Chapter 2
When Moonpaw woke up, it was raining. Raindrops splattered on the apprentice's den. Moonpaw yawned and walked into the clearing.
"Moonpaw!" Jayfeather called her.
"What is it Jayfeather?" Moonpaw asked.
"I had a dream last night... Your eyes... they mean something." Jayfeather mewed. His blind gaze looked as if it was staring at her.
"W-what do you mean?" Moonpaw stammered.
"It means..." Jayfeather swallowed. "Follow me into the forest."
"Um Okay." Moonpaw followed Jayfeather out into the forest. They walked all the way to the lake and sat down.
Jayfeather took and deep breath and looked at her.
"Holly will eventually die, Ash will disappear, The Storm will pass, but the Moon will last forever." He meowed. His voice was echoing.
"W-what? Hollypaw, Ashpaw, Stormpaw, and me, Moonpaw! Is this a prophecy?" Moonpaw asked.
"Yes, it is. StarClan came to me the night you were born... and now they came to me last night and told me to tell you this." Jayfeather explained.
"So... Hollypaw, Ashpaw, and Stormpaw will all... die?" Moonpaw swallowed. She couldn't bare loosing her littermates.
"We don't know that for sure." Jayfeather told her. "Just don't tell them... yet."
And with that, he turned and walked away.
A Few Moons Later
Cats busted into the clearing. Moonpaw looked up from where she was sharing a mouse with Hawkpaw. They looked terrified. She got up and walked over to Ashpaw who was one the patrol.
"Ashpaw? What happened?" Moonpaw asked.
"S-shadowClan on our territory!" Ashpaw stammered.
Bramblestar called the Clan together.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!"
Oakpaw and Silverpaw padded out of the apprentice's den. Thornclaw and Hazeltail looked up from where they were sharing a rabbit and walked over.
"A patrol found ShadowClan on our territory!" Bramblestar announced. "I am going to lead a patrol over to ShadowClan camp and talk to Blackstar! If we have to fight, we fight. I was send a messenger back here if we need backup."
"Who is going?" Lionblaze asked.
Bramblestar scanned the camp, "Thornclaw, Graystripe, Sandstorm, Brightheart, Leafpool, Lionblaze, Bumblestripe, Moonpaw, and Stormpaw." He announced.
My first battle!
The newest warriors, Lilyflower, Seedfoot, Dewfoot, Amberheart, Snowstorm, Cherrytail and Moleclaw looked disappointed. Bramblestar noticed.
"You seven will help guard the camp, along with the rest of the Clan, We're counting on you. Squirrelflight, you'll be in charge."
His words must of made them determined because they tensed their muscles ready to fight.
"We leave now!" Bramblestar announced.
The cats going followed Bramblestar out of the camp.
The reached the border with ShadowClan.
"Now, from here, keep your eyes open. We're going straight into the camp. Bumblestripe, Leafpool, Moonpaw, and Stormpaw, you wait here just in case we need you for a battle. If we do, Moonpaw, you need to run back to the camp and get backup." Bramblestar told them.
Moonpaw nodded, "You can count on me." She meowed.
Bramblestar nodded and signaled the cats to follow him.
Stormpaw flicked his tail impatiently.
"Since we're just waiting here, we should do a border patrol." He suggested.
"Good idea. Stormpaw and Bumblestipe, you go that way." Lionblaze told them. He flicked his tail towards the lake. "Moonpaw and I will go this way. Leafpool, you stay here just in case they need back up."
Just as planned. Good thing I've been having training from Thistleclaw, my plan will go just as I want it to go! Stormpaw thought.
He and Bumblestripe walked toward the lake.
"Hey Bumblestripe, we should practice some battled moves." Stormpaw suggested when they were getting near the lake.
Bumblestripe glanced over at him. "Well, alright." He meowed.
Without waiting for a signal, Stormpaw just on top on Bumblestripe and bit into his neck.
"S-storm...Stormpaw... what... what are you doing?" Bumblestripe choked out, gasping for air.
"Goodbye, father. Thanks for nothing! You die first, next it's my mother." He said through blood and fur. Bumblestripe looked at him, confused. He took one last breath and then was still. His eye stared sightless into the sky.
"Just as planned." Stormpaw growled. He dragged Bumblestripes body over onto ShadowClan territory and hid him in some ferns. Drenched in ShadowClan scent.
He rinsed off the blood from his fur and ran towards Lionblaze and Moonpaw.
"Lionblaze! Moonpaw!" Stormpaw meowed, trying to sound in panic.
"Yes? What is it, Stormpaw?" Lionblaze asked, looking up from where he was cleaning himself.
"Bumblestripe... ShadowClan patrol..." Stormpaw stammered.
"Yes, what?" Lionblaze said impatiently.
