Hey guys, here's the next chapter of Lucky! :D Sorry for the hold up, haha, I was writing it this whole time but got distracted a lot. And I left you guys on a cliffhanger, too ;-; Sorry! Well, here's the review replies:
Lightningstar-of-NightClan: Thanks! :)
Leafy: Aw crap, I made you swear xD And to answer a few of your questions, the Dark Forest has been defeated in this, but they regrouped and are recruiting living cats again. Snowpaw and the maple bush will be explained sometime in a later chapter, and Seedcloud isn't training in the Dark Forest, she was just tired because it was dawn when Firepaw and the group left xD So she isn't there.
And yeah, I thought it was ironic how completely different our Dewpaw's are xD And Seedcloud, yeah she's completely different from Seedflight xD And Seedcloud's legitimate feelings for Dewpaw are going to be revealed next chapter, I think :) Thanks for reviewing!
Okay, so now that I've finished, we can move on to the chapter :D I hope you guys like it, it is kinda sad though… ;-;
Chapter Thirteen
Firepaw watched in horror as the yellow lights barreled closer and closer to the frozen Dewpaw. What is he doing?! the voice in her head screamed, and Firepaw nearly panicked when she saw the monster. It was big, long, and a bright red color. And it was nearly a mouse-length away from Dewpaw.
Amberpaw's loud screech echoed through her ears, making her light ginger paws shake in shock, confusion, and horror all at once. Dewpaw's going to die and I can't do anything…
Suddenly, Bramblestar leapt forward, trying to get to Dewpaw faster than the bright red monster did. Firepaw watched desperately as her father strode closer and closer to her dark gray friend. Please, StarClan, let Bramblestar save him…
But, by some sort of stroke of bad luck, the monster was faster. The loud crash! that came from the path will always be embedded in Firepaw's mind. As the unsuspecting red monster drove off into the distance, Dewpaw's limp form lay on the Thunderpath, blood seeping from large gashes in his side.
"Dewpaw!" Amberpaw screeched again, her amber eyes huge with horror. She rushed forward, nearly tripping over her own paws in her haste. She lied by his side, nudging him urgently. "Dewpaw… Dewpaw! Wake up… Dewpaw, please… don't leave…"
Bramblestar, who had almost made it to Dewpaw, stopped, watching with his tail drooping sadly. No doubt he was feeling sad he couldn't get there in time.
Tears stung in Firepaw's eyes as she watched Amberpaw trying to get Dewpaw to respond to no avail. He's gone, she thought, choking on a sob, and it's all my fault. I should've made sure he was following me…
"I'm so sorry, Amberpaw," Bramblestar meowed hollowly, his eyes amber pools of sadness and regret. "I should've been faster…"
"No, it isn't your fault," Amberpaw sobbed, tears streaking down her cheeks slowly. "It was never…"
By now, Firepaw expected some sort of comment from Snowpaw. But when she didn't receive one, she turned her head, confusion glowing in her golden eyes. That confusion soon turned into panic when she realized Snowpaw was nowhere to be found.
"Snowpaw?" she called, looking around frantically. I just lost Dewpaw-I can't lose him too!
Bramblestar turned to face his daughter in alarm. "Snowpaw's missing too?" he asked, concern clouding his expression.
Firepaw nodded, her fur starting to bristle nervously. "What if he… what if he dies too?" she asked fearfully.
"I'm sure he isn't dead," Bramblestar meowed, but his eyes betrayed his calmness. "He should be around here…. We just have to look."
The ginger apprentice looked around again, but couldn't see Snowpaw's white pelt anywhere. Just when she had thought her suspicions were confirmed, the apprentice came out of the bushes, pink, purple, and yellow flowers in his jaws.
He dropped the flowers at his paws, and then looked Firepaw right in the eyes. "Before you ask, I got these flowers so we could mask Dewpaw's death scent," he meowed.
"Where did you get them?" Firepaw asked quizzically, padding forward and pawing the flowers curiously. "I didn't see any of these flowers on the way here."
"I took a different way to find them," Snowpaw answered, suddenly looking nervous. "I-It's no big deal," he added quickly.
