"Cloudpaw! Cloudpaw!" the clan cheered. Cloudpaw, the newly named apprentice, was beaming with pride beside his mentor Fireheart. Fireheart was also looking proud at his nephew. I purred loudly and walked over to him.
"Congratulations, little fluff." I purred. Cloudpaw lifted his head high.
"I'm not little anymore!" he retorted with amusement in his voice.
"You'll always be little fluff to me." I chuckled. Cloudpaw nudged me and scoffed. Then Fireheart beckoned to the entrance.
"Let's go out and see the forest." he meowed. Cloudpaw looked at him with shimmering eyes.
"Can Leopardstorm come too? I want someone to explore with me." he asked. Fireheart chuckled.
"If she wants." he said. Then their gazes flickered to me. "It would be great practice for when you have an apprentice of your own." I flattened my ears in embarrassment at the tension in Cloudpaw's gaze and let out a smile.
"Sure. Sounds like fun." I chuckled nervously. Cloudpaw jumped in excitement.
"Yay! Now come on before it gets dark!" he cheered. Then he dashed out the entrance. Me and Fireheart took after him. My stomach and legs were a little sore from my recent wounds but they didn't slow me down. Fireheart pulled up beside me.
"I'm planning on taking him to see his mother later on. Do you mind?" he panted. I smiled.
"I don't mind at all! I want to meet her anyways." I purred. Fireheart smiled in delight then stopped as Cloudpaw sniffed the air.
"Where to first?" he asked. I chuckled as he reminded me of me and my siblings when we were apprentices.
"Let's go to the hill up there. That way we can see all of our territory from above." Fireheart suggested. I crouched low.
"Race you to the top, little fluff." I challenged. Cloudpaw chuckled and crouched to my level.
"I won't be so little when I'm towering over you in victory!" he declared. Then we darted up the hill. I let Cloudpaw pass me a little and tried to stay a mouse length behind. Then we leapt onto the top of the hill. Cloudpaw purred in triumph. "Like I said. I'm towering over you in victory!"
"Yeah, yeah." I chuckled, rolling my eyes. Fireheart came up behind us. He huffed then sat down.
"Look over here, Cloudpaw." he meowed. Cloudpaw peered over our territory with wide eyes. I looked around as Fireheart talked to him about Four Trees. Then a golden strand caught my eye. I jerked my gaze over to the bushes down the hill. A long golden scaled thing was slithering among the leaves then disappeared. I narrowed my eyes and began to follow it.
"I'll be back." I called to the others. I crept through the bushes and tried to find the thing. I gaped at my surroundings. I never seen this part of our territory… hasn't it always been here? I walked out of the bushes and looked around. A sparkling stream was running swiftly in the clearing with willow trees and reeds on the banks. Butterflies flew around a patch of flowers. Then the image swirled into a dark vision. I gasped as thunder clapped above and the flowers looked dark and dead. Then the image disappeared. I shook my head and looked around. What happened? I crept to the flowers, scaring the butterflies away. I sniffed the petals and my eyes widened and my head reeled back as the image came again. It was raining hard as thunder and lightning filled the sky. A group of cats were grieving beside the flowers with their heads bowed. I narrowed my eyes as I recognized them. Goldenflower and my siblings! My clanmates! What's going on? Then rustling sounded behind me. I turned around to see Tigerclaw stalking through the bushes.
"What is going on? Did I say you can sit here and act like mice?" he snarled. His fur was pressed to his skin from the rain showing rippling muscles underneath. Darkstripe was snickering beside him. Goldenflower growled and glared at him.
"Well I'm sorry that I'm grieving for my kit that you killed!" she snarled. I gasped as I realized what was going on. Bluestar's not here… Fireheart isn't either… are we… dead? This must be when Tigerclaw becomes leader! Tigerclaw scoffed and dug up the flower patch. Everyone gasped as Darkstripe joined in.
