Ravenpaw stretched her stiff limbs, feeling like an old lady. Or cat. Whatever. She was too tired to do much of the thinking thing now. The sun had just barely peeped over the horizon. She glanced at Icefur, who hadn't moved all night. Fernstep yawned, revealing sharp fangs and a pink tongue. Ravenpaw watched as Leafstar stepped out of her den.
Slowly, cats began to gather around the fallen warrior's body. Ravenpaw noticed that Shadowfur was back, his fur was spotless, and he glared at her with hot hatred in their depths. Shrugging, she turned back to Icefur. Shadowfur could chase his tail.
"Icefur, it's time to bury him," she murmured in the white queen's ear. She gazed at the black apprentice with dull eyes.
"I know," she whispered, standing. Unimaginable pain gleamed in her eyes, so much that it hurt just to look at her. The elders gathered around Stormclaw, lifting his body from the cold ground. Ravenpaw held back tears as they carried her friend away. Good-bye, Stormclaw. I'll never forget you.
Icefur watched her mate being carried away, leaning against Ravenpaw. When Stormclaw's gray tail had disappeared into the gorse, she returned to the nursery, licking her kits' heads when they mewled with delight. Ravenpaw watched them, grief stabbing at her heart. Turning away, she padded to her den.
Curling up, she only wished the whole world would go away. If I was human again…With that thought, she drifted into the realm of sleep.
Ravenpaw stood in a now familiar clearing. Looking around, she saw someone who made her give a yowl of delight.
"Stormclaw!" Racing over to her friend, she purred as she nudged him, happiness overwhelming her. He gazed at her with those calm blue eyes, purring.
"Ravenpaw. It's good to see you little one," he purred warmly, sitting down. Ravenpaw sat next to him.
"Why does everyone call me 'little one'" she asked, a little indignant. She wasn't that small!
"Term of endearment, dear," Streampelt mewed, padding towards the two cats. Her eyes were pools of gentle wisdom and understanding. Ravenpaw bounded up to her, giving her a lick on the cheek in greeting.
"Thank you for letting me see Stormclaw," she mewed happily, turning back to her friend. He laughed.
"I was the one who asked. I need you to deliver a message, to Icefur. Tell her I'll wait, no matter how long it takes. And tell my kits, when the time is right, that their father is watching them proudly," he meowed, grief and pride warring in his eyes. Ravenpaw licked his shoulder.
"I will," she purred, eyes glowing. Suddenly, a thought struck her.
"Do you know-"
"That your really human? Yes, I do. Don't worry, I won't tell," he teased gently, purring with amusement. Ravenpaw nodded, looking at her friend sadly.
"I'll miss you," she sighed, sensing it was almost time to wake up.
"And I you little one," he murmured, giving her gentle lick on the head.
"I'll watch over your kits, I promise. I won't let anything hurt them," she swore, standing. Stormclaw and Streampelt began to fade. Soon, she could see through them. Finally, only their glowing eyes remained.
"Beware the traitor in the shadows," their voices whispered in unison, before disappearing.
Ravenpaw was plunged into a cold darkness, looking around frantically for any light. Terror overcame her, and she started running.
Panting and writhing, Ravenpaw woke up with a gasp and found herself looking to Darkpaw's pale green eyes. Settling down, she lowered her paws and sat up.
"Are you okay?" he asked, fur fluffed up. Ravenpaw could only nod. Darkpaw nodded.
"Leafstar has called a meeting. I'll help you to the clearing. The battle and the vigil have weakened you," he finished hastily, seeing Ravenpaw's indignant expression. She gave a short nod, standing.
And falling. What the…Looking down, Ravenpaw realized her legs were trembling. Taking a deep breath, she stood again. Darkpaw pressed himself up against her. Ravenpaw padded out, Darkpaw like a shadow by her side.
All the cats were gathered in the clearing, clearly waiting for her. Lionpaw came bounding up, looking reenergized. His eyes flashed for moment when he caught sight of Darkpaw, then softened when he saw Ravenpaw. He padded up to her other side, supporting her solidly. With the two toms' help, she made it to the clearing. Leafstar nodded at the black apprentice before turning back to the clan.
"The attack yesterday was devastating. We lost a brave warrior, and loving father. Let us have a moment of silence for our departed Stormclaw," she yowled, bowing her head. Ravenpaw bit back tears. She didn't want to appear any weaker than she was.
"The rogues attacked when we were at our weakest. We can only assume that this was a planned attack, but be on your guard. No apprentice, nor warrior, must go out alone. For every patrol, there must be at least two warriors. We must start rebuilding the camp, and all kits must stay in the clearing. I want a watch put on the camp at all times. Stonepelt will see to it," she meowed, her voice ringing in the deathly silence.
Indeed, not a cat stirred. Only a twitch of whiskers and blinking of eyes could distinguish them as living. Ravenpaw shivered at their cold strength. Am I that strong? She straightened herself, raising her head proudly.
