Chapter7: Smokepaw
Smokepaw purred once she saw that Blazepaw had arrived right on time.
"Any trouble getting here?" She asked.
"Not really. It would be worth it, anyway." The golden apprentice responded. He green eyes were glowing.
"I didn't see you in the field last night." Smokepaw mentioned.
"Yes. It is because I was spared of the dreams." Blazepaw responded.
"Oh."
"But, I'm well rested, now." Blazepaw quickly said.
Smokepaw purred and twined her tail with Blazepaw's. Blazepaw purred, as well.
"We must find some way to stop those rogues once they get here." He said.
Smokepaw nodded. She was disturbed by what they might do for revenge.
"Come with me. There is something I must show you." Blazepaw said as he began to walk away. Smokepaw quickly followed him. Before long, the two had arrived at an entrance to a tunnel. "This is a tunnel that connects to the systems that runs under WindClan and ThunderClan's territory. I-I think that the ancient cats that were here before us used them for their warrior assessments."
Smokepaw nodded. "If the softpaw survived, they became a sharpclaw. If they didn't, their spirit was forced to walk the tunnels until they faded from memory." She shivered. "There is one, named Fallen Leaves, who fought in the Great Battle. I wonder if he is still down there."
"Let's find out." Blazepaw began walking into the darkness.
"Wait…!" Smokepaw started, but Blazepaw was already gone. She sighed and followed him. Smokepaw gasped when she arrived in the cave. There was an underground river flowing through it, and a hole in the roof revealed the nearly full moon.
Blazepaw, who was sitting in the middle of the room waiting for Smokepaw, purred. "Isn't if beautiful?" He asked.
Smokepaw nodded. "This is amazing! Wait, I think this is the home of that cat… what's his name?"
Blazepaw shivered. He turned his head to look at the ledge on the far side of the cave. "I'm not sure, but I know who you're talking about. I have this feeling that he – or someone – is watching us."
"Yea, I know what you mean. Hey, wanna go and try to find Fallen Leaves?" Smokepaw asked.
"You wanted to find me?"
Smokepaw and Blazepaw both jumped. Behind them was a faded white cat with ginger patches. His eyes glistened with loneliness.
Blazepaw was the first to snap out of his trance. "Oh, y-yes. Um, we were just exploring. Sorry to disturb you."
"Oh, no. It is fine. Always good to get some company." Fallen Leaves settled down on the cold stone, gesturing for the apprentices to do the same. "As seeing that you know me, and Rock somewhat, might I ask who you are?"
"I am Blazepaw. I am the son of Lionblaze and Cinderheart." Blazepaw stated proudly.
Fallen Leaves nodded. "Your father might also be known by a different name."
"Isn't he Lion's Roar? Among the first litter to be born in the mountains?" Smokepaw asked.
Fallen Leaves stared at her. "How did you know that?"
"I-I don't know," Smokepaw replied.
Blazepaw cut in, "Aren't the cats that were originally from the lake – and somehow maintained a border with badgers – the ancestors of the Tribe of Rushing Water?"
Fallen Leaves looked from one cat to the other. "You two know more than you are supposed to."
Blazepaw and Smokepaw looked at the ground. "Is that bad?" Smokepaw asked.
Fallen Leaves sighed. "I'm not sure. Just be careful as to what you reveal. Now, dawn is approaching. You two should get back to your Clans."
The two nodded and scampered up the tunnel they had come from.
"Same time tomorrow?" Blazepaw asked.
Smokepaw shook her head. "What good would happen if we snuck out every night? There would be nothing more to share – we could always meet in our dreams."
"Yes, but I like to see you when I'm awake." Blazepaw pressured.
Smokepaw purred. "Alright, but not necessarily every night. We'd be too tired to train, and our clanmates might get suspicious. Meet the night after tomorrow."
Blazepaw nodded and dashed back to his camp, leaving Smokepaw to find her own way to the border.
