Destiny of the Forsaken Chapter 2- 'He's' Back?, a warriors fanfic

"The colder the winter

The warmer the spring

The deeper the sorrow

The more our hearts sing...

After the pain

The joy will still be here

There is life..." –There is Life by Allison Krauss

Merry early Christmas! Hope all of you have a good one! I made this a bit longer for you all to make up for the lack of updates, so read and review! ~Lark

Chapter 2

Redpaw

Redpaw sat alone in front of the apprentice's den. It was still rather early for the other apprentices to be awake and they were still sleeping soundly in their nests. She enjoyed the break from her littermates and closed her eyes, basking in the mid Greenleaf dawn light.

Everything in camp was just returning to normal moons after the battle between the Clans.
Cloudecho and the other FireClan she-cats left and returned to FireClan under the rule of the new leader, Raventstar after he and Fernpaw brought back their other missing Clanmates home.

Redpaw's father and former deputy of ForestClan, Shadowtail, was thought to be dead after the battle. Rosesong was devastated at first until Fernpaw and Brownfeather somehow managed to save him, but she was unable to heal his front right paw which was bent at such an awkward angle. Knowing that he would never walk properly again, he moved to the elder's den.

Redpaw was brought out of her thoughts when she heard a distinct faint thumping noise. Larkblossom had woken up and emerged from the warrior's den with Kindlestrike at her side. Her mentor's injuries from her clash with Witherstar had mostly healed, but the most severe wounds still ailed her.

Witherstar left a long and ragged scratch that ripped from the top of her right shoulder to the middle of her back. Redpaw held a deep respect for Larkblossom and was grateful that she was alive: the she-cat was a bloody mess when Kindlestrike and the other warriors brought her back to camp and she remained in the medicine cat den until about a moon ago.

Larkblossom now wore her scars proudly, and she alongside Kindlestrike became some of the most respected warriors among the Clans. The said warriors were talking quietly as they neared her and she stood up from her spot and purred in greeting. Kindlestrike waved his tail at his Clanmates and trotted off towards the nursery, probably to see his mate and kits.

"Good morning, Redpaw!" Larkblossom meowed cheerily. Redpaw grinned at her mentor, but it fell when she noticed that Larkblossom's limp was worse today.

"I don't think you should be up, Larkblossom, didn't Brownfeather tell you that you needed more rest?" Redpaw mewed with worry. Her mentor's eyes lost their cheery look, and tiredness replaced it. Larkblossom looked away and flicked her tail.

"I know that, Redpaw. Tell Kindlestrike that I said you can train with him and Blossompaw, alright?" Larkblossom meowed. Redpaw nodded and Larkblossom slowly made her way into the medicine cat den. Redpaw sighed and looked around the camp after Larkblossom left.

It was still empty, so she decided to check up on Kindlestrike and his family. She was just getting up onto her paws when she was tackled over by a lump of fur and claws.

"Oops! Sorry!" Redpaw blinked her eyes and looked up into the worried face of Lightkit. The pale ginger kit's green eyes were open wide. Redpaw laughed.

"Where are you going, clumsy kit?" She asked as she got up. Lightkit's sisters Aspenkit and Olivekit were just behind their brother. Olivekit had distanced herself and had an annoyed look branded on her face where Aspenkit was kindly nudging her brother.

"Lightkit got our parents mad, so we're going to see Larkblossom." Olivekit meowed and stalked towards the medicine cat den. Redpaw scrunched up her nose and looked at the other kits.

"She's not always like this, right?" Redpaw asked them. Aspenkit rolled her eyes and nodded but Lightkit only shrugged with the worried look glued to his face.

"Let's go see Larkblossom then. How did your father know that Larkblossom would be in the medicine cat den?" Redpaw asked as they followed after Olivekit.

"They're basically littermates, you know. He told her to go rest." Olivekit meowed with irritation brimming in her words. I should have known that. Redpaw thought, feeling slightly awkward.

They ducked into the den and were met with the sharp scent of herbs. Larkblossom was curled up in a nest and she opened one eye.

"Are you all sure you know the meaning of 'resting', Redpaw?" Larkblossom muttered and opened her other eye. Redpaw smiled at her mentor and flicked her tail at the kits.

"Don't blame me, I was just tagging along." She meowed. Larkblossom sat up in her nest.

"What brings you all here, other than me?" The warrior asked and gazed down at the kits.

