Chapter Three

Three day had passed since her eventful day with the mysterious figure in the river and the strange roaring of monsters on the west side of WillowClan territory. For those three days, Nightpaw had struggled to sleep. It didn't help that the newly named Foxtail hadn't kept his promise to take her out on a patrol, which saddened Nightpaw greatly. She frowned and shifted in her nest as the sun was beginning to peak through the trees. She stood and shook out her pelt. She stepped carefully over her brother, Ravenpaw, then padded out of the apprentices den with her tail high. She heard soft giggling, which caused her to turn to see the new warrior Foxtail, surrounded by Wildfur, Whispersong, and Racoontail.

"Foxtail, tell us again what you said to that PineClan warrior the other day?" Wildfur asked as she sheepishly scooted closer to the tom.

Foxtail's eyes danced with amusement, but he backed away when the fur of the she-cat grazed against his. Disappointment appeared in Wildfur's glittering amber gaze, which made Nightpaw smirk. The black apprentice swiped her tongue over her paw and began to clean behind her ears in preparation for the day as she listened to Foxtail tell the exaggerated store to the huddling she-cats. Nightpaw couldn't help but roll her eyes, ihe does realize that I was there, doesn't he? It's like he's totally forgotten me since he became a warrior./i Her ears flattened for a moment when sadness filled her body. iI thought, that maybe, he felt the same as me./i

She stood abruptly when she saw the ginger tom approaching her. She turned suddenly and began to walk toward the fresh kill pile. "Nightpaw, wait up!" the tom shouted after her.

Nightpaw flicked her tail, signaling that she had heard him. The black she-cat scanned the prey in the small pile and decide to pick a black bird for herself. "Mind if we share?" the tom asked her smoothly.

Anger sparked in her chest and she snapped, "Well, I mean, if you have the time."

His head shot back in shock at her frustration. "What is that supposed to mean?" he hissed with his long tail lashing behind him.

She shrugged as she padded to a shady spot under her favorite willow tree in the camp. iWe use to share prey here all the time./i As she sat, she could see the tom staring at her with narrowed green eyes. He gave a disapproving shake of his head as he padded toward her. "What is your problem?" he growled when he entered the shade.

Nightpaw licked her jaws as she stated, "Nothing. I have no problem."

Foxtail's fur bristled along his spine. "Don't lie to me!" he howled at her.

Her ears flattened against her head. iWhy is he yelling at me?/i She laid her head on her paw. "No, you lied to me, Foxtail. You told me we would go out on patrol; just you and me three days ago! You've been walking around here, living it up when the she-cat's follow you around! It makes me sick, because you're so blind!" she shouted as she stood abruptly.

As she finished speaking, she could see the confused look on his face. She pushed past him and ran out of the camp and into the forest. "Nightpaw!" she could hear him shout as he ran after her.

When she finally stopped running, she was at Goosepaw's grave. The soft murmur of the river flowing had soothed her, she had often come here when she felt stressed or worried. Within moments, Foxtail was there behind her. He took a deep breath and asked, "Why do you come here?"

"It calms me," she meowed, not daring to look at the tom.

Foxtail didn't say anything in response, he just sat beside her and curled his long tail over his paws. "Do you remember our conversation? That first time we were out, together?" He asked suddenly, jut after Nightpaw began to enjoy the quiet.

She gave a slight nod and shot him a side glance. His eyes were wide and glossy as they scanned over his littermates grave. "That was the first time in a long time, that I didn't feel alone. When you shared with me how you felt about StarClan, it was as if a burden had been lifted off my pelt," he meowed as he blinked at her. "You don't understand what it's like to feel alone. My mother practically disowned me, and my father is dead. My only littermate is dead and I never had friends growing up. You have two loving parents and a brother, who may not act like he cares, but to me, that's the most important kind."

Nightpaw flattened her ears against her head. Sympathy overcame her instantly as Foxtail bowed his head in shame. "I need you, Nightpaw. I always have, since that very first day. I know I've been weak to this attention, and I'm sorry for that," he whispered as he leaned against her with his ginger fur blurring in her black.

