IM SORRY ALL THESE CHAPTERS HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE IN RIVERCLAN! NEXT CHAPPIE WILL BE ABOUT ANOTHER CLAN! FORGIVE MEEEEE ):

Jk xD

~Dove

Chapter 13: A New Rise

As Spottedpelt sat alone in the Medicine Den, she couldn't help but suppress a sigh. She was still upset from her sister's death. At the Meeting with the others, she had learned they were all somehow related. It made her happy that they were all brother and sister, but none of those she-cats could replace Dapplesong. "Oh, Dapplesong," Spottedpelt breathed, mewing to herself.

"I should have done better. I should have been with you more. I should have been by your side, defending you the whole way. I'm so sorry I'll never get the chance." She paused, sighing as tears welled up in her eyes. "I should have been a warrior with you, but my path lies as a Medicine Cat. I'm sorry I could never patrol with you."

"I am sorry for everything, dear Dapplesong." A tear slid down her cheek, but she brushed it away.

She knew that Willowshine would question her, and she did not need that pressure right now. Speaking of Willowshine, the medicine cat was growing older and older each moon. It made Spottedpelt sad thinking about Willowshine moving to the elder's den. "I'll be alone." Spottedpelt murmured to herself. "Then who will comfort me?"

As she watched the sun peek over the treetops from afar, she noticed Willowshine barging into the den. "Spottedpelt!" She mewed joyfully, like a kit winning a play-fight. "Fishwing is having kits!" Happiness seared through Spottedpelt. Kits were always good use to the Clan. When Fishwing was Fishpaw, they had hung out together very frequently. It was a shame that Dapplesong wouldn't see their friend's new kits.

"Thats great!" As sad as Spottedpelt was, she tried sounding cheerful for the kits. "Where is Fishwing? I must congratulate her!" "She's eating by the fresh-kill pile." Spottedpelt brushed out of the den, and looked over at the fresh-kill pile. Fishwing still had a sleek, thin body, because it would be moons before her kits would arrive. "Fishwing!" Spottedpelt called cheerfully to her friend.

She turned around, her eyes turning suddenly cheery. "Hi, Spottedpelt!" "I hear you're having kits! What a lucky thing!" Fishwing's eyes dulled, but quickly snapped back into her regular warm, green eyes. "So," Spottedpelt purred, breaking the silence. "Who's the lucky tom?" Fishwing jumped back, as if she had seen a badger. "I.. I want to keep it secret. The tom wishes I don't tell anyone." Spottedpelt nodded. "Even though you won't say, I know it must be Beechfur. You two have been hanging around one another so much lately!"

Fishwing nodded nervously, stifling a purr. "It's alright, Fishwing! You're not the first she-cat to give birth!" Spottedpelt teased her nervous friend. "Yeah, I know. But I've heard so many queens who have died from giving birth. And I heard its quiet painful." She was referring to her mother, Lakepebble, who had died during kitting. "Death in kitting is so rare, Fishwing. There is barely a chance of you dying. And yes, it is painful, but you are a strong warrior. I know you can do it."

Fishwing purred at her friend. "Thanks, Spottedpelt. You've helped ease my nerves." Spottedpelt dipped her head. "It's always nice to help friends." She said her farewells, then headed back to the Medicine Den. She sleepily flopped into her nest. She was trying so hard to be nice and cheery for her Clan, but Dapplesong's death weighed in her chest like rocks. "Spottedpelt," Willowshine whispered behind her.

"Yes?" She whispered back, not turning to look at her mentor. "I know that Dapplesong's death is hard for you right now, but you must carry on with your duties. I am truly sorry. She was a great cat." Willowshine paused, sighing with greif. "I remember when Mothwing died. She was a great mentor, and I couldn't have asked for a better friend than her. But even though she died, I carried on with my life." Spottedpelt felt herself grow hot with anger, but grow cold with sadness, at the same time. She spun around to face her mentor, tears dripping off her cheeks like rain.

"I don't need your pity, Willowshine! Can't you see that I'm fine? Can't you see that I'm coping? Can't you see that I'm trying?" Willowshine's eyes grew heavy with sadness. "I know Mothwing's death upset you, but Dapplesong was my sister! There is a difference! And aren't I your friend, since I can't have friends being a Medicine Cat?" She shut her eyes in disgrace. "Being a Medicine Cat has bound me to caring for my Clan, instead of spending time with my sister. I will never get that bonding time back!"

