Echoes of the Past: Chapter Six
SPIRITPAW
Spiritpaw's blue and yellow multicolored eyes snapped open. "Where am I?..." He breathed, his breath hitching in his throat for a minute before he raised his head and looked around with wide eyes. The last thing he remembered was curling up in his cool, mossy nest for the night before waking up to this. But the more he looked around, the calmer he felt. He was laying in a soft grassy meadow, but what confused him was the colors of the unknown place. The grass was a light pink, and the flowers that dotted the land were a bright violet color. The trees that laid beyond the meadow had a green tint, but were otherwise a pastel purple. Everything shimmered with what Spiritpaw could only describe as stardust, and he gasped in awe. "Am I in Star Tribe?" The white tom said to no one in particular before looking around for anyone else beside him. He had to be in Star Tribe. That was the only way the sparkly and brightly colored meadow could be justified.
He lowered his head a little and trotted towards a small slope that overlooked where he was, and soon a feeling of worry gnawed its way into his chest. Have I died!? The tom thought while his breathing turned ragged with worry. But how did I die? I never felt sick, so it can't be that... What if I was murdered!? Spiritpaw was so busy staring at his paws and thinking about his demise, that he hadn't even noticed there was a cat at the top of the hill until they spoke.
"Hello," a grey marbled tom said calmly, watching the apprentice. Snapping his head up, he looked over at the cat and his eyes widened once more. The mysterious Tom's fur was glittering, and instead of having pupils in his eyes, they were just a glowing green. "Do not fear young one. You are only in Star Tribe... But you must have figured that out by now." Spiritpaw opened his mouth to speak, but was quickly cut off. "My name is Ashenheart. I used to be an ancient cat that lived where your two Tribes are now." He waved his tail, and Spiritpaw sat down slowly, gazing at the ancient cat.
"Why am I here?" The white tom asked, his eyes brows furrowing.
Ashenheart furrowed his brows also, mirroring Spiritpaw's expression. "Well, I must say, it's not for a good reason... There's a prophecy." He was quiet while the apprentice in front of him took all the information in. A prophecy... One that involves me... And it isn't a good one... He let out a low whine and looked down at his paws, his tail drooping down to the ground.
"So, I take it I'm still alive... And what is the prophecy?... Why am I being chosen for this? Are there others too? What will happen?" Ashenheart quickly quieted the tom by placing his skinny grey tail over Spiritpaw's muzzle.
"Yes, you are living. You were chosen for reasons I cannot explain to you right now, you must find them out in time." Shutting his eyes, the ancient cat bowed his head before speaking after a moment. "There are three others. One from your tribe, and the other two from Water Tribe... To conquer the evil that threatens you all, you must work together."
"Well who a-are they!?" Spiritpaw yelled, standing up and pacing back and forth, confusion, annoyance, and fear mixing into one. "First off, I never asked to be in a prophecy! Especially one I'm only guessing leads to death!" He hissed. "And you're being so vague! If I'm to help my tribe, I need to know how to do so... Also not to mention the fact that you haven't even told me the prophecy yet and I'm already more confused than a mouse struck by a hawk!" Plopping down, the white tom glared over at Ashenheart.
Ashenheart had an unreadable expression on his face before he said quietly, "I cannot tell you who the others are... You must find out yourself..." Before Spiritpaw could speak, he carried on. "Those who are running should keep to the time, for the past will come back, and take each of their lives in a great attack." There was an elongated silence between the two, while Spiritpaw's eyes widened as he thought about what the prophecy could possibly mean.
"You must wake up soon." Ashenheart said suddenly, urgency evident in his voice. "But before I go, to help you on your quest you will receive a power to help you along the way."
"A power?..." Spiritpaw whispered to himself, eyes still wide.
"Yes." Ashenheart nodded, before placing his paw over the white Tom's chest and touching his nose to Spiritpaw's head. "From now on... You may tell what others are thinking... Only for a bit though. It's up to you to figure out how to use it." Ashenheart took a step back. As soon as he stepped way, a rush of energy coursed through Spiritpaw, and he gasped in excitement and surprise. "You need to wake up. Come back tomorrow night, and I will explain more..." The ancient cat murmured, his image fading and his glowing green eyes dulling.
"N-No! Wait, come back!" Spiritpaw desperately clawed at the apparition as he suddenly began falling, until everything turned black. He woke with a start.
Panting, Spiritpaw looked around the den and noticed everyone was still fast asleep. "Why should I be awake?..." He whispered to himself, frowning as he went off into thought when suddenly a loud yowl sounded from the camp entrance. Spiritpaw gasped and snapped his head towards the outside, while his friends stirred near him. "Help! Please!" Sounded the wailing of a tom. The deputy, Grayclaw, burst into camp, his eyes wide and frantic as blood covered his pelt along with claw marks, and tangled messy fur.
"What's happened?!" And unknown cat called from the Warriors den, before sticking they're head out.
"F-Fernstar's been captured!"
A/N: sorry I didn't update last week. The chapter wasn't ready.
