Guys, I am so sorry for not updating sooner. I'll probably be updating less and less, because *gasp* I have a life! And I have school, which gives me *dramatic sigh* homework.
Chapter 19
"Owlflight, I need to talk to you." Pinestar stood by the camp entrance, his reddish-brown tail flicking back and forth, his pale amber eyes narrowed, his fur fluffed up against the newleaf breeze. His silvery-white whiskers twitched as he said, "Now, Owflight. You're not in trouble."
Owlflight stared at his leader for a moment, before walking slowly towards Pinestar. His apprentice, Fernpaw, who had been given to him barely a quarter-moon after he had become a warrior, chirped, "So are we going to practice hunting later, Owlflight?"
"Yes." Owlflight went over to Pinestar, and dipped his head respectfully. "So what is it?"
"I... I realize that I have forgotten something crucial to your training." Pinestar paused, his brow furrowed. "It would have been even more important had you been a medicine cat, but you are a warrior, and I did not realize." Owlflight winced. "I'm sorry, I really am, but I had to teach Ambershade that medicine cats are important in this clan." He let out a small purr of amusement. "And he could do with learning some respect. Anyways," he continued, seeing the impatient but hopeful look on the warrior's face, "I need to take you to the Moonpool, where your bonds with Starclan will be strengthened. I was supposed to take you as an apprentice, but, well, I forgot."
Owlflight perked up, his green eyes filled with excitement. "When are we goint?" he asked, practically bouncing on his tabby-striped paws.
"Now," Pinestar purred. "And I'll get someone to train Fernpaw for the rest of the day. Get something to eat, then we'll be going."
Owlflight skipped over to the fresh-kill pile, his heart light. Maybe if he really had a strong bond with Starclan, Pinestar would make him a medicine cat!
Ambershade, Hollypool, and four new warriors, Rosebird, Snowflower, Rockfur, and Hawkfoot were sharing two enormous rabbits, while Stormpaw was gobbling down a slimy frog. The deputy, Lizardtooth, looked rather unhappy with her meager lunch of sparrow. Owlflight joined them, his paws reaching for a plump vole, something that would last him through the journey, when Hawkfoot spoke: "You're going to the Moonpool, right?"
"You heard?" mumbled Owlflight from around the mouthfuls of juicy vole.
Rockfur snorted, and pressed against Stormpaw. "He might as well have shouted across the camp." The light gray tom shrugged. "I mean, it's not exactly a secret."
"Wait a minute," said Snowflower. Owlflight jumped. Snowflower was generally very shy, and she didn't talk much. "I thought you weren't allowed to eat before going to the Moonpool!"
"Maybe it's because they're afraid that you'll have a nightmare in the Dark Forest if you have a bellyache," Stormpaw joked, her tail curling over Rockfur's.
Owlflight shook his head. "First of all, that's ridiculous. Secondly, Pinestar told me to get something to eat-"
"Owlflight! We're leaving for the Moonpool!" Owlflight leapt to his paws and raced over to his leader. "See you later!" he called over his shoulder.
Hollypool waved her tail at him, her blue eyes brimming with affection. "Tell me all about the Moonpool when you get back!"
vOvOvOvOv
Owlflight and Pinestar trudged through the pebbly shore of the lake, wincing as occasionally they strayed too far from the water's edge and got their fur caught in Thunderclan's thick undergrowth. The journey was mostly a silent one, Owlflight being tired out from the long walk. His paws seemed to work against him, leading the gray warrior into every possible bramble and thorny bush.
When they finally arrived at the hollow, Pinestar simply plopped down onto the ground, his paws cracked and sore from the walk. "We have to wait until the moon comes out," he explained.
Owlflight nodded and sat down next to his leader, rubbing his paws against the ground. He paused when his paw dipped into something curved, and he realized that it was a footprint, one that had been worn into the ground seasons ago.
Finally the sun set, leaving only faint smudges of pink and scarlet in the sky, the rest being a dark, smoky gray. The moon hung in the dark sky, the round sphere from the last gathering cut cleanly in half, as if with a pair of the sharpest claws. The glittering white dots of Silverpelt appeared, a thick blanket of stars. Owlflight tried to count all of them but gave up, for they twinkled and flashed out of sight before reappearing so fast that he couldn't keep up.
Silently, Pinestar got up and disappeared into the shadows of night. Owlflight followed, and in a few heartbeats he caught sight of the Moonpool.
It was wide and silvery, the stars reflected in its depths, the glittering and gleaming water washing up silently, calmly, against the worn gray stone. Pinestar, without even a trace of hesitation, pressed his nose to the water and then dropped to the ground, motionless. Owlflight stared at his unconscious leader for a moment before gathering up the courage to go to the water.
The gray tabby tom pressed his muzzle into the water, some of the starry liquid seeping into his mouth. It didn't taste bad, but it didn't taste good. It was like a snowflake, hot and then icy before fading away, until another one fell onto your tongue. It was like frost and wind, and tasted like frozen water from the lake, and the tangy dark pines of the forest. And then it was all grass and oaks, and flowers, before becoming like fire that burned in your mouth.
