Chapter 3
Stonepaw padded alongside his brother Amberpaw fur still prickling with unease, "what in Starclan's name was that?" thought Stonepaw, thinking back to the odd fog and words that he had heard "when the leaf falls the stone and amber will rise." Stonepaw shook his head hard trying to clear his thoughts. Stonepaw sighed slightly glancing at his brother Amberpaw didn't seem worried at all, "perhaps I just imagined it." Thought Stonepaw picking up his pace slightly. Stonepaw came to walk beside his father Cleartheart who was Stonepaw's mentor, "where are we going now?" asked Stonepaw, looking up at Clearheart. Clearheart chuckled softly clearly pleased at his son's eagerness to see the clan's territory, Clearheart's dark blue eyes sparkled with love; "we'll be showing you and your litter-mates the border with Hollyclan." meowed Clearheart, nodding ahead of them; towards a large thunderpath that seemed to stretch on for a few rabbit lengths. Hollyclan was the other clan living alongside Blossomclan, "isn't Hollyclan territory mostly made up of wetlands?" meowed Tidepaw looking at Waterfern to see if she was right. Waterfern's pale blue eyes filled with pride at Tidepaw's knowledge of the other clan, Waterfern nodded; "yes that's right Tidepaw." meowed Waterfern with a slight purr. Tidepaw grinned proud of her mentor's response, Bluepaw rolled her eyes "why do we need to know about Hollyclan anyways?" meowed Bluepaw walking beside Stonepaw instead of her mentor, Mintsong sighed and shook her head; amber eyes full with amusement. "Well Bluepaw it's important to have knowledge about the other clan, and dangers in our lands." explained Mintsong, Bluepaw nodded "I get it now." meowed Bluepaw her eyes sparkling with understanding. Stonepaw sighed softly, his paws beginning to ache slightly from all the walking they were doing; Amberpaw didn't even seem the least bit tired, his eyes bright with energy Amberpaw's paw steps were light and bouncy. Stonepaw huffed with soft annoyance "why can't I have as much stamina as Amberpaw?" thought Stonepaw tail twitching with frustration. Stonepaw was shorter than Amberpaw despite the two of them being the same age, Stonepaw sighed softly panting slightly Clearheart glanced at Stonepaw his dark blue eyes showing a hint of worry; Clearheart stopped suddenly, the other warriors coming to halt as well as the apprentices. "Why are we stopping?" meowed Bluepaw a tint of annoyance in her voice, Clearheart sat down wrapping his tail around his paws; "we'll be taking a short break, you apprentices just started your training today you must be tired." meowed Clearheart glancing at Stonepaw as he spoke. Stonepaw gave a slight smile thankful his father's kindness, Stonepaw flopped down beside his siblings; Bluepaw gave a soft huff but sat down beside Tidepaw. Tidepaw smirked slightly clearly amused by her sister's annoyance, Amberpaw nudged Stonepaw in the side Amberpaw had noticed his brother's breathing was a bit labored; "are you alright?" asked Amberpaw, his eyes shimmering with slight concern. Stonepaw was breathing hard but nodded, "yeah I am just a bit tired." wheezed Stonepaw he noticed a slight rattling sound coming when he breathed; his chest felt a bit tight as well. Stonepaw rubbed his chest with a forepaw as his breathing slowly eased and the rattling went away, "I feel fine now?" thought Stonepaw was a bit worried that something could be wrong with his lungs. Stonepaw shook his head trying to clear his worries from his mind, "no I am sure everything is fine it's probably because I am tired from all the walking." thought Stonepaw got to his paws once his paws stopped aching. Stonepaw shook his fur out as he waited for the rest of his siblings to stand up, Bluepaw stood up besides Tidepaw and Amberpaw. Clearheart looked Stonepaw over making sure he was alright to continue, Stonepaw nodded to his father letting him know they could keep going. Clearheart gave a soft smile nodding as he began to walk once more with the rest of the cats, Stonepaw walked alongside his litter-mates, Stonepaw smiled feeling warm sunshine hit his pelt. Stonepaw glanced at Amberpaw who's dark russet pelt looked like a bright flame