When Midnight Strikes
Oh my gosh I'm finally updating! ;w; This is amazing, I thought I would never get this chapter done, but here it is! Alright, Graypaw, do the disclaimer!
Graypaw: -puffs out chest- Orangeflight of ShadowClan does not own Warriors and never will. If she did, she would've let Bluestar live.
Thank you Graypaw! :D Now, on to the story!
Chapter 5
Graypaw launched off the ground, claws sheathed. His green eyes glinted with a challenge as his fur flew through the wind. As he prepared to land, Midnightpaw veered out of the way. He slammed into the ground, but he shook the sand out of his pelt and ran towards her again.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Yellowgaze looking at her with narrowed eyes, while Stormheart sat beside her, his blue eyes glowing proudly. Midnightpaw tried to dodge again, but Graypaw managed to grab her fur just before she got away. The gray apprentice immediately turned the situation around and pinned her unto the ground.
She struggled to get out of his grip, but to no avail. Graypaw's eyes flashed with triumph as he pressed a little harder on her shoulders. "Do you give up yet?" he asked.
Midnightpaw muttered, "Yes." She looked up at Graypaw and focused on him more clearly. "You were good." She expected the apprentice to get off of her and let Stormheart praise him, but he didn't move.
Midnightpaw blinked, looking a bit self-conscious. "Um, Graypaw? You won, you can get up now," she meowed, an edge of concern in her voice. The gray apprentice was staring at her, his green eyes looking a distant.
She was about to try again when suddenly, pawsteps thudded behind her. She felt the weight lifted off of her and saw Graypaw walk towards their two mentors, looking a bit respectful. Midnightpaw flicked her ears, attempting to find out what changed his behavior, but a meow interrupted her. "That was a good training session! Good job, Graypaw."
Recognizing the voice, Midnightpaw scrambled to her paws. "Kestrelstar?" she asked, surprise in her mew.
The golden leader stepped towards her, Snowpaw trailing behind him. A smirk was edged on her face, and the fluffy black she-cat felt a growl rising in her throat.
"Midnightpaw, that was great for a first try. But Graypaw does have more experience than you, so you shouldn't expect to win." Kestrelstar's amber eyes glinted in the sunlight, and she thought she saw a shadow of doubt flicker in them.
"Yes, you could have done better though," Yellowgaze growled, hearing her tail swishing up leaves.
Midnightpaw frowned, stepping back so that she was next to her mentor, Stormheart, and Graypaw. Was I really that bad? She turned her head to look at Graypaw, and he gave her a reassuring glance. A warm feeling spread through her from ears to tail-tip, but she looked away before the apprentice could see her expression.
"Come on, let's go," Kestrelstar ordered, flicking his tail. They all padded back towards camp. Midnightpaw trailed behind the group, still thinking about what the ThunderClan leader had said. So you shouldn't expect to win. Suddenly she felt fur brush hers, and looked up to see Snowpaw.
Her fur immediately started bristling. "What do you want?" she spat at her sister.
"I saw you and Roguepaw earlier," Snowpaw hissed. "Remember what I told you? He'll break your heart!"
"It's Graypaw," Midnightpaw snapped. "And why would you care? You hated me last time I checked."
The snow-white she-cat bared her teeth at her before speeding up to catch up with the rest of the group. Midnightpaw flattened her ears, her eyes narrowing. She can't tell me what to do!
Darkness surrounded her, making her shiver with fright. Midnightpaw strained to see, but it was just too dark. Suddenly, she saw light. Freedom! she thought excitedly, bounding through the blackness. Finally, she was enveloped in light and was blinded for a few minutes.
When the light cleared, a cat leaped at her. Winded, Midnightpaw hissed, slashing her claws through the air. Claws dug back, sinking into her skin and making her yowl in pain.
"He'll only break your heart," a familiar voice taunted. Finally getting a clear look at her attacker, she gasped. Graypaw?! He smirked at her reaction. "Finally recognize me, huh Midnightpaw?"
She felt her chest tighten and she closed her eyes, hoping this was all a bad dream. This couldn't be real, Graypaw would never attack her! The leaves crunched under Midnightpaw's paws, and her claws sank into the soil. "Graypaw, what are you doing?"
"Doing exactly what Snowpaw prophesized," the gray apprentice snarled, flashing his teeth. He leaped at her, claws outstretched.
Midnightpaw closed her eyes, waiting for the claws to slice her skin. I can't bring myself to attack him, she realized, and then the dream faded.
Midnightpaw's eyes snapped open. The dream was still fresh in her mind and she shook her head, trying to clear it. In a daze, she looked at Snowpaw's nest, her fur prickling with unease; she was the one who had told her Graypaw would break her heart, and now she wondered if it was really true. Maybe the dream was sent by StarClan. Midnightpaw stood up, shaking her pelt, and padding out of the apprentices' den. The moonlight bathed her coat a soft silver, and her golden eyes glinted in the light.
She padded towards the entrance to the forest, nodding towards Heatherstorm who was keeping watch. "Going out for a walk?" the light brown warrior asked, her green eyes narrowed.
"Yes," Midnightpaw replied, her tail flicking behind her. "I won't be gone long."
Heatherstorm frowned at her for a moment, but then nodded, flicking her tail. "Alright," she meowed, "but don't dawdle too long."
The black apprentice nodded respectfully and she padded down to the forest, her mind whirling. What if the dream comes true? Will I survive it? Will Kestrelstar exile Graypaw? Through the whirlwind of questions in her mind, she didn't hear the rustling of bushes and the scent of a cat.
Suddenly, Graypaw appeared beside her, his pelt flashing silver. "What are you doing?" he asked, making Midnightpaw jump.
"I-I had a dream," she stuttered, stepping away from him. "I was thinking about it. W-Why are you here?"
"I followed you here," Graypaw mewed, frowning. "What happened in the dream? You seem a little shaken up."
The black apprentice flinched; this was what she was dreading. Now he'll hate me! Midnightpaw looked down at the ground, seeing a red leaf drift past her paws. "I can't say," she whispered. "You won't like me for it."
The gray tom pressed against her comfortably. "I'll always be here for you, Midnightpaw. Through dawn and dusk, sunrise and sunset, I will never betray you. You can tell me anything." She looked up, staring into Graypaw's emerald green eyes. He smiled at her warmly. "We're friends forever, right?"
Warmth spread through her, and she purred. "Yes, and we always will be friends," Midnightpaw meowed.
"Now, what was that dream about?" Graypaw asked, amusement lighting his eyes.
Midnightpaw shuffled her paws, looking down at the ground again. "I… I think it was a sign from StarClan. You were in the dream, and you were attacking me, and you said the same words Snowpaw said about you…" she meowed, her fur starting to bristle. "I didn't want to hurt you, so I waited, then the dream faded. I really don't know what it was, actually."
The gray-furred apprentice stared at her for a while, and then mewed, "Do you trust me?"
She was taken aback. "What? Of course I trust you! You may have only been here for about two weeks, but I feel as if I can tell you anything."
"Then don't worry about it. If you trust me, you have the answer." Graypaw flicked his tail, pointing towards the camp. "I'll see you tomorrow, Midnightpaw," he meowed, and then turned around, bounding back to camp.
The black she-cat looked at his retreating form, and smiled. "Thank you," she murmured, looking up to stare at the bright, silver moon. Midnightpaw knew the answer now.
Yay, and this is the end of the chapter now! This was exactly 1,365 words, so I hope you enjoyed it. I made it extra long since I haven't updated in like, thousands of years xD Anyways, tell me what you think! Was it good, bad, average, or just plain trash? Just review to tell me :D
~Orangeflight of ShadowClan