"It would have taken you a long time to get them, nonetheless," Bramblestar commented, picking up the multi-colored flowers in his jaws. He then looked at Snowpaw curiously. Firepaw knew the question he was trying to ask, and so did Snowpaw.
"I-I-"
"I don't care how he got them." Amberpaw's hollow voice reached Firepaw's ears, and the tabby apprentice turned around. The white and gray she-cat had finally looked away from Dewpaw's dead body to fix her and Bramblestar with an emotionless stare. "I don't care how he got them," she repeated. "All that matters is making sure Dewpaw gets a proper burial."
Bramblestar nodded solemnly, flicking his tail for Firepaw and Snowpaw to help Amberpaw lift up Dewpaw from the Thunderpath. The two apprentices complied easily, padding unto the black surface and carefully picking a part of Dewpaw's body to pick up. Firepaw ended up with one of his shoulders alongside Snowpaw, who looked concerned about something.
Once they had placed the apprentice unto the grass, it was time for Bramblestar to cover Dewpaw with the flowers. The dark brown tabby placed the flowers unto the ground and got to work, placing certain flowers at specific parts on him.
"The pink one for his heart," Bramblestar murmured, placing one of the pink flowers near his heart. "It was always big…. And this yellow one, for his joyfulness…"
"The purple one for the secret he knew," Firepaw murmured quietly so no one else could hear. He had known all along-he had known Snowpaw and Amberpaw were part of the Dark Forest. And now he was dead.
Bramblestar finished placing the flowers on Dewpaw's body, and then stepped back, frowning. He gazed at Amberpaw for a moment before looking down at his paws. "Amberpaw, I hope you know we can't bury him."
"What?!" Amberpaw spat, her white and gray fur bristling. "And why not?"
"It would take far too long," the dark brown tabby leader meowed, looking at the sky calmly. "See? It's already sun-high. We need all the time we can get, and it hurts to say this, but," he breathed, "burying Dewpaw would cut too far into that time."
The white and gray patched she-cat glared at Bramblestar furiously. Her fluffy tail lashed, and for a moment, she held her leader's calm amber gaze. Then she whipped around and stormed off, a wave of anger and annoyance following her.
Bramblestar sighed, looking at Dewpaw for another moment before following after Amberpaw, flicking his tail for Firepaw and Snowpaw to follow.
Firepaw glanced at Dewpaw, her expression downcast. "We should at least hide him in the bushes or something," she murmured to Snowpaw, who stood a fox-length taller than her. "It seems disrespectful to leave him in the open."
"W-We would mess up the flowers," Snowpaw stuttered, looking down at her nervously. "W-Wouldn't it be better to just leave him where he is?"
Firepaw blinked, registering what the white apprentice told her. It's true, she mused, we would mess up the flowers if we moved him. She swallowed, looking at Dewpaw again. But…
"Come on," Snowpaw meowed, flicking her shoulder with his tail. "We can't worry about this. N-Not right now, anyway. Maybe Dewpaw will still be undamaged by the time we get back to the Moonpool." He then padded after Bramblestar, but not before Firepaw noticed his tail twitching nervously behind him.
Firepaw sighed, looking at Dewpaw's dead body again. "I'm so sorry," she whispered painfully, her throat tightening in grief. She then tore her gaze away from him, her tail drooping sadly. She padded after Snowpaw slowly, the sun's rays making her fur glow a bright fiery orange.
The moon's glow illuminated the trees and rocks, giving them a silver glow. The group of now four stood in front of a huge cave, a blue light lighting up their pelts. Bramblestar stepped forward, his amber eyes glistening. "Well," he started, "this is the cave to the Moonpool."
Amberpaw looked up for a moment before looking down at her paws again sadly. Snowpaw looked more interested, glancing at the cave curiously. Firepaw gave Amberpaw a sympathetic look before staring at the entrance to the cave, her fur bristling in excitement.
Bramblestar looked at Amberpaw before meowing, "Come on, let's go. Now is the perfect time." He turned around, heading into the dark cave.
Snowpaw nudged Amberpaw forward into the cave, a sad expression crossing his face. Firepaw swallowed, guilt weighing down her movements. It's all my fault, she thought. Dewpaw… he should be alive.