"What are you doing?!" Tawnypelt cried. Tigerclaw ignored her and continued digging until a skull appeared among the dirt. He snatched the skull into his jaws and threw it at Goldenflower's paws.
"You want to see your kit? Well there she is!" he sneered. Goldenflower wailed at the sky and lightning flashed through the clouds. My clanmates let out mournful howls to the sky along with Goldenflower. Tigerclaw smiled in smug and dug some more. I gaped at him as he pulled out more cat bones. The yowls grew louder and some were filled with rage. A tail rested on my shoulder and I looked over to see Spottedleaf. Her expression was somber and stern.
"Do you see what will become of your clan if he becomes leader?" she asked. Then the image disappeared into what it was before. Spottedleaf walked to the stream and looked at the fish. "Don't let this beautiful place become the graves of innocent cats." she murmured. I looked at her with fear.
"Leopardstorm!" a voice called. I looked back then looked at Spottedleaf but she was gone. Fireheart padded through the bushes with Cloudpaw by his side."We're getting ready to go to Tall Pines. Are you ready to come?" Fireheart asked. I slowed my breathing then sighed.
"Yeah. Let's go." I murmured. Then I followed them back over the hill and into the forest. Cloudpaw bounced beside me in excitement. I stared at the ground in shock. Is that really how I'll die? Watching my clan fall into the paws of blood and grief? I closed my eyes and let out a breath. I have to get Killing Storm out of Tigerclaw. But how?
"What's this place?" Cloudpaw's voice broke into my thoughts. I opened my eyes to see a fence in front of us. Fireheart jumped onto the fence and told us to stay. Then he peered over the fence.
"Princess!" he called. There was silence for a moment and then a flab sounded.
"Fireheart!" a purr sounded. Then a she-cat jumped onto the fence and brushed against Fireheart. This must be Princess. Princess looked down at us with wide eyes. "Who are you?" she asked. Fireheart turned to us and jumped down with Princess.
"This is Leopardstorm. She's my clanmate and this is-"
"My son!" Princess purred. I smiled as she brushed against Cloudpaw lovingly. His eyes were wide as he looked at her.
"You're my mother?" he asked.
"Yes, I am. You've grown so much!" Princess exclaimed.
"His name's Cloudpaw. He's my apprentice." Fireheart meowed. Princess purred louder.
"I am so proud of you!" she murmured. Then she turned to me. "Well, hello. Fireheart told me many things about you." she meowed. I flicked my ear in amusement.
"Oh, really?" I purred suspiciously, looking at Fireheart.
"All good things!" Fireheart reassured me quickly. I chuckled and looked at Princess.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." I mewed. Princess smiled in delight.
"I never thought forest cats could be so nice!" she purred. Fireheart looked at me in panic as if she offended me but I purred in amusement.
"It just depends on the cat you're talking to." I said. Fireheart sighed in relief then nodded.
"Leopardstorm defended me when I was getting picked on by some of the other warriors because of my kittypet roots." he meowed. I blushed in embarrassment.
"Well that's nice of you." Princess purred. Then she turned to Cloudpaw. "Tell me more about yourself." I sat down as Cloudpaw told her stories about the clan and how it was like to live in the wild. I sighed and looked at the sky. A cloud drifted in front of the sun with a gap in the center. The sunlight poured through in a glimmering setting. A trusted warrior with the claws of a tiger will lead the clans to darkness. A warrior with the heart of a leopard but the courage of a storm will shine through the darkness. And peace to the clans will be restored once more. I closed my eyes as the wind ruffled my fur. Redtail, why did you choose me for this prophecy? I can't do it alone… Even though the sun beamed down on us, I couldn't help but shiver as the last part of the prophecy rang through my ears. But beware. A warrior seeking revenge, is an enemy to all the clans. I jerked my eyes open as those last words hit me. So… even if I do get a chance to talk to Tigerclaw… he'll never change. Something is making him hungry for power… something that is controlling him… something hungry for revenge. My lip curled in anger. Killing Storm.