Chapter 7

Boo! "Eek! Do you have to be like this? Come on, Mothkit." Snowkit complained. Haha! I remember it like it was yesterday. Ah, how much I miss her. While you would be play fighting with Mothkit, Snowkit would sit around and chat with Bluekit. And how much they spoke, felt like forever. I wanted to fight and hunt while she wanted to sit and chat. Oh, how different we were, yet how similar. She didn't send me to you for nothing. I have loved her for as long as we bothlived, and now, I will protect you both. This will work in a nice way. You switch consciousness with me. I will control your body and your eyes will at first explode a fiery colour of red and then the glow will disappear. I used to do this with Snowpaw so much, it started to be a regular thing. I still don't know how she managed to persuade me to go to you. You are strong, yes, but that's all. Only physical stength. I'm here to give you more. To give you what Snowpaw wanted and still wants you to have. To give you realisation. No hesitation when you know what's right. When I'm done, I'm returning where I belong, got it?

"Well, aren't you a fun partner." Quinpaw stated sarcastically "It'll be a fun ride with you around. What'll you do? Insult me with tactics?"

No, but you aren't far away from the truth. Look, I'm not here just to be here and waste time. Look, I'm here because you're Snowpaw's sister and you don't even know what she had to go through to get me to be here. The least you can do is be grateful. Though, it is sad you will never see how I look like. Only Snowpaw knows.

"Well then, I'll just ask her then. It shouldn't be too hard."

You're funny, you know that? You can't just ask her that. She'll know. But she won't tell you. Cause she know how to keep a secret unlike you medicine cat friend. I don't trust him. Next thing you'll know, he'll give her holly berries! You may've given her a wound. But three days? That's more than enough time for it to have healed. If she's not fine in the next two days-

"Calm yourself. But you're not wrong. Trying to make me a medicine cat, what was that all about? But feeding her holly berries would be a stretch. Who would believe that Snowpaw looked around the den, found some holly berries, eaten them, and died? So, what other bright ideas you got?."

Heh, I guess it's not that bad having you around. But be careful. He is not to be trusted until he has proven himself. Well, it was nice having a conversation with you, Quinpaw. Goodbye!

"Wait what-" she woke up. The new, orange, blinding sun arose, and she arose. A moment later, Cherrypaw kicked her back down with her hind legs. "What was that for!" Quinpaw lashed out. Cherrypaw looked indifferent.

"That's what you get for waking me up with your dumb dream." she stood up and walked out of the apprentice den. Quinpaw scrambled to her paws and left after her seeing that Mothpaw was gone too. She left the den to be met with blinding lights from the sun. She searched for her sister's friend, Cherrypaw but couldn't find a trace. Then she caught a tail sway in the corner of her eye. It was in the medicine den. Creeping up to the den, but not entering to listened to what the cats were saying.

"Cherrypaw?" it was Snowpaw.

"Yes, sorry I coun't visit the other days, I had to train. How are you? Any better?" Cherrypaw sounded very concerned for her friend.

"Yes, I'm fine. Look, I can finally stand now! Took my legs long enough" she joked. They both laughed in amusement. Cherrypaw whispered something to Snowpaw, like a secret message. Snowpaw nodded and called Metalclaw. He came to them and they whispered the secret to him too. He also nodded and smiled. "Snowpaw, I believe you are in good enough shape to continue your training. Go ahead and tell Lionfoot, Sirentail and your siblings. I am sure they will be glad to know you are fine." The two she-cats purred and waved their tails as goodbye.

"Will do Metalclaw!" Quinpaw quickly jumped into a bush to not be spotted.

Would you look at that. She's finally ready to go back to train. Well, this day just went perfect. Even if StarClan were to go to war with us, this day would still be perfect. Knowing Snowpaw is alright.

"You said it." Quinpaw agreed and ran off to go find her mentor, Stalewing. She was sitting on a bunch of soft grass and was staring at the other cats who were fighting as training. "Stalewing?" Quinpaw said. Stalewing got a shock and jumped up. "Quinpaw, are you ready to train?" her voice was as weak as usual. Quinpaw nodded and followed Stalewing as she trailed into the forest. Who was she going to train with? How much prey was she going to catch? She went to a sudden halt when she saw who she was training with. Honeywing. Bluepaw's kin. "Hey there, Stalewing! Quinpaw could train with Cherrypaw if you would like." Stalewing nodded but didn't say a word. She sat down and smiled at Quinpaw. Quinpaw stepped forward to meet Cherrypaws gaze. It was unreadable. "For this training, you will have a play-fight as to not injure eachother too much." Stalewing said staring deeply at Quinpaw. She knew exactly what she meant and her ears drooped. It was from the incident with Snowpaw. Quinpaw looked up with confidence and said "Of course, Stalewing! I know, I made a mistake, but I won't let it hinder in me forever. It's in the past now!" There was a pause and Stalewing nodded.

"Very well. Begin." Quinpaw jumped in the air before Cherrypaw had the chance to strike and landed behind her. Cherrypaw struck again in a flash and managed a scratch on Quinpaw's pelt. Quinpaw flizzled and twisted down to the floor. Cherrypaw tensed and as Quinpaw struck, she jumped to dodge it. It worked and as she aimed to land on Quinpaw, she rolled away and hit the dirt. Leaves flew in the air and Quinpaw began to dance around them. Jumping around to rise them. "What is she doing?" Honeywing whispered to Stalewing. Stalewing shook her head. "I don'tknow. Seems like a tactic to hide and confuse. Let's see if Cherrypaw will see right through it or not." Stalewing replied. Honeywing nodded.

