Chapter Twelve

Thanks Banana Llama for reviewing! Now the rest of you, follow her lead! :P

DISCLAIMER

If I owned warriors, Feathertail would've survived the fall, the three would belong to Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw, and Spottedleaf and Firestar would never have loved each other

Silverpaw scented the air, and the familiar scent of mouse filled her mouth. Looking around, she spotted the small brown creature, pawing sadly at a patch on the ground. She crouched down, putting all her weight in her haunches, and crept as silently as she could towards the mouse. It had been two sunrises since the battle with WindClan, and two sunrises since Ashfur was injured by the badger. Ferncloud had been in a state of shock, blaming herself for her brother's incident. He had pushed Ferncloud out of the way, to save her. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Silverpaw focused on the hunt. Pouncing, she gave the mouse a sharp nip to its spine. She buried the limp body beneath an oak tree along with a shrew, a thrush and a chaffinch she had caught earlier. Prey was plump and plentiful, and the clan at least had full bellies, if anything else. A moment later she heard a squeal, abruptly cut off. Clearpaw appeared triumphantly, holding a rabbit nearly her size.

"Nice catch." She mewed to her sister. She saw a flicker of gray before her mentor emerged.

"Hello Silverpaw."

"Hello Cinderheart. Berrynose told Lighteningpaw to go hunting, so we thought we'd join him."

"We know." Silverpaw tipped her head questioningly to one side. Judging from Clearpaw's expression, she clearly had no idea what Cinderheart was talking about. Before she could reply, or ask anything, Lighteningpaw appeared, followed by Berrynose and Dustpelt.

"Hi?" Clearpaw was clearly confused. Dustpelt looked at her and mewed 'Hello' quietly.

"The three of us have spoken to Firestar and Spiderleg. This was your final assessment." Berrynose purred calmly. "You fought like warriors in the battle with WindClan, and we plan on passing on the good news to Firestar. You will be warriors the clan will be proud of!" Silverpaw noticed Lighteningpaw's amber eyes flash, and felt a throb of unease, as she noticed a flash of tabby fur. She blinked, pushing the thought out of her mind. She cast a side-long glance at Clearpaw and saw her eyes shining with happiness.

"Well can one of you help me? This rabbit is so big, and I still have a few mice and a vole to carry!" Clearpaw dropped the rabbit at her mentors paws without waiting for a reply. She saw Dustpelt staring at her retreating tail sternly, but when he spoke his voice was affectionate, and she recognised the mentor-apprentice bond between the two.

"Just remember, Clearpaw, when you are a warrior, you'll still have to listen to us."

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the high ledge for a clan meeting!" Firestar's voice rang out in the hollow, and cats began to gather. Squirrelflight had given them a thorough grooming and now stood nearby, pride shining in her eyes. Silverpaw felt fluttering in her belly. She had finally made it, and so had her brother and sister. They were going to become warriors!

"Brambleclaw would be so proud." She whispered to them. Silverpaw felt compassion well in her chest as she thought of her brave and noble father. She pictured him up in the sky, watching them proudly. For a moment, his eyes turned cold, and he hissed "Join me." Silverpaw shivered. She guessed that Tigerstar was not to be deterred by her warrior ceremony. Would he ever leave her alone?

"Dustpelt, Cinderheart and Berrynose have informed me that it is time three worthy apprentices became warriors." Firestar swept his gaze over his daughter's kits, warmth in his green eyes. She could still feel Tigerstar's unnerving presence, and found herself praying to StarClan that he would leave. She couldn't see him, yet, but from a sideways glance at Clearpaw, and her wide blue eyes, she guessed that she was not the only one who suspected that the ThunderClan traitor was haunting their ceremony.

"They've had an exciting kithood and apprenticeship. Silverpaw, Lighteningpaw, Clearpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"

"I do!" The apprentices purred solemnly. Silverpaw pushed away Tigerstar's persistent hisses of discouragement. She would not let him interfere, not now, not in the most important moment of her life so far.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Clearpaw, from this moment you will be known as Clearmist. StarClan honors your enthusiasm and your eagerness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Firestar rested his muzzle on her shoulder, and Clearmist bent her head to lick his shoulder.

