Okay, it's plushie time!
Wolfheart911: OMG you can so have both! *throws you Rowanstrike and Echopaw plushie* NOW! Awaken from the dead! *goes all mystical on you*
Luckyfur: I know, I feel terrible for her but here's your plushie! *throws Crowstar plushie*
Frostblossom of SpiritClan: Thank you for reviewing and which plushie would you like? :3
Rainy1212: YAY! I DID THE IMPOSSIBLE! WOOOOO! What plushie do ya want, lovely to help wipe those tears away?
Silent Steps in Silver Snow: yeah, it is that time….lol here's your Echopaw voodoo plushie thing…LOL *throws whatever it is you wanted* XD
Crystalwillow123: Echopaw plushie at your service! *throws one*
Oh, and I want to know if you all want me to make a sequel to this story or not. I already have another story in mind but if you don't want it as a sequel I'll just let it stand by itself. So, review and let me know!
Onto the story!
"Wake up, young one."
Echopaw groaned but didn't open her eyes. She didn't want to get up yet, she was so tired…She felt a paw poke her sharply in the side and her green eyes flew open. She lifted her head and snapped crossly, "Do you mind? I'm trying to sleep here…" her voice trailed off as she realized four cats were standing before her. She blinked blearily to erase the traces of sleep and slowly recognized Snowstar and Thornstrike. However, the other two were unfamiliar.
"Greetings, Echopaw," Snowstar meowed. Echopaw scrambled to her paws clumsily.
"Haven't seen you for a while," she stated dryly, scanning the faces of the cats cautiously. Last time they had visited her it had changed everything about her life and she wasn't too keen on talking to these cats again. Her gaze stopped on a pretty silver tabby she-cat with beautiful markings on her face. "Who are you?"
The StarClan she-cat dipped her head, her eyes reflecting the starlight on her paws. "My name is Silverfrost. I take it you've heard of me before?"
Echopaw cocked her head. The name sounded awfully familiar…with a gasp she recalled Iceheart speaking of this cat when she had come to ThunderClan. "You're Crowstar's dead mate aren't you?" she asked, slightly awed.
A hunted look darkened the RiverClan warrior's gaze. "That is one thing I am known as, yes."
"And I'm Bumblescar," the other cat put in, drawing Echopaw's attention to him. The tom was dark gray with pale stripes and a gruesome looking scar running across his face. "I don't think you've heard of me, though."
Echopaw shook her head. "No, sorry."
"I am Brightfeather's father, your grandfather," Bumblescar answered.
"Brightfeather?" Echopaw whispered, looking around at the mention of her mother's name. "Is she here? Can I meet her? Why hasn't she visited me?"
"All in due time, Echopaw, will you meet her," Snowstar murmured.
She turned to the small light gray she-cat. "The why am I here if not to meet my mother?" A terrible thought occurred to her. "You're not here to give me another prophecy, are you?" she whispered in horror.
A deep purr rumbled through Thornstrike. "No, silly apprentice," he meowed, amusement glittering in his eyes. "We just have something to show you, come with us." He motioned for Echopaw to follow them as they padded through a large meadow with small tiny flowers everywhere.
"Where are we going?" Echopaw panted as she raced to keep up with the larger cats.
"You'll see soon enough," Silverfrost replied. "Be patient."
Echopaw rolled her eyes but held her tongue as they continued walking. After what seemed like only moments the five cats drew to a halt in front of a small sparkling pool of water. Snowstar and Bumblescar stepped to one side and Thornstrike and Silverfrost went to the other, leaving room for Echopaw to squeeze through. The small apprentice padded forward and stood staring at the still water. Her reflection stared back.
She looked up curiously. "What does it do?"
Snowstar brushed against her and the dead ThunderClan leader's face appeared in the reflection next to Echopaw's. "This pool is called the is the only one in StarClan that allows any cat to look for a few moments through the eyes of any other cat that they wish. You just put your paws into the water and think about the name of the cat that's mind you wish to enter. This can give you the ultimate advantage to find out your enemy, or even just to see which tom or she-cat likes you."
