Finally the next chapter is here! Sorry it took me so long to post it... But i was in a writer block! (though not for the plot... only how to write it, strange)
Unfortunately im not so proud of this chapter... the next one will be much better!
I know at least one of you guessed who was the cat behind Fernkit's death... Now in this chapter Moonpaw will also lean it!
So Moonpaw?
Moonpaw: ~BrightSun~ does not claim or own Warriors. Erin Hunter does! Oh, and that cat is-
me: NO SPOILERS!
Chapter 16
Moonpaw jolted awake as she heard a cat burst into the den.
"Raindrop is kitting!"
She immediately jumped on her paws, soon imitated by Blackleaf.
"Moonpaw, take the herbs we need for the kitting. That would be borage and raspberry leaves." Turning toward Snowheart, he added: "You, find a stick and bring wet moss ball."
Moonpaw took the herbs and followed her mentor into the nursery. Raindrop was lying on her side, obviously in much pain. Soon Snowheart arrived with what she had been ordered to bring, and sat near her sister, ready to help if needed. Raindrop struggled to push, biting hard on the stick, and soon the first kit was born.
"Open the sack carefully and lick the fur in the wrong way." ordered her Blackleaf. Moonpaw nervously did as she was told. She was delighted when she saw the little she-kit take her first breath.
After what seemed like moons, two other kits joined the first kit, and they were now all suckling. Raindrop was exhausted, but she purred when she saw the kits.
"They are all beautiful." she murmured. Moonpaw nodded in agreement. And they are my kin.
"She will be fine." mewed Blackleaf to Moonpaw. "We should just let her rest."
When they exited the nursery, it was already dawn.
"Are the kits alright?" asked Ashwhisker, who was sitting by the entrance.
"They are." answered Blackleaf. Ashwhisker nodded and entered the nursery.
"Wait… he is the father?" she mewed, surprised. "But he is way older than her!"
Blackleaf flicked his ears. "It's not your business, Moonpaw. Anyway you should get some sleep."
Moonpaw yawned and headed to the medicine cat's den. She saw Brightpaw emerged from the apprentices' den. Her sister looked at her in a strange way, then made a sign to make Moonpaw look behind.
"Acornstar!" she mewed, dipping her head. "I'm sorry I didn't see you."
"Don't worry." he said, amused. "I just wanted to ask how was Raindrop."
"She is fine." answered Moonpaw. "She had one tom and two she-cats."
"I see. You should get some rest." he advised.
Moonpaw yawned again. "Yes I am going to take a nap now." She entered the den and soon drifted into sleep.
Moonpaw opened her eyes. She was a clearing of StarClan's hunting grounds. Why now? Since that night… I haven't had any dreams!
"Dawnfeather!" she called, as she saw the beautiful pale ginger she-cat approach.
"Greetings young Moonpaw." mewed Dawnfeather.
"Why didn't you come to talk to me before?" she asked. "A whole moon passed!"
Dawnfeather closed her eyes before answering: "It wouldn't have changed anything."
"What wouldn't have changed? Why does no one tells me what's going on?" she wailed like a kit, frustrated. "Why did Fernkit had to die? Who was that cat she was talking about?"
Dawnfeather brushed gently her tail across her mouth. "Hush now. The answers you seek lie deep in your Clan. I trust you can find them, Moonpaw, because if you don't… ThunderClan may be lost."
"Wait!" she yowled as she felt herself fading.
"The moon's shine will guide the bright light towards her destiny." whispered Dawnfeather. "Unravel the truth, Moonpaw, or it will be too late."
Dawnfeather's words echoed in her head as she woke up. Was it a prophecy? she asked herself. I need to find out what's going on. After she groomed herself, she padded into the clearing. It was passed sunhigh: some cats were sharing tongues while most of the Clan was out hunting. She scanned the clearing but Brightpaw was nowhere to be seen.
Sighing in disappointment, she searched for her mentor. I hope he can give me something to do so I won't die of boredom waiting for her! She found Blackleaf sleeping in a quiet sunlit spot of the clearing. She decided not to disturb the old medicine cat and padded back to her den. Finally she went to visit Raindrop to see if the kits had been named. Moonpaw found Raindrop curled around her kits, grooming them one by one.
"They are beautiful!" observed Moonpaw. "How have you named them?"
"This is Petalkit." Raindrop pointed her tail towards the sandy gray she-cat. "Next to her is Dark-kit, the only tom." He had a dark gray tabby fur. "And Whitekit." The last kit was a small white she-cat.
"Those are good names." commented Moonpaw. "I'm sure they will grow to be great warriors."
After saying goodbye to Raindrop and her kits, she padded back to the medicine cat's den and lay down in her nest. She realized she was exhausted and fell asleep.
(same day; at night)
Moonpaw crept silently after Brightpaw as she slipped out of camp. This night she should be meeting Wetpaw!
