Sorry, haven't been uploading it what seems like forever. The story is going very slow, and I admit, I haven't been working very hard on it, but I will eventually get each chapter up. For those who have reviewed, thanks! It lets me know I'm doing a good job! :D No one has to review, but it would be appreciated. Well, anyway, on to Chapter Five!
Lionpaw awoke with a gasp, her whole body giving out a shudder. The vivid images of her dream clung to her mind like brambles in her pelt; it would take time to get them out, but for now, they were to remain. Out of all the things that she saw and heard, Lionpaw could not get the thought of Mistfang out of her head. Those strange eyes, both different colors. But the way they looked at her...she could easily freeze under that stare. Lionpaw cringed as she recalled the moment when she stared deep into the eyes of Mistfang's, only to see those of the shadows. Even if it was just a dream, speaking with the shadows directly had drained all of Lionpaw's energy, making her barely able to breathe. For some reason, Lionpaw knew that this wouldn't be the last time she would encounter that enemy. However, if she was to face the problem, she would have to warn her Clanmates. But, who would she talk to first?
Lunarstar. Lionpaw carefully stood onto her paws, staggering slightly from the weak, trembling feeling in her limbs. The golden-brown she-cat slowly made her way past the sleeping bodies of her denmates, not wanting to wake them from their peaceful slumber. Thistlepaw's ear twitched when Lionpaw stepped by him, but he let out a cool sigh and didn't stir. Lionpaw's raised her paw to take another step. Suddenly, she found herself staring at the sleeping tom below her. Her eyes wandered upward, and she could see Griffonpaw snuggling close to him. In her sleep, the usual, possessive she-cat was smiling, looking quite happy to be by Thistlepaw's side. Lionpaw blinked at the two of them, and then turned away. She hopped over Rowanpaw on the way out of the apprentice den, and as she slipped through the shadows of the clearing, Lionpaw couldn't help but to feel jealous.
Lionpaw stopped at the entrance of her leader's den. Her ears pricked up, listening closely to any sound that would tell her Lunarstar was awake. However, there were no signs whatsoever. Picking up her courage by puffing out her chest, the apprentice disappeared into the cave, her tail whisking behind her.
"Lunarstar?" Lionpaw called out, her voice echoing along the walls of the stone den. The scratching of claws answered her, and the she-cat flinched from the unpleasant sound. She blinked several times, adjusting her eyes to the extreme darkness, and peered into the large area that marked the end of the cave. Lionpaw's eyes stretched wide when she made out the figure of Lunarstar, standing on his hind legs by one of the walls in his den. His front paw was stretched onto the surface, his claws unsheathed and raking the stone. The tom's ears were drawn back, his face hidden in the shadows. Lionpaw cautiously moved forward, but her stomach lurched when her paw landed in a puddle of water. Immediately, Lunarstar's head raised, and he turned around so he could face the apprentice with a narrowed glare. When he made out the she-cat in the shadows, his eyes softened.
"Lionpaw? What are you doing up so late?" Lunarstar demanded, getting back down onto all fours. The apprentice ducked her head down as she padded out of her hiding place. She was ashamed to have caught her leader at such a time, but she knew that she had to spread the warning. Something was happening, something that would change the history of the Clans forever.
"I had a...dream," Lionpaw began, trying to think back to what she saw. The four territories. The podium. The star. Mistfang. All of which were pieces that showed her the future of her home. Lionpaw's fur began to prickle at the thought of shadows overwhelming each of the Clans, and she knew that there had to be some way to stop it. But how could an apprentice hold such a task? She didn't have the wisdom of the warriors in ShadowClan, let alone a good understanding of the warrior code. To add to that, Lionpaw wasn't even Clan born. How was she going to be able to prevent this?
"Did StarClan speak to you? Have they given us a prophecy?" Lunarstar persisted, his hazel eyes wide with curiosity. Lionpaw raised her head to meet his gaze, and she drew her ears back hesitantly.
"The Shattered Stars," she mewed, her voice softer than a whisper. "It's the Shattered Stars."
"Who?" Lunarstar gave her a quizzical look.
"I don't know," Lionpaw admitted, looking away from her leader's confused expression. "Whoever they are, their focus is to annihilate the Clans, bathe it in the shadows. Their comrades, the two rogues that joined WindClan, are supposedly servants of the Shattered Stars."
"So those cats are traitors to their Clan?" Lunarstar asked. Lionpaw nodded her head in response, having no more words to say. The ShadowClan leader's tail tip twitched, and a sigh escaped from his lips. The massive tabby retreated back to his nest, pressing the moss down with his paws before settling in it. He closed his eyes, letting the information he received dwell into his mind. "Those cats should not have been allowed to join WindClan; Ivystar made a mistake when she took them in."