"So what you're saying," Echopaw mewed carefully. "Is that that I just put my paws in, think a cat's name and I will be in their mind and see, feel, taste, and sense what they do?"
Thornstrike nodded. "Only few cats have ever been allowed to use this because it gives you complete access to invade another cat's security in their mind. If everyone had access to this pool, there would be chaos."
"So then why are you allowing me to use it?"
"Because you need to know what hope feels like again," Silverfrost meowed, brushing her tail along Echopaw's spine.
Echopaw looked at the four cats and then at the pool. Her green eyes stared back at her questioningly, as if her reflection was asking her, what are you going to do? She glanced up again. "I can enter any cat's mind, it doesn't matter who they are?"
The four StarClan cats shook their heads and Echopaw swallowed. She hesitantly dipped both forepaws into the ice cold water and her paws went instantly numb. She closed her eyes and focused on the name of the cat she hated.
Crowstar.
Echopaw felt the wind pick up, swishing her fur around as a harsh breeze swirled around her.
Crowstar.
Echopaw felt her stomach turn over as the ground disappeared under her paws and she felt the warm pelts of the cats fade away.
Crowstar.
She didn't want to open her eyes because she was afraid of what she would see. Or, quite frankly, what she wouldn't see. With one last WHOOSH! the world spun and Echopaw felt her paws land on hard, compact dirt.
Crowstar.
The screeches of cats filled her ears and Echopaw's eyes snapped open and what she saw made her heart stop. All around her cats were clawing viciously at one another and there were so many she couldn't separate where one began and where one ended. The tangy scent of blood filled her nostrils along with the disgusting ShadowClan and RiverClan smells. Her eyes flashed back and forth. But she wasn't in the marshy ShadowClan camp nor the reed infested RiverClan clearing. In fact, it looked as if she was in…
"WindClan! Hold your ground and do not surrender!"
Echopaw's attention searched the area for the cat that had spoken and spotted Swallowstar standing on the top of a large boulder. His once handsome features were disfigured from many gashes and blood was flowing from a wound in his neck. But, even with all his wounds, the WindClan leader threw himself, unhesitant, back into the mass of writhing, yowling cats. Suddenly, she understood what was going on. RiverClan and ShadowClan were attacking WindClan in their own camp! This could only mean she was watching from Crowstar's point of view.
Yes, destroy yourself trying to protect your filthy rabbit eaters. See if you survive. Echopaw shuddered in disgust as Crowstar's gleeful thoughts drifted across her own and she remembered she was sharing his mind. I always love watching cats fail in battle…and soon WindClan will be mine.
Echopaw shrank away from the slimy caress of the RiverClan leader's thoughts and she fought to pull herself out of his disturbing existence. With all the strength she could muster, she peeled herself out of Crowstar's mind and felt herself floating as the shrieks and yowls died away.
"Echopaw!"
The creamy she-cat stumbled as her paws hit the ground, jarring her bones. She felt sturdy shoulders hold her up as Thornstrike and Bumblescar caught her before she fell into the pool.
"Steady , young one," Bumblescar murmured. "It's alright, you're safe now."
Echopaw was gasping for breath as the scene of what she had just witnessed consumed her own mind. She wanted to dunk herself in a river to wipe off the disgusting feel of Crowstar's thoughts. She was shaking uncontrollably but shook off the two toms. She turned to Snowstar, eyes wild. "I have to get back to my Clan and tell Hawkstar to send help! RiverClan and ShadowClan are attacking WindClan and Swallowstar's loosing! Let me wake up, please!"
Snowstar nodded her eyes grave. "Go now, Echopaw. I just hope it is not too late."
Echopaw shuddered at the dark possibilities. Se dipped her head hastily to the StarClan warrior and meowed, "Thank you for allowing me to use this pool."
