Chapter 8

*Sniff* I'm sorry...I'm a horrible person. I did this chapter what, two weeks ago, and I just forgot about it. This would have come to you so much sooner, had I posted it as soon as I finished it. And so...forgive me. :(

Bubblepaw's jaw fell open at her look-alike. She tried to speak, but the words just wouldn't come out.

The tom stared curiously at her, like he was some kit watching the apprentices play-fight. After a moment, he meowed, "Is something wrong, young one?"

Bubblepaw's jaw quivered and then suddenly snapped shut. The tom's ears flicked. "I-I'm fine, thanks…" she breathed. She then stared intently at him, pondering the possible things that could be happening right now. So many questions that she wanted to ask, but she just couldn't. She just simply stared at this curious cat. Who was he? Why did he look like her? Where were they? What did he want to tell her, want her to do?

The tom smiled. "Is there something you want to say, Bubblepaw?" he asked warmly.

Bubblepaw gulped, and took in a deep breath. "Yes," she mewed finally. "I want to know…who are you? And…where are we? And—,"

"Hey, slow down! One at a time!" The laughing tom cut her off. "Well…you should know exactly where you are." When the apprentice didn't respond, he answered his own question. "We are in RiverClan, Bubblepaw; you're at home."

Bubblepaw gasped. "RiverClan? But…how is that possible? This isn't…" she trailed off as she looked around. Then she realized he was right. It was RiverClan, but it was from a long, long time ago. "When…?"

"This is from many, many moons ago, long before you were…" he looked to be choosing his words carefully. "…born," he finally finished, looking slightly uncomfortable.

It scared and annoyed Bubblepaw that he looked so off when he said 'born'—every cat was born, they had to be. How else could they come to be…? She pushed the thought away and focused on what was happening now.

"So…exactly how long…ago?" Bubblepaw asked.

His tail flicked strangely before he answered. "Well…it's the time of Riverstar."

Bubblepaw gasped. Riverstar! "Riverstar? Really?"

He smiled and nodded. He stood up and started walking; Bubblepaw followed suit, looking around incredibly. "Wow…so…Riverstar…are you a warrior? His deputy?" she asked, turning her attention back to the older cat. He looked strong and healthy, and he was very polite, too. Her guess was deputy.

He just chuckled, and suddenly started running.

"Hey…! Wait!" She darted after him, pumping her legs; she knew they'd be sore later. "Where are you going?" she panted once she caught up to him.

He looked at her curiously for a second, then stopped at the top of a hill where Twoleg place would be in Bubblepaw's time. It was beautiful; the rolling green hills with the brilliant sun shining over them, and the river flowing silently beside them. A beautiful she-cat came bounding up the hill towards them.

"Master," she greeted, bowing her head. She eyed Bubblepaw, taking her in. "She…?" she began, but the tom silenced her with a swish of his tail. He nodded his head, looking at her meaningfully. What a strange dream…Bubblepaw thought.

"Bubblepaw." The tom snapped the apprentice from her thoughts. "You have a duty. Can you keep a secret?"

A duty? "Yes…" she meowed tentatively. "What du—,"

"Have courage and investigate around you. Your home is in danger from a Twoleg accident. Keep your special friend close. We will meet again, young one. Farewell," he whispered quickly. He nudged Bubblepaw off the edge of the hill, and she fell into blackness. She cried out, but the tom and his beautiful friend were there no more.

Bubblepaw jolted awake. Her legs were sore and she was panting. She was in the apprentices' den, with Mistypaw and Nightpaw's worried faces near her.

"Are you okay?" Mistypaw asked, carefully approaching her sibling.

"Yes…just a dream…" Bubblepaw breathed. She stood and shook it off in the weak sun. She smiled lightly at her friends. "It's nothing," she lied.

As she padded through the camp, she pondered the possibilities of her dream. What is my duty…? My 'special friend'? Agh, why are these things never clear? She came to an abrupt halt. The she-cat's face blew through her mind; Bubblepaw suddenly realized she was familiar. Where had she seen her before…?

"Bubblepaw, come on! Let's go to the training hollow!" Dreamfur called out to her.

