WinterClaw's Shadow

WinterClaw's Shadow
New Nightmares
Short Story
The White ForestClan cat groomed her kits, "today's the day! You are so grown up my little kits..."
She went from one kit to another, making sure they were looking as best as they could. "Snow! We aren't kits anymore!" One of the kits complained "yeah! We will be warriors as quick as you can say mouse!" Another squeaked and wriggled, trying to move away from their mother. "You'll always be my kits.... Even when your the oldest and best warriors ever!" Snow, their mother, explained. Three tiny kits scrambled around the nursery, one looked up at the pure white she-cat and smiled "Good luck today! Hopefully we get to train together sometime when I'm an apprentice!" The kit scrambled away again to join her Brother and sister as her mother, ShineHeart, called her back. "All cats gather beneath Tall-Rock for a clan gathering! It's a special day!" The call sounded from the clearing. Outside the nursery the cats settled themselves beneath the big rock that the leader always sat on when they did gatherings. The cats set their gaze on their leader. "Here we go! Our special day!" The kits trotted out into the clearing, well groomed and looking proud. Their mother, Snow, watched from outside the nursery, almost looking as proud as her kits. Once the noise settled down the leader, CloudStar, spoke. "GreenLeaf is returning and we need to get all the training we can get, and as you all know we have no apprentices, due to the sudden death of WhiskerPaw and RabbitPaw. We still do not know how these two cats left us, but we will find out soon, I promise," A few cats bowed their heads while there was a small whimper from the back of the group. That was SunLeaf, a cream coloured she-cat with blue eyes, WhiskerPaw and RabbitPaw's mother. "But, we have three kits who have reached the age of six moons!" CloudStar yowled proudly, these were his own kits "PeltKit, SilverKit and WinterKit, please step forward," the three excited and nervous kits, forced themselves to stay calm and just walk forward. CloudStar turned to the little grey she-cat "From this time forward, PeltKit will be known as PeltPaw. GorseFeather, you have shown courage and great skill in serving your clan, and I trust you will pass on these qualities to your apprentice." GorseFeathers eyes were shining with pride as he dipped his head in gratitude. "I am honoured for PeltPaw to be my apprentice" GorseFeather meowed looking at his apprentice's shining eyes, they touched noses and stood side by side. CloudStar moved onto a silver tabby she-cat. "This kit will be further known as SilverPaw. BlazeHeart, you have shown great skill and fierceness that I have no choice but to make you have an apprentice of your own." CloudStars voice bellowed in pride as he named each of his kits. BlazeHeart touched noses with SilverPaw and they stood next to PeltPaw and GorseFeather. Finally CloudStar moved onto the little pure white she-cat, WinterKit, the kit spotted her sister FeatherSwoop, among the cats, WinterKits eyes will full of anxiety as she looked at her older littermate. FeatherSwoop gave her a nod, her eyes also full of joy and pride for her younger kin. "WinterKit, I have great honour in giving you your apprentice name. WinterKit will be further known as WinterPaw. MouseFang-" There were gasps from the cats as they started muttering of disapproval. FeatherSwoops gaze was now filled with anger, question and worry. MouseFang had a bad history of leaving for FieldClan but then coming back after two cats were mysteriously killed. "Yes, yes I know... MouseFang has a bad history, but those times are over! Do not look in the past, look into the future, WinterPaw will become a great warrior in MouseFangs guidance." CloudStars voice was filled with anger  "a great killer" a cat said in the crowd. FeatherSwoop stood up "I'm sorry father, but I don't think MouseFang should be my sisters mentor..." WinterPaw's sister gazed around the crowed until she stared at a certain cat, "I think WhiteFern should." FeatherSwoop dipped her head and sat down, words of agreement took over the disapproval. "Silence! If you all so want her to be, WhiteFern will be her mentor until further notice." CloudStar shouted furiously, MouseFangs eyes were drowned in hatred and anger, baring her teeth she sunk into the shadows.
WinterPaw swerved through the trees, dodging the bushes and jumping over logs. Her paws hit the hard ground as she traveled onto the rock surface, slowing down she panted. When she looked behind her she saw it again, starting to sprint, aching paws and out of breath she stopped again. This time turning. Her paws frozen with fear, she saw it again, pelting toward WinterPaw, it leaped, claws unsheathed and teeth bared.