"Kittypet." Tigerstar mocked, his breath tickling her ear. "Disgusting, foul cat, undeserving of the title of leader. How ThunderClan has been ruined in my absence. You can make them great again, Silverpaw, with my help." She felt rage boil inside her, but took a deep breath. She would not let him get to her. This was her warrior ceremony. You're not getting to me, she hissed in her mind, and Tigerstar fell silent, for now.

"Lighteningpaw, from this moment you will be known as Lighteningclaw. StarClan honours your loyalty and courage, and we welcome you as full warrior of ThunderClan." Firestar rested his muzzle on Lighteningclaw's shoulder, and he looked as though he had forgotten what to do. Then he bent his head and licked Firestar's shoulder.

"Silverpaw," Silverpaw felt as though she could hardly breathe as Firestar continued, her heart pounding in her chest. This was it! "From this moment you will be known as Silverdapple. StarClan honours your compassion and forethought, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Firestar rested his muzzle on Silverdapple's shoulder, and as she bent to lick his shoulder, a surge of pride swept through her. She was a warrior at last! She could have died there and then, and died happy, just knowing she had achieved her life's goal. For a moment, her future of defending her clan, every second of every day, fighting, hunting, patrolling, all as a warrior, it all flashed before her eyes.

"Clearmist! Lighteningclaw! Silverdapple! Clearmist! Lighteningclaw! Silverdapple!" As ThunderClan chanted, Silverdapple noticed Lighteningclaw's amber eyes glint slightly. She was certain that it was an ominous glint, not a playful or happy or even proud glint. Something was definitely wrong.

The cool dawn air combed through Silverdapple's fur, refreshing her as she stared determinedly ahead. She noticed her littermates stir slightly and sit up taller. She nodded to Graystripe, who was leading the dawn patrol, followed by Squirrelflight, Sandstorm and Thornclaw. As they passed, Squirrelflight purred proudly, and Graystripe mewed to them quietly.

"Your vigil is over."

"Oh thank you!" Clearmist mewed happily. Squirrelflight's purr grew louder and she flicked her kits' ears with her tail. Sandstorm looked at them too, pride swimming in her eyes.

"Hey, Silverdapple, want to go hunting later?" Foxleap had come up behind them. Silverdapple nodded and looked at him closely. Was that embarrassment in Foxleap's eyes? Before she could be sure, he waved his tail in farewell and walked to the fresh-kill pile. Silverdapple was about to join him when she heard a chuckle from her sister.

"What?" She asked.

"Well," Clearmist finally managed to snicker, "I was just wondering if you could name your kits after me. Or maybe Lighteningclaw- he's closer in colour to Foxleap." Lighteningclaw burst out laughing at the comment. Silverpaw glared, hoping that her stare would silence them, but both simply laughed harder.

"Well, what about you and Bumblestripe, hmm, Clearmist? And Lighteningclaw, you practically leap at the chance to be alone with Blossomfall!" Silverdapple mewed, her eyes glinting evilly. She raced off before they could react. She knew she should probably go to sleep, but excitement kept her awake. Walking into the forest, she decided she'd go back to camp later.

Silverdapple hadn't meant to hunt, but there were mice that were practically begging to be caught. They practically leapt into her claws, and she could barely hold them all in her mouth. She was returning to camp when she saw a dark tabby pelt.

"Hello, Silverdapple." Tigerstar appeared from the bushes.

"Pigepwar." Silverdapple attempted to reply, her mouth too full of mice to reply properly.

"You have the potential to be the best warrior the forest has seen." He mewed gruffly.

"Bepper den oo?" She asked curiously, narrowing her eyes.

"Perhaps." Silverdapple did not believe that Tigerstar wanted to help her at all.

"OO ushp wamp poo oov me." She felt a bit stupid with her muffled replies. She had meant to say "You just want to use me." but Tigerstar seemed to have no trouble understanding her. Maybe he could read her mind?

"Ah, smart, I see. But you should be like your brother. Accept my offer of help."

"No!" She spat.

"You will, even if it means I force you too!" He growled. Without thinking, Silverdapple ran. And ran, and ran, and ran. The mice bumped around violently, a few of them starting to bleed. Fury blinded her and she barely heard the startled yowl of Foxleap as she raced past him.

"Silverdapple, no!" Before she could make any sense of what he had said, the ground disappeared from. Horror coursed through her. She had fallen into the hollow! Pain exploded within her, and blackness washed over her.

