Hello, lovely readers! :D Sorry for kind of disappearing for a bit, I swear I didn't mean to! I waited specifically for this day, because it's my birthday! But you don't have to wish me happy birthday, it's alright xD
Oh yeah, I also uploaded a Snowpaw one-shot called Forgive and Forget! You should be able to find it by either going to the main fanfiction page for Warriors, or just clicking my username and scrolling down. It doesn't really have any effect on Lucky's later chapters, so it's not a must-read. But it does have a few things that aren't mentioned at all in Lucky and never will be. So I would reccommend checking it out, but again, you don't have to! :)
Well.. I guess that's it for the AN, so time for the review replies!
Lightningstar-of-NightClan: Thanks! And it's okay, take your time :D
WyldClaw (Chapter 1): Huh, I actually don't have much plans for Ashfur after that Prologue scene xD I should give him more appearances, psh.. ;;
Leafsplash-Of-ThunderClan: It's okay! Honestly, after writing the Dewpaw part I took a break ;w; I'm definitely gonna miss him as well, Dew x Seed is my Lucky OTP D: But it was for the best. I just wish it didn't have to happen ;;
Yes, I also loved how Snowpaw stood up to the Dark Forest! ;u; He's certainly gotten braver..
Hmm, very interesting answers to the QOTD's, but I won't say if they're right or not :P One part of the second one was right, but the Snowpaw one-shot has all the correct answers to the second QOTD xD
Anyways, I'm glad you liked the chapter! :D
Okay, now, without further ado… chapter fourteen of Lucky!
Chapter Fourteen
"Why won't you tell me anything about it?" Firepaw pestered, looking at Snowpaw intently.
The white apprentice's expression didn't waver. "Maybe because it's none of your business?" he muttered in annoyance, looking away from her expectant golden gaze.
Firepaw and Amberpaw had woken up beside the Moonpool a few moments before Bramblestar had, and they worriedly noticed that Snowpaw was still asleep. He also had a nasty-looking cut under his left eye. The two had just gotten lucky when Snowpaw woke up a second before Bramblestar had, as they had probably managed to avoid a lot of questions.
But Firepaw's father did question the scratch, so Amberpaw hurriedly made up a story about how a rock near the Moonpool's exit had cut under his eye. Although Firepaw had been confused about how Snowpaw only had one scratch, Amberpaw told her that only the severe scratches show up in the real world.
Which only served to worry Firepaw even more. What if that becomes a scar?
The ginger tabby apprentice turned to Amberpaw, who was walking behind them. "Come on, you're curious too, right?" she asked, blinking at the white and gray she-cat.
"Well, I know why he's deputy," the she-cat murmured, glancing at Snowpaw apprehensively. "I won't say anything though—it's his place to tell you, not mine."
Firepaw whipped around to face Snowpaw, who looked nonchalant. "How come Amberpaw knows?" she whined.
"First of all, she's my sister, so of course she knows why," Snowpaw snapped. "Second of all, just let it go, Firepaw! You didn't care before, so you shouldn't care now!"
Hurt, Firepaw opened her jaws to retort, but before she could, Bramblestar's meow of surprise interrupted her.
"Where's Dewpaw?"
Amberpaw jumped as if she had been struck, while Snowpaw looked unaffected. "What do you mean 'where is he'?" the white and gray she-cat demanded.
The dark brown tabby leader turned towards the three apprentices, his amber eyes wide in worry. "Dewpaw completely disappeared!"
Firepaw and Amberpaw made meows of worry, rushing forward and looking for him. Firepaw gazed at the bushes where her gray friend had been, but didn't even see a trace of his familiar smoke-colored pelt.
"What the... where is he?" the ginger she-cat muttered in confusion.
Snowpaw suddenly appeared by her side, startling her. "The flowers are still here," the white tom meowed quietly, pawing at a seemingly discarded purple flower petal.
Firepaw gazed at the petal uninterestedly. "Barely," she added to his sentence. "And if that's still here, then where in the name of StarClan is Dewpaw?"
