CHAPTER 7
Stonepaw glanced around himself a flicker of confusion flooding his mind, hadn't he just been in his nest? Instead Stonepaw was in the middle of a foggy clearing. Stonepaw looked back and forth around the foggy clearing feeling the coolness from the fog unsettling him further; "Stonepaw." whispered a voice right behind Stonepaw. Stonepaw swiveled around ears pinning to his head and the fur rising along his spine, "who's there?" trembled Stonepaw, his voice coming out more shaky than he wanted it too. "Stonepaw." came the murmur again this time from Stonepaw's left side, Stonepaw whipped around trying to find the source of the voice. "You came." came a voice that sounded far more real, Stonepaw turned around to find to his astonishment "Minkpaw!" yowled Stonepaw stunned to see the she-cat who had lost her life when she had been struck by the monster. Minkpaw's pale gray pelt sparkled and shined with stars, her amber eyes bright with life; Minkpaw's face showed compassion and understanding. Minkpaw tipped her head to the side, closing her eyes and she smiled a truly kind smile, "thank you."she murmured Minkpaw's gratefulness clear in the she-cat's voice. Stonepaw lowered his head and gaze down to the misty ground below him in shame; "I don't deserve your thanks, I couldn't save you." meowed Stonepaw his voice cracking with grief and guilt at his confession. Minkpaw shook her head with kindness glittering in her amber eyes, "oh Stonepaw, you tried to save me even getting crippled in the process; it was my time there was nothing you nor my brother could do." Minkpaw's voice showed understanding and resolve. Stonepaw jerked his head up in surprise at Minkpaw's words, stunned at what she said, "I am thankful that in my last moments you were there Stonepaw, that alone is why I am thanking you." said Minkpaw with a smile and a few tears in her eyes. Stonepaw took a paw step towards Minkpaw unsure what to say to Minkpaw's words, Minkpaw looked down at Stonepaw's crippled leg, guilt and sadness shining in her eyes. Minkpaw gazed down at the floor taking a shaky breath as she spoke "my only regret was that because of me your path as a warrior will be much harder." murmured Minkpaw, her voice bitter with regret. Stonepaw looked away for a moment gathering his thoughts; "I thought Minkpaw would be mad at me for failing to save her, but it turned out Minkpaw had felt guilty for my injury." thought Stonepaw taking a deep breath he turned his head back to face Minkpaw. Minkpaw's face showed sudden encouragement surprising Stonepaw at Minkpaw's sudden change in attitude. Minkpaw's amber eyes now sparkled with determination; "Stonepaw! Become a warrior and live for both of us!" declared Minkpaw raising her tail behind her, and firmly planting her paw forward and raising her head. Stonepaw blinked a few times then realized what she mean't; "she's telling me not to give up and keep living in her place!" thought Stonepaw then smiled a slight purr filling his chest spreading seemingly though his whole body making him feel slight joy. Stonepaw gave a sharp nod of determination, a desire to not let Minkpaw's death be in vain filling his chest. Minkpaw smiled, tipping her head to the side at Stonepaw's nod; "good now wake up and begin proving to everyone that you're capable of being a warrior!" determination and faith clear in Minkpaw's words; as she finished speaking hundreds of Starclan cats appeared behind her, all their eyes filled with faith in Stonepaw. Stonepaw gasped as he suddenly jerked awake in his nest beside his sleeping litter-mates, Stonepaw gasped breathing hard he looked down feeling the usual stabbing pain through his crippled foreleg. Stonepaw let out a sigh "thank you Minkpaw… I'll try to live for both of us." thought Stonepaw as he pushed himself to his paws, Stonepaw made his way out of the apprentice's den; a light drizzle welcoming him outside. Stonepaw sighed at the dreary weather that had been waiting for him, Stonepaw's fur fluffed up in an attempt to not feel as cold from the damp weather. Stonepaw limped over to the fresh-kill pile, his limp worse in the morning, Stonepaw reached the prey pile bending down and sniffed the slightly damp prey. Deciding to take a sparrow for himself, Stonepaw lifted up the sparrow heading to sit beside toe younger apprentices; Shellpaw waving his tail in a welcoming to the older tom. Stonepaw smiled at the three apprentices sitting beside Shellpaw with his meal, "how are you Stonepaw?" asked Squrrielpaw politely, her dark green eyes sparkling with interest. Stonepaw smiled kindly to the young she and shrugged, "I slept well." replied Stonepaw licking a shoulder furr before beginning to dig into his food. Stonepaw finished his sparrow within moments; Stonepaw began to groom his pelt, turning and reaching a ruffled up spot on his side. Stonepaw finished his grooming turning and realized the other apprentices had left to most likely go and hunt. Stonepaw shrugged before he felt someone try to tackle him Stonepaw gave a gasp in surprise; realizing the culprit was Amberpaw, the bigger tom was in a fit of giggles from his attempt to try and make Stonepaw fall over. Stonepaw rolled his eyes, chuckling slightly at Amberpaw's joke, Bluepaw and Tidepaw got to their brothers side Tidepaw tackled Amberpaw, beginning to wrestle with her brother. "You jerk!" hissed Tidepaw as she tumbled around with Amberpaw, Stonepaw smiled reminding Stonepaw of when they were kits. "We really have grown so far since we were kits." thought Stonepaw, realizing that even he looked nearly full grown; Stonepaw smiled at his siblings "I won't ever let anything bad happen to any of them!" vowed Stonepaw to himself. Stonepaw was going to do his best to become stronger to protect his family, Stonepaw followed his litter-mates towards their mentors. Feeling the wind blow around him ruffling his fur, the wind carried soft whispers that Stonepaw couldn't understand.