WinterPaws eyes flicked open to a Paw jabbing her side "WinterPaw?" Her gaze met PeltPaw's standing on her side. "You were twitching and muttering in your sleep, bad dream?" PeltPaw asked. "Uh... Yeah, sorry" WinterPaw replied, still shaken of her dream, she was sure that the cat who was chasing her was MouseFang. When she got up WinterPaw shook her pelt to get the moss from her bedding off, stretched and walked into the clearing. "Morning WinterPaw..." A voice had growled from behind her, MouseFang. "Uh... Morning.... MouseFang" WinterPaw stammered, shocked by the growl "scared?" MouseFang grinned "why? Do you believe them? Those stories? You know they aren't true WinterPaw, they have no proof," She said while pacing around her with slow steps. What MouseFang said made sense, but something wasn't right about this cat, she seemed so hungry for a fight... Could the stories be true? They don't have proof but her coming back after two deaths in FieldClan was in a way proof enough... WinterPaw shook away the thought and replaced it with WhiteFern She is my mentor now, She thought, not MouseFang... Not MouseFang. Just as she thought about WhiteFern, she approached. "WinterPaw! We are training today. Battle training." WhiteFern glared at MouseFang as a warning, MouseFang growled and swept away. They joined SilverPaw and went into the Battle clearing "now, we will start by learning the dodge attack." WhiteFern beckoned BlazeHeart with a flick of her tail "I will run at you and We will show you two what to do" WhiteFern ran at BlazeHeart, BlazeHeart slashed his paw at WhiteFern, but immediately WhiteFern ducked, she quickly hit BlazeHearts legs to make him fall to the ground and jumped on him, claws sheathed. BlazeHeart pushed himself up beside WhiteFern, "got that?" BlazeHeart Meowed. The two apprentices, eyes locked on the move, nodded "now try it on each other, SilverPaw run at WinterPaw." WinterPaw, focused on her sister, swiped at SilverPaw when she ran at her, but ended up hitting the tips of SilverPaws ears as she ducked. Caught out of guard, WinterPaw wasn't ready for SilverPaws next move, WinterPaw sprawled at the air as her paws were knocked over she fell with a thump on the ground as SilverPaw held her Paws down on WinterPaw. She went limp under SilverPaws grip and when she loosened it WinterPaw jumped up catching SilverPaw off guard and landing on her, "who's the smart one now?" WinterPaw let out a meow of amusement.
"WinterPaw! WinterPaw! Over here!" WinterPaw turned her head to see the kit that had wished her good luck just before her apprentice ceremony, OceanKit. "Come play!" The kit bounced around in excitement, "Coming!" WinterPaw trotted up to the blue-grey she-kit and sat down "What should we play?" She asked. "What about... No, not that... Oh! Hm nah.. Oh I know! Wait no not that one," OceanKit had a face of determination. "What about I just teach you a few fighting moves? Or do you want to play catch?" WinterPaw suggested, OceanKits face lit up in excitement "You would teach me some fighting moves?! Yes yes yes yes!" The kit bounced around once again. WinterPaw thought hard, what move would be good for a kit... I know! WinterPaw retraced the move in her head, "it's a simple one to start with, you slide under me and attack my legs from behind, knocking me off balance," WinterPaw explained, OceanKit now had an oddly serious face, it was like she was an apprentice learning a move that could save its life. Without warning OceanKit slid under WinterPaw and hit her hind legs very hard which knocked WinterPaw off balance and she fell to the ground. Getting up, she stared at OceanKit in amazement "Incredible! I wasn't even ready... that made it better!" She added at the look of worry on the tiny kits face that now had a proud expression on it. "Thanks for that WinterPaw! It was fun! I'm gonna go get SeaKit with this! He'll never expect it." OceanKit trotted off with her tail high in the air, WinterPaw still stared at her, bewildered, how can a kit that young and tiny learn so fast!  
