This chapter is dedicated to FizzNBoo and FrostedshadowXX. Thanks for reviewing my story so much and giving me so many helpful suggestions!
Chapter 7
"Dawnpaw!" Duskshine exclaimed. "Y-you're outside!" Dawnpaw had been outside the medicine den for the first time since her injury. "I was starting to think you would never come out."
"Whitechest thinks Im ready," Dawnpaw explained. Softtouch had retired to the elder's den, leaving Witepaw, now Whitechest, as the medicine cat. The whole clan liked him, and he was greatly skilled in his profession. Dawnpaw, who was still a bit unsteady, was leaning on Nightshade's shoulder. As they passed him, Lionsnarl went to Dawnpaw's other side, helping her keep steady, so she didn't have to lean as much.
"Thanks," she sighed. Seeing Stumpystar becoming him from the other side of camp, Lionsnarl murmured something to Nightshade before padding over to his clan leader.
"Lionsnarl," Stumpystar began. I believe Dawnpaw should become a warrior."
"Really?"
"I do," Stumpystar dipped his head. Lionsnarl felt surprised but happy for his apprentice. "We shall let her heal a bit more before her ceremony." Lionsnarl nodded. As he turned around, Nightshade appeared at the entrance to the den.
"I'm so happy for her," she purred, nuzzling him.
"So am I." Lionsnarl murmured. Before they could say anything else, Dustyfoot and Midnightcall of ThunderClan padded into camp, dragging a large body behind them. Under closer inspection, Lionsnarl gasped: Leopadspot!
"What are you doing here?" Stumpystar asked the ThunderClan warriors, before noticing Leopardspot. "Great StarClan what happened?"
"She was found dead on our border," Dustyfoot growled. "We thought we should take her back to you."
"Yes, thank you. Someone go get Goldenheart," Stumpystar ordered. Duskshine raced off towards the warriors' den, where Goldenheart was resting.
"Oh, our beautiful daughter!" Songheart cried when she saw the commotion. Breezyfern didn't say anything, only wore a look of horror on his face. Goldenheart stepped out of the Warriors' den and seeing his mate, rushed to her side.
"Where's Whitechest? What injuries does she have?" Goldenheart panicked. All the cats gathered around the ThunderClan warriors looked uneasily at each other: nobody wanted to be the one to tell Goldenheart that his mate was dead.
"Goldenheart, dear," Skymist spoke gently to the golden warrior. "She isn't injured. She's dead." Goldenheart yowled, full of grief. This brought Goldenheart's only son, Blackpaw, out of the apprentices' den.
"Father, what's wro-" he began, noticing his mother. "Is she... dead?" he murmured, eyes wide.
"Yes, dear," Goldenheart said simply. All the cats stepped back, leaving Blackpaw, Goldenheart, Breezyfern, and Songheart to grieve. Pantherleap, however, just sat in the shadows.