Chapter 14

We obediently walked back to the warriors den as Dawnstar had said. She would always take his side no matter what because he was supposed to be the most trusted cat to her. She wouldn't ever admit she might have made a bad move like Bluestar had with Tigerstar. I curled up into my nest remembering the painful thought of seeing Lunafang leave her clan for power and respect. She was always respected by her clan, how come she needed power? Someone who was once my friend was now my enemy, and I couldn't do anything about it. I finally curled and fell into a deep sleep. I was sitting on the island where the gatherings usually take place and then I saw Firstar and Runningfeather walk up to me. "Beware the two that sleep," Runningfeather said. "For one is gone and one still rests." "Lion will face the harsh times of Bone, and Tiger will be rebuilt. A friend will be lost in time, and death will come on the hill." Firestar said. They faded away as quickly as they came. I tried to call out to them but I choked on my own breath. Just then I was alone in darkness then, the faces of all the rouge cats were in a circle around me. They were chuckling and snarling. But right in front of me, Drakenfur was there, his eyes wide and he carried a grim smile. "Watch you back Willowheart, you never know when I'm watching it…" He chuckled with prue evil and delight, as they all faded. I found myself on a steep hill and blood stained the ground.

I jumped up from my sleep, my fur sweaty and damp. I must have been super frightened by my dream. I stretched and yawned, being careful not to wake the others. I stepped out of the den to be greeted by Dawnstar. Her face was welcoming and warm, unlike what it was yesterday. "Willowheart, come and walk with me." she said. I had no choice but to be quiet and follow her out into the clearing. As we stepped out into the fresh breeze of the morning, Dawnstar looked calm, as if nothing happened yesterday. I was wondering why she only took me out and not the others. "Now Willowheart." she started. I looked down at the ground not wanting to see the angry glow in her face as she scolded me. "You must wonder why I brought you out. Well, for several reasons but the main one is last night. Your suspicions about Drakenfur have spread to some of the greatest young warriors we've had, and now they all turned against him. I don't know what you convinced them on that odd patrol you guys took, but trust me, he is not bad. He has fought for our clan, protected the elders and kits in some of the great wars we have faced lately, and his doing his job." I finally looked up to see she was looking forward not at her. "But I saw it!! How can you say I made something up when I have four other witnesses!" She looked at me signaling enough. "Now, I'm not arguing with you anymore. No more accusations . If you have anything to say you're welcome to only discuss it with me. The next bit is a dream I had about you. A very unclear one. It said someone will clear the way for a new flame but die for it. The one who does it is blessed by Starclan and is said to guide the burning flame her way home. Then I saw you,... sadly killing Lunafang. Then you were leading Thunderclan, and all the others besides Riverclan and Skyclan against an evil band of cats. Then a voice said, "Two fall in time the water of the sky crumbles quickly." she finished with a worried look on her face. "Did you kill Lunfang? She questioned. "Dawnstar! Think! Use your mind! Why would I kill one of my best friends! No she hasn't been nice to us at all but me killing her!?" I hissed, how could she think that! What a stupid accusation. "My dream showed it, I will watch you though, for my trust in you is very little now." She said, looking at me. I didn't know if I saw sadness or anger, it was just a void of nothing, no feeling. "Now, let's go back to camp, you will be on every hunting patrol as punishment met. You and your friends both." she said, swishing her tail on my shoulder. I didn't walk beside her on the way back, but behind. I couldn't believe the stuff she fed herself up with!