She heard muttering in the clearing, that's what woke her, stretching WinterPaw walked out of the den. Cats had gathered, staring at something, or someone in the middle of the circle. The medicine cat, MistyPool and her apprentice, DawnPaw were in the middle to, gazing down at it. It's a cat... WinterPaw thought but who? WinterPaw pushed her way through the group to see which cat it was "No... No no no!" She yowled in sadness "WhiteFern!" WinterPaw looked down at the wounded cat "what happened?" WinterPaw chocked on her words. "Foxes" the deputy, BrackenTail spoke as he bounded down from high-ledge, that was where the leader and deputy's den was "BlazeHeart, MintFur, LionTail, WinterPaw." WinterPaw froze at her name and turned to the deputy "Track down the fox and chase it out of our territory. All of you! Go back to your dens, the medicine cats will take care of WhiteFern now, but the cats who are on dawn patrol. FurzeLeap, GooseTail, FeatherSwoop and BlueStripe stay here." The deputy headed over to the dawn patrol group, but BlazeHeart stopped him "BrackenTail, where was the fox last spotted?" BlazeHeart asked "Around the stream, but also check the around Birtch tree in the hunting grounds," BrackenTail nodded to them and bounded off with the dawn patrol "Alright, let's head off. MintFur and WinterPaw, go check the birtch tree, LionTail and I will check the stream." BlazeHeart ordered the patrol into halves to check both places. "If you see it there come and tell us straight away, got it?" MintFur and WinterPaw nodded and ran the opposite direction to BlazeHeart and LionTail. Once they reached the birtch tree they opened their mouths to scent for fox, "stale, let's head further." MintFur Meowed, blankly, as they headed further WinterPaw heard rustling "stop, I hear something," WinterPaw was frozen to the spot as she saw Amber eyes filled with hunger, a red snarling face and a pointy nose. Fox!
WinterPaw pelted through the bushes and trees as fast as she could, she had to get to BlazeHeart and LionTail as soon as possible, they found the fox. The fox that hurt my mentor!  WinterPaw thought, angry, I'll make it sorry "BlazeHeart! LionTail! The fox, we found it! Quick!" WinterPaw almost ran into them as she stopped. But immediately they started sprinting again, panting WinterPaw didn't have much energy to fight, do it for WhiteFern... They found MintFur fighting the fox, wounded, BlazeHeart let out a screech and threw himself at the fox, clawing at its head, WinterPaw found herself terrified, backing away, but she knew she had to fight the fox too.. Charging into battle, she raked her claws down the side of the foxes body, feeling blood on her claws. Sliding under the fox she raked her claws on its belly, blood spraying onto her, as she turned, the fox was to quick, it leaped at her. Terrified, WinterPaw dodged, but she felt wounds on the side of her face being made, angry she leaped onto the fox again, not giving up, she scratched its face once again. The fox started backing away, snarling, but then ran in the opposite direction of them, into Unknown territory. Feeling achieved, WinterPaw licked her wounds, "No severe wounds? Let's get back to camp" BlazeHeart flicked his tail for the patrol to head back.
"WinterPaw! Look at you, what happened? You are to young to fight a fox!" Snow came rushing to WinterPaws side, rapidly licking her wounds "Snow, I'm fine! I'm not that badly wounded" WinterPaw let out a meow of laughter as her mother licked her wounds "yes, she fought very well today, you should be proud, snow." BlazeHeart examined WinterPaws wounds closely, "yes, her wounds are fine, they'll heal in no time," BlazeHeart proudly meowed "you aren't any medicine cat BlazeHeart! How do you know?" Snow anxiously told off the senior warrior "yes, but my sister is, she teaches me" BlazeHeart, grinning, seemed like he was enjoying arguing with WinterPaws mother. MistyPool must have heard the commotion in the clearing of the cats who had just come back wounded, because she rushed to LionTails side and started treating his wounds, WinterPaw, puzzled, stared at LionTail and MistyPool. MintFur's wounds are the worst... Why did she go to LionTail first? And why is she so worried? WinterPaw wondered, but then, she remembered the nursery tales about LionTail and MistyPool. They were mates before the only medicine cat died, and MistyPool knew the most about healing and StarClan than any other cat in the clan, so she had to become the medicine cat. medicine cats can't have kits or mates, so she had to give up LionTail for the clan. WinterPaw felt sorry for them, looking affectionately at each other, sadness filling their eyes. After all the cats were treated to their wounds, BlazeHeart insisted that his and WinterPaws wounds weren't that bad and they could go back to their dens, MistyPool finally gave in and they went back to their nests. "I heard what happened," WinterPaw was tiredly padding back to her den as a cat spoke behind her "You fought well, but you could have fought better if they had kept me as your mentor," Without even turning around WinterPaw knew who it was, MouseFang "leave me alone," WinterPaw meowed through gritted teeth trying to hide fear. "Why are you scared of me? You don't have to be... You know," MouseFang leaned closer and whispered in WinterPaws ear "somehow, I will be your mentor, and you will be the best warrior ever... You will be just like me," WinterPaw spun around, but MouseFang was already gone how did she disappear so fast? No normal cat can do that, WinterPaw settled into her nest and closed her eyes.
