Morningpaw woke up to somebody prodding her side. She groaned in response, slowly blinking open her heavy eyelids. Her fur bristled as she realized how early it was- she could see that the sun wasn't even peeking over the horizon yet from her view in the cave.
Wait. Cave?
A gray tom stood over her that she soon recognized as Jayfeather, his face full of annoyance and general displeasure- as per usual.
Why am I in the medicine cat den? She wondered.
Jayfeather looked over to the side. "She's awake, Lionblaze," he barked before padding off to tend to his herbs.
Lionblaze shuffled over and looked down at his daughter with a melancholy expression. His amber eyes shone with what looked like regret. "I'm so sorry that this happened to you, Morningpaw."
She tried to sit up, but to her dismay her body didn't seem to move. "What happened to me?"
"You had a seizure during the gathering. We had to end it prematurely to get you here." Jayfeather jabbed. "Couldn't you have picked a better time to spaz out?"
Can that cat be any grumpier? Morningpaw thought with a roll of her cerulean eyes.
"Why can't I move?" Morningpaw urged her muscles to move, but they couldn't obey her commands. Fear stabbed her like a pawful nettle burrs. What was going on?
"It's a temporary side effect. It'll go away in a bit. Until then, you're off apprentice duties. Try to calm down for a bit." The medicine cat tom brushed across some small black seeds. "Lionblaze, help her eat this."
Her father picked up the seeds and dropped them into Morningpaw's open mouth. She chewed and swallowed the miniscule seeds.
A wave of calm washed over her as the herbs travelled down her throat.
"I'll have to fetch Alderheart to tell him to get more, won't I?" Jayfeather angrily stomped out of the den to search for his medicine cat coworker, who was outside with Briarlight.
Lionblaze gazed into Morningpaw's beseeching bright blue eyes.
"Why did you ignore me when I needed you?" she pleaded, her voice trembling with pure emotion.
Lionblaze looked down shamefully and didn't respond to her for a moment before sighing. "I'm sorry. I didn't know what I was thinking. I should've been there for you."
The golden-brown tom sat down next to Morningpaw and nuzzled her furry cheek. "From now on, I'm going to be a father to you. I'm going to help you find your brother so we can be a family again."
The apprentice's eyes widened. "Really?" Thrill and happiness filled up her heart. They were going to try to find Fallenpaw! This time, they'd work together even better!
Lionblaze nodded before continuing. "For now, rest. Sleep if you'd like. I'll bring you prey when it's time to eat." The muscular tom headed out of the den with a flick of his long tail.
Morningpaw was now alone in the medicine cat den. The herbs she had swallowed earlier seemed to take their effect as she closed her eyes, ready for yet another nap.
As she began to drift off, she remembered what Cinderheart had told her!
Evade the storm and receive reward… the darkest that follows will be too much to swallow… something, something, the Clans will end, to your dismay.
She forced her eyes open and tried to get her muscles to move. They continued to ignore her continuous orders.
Morningpaw realized that she had to literally yell the medicine cat's names in order to get their attention.
"ALDERHEART! JAYFEATHER!" She shouted, trying to be loud enough for them to hear but quiet enough that she didn't wake up the entire camp.
Fortunately, Alderheart heard her and rushed back to the medicine cat den.
"What is it?" The russet-furred tom asked anxiously. "Are you hurt? What happened?"
Embarrassment suddenly swirled around Morningpaw as she forgot what to say.
"U-Um…" she stammered. "There's something I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I think… when I had a seizure… Cinderheart from StarClan was giving me a message."
Alderheart's amber eyes widened. "That explains a lot, doesn't it?" The dark ginger tom laid down next to Morningpaw. "What did she tell you?"
"She told me something like… 'Evade the storm and receive award; the darkness that swallows will be too much to swallow…'" Her mind suddenly seemed bleary and foggy. "I can't remember the rest, I'm sorry."
"No, no, no, it's okay. Thank you for the information. Just go to sleep, and maybe you'll remember by sunhigh. I'll talk to you when you wake up." Alderheart touched noses with Morningpaw before padding off to talk to Jayfeather.
She did what she needed to do, and now she could doze off in peace. Her eyelids began to droop as the poppy seeds took effect.
"Fallenpaw." Darktail's deep voice rang through the camp. That sort of strictness had never been heard from him before.
Suddenly filled with fear, Fallenpaw padded forward. He could feel the Kin's- his Kin, he should say- narrowed eyes burning holes in his pelt.
Darktail's ghostly figure walked up to Fallenpaw and whispered into his ear. "I know what you did. We need to talk by the lake."
The translucent tom stalked off to their meeting spot as the Kin dispersed.
Fallenpaw felt the fur on his back rise up in pure terror. He was going to die to Darktail's wrath; he was sure of it. But he couldn't just leave Darktail standing there! Could he?
He felt almost paralyzed with dread, but he knew he had to be strong. For his mother. He began his long and dreary trek towards the shoreline where the land and lake met.
When he felt sand and grit under his paws, he knew his end would come soon.
Darktail was sitting there patiently, his tail waving rhythmically behind him.
"What did you want me for, Darktail?" Fallenpaw muttered, anxiety weaved in his voice.
"Why did you kill him?" Darktail interjected, his fur bristling.
"What do you mean-"
"Why did you kill him?"
Fallenpaw looked down at his paws. After a moment of silence was exchanged between the two, he spoke. "I wanted to avenge my mother."
"How did you feel?"
Fallenpaw didn't know what to say. When he thought about it, he didn't feel guilty that he had just ended some cat's life. In fact, he felt… good about it. In fact, he felt better than he had ever felt before. A sort of euphoria that he hadn't noticed before emerged from a dark place in his mind. The depression and angst he had felt after losing Cinderheart seemed to fade away into nothingness. He felt only elation, exhilaration, jubilation… so many different words could describe how he felt, but at the same time none at all.
A few more moments passed as he savored this delicious feeling before he responded.
"I feel absolutely perfect," he gushed as he looked at his mentor.
His mentor smiled. "My purpose is being fulfilled."
"Thank you, Darktail, thank you for helping me discover this emotion," Fallenpaw continued as he looked around the world in a brand new light.
"Everything is going as planned."
"What's the plan?"
"The plan is for you to take my place as leader of the Kin when I fade away. You will then seize the lake and take all other cats as prisoners. Once the last of the prisoners and rebels die, we will be rulers of the lake."
Fallenpaw's amber eyes widened in surprise. He was going to be leader of the Kin!
"In order to prepare you for such a big role, you will end your apprenticeship prematurely. You have already learned all you need to know in my eyes."
"Am I going to get my warrior name?"
"You get to change your name, yes."
Moments of thought passed as he wondered what he should rename himself. Fallenclaw? Fallenhawk? Fallenfeather?
Those were all too tame, he realized. He had to pick a name that revealed his true nature.
Finally, he decided.
"Fallenspirit."
Darktail smirked. "Excellent choice."