"And always remember," Leafstar continued strongly, eyes glowing. "We are ThunderClan! We will always prevail! We are strong!' she yowled, raising her head to the blue sky above. Every cat raised their voices, yowling their agreement.
Ravenpaw felt a chill go up her spine as she yowled with her clanmates. She caught sight of Shadowfur, whose eyes gleamed with hatred. He didn't yowl, merely looked at their leader with cold contempt. She glanced at Leafstar.
Leafstar's silver fur rippled in the wind as she stood proudly before her clan. The sun, high in the sky, made her seem surrounded by a halo of light. Her glowing green eyes were alight with fire and passion, and her long tail waved behind her. Ravenpaw suddenly had a vision.
Her, Ravenpaw, standing atop the Highrock, addressing the clan. She, leader. Ravenstar of ThunderClan.
Ravenpaw lifted her chin. She would be the best. Pure ambition raged through her now. She would lead their clan to greatness. Or die trying. She stood with the rest of the cats, ready to ask Stonepelt what she could do. Better to start immediately.
"Where are you going?" Lionpaw meowed sharply, blocking her way. Ravenpaw flicked him with her tail, trying to push past him.
"To ask Stonepelt if I can go on patrol. Move, Lionpaw," she meowed, stepping forward. Lionpaw didn't budge. He stood, facing her directly.
"Look at you, Ravenpaw, you can barely stand! What makes you think you can go traipsing in the forest?" he growled, eyes flashing determinedly. Too late, he realized his mistake. Ravenpaw bared her teeth in a snarl, her fur spiking up angrily. Her green eyes flashed formidably.
"Are you calling me weak? What, you think because I'm not clan born, I can't handle a few scratches?" she growled, voice low and filled with fury. Lionpaw shook his head quickly, trying to make amends.
"No, of course not! Those aren't just scratches! You almost died yesterday, or had you forgotten?" he snapped back, blue eyes glaring. Ravenpaw snarled now, unsheathing her claws.
"I can fight just as well as you, Lionpaw. Being clan born is not the only thing that matters!" she snarled, ready to leap at him. Lionpaw backed away, fur bristling.
"Fine, go hurt yourself some more, see if I care! When you come back, bleeding again, don't come crying to me!" he growled before whipping around and stalking away. Ravenpaw watched him leave, already regretting her harsh words.
Sighing, she padded up to Stonepelt, who assigned her hunting patrol around Snake Rocks. Nodding, she padded out of camp behind Oakshadow and Blackfur.
Once there, Oakshadow gestured towards and area for her to hunt in, heading a little further away. Blackfur melted into the shadows, ears pricked. Gazing around, Ravenpaw pinpointed a vole.
Holding her breath, she placed each paw gently, soundlessly. She was as light as a feather. In a flash, she held the squirming vole in her claws, its blood oozing onto her paws. Satisfied, she scraped some dirt over it, then prowled deeper into the woods.
She had three voles, a rabbit, and a starling. Pricking her ears, she found another mouse. The sun was beginning to set, so she decided to catch this last piece of prey before heading to the meeting place arranged by Oakshadow. As she stalked the mouse, a strange scent wafted over her.
Parting her jaws, she raised her sleek head to the wind, mouse forgotten. Closing her eyes, she concentrated fiercely, trying to remember…Her eyes snapped open.
Fox!
She pricked her ears, and crouched low, every sense on high alert now. Sweeping the undergrowth with her emerald gaze, she searched for a hint of the fox's fur, eyes, teeth, anything. Slowly, she began to back away, fixing her gaze in the direction the scent was coming from.
Suddenly, she froze. The scent was getting fainter. Prowling forward, eyes flicking back and forth, she pricked her ears, trying to relocate the scent. Then, she heard a rustling in the bushes behind her, and her heart stopped beating. Oh my God…
Without pausing to think, she turned around slowly, fearing what she would see.
The fox towered above her, yellow eyes glinting with malevolence. It was skinny, its ribs poking out from below its fur. Then, Ravenpaw looked at its mouth, and felt her heart freeze.
Foam dripped from its mouth, and as it bared its teeth in a nasty snarl, drool and spit came pouring out. Rabies, she wailed in her mind. She was now officially terrified.
Her legs trembled, and her stomach growled. She was too weak to fight this fox alone, but she couldn't call for help. She was trapped, and the fox knew it too. It saw the fresh scars on her body, and the tiredness that dulled her eyes. I'm such an idiot! She had let stupid pride get in the way, and now she was going to pay for it. Big-time. Oh Lionpaw, why didn't l listen to you?
Flattening its ears, the fox let out a fearsome growl, starting from deep in its chest. It crouched low, fur bristling, tail lashing. Ravenpaw copied its movements, praying to whoever would listen that help would come, that she would survive.
With a snarl, the fox lunged forward.