She was running, her paws thumping on the hard surface beneath her, this dream again, it always returned. She spun around, but this time, they weren't the same eyes, no, not the red eyes filled with hunger that belonged to MouseFang, Blue eyes, eyes who were scared and confused, eyes of what looked young, an apprentice, WinterPaw thought. "Where am I?" The voice shook "Who are you?" The cat stepped forward. A light grey Tom with white speckles, a full white muzzle and one full white ear, came into view. He looked kind, but confused "I am WinterPaw, and where you are... That's what I'm trying to figure out too..." WinterPaw explained "almost every night.. I dream about this place, I'm running and there are red eyes behind me, chasing me." The Tom shot a glance behind him "it's just us tonight I think, what's your name?" WinterPaw asked "FrozenPaw," The Tom replied "Okay, FrozenPaw, if we come here every night," WinterPaw looked around, most of it was darkness but there were a few bushes, "meet me at that bramble bush tomorrow night, I'll find a way out of this dream," WinterPaws eyes flickered open to see MouseFang grinning at her "you will never escape me," MouseFangs eyes blazed into WinterPaws pelt. WinterPaws eyes opened out of her dream.
She dropped into a hunters crouch and padded slowly forward, trying not to step on any leaves or twigs, she sprang and swiftly nipped the blackbird on the neck. Proud with her catch WinterPaw headed to the pile where she buried her other prey, two mice and a blackbird, I did well she thought proudly, returning to camp she was met by PeltPaw "did you hear? MouseFang is gone again!" PeltPaw growled, slashing her tail, WinterPaw froze "where?" She asked "apparently to MeadowClan, that's what LionTail said." PeltPaw explained MeadowClan? What in the name of StarClan would she want there?  WinterPaw wondered she turned to pick up her dropped prey and put it in the prey pile. "I think BumbleHeart and MoonFur would enjoy those two mice, WinterPaw," WhiteFern was beside her, BumbleHeart and MoonFur are the elders "I'm so glad your ok, WhiteFern! When will we get back to training?" WinterPaw asked, picking up the two mice "MistyPool said soon, medicine cats never actually tell you when" WhiteFern shrugged and picked a Vole out of the prey pile. After WinterPaw had given the prey to the elders and checked them for ticks, it was nightfall, WinterPaw remembered that she had to meet FrozenPaw at the bramble bush in the dream place. Settling down in her nest she let herself drift into sleep. This time she didn't run, instead she walked. Almost instantly she spotted the bramble bush, sitting beside it, she waited. Shivering, WinterPaw felt like someone was watching her, glancing behind her she spotted FrozenPaw wandering toward the bush "there you are" WinterPaw meowed, relieved, FrozenPaw jumped, as if not expecting to see her. "Have... You found a way out? A way of of this dream forever?" FrozenPaw asked, WinterPaw shook her head, "not yet, but you have to help me look. Have you seen MouseFang tonight?" FrozenPaw looked startled "MouseFang? You mean, she is the one who chases us?" FrozenPaw sat down "will I ever escape my mother?" FrozenPaw stared at the ground, angry and anxious. WinterPaw was shocked, MouseFang was FrozenPaws mother? "You mean... MouseFang? She is your mother?!" WinterPaws claws dug into the earth can I trust him? Will he turn to his mothers side?