in the sunlit; Stonepaw beamed as he raised his head, closing his eyes enjoying the warm sunshine. Suddenly Stonepaw heard a monster roar past ahead of them, the stench hitting his muzzle; Stonepaw's eyes shut open nose wrinkling from the horrid smell. Stonepaw looked at the thunderpath in front of him, it looked even more terrifying up close; Amberpaw stopped beside Tidepaw and Bluepaw, Amberpaw looked curious, "is this the thunderpath?" asked Amberpaw looking over to his mentor. Aspenfang nodded looking out over the thunderpath, "yes this is the one thunderpath on Blossomclan territory, however it's also the biggest thunderpath around. So be careful." meowed Aspenfang warningly. Amberpaw nodded, taking a few pawsteps back just to be safe, Stonepaw took a step back as well. Suddenly Stonepaw's vision blurred and suddenly he was standing by the huge thunderpath seeing a white cat laying shockingly still on the thunderpath blood pooling around the cat's still body. Stonepaw's eyes widened as he recognized the cat on the thunderpath "Tidepaw!" thought Stonepaw fear filled his heart as well as horror. Stonepaw's ears flattened to his head, suddenly Stonepaw blinked again, the white body on the thunderpath was gone and so was the blood. Stonepaw realized he was trembling, fear filled his whole body making him feel extremely cold, Stonepaw swallowed hard trying to understand what he had just seen. Stonepaw back peddled from the thunderpath quickly shaking hard, Clearheart quickly pressed himself up against his apprentice's side. Concern clear on the tom's face, the rest of the cat's faces showed mixed emotions; fear, worry, concern and amusement. "Let's head back to camp, I am sure you are all tired." meowed Clearheart worry clear in his voice, the other apprentices nodded saying nothing against their father's suggestions. Stonepaw leaned into his father barely able to stand. He was shaking too much, Stonepaw looked down; confusion and fear gripping his heart. Stonepaw squeezed his eyes shut; he just wanted to sleep and pretend whatever he saw was his imagination "but it was so real, like it had actually happened!" thought Stonepaw was barely aware that he was walking beside Clearheart who was supporting Stonepaw. Stonepaw could feel Amberpaw's fur brushing against his own but it felt like Stonepaw's mind was far away from the blossom forest around him. Stonepaw was acutely aware as they made their way back into camp, he was barely aware of the worried look on his clan-mates faces. Stonepaw felt Clearheart guide him to the medicine den, Stonepaw felt a flicker of confusion come into his foggy mind; "why is he taking me to the medicine den?" thought Stonepaw stumbling slightly as he was gently nudged into the medicine den. Stonepaw's nostrils filled with the different scents of the fragrant herbs that filled the den, Stonepaw blinked, his eyes clearing and the fuzziness of his mind pulling back slightly. Stonepaw looked around the medicine den, the top of the den had a small hole allowing soft sunlight to enter through the top of the den. Stonepaw breathed in the sweet and tangy smell of the herbs around him, he noticed a small hole in the back of the den "that must be the entrance to the herb storage." thought Stonepaw's curiosity made his ears prick. All of a sudden both Leafpaw and Swanhollow pulled themselves out of the herb storage space, Leafpaw's dark sage green eyes widened in surprise to find his brother and father in the medicine den. Swanhollow sighed loudly, her bright amber eyes filled with soft loving annoyance, "why did you bring this apprentice in? It's only his first day!" growled Swanhollow but the growl was soft like she was only being playful. Clearheart's eyes showed seriousness in them so Swanhollow's manner changed to a serious one, "what happened?" meowed Swanhollow looking Stonepaw over closely; Clearheart glanced at Leafpaw before he sighed softly shaking his head. "We were by the thunderpath showing the apprentices it, when suddenly Stonepaw seemed to panic and back up. I think he had a panic attack." meowed Clearheart looking worriedly at his son. Stonepaw sat down as Leafpaw came over, worry clear on his face; Leafpaw