"A ShadowClan patrol... killed Bumblestripe!" He exclaimed, trying to sound as real as possible.
Suddenly, Sandstorm busted out of the ferns.
"We need back up! Now!" She exclaimed.
I have to get to the camp! B-but what about... Bumblestripe? What am I going to tell them? Moonpaw thought.
She bounded off to the camp.
"Squirrelflight! We need back up! Now!" She meowed.
"Right! Dovewing, Hollypaw, Ashpaw, Amberheart, Dewfoot, and Seedfoot! Come with us! Cloudtail, you're in charge here." Squirrelflight announced. "Lead the way, Moonpaw."
Moonpaw nodded. She bounded away toward ShadowClan.
By the time they got near the ShadowClan camp, they could hear screeching.
"It sounds bad! Hurry!" Squirrelflight exclaimed and bounded into the camp.
Moonpaw jumped onto a bright flame-colored apprentice. She took him by surprise and claw his ears. He rolled over and kicked her belly. Moonpaw yowled in pain. The apprentice jumped on her neck and bit down.
He's trying to kill me! What do ShadowClan teach their apprentices?
She kicked her hind legs and flung him off. She jumped on top of him and scratched his belly.
"Retreat ThunderClan! Retreat!" Bramblestar ordered the warriors. Moonpaw jumped off the apprentice and ran back home.
Oh no! Bumblestripe!
"Dovewing, there's something I need to tell you." She mewed as they reached the ThunderClan border.
"What is it?" Dovewing asked.
"Bumblestripe... is dead." She chocked out. Dovewing's eyes clouded with grief.
"No... no no... why? Who did this!" She growled.
"Stormpaw said it was a ShadowClan patrol." Moonpaw told her.
"Where is his body?" Dovewing asked.
"Follow me." She beckoned her mother. Lionblaze and Thornclaw followed.
The led them to where her father's body was.
Lionblaze and Thornclaw dragged him out of the bushes and started carrying him back to camp. Moonpaw followed, but looked back to see that Dovewing wasn't following. She walked back to her mother.
"What am I going to do now?" She stammered.
"Be the best warrior you can be. Bumblestripe would want you to carry on trying to be who you are. You are the best warrior to me, Dovewing." Moonpaw told her.
Dovewing looked up at her.
"You always were the wisest one of the litter." She purred. "You always know what to say. Come on, let's get back to camp. Bramblestar is arranging a warriors ceremony."
Warriors! We're going to be warriors!
Together they walked back to the camp.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" Bramblestar called as Moonpaw and Dovewing padded into the camp.
"Today, we had an excellent fight. ShadowClan has agreed to give us back the clearing once again. But, we lost one brave warrior, Bumblestripe. May StarClan light his path and let him find prey and shelter where he sleeps." He announced. "We also have a warrior ceremony! Ashpaw, Hollypaw, Moonpaw, and Stormpaw fought brilliantly in the battle today, and their mentors agree that they are ready to become warriors. Ashpaw, Hollypaw, Stormpaw, and Moonpaw do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect your Clan even at the cost of your life?"
"I do" Ashpaw meowed.
"I do." Hollypaw exclaimd.
"I do." Stormpaw growled.
"I do." Moonpaw promised.
Moonpaw looked around for her littermates. Their faces were surprised, but excited.
"Berrynose, do you agree that Stormpaw is ready to become a warrior?" Bramblestar asked.
"He couldn't be more ready." Berrynose told him.
"Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Stormpaw from this moment on, you will be known as Stormheart. StarClan honor your bravery and your strength and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Bramblestar announced. "Poppyfrost, do you agree that Hollypaw is ready to become a warrior?"
"She is." Poppyfrost meowed.
"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Hollypaw, from this day forward, you will be known as Hollyheart. StarClan honor you bravery and your skill and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Hollypaw walked up to Bramblestar and licked his shoulder.
"Squirrelflight, is Ashpaw ready to become a warrior?" Bramblestar asked.
Squirrelflight nodded, memories flashing through her eyes. "He is."
Bramblestar noticed the memories to, he nodded. "Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Ashpaw, from this moment forward, you will be known as Ashfur. StarClan honors your skill and your stength and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."
Ashfur walked up to Bramblestar and licked his shoulder.
"Lionblaze, is Moonpaw really to become a warrior." Bramblestar asked him.
"She couldn't be more ready." Lionblaze agreed.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Moonpaw from this day forward, you will be known as Moonflower. StarClan honors your bravery and your intelligence and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."
Moonflower padded up to Bramblestar and licked his shoulder.
We did it! We're warriors! I just wish Bumblestripe was here to see it...
"According to the warrior code, these cats have to sit a silent vigal and guard the camp through the night." Bramblestar announced and jumped off Highledge.