and desperate. "All of them?" She whispered. "All of them?"
"Yes," Slashstrike nodded heavily. "All of them."
Gingerpaw's head spun. Blackpaw…Starpaw…Seedpaw…Foglight…Rabbitpelt…all of them! Even their Clan leader was dead!
But why her best friends-Seedpaw and Blackpaw and Starpaw died before they should have! Why Shrewkit, whose own brother was half-dead already? (Coalkit was being suckled by Songbird but was still weak. Gingerpaw was amazed he had not been killed by Falconclaw yet.)
Why? She had barely spent a night with them in the apprentice den. It was al her fault. She should have been there. Been there to help. Just simply…been there.
"Who's Clan leader now?" Sunkit squeaked, jerking her back to reality. The kits hadn't been so affected by the deaths of the Clan acts; having spent many days in the nursery, but she was sure they understood how tragic it all was.
Though there was grief in Smokecloud's eyes, this time they flashed. "Brightstar," he said with authority in his voice. "And Pantherfoot is the new deputy."
Gingerpaw struggled with grief and happiness, joy and sorrow. Her friends-her precious, precious friends…were all dead now. And yet her adopted father had become deputy. Slashstrike had become a warrior. They were all back together, and yet…
They were dead. Gone where she would never, ever see them again.
She felt sick all of a sudden, and swayed on her paws, closing her eyes. Smokecloud grabbed her scruff in case she fell, but she stayed firmly on her paws.
"We…we must sit vigil," she whispered bitterly. "When we…get back to camp."
"Please," she begged silently to StarClan. "Bring them back and I won't take them for granted! Bring them back and I'll always hunt for them and laugh with them and train with them, and-"
But that had been done even before their deaths.
Blackpaw had even been with her in the nursery! Briefly she thanked StarClan-as she would for moons to come-that the lives of Rosepaw and Coalkit and Snowpaw had not been claimed as well. And that they had spared her dear, darling sister Flowerpaw and her best friend Smokecloud. But she didn't have a clue about Lilypaw.
"Snowpaw," Smokecloud's voice sounded faintly alarmed. "Snowpaw, bring her a herb. Please. She looks sick-"
"I don't need a medicine cat!" Gingerpaw protested as Snowpaw's eyes lit up with concern.
"Gingerpaw, you're hurt!" Smokecloud's voice was stern now. "In case you haven't noticed, you're scratched and bleeding and you look as hungry as a dogfox! The shock must be setting in or something."
Ravenclaw looked solemn. "We won't be safe until we reach the Clans at nightfall," he mewed.
Wildflower padded over as well. "Ravenclaw," she touched his shoulder with her tail tip gently. "We collected the bodies."
"Bodies?" Rosepaw asked sharply. Snowpaw tried to comfort her by pressing his muzzle into her fur.
Gingerpaw's heart stopped yet again.
"More deaths?" She said loudly, and heads turned to look at her. She lowered her eyes to the mossy ground.
"We have lost Featherbrook and Oakpaw-" Ravenclaw said gently-Smokecloud gave a little groan along with Slashstrike, whose head was bowed- "and a couple of captured kits and apprentices are dead as well. Look," Wildflower flicked her tail over to where a couple of motionless shapes lay.
Rosepaw and Gingerpaw simultaneously let out stricken cries of shock.
"What?" Smokecloud's head whipped back to them. "What is it?"
"That's…that's Wildpaw," Rosepaw whispered, eyes huge. "He was in…our group…"
"I know," Ravenclaw's eyes suddenly grew sad. "He was of ShadowClan."
Wails were beginning to arise as apprentices recognized their friends. Gorsepaw had hurtled himself at a black-striped tomcat, wailing, "Tigerpaw!" At the top of his lungs. Mistpaw raced over and began talking to him rapidly in a low, soothing voice.
"They…they can't even be buried in their own Clans?" Gingerpaw said loudly as she noticed a few warriors digging holes.
"We will come back here to honor them. I-I saw how they died. They fought like warriors-even the kits," his eyes grew sad as he spotted Lichenkit and Spottedkit crowding around a lifeless dark brown she-kit, mewling pitifully. A breath caught in her throat.
