CHAPTER 4
Stonepaw sighed as he looked up at the warm green-leaf sun above him, Stonepaw's ear tip twitched; he and his litter-mates had been apprentices for two moons now. Stonepaw sighed, licking his chest fur worriedly; Clearheart was supposed to take Stonepaw out hunting at sunhigh but Cleartheart hadn't shown up yet. Stonepaw sighed softly, since that vision by the thunderpath Stonepaw had kept having the same dream. Of the white cat lying on the thunderpath, even now if Stonepaw closed his eyes he could see the bloody cat on the thunderpath. Stonepaw forced his eyes back open as he felt his worry from that day resurface, Stonepaw glanced around camp noticing his brother Leafpaw sitting besides Swanhollow; the two medicine cats were rolling out leaves for drying. "I probably shouldn't bother Leafpaw, he seems busy." thought Stonepaw curling his tail around his paws, "are you ready to go?" meowed Clearheart coming up behind Stonepaw; Stonepaw gave a jump in surprise. Stonepaw's fur spiked up from surprise and he nodded, "I am Clearheart." meowed Stonepaw giving a sharp nod, Clearheart gave a smile. Clearheart turned leading the way out of camp, Stonepaw followed his mentor out of camp; Stonepaw walked alongside his mentor, he had noticed that he was almost at Clearheart's shoulders in height. Stonepaw puffed out his chest with slight pride "I want to be just as tall as Clearheart one day!" thought Stonepaw with a slight smile, Stonepaw licked a stray shoulder fur tuft. Stonepaw's nostrils picked up the scent of Minkpaw and Creampaw, confusion flickered through his mind; "aren't Minkpaw and Creampaw supposed to be helping to gather moss?" thought Stonepaw's fur started to rise, Stonepaw began to race towards where the scent was coming from. Stonepaw had a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach, his breathing began to quicken, Stonepaw's chest felt tight just like it had those moons ago. Stonepaw quickened his pace, their scent was leading towards the thunderpath; Stonepaw's vision came back into his mind but the cat's body on the thunderpath was no longer white, inside the body was bigger and the fur color was replaced with a pale gray fur. Stonepaw's breathing hitched in cold realization "the cat's Minkpaw!" thought Stonepaw's ears flattened. Stonepaw came into sight of the thunderpath; he felt horror fill him as he saw Minkpaw and Creampaw hunting by the thunderpath. Stonepaw noticed a monster coming down the road "watch out!" yowled Stonepaw, Creampaw's head shot up in confusion; Minkpaw gave a little jump she pounced back slightly onto the thunderpath. Stonepaw's eyes widened as Minkpaw noticed the monster coming down the path, Minkpaw was crouched stiffly staring wide eyed at the monster coming for her, she seemed frozen in place staring at the bright lights coming from the monster's eyes. The light illuminating her face and the horror on her face, Stonepaw felt his paws moving on their own as he heard Clearheart yell behind him to stop. Stonepaw heard everything around him sound a bit muted and far away, Stonepaw could feel his paws hitting the ground below him; the grass below him turning to hard smooth flat thunderpath below. Stonepaw could feel the lights of the monster's eyes on his pelt; he slammed into Minkpaw at the moment the monster struck. Stonepaw felt a numbness spread through his whole body but he didn't feel even a hint of fear or pain, just an icy calmness; Stonepaw's eyes buzzed softly he could see the ground in front of him and his foggy brain registered a cloud of blood at Stonepaw's eye level; "did I save Minkpaw?" thought Stonepaw through the fog of haze, at that moment Stonepaw saw a shimmering cat in front of him, she had sparkling fur. Stonepaw felt a flicker of confusion travel through his foggy mind, it was a calico she-cat with amber eyes; she was staring at him, suddenly Stonepaw heard words strike through the fog of his mind the words as clear as starlight. "Do not be afraid Stonepaw, Starclan is watching over you; you brave little warrior." the voice was soft and caring then the starry she-cat vanished. "Wait, don't go!" thought Stonepaw desperately needed to know what was going on and if Minkpaw was okay. Stonepaw felt his mind beginning to slip into unconsciousness; Stonepaw struggled to keep his eyes open, "don't… go….." rasped Stonepaw before his mind went blank and he gave into the tide of darkness in his mind.