Everyone looked around for another moment before Amberpaw's ears pricked in interest. "Wait, what's that?" the white and gray she-cat asked, pointing somewhere with her paw.
Firepaw followed her gaze and saw a patch of Dewpaw's dark gray fur, along with a black feather. The ginger tabby felt a small chill go through her. She padded forward, nosing the fur carefully before frowning, lifting her head. She then sniffed the feather before jumping as if she were struck. Shock filled her golden eyes as she finally connected the dots.
Snowpaw was by her side in an instant again, but Firepaw was too shocked—no, scared, to completely register it. The white apprentice licked her ear reassuringly, and meowed quietly, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier."
"H-How did you know that…" Firepaw couldn't find the words, still staring in horror at the black feather sitting near the fluff of gray fur. She couldn't even believe it…. Some… some dumb bird had taken Dewpaw!
"I just knew," Snowpaw muttered, avoiding her gaze. He looked at the fur and the feather again for turning around abruptly, heading back to camp.
Left confused, Firepaw puffed in annoyance and shot after him, her eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, you just knew? That isn't exactly something you're supposed to know will happen!"
"Leave me alone!" Snowpaw snapped, quickening his pace.
"Not until you tell me!" Firepaw hissed, trying to match his speed. But suddenly, she tripped over something, landing face-first on the ground. With a huff, she got back on her paws, spitting out dirt. When she looked, she realized that Amberpaw's tail had tripped her.
"Sorry," Amberpaw meowed, looking at her paws. "Snowpaw is… just a little upset right now. We should give him some space."
"Yes," Bramblestar meowed, who was suddenly sitting beside Firepaw. "I know you're worried, Firepaw, but some cats need time to blow off steam."
The ginger tabby she-cat stared at the spot where Snowpaw had been. "I guess," she muttered under her breath. "Sorry."
When they got back to camp, everyone was looking at each other in worry. Snowpaw sat beside a patch of grass near them, looking down at his paws. Firepaw looked around, feeling a bit upset when everyone sent sympathetic gazes towards her and Amberpaw.
Suddenly, one cat broke out of the crowd, rushing up to Bramblestar. It was Seedcloud, her green eyes huge with sadness. "Dewpaw… is he really…" She choked on her words with a sob.
"I'm sorry, Seedcloud," Bramblestar meowed quietly, looking down at the ground.
The ginger she-cat stared at him for a moment before blinking. Tears welled up in the warrior's eyes and she let out a small sob. She pushed past the group of three, racing into the forest.
Lilypool stepped out into the crowd, her blue gaze filled with sympathy. "I'll go make sure she's okay," the dark brown medicine cat meowed, and then took off into the forest after Seedcloud.
After a pause, the four of them, including Snowpaw, entered camp fully, feeling the sad gazes on them. Cloudtail and Brightheart were particularly upset, since Dewpaw was their kit. Although they didn't have a body to mourn, they sat side by side near the exit of camp, looking out into the forest with hopeful eyes.
Bramblestar leapt unto the High Ledge and, feeling no need to call a Clan meeting, started speaking. "As you probably all know by now, on our trip to the Moonpool, Dewpaw was run over by a monster."
Murmurs spread through the Clan, and Firepaw knew Amberpaw and Snowpaw could practically feel the sympathetic gazes on their backs.
"But with a tragedy comes a benefit. Amberpaw and Snowpaw, please step forward."
The two apprentice's eyes blinked in shock, and they stepped forward, Amberpaw's pelt ruffled and Snowpaw's bristling with anticipation. The rest of the Clan was murmuring again, whispering about Bramblestar's choice. Even Firepaw admitted it was a bit odd. How come he was making them warriors now?
"I, Bramblestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn." The dark brown tabby leader looked down at Amberpaw, whose paws were shaking slightly. "Amberpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I-I do," the white and gray she-cat stuttered, her orange eyes wide.
Bramblestar smiled down at the apprentice, opening his jaws again to speak. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I grant you your warrior name. Amberpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Amberheart. StarClan honors your patience and spirit, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."