Smokepaw carefully crept into her nest back at camp. The sun wouldn't fully rise for at least another hour. She shut her eyes to get why little sleep she could.
"Smokepaw! Wake up, we are going hunting." Her mentor, Pinenose, called.
Even though Neetletail didn't get to mentor Smokepaw himself, Pinenose still included him whenever the duo when training. This would help him prepare for when he would soon get his own apprentice.
"Coming!" Smokepaw quickly raced out of the empty aprentices' den, the others were already out on patrol.
Neetletail and Pinenose were both waiting out in the clearing. Neetletail purred when he saw Smokepaw's messy fur. "Have you been out all night?" He asked.
"Couldn't sleep." Smokepaw replied.
"Alright, we will be hunting near the RiverClan border. And while we are there, we shall remark the border." Pinenose informed the group as the headed off.
Once had the border, they were met by a RiverClan border patrol. The patrol included Pebblefoot, Grasspelt, Nightpaw… and Beetlepaw.
While their mentors were exchanging greetings, Beetlepaw motioned Smokepaw over to the side.
"Anything new?" He hissed quietly.
Smokepaw shook her head. "Although, Blazepaw took me to the tunnels, we met Fallen Leaves there. He said that we knew more than we should. Did you know that Blazepaw's father is Lion's Roar?"
Beetlepaw's eyes widened. "Lion's Roar? I know that he is significant in some way… I just can't determine it. How would we know more than we should?"
"I think we have certain memories of the past. Of the time before the Clans, almost. Maybe our memories with get clearer like the dreams."
Beetlepaw's eyes darkened. "But that would mean the cats would have to come closer."
Smokepaw nodded, "Yes, but I –"
"Smokepaw! Are you going to stand there chattering like blackbirds all day, or are you going to join us?" Pinenose called.
"I've got to go." Smokepaw raced after her mentor.
When the patrol arrived back at camp, they certainly had a successful hunting trip. Pinenose was carrying two mice and a vole, Neetletail was carrying a thrush and a fat lizard, while Smokepaw caught the most. Smokepaw was carrying three mice and a frog.
"It's too back that squirrel got away. That would have fed all the elders!" Neetletail commented as they set their prey down on the freshkill pile.
"Neetletail, we've caught plenty of prey. I've sure Smokepaw feels back about missing the catch, but some you just have to learn to let go. Mistakes help you improve." Pinenose said to Neetletail and Smokepaw.
"It was fairly plump." Smokepaw muttered.
"I think you've earned your fill. Go grab something from the freshkill pile and head off to your nest." Pinenose said.
Smokepaw chose Neetletail's thrush to share with Branchpaw.
"Hey, Branchpaw!" She called. "Want to share?"
Branchpaw padded over. "Sure!"
Once they had settled down, Smokepaw nervously asked, "So, uh, h-have you had any dreams? Like, did StarClan tell you of any dangers on the way to the lake?"
Branchpaw shook his head. "Nope! Why? Have you seen anything?"
Smokepaw lowered her gaze. "Um…"
Branchpaw purred. "It's okay. You can tell me anything."
Smokepaw looked into his eyes. "It's just… I fear something is coming." When she saw that Branchpaw was confused, she took a deep breath and continued. "I've been hearing these voices. Voices of cats on their way to the lake. I fear they mean trouble for the Clans."
"I'm sure it's just nightmares. How long have you been getting them?" He asked.
"Since I was a young kit."
"And you didn't tell me?" Branchpaw questioned. He sighed. "I will ask StarClan next time I go to the moonpool. It is probably nothing, but let me know if anything changes." He got up to go to his nest once they finished the thrush.
Smokepaw settled into her nest and sighed. She wasn't she if she should've told Branchpaw everything, but she didn't want to worry her friend. Smokepaw closed her eyes as she entered the dreamscape that she shared with Blazepaw. Oh Blazepaw… she purred in her sleep.