Sorry if I upset anyone by killing Heatherpaw. Well, I think there'll only be a few more chapters. Probably four at the most but we'll just see how the story turns out. Since I upset some people by killing Heatherpaw, well, I have a surprise for you…
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Chapter 9: Back to Life?
"You killed her!" Lionpaw screeched breaking out of Darkstripe's grip. He lunged for Scourge and dug his claws down his side. Scourge looked angry and knocked him off. Lionpaw got back to his feet and lunged again, slamming Scourge to the ground.
"Lionpaw, stop!" Tigerstar ordered.
"You killed her!" Lionpaw was ignoring Tigerstar and continuing to scrape his claws down Scourge's side. It was obvious he wasn't hurting him in the least.
"Lionpaw!" Tigerstar hissed lunging for Lionpaw. He pinned the apprentice underneath him and gave him a warning glance.
"It was your own fault for not listening" Tigerstar growled, "Now, we're giving you one more chance…"
As if on cue Scourge grabbed Cinderpaw and brought her over to Tigerstar. Darkstripe pinned Lionpaw again. Lionpaw struggled under his grip, scratching and clawing in all directions.
"Now, Lionpaw, tell us your answer" Hawkfrost growled coming to stand by Tigerstar. Lionpaw hissed in reply. Cinderpaw gave him a desperate look.
"Are you sure?" Scourge growled, unsheathing his claws. He set a paw threateningly on Cinderpaw's neck.
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"I can't believe it…" Kestrelpaw whispered, "What could've happened? What did we miss?"
Everyone was staring at each other. Crowfeather was mourning the loss of his apprentice, and Leafpool felt pity on him. Nightcloud was looking at her paws, and Brackenfur was only watching Cinderpaw, as if to make sure nothing happened to her. Kestrelpaw and Barkface were watching Lionpaw. Why hadn't he woken up yet?
Suddenly Cinderpaw started to shake violently. She was wheezing just like Heatherpaw had been.
"Do something!" Brackenfur cried. He pressed up against Cinderpaw.
"Well what?" Kestrelpaw hissed.
"Look!"
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"Stop!" Lionpaw hissed. Scourge stopped digging his claws into Cinderpaw's neck. He looked at Lionpaw.
"Fine…" He muttered, "I'll… I'll help you"
Tigerstar smirked.
"Excellent" He rumbled, "Scourge, release the apprentice"
Scourge got off of Cinderpaw and she ran over to Lionpaw.
"What are you doing?" Cinderpaw hissed in his ear.
"Saving your life" Lionpaw replied.
Blood was dripping from the wound on Cinderpaw's neck. It wasn't serious, more like a scratch. The thing that was killing Cinderpaw was the fact Scourge was basically choking her.
Suddenly a dark tabby body appeared. At first it looked dead. The body was laying on its side, its back to the group of cats. Lionpaw's eyes widened.
"Dad?" He mewed, "Dad!"
Lionpaw ran over to the body and found Brambleclaw. Brambleclaw groaned and sat up.
"Oh great StarClan" Brambleclaw growled as he saw Tigerstar a few paces away.
"Now, Lionpaw, tell Brambleclaw your decision" Tigerstar growled. Brambleclaw eyed Lionpaw.
"What decision?" He growled. Lionpaw looked at his paws.
"Well…" Lionpaw sighed. He was doing this for Cinderpaw. He'd already lost Heatherpaw to his foolishness, he couldn't lose Cinderpaw too.
"I… I agreed to help Tigerstar" Lionpaw muttered. Brambleclaw's eyes widened and he let out a furious hiss.
"What?!" He practically yowled, "What are you thinking?"
"He already killed Heatherpaw!" Lionpaw mewed, "He was threatening to kill Cinderpaw!"
Brambleclaw growled. He stood up and stalked over to Tigerstar. Lionpaw walked back over to Cinderpaw. He pressed close to her, as if to protect her from anyone else.
"You can't make him follow you!" Brambleclaw hissed. Tigerstar growled.
"I already did" He replied, "And if he turns his back on us…" He shot a warning glance at Lionpaw.
Brambleclaw snarled as Hawkfrost, Darkstripe and Scourge walked to stand by Tigerstar.
"And if I can't well, they can" Tigerstar growled, "It's five against three. Tell me, do you really think you can win?"
"This is a dream" Cinderpaw mewed, "In… in dreams you don't get hurt"
"Then what happened to Heatherpaw?" Tigerstar growled, "Oh right, Scourge killed her"
Suddenly, all five cats' eyes widened. Lionpaw turned around and gasped.
"I'm not dead"
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"Look!" Crowfeather repeated, "She's breathing!"
All eyes turned to Heatherpaw. Her breathing was shallow, but she was alive.
"We should try to wake her up" Kestrelpaw mewed. He gently prodded her side…
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"I'm not dead"Heatherpaw was on her feet, glaring at Tigerstar. She was still bleeding in some places, but she was alive.
"How do you explain this?" Heatherpaw hissed weakly.
"No, that's not possible!" Scourge hissed, "I killed you! We saw you stop breathing!"
Heatherpaw shook her head.
"You hurt me enough to kill me, but this is a dream. You can't kill in dreams" Heatherpaw growled, "So you can't make us do anything."
"That's where you're wrong" Tigerstar growled, "My injuries here affect you in the real world. Your life is still on the line"
Heatherpaw back up a step. Lionpaw and Cinderpaw stood protectively in front of her.
"I'm not helping you" Lionpaw growled.
"I'm sorry you feel that way," Tigerstar growled. He eyed all the apprentices in the clearing. Then his eyes went to Brambleclaw. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, the clearing filled with light. Heatherpaw was glowing, and Tigerstar's eyes were widening.
"What's happening?" Lionpaw hissed.
"She's waking up" Cinderpaw murmured, "Either that or being taken to StarClan from here"
Lionpaw gulped and replied, "I hope it's the first one"
After a moment of glowing Heatherpaw completely vanished.
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Heatherpaw's eyes flew open. Now where was she? Her question was answered by pain in just about everything. She was alive.
"Heatherpaw, you're awake!" Kestrelpaw practically yowled in her ear.
"I can see that…" Heatherpaw muttered. She started to sit up, but then winced and laid back down.
"Lionpaw, Cinderpaw and Brambleclaw are in trouble," Heatherpaw rasped after a moment.
"Brambleclaw?" Leafpool mewed, "What are you talking about, Heatherpaw?"
"It's Tigerstar! He brought us all together and planned on killing us" Heatherpaw growled.
"Tigerstar?" Barkface hissed, "Heatherpaw, that's impossible. Tigerstar has been dead for seasons. You were just dreaming"
"No!" Heatherpaw hissed, "I-I saw him. Darkstripe, Scourge and Hawkfrost too!"
"Heatherpaw, it was just a dre-" Leafpool cut Barkface off.
"She might be telling the truth" Leafpool mewed.
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Sorry for the shortness and kind of bad ending. I won't be able to update for awhile because my best friend is coming to visit and I really wanna spend time for her so this is the best I can do. But since I'll be gone, I'll give you a sneak peak of the next chapter.
"I know what's best for him!" Brambleclaw hissed, "He's my son!"
"Well he's my grandson. And I believe he's tired of living in you shadow" Tigerstar replied.
"You don't know what's best for him, Tigerstar!" Brambleclaw hissed, "I do! And he has never lived in my shadow"
Suddenly Lionpaw pulled away from Brambleclaw and glared at him. He stepped beside Tigerstar.
"No, you don't know what's best for me" Lionpaw hissed at Brambleclaw.