Leafpaw sorted herbs in the medicine den, a slight breeze coming from the hole in the ceiling. Leafpaw's tail tip twitched with slight frustration, "I told Creampaw and Minkpaw not to mix the herbs up that they gathered." hissed Leafpaw under his breath. Leafpaw heard a terrified yowl come from the outside of the den, "HELP Stonepaw and Minkpaw were hit by a monster on the thunderpath!" Yowled Creampaw. Leafpaw dropped the leaf he had been holding, immense fear filled his heart "not Stonepaw!" thought Leafpaw getting to his paws; Leafpaw shoved his way out of the medicine den in his haste. Leafpaw saw Creampaw in the middle of camp, the tom's amber eyes filled with horror and fear. Leafpaw rushed to Creampaw's side looking the tom over for injuries. Leafpaw gave a soft sigh of relief when he saw Creampaw had no injuries. "Take me there." ordered Leafpaw before he rushed to grab as many cobwebs as possible, Creampaw nodded rushing out of camp with Leafpaw close behind. "Swanhollow will be out gathering herbs for a while, I'll have to do this alone." thought Leafpaw feeling his nervousness build he didn't think he was ready. "But if I don't do anything Stonepaw and Minkpaw will die!" thought Leafpaw followed closely behind Creampaw as they got closer to the thunderpath the stench of blood mixed with the horrible smell hit Leafpaw like a stone. Leafpaw closed his eyes for a second forcing his mind to clear as they reached the thunderpath he saw his father; Clearheart had moved to blooded shapes onto the safe side beside the thunderpath. Clearheart's dark blue eyes were filled with horror and guilt, Clearheart looked up with relief filling his eyes as he saw Leafpaw coming carrying bundles of cobwebs. Leafpaw rushed over to his father; with horror Leafpaw realized the blooded bodies were Minkpaw and Stonepaw. Leafpaw dropped his cobwebs beside the blooded body of his brother, "what happened?" meowed Leafpaw his voice tight; Clearheart looked out at the thunderpath, a dark stain showing where the two young cats had been struck. "Minkpaw had gotten onto the thunderpath by mistake, Stonepaw ran out to save her, but both had been hit." meowed Clearheart looking horrified. Leafpaw nodded first he checked on Minkpaw sense Stonepaw was breathing, his blood streaked sides heaving with breath. Leafpaw looked Minkpaw over, horror filled him as he realized Minkpaw wasn't breathing. Leafpaw realized with great sadness that Minkpaw was dead, Leafpaw bowed his head in respect and sadness; "I am sorry I couldn't save you." thought Leafpaw, great shame filling his heart. "She's resting with Starclan now." meowed Leafpaw voice horse with sadness, Creampaw wailed in sadness burying his head into his sister's blooded fur. Leafpaw looked down feeling responsible for Minkpaw's death, Leafpaw noticed his brother's breathing was getting weaker by the minute. Leafpaw grabbed the cobwebs, "I can't get distracted right now! Stonepaw needs my help!" thought Leafpaw fur spiking up as he began to wrap cobwebs around Stonepaw's wounds, noticing his worse injuries was that his front right leg had been crushed. Leafpaw felt horrified; he quickly nosed the foreleg; he could feel the foreleg's bones had been shattered, Stonepaw's leg was permanently damaged. Leafpaw felt tears fill his eyes, "brother… You tried to save her… I am so sorry I couldn't save her!" thought Leafpaw; Leafpaw turned his head to his father, "can you carry him?" asked Leafpaw he knew he had to get his brother to the medicine den. Clearheart nodded his dark blue eyes showing determination "yes I can…. I am not letting another apprentice die today." meowed Clearheart as he carefully got Stonepaw on his back. Leafpaw gazed down at the body of Minkpaw, "Creampaw, I'll help you carry Minkpaw's body back to camp." offered Leafpaw kindly, Creampaw looked up at Leafpaw, his amber eyes showing dull grief. Creampaw nodded slowly Leafpaw helped carry Minkpaw's blooded body back to camp. Leafpaw felt exhausted as they laid Minkpaw's limp body in the center of camp. ,Leafpaw gently pressed his forehead to Minkpaw's fur. "You were a good apprentice." thought Leafpaw sighing softly; Leafpaw quickly led his father to the medicine den, Leafpaw helped lay Stonepaw onto a nest. Stonepaw groaned in agony, Leafpaw watched as his father sat beside Stonepaw's nest, not leaving his side. Leafpaw pushed his way to the herb stores, "I won't let you die!" thought Leafpaw.
