Here is another dramatic chapter for you. I will not give anything else away. ^-^
Everything happened so fast Echokit could barely keep up with it all. After the yowl, ThunderClan cats streamed into the RiverClan camp with Hawkstar in the lead. It looked like her father had brought almost every warrior fit to battle. Sunwhisper sprang on the back of a gray tom and claw at him with her hind legs. Hawkstar threw himself at Crowstar and the two toms wrestled on the ground in a series of shrieks and caterwauls. The initial shock on the RiverClan cats began to wear off and cats were springing into battle every which way. The clearing was filled with yowls and wails of pain as RiverClan began to fight back.
Echokit stared and her heart thumped with excitement and determination. Hawkstar and ThunderClan had come for her just like she hoped they would. She tried to sort out which cats were from which Clan but they were only blurs of dark and light fur as both Clans fought.
Suddenly she spotted Forestpaw being held down by an enormous gray RiverClan tom. Echokit started to race forward to help but before she could reach them, Ivypaw leapt onto the tom's back and knocked him off her sister. The tom yowled in surprise and the two apprentices attacked together, side by side, and pushed him back into a corner. Echokit let out the breath she'd been holding and desperately searched through the masses of cats. She had to make sure her father was safe.
"Echokit!"
Echokit whipped around and saw Hollyfrost stumbling towards her, her black pelt matted with dried blood. The warrior had a few scratch marks but none seemed too deep. "Are we winning?" Echokit asked.
Hollyfrost's dark green eyes flickered throughout the cats battling. "Winning is not the purpose of this. You must get back to the camp and then Hawkstar will call for a retreat."
Echokit's eyes grew wide. "A retreat? But shouldn't we make sure RiverClan won't be attacking us anytime soon?"
Hollyfrost glared at her. "The only reason of this is to get you back to camp and make sure you're safe!" she snapped. "Now is not the time to question orders Echokit!"
Before Echokit could reply, she caught sight of Willowfeather stalking up behind Hollyfrost, preparing to spring. "Hollyfrost look out!" she screamed just as Willowfeather threw herself at the black ThunderClan cat. Hollyfrost whipped around and collided with the RiverClan deputy head-on, scourging her long claws down the tortoiseshell's pelt. The two cats tumbled over and over in a flurry of teeth and claws.
Echokit looked around wildly. The only way to get this to end before a cat died was for her to get back to the ThunderClan camp. She located the sedge that served as the entrance and raced towards it.
"The kit is getting away!" a RiverClan cat shouted.
Echokit heard paw steps as a cat chased after her. She weaved through the writhing cats and was so close to the exit when she saw them.
Crowstar had a mouthful of golden fur in his jaws and was shaking the victim back and forth. The cat's head lolled towards Echokit and she finally got a good look at the bloody cat. Her stomach heaved and bile rose in her throat as her eyes met the blank green ones staring emptily back at her.
"LIONPAW!" The agonized wail came from Dawnfeather, who stared at her dead kit hanging from Crowstar's jaws. Her blue eyes blazed with hatred and fury as she looked at her kit's murderer. She flew past Echokit who stumbled away and threw herself at the RiverClan leader. She leapt at the tom with a fierce screech and Crowstar dropped Lionpaw's body to the ground in surprise. Claws connected with fur as Dawnfeather pummeled the leader with viscous strikes from thorn-sharp claws
Crowstar ducked away, lashing out at the she-cat and rearing up on his hind legs to throw quick blows. Dawnfeather charged at him and sent him sprawling across the clearing. Her eyes were crazed with anguish.
Echokit darted forward to where Lionpaw's mangled body lay. Blood coated what remained of his golden-brown fur and his ears were torn and shredded. His tail was twisted into an awkward position and his eyes stared at nothing. "Lionpaw…" she whispered wretchedly, pushing her nose into his pelt. She crouched beside the apprentice, the sounds of the battle fading away slightly. I caused this, she realized. I killed him, not Crowstar. I'm the murderer. She closed her eyes tightly and trembled as the yowls reached her ears. She wasn't better than any of these cold-hearted RiverClan warriors. It didn't matter what Rowanpaw had said about her not killing her mother. She had killed Brightfeather and Lionpaw.