Brightpaw sighed and turned toward her. "Moonpaw, why are you following me?"
"Ehm… I kind of wanted to talk to you." she answered, slipping out from under the bush she had been hiding in. "And also to Wetpaw." she added. I'll have more chances of getting her to tell the truth if he's here.
Brightpaw tilted her head on one side. "As you wish…" she mewed, already racing toward the WindClan border. Moonpaw followed her. It seems that the wounds doesn't bother her anymore when she is running. she observed, happy to see that her sister was nearly recovered. They soon arrived and saw Wetpaw.
"Brightpaw!" he squealed like a kit, brushing against her. "I've missed you so much…"
"Me too!" she mewed, soothing the fur between his ears.
"Never scare me like that again, I was so worried!" he scolded, then he turned toward her. "Moonpaw? Why did you come?"
"I wanted to have a little talk." she explained. "I want to know what's happening, Brightpaw."
Her sister suddenly looked very worried. "You don't want to know that! Please…" she begged.
"I also want to know." mewed Wetpaw. "I want to know what's always bothering and why you always have injuries. And let me guess… that fox wasn't there 'by accident'?"
"Please don't ask…" begged again Brightpaw. "Don't ask… I don't want other cats dying."
Moonpaw and Wetpaw looked at each other, both unsure what to say. Moonpaw then took a step toward her sister. "Tell us, please! We'd like to help you!"
"You can't." answered Brightpaw, looking at the stars. "I'm not even sure they can help."
Suddenly a cat appeared, walking toward. The apprentices turned to face the intruder.
Moonpaw gasped as she recognized the cat. "Dawnfeather!"
Brightpaw looked at her. "Who?"
While Wetpaw mewed excited: "It's the StarClan cat that appeared in my dream!"
Moonpaw's jaws dropped. "She appeared to you in a dream?!"
"I did." confirmed Dawnfeather. "You see Brightpaw, StarClan would like to help but we can't interfere directly with these events. However, we do have hope: 'Save? Destroy? Only the bright light can make the right choices… She is not alone on the slippery wet path of her future. The moon's shine will guide her to her destiny.' Do not fear, you can trust them, Brightpaw. Tell them what you know."
Moonpaw recognized the last part. It's what Dawnfeather told me earlier! She thought, watching as Dawnfeather faded away. Brightpaw stared at the spot where the StarClan she-cat had been.
Wetpaw brushed his tail along her flank. "It's ok…" he whispered, loud enough for Moonpaw to hear. "You can trust us."
"Are you sure you want to know?" Moonpaw and Wetpaw both nodded. "Then… Then I guess I'll explain it to you." mewed Brightpaw. She closed her eyes, taking a big breath before opening them. "When.. When I'm going out at night, it's for training."
"Training?" echoed Wetpaw. "But I guess it's not a 'usual' training, isn't it?"
"No… It's battle training. With claws and fangs. With killing." Brightpaw shivered. "That night when Fernkit died… That cat –the one training me- ordered her to follow me. And there is a rule." she paused, calming herself a little bit. "Whoever saw us training will die. This is why she died. She followed me and I wasn't enough careful! I could have stopped her!"
"Fernkit's dying wish was not to blame yourself." pointed out gently Moonpaw. "She told me it wasn't your fault, but that other cat's fault."
"I know… But I can't stop blaming myself." Brightpaw turned to look toward the lake. "That cat is pure evil. He will stop at nothing to satisfy his hunger for power. And last night… I finally learned what he was planning: getting all the territories by the lake for himself."
"It's madness!" exclaimed Wetpaw. "Who could be as mousebrained as that? Taking the territory by the lake is impossible! isn't it?" he added, though he didn't seem so sure.
Brightpaw shifted her paws. "That's what I would think too if it wasn't him. Since before I was born he's been planning this, and me being raised into ThunderClan was no coincidence either."
"You mean her purposely brought you into ThunderClan?" asked Moonpaw, suddenly understanding what was going on. Oh StarClan, how did it come to this? "Don't tell me that he is that cat you are speaking of!"
Brightpaw grinned. "How funny, isn't it? The cat who brought me to the Clan is a cold murderer…."
"Who is it?" asked Wetpaw.
"Of course you wouldn't know." answered Brightpaw. "That cat is our dear leader, Acornstar."
Ta-dah! Did you guess right? Acornstar is thatcat!
Now to more srious matters: (its no good for you when I'm getting serious)
1. in StarClan's name... Why is there nobody who can help me find rogues name (desciption/personality) ?
2. Only... 22 reviews? And more than 500 views? Come on I know you can do better than that! So I'm going to make a little punishement... I won't publish the bext chapter until i get at least 5 new reviews.
And that's bad news for you because the next chapter is my personal favourite (until now) and my longest (more than 2500 words)!
Lastly (which is actually my random talk): Petalkit was named in honor of Petalwish's character from FeatherClan (link on my profile).