I carried my feet in from the long day of hunting. The punishment was not fun, especially when there was no food to catch. I had been with Oceanheart and Shadowstorm on the east hunt. The others went west. We had brought back only one big mouse, three little shriveled up birds and a small scrawny rabbit. "We will stop them somehow, don't give up." Shadowstorm whispered to me as I stumbled back into camp. "We have no choice! We have to stop him because apparently no one will listen to what we have to say. The only one that has taken the smallest bit of interest is Barkstripe! She really doesn't believe it could be true but it could happen, she also doesn't really like him.'' I muttered in a worried tone. He gave me a friendly nudge on the shoulder as he said, "Don't be so worried. We will do something." Those words brought a smile to my face. The way he said "We" made me more at ease and I wasn't alone. The dreams would trouble me the most though. I only had them and I had to guide them. I wondered how Firestar was able to handle his dreams of evil darkness and death in the time he lived in. After I shook those fears off and layed down our catch on the small little pile of prey, Dawnstar made her way up to the high ledge and began to tuck her tail neatly around her paws. "Cats of Thunderclan! Meet here below the high rock for a clan announcement." She said. Frostkit and Moosefur walked up and sat beside her and Drakenfur eged around to the other side of her. "Today, Frostkit has reached six moons old and is now ready for an apprentice name." She said, looking at him. "Frostkit, from now on, you will be known as Frostpaw. I give you Moosefur as your mentor. Moosefur, pass down your good ways and your knowledge to your first apprentice." She nodded at him and he walked up to Frostpaw and nuzzled him. I glanced over at Daisypaw who looked up and smiled at him fondly. We all knew he was ready to take on a good apprentice. As I turned back, I noticed Shadowstorm gazing off sadly. He didn't dare look at his friend smiling and beaming with pride. I knew they had been through everything together. After the war with Riverclan and Windclan though, his leg was deeply hurt and was still recovering. Shadowstorm had also been helping us and trying to keep up his duties, and on top of that, he also had to see his friend who had only started back doing patrols two moons ago and is slowly starting to hunt again to get an apprentice before him. I knew how it hurt. "Now, everyone, back to your duties, and be sure to congratulate Moosefur and Frostpaw." She said, after that she quickly summoned Drakenfur into her den and followed him.

"Congratulations Moosefur! I know you were ready for an apprentice. Frostpaw, you be very good for him okay? Work hard and train well." I said walking up to them. I gave Frostpaw a little lick on the head and nodded over to Moosefur. "I will!" Frostpaw squeaked out with a giggle. "Thank you Willowheart, that means a lot, but have you seen Shadowstorm? I thought he would be here by now." Moosefur said, looking into the entrance of the camp. "Well, I really think Shadowstorm wasn't taking it easy. I'll go look for him though and see what he's up to. I'll send him your way afterwards." I said. He didn't reply to anything I said, just sadness filled his eyes. "I know this was hard for him." He replied. "He always wanted an apprentice, I could have cared less, but it was an honor to take on one so early, even if I hadn't been working as hard." His eyes were overshadowed with anger and regret, but deep down the sadness showed. "I'll find him and talk to him, okay?" I said. He nodded and looked down at his paws in misery. I quickly raced out of the camp and into the woods. His scent was fresh but quickly fading with the rain that started to sprinkle down. "Willowheart?" I heard Dawnstars voice crack behind me. "Yes?" I said, trying to shake the wet water off my coat. "Are you going to hunt?" She asked. "Yes, Shadostorm went ahead so I'm trying to catch up." I said. "Well don't go near the willowtree, Lightpaw has an examination today. Did you see them leave?" She asked, as if we were old pals again. "I think I saw Lightpaw leave just before me, and Drakenfur left as I was talking to Moosefur." I said. "Okay, I better hurry then. Bring back something for the elders please, there very weak at this time." She said, with that I nodded and she ran off. I turned around and started rushing after the scent of Shadowstorm once more. I came across a nice open patch of green grass where I found Shadwstorm sitting on a log. "Hey, Shadowstorm." I said jumping up to sit beside him. "I guess I haven't been the best warrior I could be. If I was not so distracted maybe they would have chosen me." He said looking longingly into the distance. "Now, I know we have been in a bit of trouble lately, but we have a reason we have to fight for what is right. I know you really wanted an apprentice more than anything, but there will be other chances and I promise you when this is over, you'll be the best mentor ever and get a really good apprentice." I said, flicking my tail on his shoulder. "I'll take your word for it." He said with a grin. I knew losing Lunafang was a big hole in his life and they were always super close. We had to fight through it and stop this evil wrath. "Now let's go hunting. Dawnstar said to stay away from the Willow Tree, their training there. We need something for the elders." With that, we started on our way into a foggy clearing. I heard a big rustle in the leaves and knew this was my chance for a big catch. There was a fluffy white tail that popped out, at that moment, I leaped onto it and killed it in a sharp blow. This looked more tempting than ever to eat, the small rabbit had not much but a little meat to it. My sumac rumbled with hunger. "Don't worry Willowheart, we'll catch us something and take it back to camp for us to eat." He said. I noticed a small pile he had beside him. There was a squirrel and a rat I hadn't seen him catch. "Where did you find that rat?" I asked. "I caught it before you found me, I couldn't let it slip out of my paws." He said with a smile. Now I really noticed that our bones started to show underneath, we might have muscles, but we looked weaker than ever. "Let's catch a couple more things then go back." I said trotting off in a different direction.