MeadowClan... MeadowClan... Why did she go to MeadowClan?  Maybe.. She wanted to convince them for something WinterPaw thought staring at the entrance of her den "let all cats join beneath the high-ledge for a clan gathering!" CloudStar stood on the high-ledge calling to all cats, WinterPaw walked out of her den and joined the clan, gazing up at their leader. "I know that we just recently had three kits apprentices but we still need more, OceanKit SeaKit and SkyKit, please step forward." CloudStar beckoned the kits forward with his tail "SkyKit, you will now be known as SkyPaw, LionTail will be your mentor," the tortoiseshell she-kit touched noses with the golden warrior and they sat next to each other "SeaKit, you will be known as SeaPaw, your mentor will be YellowNose." The bluish-grey Tom touched noses with the brown tabby warrior "OceanKit, you will now be further known as, until you get your warrior name, OceanPaw, your mentor will be FeatherSwoop," CloudStars voice was hard to say what his emotion was feeling. WinterPaws eyes glowed with happiness as her older sibling touched noses with her apprentice, OceanPaw. 
WinterPaw studied the grey and white speckled cat, he looked nothing like MouseFang. "Who is your father, FrozenPaw?" WinterPaw asked "he is... Dead... His name was DarkHeart, he was evil, like MouseFang..." FrozenPaw gazed at the ground, his expression sad and angry. WinterPaw gazed around the dark place, most of it was shadows and thorn bushes what is this place? Oh StarClan tell me! "Wh-What is that...." FrozenPaw was staring into the shadows, Red eyes stared at the two apprentices "Run!" WinterPaw pelted into the darkness not even looking behind her to check if FrozenPaw was following. Her paws were hurting now, this is useless WinterPaw turned around, ready to meet the red angry eyes, FrozenPaw was with her.
She met the red eyes, and a cat came into view. "Father?" FrozenPaw stiffened beside WinterPaw, DarkHeart slowly nodded and beckoned with his tail, he looked like FrozenPaw, that's why he looks like that, they almost look the exact same. "Join us, FrozenPaw, join your family..." DarkHeart forced a purr that sounded more like a growl, FrozenPaw started moving forward, "stop, FrozenPaw it's a trap.." WinterPaw stopped FrozenPaw with her tail, he shot her a angry glance but then understood. "Smart little apprentice... Or are you a kit?" DarkHeart grinned at WinterPaw with angry eyes "Your the kit, DarkHeart" WinterPaw snarled, staring up at him "you know my name? How nice, such a pity that you aren't in our family, you seem fierce" DarkHeart stared at WinterPaw, amusement gleaming in his gaze "yes, she would make a good Dark Forest cat DarkHeart, I see her strength..." A new cat came into view "MouseFang" DarkHeart nodded to the brown tabby and they both stared at WinterPaw, amused. WinterPaw backed away, now scared "Leave her alone," FrozenPaw stood in front of WinterPaw, snarling "What's this? FrozenPaw, I thought you wanted to be with your kin" DarkHearts amusement faded and turned into anger "she is kin, real kin," FrozenPaw shot a glance behind his shoulder and locked eyes with WinterPaw in a 'help me' way. WinterPaw stood beside FrozenPaw "we are clan cats, and clan cats stick together. We don't want to join your pitiful two cat group, we have our own." WinterPaw stood so close to FrozenPaw when she said 'stick together' their pelts brushed. "Two cat group? Oh you mustn't have met the others," MouseFang let out a yowl and, five, six more cats came into view. A scarred dark grey cat, a white cat with a blood red muzzle, she is from the nursery tales.. She was SugarPelt but then she got a scar and it made her muzzle stain red now she is BloodNose, a dark brown tabby she-cat that looked a lot like MouseFang, a black and white cat with only one eye, a tortoiseshell Tom and and a orange tabby Tom with half an ear lost and one half shut eye "meet, The Dark Forest Cats." WinterPaw stared at the senior scarred warriors, she backed away and ran, FrozenPaw pelting behind her, She tripped over a rock and her eyes snapped awake.
