CHAPTER 11
I gazed warmly at the beautiful white she-cat has her fluffy white coat bounced. The sunlight shone down on her warmly and her green eyes flashed in excitement. She was small for our age but her legs were long and she was definitely a WindClan cat.
"Soulpaw? Soulpaw!" A heavy nudge caused me to stumble but I caught my balance and looked over at Mousefang. I was getting to his size. "Are you listening?"
My eyes flickered over to Icepaw as she led the way next to Littlecloud. I nodded. "Of course I am. There is nothing more important than my warrior training," I told my mentor firmly. That was true, my warrior training was one of the most important things to me. One of the most important things.
"That's what I like to hear," he purred happily. "With the way your training is going, you'll be a warrior soon. Oh, and you're going to the Gathering tonight."
My heart leapt into my throat in excitement. A warrior soon and the Gathering? "Is Russetstar going to tell RiverClan and ThunderClan about The Dark Forest?" I asked eagerly
"Yes," Littlecloud answered, now stopped right in front of us. Icepaw was smiling at us. "Icepaw, we'll be going to the Gathering as well."
"Let's start marking the border, shall we?" Mousefang suggested and started marking the RiverClan border.
I stared into the bushes on the other side of the river. "RiverClan patrol!" I hissed over to Mousefang, their scent hitting my nose.
Beetlenose, Lilystem, and Hailpelt emerged from the bushes and looked at us for a heartbeat.
"Littlecloud, Mousefang," Beetlenose greeted calmly. "Have you spoke with ShadowClan lately?"
Littlecloud quickly responded, "No. We still haven't heard from them. Hopefully they show up to the Gathering tonight." He sent us a look of warning.
Why didn't he want the RiverClan cats to know we were helping ShadowClan?
Beetlenose nodded. "Well, we're just going to mark the border." Then he began to mark the border.
I looked over at Icepaw who had concern plastered all over her face. I was concerned too.
"Are you okay?" she whispered over to the RiverClan cats. Littlecloud gave her a warning look but she shrugged it off.
The three cats looked up at her in surprise. "The Dark Forest is coming. We think they've taken over ShadowClan," Hailpelt whispered over to us and then met gazes with Icepaw. "Be careful." Then he continued marking the border.
We finished marking the border and began to make our way back towards camp. I was walking beside Littlecloud while Mousefang and Icepaw walked side-by-side in front of us.
"Are you nervous?"
I pricked my ears and looked over at Littlecloud. "Nervous about what?"
"Well you're become a warrior soon. I was nervous." He offered a small smile. "You're ahead of all of your denmates, you'll be moving up without them."
"No," I responded firmly and looked over at Icepaw and Mousefang again. They were laughing. "I'm ready to be a warrior."
He nodded. "I think Mousefang is mooning over Icepaw," he chuckled.
My fur prickled and I sent Mousefang's back a glare. "You think so?"
"Well I think he has been for a while but he's been so busy with your training. You're becoming a warrior now so it'll free up his time."
I quickly padded forward, slipping beside Icepaw. "Hey Mousefang, do you think Icepaw and I could clean out the apprentice's den tomorrow?"
Mousefang blinked at me and then nodded. "Well, I suppose. And then your warrior assignment."
Icepaw's mouth dropped open. "Warrior assignment? You're become a warrior without me? Congratulations!" she purred warmly.
"Thanks." I smiled at her and then looked at Mousefang, narrowing my eyes. "Don't worry, Icepaw. When I become a warrior I'll be sure to take you out on patrols."
She squealed excitedly. "Thank you, Soulpaw!"
Mousefang met my gaze evenly and narrowed his eyes as well. It was on.
The moon shone down brightly, lighting our path to Fourtrees. Icepaw was to my left and our mentors were in front of us. WindClan and ShadowClan ran together strongly.
We stopped at the hill that led into Fourtrees and Russetstar kinked his tail and WindClan flooded in. We left ShadowClan behind.
Both ThunderClan and RiverClan waited for us. Everyone seemed nervous.
Jaypaw and Mothflower joined the other medicine cats, Firelily padded up to the deputies and Russetstar joined Thrushstar and Crookedstar on the Greatrock.
Icepaw sat down next to me and then ShadowClan flooded in. The Clans instantly began talking to the ShadowClan cats, who seemed healthier, but were still weak from The Dark Forest cats.
"This Gathering will begin now!"
My attention was brought up to the leaders now.
Crookedstar stepped forward. "Shimmerpelt has given birth to two beautiful kits and Softwing has moved to the nursery expecting Owlfur's kits. RiverClan is strong and growing." He glanced over at Larkstar and then stepped back.