"What can ShadowClan do to stop it?" Lionpaw mewed, concern edging her voice.
"Ivystar cannot see beyond her own ambition, so it will be worthless making amends with her. Fighting could force WindClan to send the rogues away, but I can't risk the safety of my warriors or apprentices. However, I could try and talk with the WindClan deputy; Leaftail is a trustworthy warrior, even though he comes from a different Clan. I'm sure he would devote himself to the benefit of WindClan."
"How can we get the WindClan deputy to talk to us alone? He's always around his Clanmates!"
"Tomorrow, I'll keep watch on the WindClan border with Moonshine and Twistedtail," Lunarstar explained. "Leaftail usually is the one to keep watch on our borders. We will make an excuse to speak with him, and then pass the warning. This would mean a day away from training, so I want you and Rowanpaw to train with Fernpaw and Thistlepaw; they will be working on basic battle skills." Lionpaw dipped her head respectfully, pleased with the new plan. Lunarstar gave her a warm smile, and then flicked his tail in dismissal. "Go back to your denmates and get a good rest; I want you to impress Bearstep with all of the techniques you learned from me."
"Please, let me try one more time!" Fernpaw pleaded, sneezing as dust went up her nose. Lionpaw purred in amusement as she stared at the medicine cat apprentice, her dark gray fur completely covered in sand from the ground in the training clearing. Fernpaw had been repeatedly trying to counterattack Lionpaw's move, but every time she ended up pinned to the ground. However, no matter the many failures Fernpaw had, she was not keen to giving up.
"Hang on," Bearstep rumbled, stepping into the center where the apprentices were facing each other. "I understand you want to prove yourself a worthy opponent, but we first need to focus on where your having trouble." Fernpaw pushed herself up from her crouch, and glared at the brown warrior angrily.
"There's nothing wrong with my counterattack; Lionpaw is just too fast!" she protested.
"Congratulations," Bearstep's whiskers twitched in amusement, "You figured out where you're having trouble. The move you performed was perfect, but you don't know how to defend yourself when the counterattack has been dodged. You're putting too much force on the attack, so when Lionpaw dodges it, she recovers fast enough to unbalance you. Instead, loosen your muscles and put a balanced weight on your attack. That way, you will block Lionpaw's counterattack on your counterattack." Fernpaw kneaded the ground with her paws, trying to level out the pressure she put between them. After unsheathing and sheathing her claws several times, Fernpaw gave a confident nod of her head.
"Okay, I'm ready."
The medicine cat apprentice shook her pelt, lifting the dust off of it. Fernpaw crouched down, shaking her haunches to feel the distributed weight between them. Now prepared, the dark gray she-cat turned her attention to Lionpaw, tail lashing. Lionpaw copied Fernpaw's position, eager to give her friend a chance to prove her skill as a fighter. Bearstep observed their battle crouches, and when he was pleased, his ear flicked, giving them the signal to start.
Lionpaw was the first to launch herself at her opponent, jaws parted, and ready to grip the scruff of the she-cat. Fernpaw swiftly dodged to the side, waiting patiently for Lionpaw to land after her miss. The medicine cat apprentice performed her counterattack, swiping with quick, accurate blows. However, Lionpaw did her usual dodge and forced herself to jump back. This time, Fernpaw quickly recovered and braced herself as Lionpaw leaped toward her. The medicine cat apprentice lashed her tail once before darting forward, twisting her body so she was underneath Lionpaw. With sheathed claws, Fernpaw batted at Lionpaw's exposed belly, unbalancing her as she landed. Pain went through Lionpaw's cheek as she fell, but the pride in her clanmate overwhelmed all of the uncomfortable feelings she experienced.
"Well done," Bearstep purred, a smiling stretching across his face. Fernpaw burst in happiness, pleased to be have been complimented by a warrior. Lionpaw shook the sand from her fur before padding over to the beautiful, dark gray she-cat.
"You did very well," Lionpaw added, touching muzzles with Fernpaw. The medicine cat apprentice purred back in return, accepting the kind gesture.
"Thistlepaw," Bearstep ordered, his eyes darting to his apprentice at the edge of the clearing, "go and practice with Fernpaw. I want to see how you two work together." Thistlepaw blinked in surprise, then obediently stepped into the sandy area. Lionpaw dipped her head respectfully, and then went to join Rowanpaw by a yew bush.
"Your fighting skills have improved," Rowanpaw commented.
"Thanks," Lionpaw smiled, her ear tips turning hot with embarrassment.