All the anger and sadness she had felt melted away as soon and he came in contact with her. Her chest bubbled with glee as she moved her muzzle into his chest fur. With her ear against his chest, she could hear his heart beating fast against his chest and the soft rhythmic roaring of his purr. Being caught up in the moment, she meowed, "I love you."

Instant heat over came her from embarrassment. i How could I be so stupid? I can't take that back! /i Suddenly pulled away and shook out her fur awkwardly, but was pulled back to him by his tail. "Don't worry. I love you, too," he whispered back to her with his purr vibrating his entire body.

i Is this really happening? Did I just hear him right? /i Excitement had overcome her, causing her body to shake slightly. "However," he stated, which instantly shot her down. "We cannot be."

A frown appeared across her muzzle. "You have a duty," he answered as his eyes began to glow.

"A duty? What are you talking about? We can be together, Foxtail! Please don't!" She cried, but when she blinked to open her eyes, she saw the camp surrounding her.

The moon was high in the shy and she was curled until the Willow she had eaten under just moments before, or at least that's what she thought. She looked around wildly for a moment. iNone of that even happened?/i Her hear pounced against her chest and an ache swept over her brain. She clenched her eyes tight until she heard a call of her name, "Nightpaw! It's about time you woke up!"

The black apprentice snapped her eyes open to see Redrose flicking her tail side to side with irritation. "I need for you and Foxtail to walk along the west side of the PineClan border. Apparently the kittypets at Twoleg place are getting a little too adventurous," the WillowClan deputy ordered.

Nightpaw rolled her eyes. After a dream like that, how could she possibly face him? What all was real? She stood and saw Foxtail standing sheepishly behind the deputy. Nightpaw padded forward with her tail high and completely ignored Foxtail. She could sense the tom watching after her as she padded into the open forest. She stood tall as he made his way out after her. "Nightpaw, I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier. I wish you would have called me back to talk to you, I wasn't in my right mind," Foxtail murmured as he brushed his fur against hers.

The visions from her nightmare irrupted in her mind. Chills ran down her spine, it was as if she no longer enjoyed his touch. She awkwardly scooted away from him and she could see the hurt appear vibrantly in his eyes. His green eyes grew glossy as he suddenly stated, "Do you remember the first time we were out, together?"

Her fur lifted along her spine as he stated the exact story from her nightmare. "I need you, Nightpaw. I always have, since that very first day. I know I've been weak to this attention, and I'm sorry for that," he stated with his voice almost a pleading wail.

"This has happened before," she mumbled as her body began to quiver in fear.

"What?" he asked with his face screwing up in confusion.

"Please don't say that we cannot be," her voice came out as a whimper.

He paused with his eyes flashing, almost like they were glowing. She shook her head, "I can't do this."

As her voice exited her jaws, she started to turn away from him, but he quickly leaped in front of her; his eyes glowing with determination. "I wasn't going to say that," he stated plainly.

She could feel her throat tighten as tears appeared in her amber eyes. His eyes glimmered as he touched his nose briefly to hers. "I was going to say that you are still an apprentice, Nightpaw, and I am a warrior. We cannot be together, iyet,/i" he whispered then paused with his jaws dropping before her. "I do love you."

Her blood was roaring in her ears, she could barely hear what he said, but she knew every word. Happiness overcame her when she realized this had ended up not to be her dream at all. She used forward and ran her muzzle across his. "I'll finish my training, quick! I'll start by showing you tonight. Let's go hunting while we're on patrol," she purred as he looked at her in a whole new way.

She leaped off of him light as a feather and padded toward the border. She could hear the tom coming through the undergrowth behind her and soon enough, he had caught up with her. "I smell a hare," he licked his jaws with anticipation.