Thrushstar stepped forward now. "Poppydawn has moved to the nursery expecting Windflight's kits."
I looked over at Icepaw whose eyes went wide in shock. That was her dad mating with another she-cat. Was she okay?
I missed whatever Thrushstar said after and Larkstar was stepping forward. "Lionpaw and Cedarpaw have become Lionfur and Cedarsmoke. As of lately ShadowClan has been staying with WindClan… Russetstar has more to say." She stepped back and Russetstar stepped forward.
"The Dark Forest is here, everyone. They have taken over ShadowClan's camp and before they escaped ShadowClan was tortured. They do not want to be our friends or become another Clan, they want to kill us. We must stay together to take them down!"
"Is this true, Larkstar?" Crookedstar asked, worry in his voice. "Is that why you went silent for almost a moon?"
She nodded grimly. "Do not trust The Dark Forest cats."
My eyes flickered over to Archeye who was sitting in the darkness, away from the moonlight. I couldn't see his reaction.
"Hollyflower and Archeye know I know about them," Icepaw whispered, leaning over to me. "They saw me looking at them after I spoke with Fernpaw. I think they're out to get me."
I put my tail on her back. "Don't worry, I'll protect you."
The Clan leaders had begun to talk on the Greatrock amongst each other quietly.
Larkstar cleared her throat to silence the clearing. "We don't mean to alarm you but if you see an unfamiliar cat, do not engage. Run for your life. They will kill you without a heartbeat."
I glanced over at Archeye and I could swear I saw him smile.
I filled the last nest with moss and smiled at Icepaw warmly. "Thanks for doing this with me, Icepaw," I purred warmly, her kind green eyes turning to look at me.
"It'll be the last thing we do together as apprentices! You're doing your warrior assignment now, right?"
My eyes darted around the clearing for Mousefang. "As long as I can find my mentor," I responded and spotted him talking to Morningtail.
I quickly padded over to him, dipping my head to the she-cat. "I'm ready for my warrior assignment, Mousefang."
He nodded. "Let's go." Then he led me across the busy camp and outside, padding through the moor and stopping once we were an good distance from camp. "Catch a rabbit. It cannot smell you or hear you or try to run away and you have to catch it. You have until sunhigh."
I glanced up, seeing the sun was almost at the highest point in the sky. Was he trying to make sure I wouldn't become a warrior?
I smiled at him and darted off, parting my jaws to smell for a rabbit. I was determined. Nothing would stop me now.
The smell of rabbit hit my nose and I instinctively fell into a crouch, spotting it hopping beside a rock a few fox-lengths away. It was big and juicy.
I expertly made my way over to it, as quiet as a mouse. I was downwind of the rabbit so it wouldn't smell me. There was nothing in my way.
I lunged, feeling it's fur beneath my paws. I delivered a clean killing blow and lifted my head proudly, looking over at where I'd left Mousefang.
He nodded, the defeat was in his eyes. "You passed!" he called. "Let's go make you a warrior."
We raced back to camp, my rabbit in my jaws. I felt my pelt burning with excitement.
We entered camp and I set my rabbit down on the fresh-kill pile while Mousefang went to speak with Russetstar.
"Congratulations!" Icepaw purred happily, smiling. "I'm proud of you." She touched her nose to mine and then Russetstar let out a yowl.
"I call a Clan meeting!" he called and the two Clans joined underneath the Tallrock. "Soulpaw, step forward!"
I did as he said, my excitement almost causing me to bounce up and down but I was almost a warrior.
"I, Russetstar, leader of WindClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Soulpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
I spoke loud and clear, looking over at Mousefang. "I do."
Russetstar continued, "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Soulpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Soulflame. StarClan honors your determination and bravery, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan." Russetstar jumped down from the Tallrock and by tradition he put his head on mine and I licked his shoulder.
"Soulflame! Soulflame!" the two Clans cheered loudly.
I lifted my head up high in pride, basking in the warmth of their pride.
"Soulflame will sit vigil tonight and watch over the camp," Russetstar mewed and nodded at me proudly.
I took my place in the center of camp and watched most of the warriors retreat back to their dens. Icepaw, Whitefoot, and Firelily came up to me.
"I just wanted to say congratulations again, Soulflame," Icepaw purred and then hurried away to the apprentice's den.
Firelily went next. "Although you're a warrior you'll have to continue sleeping in the apprentice's den until ShadowClan leaves. Also, congratulations." Then she padded away as well.