"ShadowClan is lucky to have such a talented fighter," Rowanpaw went on. "With WindClan threatening borders, we'll need as many warriors as we can. It would make sense to speed up the training of the apprentices, but it seems like Lunarstar doesn't plan to make us warriors anytime soon."
"What do you think is taking him so long?" Lionpaw asked, her eyes round with curiosity.
"I don't know," Rowanpaw sighed, "but all I know is that Lunarstar is doing what he can. There are fewer kits in the Clan, apprentices make up almost half of all the warriors, and leaf-bare is coming. What can we do?"
"This might sound crazy, but maybe a battle with WindClan is what we need," Lionpaw pointed out, shifting uncomfortably at the thought. Rowanpaw gave her a confused look, but nodded her head for Lionpaw to continue. Giving out a courtesy smile, Lionpaw added, "if Lunarstar realizes how much of a warrior we all are, then he'll have to consider giving us our warrior names. I understand that battles are not good, but it could make us stronger and rank us up in the Clan."
"You could be right," Rowanpaw mewed, but there was a touch of uncertainty in her tone. Lionpaw couldn't blame her; battles weren't the best way to prove yourself worthy for a warrior name, but they were well-trained apprentices, ready for any emergency.
"That's enough training for today," Bearstep finally announced once the sun was beginning to set over the forest tops. Lionpaw let out a yawn and gave out a stretch. It had been a good lesson, even though they were just going through the basics. Once in a while, it felt good to go through the things learned long ago. However, the training activity left Lionpaw exhausted; she was ready to curl up in her den and fall to sleep.
"When we get back to camp," Bearstep mewed, "you can all grab something from the fresh-kill pile and then go to your dens." Lionpaw didn't realize she was hungry until Bearstep mentioned food. Hunger clamped her belly, making the golden-brown apprentice feel drowsy. Rowanpaw nudged Lionpaw lightly, amusement glittering in her eyes.
"You look like you're ready to fall asleep on your paws!"
"I am," Lionpaw sighed, dragging herself after her clanmates and away from the clearing.
When they got back to camp, Lunarstar was standing on the Dark Stone, Moonshine right by his side. The Clan had gathered around them, their ears pricked and listening closely to their leader's words. Lionpaw was slightly disappointed; she wanted to hear all about Lunarstar's plan and how it went with meeting Leaftail by the WindClan border. Afraid of missing any more important information, Lionpaw ran to sit by Scarletberry. The apprentice was afraid the ginger she-cat might snap at her, still angry about her false gossip, but Lionpaw was relieved to find her welcoming. She didn't want Scarletberry to be mad at her forever.
"WindClan will no longer listen to reason!" Lunarstar yowled, his eyes brimming with worry. "I have spoken with the WindClan deputy, and though he admits he is worried about the future of his clanmates, he will not going against his leader's orders. ShadowClan was unsuccessful in getting any valuable information." The ShadowClan leader turned to his deputy on the ledge below him, and he gave her permission to speak with a simple bow of his head. Moonshine immediately stood onto her paws, her fur bristling in rage.
"Lunarstar and I have discussed with each other what ShadowClan will do, and we have come to a final decision!" Silence came after the she-cat's words, and most of the ShadowClan warriors leaned forward, eager to hear what was to be said next. Moonshine lifted her chin proudly, her tail raising triumphantly into the air. "ShadowClan will attack the WindClan camp!"
Battle cries echoed through the clearing, and Lionpaw stiffened uncomfortably from the hungry looks in her clanmates' eyes. The apprentice couldn't help but to look up and notice the concern Lunarstar showed. Though he stood in a position that seemed like he was ready to lead his Clan into battle, he held a solemn expression on his face. Lionpaw's stomach clenched, unsure of what to think or do. Her leader's words were law, but was it worth it to sacrifice the lives of ShadowClan warriors for one nightmare?
"There will be two battle patrols," Moonshine proceeded. "One will be led by Lunarstar, and the other by Twistedtail. Silverstorm, Coalfur, Patchfoot, Rowanpaw, and Griffonpaw will be in Lunarstar's patrol while Goldenpool, Whitewind, Bearstep, and Thistlepaw will go with Twistedtail. We will attack immediately." Lionpaw stared in dismay as the warriors split into the two groups. Lunarstar leaped down from Darkstone, landing nimbly next to Coalfur. The ambitious, black warrior lashed his tail, impatient to get moving. Silverstorm pressed against Coalfur's side, purring when her mate leaned back and gave her a comforting lick on the ear. Patchfoot swiped a paw over his face before joining the leading patrol, his tail straight up in the air. Rowanpaw and Griffonpaw shared an excited glance as they were the last to arrive with the patrol of warriors. Twistedtail waited until Lunarstar led his patrol through the entrance before following, Goldenpool, Whitewind, Bearstep, and Thistlepaw on his tails. Lionpaw watched until the last warrior left, still dumbstruck by the decision Lunarstar and Moonshine made. It was a foolish decision, but part of it seemed right. WindClan needed to be put in their place.