A tear slid down her face. "Never." Willowshine turned around. "I am sorry, Spottedpelt." The older she-cat padded to the back of the den to gather herbs. "Tonight is the night of the Full Moon, but I suppose I won't be coming." Spottedpelt stood wide-eyed. Tonight was also the night of the meeting! And... why couldn't Willowshine go with her? "B-but why, Willowshine?" "Well," She mewed, facing her apprentice. "I guess I will come. There is an announcement I make."

(AT THE MOONPOOL)

"It seems Jayfeather and Leafpool are late, once again." Mewed Kestrelflight, amusedly. Kestrelflight was the new Medicine Cat of WindClan. Barkface had retired a moon ago, sadly. "They seem to have a reputation of that, hm?" Littlecloud purred. Spottedpelt heard paw-steps coming from afar. "No, they are here now." She mewed, unexpectedly. "Sorry," Jayfeather mewed. "Firestar was making an announcement." He was alone. Where was Leafpool?

"That's okay, Jayfeather. Clan meetings are important." Littlecloud mewed, dipping his head to the young tom. "Where is Leafpool?" Willowshine rasped. Jayfeather's eyes dulled with sadness, but it was quickly washed away. "She.. She has left the duty of a Medicine Cat. She is now a warrior." Spottedpelt sympathized the tom. His secret was revealed at the Gathering, by his sister. His father, Crowfeather, was of WindClan, and his mother, Leafpool, was Medicine Cat of ThunderClan. Jayfeather must be upset that Leafpool left him. Spottedpelt thought to herself.

"I'm sorry, Jayfeather." Spottedpelt spoke up. She rested her tail on his shoulder. He looked up at her. Spottedpelt could see the sadness in his blue eyes. "I'm fine." Jayfeather mewed, sternly. "Let's forget about this and start, okay?" The cats dipped their heads.

Before Spottedpelt could lick the Moonpool water, Willowshine stopped them. "Wait," She rasped, sadly. "I must announce something." The cats looked up at her, beckoning her to speak. "I.." She sighed, turning away from Spottedpelt. She glared at the ground. "I wish to retire from my Medicine Cat duties. This will be my last time here." Spottedpelt's throat tightened, and she felt tears forming. "Willowshine.." She murmured, regretfully. She's doing this because of the fight we had. She must hate me so much. Spottedpelt thought with guilt.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Willowshine. You've served your Clan well. It will be a shame we won't be seeing you, anymore." Kestrelflight mewed, dipping his head to Willowshine. "Thank you. Now we may begin."

(BACK AT RIVERCLAN)

"Willowshine wishes to resign from her duties, and become an elder." Mistystar mewed with plain sadness. "Are you sure this is your wish, Willowshine? You have many moons left in you." Willowshine nodded, not daring to look at Spottedpelt, who was watching from the Medicine Den. "Then I wish many moons of rest and peace among you." The Clan cheered her on, except for Spottedpelt.

This was her fault, and she knew it too well. "Spottedpelt!" She heard Mistystar call. She rushed out of the den, staring at her leader. "You are the new Medicine Cat of RiverClan. We thank Willowshine for being a good mentor, and you being a grand apprentice." "A great mentor." Spottedpelt corrected her, quietly.

Spottedpelt walked away, into the den, tail drooping. She didn't deserve this. Willowshine should still be in here, instead of the elder's den. Now that her old mentor was gone, the den seemed sadly silent.

"Why have you done this to me, StarClan?" She whispered to the skies, sadly. "Why have you forsaken me?" She growled.

(A MOON LATER)

"Fishwing!" Spottedpelt mewed, triumphantly, holding a single kit in her jaws. "You have done it! What will you call your daughter?" She said, setting the kit on Fishwing's small body. "In honor of your sister, she is named Dapplekit." Dapplekit strangely looked like her dead sister, Dapplesong. The kit suddenly made Spottedpelt want to break in tears. "Th-Thank you, Fishwing."

Maybe Dapplekit was sent to RiverClan for a reason. Maybe to fill Dapplesong's place. Maybe to cause a rise.

A New Rise.

~Dove