Chapter Three: Old Enemies

Shadestar sighed as she continued telling her kits about a vicious rogue named Blizzardfur. "Many moons ago, when I was but a warrior, our leader, Yewstar, was on his last life. His deputy, Nettleclaw, had just died in a battle against TorrentClan. Blizzardfur had been the next cat that every one thought Yewstar would choose. But surprisingly, Yewstar chose me. I obviously accepted, and from that point on Blizzardfur wanted to dispose of me and be deputy for himself. When he almost did, Yewstar caught him and he was banished from the Clan. But then Yewstar came down with a terrible case of greencough and his last life was gone. When I became leader, I Blizzardfur was still trying to kill because I took the position of deputy instead of him.

"For a time now, I thought he had been living in a different Clan. I suppose I'll find out at tonight's gathering." Shadestar had a glimmer of unease in her eyes. "There is one more thing you three ought to know about Blizzardfur," she murmured, "He is my brother."

Nightpaw watched as the cats chosen to go to the gathering left the clearing. She sighed, wishing she was old enough to attend it too. Heatherstorm hadn't gone to the gathering either, just incase of an attack from Blizzardfur. Nightpaw was still in shock because of the fact that this brutal rogue was her kin. She looked up and saw Silverpelt glistening above her like early morning dew. Slipping inside the apprentices den, she lay down on a pad of warm moss and drifted off into a deep sleep.

Rain was slithering down her muzzle and clinging to her fur. Nightpaw looked up, but saw no clouds. The full moon was bright and shining as always. This night was as black as she had ever seen it. No stars lit the ground showing Nightpaw the path. But soon, her paws took her to that same clearing she had been in the night before she was apprenticed. As she emerged form the trees, she saw the same flower in the clearing, but this time the purple blossom was as bright as the sun with white fire. The flower spewed a flame which continued to burn on the grass for a moment before it took the form of a cat.

Nightpaw saw the same blue-grey cat she had seen in her first dream. "Nightpaw," the cat seemed to speak with the voices of many cats, but still had the same strong voice as in her first dream. "The flower you see here holds power greater than StarClan. Only until the sun rises after StarClan calls shall it work. Use it well." With that, the cat, and the white fire on the flower vanished.

It had been two moons since Nightpaw had had the second dream. Now she knew StarClan had sent her the dream, but she wasn't sure what she was to do about it. She decided she would have to speak to her mother about it. Nightpaw spotted at the edge of the clearing. "I'm going out hunting. You are in charge of the camp until then," she heard the grey-black she-cat meow to Heatherstorm.

"Yes Shadestar," she nodded. And Shadestar was off. Padding through the undergrowth Nightpaw decided to follow her and when she caught up, talk to her then. The lithe cat was moving fast. It was almost hard keeping up. But then when they came to the edge of a small clearing Shadestar opened her mouth, taking in the heavy prey scent. Seeing a mouse scrabbling near a nettle clump she started to stalk it. The clouds that were covering the sky finally burst with rain was coming in big drops. Nightpaw opened her mouth and was about to say something when there was a rustle in the bushes on the opposite side of the clearing.

A big white tom with wild blue eyes stepped out. Shadestar gasped. Nightpaw shrunk farther back into the bushes, careful not to make a sound. "What are you doing here?" Shadestar demanded.

"For all those moons you thought you had gotten rid of me," said the cat in a voice dripping with insanity, "But you were wrong. Fatally wrong. Now that I have you right beside me, little sissy, be prepared to start hunting with StarClan!" Suddenly Nightpaw knew that the mad cat in front of her was her mother's brother: Blizzardfur.

"Well then you'll have to do it nine times!" hissed Shadestar. At this, Blizzardfur took a step back and started to pace. His eyes lit up with an idea.

"No," he meowed, "I know something even better. I'll get rid of all the cats you care for. Then you'll suffer, oh yes… then you'll suffer…" With one last sinister look, he disappeared through the bushes. Shadestar looked as if she were ready to pursue him, but knew that there wouldn't be a point. His scent was already lost from the pouring rain.

Please R&R everyone! Next chapter is coming soon and pleease no flames! 