Chapter 23

"Felidae and Lupus."

4/6/17 - 4/7/17

Three tussles around with her brothers, Two and One, nipping and biting their ears. Two and One soon play fight with each other while Three is left behind. Three hears a soft groan in the small, crammed cave. She knows Omega lives in there, and he is sleeping off the wounds of the pack.

Alpha banned the Theta and Iota from treating his injuries and limited his food to scraps of meat.

Three quietly walks toward the cave, and looks inside. The white half-dog's pelt is littered with scars and clumps of missing fur. Omega's back is facing Three as she tries to get a closer look.

"Three!"

The dark red she-wolf is grabbed by her scruff and pulled out of the cave by her angry mother, Nova.

"What did I tell you about going near Omega?" She growls. "We don't associate with low class scum like him!"

"I just wanted to look!"

Nova shakes her head in disapproval. "That's out of the question! You're three weeks old, you cannot risk your future for a disgusting dog!"

Nova pushes Three away from Omega's cave. It only made Three's curiosity grow as she wonders about the half-wolf outcast.

The Zeta, Eta, and Beta wolves start moving, crossing into the Tribe's hunting grounds and go up the slope with Alpha in the lead. Looking over the mouth of the cave, Beechpaw and the prey-hunters, Frog, Owl, Lark and Water waits for the chance to strike. Alpha approaches the waterfall, and Beechpaw signals the attack with a swish of his tail.

The RiverClan apprentice leaps from the edge with the prey-hunters, and Beechpaw unsheathes his claws on Alpha, who narrowly dodges the attack. The prey-hunters land on the Zeta, Eta and Beta wolves separately. The wolves growl and try to bite the cats off their backs, but they held on firm.

Alpha quickly escapes through the waterfall, Beechpaw stops himself from following to help the prey-hunters. Alpha looks around the cave and stalks forward. Spiderpaw and Nightpaw watches as the cave-guards Eagle, Quail, Moss, Leap, Bird and Weasel stand in Alpha's way.

"Move, cats." Alpha sneers.

Eagle glares at the big, white she-wolf. "Turn around, Alpha. Or we will make you."

Alpha snickers. "Oh, sure, I'm so afraid."

Just then, Nova and Prideful push through the waterfall, and Spiderpaw realizes that he needs to act - fast. He looks at the stalactites and somehow sees a way to hit the betas and Alpha with the stalactites.

I'll have to be fast, though. I can't slip or miss a step or it'll be over.

Spiderpaw jumps and grabs on to the stalactite, and feels the rock break under his weight. Just as the stalactite breaks off the ceiling, Spiderpaw jumps from the stalactite and grabs hold of another.

The fallen stalactite hits Prideful's shoulder, making a wound that stings. Another stalactite falls and hits in between the two beta wolves. Nightpaw jumps from the third falling stalactite and the spear stabs Nova in the back, killing her instantly.

Alpha looks up and the cave-guards took the chance and lunges at Alpha and latches on her side. The remaining half of cave-guards attack Prideful, but the surviving beta turns tail and runs.

Beechpaw yowls, "Up the trail!"

He and the prey-hunters abandon their assault and run on the unstable rock path. Reap refuses to be defeated by cats. Reap and the other wolves run after them, Rose's paws broke through the side of the trail and falls off, rolling down and hitting the bottom.

Beechpaw and the prey-hunters reaches the top where Snowpaw is. The white and silver flecked she-cat pulls out a green berry and throws it near Reap's paws.

A repulsive smell erupts from the broken berry, Reap recoils and backs into her group, falling off the side and hitting the ground. Beechpaw goes to a big rock and pushes it with his head, Snowpaw rushes to him and lends him her strength and pushes the rock over the edge.

The rock crushes two wolves underneath, while Reap and the surviving wolves run away.

Alpha shakes the cave-guards off of her pelt and lunges at them with open jaws. Nightpaw and Spiderpaw jump from the ledge, and lands on Alpha's back and on the ground. Nightpaw bites Alpha's front paw, and Spiderpaw rakes his claws on her hind leg and flank.

Alpha whirls around and snaps her jaws, grazing Spiderpaw's ear. Nightpaw bites Alpha's tail and rips small pieces of fur off. The big white she-wolf turns around and gives Spiderpaw a chance to jump and bite her ear, ripping it clean off.

"You vermin!" Alpha roars, shaking her head and sending sprays of blood flying off her wounded ear. Alpha rears her back leg and kicks Spiderpaw into a rock, she immediately pins Nightpaw down and glares at the approaching cave-guards.

"Don't move! Or I'll eat this runt whole!"

Beechpaw and Snowpaw run into the cave with drenched pelts and stop when they see Nightpaw under Alpha's paw.

"Nightpaw!" Snowpaw cries.

Unbeknownst to anyone, a small, cream colored cat pads up the slope and looks down from the ledge. Dove that Sings at Dawn shakes in her paws and looks at the stalactite over Alpha, she notices that the pillar is broken slightly, and pebbles fall off from the cut.

