A/N: So so sorry I haven't updated for three weeks! I haven't been getting much time to work on my fanfic. -coughcoughschoolcoughcough- After the end of the this week, I should have more free time. Anyway, thanks to all you patient followers, and I hope you all enjoy this chapter!
For those of you that are wondering what's going to happen to Redpaw, I'm sorry to say you'll find out in the next chapter. So far he's holding on, but who knows (except me) what's going to happen to him?
There are two lines (both said by Flamepaw) that are quotes from two different shows. I don't know if any of you will recognize them, but if you do, let me know! (Please)
So... onto chapter 11!
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors. How many times must I repeat this?
Chapter 11
"Graystripe!"
Millie's terrified screech still echoed through Flamepaw's mind whenever he saw her or the hurt cats.
They had managed to get Graystripe and Redpaw safely back to camp without too much trouble—excluding a leaf that had landed on Mosspaw's back—and now the two toms were in the medicine den. Still unconscious, but safe. Mosspaw and Millie had taken to sitting vigil by them, both lying by their 'mates'. Flamepaw glanced at his sister, worried about her health. For two full days she hadn't eaten anything, ever since the incident with the wolf; only stayed by Redpaw.
All she ever did was press up against his side and bury her muzzle in his fur.
"Flamepaw," Jayfeather meowed, alerting his apprentice as he padded up to him.
"Yes, Jayfeather?" Flamepaw sighed, still wondering how he could persuade Mosspaw to eat.
"Tonight's the half moon," Jayfeather murmured quietly, turning his sightless eyes to the injured cats. "I don't know if I should go, though."
"I can go alone, Jayfeather," Flamepaw mewed, finally giving up on thinking of a solution. "I've been to the Moonpool before; I know the way."
"Yes, I know that, but I was supposed to make you a medicine cat apprentice in the eyes of StarClan tonight," Jayfeather reminded him. "I wonder if Brightheart still remembers the right herbs," he muttered, almost to himself. But Flamepaw could tell from the way his expression was that he would be much more comfortable staying behind with the injured cats.
"Don't worry about that, Jayfeather," Flamepaw insisted. "It can wait until next time; I'm sure StarClan will understand."
Jayfeather hesitated, but he finally conceded, flicking his tail to the entrance of the den. "You should go now if you don't want to be late."
"Jayfeather," Flamepaw mewed, pausing as he tried to think of the right words. "Could you try to get Mosspaw to eat something? Millie's been eating just fine while she gets all hyper worrying about Graystripe, but Mosspaw seems determined to wait for Redpaw to have enough strength to eat with her before she touches a mouse."
Jayfeather was silent as he stared at Flamepaw, and Flamepaw was worried he had said the wrong thing. But then Jayfeather nodded, meowing, "Fine, but get going!"
Flamepaw jumped to his paws and exited the medicine den, racing across the clearing to the thorn tunnel. Berrynose, who was speaking to Poppyfrost and Molewhisker nearby, suddenly looked up as Flamepaw neared the entrance.
"Where are you going, Flamepaw?" he called, trotting away from his mate and son to plant himself in Flamepaw's path. Flamepaw halted, looking up at the cream furred warrior.
"Really, Berrynose? Really?" he sighed, exasperated for unknown reasons. "I'm going to the Moonpool; it's the half-moon."
"So where's Jayfeather? Last I checked, he was in the medicine den," Berrynose meowed, narrowing his eyes down at Flamepaw.
"Jayfeather's not coming; he's staying behind to watch over Redpaw and Graystripe. Let me go, will you? I'll be late!" Flamepaw meowed, itching to get going and see the other medicine cats again.
Berrynose eyed him for a heartbeat longer, then turned to a cat behind Flamepaw. "Leafpool, go with him, will you? You know the way to the Moonpool."
Flamepaw looked over his shoulder at Leafpool, who was standing a few tail-lengths behind them, her eyes wide and anxious about something. He narrowed his eyes, remembering he had been meaning to talk to Leafpool about Crowfeather; this would be the perfect time. Of course, there was no doubt that she was meeting him, after the performance just outside the Moonpool five days ago. But he wanted to inform her on something.
"Fine," Flamepaw muttered, flicking his tail at the older she-cat to follow him. As he padded away from Berrynose, he added under his breath, "It's not like I don't know the way to the Moonpool."
Everything was silent along the path to the WindClan border. Even the birds, though they should've been calling out before dark finally settled over the forest, were quiet, and only a slight breeze rustled the leaves in the trees. With a shiver, Flamepaw sensed danger. But it wasn't here yet.