She forced open her eyes and looked down at the apprentice. She hadn't known him that well, but he was still a Clan mate. The least she could do was bring his body home for a proper vigil and burial. "May StarClan welcome you, Lionpaw. I'm so sorry." Her voice cracked and she had to keep herself from wailing to the sky. She felt her resolve harden and her determination build. She would not let him have died in vain.
"THUNDERCLAN! RETREAT!" Hawkstar's command rang out around the clearing. Echokit looked up, dazed. RiverClan warriors were crumpled on the ground, some struggling to keep fighting. Only Crowstar appeared to still be fit enough to continue. Echokit glanced around for Dawnfeather and her heart quickened when she couldn't find her. StarClan please let her be alive!
As ThunderClan warriors backed off, Crowstar snarled, "To gutless to finish us off?"
Hawkstar looked evenly at the leader. "The Warrior Code tells us to show mercy on our victims. I will allow you to get your Clan back to the way it once was this one time. But mark my words; if you ever hold any of my cats as prisoner again I will kill you." He caught sight of Echokit and Lionpaw then. His eyes flashed in grave surprise but he kept him voice even.
"Echokit, come."
Echokit stared at Crowstar, hatred burning its way through her limbs, and she ached to get revenge on the RiverClan leader. I will kill you, she promised silently, directing her thoughts straight at Crowstar. It was as if he'd heard her. He swiveled his head towards her and his burning glare met hers. There was a challenge in his eyes that mocked her. He knew she was only a kit, that she couldn't do much harm.
One day, you will die. She told him with her eyes. He sneered at her, assuming she didn't have it in her.
"Echokit!" Hawkstar's voice broke through her thoughts and she realized her father was standing right next to her. Lionpaw's body was gone from her side and she saw Petalstream and Adderflight dragging him out of the camp. "We have to go."
Echokit nodded numbly and followed her father out of the blood-soaked RiverClan camp. Just before the cats were out of sight, she turned back and saw Crowstar staring after them, eyes unreadable, with his broken Clan around him.
StarClan help me, your death will be by my claws. Echokit turned her back on him and followed her Clan on the long trek back home.
0x0x0
When they entered the camp, the awaiting ThunderClan cats looked up expectantly. Echokit's heart fell to her paws as she watched Stormstripe catch sight of his dead son and recoil in shock. She was witness to the anguished cry that rose from deep inside the gray warrior as he staggered forward and pushed his nose deep into Lionpaw's bloody pelt. Even from the edge of the clearing she saw how he trembled. And it was all her fault.
Featherpool pushed her way out of her den, a buddle of herbs in her jaw. The dark she-cat gasped at the sight in front of her and closed her eyes.
"Featherpool, are they back yet?" Littlewhisker padded out. "Did they rescue-?" He froze, eyes widening when he spotted Lionpaw in the middle of the clearing. "No," he croaked, pain entering his voice. "NO!"
"Littlewhisker…" Featherpool meowed, reaching for her apprentice. Littlewhisker ignored her and raced forward to his dead brother. He stared down at the body and let out a low groan. He slumped to the ground, pushing up close against Lionpaw. Echokit's heart twisted and she hung her head, ashamed and smothered with unspeakable guilt.
Murmurs rose between the cats of ThunderClan.
"He was very brave," Petalstream mewed, bowing her head. "He died a warrior's death."
Ivypaw stepped forward and looked at her friend's body. "He was a cat worthy of StarClan." Her eyes clouded over.
Forestpaw looked up at the sky where the moon was hanging low over the horizon. "StarClan shall welcome him tonight," her voice quivering.
Hawkstar, who had been silent up until then, walked slowly up to Lionpaw's dead body. A hush fell over the Clan and Echokit looked sadly at her dead Clan mate as Hawkstar spoke.
"Cats of ThunderClan," Hawkstar began, his voice a deep rasp. Sorrow clung to the words and he had to swallow before continuing. "Today an apprentice of ours died a noble warrior's death and for that he shall be honored at last with his warrior name, even though he has joined StarClan."
Stormstripe lifted his head, staring at Hawkstar with such gratefulness it made Echokit ache. She looked around for Dawnfeather and spotted her crumpled on the ground at the edge of the clearing, looking blank and confused. Featherpool crouched by her protectively, soothing her with words Echokit couldn't hear. A soft pelt brushed her and she looked up into Rowanpaw's blue eyes.