Sighing with relief, WinterPaw sat up, her shoulder stung, there was a wound the rock scratched my shoulder... But that was in the dream, why is it here in the waking world? Licking her shoulder, WinterPaw looked around her den. She saw SilverPaw and PeltPaw looking at her, shocked. 
"Where did that scratch come from?"
"You were talking all night!" 
"And who is FrozenPaw?"
"Are you ok?"
WinterPaw just sat there, staring at her kin, they looked worried "Bad dream," she replied. WinterPaw stretched and walked out of her den. She called out to MistyPool when she entered the medicine den, "where did that come from, WinterPaw?" MistyPool was searching for dock leaves and cobweb to put on her wound "I... I don't know... A dream, I guess" WinterPaw explained, not entirely convinced herself. MistyPool looked puzzled. Oh no, I left FrozenPaw all by himself in the Dark Forest! Oh I hope he is ok! WinterPaw wanted to race to MeadowClan and check on him, but she knew she couldn't. Does he think we are more than friends? Do I? WinterPaw accepted the herbs and walked into the clearing. She got herself a rabbit and set down on the sunning rocks to eat. She watched the kits, tossing a moss-ball between them, FlintKit tossed the moss to MapleKit and she tossed it back, she turned her head to see a patrol head off. OceanPaw and SkyPaw practiced battle moves while SeaPaw shared prey with PeltPaw. WinterPaw spotted WhiteFern and beckoned her over with her tail, "can we train?" WinterPaw asked, WhiteFern looked at WinterPaws wounded shoulder "it's not that bad, I can train, honestly!" WinterPaw jumped up and bounded off the sunning rocks "see? See!" She yowled "I'm fine!" When WhiteFern gave in they trotted to the hunting grounds. "Show me your hunting crouch," WhiteFern ordered, WinterPaw dropped into a hunters crouch, trying to make it as perfect as possible. "Tuck your tail in more, get lower and jump on that leaf...." WinterPaw did what WhiteFern told her to do and sprang, her paws landed on the leaf where a neck would be and bit it. "Try to make less noise when jumping. And tuck your paws in more, it gives you a further distance in your leap, but good job! Keep practicing." WhiteFern sat down, watching WinterPaw train, giving tips if she needed them. After they practiced enough, they both split up to hunt, WinterPaw suggested that she should go to the MeadowClan border. WinterPaw trotted up to the scent line with her prey and watched, trying to spot FrozenPaw. She saw a flicker of a grey pelt in the corner of her eye, turning she saw the blue eyes of FrozenPaw. His eyes narrowed and immediately he disappeared, WinterPaw, puzzled, called out to him, but there was no response. WinterPaw shrugged and went to hunt, I'll see him in the dark forest tonight she thought. Thinking of that she looked up, it was night. 
She wandered through the darkness, trying to spot FrozenPaw. Behind a bramble bush she saw the frosty blue eyes of him. Running toward FrozenPaw she stopped, two other eyes appeared, both higher and both red. DarkHeart and MouseFang. "Leave him alone you mangey-flea pelts!" WinterPaw felt a growl rising in her throat "no, don't say that, WinterPaw. They are family." FrozenPaws voice sounded different in a way... Kind of, dark. "No! FrozenPaw don't join them!" WinterPaw leaped for FrozenPaw but DarkHeart knocked her back "they are my family, join us WinterPaw, you can be our family too." FrozenPaw walked forward into view, "No!" WinterPaw turned and pelted into blackness how did I ever think we could be more than friends! This isn't right! He has been tricked. WinterPaw stopped and faced the darkness "FrozenPaw, snap out of it! You aren't like this! You are a good, normal clan cat. Not a dark forest cat!" WinterPaw turned and faced FrozenPaw, muzzles almost touching. There seemed to be fear in FrozenPaws eyes as well as darkness. His eyes were almost saying save me, "FrozenPaw its ok, it's me, WinterPaw, you aren't dark, you are a good clan cat who is in MeadowClan and you will stay the normal FrozenPaw ok?" 
FrozenPaw nodded and backed away.