The dark brown leader jumped down from the High Ledge, placing his muzzle on the newly-named Amberheart's head. The white and gray she-cat licked Bramblestar's shoulder, albeit a bit hesitantly.
Bramblestar turned to look at Snowpaw, who looked unnerved by the sudden attention. Then, the dark brown tabby meowed, "Snowpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
There was a pause. Confused, Firepaw glanced at Snowpaw, and saw he was shivering, barely meeting her father's gaze. Then, suddenly it became clear. Of course… he's the Dark Forest deputy for some odd reason… so of course he's pledged his loyalty to them, not to us.
"Well?" Bramblestar asked, gazing at the white apprentice intently.
"I…" Snowpaw swallowed, and then gave a small, shaky smile. "...do."
The dark brown tabby frowned down at him for a moment before continuing. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I grant you your warrior name. Snowpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Snowwhisper. StarClan honors your quietness and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."
Bramblestar placed his muzzle lightly on the white warrior's head, and quickly, Snowwhisper licked his shoulder. Firepaw's father took a step back, and the Clan started to chant their new names.
"Amberheart! Snowwhisper!"
Amberheart looked proud, her eyes glowing and her previous sadness about Dewpaw forgotten. However, Snowwhisper's fur was still ruffled, and he looked uncomfortable, as if he really didn't want to be a warrior. Firepaw gazed at his back thoughtfully.
What exactly is his problem?
"Again!" Blossomfall snapped, crouching with her tortoiseshell pelt bristling.
Frowning, Firepaw launched forward, claws unsheathed. She swiped at Blossomfall, but before she could land the blow, the tortoiseshell had disappeared. The ginger tabby hissed in surprise, and then promptly landed on the marshy ground when her mentor's weight was suddenly on top of her.
Blossomfall got to her paws with a huff, letting Firepaw gain her bearings. The tortoiseshell gave her apprentice a look. "Ever since you went to the Gathering, your attacks have started to get more half-hearted," she hissed. "Why is that?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Firepaw muttered, looking down at her paws.
"Blossomfall does have a point," Toadstep commented from across the clearing. Snowwhisper stood by his side, suddenly seeming to have found the ground interesting. "You don't really have a motive anymore. It's like you don't want to be a warrior."
"Oh, did you want to ask your father to be a third medicine cat?" Blossomfall snorted.
"I didn't ask you to come," Firepaw muttered to Toadstep. "So don't bother with me."
"You're right, you didn't. I came for Blossomfall," the black and white warrior meowed, smiling at the tortoiseshell warrior. Blossomfall giggled as Toadstep stepped forward, pressing his nose against her's. Blinking in slight surprise, Firepaw took a small glance at Snowwhisper and was filled with amusement at the look of pure disgust on his face.
But as the two warriors started murmuring under their breath, Firepaw felt distinctly out of place. Seeing this, Snowwhisper let out a loud cough, interrupting them. "Well, a reminder that I'm not exactly supposed to be here either," the new warrior meowed, successfully catching Blossomfall and Toadstep's attention. "So we have to hurry if we don't want Bramblestar to get suspicious."
"Nah, I'm sure Bramblestar will be okay with it," Toadstep meowed, flicking his tail dismissively. "...But I suppose you are supposed to be sitting vigil with Amberheart, so I guess you can leave if you want."
Snowwhisper murmured something under his breath before turning to Firepaw, his expression uneasy. "Come on Firepaw, let's go," the white tom meowed, padding away and then lashing his tail for the ginger tabby apprentice to follow.
"Wait!" Blossomfall snapped, making the two cats stop in their tracks. "I'm still training with Firepaw, you know. Just because you're a warrior now doesn't mean she is!"
Snowwhisper frowned. "Yes, but it's getting late. I think it would be best if we all headed back."
Blossomfall grumbled under her breath while Toadstep looked a bit quick to agree with it. Firepaw just shrugged it off though, not bothering with it. When Snowwhisper was sure everyone had agreed with his statement, he set off, Firepaw and the rest in tow.