Nightpaw knew that was his absolute favorite type of prey, and she had intended to catch it for him, no matter what it cost. Instantly, she began to track it. It's scent lingered for quite some time until she appeared before a tree. Its trunk was long and massive and its roots were bulging in and out of the earth. Nightpaw opened her mouth as a soft breeze blew her way, but she smelled nothing. Slight defeat entered her mind, but she kept on searching. She appreciated the fact that Foxtail had let her do this all on her own. He crept close behind her as she crawled below and over the huge roots of the tree. Just before she was about to announce her feet, a gentle breeze tickled her nose, and with it carried the strong scent of hare. Her ears shot up as she began to creep faster, following the trail every so lightly. She was finally free of the trees sprawling limbs, only to peer under a bush. There she saw the large body of a brown hare. It was paused in its motions, almost aware of Nightpaw. Her pelt tensed as she took another step forward, only to accidentally step on a fallen leaf. Within in an instant, the hare sprung out and on the other side of the bush. She sprung after it instantly with Foxtail trailing close behind her. "Bad luck! Don't give up!" he meowed to her as he veered off slightly just in case the hare were to try to double back.

Nightpaw shot forward as the hare thundered ahead of her. Her eyes focused on the hares small tail as her claws came into close distance. If she tried to reach hard enough, she may be able to snag it. iAlmost there!/i She shouted in her mind but Foxtail's voice called, "Nightpaw! Slow down!"

She turned to see the tom far behind her; his ginger pelt barely visible within the lush forest of autumn. "I cant give up!" she shouted behind her just before she focused fully on the hare.

"Nightpaw, the Thundepath!" he shouted, but his voice was barely entering her head.

She could hear him crashing through the forest after her, but that's all she cared about. "He can see that I am a warrior already!" she purred as the hare leaped over a small bush.

With it, she flew over the bush, slicing her claws through the hares hind paw. Satisfaction over came her as her paws slammed down onto hard surface, almost like warm stone after the sun had been warming it all day. Just as she realized she was on unfamiliar territory, she stopped abruptly and looked around anxiously. iHow could I be so reckless? After everything!/i she scold herself, but as her eyes landed on a pair of glowing eyes in the distance, she froze. iThose eyes. They're the eyes from my dream./i

Her body was mesmerized, and she couldn't move. The pair of eyes were barreling up to her, growing larger with every passing moment. Confusion over came her when she tried to dart away, but her paws could not move. It was as if the warm earth had stuck itself to her. She cowered close to the ground as the eyes came to a point where they would tower over hef. "NIGHTPAW!" came a shriek.

As she sent Foxtail a horrifying glass, light was consuming her, and suddenly, she felt nothing.

Her ears were ringing loudly but all she could see was black. "Nightpaw! NIghtpaw! No, no, no!" Foxtail cried into the night.

Her eyes were heavy, but she managed to force them open. Pain seared through her body, and she couldn't help but give a blood curdling screech. Foxtail's emerald eyes were wide with horror as her mouth made that sound. She could feel something wet pouring out of her nose and ears. All she could taste was blood and it felt as if a dog had torn her pelt off. Her head lulled back and forth as Foxtail cradled her head with his large paws. "Hold on, Nightpaw! Hold on!" he panted as he looked around wildly. "HELP! Someone!"

She could hear his shriek, full of horror and plea, but nothing answered. "Foxtail," she managed to suppress a painful cry.

Her eyes were getting wet, but she couldn't tell if she was crying or not. "I love you," she wailed as her beating heart grew weaker and weaker. iI'm dying./i

She could feel her lungs expanded but as they deflated, her body had given in. Darkness began to cloud her vision and she could see Foxtail screaming into the night. Soon enough, she could no longer see or hear anything. She no longer felt pain. She could feel a gentle tugging on her body, and soon she could see a white light. It blasted in her eyes and soon, she saw Foxtail crouching on the ground ahead of her. She padded forward and saw that he was crouching in a massive pool of blood. Fear consumed her when she saw that he was holding something in his paws. It was so soaked with blood that she couldn't tell what color the fur was. As he pulled back, she finally recognized what he was holding. Her.

Nightpaw's heart stopped in her chest when realization slammed into her. She was dead. "NO!" she shrieked as she tried to grab Foxtail with her paws, but instantly fell through him.