Whitefoot remained. "I know you can't speak because of your vigil but I just wanted to tell you how proud me and your father are," Whitefoot mewed, her eyes shining. "I know we don't talk because you're upset about me breaking the code and Shadepelt was a rogue and you hate that but we love you, Soulflame." She sighed quietly. "I just wanted to tell you that." Then Whitefoot padded away.
I watched her go, a pang in my heart as she went. I loved my mother, but Shadepelt needed to go.
Firelily, Scratchtail, and Fangshadow followed me toward the ShadowClan border. It was my first patrol as a warrior and Firelily was letting me lead it.
We were checking the ShadowClan border for the first time since ShadowClan joined us. It had been about a half moon since the Gathering. All the Clans were tightly bonded together.
We stopped at the border. Everything was silent. It was terrifying. The border was marked by WindClan, but it was a weaker scent than usual. The ShadowClan scent was faint and the scent of death clogged my nose. But it wasn't on the border.
"Mark the border quickly. Stay in sight. They're nearby." I looked over at Firelily who nodded at me.
We began to mark the border almost silently, scared that if we were too loud The Dark Forest cats would come and get us. They had to know we were here.
A massive, heavily-scarred, dark brown tabby tom, a large tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat, and a large spiky-furred dark gray-and-white tabby tom emerged from the bushes. Each of them with a creepy smile on their face. They were walking and seemed to be breathing but I could see the trees and ground faintly through them.
"Look, you've delivered one of the ShadowClan cats back to me," the massive dark brown tabby tom mewed. He seemed to be the leader.
I swallowed my fear and narrowed my eyes at him. Fangshadow slid behind me in fear. "No, we didn't. Fangshadow is not going with you. I don't care who you are." I could feel the she-cat trembling behind me.
The she-cat stared at me with creepy amber eyes. "This is Tigerstar. And we don't care who you are, you will give us ShadowClan back. We weren't done with them."
"You are now," I retorted angrily. Firelily was to my left and Scratchtail was to my right. "I don't care what you want or who you are, you will leave now."
Tigerstar stepped forward, the smile still plastered on his face. "We're going to get rid of half-Clan cats just like you. Well, we're going to get rid of all the Clan cats, but we'll start with half-Clan."
I stopped a shiver from going down my spine. "We're leaving now, Tigerstar. I'm sorry you had to resort to such evil." I turned around and felt the rest of my patrol follow. Tigerstar's stare was boring into my back and I was eager to escape.
When we were far enough away I looked at Fangshadow. "Are you okay?"
She nodded at me but gave no response.
Firelily took her spot next to me. "You handled that well, Soulflame. The Dark Forest cats are serious, they want to kill all of us. We need to prepare for battle."
I nodded in agreement and continued forward, recalling the three large cats. They probably could've taken all four of us easily. I definitely didn't want to see what their teeth and claws felt like.
We padded into camp and Firelily raced over to Russetstar and Larkstar to report what happened.
I turned to Fangshadow. "Are you okay?"
She looked up at me shakily, her eyes wide. "I-I think… I'm just going to go lay down…" She quickly padded away.
"What happened?"
Suddenly Icepaw was at my side with concern in her eyes. "The Dark Forest cats want us to give them ShadowClan," I told her and touched my nose to hers. "Don't worry though, they didn't even cross over the border."
Icepaw smiled warmly at me. "Well I'm actually going hunting with Mousefang so I'll talk to you later!" She hurriedly padded away to where the large pure gray tom waited at the entrance for her.
I narrowed my eyes at him and he met my gaze. A small triumphant smile appeared on his face and then he exited the camp with Icepaw.
"Soulflame!" Firelily padded up to me. "Russetstar wants to speak to you about The Dark Forest cats."
I followed her over to Larkstar and Russetstar. Both seemed concerned.
"The Dark Forest cats asked for ShadowClan, I suppose they like torturing them. I told them no and walked away. Although hostile and terrifying they didn't cross the border and they didn't attack."
Russetstar waved his tail for me to be silent. "Do you think Icepaw and Wildpaw will be ready to be warriors this moon?"
I tilted my head at him. "Well Icepaw is fully capable, she's a great hunter and fighter. Wildpaw is a little crazy but I believe so. Why?"
"In a moon LeopardClan will come together again and we will take down The Dark Forest once and for all. We want everyone to fight. Gorsepaw is too young and obviously Dawnpool has to stay with her kits but we know you three are ready," Russetstar explained. "You're dismissed."
I nodded slowly at him and stumbled away numbly from Russetstar, my eyes flickering over to the entrance of camp. Icepaw was going to fight with us in a moon. The image of the three giant Dark Forest cats flashed through my mind. I felt like I was going to vomit.