Something was wrong. Behind her closed eyelids, she could see an odd glow, neither from starlight, or from moonlight, or any kind of light she had ever seen before. She blinked open her eyes. She was lying in a dark forest, odd patches of green glowing eerily.

"What-" She broke off her sentence and heard the word echo eerily around her. She looked up, but saw no moon or stars. She forced herself up, her muscles screaming in protest. Where was she? How did she get here? Hadn't she fallen into the camp? Wouldn't that mean she was in the medicine den? Something told her she wasn't in ThunderClan territory anymore.

"StarClan? Brambleclaw?" She turned around slowly, her body still aching from her fall, trying to find a familiar face. But only silence greeted her. "Brambleclaw! Where are you?" She felt like a kit whose mother had abandoned her. She wanted to wail aloud, though she was afraid what would answer her calls. An ache of loneliness filled her, and she felt terribly afraid. Where was she? Suddenly she saw a familiar tabby pelt.

"Brambleclaw?" Her voice shook. Relief washed through her. She felt safer now, but the forest still loomed around her, dark and terrifying.

"Silverdapple, come with me. You must never return here."

"I won't." She was shivering with fear, and didn't feel like a warrior, just a frightened kit, and let her father guide her away from the dreaded place. Suddenly, a paw was nudging her awake.

"Silverdapple?" She recognised the voice of Foxleap. She sighed, thankful that she was back now. His voice was scared and shaky.

"I'm ok." She rasped. She would not reveal entering the dark forest, not even to Clearmist. She would never bring it up again- a horrible secret she would bury, and never face again.

"Good." He murmured, though she thought she heard him breathe out, "I thought you were gone forever."

She forced herself up, again, and blinked. The familiar medicine den surrounded her. She sighed with relief. She turned to smooth her fur, but it was slicked down, and filled with the heavy scents of herb. She wrinkled her nose. Foxleap flicked her pelt.

"Just a thorn." He mewed. Suddenly, Clearmist burst clumsily into the medicine den, Amberkit following closely.
"Whoa, Clearmist, steady. What is it?" Silverdapple asked, trying not to wince. It would take a while to recover from that fall. "Where's Jayfeather? Can I go now?"

"Oh, Daisy has a cold, so Amberkit and I are just going to fetch some… To fetch some… Oh, Amberkit, what was it?"

"Borage!" The little gray-and-white kit squeaked. "And Jayfeather wants…" The little kit screwed her face up with the effort of remembering. "Comfrey, I think. For Ashfur's leg, I mean." Ashfur's leg had been badly injured, so he was staying in a sheltered spot just next to the medicine den that Jayfeather had recently found when he was clearing away some loose rocks. Jayfeather clearly did not want anybody disturbing his patient. "Come on, Clearmist, the herbs will shrivel up and die if we take so long. We'll just check the store quickly, and then head out." Her amber eyes wide, she raced into the small crevice in the back of the medicine den, Clearmist following quickly. Moments later, they emerged, shaking their heads.

"None there. We have to go get some more, then." Amberkit raced excitedly out of the den.

"Wait up!" Clearmist whined. Silverdapple's paws were drooping with exhaustion. I want to sleep in the warriors den now! A voice screamed in her mind. Stupid Tigerstar. Stupid hollow. Stupid thing licking her cheek. Wait…? What? It was just Foxleap comfortingly licking her cheek.

"You must be upset. You're first rest as a warrior, spent in the medicine den!" He was shaking his russet head in sympathy.

"Yeah… Foxleap, what am I doing here? Can I go now? Where is Jayfeather?" She asked.

"There's been a cold outbreak, and Jayfeather is tending to them- he told me to keep an eye on you, because you would simply be sore- no broken anything. I guess StarClan was watching over you. Anyway, he told me that if you woke, to make sure you were comfortable, and send you back to sleep." He mewed.

"Thanks, Foxleap." She mewed sleepily. She lay down with her tail curled over her nose, and the last thing she felt before sleep took over was Foxleap's tongue steadily rasping over her herb-plastered pelt.

It seemed as though only moments ago she had fallen asleep, but when she opened her eyes, she realised that it was sundown. Standing up, she stretched. Foxleap was gone. She was just grooming herself when a shadow flickered outside the den. Foxleap entered.