"I need the rest of the warriors and apprentices to protect the camp; the battle might come to us," Moonshine warned, giving a final lash of her tail. The silver she-cat leaped from her perch, beginning to shout orders to her clanmates. Lionpaw couldn't help but let out a sigh; she was still exhausted from earlier training.
"You look tired; go and get something from Spottedheart to wake you up," Scarletberry suggested, flicking her ear in dismissal before joining Moonshine and Mousenose at the base of the Darkstone. As much as she wanted to help, Lionpaw still wanted to go to sleep. However, the golden apprentice fought back the temptation and forced herself to the medicine den, not wanting to be left behind in the fight. Spottedheart was making poultices while Fernpaw sorted through the remaining herbs they had.
"What do you need, Lionpaw?" Spottedheart demanded, not even glancing up at the she-cat. Lionpaw blinked, not realizing that she had been noticed.
"I need an herb to wake me up," she explained.
"Fernpaw!" Spottedheart called out.
"I'm on it!" came the reply. The dark gray apprentice came out of the storage room, leaves in her mouth. She dropped them to the ground and pawed them toward Lionpaw. "These will make you more energetic. Though they might be bitter tasting, it will help you during the battle."
"Thanks," Lionpaw replied, bending down to eat the leaves. Fernpaw was right; they were bitter tasting, making it hard for them to be swallowed. Lionpaw stuck out her tongue afterwards, trying to spit out the last of the remaining taste. She said her thanks to the two cats after she drank from the nearby stream, and then hurried outside to help with the defenses.
"When do you think they'll be back?" Moonshine fretted, the ShadowClan deputy pacing back and forth in the camp clearing. It was already moonhigh, and the two patrols should have returned. By that time, the remaining cats knew the battle would not come to them, and to make themselves useful, one cat patrolled the RiverClan border while the rest hunted to refill the fresh-kill pile. Lionpaw finished the last of her mouse, licking the last traces of scraps away from her lips before burying it. She padded to Scarletberry's side, resting her head against the warrior's foreleg. The apprentice gazed up at the she-cat, but Scarletberry continued to stare at the camp entrance, waited with waited breath.
"Do you think they won the battle?" Mousenose asked, his dark blue eyes glowing in the night. Spottedheart padded out of her den, herbs clamped in her jaws. She dropped them by a pile near Dark Stone, then calmly began grooming herself. Fernpaw followed her mentor out, her tail drooping when she saw the same warriors sitting out in the clearing.
"No sign of them?" the dark gray she-cat sighed.
"Something must have happened," Moonshine murmured, her eyes drifting to look at the ground. Spottedheart looked up from her washing and flicked an ear at them.
"Let's just pray to StarClan that there have been no deaths witnessed tonight," the medicine cat reminded. Lionpaw let the tortoiseshell's words of wisdom seep into her mind. It would shatter the Clan if any member died in the attack, but then again, having a WindClan warrior move on to StarClan would anger Ivystar's already ambitious heart. Lionpaw followed Spottedheart's suggestion and prayed silently, hoping that none of her clanmates were deeply harmed, especially the apprentices. Even if Griffonpaw was the one hurt, Lionpaw would not wish something like that on another cat.
Suddenly, the ferns trembled near the entrance of the camp. Scarletberry's eyes flashed, and her ears instinctively pricked up. Lionpaw stepped away from the warrior, unsheathing her claws in case it was an enemy warrior. Spottedheart ushered Fernpaw to Dark Stone, wanting to be close by to the herbs she and her apprentice so carefully prepared. Moonshine leaped up onto the tip of Dark Stone, her tail lashing. Mousenose crouched underneath her, his lips beginning to curl back into a snarl. Lionpaw tensed as the shadowy figure of a cat's head came out of the hole, its face hidden in the shadows. With wide, blue eyes, the cat stepped out of the entrance and into the moonlight, revealing himself as Thistlepaw. Lionpaw relaxed for a moment, and then her fur bristled at the sight of him.