Cherrypaw scrambled to her feet to find herself surrounded by leaves dancing around her. Through the leaves she saw a black figure move around. Let me finish this. It'll be too easy. I don't want this to end to end out in you losing. Quinpaw shook her head and kept moving. "I can do this myself." she told herself. Your loss. No, there was nothing to lose. Quinpaw unsheathed her claws and just as she was about to strike her victory. It was short ended. Cherrypaw sliced right though her leaf camouflage and right into Quinpaw. After a yelp of pain, Quinpaw was on the floor, ripped up leaves on top of her. "Well, Stalewing, looks like you win. Cherrypaw saw right through it. Go check on Quinpaw, she if she's ok." Honeywing admitted.

"You're right. Great battle, you two." she stalked over to Quinpaw "Great strategy. Or strategies more like. You ok? You took quite the hit." Quinpaw stood up and shook herself. A bit of blood was spilt on the floor but it didn't matter. She was fine. Told you. Now you lost and may have to go to Metalclaw. "Doesn't matter." she told it in her mind. "Thanks, Stalewing and I think I'm fine. Is the bleeding bad?" Stalewing crouched down to see Quinpaw's wound. "It's not that bad but not to be taken lightly. You'll have to go to Metalclaw" Quinpaw groaned but did not disobey her mentor. She trailed off to the medicne den. She gulped and walked in. "Quinpaw. What brings you here?" his voice wasn't warm anymore. She didn't have to guess why. "Just a tiny scratch. Hope it's not too bad." Metalclaw padded to her to see her wound. He examined it carefully and looked up at her. "It's not bad but I think it'll interfere with your training. Stay here." he trailed off to grab some berry for her. She sat down and wondered. "Should I have accepted his offer?"

Stop being a mouse-brained fool. You did the right thing. After all, you heard what Wingpaw said. She told you to decline, so you did. Stop doubting yourself.

"But what if I-"

I said stop doubting yourself! Her blood boiled and she felt a sudden fire in her eyes. She fell to the floor and growled. Immediately, she stood up as to not raise suspicious. She blocked the voice in her mind as she did not want to hear any more from it.

Metalclaw returned. "It's Dock. It'll soothe your scratches." he answered her curiosity that was betrayed from her eyes. As he applied it, she felt a sharp sting. It made sense. It was medicine for her wound. The closed her eyes and the pain began to fade away. Opening them once more, she met a pair of yellow eyes. She jumped in shock. "Calm down." the cat said. It was her. Wingpaw! What was she doing here and why? "Calm down, Quinpaw. I am here to talk to you." Quinpaw sat wary and listened. "I heard how you took my advice and declined Metalclaw his offer. Rosefur's kits will be apprenticed soon. And I know how you are still an apprentice. But you must be quick to become a Warrior."

"What? Why? Do you want me mentor one of them?" Quinpaw questioned.

"Yes, even though that would seem impossible. It could be any other cat. After all, we all know Metalclaw will mentor Mintkit. It just doesn't make sense why he shouldn't. But I'm glad his paw's better."

"His paw? But Minkit's a she-cat." Quinpaw stated.

"I know, I meant Metalclaw. In that battle, the reason he couldn't fight back or run away is because that cat knew how to strike in the perfect place so your paws would be limp. I knew that. So, I jumped to save him." Quinpaw pelt fur began to bristle. So that's how she ended up in StarClan. However, Wingpaw added something that chilled Quinpaw to the bone. "I made a grave mistake it seems. Hivekit and Lynxkit will become amazing warriors. If they survive that is."

"Wingpaw, are you ok? You seem, kinda dark. Not like yourself." Wingpaw stared up at Quinpaw.

"Not like myself?!" she lashed out. Quinpaw tumbled to the floor as a powerful gust of wind flooded the plain. "You never knew me! Your mother wasn't even a queen yet when I was alive! Or when I died. You don't know anything about me! NOTHING!" another vigorous wave blew over them. It seemed only Quinpaw was affected by it since Wingpaw didn't have any trouble standing. Quinpaw was blown off the ground and twisted into a tree. She yowled in pain as she fell to the floor. Wingpaw's expression then changed. The wind calmed down and she walked towards to injured apprentice. Quinpaw looked up to see two yellow eyes filled with sympathy and despair. Wingpaw lowered her head and toughed noses with Quinpaw. Suddenly a light glowed between then and Quinpaw was healed and she stood up to face her.

"The cat." Quinpaw began. Wingpaw looked at her and knew what she was going to ask about. "The one from the prophecy you gave me."

Wingpaw sighed "You really want to know who it is? Well, I'm afraid you need to understand yourself. Find out by yourself."

"Then why did you want to talk to me?" Quinpaw spoke quietly. All she wanted was answers. And why did Wingpaw want to talk to her? Why bring her here?

"Because Quinpaw, you know better than me that Metalclaw will mentor Mintkit. I want you to secretly watch over them. To make sure nothing suspicious happens. If anything, when you go to sleep, think hard that you want to talk to me. And I will be in your dream. But don't forget that you aren't the centre of my attention. I will also have to talk to the next medicine cat and the current." she growled. Quinpaw's ears drooped. A spying mission! For her! "So, if I don't appear to you, then I must be doing something much more important." Wingpaw turned and began to walk away and added another chilling addition to her speech "And stop calling me that." before she disappeared along with the world she was in to wake up in the medicine den.