Chapter 33

"Duskpaw," Sparklewish greeted her. Duskpaw dipped her head to her friend. "Sandheart just told me that Seagullfur is no longer the deputy of Oceanclan. He and Pelicanwing retired. The new deputy is Sharknight," Sparklewish mewed excitedly. Duskpaw giggled.

"Why do you care so much about what happens in other clans?" she asked. Sparklewish shrugged.

"I like to know what's happening," she mewed. Duskpaw rolled her eyes. She felt bad for Stormclan. Sparklewish was their solo medicine cat now that Thunderstreak had retired.

"Hi Duskpaw," a little voice mewed. Duskpaw turned around to see Spotpaw. The young speckled tom had decided to become a medicine cat so Leafcloud had taken him on as an apprentice.

"Hi Spotpaw," Duskpaw greeted him. Spotpaw puffed up his chest. He was obviously happy an older medicine cat had talked to him. Duskpaw hid her amusement. "How's Moonclan?" she asked.

"It's great. There are so many herbs on the tundra," he mewed. His round eyes shone gold in the moonlight. His slick white and black spotted pelt glowed in the light. He was a charming tom.

"Sounds great," Duskpaw purred. Spotpaw smiled. They turned to where the medicine cats where gathered around the Star Tree. Duskpaw walked to her place next to Twigshade and Sparklewish. She bent forward but Twigshade stopped her.

"Before we talk to our ancestors I have something to do," he mewed. They stared at him expectantly. He turned to Duskpaw. "I, Twigshade, medicine cat of Frostclan call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to learn the gentle, caring ways of a medicine cat. She has memorized the herbs and knows every ailment. She works well in hard situations and keeps a cool head. I believe it is time for her to receive her full medicine cat name," Twigshade mewed.

Duskpaw just stopped herself from gasping. She had no idea she would get her full name tonight. "Do you promise to continue to learn everything you can about herbs and healing from me? And to look after your clan to the best of your abilities?" Twigshade asked.

"I do," Duskpaw mewed. Her voice was soft and gentle. It reminded her of the way Creamfoot used to talk to her and Silvertear.

"Then from now on you shall be known as Duskfeather. We welcome you as a full medicine cat," he finished. Duskfeather closed her eyes and touched her nose to the bark of the Star Tree.

She awoke in the starry forest just like always. She looked around for Softsnow but the fluffy white she-cat didn't come. Instead Creamfoot stepped out of the shadows of the forest. She looked young and strong, much like she did when Duskfeather was just boron. Her pelt glittered with stars. Duskfeather felt tears well in her eyes.

"Mother," she mewed as she buried her nose in her fur. Creamfoot wrapped her tail around her.

"My dear Duskfeather," she purred. I'm so proud of you. Silvertear too. She is a wonderful warrior and has found her soul mate," Creamfoot mewed happily. Then she pulled away. Duskfeather looked at her confusedly. Her dark blue eyes had grown darker.

"I wish they could see what you have accomplished. They would have been just as proud," she whispered. Duskfeather blinked in confusion.

"What?" she asked. Creamfoot closed her eyes.

"Your father and I have kept a secret from you for your whole life. I think it's time you knew," she mewed. Opening her eyes she glanced around. "Follow me. There's some cats you should meet," she mewed. Duskfeather followed her into the forest.

Creamfoot lead her to a starry juniper bush. She ducked underneath it. Duskfeather followed her. Beneath the bush were two very familiar kits.

"Whiskerkit and Shadekit," Duskfeather gasped. The two kits blinked at her. "Why have you brought me to see them?" she asked Creamfoot.

"These are my kits," Creamfoot mewed simply. Duskfeather looked at the little bundles of fur. Whiskerkit did look like Creamfoot but Shadekit didn't.

"I thought we were your only litter," Duskfeather mewed. Creamfoot shook her head.

"You're not," she mewed. Duskfeather blinked. "You're not my litter." The words hit Duskfeather like claws. She stumbled backwards. Tears blinded her vision.

"What?" she gasped.

"You're not my kit," Creamfoot mewed. She walked towards her. She stopped when she was a whisker's length away. "My kits died. We were forced to steal some. We stole you," she explained.

"From who?" she demanded. Her voice was shaking and she couldn't see anything. Her legs trembled and threatened to collapse. She refused to be weak. Standing her ground she waited for the answer.

"Think of your name my sweet. Your name holds the key," she whispered. Duskfeather barely felt Creamfoot's nose touch hers before she was plunged into blackness. She attempted to open her eyes but couldn't. After what she had learned she really could care less.

"Gentlekit and Softkit," a soft voice mewed in her ear. Duskfeather's ear twitched. The voice was oddly familiar.

"Those are lovely names," a deeper voice purred. Suddenly Duskfeather remembered them. The blackness, the voices, the names, everything. Her dream. The one she had when she was a new apprentice.

"Our lovely kits," the feminine voice mewed. Mother, father, Duskfeather thought desperately. Everything had been ripped from her when Creamfoot told her the news. She felt that if she saw her parents everything would be better. She struggled to open her eyes. Scrunching up her face in concentration she shot open her eyes.

Her mother was a silver tabby just like her. Her fur glowed in the dark nursery. Her yellow eyes glowed like the sun. Sunwing, she thought sadly. She turned to her father. He had fluffy white fur. His eyes were the dark blue like Silvertear's. Birdflight. Tears welled in her eyes as she saw her true parents for the first time.

"Mommy, daddy," she whispered. They didn't react. They were frozen. As soon as she opened her eyes they froze.

"You can't speak with them here," a soft voice mewed. Duskfeather turned to Softsnow. The white she-cat was watching her sympathetically. "Only in real life," she mewed. Duskfeather leapt to her paws.

"Then I must leave," she growled. Softsnow shook her head.

"I can't let you leave," Softsnow mewed. Duskfeather unsheathed her claws. She stalked past Softsnow into the camp. It was empty. The sun was shinning brightly. Everyone must be on a patrol, she thought. Then eyes glowed in the shadows.

She glared at them. They blinked slowly. She gasped.

Then she woke up. Leaping to her feet she charged away from the Star Tree. She had to get away from those eyes. Those awful yellow eyes that glow with hatred for everyone. No one can escape the hate that flows from them.

As she charged away she didn't notice Twigshade's empty spot.

A/N:

Hmmmm…. Review.

P.S. I'll try to do Heronpaw or Lichenheart but I can't make any promises