Leafpool, who was still tagging along behind him rather than taking the lead like she was instructed to by Berrynose, kept glancing up ahead to where the stream was, then all around, as if she were watching for something. Perhaps she could sense the danger as well. Or maybe she was just anxious to get to Crowfeather.
Flamepaw stopped padding forward, not looking back. "Leafpool."
Leafpool stopped as well, not looking startled. "Yes, Flamepaw?"
"I need to let you know that I won't tell any cat about you meeting Crowfeather," Flamepaw started. He went on as Leafpool seemed to relax. "However, if any other cat sees you with him, I'm not supporting you. I never knew you were meeting Crowfeather."
Leafpool nodded, turning her head to look to one side. "What about Mosspaw? What's she going to do?"
"If I know Mosspaw, she's going to help with every bit of power she has. But that still might not be enough," Flamepaw added, looking over his shoulder at the older she-cat. "Don't let her get in trouble." He took a few paces forward, calling back, "Go on and meet him, Leafpool. I know my way to the Moonpool."
Leafpool hesitated, but then she called back, "Thanks, I think," and left.
Flamepaw picked up the pace, glad to finally reach the stream. As he padded beside it for a few steps, trying to find a good spot to cross it, he heard some cats approaching him. Hoping with all his heart that it wasn't Berrynose, he turned around. Relief filled his every muscle, and he called out a greeting to the two ShadowClan medicine cats approaching.
"Hey, Flamepaw!" Honeypaw called back, trotting forward to stand beside him. "How's the water?" She dabbed a paw at the water, recoiling as her paw touched the cold surface. "I guess it's cold."
Littlecloud reached them, coming to a stop beside his apprentice. "Where is Jayfeather, Flamepaw?"
"Oh, we had an . . . attack . . . and there are two cats unconscious in the medicine den, so he figured it'd be better if he stayed behind," Flamepaw explained, finding it hard to reveal that Redpaw and Graystripe were injured. He knew that Littlecloud and Honeypaw were medicine cats, and that they both knew about the prophecy, but he couldn't shake off the fact that they were ShadowClan cats. He'd just have to put that aside and force himself to trust them.
"Oh? What kind of attack? Not from WindClan, surely?" Littlecloud asked, sounding genuinely concerned.
"No, Mosspaw and I think we got our first view of the beasts, whatever they are," Flamepaw murmured, remembering the giant dog-looking thing. "It was large and had a gray shaggy coat. Its snout was longer than a fox's, but no so . . . well, just not like one. Anyway, it was larger than what I've heard dogs are like."
"Could it be a wolf?" Honeypaw asked, her eyes wide.
"A wolf? What's that?" he answered, though it wasn't really an answer.
"A wolf is what you saw," Littlecloud meowed, sounding sure of himself. Flamepaw looked at him in surprise, but shrugged and nodded.
Turning around so he was facing the stream again, Flamepaw prepared himself to leap over. Carefully measuring the gap, he gathered himself, and sprang over, just barely reaching the other side. His hind paw slipped, and he struggled to pull himself up, but Honeypaw and Littlecloud leaped over as well and helped him up the rest of the way.
"Thanks," he gasped, having felt the chilly water on the paw that had slipped. Honeypaw hadn't been lying when she'd said it was cold!
The three medicine cats started off to the Moonpool, keeping an ear out for the WindClan medicine cats. Littlecloud was silent for a few moments, but then he looked over at Flamepaw and meowed, "I'm sure you want Jayfeather to introduce you to StarClan, am I correct?"
Flamepaw blinked and looked back at Littlecloud. "Yes, I would. Thank you, though." He could tell from the look Littlecloud was giving him that the older medicine cat was silently offering to introduce him himself. But Flamepaw knew that it was only proper that Jayfeather introduced him. After all, if Littlecloud introduced him, it would seem as if ShadowClan were getting a new apprentice along with Honeypaw.
Not long after, the WindClan and RiverClan medicine cats caught up with them. As they greeted each other, Honeypaw announced to them all, "Flamepaw saw a wolf!"
They all grew silent and looked at Flamepaw. He nodded, feeling uncomfortable under every cat's gaze. "I, uh . . . I think it was one of the beasts," he meowed, flicking his tail. "And I can tell you personally that you don't want to mess with them if you can help it; two cats are unconscious and have been since the attack, which was . . . two days ago."