Tribe of Endless Hunting, please protect me. Dove takes a deep breath and leaps and latches on to the stalactite. The stalactite groans quietly under her small weight. Dove kicks her hind legs on the stalactite, and the pillar breaks off the ceiling inch by inch.

With one final grunt, Dove kicks the stalactite and breaks it off the ceiling. Dove falls with the stalactite, Alpha had the briefest chance to look up before Nightpaw saw her opening and rolled off to the side, and the stalactite cuts Alpha's eye and stabs her front foreleg and paw.

The big white she-wolf howls with pain as blood trickles down her snout, and blinks her yellow eye. She bares her teeth in a snarl.

"You blinded me!" She howls. "You wretched little cats!"

"Leave, Alpha."

Beechpaw pads to Alpha cautiously, knowing Snowpaw is next to him.

"Your pack has retreated to your den, you have no other choice but to leave."

Alpha cackles mockingly. "Why should I listen to food?"

Stoneteller pads in front of Alpha with narrowed eyes, and Owlpaw by her side with herbs.

"You will heed the warning of the to-be, Alpha." She warns the white wolf. "The Tribe of Rushing Water will not be pushed around by your pack anymore. I suggest that you bow your head, walk away, and never bother my Tribe again."

Alpha glares at the shaggy brown she cat with hate. She slowly turns around and grabs Nova's body and hauls it over her back, she stalks through the waterfall and her silhouette vanishes down the slope. The prey-hunters appears from behind the waterfall.

Nightpaw looks and notices Dove's unmoving body. Bird immediately runs to Dove and nudges her. "Dove. Dove, answer me."

The cream colored she cat remains unmoving.

"Ancestors, please don't take her away from us…" Stoneteller whispers.

Owlpaw pads to Dove and places his ear on her flank. "... It's moving. She's alive."

Bird finally breaths out with relief.

"Beechpaw, carry Dove - but be careful." Owlpaw says.

Beechpaw carries Dove by the scruff and pads to the Tribe camp, with the Tribe cats following behind. Nightpaw looks over her shoulder to the waterfall, she pads to the camp with aching muscles.

Owlpaw and Stoneteller watch over Dove as she slowly regains consciousness. She focuses her amber eyes on her leader and the ShadowClan apprentice.

"A-Are the wolves gone?" She asks quietly.

"Dove!"

Bird covers her daughter's head with licks and shook her roughly. "Don't you ever do that to me again! I was so afraid that I lost you!"

Dove blinks at her mother. "But Nightpaw was gonna get hurt, so were you. I couldn't let it happen."

Bird shakes her head and nuzzles Dove's cheek. "You foolish, brave kit."

Dove moves from her mother's muzzle and looks at Nightpaw approaching her. "I'm glad you're okay."

"Are you going to leave…?"

Beechpaw replies. "Yes. Our job is done, and we should go back."

"But-!" Dove cuts herself off and looks away. Bird nudges Dove. "What is it?"

The cream colored kit looks at Nightpaw shyly.

"C-Can you stay and watch my to-be ceremony? Please?"

"But Dove." Bird says. "Their families might be missing them, it wouldn't be fair if we make them wait…"

Nightpaw sees the crestfallen look on Dove's face, and looks back to the others.

"Well… I guess it wouldn't hurt to stay for a while." Beechpaw said.

Spiderpaw shrugs and Snowpaw nods.

"Actually, when do kits become to-bes?" Owlpaw asks Stoneteller.

"When they are nine moons old."

Owlpaw bristles with shock. Dove has three moons left before she's no longer a kit! Nightpaw almost thought Owlpaw will protest and want to rush back to ShadowClan.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to stay."

Nightpaw feels slightly surprised. She knows of Owlpaw's mistreatment of his Clanmates, especially his mentor, she doesn't blame him to delay his return.

Stoneteller nods. "Very well. You will be allowed to stay until Dove's ceremony."

3 moons later, early September

The Prophesied Five watch Dove become a prey-hunter to-be and given to Heather as her mentor. Nightpaw and Snowpaw grew lean and well toned in their hunts with the other prey-hunters. Nightpaw's height grew tall, and her pelt is sleek and shiny.

Snowpaw's white pelt is as pure as the untouched snow she was named after, and the silver flecks shine on her pelt like raindrops. Her tail became fluffy, sapphire blue eyes and her skinny build is hauntingly familiar to a relative long deceased in her family…

Beechpaw and Spiderpaw's training with the cave-guards have hardened their muscles to become noticeable in their forelegs and shoulders, and are both very handsome for young toms their age.

Owlpaw's shape is changed, too. Following Stoneteller around the mountains and valleys for herbs has made him slender, almost like a WindClan cat Spiderpaw noted. His sense of smell became acute and knowledgeable about his healing. The other lake apprentices notice that he still wears the hawk owl feather on his ear, as a reminder of his bravery.