Once Firepaw made it inside the cave, she gasped in wonder and amazement. A big, sparkling blue lake glittered under the stars. Bramblestar sat near it, his amber eyes glowing at seeing the pool. Snowpaw and Amberpaw stopped to stare at the beautiful water, sloshing at the glowing stones on the shore.
"Wow," Firepaw breathed, her golden eyes glittering. "This… this is…"
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Bramblestar purred, glancing at his daughter. "You're right. StarClan picked a wonderful spot to share tongues with us."
"Yeah," Snowpaw mumbled a few steps away, suddenly finding the ground interesting.
"Anyway," Bramblestar meowed, gaining an authoritative air, "I am going to visit StarClan. Unfortunately for you, you have to stay here and keep watch."
"What!? Why?" Firepaw demanded, her fur fluffing up defiantly. "Shouldn't we be able to visit StarClan too?"
"Sorry, Firepaw," the dark brown tabby leader meowed, actually looking apologetic. "Maybe if you ever become leader."
Firepaw grumbled angrily under her breath and her father chuckled good-humoredly. Bramblestar padded towards the glittering pool, looking at the sparkling water. He lowered his muzzle and touched his nose to the water. Suddenly, he lowered himself to a crouch and his breathing eased to show that he was asleep.
"How did he do that?" Firepaw asked in bewilderment, her previous anger forgotten. "He just touched the water and then bam! He's asleep!"
"StarClan blessed this water," Snowpaw replied quietly. "So that whenever you touch it, you'll fall asleep and wake up in StarClan."
How'd you know that? she wanted to ask, but instead meowed, "Oh." Firepaw glanced at her father's sleeping form, wishing desperately that she could visit StarClan too. I could see Dewpaw… couldn't I?
The three apprentices sat side by side in front of the exit to the cave, making sure to guard Bramblestar carefully. Many times, an owl hooting or a crow crowing made them tense, but nothing ever attacked them directly.
After a while, Amberpaw abruptly got to her paws, a determined expression crossing her face. She padded forward, her white and gray fur glowing in the blue light, and then stopped in front of the Moonpool.
Snowpaw stared at her in alarm. "What are you doing?" he demanded nervously.
"I don't care what Bramblestar says," Amberpaw meowed, narrowing her light amber eyes. "I'm visiting StarClan… I'm visiting Dewpaw."
"W-What?" Snowpaw stuttered, his eyes huge. "But-"
"I'm going too," Firepaw meowed, interrupting the white apprentice's words. "I need to talk to Dewpaw." Feeling the weight of guilt again, the ginger tabby struggled to push the feelings away.
Snowpaw looked at the two she-cats in bewilderment before sighing in resignation. "...Fine," he meowed. "I guess I… w-will visit Dewpaw too."
"You sound like you don't want to," Amberpaw meowed a bit angrily. "You don't have to come!" With that, the apprentice turned around and stormed off towards the glittering Moonpool.
Firepaw flashed a glance at Snowpaw. He looked troubled, as always, but something seemed… off. He had this knowing gleam in his dark amber eyes and he was tensed as if preparing for something.
Firepaw shook her head, dismissing it. She didn't have time to worry about little things like that. She rushed over to Amberpaw, who was hovering her muzzle above the sparkling water, ready to dip her nose in it. She crouched beside the white and gray apprentice, settling in the same position as her. A few seconds later, Snowpaw appeared on Amberpaw's other side, getting into the position as well.
"Are you sure you guys want to do this?" Snowpaw asked, seeming frightened about something.
Amberpaw looked at her littermate with a furious glare before touching the water forcefully. She almost immediately fell into a deep sleep, getting into a more comfortable sleeping position.
"We have to go too," Firepaw meowed, blinking at Snowpaw. "She can't visit Dewpaw while we lie here in the dark."
"Yeah… in the dark…" The white apprentice looked troubled again.
Firepaw sighed irritably. She didn't have time for one of Snowpaw's stupid games. She turned back towards the glittering water and pushed her nose into it, breathing sharply at how cold it felt. Then she felt a soothing, dragging sensation, and blackness started to cover her vision.
"Just be careful!" Firepaw swore she heard Snowpaw's voice say before she fell into a deep sleep.