Thistlepaw was almost completely covered in blood. His ear was slightly torn, and was still bleeding. Blood bubbled from his mouth and was splattered all over his face; one of his eyes was closed due to the blood around it. The scarlet, liquid substance had hardened on his fur, and some of it still dripped at the tips of his hair. His claws, which were usually a white color, were bathed crimson. Paws stumbling, Thistlepaw dragged himself forward, his tail lying limp behind him, already covered in dust and dirt. Though he looked like the living dead, his eyes still shined brightly. Lionpaw wanted to go forward and start covering the tom in sympathetic, comforting licks, but she couldn't move from where she was; she was too shocked to do anything.
"Thistlepaw!" Fernpaw screeched, flinging herself toward her brother. Thistlepaw smiled weakly, collapsing to the ground with a thankful sigh. Fernpaw started to lick the blood away, spitting away the salty taste with a disdainful gag every other time. Thistlepaw rested his chin on his paws, purring, relieved to be back safely. Lionpaw forced herself to move forward, leaning by the tom and doing the same task as Fernpaw. Soon enough, Thistlepaw was completely clean. Turned out, the blood was more from his enemies than it was him; there were a few deep scratches, but none of which were serious. After giving him the proper herbs, Thistlepaw was carried to Moonshine, where he was asked proper questions.
"Where's Lunarstar and the rest of the warriors?" Moonshine inquired.
"Resting," Thistlepaw rasped. "They're by the Ghost Tree. Lunarstar lost a life during the battle, so he can't make it back to the camp. The warriors refused to leave his side, so they sent me to share the news."
"Was ShadowClan defeated?" Moonshine blinked in surprise.
"No, but we didn't win either. At first, Ivystar wanted to challenge Lunarstar directly to see who was the better leader rather than have a fair Clan fight. However, at the moment when Lunarstar could give a killing blow, he gave mercy to Ivystar. She was furious and humiliated, so in return, she took away one of Lunarstar's lives. Afterwards, Twistedtail gave the signal to attack, and we fought. Until Coalfur took one of Ivystar's lives, the battle came to an end. It took us a while to get back, since all of us were weak from fighting. But we were warriors and fought for the safety of our Clan." With a sigh, Thistlepaw drifted off to sleep, too tired to speak. Moonshine licked the area in between the tom's ears, whispering a few words of gratitude to him. The deputy rose her head, signaling to Mousenose, Scarletberry, and Spottedheart.
"Go and retrieve the rest of the warriors. Those who can walk easily will come back to camp and get fresh-kill and sleep. Those who are too weak will immediately get treated by Spottedheart and carried by their clanmates. Go now, and I will check up on the progress later." The three cats dipped their heads, and with bundles of herbs in their jaws, they departed to ShadowClan territory. Moonshine watched them leave, her clear eyes glad. She turned back to Lionpaw and Fernpaw, who were the only cats left in the camp. "Both of you, carry Thistlepaw to his den. Lionpaw, get some sleep with him. Fernpaw, go and see if your mentor needs any help from you. If she doesn't, you get some shut eye too. We need all of our strength tomorrow."
"Yes, Moonshine," Lionpaw and Fernpaw mewed together. They lifted their clanmate onto their backs and carefully walked to the apprentice's den. After settling the exhausted tom into his nest, Lionpaw settled in beside him, pressing her nose against his matted fur. Fernpaw, seeing that everything was under control, raced away to follow the older cats to Ghost Tree. The last thing Lionpaw heard was the sound of Fernpaw's frantic paw steps and Thistlepaw's slow breathing before she fell away into a slumber.
Lionpaw was surprised to wake up on her own; usually another warrior or apprentice roused her for early training. Then, she remembered the night before. Lunarstar must be too weak to do training today. Lionpaw's jaws parted into a yawn as she got up to stretch her legs. She glanced wearily at Thistlepaw, who had been moved to a different part of the apprentice den where Griffonpaw snuggled close to him, a smile on her face. Lionpaw could tell that Griffonpaw had feelings for Thistlepaw, so seeing him with another she-cat would make Griffonpaw jealous and defensive. Lionpaw didn't feel the same way for Thistlepaw; they were just friends. Though she liked being around the comforting, gray tom, to spare Griffonpaw's feelings, Lionpaw would give them their space. Feeling energized, Lionpaw padded out of the den, prepared to see her clanmates after the battle.
There weren't many warriors in the camp clearing. Mousenose, a warrior that did not fight in the battle, was talking to his former apprentice, Whitewind, by the fresh-kill pile. Lionpaw flinched at the sight of Whitewind's wounds. There were many places where fur had been torn away, and there was a nasty scratch across her muzzle that was outlined with dark, hardened blood. Cobwebs had been pressed against it, causing one of Whitewind's eyes to be closed. Lionpaw could feel herself begin to tremble, but she forced herself to remain calm. Whitewind was okay; that was all that mattered. One scar would not change a thing. As Lionpaw continued to look around, she saw Goldenpool bathing herself in the sunlight, purring from the warmth against her fur. She had a few deep scratches, but she looked fine. Eyes searching, Lionpaw found Twistedtail speaking to Moonshine, who listened to him intently, her eyes wide. Lionpaw was not one to eavesdrop, but she was interested. She leaned her ears forward to hear.