She had looked like that when Greenkit died.
"Why isn't she moving?" Gingerpaw questioned, licking the cold black and white fur to try and see whether they had moved. "Huh, Smokepaw? She should be moving, right?"
"Flowerpaw died, too," she said oddly, waiting for Smokecloud to ask why or how. Instead, he looked down at her.
"I know."
The surprise nearly knocked her off her paws.
"Where's the know-it-all, 'but-she's-alive-right-now' saying?" She asked, stunned.
Smokecloud nodded his head-still not laughing.
"How did you know-?"
"Angelwing," he said softly, and Gingerpaw's mouth dropped and her ears perked up. "She told me it was Greenkit and your father. I know Flowerpaw died and was brought back. I should. That was one amazing Guardian of the Moon Tree."
&&&
They were beginning to leave, one by one. Warriors called for apprentices and kits, and Songbird and Wildflower hastily covered the last of the bodies, mounds of dirt dotting the once clear clearing. Gingerpaw turned away, sadness stinging at her eyes. She promised herself she would come back to sit vigil for them.
"Gingerpaw," Smokecloud warm breath breathed in her ear. "It's time to go."
"Oh-right," she quickly shook her head to overcome the wave of sadness and grief she now felt pass like an energy shock.
"We'll all miss them," Mintpaw mewed gently. "But the hunt with StarClan now."
Mintpaw reminded her of Littlepine so much. She wondered if they were related.
There was truth in his words, Gingerpaw concluded, as she began filing out of the clearing. They would never be hungry again-scared, or cold, or sad…
Smokecloud, still walking next to her, suddenly veered to where a group of volunteered warriors were carrying kits. He gently picked up Spottedkit in his jowls and then went back to Gingerpaw. He handed him to Yellowstorm, who gave a curt nod. Every kit was picked up, and they camp was being searched again for any cats missing. They would all be back home, soon.
Back home where their Clans were.
"Where are we going?" she asked faintly observing that they were moving at a quicker pace so soon.
"We're hoping to make it back to camp before the owls come out," Smokecloud said quietly. "They eat kits."
Gingerpaw shuddered. She hated owls. One of them had once carried Brownkit-a kit from WindClan-off in the night, she had heard about it from her mother, who had gone to that Gathering.
"I hate owls," she repeated voicing it out loud. "They kill as well."
"Gingerpaw, you can't hate everything that kills," Smokecloud pointed out, eyes alight. "We don't all kill for no purpose. WE kill remember? Even owls have reasons for what they do. They have chicks to feed. We eat mice and rabbits to survive-but they might have kits that still need them. Are WE evil?"
"Maybe," Gingerpaw said truthfully, maybe they were. Eating animals when they could still have kits-she had never thought about it that way. "Fish don't have kits."
"No," Smokecloud laughed. "No, they don't! But still."
Gingerpaw was surprised to see Flowerpaw and Thrushpaw walking side by side, pelts brushing, while Slashstrike trailed behind with Leopardspots, each of them carrying a tiny, wriggling kit. Firpaw carried Stonekit and Moonkit and Sunkit were walking alone, watched closely by Songbird and Nightpaw.
"Berryleaf misses you," Smokecloud mumbled.
"I miss Berryleaf, too," Gingerpaw murmured. "I miss them all."
"You'll see them soon enough," Mintpaw had shown up at Gingerpaw's right side, nudging a big kit along before allowing Badgerpaw to scoop it up in his jowls.
"Yea," Gingerpaw almost felt like her legs were going to give way, but grit her teeth and tried to hold her head high.
The cats formed one single, unbreakable line, Morningpaw and Yellowstorm taking up the back. Badgerpaw padded with them, proudly waving his tail.
Gingerpaw nudged Smokecloud. "I need to ask Pantherfoot to send out a patrol to scout for Lilypaw. She could be-"
"She's not," Smokecloud said fiercely. "She can't be."
Gingerpaw shrugged. "I hope so."
When had she ever been so blunt?
Smokecloud's eyes widened slightly but Mintpaw took over. "I bet she's fine," he assured. "I saw her at that last Gathering. She's pretty."