Firepaw blinked owlishly, staring at the looming, dark trees and the lack of starlight. "Where in the name of StarClan-" She cut herself short. Wherever they were, they certainly weren't in StarClan.
Amberpaw and Snowpaw stood next to her, clearly familiar with their surroundings. Amberpaw was terrified, something Firepaw had never seen on her expression before, and Snowpaw looked nervous, as usual, but he seemed more nervous.
"T-This is-" Snowpaw stuttered.
"The Dark Forest," a voice hissed behind them. The group of three jumped, whipping around hastily with their bodies tense. A white tom with gray tabby splotches and yellow eyes sat there, glaring at them.
"T-Thistleclaw!" Amberpaw squeaked, her eyes wide with terror.
The tom smirked at the three of them, his eyes glinting malevolently. "Oh, Snowpaw and Amberpaw," Thistleclaw meowed silkily, "you brought a new cat?"
"She isn't joining the Dark Forest," Snowpaw said firmly, trying his best to look brave. But Firepaw noticed his wobbly legs and his tail twitching behind him anxiously.
"Oh, that's where you're wrong, deputy," Thistleclaw purred, lashing his tail. "She's the exact one we need. I'd know. The Dark Forest understands far more than StarClan does…"
"B-Back off!" Snowpaw stuttered angrily, his fur starting to bristle.
Firepaw blinked in interest. Did Thistleclaw just call Snowpaw deputy? But before she could dwell on this anymore, suddenly the gray Dark Forest warrior leaped towards her, claws outstretched.
Amberpaw and Snowpaw immediately leaped to her defense, blocking Thistleclaw's blow. The Dark Forest warrior hissed in surprise, his fur bristling. He leaped towards Amberpaw, his teeth glistening in the darkness, but Snowpaw made him go flying back with a heavy blow to the face.
Thistleclaw snarled, getting to his paws angrily. "Deputy, you're on our side!" he spat. "You traitor!"
"I won't let you hurt them!" Snowpaw hissed back, his tail fluffing up. "They're important, far more important than anything Dark Forest related!"
"Those words will make you pay, deputy!" Thistleclaw leaped forward, claws unsheathed. Snowpaw deflected the blow with one of his unsheathed paws. The apprentice brought up another paw, slashing Thistleclaw's chest. The Dark Forest warrior hissed in pain, crouching and coughing up blood.
"Who's paying now?" Snowpaw asked, smirking as he stood above Thistleclaw's crouched form. But then suddenly, the gray and white warrior leaped up, bowling him over. He clawed Snowpaw's cheek and the apprentice yowled in pain.
"Snowpaw!" Amberpaw cried, running forwards. But Snowpaw growled, stopping her in her tracks abruptly.
"Get out of here, Amberpaw and Firepaw!" the white tom hissed, glaring into Thistleclaw's yellow eyes. "I'll hold off Thistleclaw. Just run before other Dark Forest cats notice!"
"Too late," a voice meowed behind Firepaw. The orange tabby jumped, turning around with her golden eyes huge. There sat a light brown tabby warrior and a dark gray speckled apprentice with white paws. Firepaw quickly noted they weren't transparent like Thistleclaw, so they must be living cats. But what were they doing here?
"Ah, Rushleaf and Rainpaw," Thistleclaw meowed, smirking at the two cats. "Seize them!"
The two cats immediately jumped into action. Rainpaw came rushing towards Firepaw, silver claws extended. Firepaw instinctively dodged, her paws scrambling hastily on the dark grass beneath her. Without a second thought, she took off through the dark forest, hoping to find StarClan. For a moment, Firepaw worried about Amberpaw, but then sighed in relief once she heard swift pawsteps behind her. She even turned to make sure it was the white and gray apprentice before quickening her fast pace.
"I'll catch up with you, I swear!" Snowpaw's voice echoed through the forest. Firepaw swallowed, feeling slight guilt at running away, but she knew it was the right thing to do.
"You aren't going anywhere!" a voice snarled behind them. Firepaw turned, spotting Rushleaf catching up to them. Her golden eyes widened in fear.
"Amberpaw, speed up!" Firepaw yowled, and then made longer strides to seem as if she was going faster, when in reality, she was just stepping farther. Relief crashed into her when she spotted a white haze at the end of the path. That must be StarClan!