"It is not my place to speak to other warriors this way, but Coalfur should not have taken one of Ivystar's lives," Twistedtail growled, his green eyes serious. His tails lashed in fury.
"I understand your concern, but Coalfur had stopped the battle," Moonshine reminded calmly.
"It doesn't mean it was the right thing to do," Twistedtail argued, the muscles on his flat face tensing up. "WindClan and ShadowClan are now complete rivals. I'll be surprised if Ivystar doesn't threaten us at the next Gathering."
"Ivystar declared war on the Clans long ago," Moonshine mewed. "It is our duty to remind her that we will face every threat she makes to us and defend our borders well. The only way we can do that is by having a strong Clan."
"And what makes a strong Clan, Moonshine?" Twistedtail demanded, raising an eye.
"Experienced cats that follow the warrior code: warriors."
"Exactly. Have you seen the apprentices? Rowanpaw, Thistlepaw, and Griffonpaw have all fought in the battle last night, and they fought like true warriors. Lunarstar has delayed their ceremony long enough; it is time we bring new warriors into the Clan."
Moonshine pondered the thought for a moment, and then tipped her head to one side.
"What about Lionpaw? As I recall, you are her second mentor, so you must have been the progress she has been doing. She's learned the warrior code and techniques as fast as any apprentice I have ever seen. Don't you think she's ready to become a warrior too?" Twistedtail narrowed his eyes, his claws unsheathing.
"She hasn't been in the Clan as long as the other apprentices. Also, she suffered from injuries that left her behind in her training; there should be more lessons that can be learned. Besides, how can we trust an outsider like her? WindClan has let two rogues become warriors, and they have shown no motivation to protect their adopted Clan. What if Lionpaw does the same thing? What if she becomes a traitor?"
"I believe that Lionpaw is not disloyal," Moonshine snarled back. "She has shown the heart of the true warrior by putting her clanmates before herself. That's enough to prove her loyalty."
"She didn't fight in the battle," Twistedtail pointed out.
"That doesn't mean she's not ready," Moonshine added, sounding impatient.
"All I ask is that you make Rowanpaw, Thistlepaw, and Griffonpaw a warrior, but keep Lionpaw an apprentice for at least one more moon. As much as we need warriors, we need apprentices." With that, Twistedtail turned and stalked away, glaring at Lionpaw as he swept past to the fresh-kill pile. Goldenpool immediately stood up and limped to her mate. Lionpaw watched them press their muzzles together lovingly and sit down near a shaded spot. Stomach twisting, Lionpaw approached Moonshine. The deputy blinked in surprise at the sight of the golden she-cat.
"You heard all that?" the silver warrior meowed.
"Yes," Lionpaw murmured, her tail drooping at being caught.
"As much as I disagree, Twistedtail does have a point. Can ShadowClan trust you?" Moonshine asked, her eyes pondering. Lionpaw looked up fiercely, fire burning in her amber gaze.
"I promise I'll be loyal to my Clan! I'll stay as an apprentice if I have to in order to earn my warrior name. You can trust me!"
"Good," Moonshine purred. "I knew you would understand. I have high hopes for you, Lionpaw—we all do, even Lunarstar. When the time comes that you stand beneath the Dark Stone under the eye of StarClan, you will be proven as a true warrior, and then I'll know that Lunarstar made the right choice in bringing you into the Clan. Do not be discouraged young Lionpaw; you have my support." Lionpaw's eyes stretched wide with wonder as Moonshine made her way to the leader's den, needing to speak with Lunarstar about the warrior ceremony. Ear tips burning, Lionpaw stalked to the medicine den, wanting to share the news with Fernpaw.
"Warriors? That's great!" the medicine cat apprentice exclaimed, her eyes suddenly excited. "I knew you could make it, Lionpaw!"
"Actually," Lionpaw cut in, embarrassed, "I'm not getting my warrior name. I wasn't in the battle."
"Oh, but I thought..." Fernpaw's words trailed away as she caught a warning look from Spottedheart. Bending her head down shamefully, Fernpaw began apologizing.
