Chapter 2
Dragonpaw lay awake that night, thinking about what Leafheart had told him.
"Dragon and Leopard will become foes. Fight they will, and Lightning will destroy the forest," she had said.
Dragon, he thought. I'm Dragonpaw, so I'm the dragon and Leopardpaw should be the Leopard. We will become foes? We're best friends! Should I not trust him anymore…?
Dragonpaw could think no more. He had fallen asleep.
Dragonpaw awoke the next day. He looked around his familiar FireClan camp. He paced toward the fresh-kill pile and gulped down a mouse. He had forgotten to eat yesterday.
"Dragonpaw!" It was Brightpaw.
"Hi, Brigthkit-"
"Paw."
"Hi, Brightpaw," said Dragonpaw awkwardly. He had forgotten Brightpaw and Mistypaw's naming ceremony.
"You missed my naming ceremony!" wailed Brightpaw.
"I'm sorry!" said Dragonpaw, sounding half happy, half sorry.
"You don't care! Fireclaw cheered the loudest and you didn't even come!" she protested.
"So you're going to mate Fireclaw, your own mentor?" Dragonpaw asked sounding overwhelmed. His own sister wanted to mate a cat way older than she was! He couldn't believe it!
"Yes and I don't care that he is older than I am!" bawled Brightpaw. She tramped away.
"You should show more respect for your sister!" criticized Kinktail.
"I'm sorry," said Dragonpaw. This time, he actually sounded apologetic.
"Tell that to Brightpaw. I suggest you go and apologize to Mistypaw, too," said Kinktail warmly. She strode away.
Dragonpaw sighed. He devoured another mouse and padded toward the apprentices' den.
"Mistypaw?"
"Dragonpaw! I'm so glad you came! I have a surprise for you!" came Mistypaw's voice from deep inside the den. She did not seem to notice that Dragonpaw was not at the naming ceremony.
"You're never going to believe it! I'm a queen now!"
"What?" exclaimed Dragonpaw, stunned.
"I'm expecting kits!" said Mistypaw, rather blissfully.
"Who's your mate?"
"Lionpaw."
"But- Lionpaw- I thought-"
"He's Blizzardpaw's brother, you stupid furball," said Mistypaw.
"Oh, well, I guess that you're related to your best friend, then."
Mistypaw looked embarrassed.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey come to Highrock for a Clan meeting," came Riverstar's voice from high above.
About twenty cats gathered around Highrock.
"I have decided who will go to the gathering. Flashfur, Shrewclaw, Swifttail, Icefur, Flametail, Gingerpaw, Lionpaw, Tigerpaw, Leopardpaw, and Brightpaw will go. The rest of you will guard the camp. Leafheart has informed me that MistClan will attack tonight. I want all of you prepared, and I want Kinktail and all queens expecting to look after the kits. Good luck. I suppose we should leave now."
Am I that strong? I'm only an apprentice! Does it mean that after the battle with MistClan, I will become a warrior? Dragonpaw thought as he padded toward the queens' den.
"Mistypaw?"
"Mistyfur, you mean. I'm a queen now, remember?" said Mistyfur.
"Oh, well, I just wanted to talk to you about something," Dragonpaw explained.
"What is it?" asked Mistyfur.
"Well, do you think that Riverstar thinks that I'm strong?" Dragonpaw asked.
"Definitely, yes. That's why she left you to guard the camp! I suppose she wants to test you."
"Oh. So your name is Mistyfur permanently?"
"Goodness, no! I change my name to Mistypaw when I'm finished nursing my kits. Then, I become Mistyfur again. I've gotten all sorted out with Riverstar."
"Oh, well, I'd better get ready," Dragonpaw said, as he hurried out of the queens' den.
"We're under attack!"
