So I'm not accused of being unrealistic: If anyone lives in Arizona and some other places you'll know that in them waters catfish of six feet and more can be found in there – and they're prone to attack people and of course animals. XD I always get a kick out of it when I hear about scuba divers going down there and swimming out as if the water were on fire. Anyway,


Chapter Six

The silver water collapsed below into the liquid pool surrounded by the moist rocks. Mist lay heavy in the air, almost hiding the weeping willows that hung over the pool from view. It took the young apprentice's breath away as he stared with his big amber eyes. Brookepaw seemed to fade as she stepped forward and onto a rock, the scenery complimenting her river pelt. For a moment Goldpaw felt his heart skip a beat as she turned black, but then she returned to her pretty, but seemingly dull blue. He sighed inwardly and stepped forward cautiously, painstakingly aware that an enemy could be hiding anywhere in the enclosed area. "Hurry up, Goldpaw! You've just got to see the fish in here! They're as big as kits!"

At this the golden tom shot forward to her side, finding the smooth rock beneath him quite warm and comforting, but his eyes looked down hungrily at the strangely colored creatures. Black and white and gold and white they were, with whiskers. One thing was for certain - they were big. Massive, in fact. Before Goldpaw knew what was happening he found himself in the somewhat warm water, looking up at Brookepaw accusingly. Her reply was a innocent smile and a leap into the water, purring in satisfaction when she felt the warmth. "Very funny, Brookepaw. Now we'll be freezing on our way back to camp – and you've scared all the fish!"

"I-I'm sorry, Goldpaw. I didn't think about that…" The she-cat stuttered, taken aback by his harsh tone. In truth the tom felt uncomfortable in the water, so close to the she-cat. He had never noticed the way her pale blue eyes seemed to sparkle in the strange lighting. He began to back up in the water, giving out a yowl of alarm when he felt a pain in his leg. Without any further hesitation he scrambled up the rock and out of the water, looking at his injured leg with a frown of confusion. When he looked down he hissed in alarm, his eyes growing large with fright. Where he had been only moments before swam the largest fish he had ever seen. It was bigger than Burningfire and ten times faster. Brookepaw looked at him in confusion before looking where his eye were hooked, squealing in fright and swimming quickly to the rocks. The fish was faster.

Goldpaw watched in horror as the blue head disappeared from view, not able to move as he watched the two creatures thrash about in the water. He turned numb as the water turned red and the lifeless body of the young she-cat floated to the top before the creature pulled it back under. A cry of grief, disbelief, and loss left the young tom. "Brookepaw! No!"


Pale green eyes had watched his sister leave sourly after that Goldpaw. How he loathed the way his sister followed after him like a love-struck kit. It made him want to gag and many a time he had. Now he watched the golden apprentice return alone, a different look to him than normal. He looked toward the camp entrance, expecting the plucky blue she-cat to be tagging along after him as normal. He kept waiting, his eyes following Goldpaw as he made his way slowly to the leader's den, accompanied by Burningfire. His heart pounded with worry for a moment before he fixed his eyes on the camp entrance again. She would be back. Anytime now.

Claws kneaded the ground in anticipation, simply flicking his tail in return to Golden and Hope's farewells of 'Goodnight.' His eyes went to his leader's den, swallowing a lump in his throat. It was probably nothing. Maybe Brookepaw had slipped in before Goldpaw when he was asleep. With the thought he stood and padded swiftly to the apprentice's den, poking his head in swiftly. The only pelts he saw were of his black desire and her white sister, but not the desperately wanted blue of his own sister. He ignored Lightningpaw's demands of 'What's wrong' and her orders to stay, determined to find out where his sister was.

As he slipped out he spotted the golden whelp padding slowly toward him, causing his eyes to narrow with hatred. The tom gave him a quick glance and began to hurry past him, but Kashclaw was much too quick for that. With his claws unsheathed he pounced on the feline, holding him down with his claws digging into his sides. This felt good. He looked down at the tempting neck, so open and fragile, but contained himself as he hissed into his ear. "Where's my sister, mousedung?"

"She's dead!" The wail gave Kashclaw a unwanted feeling: pity, but the sadness of this news quickly drove it away. Causing him to yowl in shock and fury, biting into the tom's neck, cutting off all breathing circulation. He could almost hear his sister urging him on, to kill what had driven her to her death. His grip tightened, he could almost hear his neck crunch between his jowls, but he was tackled by an unknown force before he could reach his goal.

The black tom jumped to his paws quickly, eyes ablaze and ready to attack the whelp's defender. Lightningpaw stared at him with wide-eye confusion, but Kashclaw looked past her and saw Goldpaw struggling up behind her. His green eyes were mixed with hurt and anger at the she-cat. She betrayed him. He flew through the air, only to be knocked down by the massive form of Burningfire. His amber eyes burned into him as the tom found himself surrounded by more cats. Bluefire, Firedance, Yellowtail, Berrytail, Lizzardtail, Sharpfang, Icepaw, Stonepaw, and even his own mother Raindance. All their eyes demanded why he had attacked the so-called innocent Goldpaw. He did not bother to open his mouth as he got up, refusing to look at his so-called clan.

"Kashclaw, Raindance, Swiftrain, accompany me to my den." He looked up at the voice of his leader, nodding to show her he had heard. With a final glare at the limping figure of Goldpaw he padded quickly after his leader, his mother and sister's former mentor at his side.

The black tom immediately welcomed the coolness he felt as soon as he entered Rainstar's den, having been quite tired of the heat outside. This was what Rainstar did all day? Sat in a cool den hiding from the heat? He had been in here only a few times before, but he never remember viewing Rainstar as such a lazy she-cat as he did now. She was splayed out on her side with her head only barely lifting from the ground to look at the three warriors. Why don't you just lower your head? You're practically sleeping anyway. He grumbled in his head, shadowing the glare on his face to a stoic expression as he sat down neatly in-between the two she-cat warriors.

"I think it time you all hear why Brookepaw hasn't returned to camp with Goldpaw. Goldpaw has told me everything, every detail and the apprentice is quite horrorstruck. Your attack was not needed, Kashclaw, I know you're in grief, but please, contain yourself. Brookepaw and Goldpaw went out hunting beyond borders earlier today. They went to a place that I'm sure you all know as Silver Springs. They went for a swim in the waters…I do not believe I have to say more about the creatures of the water. Brookepaw fell prey to them while Goldpaw got out more or less injured."

"Why didn't he try to help her!" The tom's snarl was mixed with pain and anger at the tom's cowardliness.

"Kashclaw, the blame is being directed the wrong way. Swiftrain, why didn't you worn her of the dangers of the water?" Raindance's tone was quiet, but her cold tone explained all the grief and anger she felt. Swiftrain looked down at her paws at this, a few rogue tears falling from her pale blue eyes. Her leader's sharp words made her look up again, a timid look placed on her features.

"Enough! No one is to blame. Brookepaw's death was a accident and that's all the clan will know."