"Hi. I just went hunting while." His said. "You should really eat." Her belly growled, and Foxleap's face lit up with amusement. "I bet RiverClan can hear your belly growling." He dropped something warm at her paws.

"Mmm." It was a robin, clearly just caught. She tore into its flesh. "How'd you know robin's my favourite?" She asked between mouthfuls. Foxleap's amber eyes flashed, and he purred.
"Everyone knows." She devoured her prey quickly and licked her lips.

"Can I go hunting yet?"

"Jayfeather says you're free to go once you woke again, but you should take it easy - you did fall quite a long way. But it's a bit late, isn't it?" Foxleap sounded surprised.

"There's still some light!" Silverdapple pointed out. She stared in disgust at her herb covered pelt. "Though I should clean this stuff off, first." They were just going out when Firestar yowled out.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the high ledge for a clan meeting." A patrol trooped into camp, Lionblaze and it's head. Ferncloud, Dustpelt and Brackenfur followed.

"It's time for some new apprentices!" It was then, that Silverdapple noticed Poppyfrost and Mousewhisker fidgeting around their kits. Sunkit, Dapplekit, Snowkit and Peachkit all stood proudly, their fur glowing in the setting sun.

"Snowkit, Dapplekit, Peachkit and Sunkit. You have all reached your sixth moon. From this moment onward, you shall be known as Snowpaw, Dapplepaw, Peachpaw and Sunpaw." The newly named apprentices squeaked with delight as the clan chanted they're names.

"Ferncloud, you have long been without an apprentice. You will be mentor to Dapplepaw." Silverdapple noticed the pale gray queen glowing happily. Maybe this would let her feel better about Ashfur's injury.

"Icecloud!" Firestar summoned the white she-cat. "You will be mentor to Snowpaw." Once more, the mentor and apprentice touched noses. This continued, and Birchfall was mentor to Sunpaw, Briarlight mentor to Peachpaw. Suddenly, Amberkit came out of the sheltered spot nearby the medicine cat den.

"Ashfur is dead!" She yowled, as Hazeltail and Clearmist tried to calm her down. The joy in Ferncloud's eyes quickly disappeared, and she let out a strangled yowl, looking torn between her new apprentice, and racing to her dead brother's side.

"Jayfeather!" Firestar's deep voice sounded from near the high ledge. "Is this true?"

"Yes, Firestar." Jayfeather's blind eyes were defeated. The clan bowed their head in silence. Ferncloud whimpered slightly. Silverpaw sighed sadly.

"He died because of me!" She yowled. Silverpaw felt a pang of sadness at the heartbreak in the queen's voice. "It's all my fault!" Her frightened yowling broke off into mournful whimpers. Ashfur's limp body was brought into the clearing, and Ferncloud sank down beside her brother to sit vigil through the long night. She stared at the dead warrior before her, and felt a little ill as Ferncloud buried her muzzle in her brother's fur.

Silverdapple felt her heart tear with pity to see the gentle queen so distraught. Dustpelt and Birchfall joined her, and Silverdapple's own mother, Squirrelflight settled down too. Lionblaze went to his former-mentor and shared a few words with him, obviously agitated. It seemed as though he were promising to get his revenge. He side-stepped Squirrelflight and stalked to the warriors den. Silverdapple felt a soft tail suddenly touch her shoulder. She turned around to see Foxleap. She wanted to say 'hi', but she felt too choked to say anything. Ashfur was his uncle, and Foxleap probably needed comfort. She wrapped her tail around his.

"Ashfur was your uncle. You must be so sad." Silverdapple managed to murmur. Grief shadowed his brown eyes and he blinked sadly at her. His eyes were distant- it could easily have been his own mother, had Ashfur not sacrificed himself.

"He was a brave warrior. He died to save his sister and my mother." Silverdapple touched her tail-tip on his shoulder and watched as he padded to join his family and Squirrelflight. Silverdapple followed and stooped to Ashfur's ear. She touched it with her nose and muttered softly.
"We'll get that badger, Ashfur. I promise." With that, she padded to the warriors den for a good nights sleep.

Whoo! 7 pages, size 12 Arial Font.

I like Ashfur dying this way better then *WARNING! SUNRISE SPOILER ALERT TO THOSE WHO HAVEN'T READ IT* Hollyleaf killing him.