The ginger tabby apprentice was tempted to ask the white warrior again about why he was deputy of the Dark Forest, but then realized with Blossomfall and Toadstep around, that would sound bad. So she decided to keep her mouth shut, for now.
When they reached the entrance of camp, the sun had just about finished setting. A dark blue coating covered the sky, and traces of stars twinkled in the distance. Amberheart sat in front of them, a stern look crossing her face once she noticed her brother's appearance.
"And where have you been?" the white and gray warrior asked in annoyance, glaring at him.
Snowwhisper blinked apologetically at her, looking down at his paws. "I was out in the forest," he meowed quietly. "Sorry."
"Well, just hurry and act like you were sitting vigil the whole time," Amberheart meowed, sighing heavily. "Geez Snowwhisper, sometimes you're so empty-minded," the she-cat added under her breath.
The white tom's ear twitched, but he didn't respond to his sister's quip. Instead, he padded forward and settled down on the opposite side of her, nodding to the rest of the group. Firepaw rolled his eyes at this, but didn't say anything and just walked past them.
As the sky of moon-high became more obvious, Firepaw felt herself yawn multiple times. Deciding she'd go to sleep, she went over to grab a mouse and headed for the apprentice's den, but then paused.
I'm going to be the only one there now.
Swallowing nervously, she cast a glance towards Amberheart and Snowwhisper, who hadn't moved an inch since they had gotten there. They looked perfectly fine… but perhaps that was because they were sitting vigil and weren't really supposed to be showing emotion.
Nodding to herself firmly, Firepaw padded into the apprentice's den, settling down into her nest. She placed the mouse down and started to chew on it thoughtfully, watching as other cats retreated to their dens for the night. And then before she knew it, the mouse was nothing but bones at her paws. Sighing quietly, she tucked the bones into the tufts of moss of her nest, figuring she'd clean up when she woke up.
With that, Firepaw fell into an uneasy sleep, easily reminded of how she had no one to protect her anymore.
The next morning, Firepaw had woken up relatively early. Her golden gaze landed on Amberheart and Snowwhisper, who were still on vigil. The ginger tabby padded towards the fresh-kill pile, not intending to get prey, but intending to get a better view of them. As soon as they were off guard, they had to sleep, and Firepaw wanted to make sure they got better sleep than she did.
So naturally, she got excited when she saw Squirrelflight's ginger form slink over to them, her green eyes glowing. Firepaw pricked her ears to catch their conversation. "...work! You guys may speak—and you can go rest now," her mother was saying.
"Thanks," Amberheart meowed, sighing in utter relief. Stretching her limbs, the white and gray warrior slinked over to the apprentices den at first, but then changed course once she realized she was going the wrong way. Snowwhisper snickered at this, blinking at his sister with tired eyes, but didn't move.
Squirrelflight gazed at him, her green eyes glowing in confusion. "Hello? I said you can go rest," the deputy meowed a bit impatiently. "So if you don't mind—"
"I'm gonna take a walk," Snowwhisper interrupted. "I'll be back soon."
The dark ginger deputy opened her jaws to retort, but before she could, the white tom had disappeared into the forest. Sighing, Squirrelflight turned and immediately spotted Firepaw. Her mother headed over, her tail swishing behind her.
"Firepaw, could you check on Snowwhisper for me?" she asked, picking up a vole from the fresh-kill pile before turning back to her daughter. "I can tell he's really tired. I don't think it's such a good idea that he's just wandering around. A predator could easily kill a dazed warrior, especially a new warrior."
"Got it," Firepaw meowed, nodding at her mother before running after Snowwhisper, determined to find him before he did something stupid.
The ginger tabby apprentice found the white tom in a field of flowers, sitting up. The sun was directly in front of him, giving him a glowing appearance. Firepaw blinked in surprise for a moment before snapping out of it, approaching Snowwhisper.
Before she could even say anything, the white warrior meowed, "Go away, Firepaw."