She looked up. "Huh? Oh, yeah, sure!" she called, dashing over to her mentor.

The two cats went with Runningpaw and his mentor Brightpelt to the training hollow. Runningpaw nudged Bubblepaw. "I'm glad you're back," he murmured to her. "I've missed you a lot. Let's have fun, okay?"

Bubblepaw smiled at her old friend. "Sure thing, Runningpaw."

"Okay, you two," Dreamfur meowed. "Just give it your all!"

"Wait, wait!" Brightpelt butted in. "I'm gunna give you a story to make it seem more real, okay? All right…so, Runningpaw, you're a rouge that's been taking prey from WindClan. Bubblepaw, you're a warrior from WindClan that has spotted this intruder in the act. You're on your own, because you scented something strange and left the patrol, which isn't very far away. Impulsively, you attack the rouge, always with the option of giving up and calling for help from your Clanmates. Got it?"

The three other cats chuckled; Brightpelt had a very wide imagination, and was always helping apprentices 'get into it' by giving them a harrowing plot.

Bubblepaw winked at Runningpaw, then hissed. "Get off WindClan territory! Stop stealing our precious prey!" she cried, leaping on Runningpaw. She batted at his face with sheathed claws, and he was having fun taking them like real blows.

He tumbled backwards purposely when Bubblepaw hit him again, and stood up hissing. "Hey! I get hungry too, you know!" he spat, head-butting Bubblepaw's underside. She was shoved back with an 'oof', landing on her back. Runningpaw quickly jumped onto her belly, pinning her to the ground. He smirked at her. "Beat that," he whispered to her.

She smirked back up at him. "Not a problem," she retorted, kicking her hind legs up, shoving Runningpaw off. She ran her legs down his stomach, as if raking her claws in an attempt to injure him. He myowred to her, and then darted forward, biting her ear. "And now, I shall bite off your ear!"

"Not quite, buddy!" Bubblepaw came back with a head-butt; she heard Runningpaw's teeth click lightly together.

Then they just started play-fighting, fooling around and laughing. Brightpelt looked happy that her concept had worked. Dreamfur stepped in after a moment, breaking them up and telling them to get some fresh-kill.

The two apprentices walked out of the hollow, still laughing.

"That was fun! But I totally scared you off! You'll never interfere as I take prey from you, you WindClan fiend!" Runningpaw stated, flicking his tail playfully.

Bubblepaw grinned. "As if! I definitely scared you off my WindClan territory! Never again will you steal from the great, rabbit-stuffed WindClan!" she laughed, batting a vole off the top of the fresh-kill pile. Runningpaw took a squirrel off the side, and they sat down and started munching.

Runningpaw's ear twitched. "So…speaking of WindClan, how's that friend of yours? The loud, obnoxious, handsome tom?" he asked, grinding his teeth on handsome.

"He's…good. I haven't seen him since he left before," Bubblepaw replied. Coyotepaw's bright white smile and shining fur flashed through her mind. She hoped he was doing well. In truth, she really wanted to see him again…

Runningpaw grimaced. "You know, Bubblepaw…I think that cat's a load of trouble. You shouldn't be too close to him. I mean, what if… what if…" he flicked his ears nervously, but took a deep breath and continued. "What if…WindClan…were to attack RiverClan? Then you'd have to fight him."

Bubblepaw's eyes narrowed. "But why would WindClan attack RiverClan? They have no reason for a grudge. Runningpaw, why…?"

Runningpaw stood abruptly. "It's nothing, okay? Just forget I said anything," he meowed harshly, turning away and leaving his half-eaten squirrel.

Bubblepaw looked after her friend. She opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again. Why had Runningaw suddenly snapped on her like that? Had she said something wrong? And why would he bring up a fight with WindClan? Even if it was always possible, why was he so touchy about it…? Coyotepaw, her dream, and Runningpaw all breezed through her mind. She sighed; there were so many—too many—questions that she needed to have answered.

Suddenly, she gasped. Coyotepaw's fur, her dream—she knew who that oddly beautiful she-cat reminded her of! She looked like Coyotepaw!

I hope you liked the chapter! Again, sorry about the whole forgotten chapter thing...but, please review! X-l Please!