Chapter 17
I woke up early that morning so I could organize the patrols. Being deputy meant taking on a big responsibility of organizing the clan. My legs were aching and sore and the day was gray and bleak. I slowly padded out of the den trying not to disturb the others, although they would have to wake up eventually. Once I reached the middle of them the clearing Dawnstar called my name. "Willowheart." She said, signaling me to come up and join her on the high ledge. "Good morning Dawnstar." I said trying to sound like an older cat, with much experience. My voice had grown deeper making it easier to talk without trembling. "Good morning. I know it may be hard the first few days of being a deputy." She said, staring into what little we saw of the rising sun. "I have a map in my head of how we can arrange it." I said. "I will help you the first few days, although there is much on my plate at the moment. I feel as if I can confide in you." She said, flicking her tail towards the den. I slowly padded into the moss and vine cover crevecy the held the leaders den. It was dark and smelled of fresh feathers and moss with some twigs and sticks. My eyes adjusted to the darkness and I could make out the area. It was a rocky, but moss draped den that laid deep in the walls. "Please sit, there is much to talk about." she said. I realized cobwebs and herbs smelled strong two, and fresh soaked moss from a few nights ago. "What's wrong Dawnstar? Are you sick?" I questioned our leader. "No, not sick at all but something did happen at the battle." She stared, with a big sigh. "I lost a life. It was a cat that seemed close to Russell. Some shouted at her calling her Hiss. She took a claw underneath my shoulder and down just about my belly." She stated lifting up her leg showing cobwebs draped all around her cut. "Now I am on my third life. It is very worrying for me. The next is, what I thought about you. I thought you told me a story, a lie, but now I have hurt my clan by letting that traitor guide them for as long as he did. I sometimes wonder if I am what the clan needs in this time, you are the prophecy." She said looking down. "Please forgive me Starclan. Forgive me Willowheart. I was blind and didn't want to admit the fault." "I forgave you a long time ago." I said. "I knew there was no way I could ever get a cat to believe me, of such high ranking when I was only just an apprentice." "I want you to know anything you want to share with me or tell me, I'm open. I will take your word for anything. I trust you. Now who else truly knows what has happened?" She asked. "Oceanstorm, Daisypaw, Ivyleaf, Leaftail, Shadowstorm, and I'm sure Moosefur. Daisypaw has talked a lot to him about everything so far." I said. "Good, keep it that way. Now let's go see who's up for.." She stuttered. "Hunting." We creeped outside the den to be greeted by many warriors looking up. "Umm." I started raising my voice. " We need two patrols to cover the left and right side of our boarders and renew the scent markers. The left patrol can have…. Leaffeather, Barkstripe, Shadowstorm, and Ivyleaf. The right patroll can have umm… Flowerpaw, Frostfoot, Midnightrain, Shadowtail, Rockpaw, and myself. I'll lead that patrol while Leaffeather leads the left." I said looking around at the agreeing nods. I almost walked down from the ledge when a questioning meow came from the nursery. "And whom might be on the Hunting patrols?" Dappleclaw said. "Right umm…. Rabbitpaw, Nightgloom, Puddleitch. Also my patorl will hunt along the way too. We need some warriors behind." I said. Just about all the clan was out doing duties. "Wait a moment." I heard and old croak come from. Quicktoe was walking around in the clearing. "I'll go on a patorl so you can leave more warriors here. I'm very capable of walking you know. I'm not that old." He croaked. "Okay that settles it, Ivytail, Frostfoot and Rockpaw can stay here." I said. This was a huge duty. I was going to be very happy when the paw's became warriors and when we got more paw's.
The clan parted ways and started on their patrol routes out into the forest. Before I could gather my patrol, Daisypaw ran out to greet me. "Yes?" I said nuzzling her. "Moosefur has healed completely. That was a very long recovery. But he can walk and is able. Please, if you don't mind, put him on some patrols." She said looking down. Us being kin and me being deputy felt weird. "I will do it. Also how are the herbs? I think you guys might need to collect some before the snow starts coming down." I said gazing up at the glossy gray snow filled clouds. "Yes, I'll take him with me, we can get more that way. Also… I was wondering.." She was cut off by Midnightrain. "We have to get to it! No more delay, let's go." She said, pushing me forward. "I'll get back to you later!" I said looking over my shoulder at Daisypaw. "Okay." She said walking back to the den.