"So is that why Jayfeather isn't here with you?" Willowshine asked sceptically. Flamepaw nodded, and he eyed her, wondering why she sounded as if she was proclaiming to the world that she knew Jayfeather wouldn't be coming. Turning away from her, he decided that Jayfeather and her had had some kind of history together that he didn't want to know about.
They started to pad off to the Moonpool, and Flamepaw—glad to have the attention off of him—slowed down to pad beside Mistpaw, who was at the back of the group.
"How's Sunpaw doing?" he asked her.
She shrugged and nodded, mewing, "He's good." Mistpaw glanced at Flamepaw, then asked quietly, "When the wolf attacked you, did you see Nightcloud around?"
"Nightcloud?" Flamepaw echoed in surprise. What did Nightcloud have to do anything? "No; why?"
Mistpaw shook her head. "I'm not sure; she wasn't in camp that day and she hadn't been assigned to any patrols. But then again, neither were Owlwhisker or Leaftail, so I guess it was nothing. Maybe they all went on a hunting patrol of their own."
"Yeah, that must've been it," Flamepaw agreed. "Nightcloud wasn't anywhere to be seen at all. Not even any eyes peering out from behind some bushes or the presence of her."
"Okay. I guess that's what she was doing," Mistpaw meowed, sounding relieved.
Honeypaw and Waterpaw dropped back to join the pair of them, and Honeypaw turned to Flamepaw, asking, "So how's Mosspaw been doing?"
Flamepaw looked away, remembering the state she was in. "Not well," he murmured quietly, almost too quietly. Honeypaw's ears pricked up, though, and she stopped in front of him.
"What's wrong with Mosspaw?" she exclaimed, her eyes wide. "Tell me, Flamepaw! What's wrong with her?"
"Hey! Are you coming to the Moonpool, or are you going to stand around waiting for dawn to come?" Willowshine yowled from way up ahead.
Flamepaw pushed past Honeypaw. "Let's go; we don't want to be late."
They neared the rocks that they had to clamber up, but before Flamepaw could start bounding up, Honeypaw jumped in front of him again, preventing him from moving forward.
"Flamepaw," she meowed, staring straight into his eyes. They were so intense that he had to look away. "Flamepaw, tell me what's wrong with Mosspaw."
"Ever since Redpaw fell unconscious because of the wolf, Mosspaw's been by his side, not moving, not eating. I'm really worried about them both," he meowed, finally explaining.
"But why, Flamepaw?" Honeypaw persisted. "Why would Mosspaw care so much about a cat from a separate litter? Sure, they were kithood friends, and I guess now really good friends since they're apprentices, but . . . it just doesn't make sense."
The other two apprentices were waiting for Flamepaw's reply, and he hesitated, before murmuring, "They're mates."
Honeypaw stared, but she didn't protest as Flamepaw brushed past her again and started climbing up. They all followed numbly, but Waterpaw just had to break the silence.
"Is it right for apprentices to have mates?" he asked, ignoring the look that Willowshine had given him when they finally reached the top.
"They're not full mates yet," Flamepaw explained, wiggling his way through the brambles. "I assume they'll wait until they're warriors before they . . . you know. Have kits and such." He paused, adding, "At least, I hope."
"Don't you trust Mosspaw?" Honeypaw purred, the first purr that had sounded since the hushed mood had been set upon the apprentices. "I'm sure she knows better than that."
"Oh, I trust Mosspaw all right," Flamepaw assured her. "It's Redpaw I don't trust."
"But weren't you denmates?" Waterpaw asked, leading the way down the winding path to where their mentors were waiting.
"Yes, but I've never seen this side of him before," Flamepaw meowed back.
"Are you finished?" Willowshine asked, flicking her tail up at the moon. "Moonhigh's going to be over soon. We should get you three made into full medicine cat apprentices."
Flamepaw stepped away from the three other apprentices, surprisingly not feeling any resentment that he wasn't going to be introduced to StarClan tonight with his mentor. It just meant the next Moonpool meeting would be special; only he would be getting introduced.
Littlecloud turned to Honeypaw first, since he was the eldest of the medicine cats. The ginger she-cat was trembling with excitement, even though she had already met with StarClan at least twice before.
"Honeypaw," Littlecloud meowed, gazing at his apprentice fondly, "is it your wish to enter the mysteries of StarClan as a medicine cat?"
"It is," she mewed, nodding.
