(Blazeheart's chappie)
Thanks for being patient with me, Dreamcloud
x
Chapter One
What is going on? the white she-cat wondered, very confused. Four large cats... arguing about... me... get me in trouble?
Shaking her head to clear it, Halfmoon began organizing her herbs to get her mind off of the strange dream. Who were those cats?
"Halfmoon?"
She spun around to look at the tom who had called her name. "Oh, hello Wildstar," she mewed respectfully. "What can I do for you?"
"I just need some traveling herbs," he told her. "For me and my apprentice, Sparrowpaw. We're going to the Moonstone."
At the sound of his name, Sparrowpaw stepped into the den and meowed his hello. Although he was an apprentice, he wasn't much younger than Halfmoon; he was eight moons old, and she was one full season-turn. AN: I'm not sure if that's what they call a year, but that's what I'm calling it. They had been kits together for two moons. He was nice, and they became fast friends.
Halfmoon nodded and disappeared into the back of the den. She gathered two bundles of the precious herbs. Setting them down on the floor of the den, one in front of Wildstar and the other in front of Sparrowpaw, she watched as the apprentice licked up the bundle.
"These taste terrible!" Sparrowpaw meowed in surprise, making a face.
"I know, but if you're going to the Moonstone, you must take them." Halfmoon and Wildstar exchanged amused glances.
Halfmoon stepped forward and gave Sparrowpaw's ear a quick lick. "Good luck!" She mewed. "WindClan seemed restless at the last Gathering."
Wildstar nodded his great golden head. "We'll be careful," he promised.
"Goodbye, Halfmoon."
"Goodbye, Sparrowpaw."
For a heartbeat, clear blue eyes met forest green ones. Sparrowpaw looked embarrassed, and he looked away quickly.
And then, she mewed in a whisper, "Goodbye, Sparrowpaw."
x
Halfmoon jerked, and her aqua eyes flew open. Where am I? she wondered.
"You are here," a deep but gentle roar answered.
Looking up, a huge golden cat blocked her vision. His tail was strange; it had a large tuft of fur at the end, and he had another clump of fur surrounding his neck.
"I am Goldstar, leader of LionClan," He told her.
"LionClan... you're the ancestor of ThunderClan!" Halfmoon's eyes flew open, and she crouched to the ground in respect.
"No need for that," he scolded. "I have come to tell you that you must forget him."
"Who's 'him'?"
"You know very well who he is. Forget him."
"I can't do that!"
"You must. For the sake of the entire forest."
"I can't do that, Goldstar. I just can't."
"You have no choice."
"Halfmoon? Halfmoon! Wake up! Are you all right?"
Jumping to her paws in alarm, she found her awakener was Sparrowpaw, with a concerned look in her emerald eyes.
"Yes. Yes, I'm quite all right, thank-you, Sparrowpaw."
"You seemed to be having a nightmare," he mewed sympathetically, and awkwardly, he pressed his muzzle into her fur.
"Ah," Halfmoon mewed, a little surprised that Sparrowpaw would make such a bold move. "I was. A very, very bad nightmare."
"It's over now," he meowed back. "Wildstar and I have been back for a while now. He sent me to tell you that everything went well at the Moonstone, and his questions were answered."
"Thanks for telling me, Sparrowpaw. I appreciate it."
The tom nodded and began to leave the den. "Oh," he called over his shoulder. "And Oakclaw was complaining of a bellyache."
Halfmoon rolled her eyes and groaned in mock agitation, and grabbed a bundle of watermint and poppy seeds. The elder was always complaining of something. She padded to the elders' den, and heard:
"Redfur, you old bag of mousedung! You know that's not possible!"
"Yes it is, Spottedpelt. I swear to StarClan I heard them looking at each other like that."
"You're crazy."
"No, I'm not!"
Halfmoon shook her head, thinking it was idle gossip, and entered the den. All eyes turned toward her.
"Um... I've brought some watermint for your bellyache, Oakclaw," she mewed, confused.
"Wonderful. And I suppose it'll just hop into my mouth," the grizzle old tom spat.
"No need to be grumpy," Halfmoon retorted, dropping the herb at his feet. "Have some poppy seeds too. If you sleep, you'll heal better."
She turned, and swishing her silver-tipped tail in farewell, left the den.
She was about to leave completely when she heard Redfur mutter:
"I know I saw her looking at Wolffang. They looked remorseful that they were in separate Clans."
They knew. They knew about Wolffang. This wasn't good. If a group of half-blind, half-deaf cats could see the connection, who else could? She thought she was descreet. Apparently, she wasn't.
"Sparrowpaw!" She called, trying to keep her mind off of the chatter. He would help her forget their disturbing conversation.
Maybe their gossip wasn't so idle after all.
xxx
Well, that concludes my first chappie! Please check out my story, I Will Forever. Blazeheart out!