We padded through the forest near the Skyclan border. "We have to help them." Flowerpaw said. "I wish we could, but we have to protect our clan too. Until we get stronger, we can't help anyone." I said trying to comfort her with a flick on my tail on her shoulder. We renewed the scent markers, and picked up an odd rouge scent. They obviously weren't hiding in the clan's scent anymore, but why did they smell of Shadowclan? "Lets hunt for the clan while we can." Shadowtail said walking into the thicket. I guided Flowerpaw to some undergrowth to look for rats or birds. I spotted a big juicy rat. Before I could reach it though Flowerpaw had caught it and laid it beside a nice crow she had found. "Your on a role huh?" I said. "I want to get strong and help Skyclan! Even if I die trying." She said. I couldn't help admiring her bravery, she wanted to help her clan and help Skyclan. I padded off a bit into the distance into some shrubs trying to pick up the scent on anything. A cold chilling air breeze passed as the clouds overhead grew thicker. Every cat knew that meant snow, ice and very hard times. I picked up the smell of a rabbit sniffing a small hole in the ground. I got ready to launch on it, thrusting my weight back and giving a mighty leap. I darted out of the way before my paws hit the ground, sending me rolling head over heels into leaves. That was super embarrassing as the deputy. "Are you alright?" Flowerpaw said, dragging a rabbit over. "Yes, just fine." I said picking myself up. I had no strength or energy left in me to hunt. The apprentices had got what was left over after the kits, queens, and elders if they were lucky. Every now and then the warriors share smaller pieces of prey, which wasn't near enough to feed them all.
We padded back into camp with our four pieces of prey along with the others. The snow had started to fall down in a thick layer when we reached camp. It was going to be a thick and heavy fall tonight. We made our way into the entrance of the camp laying down our prey, while the others who stayed behind cleared snow away from the dens. "Good catch y'all." Dawnstar said coming down from her den. "Thank you, it was Flowerpaw who did most of the hunting." I said nodding over to Rockpaw clearing out old moss and shoveling through snow trying to keep it out of the den. "He seems as if he worked hard today too. Even if it wasn't what he wanted to do. Rabbitpaw has also been helpful in re-building. I think they deserve their warrior names." Dawnstar meowed. "Let's have a talk with their mentors." We padded over to Flowerpaw and Rockpaws mentor and started discussing their ceremony, when Daisypaw came over to me. "Willowheart?" She said. "May we finish our discussion?" I stepped away from Dawnstar and walked over to her. "Sure. Sorry about this morning. They were restless to get going." I said sitting down cleaning my ears as she talked. The snow had started to slow down to a flurry covering our fur. "With The cold seasons rolling through, it's not just prey running scars." She started. "The medicine cat supply has run very low and without that, we may not survive at all. If we can't find food, there are still some herbs to help with hunger that we need. I was wondering if we could make a den or area for herbs. See over there?" She said pointing to a rocky overhang with rocks in it and cracks on the roof. "I see." I said. "We could clear it out and plant our most important herbs in there and the cracks can provide light and the soil should be good. We can work it and rotate it every harvest and keep it fresh. And it wouldn't be bad to drape wet moss over it for water…" She got quiet for a moment knowing she was running off with her idea. She must have forgotten I was deputy. "That overhang is closer to the entrance of the camp, what if other clans steal from it?" I said trying to sound calm and like a deputy. "There are some shrubs we can use to cover it with. And vines can provide shelter from the wind and when it snows like this, big leaves that we spare will cover the hole." I liked this idea, it seemed really good. " I will make sure we do this before the snow gets thicker. I need to have a word with Dawnstar but I will see to it." I said. "Thank you!" She said licking my ear, then hurrying off to tell Moonsacre who in her old age looked very weak and ill. I was worried for her, Daisypaw wasn't even a full medicine cat and she was going down hill. "Willowheart." Dawnstar said. I ran up to her side on the highledge watching the apprentices clamber up. "Cats of Thunderclan! Gather for a clan meeting." I was kinda cool seeing the clan gather below our paws. "Tonight three apprentices have worked hard for many days supporting our clan and keeping us strong. Flowerpaw, Rockpaw, Rabbitpaw. You guys have worked hard to learn and grow in the ways of a warrior, and have trained to learn the warrior codes ways. I know each of you have stayed by your clan to defend it, even if you lost a sister along the way