"Then come forward." Littlecloud beckoned her forward, and she stepped up until she was in front of him and the Moonpool. Then he announced, "Warriors of StarClan, I present you with this apprentice. She has chosen the path of a medicine cat. Grant her your wisdom and insight so that she may understand your ways and heal her Clan in accordance with your will." He leaned forward to touch noses with Honeypaw, and they sat down to watch the others become full medicine cat apprentices.
Once the other two ceremonies had been finalized, all the cats crouched at the edge of the Moonpool. As Flamepaw reached down to lap the water, he noticed it was even colder than the stream and that it tasted like star water. Or rather what he thought star water would taste like.
He closed his eyes, feeling a sudden urge to let himself slip into the comfortable darkness that was calling to him. His limbs went limp, and he felt as though he were floating in cold, black space; there was nothing else around.
When he finally opened his eyes cautiously, he was suddenly shocked at what he saw.
He was crouched in a field that had silver grass. It was all sparkling as if starshine had been sprinkled onto it. When he looked up, the half-moon shone brightly down on him, and he closed his eyes for a moment to bask in the heatless light.
When he opened them again, a gray she-cat was standing before him, and he took a surprised step backwards before regaining his composure.
"Hello, Flamepaw," she purred, sitting down and motioning for him to sit down as well. When he did, the she-cat meowed, "I suppose you're wondering who I am and why only I'm here."
Flamepaw nodded hesitantly, wondering why she seemed so reluctant to tell him her name.
"Unfortunately, I can't tell you who I am, or the other cats from StarClan will probably punish me."
"Because you told me your name?" he asked, completely confused.
"No, because I have a prophecy for you. One that should be kept secret, yet it's just not one that can be kept quiet," she explained, only accomplishing to confuse him further. The tone of her voice warned him not to ask questions, though, so he just nodded.
The she-cat paused, but without hesitation, she meowed, "Frosty spots and broken stripes will be restored along with the others; yet most cats won't know it until tabbies find them."
"You do know that that makes absolutely no sense, right?" Flamepaw meowed promptly. The she-cat nodded, her ears twitching.
"Yes. It doesn't make any sense," she admitted. "Which is why it was supposed to be kept secret. Yet I am confident that you will decipher what it means. Jayfeather will help you." She leaned forward to lick Flamepaw between the ears, then vanished from sight. Flamepaw sat there, staring at the place she had been sitting, yet not really looking at anything.
A suddenly overwhelming feeling of tiredness overcame him, and he let his forelegs drop into a crouch as he closed his eyes.
"See you next half-moon, Flamepaw," Waterpaw called, as he followed Willowshine down the slope away from the other medicine cats.
Flamepaw nodded and waved his tail absentmindedly. He was still trying to grasp what the prophecy meant so he'd have the courage to tell Jayfeather.
"Um . . . bye, Flamepaw," Mistpaw mewed hesitantly, her large soft eyes watching as he shook his head, trying to focus on the outside world.
"Yeah; see you soon," he meowed, touching her ear with his nose quickly. She ducked her head, embarrassed, and scampered off after Kestrelflight.
As Mistpaw disappeared, any trace of thought about the other medicine cats disappeared from Flamepaw's mind as well. Now that his mind had been taken off of the prophecy, it was focused on the unconscious cats and Mosspaw back at camp. He started padding home without remembering to say good-bye to the two ShadowClan cats.
After he had crossed the boundary stream, he was suddenly aware of something following him, and he whipped around, ready to fight. Honeypaw and Littlecloud looked almost as surprised as he was, but he straightened up and turned away again.
"What are you doing, following me?" he asked, giving his chest a few licks to hide his embarrassment.
"This is the fastest way to get back to ShadowClan, unless you want us to go all the way around the lake," Honeypaw meowed, moving forward to pad beside him as they started on again.
Flamepaw opened his mouth to reply, but a scent caught his attention—a strangely familiar scent, but one that seemed to be buried deep in his memory. Honeypaw noticed the scent as well, and as Littlecloud joined them, she announced, "That's a wolf, isn't it?"
"How do you know?" Flamepaw asked suspiciously.
"Littlecloud caught the scent on the edge of our territory when we were coming this way to the Moonpool," Honeypaw explained, turning around in a circle. She noticed something a little ways away and beckoned to Flamepaw.
"Look," she meowed, placing a paw on a pawprint. "I think these are wolf tracks."
"How do you know that?" Flamepaw countered. They just looked like a very, very, very large cat had been calmly padding along with their claws unsheathed.
"I don't know," Honeypaw snapped. "I just do."
"That doesn't make any sense!" Flamepaw yowled, before leaning down to sniff the tracks. Sure enough, they had the same revolting stench on them that he had smelled. Thankfully, the pawprints were heading away from Clan territory.