"It's okay; I don't think I'm ready to become a warrior right away," Lionpaw put in, her heart twisting at the words that came out of her mouth. She knew that she was deceiving herself; what she said was not true. Lionpaw did long to become a warrior, and she was certain that her skills could prove that. However, destiny begged to differ. Oh StarClan, when will I be ready? Will my time ever come?
A yowl from the clearing interrupted their discussion.
"Already?" Spottedheart gasped. "Lunarstar must feel this is the right choice if he called a meeting so soon. The two of you, go and find a place underneath Dark Stone. I will be right there." Side-by-side, Lionpaw and Fernpaw dashed into the clearing, taking a seat by Silverstorm, Fernpaw's mother. The silver warrior welcomed them with a smile, and then looked up as the meeting started. Lionpaw lifted her eyes as well, and she held her breath at the sight of Lunarstar.
Her leader was covered in scratches, with a deep one at his neck. It was all healing, but from his trembling limbs, Lionpaw could tell that the tabby was still weak. Nonetheless, Lunarstar held his chin up high and proud, his hazel eyes lifted to StarClan.
"I, Lunarstar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these three apprentices. They have trained hard to understand your noble code, and in return, I commend them to be made warriors. Rowanpaw, Thistlepaw, and Griffonpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, even at the cost of your own life?"
"I do," Rowanpaw meowed, her voice firm.
"I do," Thistlepaw replied, his eyes calm.
"I do," Griffonpaw stammered, her ears twitching nervously.
"Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Rowanpaw, from this moment you will be known as Rowanheart. StarClan honors you for your wisdom and integrity." Rowanheart bowed her head respectively, the sun opening from the clouds and covering her fur in sunlight, causing her ginger stripes to glow a fiery red. Lionpaw breathed at the beautiful sight of her friend, feeling pride that Rowanheart was finally a warrior. She paused as Lunarstar continued.
"Thistlepaw, from this moment you will be known as Thistletail. StarClan honors you for your bravery and honesty." Thistletail dipped his head, a smile stretching across his face. Lionpaw tried to catch his eye, but he was too overwhelmed in the moment to even notice her. Though slightly hurt, Lionpaw was still excited.
"Griffonpaw, from this moment you will be known as Griffonclaw. StarClan honors you for your determination and fierceness." Griffonclaw was the last to lean her head down, and together, the three new warriors raised their heads to StarClan. The Clan burst out in cheering, chanting the warrior names together. "Rowanheart, Thistletail, Griffonclaw! Rowanheart, Thistletail, Griffonclaw!"
"Rowanheart, Thistletail, Griffonclaw!" Lionpaw yowled as loud as she could, hoping that they would hear her. Rowanheart glanced over at the apprentice, her eyes warm with gratitude. Thistletail also looked in her direction with a smirk on his face. Griffonclaw didn't seem to notice at all.
"The three of you will stand vigil tonight, so get some sleep. And remember, not a word." With that said, Lunarstar retreated to his den, dismissing the Clan. Moonshine began organizing patrols for the day. While the rest of the Clan was busy, Lionpaw bounded over to the three new warriors, hoping to get a word in privately. However, Scarletberry blocked her way.
"Leave them to sleep," the older warrior advised. "You can speak to them tomorrow morning." Lionpaw looked behind Scarletberry, and disappointment filled her when she saw Thistletail's tail disappearing into the warrior's den. The apprentice looked back at the scarlet warrior obediently, though she was still irritated about not talking to them. Lionpaw let Scarletberry lead her to the camp entrance; her guesses were that Scarletberry was in charge of her for the day.
"Lunarstar wanted us to look around Ghost Tree for any signs of WindClan. They could have tried and followed us into our own territory," Scarletberry explained, slipping through the camp entrance with Lionpaw on her tail. They appeared on the other side, below the ravine. Together, they climbed up the steep path with ease. Forest scents flooded Lionpaw's nostrils as she appeared over the top. She caught the scent of mouse, and after permission from Scarletberry, she tracked it in the undergrowth. It didn't take long for the apprentice to reappear with the fresh-kill in her mouth. After some praises from Scarletberry, they shared the morsel, licking the scraps off of their lips.
They continued through the forest, bird calls echoing from every tree and bush. A hawk flew in the distance, and Scarletberry gave out a snort.
"Hawks are usually a danger to cats; they go after our kits when they're not protected. If ShadowClan had kits, we would go straight back to camp and warn our warriors." Lionpaw nodded her head in agreement, understanding the situation. It took a few minutes until they reached Ghost Tree. The white willow's branches hung gloomily down, almost touching the forest floor. Lionpaw could see why the ShadowClan warriors chose such a hiding spot; the branches would protect them from predators. Remembering her task in the first place, Lionpaw sniffed around, trying to find any evidence of WindClan. Scarletberry began doing the same.
