Chapter 2- A Bitter Sweet Sorrow
The next day, MossStar woke up to BrightStar sobbing next to her in the warriors den.
"What's wrong, BrightStar? Is it because of Feather…I'm really sorry, but.." MossStar sighed.
"MossStar…GoldenWing is dead!" cried BrightStar.
"What? How did she die?" MossStar asked in alarm.
"She…She died of green cough. With her old age, she just couldn't make it." said BrightStar in a hushed voice.
MossStar got up and shook the bracken from her fur and went to look for her mother before she was taken for burial.
As she was looking for her mother she ran onto Moth.
"Is…is GoldenWing in the clearing waiting to be buried?" MossStar asked.
"Yes, she is…I'm sorry for your loss." Moth asked forlornly.
"Thank you, Moth." she replied.
MossStar soon found her mother in the main clearing with LongFur and a few other warriors surrounding her.
MossStar padded up to her mother and stuck her nose into her mothers pelt.
"May Starclan guide your path mother. I'm sorry our last words had to be an argument, but I wish you hadn't left so soon." MossStar's eyes suddenly went cold. "But, I;m going to find Feather. Even if I die trying. I'm sorry…" she then got up to go find SwiftTalon.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the high branch for a clan meeting." sounded Moth. "We all know that our great and noble leader, GoldeWing, has died recently of green-cough. I have just received my nine lives from Starclan at the Moon-cave. And I have decided who I will now pick as my deputy. The new deputy will be, TallHeart." he announced.
"I wont let you dowm, Moth." said the big golden tabby tom.
The clan soon scattered as Moth leaped off of the tree branch that his clan has used for generations as the place the leaders used for addressing the clan.
The elders then came out of their den, said their goodbyes to GoldenWing and took her body out of the camp to be burried.
MossStar followed Moth to his den, so instead of sneaking out, maybe she could convince him to let her find Feather.
"Don't even ask. I know what you are going to say." Moth said unexpectedly.
"Well?" MossStar challenged.
"Look, I will allow you to go, but you must take two other warriors with you." he said.
"Okay, I promise to do my best in finding her, you have my word. May I take SwiftTalon and BrambleFern?" she asked?
"Yes, as long as they agree with it. I will have no warriors forced into this. You three will leave tomorrow morning. Go inform the other two and go to Leopard for information on healing herbs you may need on the journey. I will inform the rest of the clan tomorrow." Moth finished.
"Thank you, Moth. I wont let you or BrightStar down." MossStar said with pure determination mixed with a little bit of anxiety. What am I getting myself into?
MossStar walked out of the den to go find her two best friends.
"BrambleFern! SwiftTalon! I need to speak with you!" MossStar yowled.
Soon enough the two toms came sprinting from the warriors den.
"What is it?" they both asked at once.
She slowly explained what was going on and what they needed to do. They both excepted the challenge eagerly at the journey that lay ahead.
It was good that BrambleFern was one of the best trackers, MossStar was one of the best hunters and SwiftTalon was one of the best fighters.
"Now lets go get some sleep. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow." said SwiftTalon.
"I'm already gone." yawned BrambleFern.
"Where am I?" MossStar asked.
"Don't worry, MossStar." said a starry voice.
"Mother? I must be in the Starclan hunting grounds. I must be dreaming." MossStar realized.
"Yes you are." said GoldenWing as she appeared with a starry gaze in her eyes. She looked young again, shining and beautiful.
"Mother, I'm sorry for disobeying you but…" babbled MossStar in a worried voice.
"Its ok MossStar. I want you to know I will look over you and your clanmates on this journey." GoldenWing promised.
"Thank you, GoldenWing, I love you." said MossStar.
GoldenWing was shimmering away as she stated one last message.
"Beware of the one, who's darkness is drowning he who isn't done." GoldenWing's voice faded as she disappeared into the starry sky.
"A prophecy?" MossStar wondered.
"Wait, Mother, What do u mean?" But it was too later. Her mother had left her with a prophecy that should would have to figure out on her own.
When MossStar woke up, she was troubled by the prophetic words her mother had given her, but yet she was relieved to know that her mother would be watching her on this journey and that GoldenWing had forgiven her.
I'm so happy I'm taking my two best friends with me on this journey. I wouldn't have chosen anyone else. MossStar thought to herself.
MossStar dozed back off, but her dreams were even more troubled with dark shadows, and ominous words she could not understand.
I want BlackFeather to know that it doesn't matter where we take this path, he has gotta go. I will save you Feather. I promise, I must. For the clan, for you, for your mother, and for…me.
She thought as she dreamed.