"Lightkit got-" Olivekit started to complain until Aspenkit slapped her tail over her sister's mouth. Lightkit looked down at the ground guiltily and shuffled his paws on the ground.

"Mom and dad got upset with each other and sent us to see you. It wasn't Lightkit's fault." Aspenkit mewed, emphasizing the last bit while looking straight at Olivekit. The tan she-cat glared at Aspenkit with narrowed eyes, but didn't try to say anything.

"I asked something that I shouldn't have though." Lightkit meowed weakly and he cowered near Redpaw and Aspenkit. Larkblossom's eyes softened and beckoned the tom over to her.

"Come here dear, this nest is pretty comfortable. You can share it with me." Larkblossom shifted in her nest to allow room for Lightkit. Lightkit darted towards her and immediately curled up beside the warrior and snuggled into her side.

Olivekit let out a mocking laugh as she got away from Aspenkit.

"How are you going to be a warrior? You're acting like a little newborn kit!" She scoffed, earning herself glares from the others. Brownfeather appeared silently from the back of the den with a dark look in her eyes.

"You may leave, Olivekit, if you're going to treat your brother that way." The medicine cat told the little she-cat sternly. Olivekit flattened her ears, huffed, and stomped out of the den without a word.

"Don't worry Lightkit, I bet she's just got something ruffling her fur." Redpaw meowed when she saw the guilt increasing on Lightkits' face. The others nodded.

Larkblossom looked down at the tom. "What made your parents argue?" She asked while gently putting her tail on his back.

"I asked what they were talking about. Kindlestrike kept saying 'he's back in the territories' and were being all quiet." Lightkit told her and looked down at his paws. Brownfeather padded towards the nest and sat down. Redpaw wasn't quite sure what was going on, but her stomach clenched painfully.

"He's back." Larkblossom echoed quietly and suddenly got up from her nest. Lightkit jumped away, startled as Larkblossom grimaced after she took a step. Brownfeather also got to her paws, her tail straight in the air.

"Larkblossom, no. You shouldn't be doing anything right now. Stay in your nest!" Brownfeather snapped and barred her way from the entrance of the den.

"I need to talk to Kindlestrike. If Jayfrost is back-" Larkblossom began to speak but was cut off by Brownfeather. Redpaw pricked her ears at the name of the warrior-gone-rogue.

"It won't help if you're hurting yourself. You need to rest." Brownfeather meowed and turned to Redpaw. Redpaw looked up at Brownfeather expectantly.

"Go get Kindlestrike: tell him it's urgent and Larkblossom needs to talk to him." Redpaw dipped her head and left the den. The sun was now higher in the air and more cats were emerging from their dens. Redpaw looked around the camp and spotted Kindlestrike talking to Swiftwind near the StoneBranch.

She trotted up to them and stopped just a bit a ways from them and waited until the deputy noticed her.

"Yes, Redpaw? What is it?" Swiftwind asked and Kindlestrike looked down at her.

"Hello Swiftwind. Larkblossom and Brownfeather need to see Kindlestrike in the medicine cat den now. They said it's urgent." Redpaw relayed Brownfeather's message to them and watched their faces. Swiftwind looked confused, but Kindlestrike's face became concerned.

"Come with me, Redpaw." Kindlestrike meowed and flicked his tail in goodbye to the deputy and followed Redpaw back to the medicine cat den. Lightkit and Aspenkit were still with Larkblossom and Brownfeather until their father shooed them away.

"Go back to your mother and tell her of your time in here." He meowed kindly and licked their ears as they passed him. Redpaw waited in the mouth of the den and waited to see if she was needed.

"Jayfrost is back? Since when?" Larkblossom immediately asked after the kits left. They all stared at the ginger tom.

"I had a dream from StarClan. Dawnkit showed me a place in FireClan territory that reeked his scent. He's here somewhere, I'm sure of it." Kindlestrike said with his fur bristling. Larkblossom narrowed her eyes.

"Wait a minute- just his scent, nothing else?" Brownfeather asked and flicked her tail. "That doesn't prove anything, Kindlestrike. Did Dawnkit say anything else?"

Kindlestrike sighed in agitation and looked away from them. "No, that is what Fawntail said. Dawnkit just led me there, nothing else. I thought my job as StarClan's Messenger, so I don't know what's going on."

This was the cat that killed Thornstar, right?