The tabby puffed, narrowing her eyes indignantly. "Well, excuse me," she snapped. "Squirrelflight told me to bring you back, so that's what I'm going to do."
Snowwhisper turned to her, his dark amber eyes transfixed into a glare. Despite the odd behavior from him, Firepaw didn't back down, matching his gaze. After a few moments, the warrior sighed, his expression softening until it transformed into a blank look. Firepaw frowned, waiting for him to say something, but he didn't. He just turned away from her, settling down on the smooth grass.
"Y'know, this place is really pretty," Snowwhisper meowed, not meeting Firepaw's gaze.
"Sure," the ginger tabby apprentice replied, looking at the multi-colored flowers ruffling in the light dawn breeze.
"I'm not going back," he said suddenly, startling her. Registering Firepaw's surprised look, he added, "I don't want to sleep. I can't, not really." Snowwhisper looked down at his paws, flattening his ears and frowning.
"How come?" the tabby asked softly.
The white warrior narrowed his eyes, glaring at his paws as if they had done something wrong. When he didn't look like he was going to talk, Firepaw knew she had to use drastic measures. She swallowed nervously, briefly imagining what Blossomfall would do to her if she found out. The tabby then shook her head, looking down at Snowwhisper with a determined expression.
It was now or never.
"Snowwhisper, Blossomfall is still doing special training with me."
The white tom flinched, looking up at Firepaw with wide eyes that were reflected into a crisp gold in the sunlight. "B-But you told me that you guys had stopped! In fact, just yesterday, you were training like you should!"
"We were secretly using unsheathed claws, but we didn't attack each other like we usually do," she murmured.
Snowwhisper opened and closed his jaws, trying to find anything to say to this. During this, Firepaw thought he looked strangely like a fish out of water.
"I'm really sorry. Blossomfall said I couldn't tell anyone," the ginger tabby added, looking at her paws. "...But I guess I'm a rebel, haha…." She laughed bitterly.
"Blossomfall trains in the Dark Forest," the white tom meowed. "She shouldn't be using these methods anyway! It's wrong, and if not, a bit stupid to use outside the Dark Forest." He whispered the last part of his ending sentence, but Firepaw picked up on it anyway.
"Even if it is wrong," Firepaw meowed, taking a deep breath, "I told you a secret, now tell me why you're deputy of the Dark Forest."
Silence.
After another few moments, Firepaw opened her jaws to snap at him, but then realized Snowwhisper was facing away from her, his stomach rising and falling gently. Taking a quick peek, she frowned in disappointment when she saw that he was asleep.
What luck.
Firepaw sighed. She had been so close to figuring out his secret, too! Since she couldn't just leave him there, (I wish, Firepaw thought) she moved to pick him up by his scruff, but then paused.
Snowwhisper should be heavier than me…
Grumbling in displeasure, Firepaw was now unsure what to do. If she couldn't bring him back to camp, then she supposed she had to just stay with him till he woke up.
The ginger tabby settled down beside Snowwhisper, her pelt brushing against his. She carefully wrapped her fluffy tail around him protectively, placing her chin on her paws. Her golden eyes glowed brightly in the morning light, which bathed the field in a gold-like sheen.
Closing her eyes but not sleeping, Firepaw sighed slightly, the sun making the two cats glow like a misplaced patch of fire and snow in the bright green flower field.
The puns/plotholes in this chapter are honestly ridiculous xD But oh well, it can't be helped. We need luck in a story called Lucky, don't we? ;)
Anyway, Amberpaw and Snowpaw got their warrior names, Amberheart and Snowwhisper~! ...The double 'w' in Snowwhisper's name kills me, but I can't do anything about it now :U
Well, that's about it.. :D Oh, I also might draw the scene with Firepaw and Snowwhisper sitting next to each other in the field as this chapter's title card, but if not, I'm drawing the part where Toadstep and Blossomfall were flirting. xD
Okay, now this after-chapter AN is over! :D Did you like this chapter? Tell me what you think in a review! See you guys in the next chapter!
;; Orangeflight of ShadowClan