"Hey," he whispered. That one word was a question, Echokit knew. If she were to respond then Rowanpaw would know she had forgiven him. She stared at him and realized she wanted her friend back. She needed him because she couldn't deal with this guilt alone.
Echokit blinked slowly at him and nodded once. He exhaled in relief and Echokit wondered if she really meant that much to him as a friend for him to be so anxious about her forgiveness.
"StarClan here my decision and accept this new warrior into your hearts. From this moment forward, this apprentice shall be known as Lionflame for his courage and understanding. Welcome him into your ranks as a loyal ThunderClan cat for that is what he deserves." Hawkstar pressed his muzzle into Lionflame's pelt and ThunderClan cats called out his name.
"Lionflame! Lionflame! Lionflame!" Echokit joined in, though not as loud as the others.
Dawnfeather raised her head and gazed at Hawkstar. "Thank you," she meowed, her voice breaking.
Hawkstar bowed his head and turned to Ivypaw and Forestpaw. "And you two. I think you deserve your warrior names as well."
Ivypaw seemed to shake off a bit of the sadness that hung over her as she lifted her chin proudly. Forestpaw ducked her shyly, her black pelt fluffed up in pride. Echokit felt her heart lift a bit. Maybe not everything was broken because of her.
Her father raised his voice so that every cat could hear. "These two cats fought just as brave as Lionflame and have long since deserved their warrior names. Ivypaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Ivypetal for your kindness and determination."
"Ivypetal! Ivypetal! Ivypetal!" Echokit and Rowanpaw joined in. Ivypetal's eyes shone with joy.
"And Forestpaw," Hawkstar turned to the black she-cat. "You are a thinker and cautious and ThunderClan is proud to have you. You shall be known as Forestfur."
"Forestfur! Forestfur! Forestfur!"
As the Clan dispersed, the air seemed a bit lighter, the sorrow not so deep. Echokit padded over to where Littlewhisker and Stormstripe were still sitting beside Lionflame. The silver Medicine Cat apprentice glanced up as she approached. His eyes were unreadable.
"I'm so sorry for your loss," the creamy she-cat whispered, staring at the two toms.
Stormstripe looked at her and seemed to be struggling with something. "You didn't know Crowstar would kill him. It's not your fault." Then why do you sound as if you're trying to convince yourself of that?
Littlewhisker was quiet for a few moments then he too spoke. "StarClan made it so he died nobly. I'm just glad his death wasn't for nothing."
That was the closest thing to forgiveness Echokit knew she was going to get. Without reply she dipped her head and padded slowly away.
"Echokit!" her father's voice halted her. She turned to him despairingly. Was he going to blame her for Lionflame's death as well? She looked into his eyes and was surprised to find warmth shining in them. Hawkstar touched his muzzle tenderly to her white ear.
"I love you, you know that right?" he asked.
Echokit was bewildered. "Of course I do. Why do you ask?"
Hawkstar gazed at her. "You look so much like her…."
"Like who?"
"Brightfeather. You have her spirit you know," he purred touching muzzles with his daughter. "I love you Echokit. You and Pinekit are my life."
Her eyes glowed with love and her heart soared. "We love you too."
Hawkstar nodded and turned to go back to his den. Echokit stared after him, a bit stunned with the emotion she had just been a part of. Was this what it felt like to be truly loved? Not just liked, or tolerated, but loved? It was all way too much for Echokit to handle in one day.
However, no matter what she felt at the moment, her promise was ever the same.
Somehow, someway, Crowstar would pay for everything he had done.
She would make sure of it.
There ya go peeps. Kinda rushed at the end but I really wanted to jus end this chapter so that I can start the next. Spoiler: Echokit and Pinekit will be 6 moons old! You know what that means right? Heehee…Comments:
Wolfheart911: Yes, Hawkstar arrived just in time huh? Kinda convenient huh? Lol
Mistyflower68: hey, if you can tolerate my rushed writing than I sure as heck can handle your babbling. XD Everyone keeps saying my writing is really good but I don't think it's THAT good. But thanks!
VitanixKopa: Here's your wish! *throws you cookie*