"If we don't know if he's back or not, we just need to be careful. We can't have the Clan in chaos if we aren't certain if he's here." Larkblossom meowed quietly and looked at Redpaw.

"I don't want this out of this den, alright?" She said looking directly at Redpaw. Redpaw nodded and backed out of the den and back into camp and ran straight into Aspenkit.

"So Jayfrost's back?" The calico kit mewed curiously and with no shame of being caught listening in. Lightkit stood behind his sister with obvious fear on his face.

"Come on, I know you heard something." Aspenkit meowed when Redpaw didn't reply. Oh great StarClan.

"Just come with me, ok?" She meowed and trotted over to the fresh-kill pile.

"We don't know, alright? Your father had a dream, but that's it. I'm not supposed to know, and you guys really aren't supposed to know. Just don't talk about it." Redpaw mewed quickly and grabbed a thrush before retreating to the apprentice's den.

Aspenkit didn't seemed to be satisfied with her answer, but she didn't bother Redpaw anymore and led Lightkit back to the nursery. Redpaw munched on her meal and hoped that this didn't get too big of a problem.

Lightkit

The sound of murmuring voices drew Lightkit out of his sleep. He was tucked into the curve of his mother's belly and was comfortable, but his curiosity was strong enough to make him pick his head up to see who was speaking. After he blinked his eyes a few times, his father speaking to his mother became clear to him and he purred happily.

Suddenly, his mother's tongue was rasping affectionately against his forehead. He purred even harder and snuggled against her.

"Good morning, little warrior." Lightkit didn't feel offended by his mother words- he was the runt of the litter, but she said it in a way that he didn't feel so small.

"Good morning, mother. Good morning, father." He mewed and purred when his father smiled at him.

"What were you talking about?" He asked, and then immediately regretted it when his father's dissolved into a frown. Lightkit ducked close to the ground and flattened his ears.

"Oh, don't be that way Lightkit. Kindlestrike, you're scaring him." His mother meowed sharply as she spoke to her mate. Kindestrike sighed and flicked his tail.

"Fawntail, I just can't stand the thought of him being back in the territories, if he ever hurts the kits-" Lightkit's father was cut off by his mother.

"Not now, Kindlestrike. Lightkit, get your sisters and go see the elders." Fawntail meowed and started nudging the she-cats at her belly. Aspenkit's eyes suddenly opened and she shuffled up to her paws.

Olivekit grumbled into her mother's fur and she slowly got up.

"No, they should go see Larkblossom. She's in the medicine cat den. Go on." Kindlestrike meowed and flattened his ears when Fawntail shot him a look.

"Well dad's in for it." Aspenkit mewed when they were far enough from the nursery. Olivekit sighed.

"What did you do this time, Lightkit? I was happy sleeping!" Olivekit whined. Lightkit flattened his ears with a little anger and suddenly ran into another cat and he heard a thud as the cat fell over.

"Oops! Sorry!" Lightkit squeaked and shut his eyes. The cat laughed and Lightkit opened his eyes up. He recognized that it was Redpaw, Larkblossom's apprentice.

"Where are you going, clumsy kit?" The apprentice asked as she got up. Aspenkit nudged him from behind as Olivekit padded away from them.

"Lightkit got our parents mad, so we're going to see Larkblossom." Olivekit meowed and stalked towards the medicine cat den. Redpaw scrunched up her nose and looked at the other kits.

"She's not always like this, right?" Redpaw asked them. Aspenkit rolled her eyes and nodded but Lightkit only shrugged as worry filled him to tail-tip. It was my entire fault.

"Let's go see Larkblossom then. How did your father know that Larkblossom would be in the medicine cat den?" Redpaw asked as they followed after Olivekit.

They know each other like the back of their own paws!

"They're basically littermates, you know. He told her to go rest." Olivekit meowed with irritation brimming in her words as she stood before the medicine cat den. An awkward look crept onto Redpaw's face. Without another word they ducked into the den and saw Larkblossom curled up in a nest.

The warrior opened one eye and glanced at them.

"Are you all sure you know the meaning of 'resting', Redpaw?" Larkblossom muttered good-naturedly and opened her other eye. Redpaw smiled at her mentor and flicked her tail at Lightkit and his sisters.

"Don't blame me, I was just tagging along." Redpaw meowed in defense.

"What brings you all here, other than me?" Larkblossom asked and she looked at Lightkit and his sisters.