He sighed, lifting his head. Why did they have to be the eight little apprentices to carry this burden?
Suddenly remembering the cats back at camp again, he started heading back to camp once more, hoping that Mosspaw had eaten something. But Littlecloud called him back.
"Flamepaw! Can we follow you back to your camp? I'd like to see how Jayfeather's doing," he explained, padding over to him. Honeypaw followed, nodding vigorously.
"And I'd like to see how Mosspaw's doing!" she exclaimed.
"Fine, I guess," Flamepaw muttered. "Let's go."
He turned around and as soon as he took a step forward, he rammed into a tree—no, the tree rammed into him.
He froze, stunned at being hit in the nose—again—by a tree. Backing up a step, he growled at the tree and yowled, "What is with these trees? Why do they keep running into me?"
"Trees are rooted to the ground, Flamepaw," Littlecloud meowed gently, not moving from where he stood.
"That's what Jayfeather said, too," Flamepaw muttered. "I don't believe either of you."
"Oh, come on, Flamepaw," Honeypaw purred, nudging him around the tree. "Let's go."
"Give me a break; that tree came out of nowhere," he hissed, but he allowed himself to be guided away from the moving tree.
As he took the lead again, without warning a blur of cream fur flew into him, knocking him off his paws. Flamepaw hissed at the cat, not bothering to fight back.
Why am I not surprised to get attacked in my own territory? And by none other than one of the most irritating cats in the Clans—
"Who are you and what do you think you're doing in ThunderClan territory?" the cat hissed, shoving his muzzle close to Flamepaw's face.
"Let me think. . . . Could it be because I live here?"
"What?" The tom drew back and stared at Flamepaw, finally recognizing him. "Where's Leafpool? And why are there two ShadowClan cats with you?"
"For StarClan's sake, Berrynose, get off Flamepaw!" Lionblaze meowed, reaching over and grasping the other tom's scruff, hauling him off.
"Thanks, Lionblaze," Flamepaw mewed, scrambling up.
"So then, can you explain why two ShadowClan cats are here, Flamepaw? And where Leafpool is?"
Flamepaw looked past Lionblaze, noticing that another really annoying cat, Seedspeck, was part of the patrol and she had been the cat to speak.
"Honestly, Seedspeck," Flamepaw sighed, "you and Berrynose would make the perfect couple." Seedspeck glared at him, curling her lip, and Berrynose straightened up indignantly.
"I already have a mate!" he meowed, his voice high-pitched.
"Okay, fine. Honeypaw and Littlecloud are medicine cats, and they're doing no harm. They're coming back to camp to see how Jayfeather's doing," Flamepaw explained, turning to continue back to camp. But Berrynose jumped in front of him.
"So where's Leafpool?" he asked. "I told you both to go to the Moonpool together, remember?"
"I don't know where she is! She didn't come all the way to the Moonpool; she's not a medicine cat anymore!" Flamepaw snapped, getting agitated. "Just let me by, Berrynose. I need to get back to camp!"
"Fine," Berrynose sighed, nodding to Lionblaze. "Let's keep going."
They left the three cats behind, probably on a patrol. Flamepaw shook his head, relieved that he could finally get to camp, hoping he wouldn't have to deal with anymore interruptions.
"Let's go," he called to the ShadowClan cats.
Eventually they made it close enough so they could see the camp entrance, and Flamepaw sighed in relief as he ducked through the thorn tunnel, the other two trailing behind.
A sudden shriek—Flamepaw couldn't tell if it was from joy or anguish—sounded from inside the camp. Whatever it was made him bolt fully through the tunnel faster than Honeypaw could mew 'mouse'.
A/N: Hahahahahahaha... Cliffhanger again? Sorry. ^_^
So apparently I like annoying Flamepaw. A lot.
And Mosspaw isn't eating. At all.
And the beast seems to be a wolf. Right? Who guessed it might've been a wolf? Ginger cookie for anyone who reviews, and if you don't like soft ginger cookies, tell me which flavor and I'll give it to you!
...
Now that you've finished reading this chapter and hopefully reviewed, why don't you amble on over to Goldsong's new fic and read it? It's called 'Storm Brewing'. (I helped a bit, but she did all the work!)
Next chapter: We finally find out what Redpaw's fate is! And what's wrong with Graystripe? And why is Dewpaw acting so weird? Stay tuned! Hopefully it won't take me as long to finish that one as it did this one!