"…yea," Gingerpaw mewed again, glancing at the light brown tom. "She is."
Mintpaw was an odd name. But Gingerpaw loved it, and said so.
"Gingerpaw's a lovely name, too," he purred.
Rosepaw was being supported by Asterpaw and Snowpaw, while Irispaw was leaping on Mistpaw and trying to pin her down playfully.
"I missed you," she murmured to Smokecloud, and his eyes softened. For a moment he stopped. "I missed you, too," he said gently. "I was worrying my tail off!"
"Stupid furball," purred Gingerpaw, and pressed her muzzle against his cheek as they walked back to their own worlds.
&&&
"I'm tired!" Moonkit complained. "And Sunkit's hungry!"
"Am not!" Sunkit hissed.
"Are too!"
"Am not!" But his belly gave a loud rumble, and the orange kit ducked his head out of the way in embarrassment. Slashstrike glanced back sympathetically. "The captured cats are hungrier, of course," he said at last. "We should stop soon."
Gingerpaw mewed in agreement. Cats had offered to hunt for them, but Flowerpaw had stubbornly spoken for them all, insisting it wasn't to be done. "My mind's still full of images of Falconclaw. I'll vomit if I eat," she said, and almost every cat had purred with laughter.
"We're going to see Mother soon!" She whispered to the wiry brown and white she-cat. "And our new leader."
"But none of our friends," Flowerpaw said tiredly, and Slashstrike brushed past her. "I'm your friend," he said softly, and Flowerpaw murmured something in his ear, which sounding like an 'I know'.
Night had never seemed so dark. No owls so far-which was just as well, Gingerpaw thought. Stars winked at them in the inky night sky. It was peaceful.
"Brightstar's going to kill us," Smokecloud sighed, ruining the moment. "We'll be cleaning the elder's pelts for moons!"
"But you rescued all of us," Gingerpaw reminded, and Moonkit let out a squeak.
"Is Brightstar going to keep us from being apprentices?"
"No way," Slashstrike mewed, shaking his head. "She'll forgive you once Sunkit is back."
Sunkit nudged his sister playfully, and Moonkit let out a murmer which sounded like a laugh.
"How are Father and Mother?"
"They're as confused as fish swimming upstream!"
Gingerpaw laughed at Sunkit's expression, and Moonkit joined in. When she lughed all the worries were forgotten for a brief, almost dream-like moment--Lilypaw, Falconclaw, Coalkit, Starpaw, Seedpaw, Blackpaw, Shrewkit, Greenkit, her mother, her foster father, her Clan...
And then her laughing was cut short as the lime abruptly came to a halt.
Just plain stopped.
"..huh?"
Smoekcloud's ears were pricked up, his eyes on full alert. Flowerpaw let out a hiss and Mintpaw unsheatehd his claws.
"W-what's going on?" She began, but then she heard it, too.
A rustle.
Every cat was frozen, battle-ready and tense. Was it BloodClan? A badger? A patrol-this far out?
"Who's there?" Ravenclaw called out boldly, and stepped out of place. "Show yourself!"
Firpaw bared her teeth. "If it's a fox, we'll show it!"
"You tell it," Flowerpaw agreed, and unsheathed her claws. "Come on out you disgusting piece of vermin! Fight like a dog!"
There was a brief pause while every cat held their breath. And then the rustling stopped.
Almsot magically, two figures appeared from behind a berry bush-one a dark gray tom, the other a light gray and white she-cat. The gray tom with her looked out of place, but he pressed himself against her fur like a brother.
"F-Flowerpaw?" The she-cat squeaked. "Gingerpaw?! It's you! I knew it was you! I smelled you all a hundred foxlengths away!! Oh, you;re back! Jasper, Jasper they're back!!"
Gingerpaw let out a loud gasp as the voice hit her.
"Oh my StarClan!"
Firpaw let out a delighted shriek as realization overcame her.
"Is that-"
Flowerpaw yowled out a single, joyful name, bounding over to the cat that they ahd long since thought was lost, dead, or alone.
"LILYPAW!!"
