Chapter 16 Changes
After a few hours of mourning, it was time to bury Darkpaw. Archwillow, Poppycloud, and Patchtuft grabbed him by the back to the scruff and carried him out of the den. Blackfur, Tinydawn, Flowerpaw, Petalpaw, Darkheart, Loudtooth, Doespring, the rest of the slaves, and anti-slave cats followed them; Lightpaw was the last to leave. He followed the group, but was stopped by Snaketooth and Icetuft at the entrance.
"Sorry Lightpaw, but your dad needs you to stay in here." Icetuft explained.
Lightpaw was furious; so much so that he unsheathed his claws, barred his teeth, and glared at Snaketooth and Icetuft. Both cats were uneasy; especially Icetuft. His ears were flattened and backed away from Lightpaw while Snaketooth glared at him and got into a battle stance; just in case. Flowerpaw turned and ran up between Icetuft and Snaketooth; terrified that Lightpaw would start another fight.
"I'll show you where Darkpaw's buried...wh-when you get out." she meowed nervously.
Flowerpaw smiled at Lightpaw with a scared look; reluctantly, Lightpaw agreed. He sheathed his claws and just gave a glare at Icetuft and Snaketooth. Lightpaw then turned and disappeared into the cave. Icetuft nodded a thank you to Flowerpaw, which she replied with a nod back, but glared at Snaketooth; he returned it with a smirk.
After the burial
Whitestar called a clan meeting. Every cat gathered and glared at Brightpaw, Wolfpaw and Whitestar. Their paws shifted uncomfortably, their heads were down and their ears flattened.
"I know there has been some...unfortunate events tonight." Whitestar begin.
"UNFORTUNATE?! No, this should've never happen. This is all Brightpaw's fault! If she didn't come up with this stupid prank, then none of this would've happened." Ivypaw snapped.
"It wasn't my fault, it was Moon's." Brightpaw growled.
"We just wanted to get Darkpaw in trouble, that was it." Wolfpaw defended.
"But you two started all of this and besides, try telling that to Blackfur and Tinydawn." Ivypaw growled.
All three apprentices looked at the couple. Tinydawn's head was down and was angry and crying while Blackfur glared at Wolfpaw and Brightpaw. Ivypaw, the other slaves, and anti-slave cats all glared at the two apprentices; all angry at the fact that a slave apprentice was dead because of a cruel prank and that Lightpaw almost died trying to protect him. Cats snarled, growled, and mummer hateful things beneath their breath, but enough for the apprentices to hear.
"Enough!" Whitestar yowled.
Everyone looked at the Lightclan leader; he looked as if he was thinking of something and it took some thought into it. After a while, he signed and looked at his clan.
"Ivypaw you're right, none of this should've ever happen; I was a fool to take Darkpaw to the Star Council, I should've heard his side of the story, then I wouldn't had to." Whitestar admitted.
"Then why did you?" Ivypaw asked confused.
"I was obeying the slave law." Whitestar guiltily admitted.
"Of course you were; like every other pro-slave cat. Speaking of slaves, you promised them that they would be freed; especially to Riverstripe!" Ivypaw yowled.
"Do you think I don't know that?! I know I promised to free them, but Moon refused. I tried to convince her, but nothing worked." Whitestar snapped.
"You could've try harder, but instead you gave up? It's no wonder why Lightpaw called you a weak leader." Ivypaw scoffed.
Whitestar glared at her; trying very hard to control his temper. After a few moments, he calmed down and looked at his clan.
"After what happened today and seeing Moon's behavior, I realized that no cat will ever have a fair trial or be safe with Moon in charge. That's why for now on we will not return to the Starlight Falls; Daisypetal, Cloudberry, and I will decide your punishment if a slave or warrior breaks the slave law." Whitestar announced.
"It's about time you've done something." Cloudberry sneered.
"That's fine. My slaves and I can put up with it. As long as no other slave dies from something like this ever again." Darkheart agreed.
The other slaves mumbled in agreement. Soon other cats followed as well; each one of them agreeing or disagreeing about all of this.
"Meanwhile, I want to see Brightpaw, Wolfpaw, Petalpaw, Flowerpaw, Icetuft, Snaketooth, Foxwhisker, and Cloudberry in my den please, meeting dismissed." Whitestar meowed.
He said nothing more and entered his den. As everyone else scattered back into their dens, Brightpaw, Wolfpaw, Foxwhisker, Icetuft, Snaketooth, Petalpaw, Flowerpaw, and Cloudberry climbed the rocks and approached the leaders den. As they entered and sat down, Whitestar sat down and looked at his clanmates.
"After what happened tonight, Moon is gonna want to punish Lightpaw." Whitestar begin.
"But, I thought we weren't going to the Starlight Falls?" Brightpaw meowed confused.
"We're not, but that doesn't mean Moon or the Star Council can come to Lightclan." Cloudberry pointed out.
"Cloudberry's right. That's why, when Lightpaw's punishment is told, he'll probably be in the punishment den for a few moons. Cloudberry, have Lightpaw's wounds healed?" Whitestar asked.
"They're being treated, but they haven't fully healed." she explained.
"Very well, you may still treat him until his wounds have fully healed. Snaketooth, Icetuft, I want both of you to guard the punishment den at night, Foxwhisker you can still train Lightpaw, but I want the battle training to happen in the den; you can take Lightpaw out for hunting, just keep a close eye on him, got it?" Whitestar ordered.
"Of course Whitestar." Foxwhisker meowed.