"Lightkit got-" Olivekit started to complain until Aspenkit slapped her tail over her sister's mouth. Lightkit looked down at the ground guiltily and shuffled his paws on the ground. Ohhh no. Oh no. This isn't gonna work out well.

"Mom and dad got upset with each other and sent us to see you. It wasn't Lightkit's fault." Aspenkit mewed, emphasizing the last bit while looking straight at Olivekit. Oh mousedung, this isn't gonna end well. Oh no.

"I asked something that I shouldn't have though." Lightkit meowed weakly and he felt guilt rush through him and he ducked near Aspenkit and Redpaw. He looked up fearfully at Larkblossom and found that her eyes were soft and she beckoned him to her nest.

"Come here dear, this nest is pretty comfortable. You can share it with me." Larkblossom shifted in her nest to allow room for him. Lightkit darted towards her and immediately curled up beside the warrior and snuggled into her side. Olivekit let out a cruel and mocking laugh once she got away from Aspenkit's tail.

"How are you going to be a warrior? You're acting like a little newborn kit!" She scoffed. Lightkit ducked his head into Larkblossom's side with his face burning in shame.

"You may leave, Olivekit, if you're going to treat your brother that way." Lightkit flicked his ears at the sound of the medicine cat's voice. He lifted his head when he heard Olivekit huff and stomp out of the den. Oh StarClan she's going to be so mad at me later.

"Don't worry Lightkit, I bet she's just got something ruffling her fur." Redpaw meowed when she saw the guilt increasing on Lightkits' face. The others nodded. No no no she'll still be mad.

Larkblossom looked down at him.

"What made your parents argue?" She asked while gently putting her tail on his back.

"I asked what they were talking about. Kindlestrike kept saying 'he's back in the territories' and were being all quiet." Lightkit told her and looked down at his paws. Who is 'he' anyways?

Brownfeather padded towards the nest and sat down.

"Larkblossom, no. You shouldn't be doing anything right now. Stay in your nest!" Brownfeather snapped and barred her way from the entrance of the den.

"I need to talk to Kindlestrike. If Jayfrost is back-" Larkblossom began to speak but was cut off by Brownfeather.

"It won't help if you're hurting yourself. You need to rest." Brownfeather meowed and turned to Redpaw. Redpaw looked up at Brownfeather expectantly.

"Go get Kindlestrike: tell him it's urgent and Larkblossom needs to talk to him." Redpaw dipped her head and left the den. Lightkit dashed over to Aspenkit.

"Who's 'he', Larkblossom?" Aspenkit asked. A strange look crept onto the warriors' face as she looked at them. Lightkit looked up to his sister with worry.

"It's nothing that you kits need to worry about, now you two need to run along." Brownfeather answered for Larkblossom. As the medicine cat spoke, Lightkit heard the pawsteps of Redpaw returning and Kindlestrike was right behind the apprentice.

"Go back to your mother and tell her of your time in here." He meowed kindly and licked their ears as they passed him. This doesn't sound good.

Lightkit was trotting back to the nursery when he noticed that it was quiet. He looked over and saw Aspenkit crouched on the side of the medicine cat den with her ears pricked. She glanced back at him and beckoned him over with his tail, and narrowed her eyes until he trotted over.

I scent trouble all over this. He thought as he crouched next to her.

Lightkit couldn't make out the voices as Aspenkit crept forward as Redpaw came out of the den and ran into her.

"So Jayfrost's back?" Aspenkit asked shamelessly despite basically getting caught for snooping. Redpaw's eyes widened.

"Come on, I know you heard something." Aspenkit meowed when Redpaw didn't reply. Wait, what? I guess I missed something.

"Just come with me, ok?" The apprentice whispered and headed to the fresh-kill pile.

Aspenkit didn't seemed to be satisfied with her answer, but she didn't bother Redpaw anymore and led Lightkit back to the nursery.

"We need to find out who Jayfrost is." She mewed as they were far from Redpaw. Lightkit stared at his sister.

"What if we get in trouble?" He asked, not sure about following her any further in her curiousity. Aspenkit rolled her eyes.

"So what, we get locked in the nursery for a halfmoon or something. We'll survive." She meowed and looked down at him. "You in?"

Lightkit sighed and flattened his ears. "Fine, but if I get into trouble, I'm not gonna be happy with you." Aspenkit smirked.

"Deal!"