Sorry for the lack of updates, so here's another one! I hope you enjoy it! ^-^
Chapter 5
When Larkpaw struggled up to the ForestClan camp, she was immediately barreled into by a worried Twigclaw.
"Where in StarClan's name have you been, Larkpaw? I was so worried after we realized you didn't return with the rest of the patrol!" Before Larkpaw could answer, the white she-cat licked her ferociously as if trying to groom away her own fear.
"Calm down Twigclaw! I'm fine!" Larkpaw protested after wriggling away from she-cats's grooming.
"Twigclaw, leave my daughter be and return to the warriors den." Rowanstar padded up to Larkpaw and Twigclaw.
"She could have die-"
"Silence!" Twigclaw closed her mouth.
"Fine. But I don't think Olivefur likes what you are doing, Rowanfall." She hissed furiously as she stalked to the warriors den.
Rowanstar said nothing until she was gone. Then he turned to Larkpaw. "Would you care to explain what happened after the Gathering ended?"
Larkpaw sighed. "After you and Witherstar fought, Pinefoot said it was time to leave. I wanted to say goodbye to a friend first but I got lost in the crowd."
"Why you didn't try to find me, "Rowanstar asked. "I didn't know what happened to you!"
"I didn't know where you went! I was scared, that's all!" She protested in annoyance.
"What happened after you knew we were gone?"
"Redheart had found me. She brought me back here afterwards," Larkpaw put simply. He didn't have to know about Witherstar or Briarpaw.
"What about Witherstar? I wouldn't believe he would just let you go, being my daughter and what he just pulled earlier tonight." Foxdung!
"No…he wanted to use me as a trade for more hunting grounds. But Redheart wouldn't hear it." Larkpaw flinched as Rowanstar snarled.
"Of course that foxheart would try something like that! He was always evil, doing anything and everything just so he could become leader..."
Larkpaw sat for a few heartbeats listening to her father go on about Witherstar. She worried for him.
Finally she had to do something. The leader had shown no signs of stopping his ranting.
"Father." Rowanstar kept pacing back and forth.
"Father?" The tom still didn't reply and kept pacing. Now Larkpaw was scared.
"Daddy?" She squeaked as she had done as a kit when she was scared.
Where is the father I once knew? Had he died alongside Olivefur that night?
Rowanstar had frozen where he stood, back turned to Larkpaw. "I am not your father. As long as Olivefur is dead, you are dead to me too. I never knew you as my kit. Do not speak to me unless I command you to. Now go."
Larkpaw stood there numb. She didn't know what to feel.
"BE GONE!" Larkpaw stumbled away from her leader as fast as she could as her heart felt the same great pain as she lost Olivefur.
He had died with her that night then.
You are dead to me too, Father.
Larkpaw opened her eyes to bright sunshine. Was it dawn already? No, it couldn't be.
Right? Larkpaw stood up from her mossy nest and looked around.
She was in a soft green meadow with young trees scattered about. There were flowers blooming in Newleaf light. A butterfly even briefly landed on her nose. (Until she scared it away when she sneezed.)
"Where am I?" She breathed. It was beautiful.
"Welcome to StarClan, little one." Larkpaw jumped and turned around.
A beautiful light brown she-cat padded up softly to her. Her dainty dark brown paws reminded Larkpaw of-
"Olivefur?" Larkpaw gasped.
The queen looked down at her with gentle green eyes and smiled.
"Mother!" Larkpaw squealed happily and pressed close to her mother.
"Hello, my precious daughter." She purred.
"I missed you so much…" Larkpaw mewed sadly.
"And I have missed you. But I have been watching over you."
"You have? So you saw…" She hung her head.
"Yes. He has changed since my death. He is not the same cat I had fallen in love with. He's hurting inside, and he's scared. He means no harm." Her mother licked Larkpaw softly.
"But he did…" Larkpaw's heart hurt at the abandonment.
"Be strong, for When the Lark learns to fly, it shall be caught by a blazing Tendril. If the Lark is not freed by the strike of Light, it and the rest of the forest will surely fade from the Stars…"
Larkpaw was confused as her mother began to fade with the rest of the meadow.
"Wait mother, don't go! I don't understand! What does that mean?"
It was too late. Larkpaw snapped her eyes open and found herself in the apprentice's den at her camp.
She wished she go back to StarClan. With Olivefur.
"Larkpaw! Time for training!" She heard Silversnow calling for her.
She wasn't ready. I'll never be ready…