Whitestar could tell he wasn't amused nor pleased. Whitestar turned to the apprentices.
"Flowerpaw, from now on, you will be Lightpaw's slave." he announced.
"What?! But she's my slave." Brightpaw protested.
"Not anymore she's not. After that little stunt that almost got your brother killed and Flowerpaw and Petalpaw's brother killed, I can't trust you with the lives of any cat if you were to be leader. You're an apprentice, not some little kit who likes to pull pranks. Petalpaw you will continue to serve Wolfpaw, but for now, you will serve any other cat besides Wolfpaw, got it?" Whitestar meowed.
"Yes sir." Petalpaw nodded.
"You all may leave." Whitestar dismissed.
Cloudberry, Icetuft, Snaketooth, Foxwhisker, Flowerpaw, Petalpaw, Wolfpaw nodded and left the den. Brightpaw was upset and hurt by her father's words. After a few moments, she turned and left the den. For the rest of the night, Lightpaw slept in the punishment den. It was close to dawn, but it was still night. Suddenly, Lightpaw woke to the sound of pawsteps approaching him. Lightpaw sniffed the air and smelled his aunt Cloudberry.
"Aunt Cloudberry?" he meowed.
"Yes it's me." she meowed.
From the glow in her eyes, Lightpaw could see that she was upset and concerned.
"Someone is here to see you." Cloudberry meowed.
"Well tell him to go away." Lightpaw meowed.
"I'm afraid that's not possible." Whitestar meowed.
"And why's that?" Lightpaw growled.
"Because, we have some unfinished business to finish." a voice sneered.
Lightpaw got up and turned around. Whitestar sat on the ground; ears flattened, looking away, and wasn't pleased. Cloudberry had her head turned and looked enraged. Moon sat there with a smirk; her scar on her left eye and torn ear were visible. Lunar, Pisces, and Sagittarius were behind Moon; each one was worried, frightened, or concerned. Lightpaw barred his teeth, unsheathed his claws, and got into a battle stance; his eyes glaring like daggers.
"I see giving you a scar and a torn ear wasn't enough." Lightpaw snarled.
"And I see that being in this den hasn't put you in your place. No matter, I am here to give you your punishment." Moon meowed.
"Oh yeah, what are you going to do, kill me like you did to Darkpaw?" Lightpaw scoffed.
"Lightpaw please." Whitestar warned.
"No, that scum got what was coming to him. You are a warrior apprentice, your punishment is different." Moon meowed.
Lightpaw growled when she said that. He hated the fact that he got to live and Darkpaw didn't; he should've died along with him. It wasn't fair, warriors only got a slap on the paw while slaves were killed. There was an imperfect balance between light and dark pelt cats and Lightpaw would do anything to fix it, but first, he had to pass death.
"So, i'm going to make you an offer Lightpaw: either obey the slave law and get 4 days in here or don't and you get 4 moons without food or water, your choice." Moon offered.
Lightpaw was appalled and enraged. He was force to choose to obey a law that went against his morals or risk starving and dying of thirst. There was no way Lightpaw was going to agree to the deal, but would he risk dying? Of course he would. Lightpaw strikes Moon and got into her face.
"Do you really think i'm just gonna let you control my life? I don't think so; I rather die than let you change me." he hissed.
Lightpaw spit in her face and backed away a bit. Cats stared at him like he was crazy and feared the worst. Moon, on the hand, wasn't pleased.
"Very well, spend the next 4 moons in here, you'll end up changing your mind...just like your grandmother." she sneered softly.
"My...what?!" Lightpaw gasped shocked.
"Oh you didn't know? Your grandmother was an anti-slave cat just like you. One day, your grandfather was in a bad mood and found out about her little secret. Enraged, he threw her into the punishment den and said she would stay in here for a few moons. After a few moons, she was a totally a different cat." Moon explained softly.
Lightpaw was in disbelief. All this time, he thought his grandmother was an evil cat with no feelings and remorse, but now...now he was starting to think not all cats turned out this way, but how many had suffered through pain and torture? Moon smirked when she saw Lightpaw's shocked expression. She turned and headed towards the entrance.
"You'll change your mind Lightpaw. They all do." Moon meowed intimidating.
Cloudberry, Whitestar, Lunar, Pisces, and Sagittarius followed her at the entrance, she stops and turn to Whitestar.
"Lightpaw is staying in the punishment den for 4 moons. Do not give him food or water, got it?" Moon ordered.
"Yes Moon." Whitestar nodded.
She nodded and disappeared back into Starlight Falls along with Lunar, Pisces, and Sagittarius. Whitestar looked at Cloudberry, Icetuft, and Snaketooth.
"Snaketooth, Icetuft, if Flowerpaw comes with prey or water, let her through." he ordered.
"You...You lied to her?" Icetuft asked surprised.
"Of course I did, i'm not going to let her starve my son; especially since she tried to kill him." Whitestar growled.
Lightpaw was in the den and could hear the conversation. He knew Whitestar would do anything to make it up to him, but nothing could ever earn his forgiveness. The loving, caring Lightpaw was gone; now, a darkness overcame him and a new desire consumed him. A desire for revenge. Lightpaw would make sure every cat would pay for Darkpaw's death. Whitestar, Moon, Brightpaw, and Wolfpaw, they all would pay. Lightpaw laid on his nest and tried his hardest not to cry. Lightpaw unsheathed his claws; promising to avenge Darkpaw and kill each and every one responsible for his death.