Part Three contains actual quotes from Warriors, A Dangerous Path. I don't own Warriors.
Part Three. Life as it Was, Never.
Brightpaw dreamed that she was running through the forest. Her face was healed and Swiftbreeze was with her. Brightpaw awoke from her dream to see Bluestar standing in front of her. The words were blurry and hard to understand, but it was clear that Bluestar was carrying out a naming ceremony. Brightpaw stirred. She wasn't in the forest anymore; she was in Cinderpelt's den. Brightpaw heard the name Bluestar was giving and realized it was her ceremony! And her name was Lostface! A constant reminder of her fight. How could Bluestar have been so cruel? After Bluestar and Fireheart left Brightpaw moaned.
"Brightpaw." It was Cloudtail, "Cinderpelt look, she's alive."
"Ah, I was hoping she was." Cinderpelt mewed.
"You worked so hard for her." Cloudtail mewed, his voice full of gratefulness.
"Yes, yes, now I'm going out to collect more tansy. Stay with her." Cinderpelt mewed, heading out of the den.
Cloudtail curled up around Brightpaw. "It's going to be alright." He mewed.
Lostface shook her head. She tried to talk but the only words that came out were, pack pack kill kill. Cloudtail sat up and stared at Lostface in disbelief. "What did you say?" He asked, rubbing his cheek against Lostface's.
Lostface tried to repeat herself but she had no strength left and slipped back into unconsciousness. In her dream this time she was at the sunning rocks with Cloudtail. It was dawn, and they were sharing tongues. Lostface was outside her body and was looking at it through someone else's eyes. Suddenly, she couldn't control her legs and she was jerked out into the light were she couldn't stop charging at the two peaceful cats. Then she saw what she was, a dog! The one that killed Swiftbreeze! Lostface tried to stop, but she ran into Cloudtail, trampling him to the ground. Killing him with one swift, painless bite on his neck. The dream Lostface gasped, turning her head. The dog Lostface looked at that scared face and closed her eyes, bracing herself for the dream Lostface to attack her. But instead, Swiftbreeze charged from nowhere and attacked the dog Lostface. Lostface couldn't find the strength to fight back.
"Pack, Pack, Kill, Kill!" Lostface shouted, waking up. Cinderpelt rushed to her side, asking her gently to eat a pile of herbs. Lostface opened her mouth and swallowed the herbs. They tasted bitter and were hard to swallow. When she was done eating the herbs she realized how hungry she was and mewed softly, "Mouse."
"Cloudtail, bring Lostface some fresh-kill." Cinderpelt called, without looking up from sorting herbs. Cloudtail padded in holding a mouse in his jaws. He set it down in front of Lostface.
"Here you are Brightpaw." He mewed, making a point that he had called her Brightpaw. Lostface looked at Cloudtail and shook her head. She didn't want Cloudtail in trouble. Cloudtail saw the message and pushed the mouse toward her. "Keep your strength up so you can heal better."
Lostface knew she would never heal. Yellowfang had told her that she would have to go through life always remembering her mistake. Which was what? Supporting her friend? She had only come with him because she thought she could prevent him from being killed. But he had been killed anyway! Lostface felt useless. She would never be able to be a good warrior if she couldn't see or hear with her left side. With Cloudtail sleeping next to her, she fell asleep. She had the same horrible dream where she was trapped inside the dog's body. Once again she woke up screaming Pack, pack, kill, kill.
Cinderpelt did everything she could. She may have stopped the pain but she couldn't stop the nightmares. Her whole life had become a nightmare. She couldn't move from the nest without collapsing. She was still recovering from her leg wound too. Cloudtail spent all of his time with her. Encouraging her to move. Each day she made it further toward Cinderpelt's den exit. Each day the nightmares faded. One day, a quarter of a moon after she was deformed, she left Cinderpelt's den all together. With Cloudtail by her side, they padded out into the clearing. For the first time in what felt like a life time Lostface got her own piece of fresh-kill. Her clan-mates cheered her name, her horrible name, Lostface. She put the memories of the battle behind her and soaked up the clan's admiration.
"Lostface, it's great to see you out of the medicine den." Mousefur mewed, licking Lostface's cheek. Lostface purred it felt good to know the clan still cared about her.
"Where's Whitestorm?" Lostface asked. She and Cloudtail had been practicing talking confidently. Now the only thing that would ever remind her of that terrible fight for life was her name, Lostface.
…
"Lostface, its Fireheart." Lostface turned her head to face him, "Would you like to go and stay with the elders for a while?" asked Fireheart, "It would be a load of my mind if you could help look after them- the apprentices have too much to do as it is."
Lostface looked at Cloudtail. Her eyes said, do I have to? Then she worked up the courage to ask it. "I don't have to, do I? I'm not an elder."
"You'd be doing me a favor." Fireheart added, "Speckletail is still grieving for Snowkit, and it'll do her good to have a young, energetic cat around." Lostface looked lost in thought.
"It's just until you get your strength back." Fireheart mewed, seeing Lostface's hesitation.
"And when you're strong again I'll help you train." Cloudtail mewed, "I'm sure you'll be able to hunt with your good eye and ear. It'll just take a bit of practice."
Lostface was filled to the brim with hope and it sparkled in her good eye. She nodded, "Alright Fireheart. If that's the best way I can be useful."
Fireheart looked pleased. Then he did something Lostface wasn't expecting.
"Is there anything that you can tell me about that day in the forest? Did you see what attacked you?" he asked.
Lostface felt all those horrifying memories flood back into her mind. Her confidence faded away quickly.
"I don't remember." She mewed, "I'm sorry Fireheart; I don't remember."
Cloudtail licked her head gently, "It's okay; you don't have to think about it now."
Fireheart didn't do a very good job of hiding his disappointment. "Never mind, if you do think of anything, tell me right away."
"I'll tell you one thing." Cloudtail growled, "When we find out whatever did this to her, I'll make crowfood out of them. I promise you that."
The truth is, Lostface remembered. She remembered everything. She just couldn't put any of it into words.