The clan gasped around her, their eyes widening with shock and disbelief. A wail of grief erupted from within her mother, Ferneye. Tidalpaw padded over her, whispering soothingly to her. Flamepaw's eyes started to cloud over.
Anger slowly engulfed her feelings, then sadness and loss quenched the flames of rage burning inside her. I didn't even get to say good bye She choked out in her mind. She looked back up at Eagleclaw.
"He's not dead! You're lying!" Flamepaw yowled, glaring at Eagleclaw. She looked back, grief taking over her face.
"I'm afraid I'm not," she bowed her head in apology. Flamepaw shook her head, as if to make herself believe that this was all a nightmare and she would wake up soon to the chirping of birds. When she looked up again, she will still in the clearing; tears fell from her clanmates' faces, except Eagleclaw.
Before she could say anything else, padding sounded from behind the warrior. Eagleclaw turned around to reveal Cinderstar, slowly making her way to the middle of the clearing.
"What has happened?" she asked, her icy blue eyes unreadable.
"T-Tigerwhisker has been murdered," Eagleclaw explained, looking at her wounds. As Eagleclaw spoke, Cinderstar stumbled back, hurt and worry immediately flooding her gaze.
"Who did this?" she growled, anger began to battle the mixed emotion in her gaze.
"I-I don't know. We were attacked by mysterious black shapes. Tigerwhisker let out a yowl, which turned into gurgling. The shadows finished attacking me, then just left!" she shook her head in shame, her teeth clenched as she explained the horrifying encounter.
"Do you remember where you were attacked?" Ferneye choked out, looking determinedly at Eagleclaw. Eagleclaw paused, then finally answered.
"Yes, and I will lead you there" she mewed, looking at Cinderstar. Cinderstar nodded, moving so Eagleclaw could get through. Flamepaw started to pad after her, but was stopped by Cinderstar. Flamepaw looked up, her eyes widening with disbelief before looking straight ahead with defiance.
"Let me go! I want to see my father!" she demanded, brushing past her tail. Before she reached the fern tunnel that lead out into the forests, Cinderstar jumped in front of her.
"I suggest you don't see. I will not allow apprentices to come with us." She mewed, looking down at Flamepaw. Flamepaw growled, looking at Cinderstar with sad anger (when you are like sad and angry at the same time, IDK what to call it ;-;).
"I have a right to see Tigerwhisker! You can't keep me from seeing him!" she felt tears rolling down her cheeks; her teeth grinding together as she tried to hold back the tears. Flamepaw looked into Cinderstar's ordering glare. Flamepaw grunted, before turning around. She quickly stalked off, into the apprentice den. Flamepaw collapsed at once. She sobbed, tears streaming from her eyes, forming a puddle beneath her. She held her breath, trying the impossible quest of not making a sound. Flamepaw didn't want to look weak. Pads thrumming the ground sounded beside her. A tail rested across her shoulders. She looked up, seeing Rainpaw next to her.
"It's ok, he will always watch over you," he soothed, licking her ears. She nodded, licking his cheek gratefully before curling her nest. Her head throbbed as she remembered her father; and the poor, painful death he must've gone through. No, don't think of that. He is in a better place. Flamepaw shook her head, screwing up her eye brows. Another tear fell from her face as he breathed slowly until the blurry blackness claimed her once more; sleep coming uneasily.
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Flamepaw awoke, her head still aching with pain. She looked around, cautious as she lifted herself to her paws. A shape moved among the trees, frightening Flamepaw. The shape snickered, before revealing itself. Thornspots padded out of the bushes, his gaze stirred with emotions.
"Thornspots, you haven't seen my father anywhere have you?" she asked, tilting her head as stepped forward to lick the former elder's shoulder. He jerked aback, shaking his head.
"I'm afraid not. I-I don't know where he is." He smiled weakly, stepping back away from Flamepaw. She once again felt a spark of emptiness and loneliness inside of her. Thornspots's eyes widened with horror as bushes behind them rustled. He flashed a glance at Flamepaw, before disappearing into the darkness.
"Hello?" she called, straining to see in the bush. Starry pelted cats poured from the tress, blocking Flamepaw from escape. They harshly whispered to her, making her shudder.
"You've made a mistake!"
"You will regret ever doing it!"
"Break it, and your soul shall be corrupted!" Flamepaw flattened her ears, trying to shut out the voices. Red erupted from inside the cats, revealing an army of Dark Forest cats; surrounding and enclosing the LeafClan apprentice.
"Remember the promise!" every single cat in the clearing leapt for Flamepaw. As the armada of cats crashed down on her, blackness filled her dreams, leaving her in a dark world. The last words she heard were,
"The swiftness of the wind could carry even the biggest of leaves away.."