"Nightpaw," a voice she had heard before entered her ears though all her grief.

As she chose to ignore the call, she shook her head as she tried once more to touch Foxtail, who was now yowling into the sky as he dragged her body over to the side of the Thunderpath. "Nightpaw!" The voice shouted again, almost like it was yelling in her ear, which caused her to jump.

When she turned to see who was talking to her, her fur rippled in sudden fear. Before her stood a magnificent creature. It was white as snow with a faint blue light emitting from it. It appeared to be a cat, but with large wings stretching out from its body. iSpottednose's story. i-it's that thing she was talking about in the nursery. I-I don't understand. How is this even possible?/i

When the white creature was finally before her. It's jaws opened once as words came flowing from it. Not just once voice met her ears, but many, "My name is Whitespirit, a Messenger of the Unknown."

As it spoke, fear took over her and she couldn't help but cower in fear. "Unfortunately, Nightpaw of WillowClan, you have died," it meowed to her.

Her body been to shake as it kept on talking. "Such a young age to die so foolishly," it's voice rumbled on. "You have a destiny, Nightpaw, one that would only have started once you have died. I've been waiting for centuries for you."

iCenturies?/i Her voice screamed, but she dare not to speak. The handsome white tom leaned forward and with a twitch of his head, his wings vanished into his spine. "Perhaps this form would allow you to remain calm?" this time when he spoke, only one voice came.

It was deep for the size of his body. He only stood maybe a whisker length taller than his, but his voice was thick with wisdom and age. Nightpaw gave a slight nod. The creature spoke so oddly, "Have you ever heard of me? Or the Unknown?"

Nightpaw gave her head a quick nod. "Ahh yes, I remember the time. You had just turned six moons, about to become an apprentice," he stated as he inclined his head, almost teasing her.

"How-?" she began, but the tom's icy blue eyes flashed, causing her to become silent.

"I've been watching you closely since you were born," he stated with a blink.

"Since I was born? And what's all this about waiting for me for centuries? You're barely older than me!" she challenged boldly just before she turned to see Foxtail crouching over her again, slowing rocking himself.

Within in a snap, her background vanished, and all she saw was darkness surrounding her, with flashes of light emitting in the distance. "What? Where's Foxtail?" she asked abruptly as she scanned her surroundings wildly.

"He's carrying your body back to the WillowClan camp," the tom stated so quickly, it made her fur ripple along her spine.

"How did you know-?" she began again, but the Tom's gaze hardened.

As she searched his wide, icy blue gaze, she saw nothing. No emotion, nothing that would signify how he felt. It sent chills down her spine. "I'll be blunt, for you. As you can see," he began as he turned to show her his vanished, glittering body. "My time as a Messenger is nearing it's end. My duty has long been over, and now I have one goal; to find my replacement."

He turned to her once more as confusion buzzed in her aching head. "I've been dreaming of you since the day I took my vow. A black cat with a pelt of stardust and eyes hot, warm amber. You are the cat I've been dreaming of, Nightpaw. You are the Spirit that comes at Night," he meowed, his voice empty of feelings.

Nightpaw narrowed her gaze but said nothing. "You have chosen to live a life different from your counterparts. Your choice to stay true to yourself makes you the perfect option. It is your duty to follow my paw prints, as the next Messenger of the Unknown," he finally stated.

Fear and confusion rippled along her spine. He was being up front with her, but she still didn't quite understand. Was this a horrible nightmare? Would she wake up to be under the Willow Tree in the WillowClan camp? Would she still be able to feel Foxtail's touch? Be the best warrior she could be for layer clan? Would she be able to grow old and have a family? She looked around at the rippling light surrounding her, hoping everything would vanish and go back to normal, but when she looked back at the tom, he still stood before her. Eyes empty and motionless, as if he was waiting for her response.

I/N: Please let me know what you think! I know it's been a while, so I am curious how many of you are still interested in my stories?

-Nightspirit 3