Chapter 10

Gingerpaw wailed as she stared at the cats mourning by Dustkit's body, "Why is StarClan letting these cats die!"

Gingerpaw turned to see a black she-cat with glittering frost on her fur. Her rings of dark brown fur barely stood out on her tail. "Moonstream!"

The she-cat held a tail to Gingerpaw's lips. "Shh…" and she flicked her tail for the apprentice to come.

Gingerpaw followed and watched as Moonstream led her to the stream to the Moonpool.

"Why do we have to go to the Moonpool?" Gingerpaw asked. Moonstream's figure began to disappear. Is she losing her connection to the earthly Clans? Gingerpaw followed until she was right at the pool.

Gingerpaw lapped some water from the pool and fell asleep.

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"Moonstream!" Gingerpaw padded over to the she-cat. Behind her were all the cats who had died since Burntail came to ThunderClan. "Shadowtail, Flamefur, Dustkit."

"Why are they all dying?" she asked Moonstream.

"Even StarClan doesn't know. All I know is I'm warning you, two more cats will die before this is over. And both of their deaths won't be easy." Moonstream looked like she was about to cry.

"Who's going to die? Moonstream please tell me!" Gingerpaw asked.

"I'm sorry," the cats all faded away and Gingerpaw yowled, "Please! Come back! Moonstream!"

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Gingerpaw hissed as she woke. She heard a yowl in the distance. She turned around and looked away from the pool.

What she saw made the fur on her neck stand on end and her ears pinned back in fear.

"Fire!" Gingerpaw yowled, "No!"

It had spread through the camp already and all the trees around it. She couldn't save them if she tried!

She saw some of the cats heading to the abandoned twoleg nest outside ThunderClan territory. She dashed over to help the cats.

She saw that they were Mosstail and her four kits with Cloudtail holding Dovekit who was coughing uncontrollably. Mosstail was holding Weedkit as Flamekit and her brother followed far behind. Gingerpaw headed down to pick up Shrewkit.

Behind them Vinepaw and Spottedkit padded over with Spottedkit coughing.

Mousekit was running behind. "Mousekit what are you doing here?" Cloudtail asked as the gray and white tom ran over to help Vinepaw with Spottedkit.

"Daisy, Berrykit, Hazelkit and I saw the fire from our barn." He explained, "Smoky and Floss came to help too."

"Thank goodness." Mosstail mumbled.

Vinepaw padded over and came to pick up Flamekit as they headed to the barn.

As they headed inside the barn Spottedkit mewed, "It's scary in here." She shivered as Mousekit dropped her.

"So, Cloudtail, is the rest of the Clan coming here or should we go get them?" Mousekit asked as he scooped a mouse in his paws.

Gingerpaw looked around and noticed the place was infested with mice! She looked back at the two toms.

"We should go help them, some might not know to come here." Cloudtail looked to Mosstail who watched the five kits tumble over each other, "Will you watch the kits while we get the other cats. Vinepaw and Gingerpaw too?"

Mosstail nodded as Gingerpaw mewed, "I'm going to help. There's nothing wrong with me yet." She looked over at Vinepaw who mewed, "I'll stay here with Mosstail."

"'Kay," Cloudtail and Mousekit bounded off and Gingerpaw followed the two toms.

As they headed to the camp they noticed a gray and white she-cat help Silverpaw out of camp. Icepaw was on Silverpaw's other side and Cloudtail mewed, "Hazelkit, Icepaw follow me." He started leading them to the abandoned twoleg nest.

As Mousekit dashed into the hollow Gingerpaw followed, noticing Brackenstar help Amberfoot out of the camp, she was coughing horribly. She was weak from inhaling so much smoke. No! Amberfoot had adopted her into ThunderClan when she was a kit.

Two more cats will die before this is over. And both of their deaths won't be easy. Moonstream's words echoed in her head. No not Amberfoot!

Gingerpaw had to trust Brackenstar to lead her to the twoleg nest as Mousekit meowed to Brackenstar, "Take her to the Nofur nest by the Thunderpath!"

Gingerpaw saw Cottontail leading Mudpaw and Blizzardpaw out of the camp.

Two creamy long furred cats led Sandstorm and Ravenpaw out of the camp. Rainwhisker went to help them. Dewspot and Rosepetal were leading an unconscious body out of the camp. Please don't be dead, she prayed for the cat. Sorreltail had Snowpaw in her jaws and Whitenose helped Maplefur as he nodded off.

Squirrelflight and Leafpool each had one of Palefur's kits. Palefur helped her father, Spiderleg out of camp.

Graystripe and Thornclaw were slowly walking out of camp. Both of the elders were at the entrance waiting for some cat to help them. Brightheart, the youngest elder rushed over to help Longtail. Wheatpaw was trapped under a fallen rock.

Gingerpaw ran to help the apprentice. Pinetail and Grassclaw ran out with one of Pinetail's kits in their jaws.

Who else is there to help… Starheart! Gingerpaw couldn't see her. Two more cats will die before this is over. And both of their deaths won't be easy. Gingerpaw wanted to cry, Not and Amberfoot and Starheart! Gingerpaw hissed as she picked up Palefur's third kit and headed out of camp.

She followed the cats to the twoleg nest. She saw Cloudtail counting cats. "Brackenstar, the only cats left are Starheart, Gingerpaw and Flowerkit." But as Cloudtail saw them come he corrected himself, "That leaves Starheart…"

Gingerpaw sighed. Why her! You knew she was going to die to. StarClan, why did you take her?

Gingerpaw and many cats stayed by the entrance to the twoleg nest. Eventually some twolegs came with shiny things holding water. They poured the water onto the fire and eventually they stopped it all. Then they went away.

The Clan went back to camp. Gingerpaw and Icepaw and all the other apprentices headed to their den. Inside Starheart was coughing; she was stuck in the crack that was never filled in.

"Starheart!" Gingerpaw jumped down to help her.

"Gingerpaw, is everyone else okay?"

"Everyone but Amberfoot. She's been doing nothing but coughing."

"I'm sure she'll be fine."

"No she won't," Gingerpaw flicked her ginger ear and mewed, "StarClan told me two cats would die. They never told me which ones. I never thought one would be you!"

"Don't mourn for me yet, Gingerpaw, StarClan has told me that these terrible things won't stop till Burntail is out of the forest."

"I know! But, I can't be the one to stop him!"

Starheart coughed and Gingerpaw mewed, "Please, don't die, your more like a mother to me than Amberfoot or Cottontail."

"Gingerpaw, I've learned that StarClan takes lives when they must be taken."

"What do you mean?"

"Moonstream was killed very young in battle. Tigerstar had taken over her mind and she did horrible things. She attacked me when I was at the Moonpool. I accidentally slashed her neck."

"That's horrible!"

Gingerpaw looked to Starheart when her eyes closed.

"No!"

Gingerpaw hopped out of the crack and went to find Brackenstar. "Brackenstar-"

"I'm sorry Gingerpaw, Amberfoot's dead," Brackenstar mewed.

"Starheart is too,"

"I'm sorry Gingerpaw. We'll mourn for them tonight."

Gingerpaw headed to the clearing to see Amberfoot's limp body.

Icepaw and Blizzardpaw flanked her as they headed to mourn for her.