Chapter 15 - Until the End, I'll Follow

Leafpaw curled into a tight ball in her nest thinking about her sister. After the fight at the ShadowClan-ThunderClan border, Berrypaw had remained in the medicine cat den. Her body was covered in multiple swatches of spider web that never seemed to stop the bleeding and a herby scent surrounded her. The light gray apprentice feared that despite whatever Silverwing did, Berrypaw might join StarClan earlier than any of them would imagine. Her fate was in StarClan's paws now.

She closed her eyes and sighed, ears drooping. Leafpaw decided that it wouldn't do her and her Clan any good to stay awake worrying about her sister. She uneasily fell asleep.

Before her was an unfamiliar meadow, none Leafpaw had seen before. It was filled with fragrant flowers and herbs and was colorful to the apprentice. Despite not knowing her surroundings, she felt at home here in this strange meadow. It felt like she was in ThunderClan camp among her Clanmates.

Among the flowers and grass, a spot of color unlike the others surrounding it moved catching the eyes of Leafpaw. She tilted her head and watched as it stopped. She knew it to be an animal, maybe even a cat, but among the various scents she couldn't distinguish a certain one. The color was also hard to determine; she thought it to be a mix of white, orange, brown and black. When the color moved again, the light gray she-cat gave chase.

The color led her across the seemingly endless meadow, but Leafpaw kept chase, her curiosity getting the better of her. She ignored the exhaustion that was beginning to take over her and the fatigue that was trying to settle in her muscles. The apprentice needed to know what the color was. It seemed to her she should know what it was even when she couldn't even think of any word for it.

Suddenly the meadow ended and a forest began. She skidded to a stop at the outskirts of it and looked in, panting. In one of the shadows, she could tell, was the color she chased. Without any light to see by though, she still couldn't recognize the familiar thing.

"Who are you?" she asked. "Why do you seem so familiar?"

It stepped out of the shadows and into the sunlight. Lionpaw stood before her, his calico coat shining in the warm sunlight. Her ears twitched happily and she bounded forward to nuzzle him affectionately. The tom licked her affectionately behind her ear and whispered, "Leafpaw, my love."

A warm feeling spread through the she-cat. For so long did she wish to hear those words. Speechless, she pounced on him and pinned him to the ground. They rolled around on the ground, playfully fighting each other with claws sheathed. Leafpaw felt so happy, so complete, like everything was right in the world. She knew her sister was still in the medicine cat den covered in spider webs that had to be changed often because of her bleeding, but somewhere inside of her she just knew that Berrypaw would survive and become a warrior with her and Lionpaw.

Lionpaw gained an advantage and pinned her to ground so she couldn't move. He panted above her and purred in laughter. "I finally win."

"No way!" She squirmed under him. When she didn't find any way to break his hold, she relaxed and muttered, "Okay, you win."

"Who win?"

In a flash, the meadow, forest and cheerful Lionpaw was replaced by the apprentices' den and her father, Smokefoot. She got to her paws quickly and stretched. "It was nothing. What's wrong? Is Berrypaw better?"

Her father touched her shoulder gently with his tail. "You should come see for yourself," he said quietly.

Her mother Bluefeather, her father, and herself sat around Berrypaw's nest looking down on her with Silverwing sitting behind them. A solemn silence filled the den.

"So, she's dead?" asked Bluefeather, her voice breaking slightly. "My daughter is dead?"

"I'm sorry. I tried everything that I possibly could, but StarClan had other plans." The medicine cat replied calmly.

"She was to be a warrior soon," commented Leafpaw. "Why did they have to kill her?"

Smokefoot nuzzled her gently, soothingly. "You do not know if ShadowClan killed her. Everything happens for a reason, Leafpaw. If StarClan has taken her, they had a very good reason to do so."

"I hope so."

Silence filled the den once more.

"I need to prepare her for the vigil now," Silverwing whispered. "Can you help me carry her out?"

The two warriors nodded as the apprentice watched. They gently picked her up by the fore and back legs and stepped out of the den into the clearing. There they let the body rest. The medicine cat went back into her den and came out with a collection of herbs in her mouth. She glanced from one to the other. "I"m sorry to dismiss you, but I need to do this alone. I'll come for you when it's complete."

The three nodded and parted. Bluefeather and Smokefoot went to the warriors' den where a few warriors sat. They talked for a few moments before the pair disappeared into the den. Leafpaw slowly padded over to the apprentices' den and laid down in the shade by the entrance where she could watch Silverwing prepare the body.

It wasn't long before Lionpaw joined the apprentice. He took a spot beside her and followed her gaze to the dead apprentice and the medicine cat. "She might have been an apprentice, but she died a warrior," he said.

She turned her gaze to him then dropped it to the ground. "I hope they accept her as a warrior then. She deserves it."

He nodded and rested his head on his paws. "I was talking to Oakstar earlier. He said that Berrypaw will get her warrior name."

Her ears twitched. "Really?"

"Yeah." Lionpaw swished his tail in thought. "You know you still have me right?"

Leafpaw's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't let the sudden twist of emotions show through in her voice. "What do you mean? Are you admitting that you love me?"

"In a way, yes. I guess," He paused a second. "Regardless of what StarClan has planned, I'll follow you every step of the way." She didn't say anything and he sighed a little. "Was my approach at the wrong time?"

She purred a little. "A little, yes. I love you too, by the way, and I'll follow you as well."

He purred as well. "Great."

The two entwined tails and snuggled closer. Leafpaw took comfort in the warmth of Lionpaw's fur and knew that despite what despair the day had brought, later days would be better.

Silverwing walked over after the last touches were done. "You're free to sit vigil now, but I suspect Oakstar may want to hold a Clan meeting especially for this."