Now that Dove's ceremony is complete, the Prophesied Five are due to return to their home.

"Lake to-bes." Stoneteller addresses the Prophesied Five. "You have thwarted the wolf pack and brought peace to our mountains once more. Thank you, for everything you have done for us."

"Nightpaw! Snowpaw! Beechpaw! Spiderpaw! Owlpaw!"

Nightpaw's ears burn with embarrassment. Snowpaw and Beechpaw beam with pride while Spiderpaw tries not to care. Owlpaw is the only one confused. He looks at Stoneteller.

"Why are they cheering my name? I didn't participate in the fight."

"Your talent for healing helped the ones who were injured. You are just as involved as your friends, young Owlpaw."

The light brown tom beams at her praise. Stoneteller picks a fuzzy plant and lays it down to Owlpaw's paws.

"Lamb's ear. I doubt you will find it near the lake, and I'm sure your medicine cats will appreciate the herb as it gives them strength."

"Thank you, Stoneteller. We won't forget you." Beechpaw said.

Stoneteller bows her head. "May the Tribe of Endless Hunting pave your way."

"And may StarClan light your path."

Leaving in the morning, the Prophesied Five travel back to the lake. Not stopping by Jessie's home after seeing her Twolegs (or Longpaws, whatever you call the bald creatures) outside playing with her.

By the time they make it to the lake, rain broke out and made them seek shelter in the Horseplace for the evening. After napping for a brief time, it becomes night, and they were up, still waiting for the rain to stop.

"Yuck!" Snowpaw gags at the mud touching her tongue. "Camouflage is not worth it if I have to put my taste buds on it every time to wash."

Nightpaw stretched her legs and unconsciously lays next to Spiderpaw. "I can't wait to see Littlefalcon and Ivyheart again. Even my littermates."

"Yeah. I wonder, did Bearpaw became a warrior yet?" Beechpaw says.

"Probably." Owlpaw replies from the back. "It's been a long time, I wouldn't be surprised if the kits left behind became older or apprenticed by now."

"I don't think we have kits in ThunderClan." Snowpaw said. "Although, there were rumors that Spottedberry is expecting kits with Squirreltail, but I don't think it's true as far as we're concerned."

"Applefoot might've had kits while I was gone." Beechpaw put in. Owlpaw stiffens, remembering Heavystorm's death. The RiverClan apprentice nudges Owlpaw supportively.

"Hey. I know you didn't mean it."

Owlpaw takes a shaky breath and nods. "I know. I know that now…"

"So you're not all that worried?" Asked Spiderpaw. The WindClan apprentice's gaze sweeps over his friends.

"Once we go back, we're returning to the warrior code. Our Clans become first, and we become second. We won't fight side by side again and only talk when we're at the Gathering."

"Oh yeah…" Nightpaw murmurs.

"But that depends if our leaders let us." Owlpaw put in. "We were gone a long time, even if it was just three moons. They probably took it as abandonment, and if we go back we'll be treated like traitors, watched all the time and accused of every little thing that looks like we're trying to leave."

"They might even purposely keep us behind in Gatherings just to prove our loyalty." Spiderpaw adds.

Nightpaw frowns. "So… We just forget that we're friends? After all this?"

"... Never." Beechpaw said. "I don't regret this. And I'm not ashamed of journeying with you guys. There's no way Olivestar will make me feel like a traitor."

Snowpaw nods. "Besides, StarClan told us to do it. They can't accuse us of betraying them if we did it on StarClan's will."

"They still will." Spiderpaw growls. His whiskers tickle Nightpaw's cheek, and sent chills down her spine. Owlpaw sees the rain stop and pads outside. The clouds part to reveal the full moon.

"The weather is so strange…" he comments as his friends come out of the Horseplace.

"... A full moon." Spiderpaw exclaims quietly. "There's a Gathering tonight! We can meet up with everyone on the island!"

"You think we can make it?" Nightpaw asks him.

Spiderpaw nods. "Oh yeah. We just gotta go fast."

The Prophesied Five go to the island only to find it empty. Then, they start to hear voices.

"I smell intruders!"

"How dare they trespass our island?"

Beechpaw stood up. "That sounds like Birchfang!"

"And Darkstar." Snowpaw whispers.

Sure enough, the four Clans appear on the island with bristling fur and preparing to fight. But they slowly calm down, and their anger turns into shock, surprise, and suspicion and more anger.

Darkstar, Olivestar, Creekstar and Rabbitstep stare at the five apprentices who went missing moons ago and are now standing in front of them.

Nightpaw feels at home with the smell of her Clanmates, but Darkstar's voice broke her out of her reverie.

"Where in the bloody Dark Forest were you?!"

So much for family reunions. :/

The Prophesied Five are back, but as you can see near the end not everyone is glad to have them back. Oh boy, they have a lot of explaining to do. And a lot of catching up to do. ~ Kyubi