Snowstar nodded once more and Echopaw closed her eyes. Wake up…wake up…wake up…
"Wake up!" a voice hissed, jolting Echopaw from her dream. She blinked and could barely make out the shape of Rowanstrike who stood before her. She squinted into the darkness and scrabbled to her paws. "What's going on?"
Rowanstrike's eyes were dark as he answered grimly, "Breezewater, the WindClan deputy is here. She needs us to help her Clan."
Echopaw gasped. It must already be too late!
"RiverClan and ShadowClan are attacking WindClan and they're losing badly. Petalstream asked me to wake up every ThunderClan cat to send to help." Echopaw noticed how he said Petalstream and not Hawkstar but shoved it away. There was no time for that. She nodded and followed the ginger tom out of the den and quickly raced to the center of the clearing.
The silver pelt of the WindClan deputy slumped in the middle of a ring of cats. "Please," Breezewater was pleading. "Please, help us!"
Petalstream touched her tail reassuringly to Breezewater's shoulder. "Of course we're coming. Okay, I want three patrols organized!" she called, turning to her warriors. "Sandfur, I want you to take, Stormstripe, Adderflight, Rowanstrike, Tanglewhisper, Jaypath, Hollyfrost and Fishleap." Sandfur nodded his agreement. "Whitepelt," The he white tom looked up. "You will take, Echopaw, Tinyfeather, Forestfur, Sunwhisper and Dustclaw. Sandfur, when we arrive you will attack first from the left side and try and force them to the right where Whitepelt, your patrol will ambush them."
"What about the third patrol?" Dawnfeather asked.
Petalstream glanced around. "The third patrol will consist of me, Breezewater, Windfur, Dawnfeather and you, Iceheart." The white she-cat looked stunned. "I want you there so that you can help identify what some of the RiverClan cats look like since we haven't seen them in over three moons. Who know how large that Clan will be."
Iceheart nodded sharply in understanding. Suddenly, a voice called out, "Wait!" and Ivypetal appeared from the nursery. She was three moons pregnant with Fishleap's kits and was starting to show. She came to a halt panting slightly. "I want to fight."
Fishleap rushed to his mate's side. "No, you can't risk it," he meowed.
Ivypetal scowled. "If you go, I go."
"This is not about me; it's about you and the kits!"
"Then why do you get to risk your life and I have to wait here not knowing if you'll return?" Ivypetal wailed.
Fishleap licked her ear comfortingly. "I'll be back, I promise."
Ivypetal nodded and reluctantly stepped back. Mouseclaw came up to her and steered her back to the nursery, where Goldenmist was waiting. "Come on, brave warrior. You can wait with us."
"Featherpool!" Petalstream called. "Are you and Littlewhisker coming or are you staying?"
The Medicine Cat stuck her head out of the ferns with a large pile of herbs in her jaws. Littlewhisker emerged from behind her with a similar buddle in his mouth. Petalstream nodded and told them, "I want you to help Bluepool with as many WindClan cats as you can manage, okay?"
"I'll help," Iceheart told them. "I'll identify the warriors you want Petalstream and then I will assist Featherpool and them."
"Please, we don't have time for this!" Breezewater begged, already at the brambles.
"Right," Petalstream agreed. "ThunderClan, go and fight for not just you but for the safety of the WindClan cats! Onward!" All the assembled cats streamed out of the ThunderClan camp and through the forest. Echopaw felt determination speed up her paws until she was flying over the ground.
She wouldn't let WindClan be dominated by Crowstar and Shadestar.
I'm coming, WindClan. Hold on.
Dun. Dun. DUN! O.O interesting, no? The whole "magic pool" thing just suddenly came to me so I'm lie. 'huh. That'd be cool to add in'. LOL Oh, and please let me know if you guys want a sequel or not. Sorry if this was a shorter chapter, I just had to get this down fast. ^-^ Review!