"Don't let them get away, Rainpaw!" Rushleaf hissed from behind them. Suddenly, as if out of no where, a gray blur appeared beside Firepaw. The tabby blinked in shock. The gray speckled apprentice's blue eyes glittered maliciously and her sharp teeth glowed in the darkness.
But then, Amberpaw attacked Rainpaw, clawing her side. The apprentice yowled in pain, slowing her pace. Firepaw and Amberpaw took this as a chance, speeding up and getting closer and closer to the fog. Their eyes glittered happily as they finally appeared right before the haze. They could just see StarClan's starlit hunting grounds through it.
This is it! Firepaw and Amberpaw crashed through the fog, eager to finally see StarClan.
Even as Amberpaw and Dewpaw talked and laughed like old times and the atmosphere was a happy one, Firepaw couldn't help but worry about Snowpaw. He'll be okay… right? She forced herself to swallow her doubts. Snowpaw showed such an amazing fighting skill she didn't even know he had today. Of course he'd be fine.
"So, I'm sorry about what happened," Dewpaw meowed suddenly, looking down at the glittery ground. "I shouldn't have been so shellshocked like that. That was so stupid of me."
"It was my fault," Firepaw cut in. "I should've watched out for you…"
Dewpaw continued to look down at the ground for a moment before meowing, "...Will you still tell Seedcloud I love her? I won't be a warrior now, but…"
"Of course," Amberpaw meowed, looking at him sadly. "Seedcloud might not like you, but she'll feel bad nonetheless. I know she will."
Dewpaw smiled at them sheepishly, twitching his whiskers. He shuffled his paws awkwardly for a bit and Firepaw almost laughed at the irony of it. They had lost Dewpaw already and now Snowpaw was missing in this group-and Dewpaw was acting just like him.
This seemed to suddenly become clear to Dewpaw, and he jumped as if he were struck. "S-Snowpaw," he started. "He said he'd be able to catch up with you guys… where is he?"
"I think he's still in the Dark Forest," Firepaw meowed, her expression changing into a serious one. "I hope he's okay… he's great at fighting, but he gets really nervous a lot."
"He'll be fine," Amberpaw said with a determined glint in her eyes. "He's one of my brothers, after all." But Firepaw detected the slight shake in her voice on the last line. She doesn't deserve to worry so much… Dewpaw's dead, and Snowpaw's missing for the time being… it just isn't right…
Suddenly, there was a flash. Firepaw and Amberpaw jumped in surprise, but Dewpaw simply looked contemplative before turning back to them, his eyes dark with worry. "You have to leave!" he exclaimed. "Bramblestar's waking up soon!"
"What about Snowpaw?" Amberpaw asked hurriedly, looking around. "He needs to wake up too!"
"We have to forget about him, for now," Firepaw meowed, blinking at Dewpaw's starry gray fur. "How do we wake up?"
"Just think about waking up and you should be fine," the star-furred apprentice meowed, giving her and Amberpaw another smile. "I'll see you guys sometime, okay?"
"Bye, Dewpaw," Amberpaw whispered before closing her eyes and disappearing in a burst of sparkles.
Firepaw lingered for a moment, eyeing Dewpaw a bit unhappily before meowing, "Bye." She closed her eyes, picturing herself waking up near the Moonpool. Before she knew it, she was surrounded by starry sparkles and she faded away from StarClan.
Okay, end of chapter! :D The plot is really starting to thicken now. Like, really, Dewpaw dies and Snowpaw disappears in the same chapter. Poor Amberpaw :(
Next chapter, Amberpaw (and Snowpaw?) get their warrior names, Firepaw tries to ask questions and gets no answers, and Blossomfall makes a reappearance. It might take a long time for me to write out, but just bare with me for now xD
Anyway, I'm going to do some QOTD's like Leafy does :) It gives me more interaction with my reviewers so why not xD Here they are:
QOTD #1: Why do you think Snowpaw never caught up with Firepaw and Amberpaw?
QOTD #2: And, on the topic of Snowpaw, why do you think Thistleclaw called him 'deputy'?
Okay, guys, that's it :) Did you like this chapter? Tell me what you think in a review!
Bye and see you next chapter! :D
~Orangeflight of ShadowClan