By the end of our hunting, we had collected a pretty big pile of shriveled rats and scrawny rabitis, as well as skinny to the bone squirrels and very few birds. "Hey, at least we caught something right." Shadowstorm said with a small grin that faded quickly. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Now let's try and get all this back so they can eat." I said picking up three squirrels by the tail, and tucking a rat under my chin with a rabbit thrown over my back. We walked along one of the patrol paths to find our way back. The rain has started to come down harder soaking Shadowstorms thick pelt and making my somewhat long fur stick down on my body. The clouds had grown darker and a fogg was covering thicker than ever. "Willowheart! Stay close, we're not too far from the river and we could wander off the path and plummet in that cold death eating water." Shadowstorm said, calling back to me. Just at that very moment, a big rumble of thunder was followed by a spike of lightning flying through the air. *MROWWWWWW* A big squeal broke through the storm and made me jump. "I don't like the sound of that." Shadostorm said. "We need to check it out, you run ahead and I'll get someone to come get this pray, we're not too far from camp." He said. As soon as he whipped around the patrol was right behind us. "Lots of pray I see, take it back to camp." The voice of Puddleitch broke out. "Did ya'll hear the squeal?" I asked. "No, the lightning struck very close, we were startled by that. You two go check it out and we'll take it back to camp. Run fast because remember, Dawnstars out there!" Midnight rain said collecting the prey one at a time. Me and Shadowstorm took off fast zig-zagging through the woods and trees. I hope no cat from Boneclan or whatever attacked. Maybe even Drakenfur struck out this time." Shadowstorm shouted so I could hear against the wind, and the rain. "Remember! The willow tree! That's where they were. Let's go quick! Maybe Yellowstripe attacked them." I said running faster.

As we arrived, we saw the body of little Lightpaw laying on the ground with two pretty big branches clung around each other in an odd shape. "What happened!?" I asked, looking down at his body. "He fell, he is still breathing but he's in much pain and he's bleeding badly and looks as if he crushed his ribs." Dawnstar said, looking over the apprentice. "Hold in there buddy." I said, "Should we run back to camp and grab one of the medicine cats?" I offered. "No need, we obviously know what to do,"Drakenfur snarled at me, "I must put him out of his misery." "No you can't there must be.."I said but was interrupted by Dawnstar. "Willowheart, he is in alot of pain, but we should still get a medicine cat. Your sister taught you herbs, find something to calm him." she said softly. "Those won't help. I'll get it over with." Drakenfur said as I started to walk off. He looked over his apprentice and opened his large jaws and bit his neck. A large grunt of pain came out of Lightpaw. He drew his last breath and gave out, dying right then and there. "NO! Nooooo." I wailed, throwing myself to the ground licking his little head. "I heard a cry! I'm here." I heard Daisypaws voice shouts as she broke out from the bushes. "I ran all the way here." she said panting. As she came over to look at Lightpaw she sighed deeply with sorrow. "There was nothing I could have done." she started, "He crushed two ribs, broke his front paw and was internally bleeding. Drakenfur, I really wish you didn't kill him so soon, but he was in too much pain I'm sure. I know it was very hard for you." With that she also shot me an annoyed look, resuring me she didn't like Drakenfur any more than me, and I hated his guts. "Willowheart, come on. We need to take him back to camp." Shadowstorm said, as he started to pick him up by the scruff. "Wait!" Daisypaw meowed. "A sign! From Starclan! Look at the branches Lightpaw fell with!" She said, sitting down looking at it. Then a strange look washed over her and she got a blank look in her eyes, as she started speaking the words of a prophecy. "The bark of a willow and the heart of one whose true she stands in your clan. She will rise as one falls down to darkness. Blessed is the one who died for this, he will lead her home." After that she turned around and looked at me. "Willowheart! You're going to be the new deputy!"

After this chapter is where Lightpaw's Duty takes place, its not donebuet but feel free to check out what I have so far.