and we will honor her tonight as well. Flowerpaw from now on you will be known as Flowermoon. May starclan light your path, always. Rockpaw, from now on you will be known as Rockbush, may you forever be blessed by starclan. Rabbitpaw, you have proven yourself worthy of your warrior name and may starclan forever bless you. I would like to give you Lightpaw's warrior name in honor of her. She watches from starclan now. Rabbitpaw you will be known as Rabbitfoot." Dawnstar said. The whole clan cheered their names loud enough that echoed off the snow. It gave me memories of my ceremony, but that was long past and now I had to lead the future. Dawnstar looked over at me, I assumed, allowing me to make the next announcement. "Tonight they will hold a vigil, while the rest of us get a good night's sleep. But there is one more announcement. Frostkit has been a kit, for long enough. With new kits on the way, we must move forward with the present." I looked over at Dawnstar so she could finish the rest. I didn't know what to say. "Frostkit, you have watched the ways of warriors and apprentices, and have learned our past and history from the elders. From this day on you will be known as Frostpaw. Your mentor will be Willowheart." Cats gathered in the clearing shouted out remarks. "Why her! That's not fair!" Nightgloom rasped. "She needs to learn how to take on an apprentice. More so now than ever. The code had to be broken so she was deputy, now we must do what we can to fix it. The best we can. The meeting is over." She said, The cats slowly started fading away from the clearing and went to congratulate the new warriors and apprentice. I padded down the rocky slope to go congratulate the new warriors. "Good job y'all. Times will be better. You all will be great warriors."I said, touching noses with each of them. After hearing their thanks and saying and word to their mentors, I drifted into the warriors den to go to sleep. Before I could reach the entrance, Frostpaw skidded in front of me. "Hello there. Sorry I didn't congratulate you, I couldn't find you." I said, realizing I hadn't congratulated her. "No worries! My mother had me tucked beside her letting a bunch of cats crowd me to congratulate me. I'll be sticky for moons!" He said. "Well, I'm proud to be your mentor, but you need some sleep! Running along now, I have a feeling that the den won't be empty for long. Congratulations Frostpaw." I said. With a high tail and a gleeful smile, he trotted off as happy as can be.
"Willowheart! Willowheart! Wake up!" I opened my eyes to fin myself standing in darkness. In front of me, a sand colored pelt moved towards me. "Sandstorm, what's wrong?" I asked. "Three will join the clan, blood break a code, Clans save clan, be strong once again." She said circling around me. "What does that mean!" I called out. Just then I saw an image of some cats from Skyclan, sneaking out of a hedge and running towards the border of our territory. Then I saw a flash of light and inside the boundaries of Skyclan, where rouges of all kinds, fighting each other. On top of a small rock, Drakenfur and Lunafang were looking down. "The weak must go! The strongest will stay! Tonight, we will get rid of our weak and kill the ones who question us and stand up to us in Skyclan!" Drakenfur hissed. Russell was their two sitting by them with a devilish grin. "No! Stop this." I screamed. When I Leaped forward something pushed me back. The scent of Sandstorm was no more. AN evil chuckle rang out and the stars I saw in the distance faded. "Welcome to the place of no stars." I heard a deep voice hiss. "Who are you?" I hissed. Then a cat stepped forward, eyes gleaming with anger and evilness. "I'm Tigerstar." One voice said, then another appeared. "I'm Hawkfrost." Hiss another. "And I'm Sol." I knew these cats! The most evilest cats in the forest back then. "How are y'all still here? I thought yall spirits were eternally banished?" I said, frightened. "When there are other cats following paths of evils it's no struggle for us to come back. Now we have no cat-like form and we do not stalk in the dark forest, but we're merr wisp hanging around in the depths of The Dark." Hawkfrost said. "You can only see our eyes and faces because that's the only thing left." Tigerstar hissed and moved forward. "So this is the underworld under the underworld? You just are mere shadows here?" I questioned. "You're learning." Sol said. "We can appear in cat form sometimes but fade into the dark." I was scared out of my mind! No one knew this place existed. " We guide Russell, and Drakenfur." Sol said. "I'll never let you destroy my clan! Or the Forest!" I hissed. They all chuckled with delight. "We're coming for you….. We'll be back…….." They disappeared like that. Just like they said, because they were darkness. I felt like I was falling into a deeper pit of nothingness until I hit the ground of a bogey place. This was the dark forest. "No!!!" I cried out running trying to find my way out.