A heavy coldness took over Owlflight's muscles, and he stumbled, before slipping on the icy water and falling. His legs were splayed on the ground, and his tongue was out and pressed against the Moonpool. A dark striped tail curled around Owlflight's left leg. Part of him wanted to get into a more comfortable position, one that didn't cause cramps and aches and was sure to give him a painful crick in his neck, but most of him wanted to just sleep. And that part won.
When Owlflight opened his eyes, he was in another world, where leaves stayed on trees all the time, where they sparkled and flashed like emeralds, slick with dew and fresh, sweet rain, where grass was thick and spongy and bunched up under Owlflight's claws, and where birds flew from tree to tree and where squirrels dashed about everywhere, while lizards sunbathed on hot stones next to crystal-clear rivers where only the fattest fish swam. Rabbits were busy munching on juicy clovers, and the dirt was tough and firm, so Owlflight decided that he'd take a shot at catching the rabbit, though frog was really more his thing.
Almost as if the place had read his thoughts, a frog jumped out of the pellucid river and croaked out a throaty, raspy song. Owlflight couldn't resist. He dropped into a crouch, waggled his hindquarters, and parted his jaws, breathing in the scent of fresh, young frog. In fact, he was so focused on the juicy prey, he didn't notice the other cat until it was almost on top of him.
"Hello."
Owlflight whirled around, his claws ripping up the hard-packed dirt, making tearing noises as the grasses were ripped from their roots. The frog disappeared into the river with a splash.
The tom growled. He was about to tell the other cat off when he noticed who it was. Or, more accurately, who they were.
Nightfrost stepped forward. There was no sign of the badger attack that had claimed his life a quarter-moon before. His blue eyes were chips of hard ice, and his black coat was groomed until it shone like the moon. A small kit poked its head from behind the dark tom, blue eyes shining. It was Berrykit. Then a young she-cat padded forward, her silvery stripes glowing on her pale fur. Soft green eyes were filled with happiness as Stormlight said, "Owlflight! It's good to see you again."
Owlflight gasped. "S-Stormlight! Berrykit! And Nightfrost," he added as the black tom narrowed his eyes.
"Owlflight, Owlflight, how's Fernpaw doing?" asked Berrykit, her light, smoky gray fur blending in with Stormlight's silvery pelt.
"She's doing great!"
"Owlflight," meowed Nightfrost. His eyes gleamed with happiness. "I hope that you're treating Hollypool alright."
Owlflight's ear tips grew hot. "Absolutely."
"And send Stormpaw and Whiteheart my best wishes when you go back, will you?" asked Stormlight. "Tell them that I love and miss them very much."
Owlflight said he would, while all the cats purred and told Owlflight to tell their loved ones that they missed them.
"You'll have to wake up now," said Nightfrost. "Don't forget to tell Rosebird how much I miss her."
"And Whiteheart and Stormpaw that I think of them constantly!"
"And that I know Fernpaw will be the best warrior ever!"
vOvOvOvOv
Owlflight blinked that last memories of Starclan out of his eye as Pinestar shook him awake. "It's nearly sunhigh," the leader said.
Owlflight jumped up. "Great Starclan!"
"We best be getting back now." Pinestar and Owlflight padded out of their hollow, and once again the young tom's sore pads stepping on the ancient pawprints. It really was sunhigh, too. The sky was a bright, clear blue, and robins flew to and fro, wriggling brown worms clutched in their beaks.
The trip back was easier than the arrival, for they had had a good sleep and had dreams filled with happiness. Well, Owlflight's dreams were filled with happiness anyways. Pinestar, however, was looking troubled and distant. In fact, when they met the loner on Shadowclan territory, the old tom almost walked right on top of her.
It was fortunate that they didn't. The loner had a bad temper, and Owlflight had no doubt in his mind that the she-cat would have clawed their ears off.
"Watch where you're going!" she had hissed.
"Then stay off our territory," retorted Owlflight. The she-cat just growled and bared her teeth. For some reason, she looked familiar to Owlflight. She had a pale, dusty brown coat that was messy and ungroomed with leaves sticking out of her fur, and a pale, flecked muzzle. A creamy brown was at the very tip of her fluffy tail. Clear blue eyes completed the look, and Owlflight still had that nagging feeling that somewhere, somehow, he had met this she-cat.
Pinestar snarled and raised his hackles. "Get off Shadowclan land."
"I'm staying here, and that's that." The she-cat unsheathed long white claws, dried blood clinging to the curved edges.
Ooh, is there going to be a fight? Actually, who am I kidding, I'm the writer, I get to decide.
Also, can anyone guess who the she-cat is?
And another question: Who's your favorite character so far?
Again, sorry I haven't updated in a while, and later!
-HalfSun