"No sign of WindClan warriors," Lionpaw reported after scanning the whole area.
"Good," Scarletberry replied, sniffing by the roots of Ghost Tree.
"Should we report back to Lunarstar?" Lionpaw asked. Scarletberry lifted her head, looking confused. Lionpaw was puzzled as well. Scarletberry was an experienced warrior; shouldn't she know that she had to report what she had seen after returning from patrol?
"Yes, we should report this," Scarletberry agreed. "Do you think you could tell him for me, Lionpaw?"
"Is something wrong?" Lionpaw blinked in surprise.
"No, nothing at all," Scarletberry replied, giving out a fake smile. "I just need to check something."
"I could help," Lionpaw offered.
"No, it's quite alright," Scarletberry quickly declined, lashing her tail in dismissal. "Now go and tell Lunarstar; I'm sure he'll enjoy the news." Lionpaw hesitated for a moment, and then turned and raced in the direction of the camp. She found herself stopping behind a trunk where Scarletberry could not see her. Lionpaw didn't want to betray Scarletberry after gaining her friendship again, but there was something odd that the warrior was up to. Lionpaw ducked underneath the brambles, peering at the Ghost Tree. Scarletberry continued to search, her eyes focused on her work. Then suddenly, she stopped at a raised area of dirt.
Scarletberry started do dig, her paws frantically lashing at the ground. Gradually the hole got deeper and deeper, until Scarletberry stopped, her eyes widening. Lionpaw bent forward to see what she found, but it was impossible. Scarletberry bit something with her teeth, dragging it out of the ground. Lionpaw's stomach churned as Scarletberry pulled out a cat's skull from what used to be a grave. The scarlet warrior dug up the rest of the bones, putting it into one, big pile. She pulled them to the Ghost Tree, where the roots opened up to expose a small cave. There, Scarletberry deposited the bones, filling the entrance with dirt. She evened out the ground, trying to hide the evidence, but Lionpaw saw it all. What was so important about those bones that Scarletberry had to dig up?
"StarClan, I have done what I must with the prophecy. I have told no one of it. Though the ancestors of LionClan are long gone, I sacrifice the only connection I have to a lion's spirit. Lionblaze is in the ranks of StarClan, so though I can't sacrifice his spirit, I can sacrifice what is left of his body. The Clans shall not be destroyed; I have prevented this prophecy from coming true. StarClan, receive my sacrifice now." Scarletberry's voice rang high and clear from Ghost Tree. She seem determined, desperate, and terrified. The bones at her paws began to tremble, and Lionpaw could see a faint light reflect from the white bark on the willow tree. Nothing changed except for the slight tremor, and for a moment, Scarletberry looked lost. Her eyes lightened as she thought of a new idea, and she looked down at the sacrifice with confidence.
"Though the Survival of the Clans was a blessing, War still bounds each to their borders. When peace has settled in for too long, dark feelings begin to arise, and a shadow is born. With each secret and feeling of lonesome, the shadow's powers will burst and bring an old enemy back into existence. The blood of the Clans will no longer run pure after a forbidden love creates a forbidden birth. Clanmates will go against clanmates and Clans against Clans, unless the spirit of a lion is sacrificed to seal the dark feelings away."
After reciting the prophecy, the earth cracked underneath Scarletberry's paws, and the bones split. The scarlet warrior's eyes stretched wide in shock as the ground began to crumble underneath her. Shadows stretched from the roots of the trees, consuming the bones in pure darkness. "NO!" Scarletberry exclaimed, her jaws opened wide. An uncontrollable wind rose from the clouds, whipping at Scarletberry's fur, threatening to pull her away.
"What has happened?!" Scarletberry demanded, her voice full of rage and confusion. "I have done what you asked!" Lionpaw quivered from her hiding space, her fur on end. The images of the shadows reflected back her dream; the shadows that consumed everything. Reality hit Lionpaw as she realized that her dreams were beginning to become reality. Whatever prophecy Scarletberry had received, it related to the shadows, foreseeing the destruction of the Clans. Scarletberry thought she had done what was needed to prevent all of it from happening, but instead, she shared the prophecy with Lionpaw without meaning to. Who knows what would have happened if Lionpaw had not been there to overhear, but now, Scarletberry had made sure the prophecy would come true. Lionpaw knew everything, and that would change the history of the Clans.
Scarletberry tries to take matters into her own paws, but ends up telling Lionpaw the prophecy! Don't worry, Lionpaw will become a warrior either in the next chapter or the chapter after the next chapter. She'll get there. For those who are still reading, thanks! L.B. out!