When I woke up I realized I had stirred many of the other cats out of the den. My fur was covered with mud and a strange smell filled my nose. The dark forest smell, I thought. "You alright?" Oceanheart said. "Yes, just fine." I said getting up. I padded outside the den and straight into Dawnstars. "Who is it?" She said, stirring from her sleep. I didn't mean to wake her up. " I need to talk to you." I said. "It's urgent." She propped herself up and started licking her while she listened to what I had to say. By the end of it she was shocked to know there was another place where lost spirits went. "Do you think star clan lost spirits have another place?" She asked curiously, as if she needed to talk to someone urgent. "They didn't say." I sighed. "You need to be careful about going there." She said worriedly. "I can't really control my dreams." Is said. "You don't only have to have a strong heart and soul now, Willowheart, but a strong mind. If they can seek you out in trouble and worries then there is no hope for you to save the forest." She said gravely. "Clean yourself up, I'll make the patrols. The Dark Forest smell is quite strong." She said. "Wait, how did you know it was the dark forest smell? No one knows its distinct smell unless they have… been in the dark forest." I said looking at her questionably. She looked back about to say something, before she hurried out quickly.
After a long cleaning, I stretched and padded out of the den. "Willowheart!" Daisyfern said. "Yes?" I asked. "Are you alright?" "Just fine." I replied looking off into the clearing where Dawnstar sat talking to Dappleclaw. "You looked worried." She said, "What's up?" I looked into her spirited eyes, but couldn't bring myself to tell her. She was my sister, but what if this caused panic? What if she was always concerned about me and didn't do her job to the fullest. "I'm fine, just startled by a dream, but I talked to Dawnstar about it." I said. "Well, you know I'm always here whenever you need me." She said then piped up again. "So the herb supply storage is coming along nicely. We have some shrubs and brambles as the base of it and there are some leaves inter twining. There is also sand and fresh dirt padding the bottom and vines for the entrance. We still need to make the top of it and some holes for rain." She said. "I also decided to make it a bit bigger so it could reach these two rocks that make a good storage place for our herbs." She added breathlessly. "You've been working hard huh? I would like to come see it sometime. Maybe tomorrow? I planned on showing Frostpaw around the area." I said. "Sure! We still need to clear some of the snow out." She said. "See you later!" I said walking to the apprentices den as she walked up to Moosfur who was carrying her a squirrel from his patrol. "Hey Frostpaw." I said peeking in the den. "Yes?" he said coming out. His fur was covered with moss and leaves. "I've been cleaning and refreshing the nest here. What's up?" he said. "I want to take you around the area. The snow is thin enough for us to travel safely. When we go to a gathering I'll show you the other areas. It would be a long way to go starting here." I said. "Let's go!" He said, jumping up with excitement.
We padded through the snow and by all the major landmarks in our territory. "Now don't get too close to the lake or everyone will think you're a fish! Especially if you fall in. Some cats have drowned there too." I tried to advise him wisely, for he was a very curious and energetic fellow. "Can we go see the place with the horses?!" He asked, jumping up ahead. "No, it's a bit too far and we don't have traveling permission. Let's head up higher to the border of Shadowclan before it gets too dark." I said, looking up at the thick and heavy clouds that covered the sky. "Alright." he said, kinda disappointed. "So when will I learn how to hunt!? What about fighting! Maybe I could climb a tree too! When will you teach me how to wade across the river?" His questions came spilling out like a flowing stream ready to burst into the lake. "In time Frostpaw. You still need to know all the smell of the forest. I suppose we can see how your hunter's crouch is right now." I said stopping in the snow. I got down into a crouch, with the snow freezing my paws and my under belly. "Like this, real low , light on your paws, tail down now, eyes forward, creep like a lion waiting for it's prey." I directed him. "Now try a quick little jump." I said after a few paw steps more. He bounced up into the air instead of forward, then landed and rolled over. I chuckled. He looked like a hawk coming for his prey. "Well after some work maybe you'll learn flying like a hawk isn't for cats." I said teasingly. He stood up shaking all the snow off of his white pelt and started trotting forward. When we reached the shadowclan border, Frostpaw took a deep breath and took in the smell. "Smells, yucky!" He said. "Well, they like it that way, and it doesn't smell that bad, just some bogg that's all.