nuzzled Stonepaw's neck fur softly. Stonepaw sighed, glancing away as Swanhollow began to check him over, "I am fine, I was just startled by something." meowed Stonepaw trying to figure out if he should tell Leafpaw and Swanhollow about what he had seen. Swanhollow's bright amber eyes narrowed as she looked the young tom over sniffing him slightly, "what did you see?" meowed Swanhollow whiskers twitching softly. Stonepaw glanced down rubbing his paw on his foreleg, "I saw…. I am not sure." meowed Stonepaw frustration cling onto his mind he could still see the body so clearly in his mind but he couldn't explain it. Stonepaw's tail tip twitched in frustration. He wanted to tell the medicine cat what he had seen but he couldn't get the words out, "I saw…. A cat lying still on the thunderpath I think it was dead…" mumbled Stonepaw looking down at his paws; maybe he had just imagined it like he had the fog. Swanhollow's eyes widened, surprise a hint of worry shining in her amber eyes, Swanhollow glanced at Clearheart sharing a look. Leafpaw's eyes shone with curiosity, "where you scared of the thunderpath?" meowed Swanleaf looking into Stonepaw's eyes. Stonepaw shuffled his paws aware of the look Swanhollow and Clearheart were giving him, Stonepaw huffed thinking hard on the question; "I mean I was a bit maybe it was just my fear making me see things." thought Stonepaw he glanced away from Swanhollow. "I mean I was a bit…" meowed Stonepaw voice quivering with uncertainty, Swanhollow looked Stonepaw over for a long moment before nodding. "Alright, maybe the fear made you see things, I recommend you go to sleep after you get something to eat." meowed Swanhollow. Clearheart gave a sigh of relief nodding to Swanhollow gratefulness glittering in his eyes, "thank you Swanhollow." meowed Clearheart. Swanhollow rolled her eyes but nodded, "yes well if this happens again just try and calm yourself down." meowed Swanhollow, Stonepaw nodded quickly, his belly growling with hunger; he hadn't even realized how hungry he was. Leafpaw glanced at his mentor, "can I eat with Stonepaw?" meowed Leafpaw hopefulness clear in his voice, Swanhollow nodded; "as long as you bring something for me to eat back." meowed Swanhollow, she clearly took a liking to Leafpaw quickly. Leafpaw nodded sharply with happiness glittering in his dark sage green eyes, Clearheart chuckled softly as both Leafpaw and Stonepaw ran out of the medicine den. Clearheart turned his head to Swanhollow, "remind you of us?" meowed Clearheart a slight purr in his voice. Swanhollow chuckled and nodded, Stonepaw followed Leafpaw to the fresh-kill pile where Amberpaw, Bluepaw and Tidepaw were waiting. Stonepaw purred softly; he had calmed down knowing that the horrible thing he had seen on the thunderpath had only been something his mind had made up. Amberpaw grinned widely as he waved to Leafpaw and Stonepaw as the got to the fresh-kill pile, "what took you so long mousebrains?" meowed Bluepaw tail swishing behind her. Stonepaw chuckled nervously, "sorry about the wait." meowed Stonepaw as Tidepaw nudged his side sharply. Amberpaw laughed as he reached his neck forward grabbing himself a plump red squirrel, "c'mon let's go enjoy our first meal together as apprentices!" meowed Amberpaw taking around the squirrel in his jaws. Bluepaw's bright clear blue eyes sparkled with joy as she nodded, Bluepaw grabbed herself a plump shrew holding it firmly in her jaws. Stonepaw looked at the fresh-kill pile trying to figure out what he should eat. Stonepaw finally picked up two mice hungry enough to eat two mice, Leafpaw rolled his eyes at his brother's choice as he got himself a large fat chipmunk to eat. Tidepaw picked up the only fish on the fresh-kill pile before the apprentices walked over and sat below high tree. Stonepaw sat beside Leafpaw, looking up at the blossom's in full bloom above him; the sweet smell of the blossoms filled his nostrils, calming him. Stonepaw began to eat his meal purring at the delicious flavors danced on his tongue, as a petal slowly floated off the tree landing on Stonepaw's muzzle he had a thought; "I want this to last forever." thought Stonepaw a soft purr vibrating through him.