FrozenPaw slowly padded into the clearing, MouseFang greeting him but he ignored her with his head down. FrozenPaw sat staring up at his leader, MinnowStar. She had called a Gathering beneath the tree branch, "MouseFang. You are not welcome here, you must leave, you have caused trouble and we don't want any more. Leave now," MinnowStar stared down at the brown tabby cat narrowing eyes and flicked her tail in hatred. "This is your loss, MinnowStar, I am a valuable warrior, you need me." MouseFang stood up and unsheathed her claws. "No, you have caused us trouble, you aren't needed here. Go running back to any clan, my clan is stronger without you telling us what to do, I'm the leader, not you!" MinnowStar spat her words in anger. MouseFang stalked out of the clearing, but before she exited she shot a glance at FrozenPaw. He went to follow her but looked at MinnowStars blazing eyes and sat back down. MinnowStar sighed from relief. "AcornFur, NightTail, BrownFur, EchoHeart and IcePelt. You are on patrol, check the ForestClan borders, I've scented them on our side" MinnowStar lashed her tail, I hope that's not WinterPaw FrozenPaw thought "this meeting is at end!" MinnowStar jumped down from the tree branch and padded back to her den. FrozenPaw quickly stood up, looked around to make sure nobody was watching and ran out of camp. He ran through the trees desperately trying to find MouseFang, but stopped this is hopeless, she is to fast, I can't catch up. FrozenPaw growled and ran back to the clearing.
WinterPaw lazily shared her prey with OceanPaw, OceanPaw had caught the fattest mouse she'd ever seen, "your doing good with your hunting" WinterPaw meowed, her mouth filled with prey, "Thanks! I have the best mentor, your sister mastered hunting, now I'm going to!" OceanPaws face lit up with excitement. Cats gasped and looked at the snow covered camp entrance, SilverPaw was with SkyPaw and they both were matted with blood "Four.. Fo- Foxes. He is gone." SilverPaw fell to the ground, snow falling off her, WinterPaws eyes went wide, and she rushed to her sisters side and started licking her wounds. "We f-fought the foxes o-off but we couldn't s-ave BrackenTail, he is still back there." SkyPaw now fell too, and OceanPaw came to her side. WinterPaw glanced at her in a they will be ok way so she didn't have to worry that badly. Another cat came in sight, it was LionTail, he was carrying something on his back, wait, no, someone! WinterPaw stood on her hind legs to get a better look. BrackenTail! Cats gasped as LionTail set the limp body down, his eyes had rolled to the back of his head, there was no sign of breathing. BrackenTail was dead. The deputy was dead. The next leader was dead. CloudStar bounded down from TallRock and he gasped, then sprinted over to the limp, snow covered body in the clearing. CloudStar bowed his head to his former deputy and gazed into the sky "he is a new star in StarClan, they will welcome him." CloudStars voice shook but he tried to sound strong. "We will sit vigil tonight. He died a warriors death. He died for his clan, I couldn't have asked for a better deputy, but before sundown, I must appoint a new one." CloudStar still lifted his head to the sky, WinterPaw looked at it too. WinterPaw bowed her head. Most cats were doing the same, "he was a great deputy, no doubt, but he was also the greatest father I could wish for." OceanPaws voice shook too in grief, BrackenTail was her father, WinterPaw lifted her head to find OceanPaw next to her sisters, SkyPaw was now recovering and sitting, SeaPaw and OceanPaw were shaking with grief, oh StarClan, why are you doing this to us?
WinterPaw stared up into the clouds, it was just before sundown and the cats were gathering beneath the TallRock. CloudStar slowly addressed the clan to be silent with his tail and lifted his head "BrackenTail was the best deputy I could wish for, he was deputy of this clan for many, many, moons. But StarClan provides a code that the leader has to appoint a deputy before sundown... I have made my choice, my deputy with be, Pe-" CloudStar stopped as MistyPool spoke "Wait! StarClan sent me a message!" MistyPool ran forward. "They showed me a eagle, it swooped and a feather fell," MistyPool looked at the cats and her gaze stopped on one particular cat "FeatherSwoop is to be the new deputy." PeltPaw, SilverPaw, WinterPaw and Snow all squealed with joy and came rushing up to the confused FeatherSwoop and nudged her toward the high-ledge, "What? Me!" FeatherSwoop squeaked, opened mouthed and astonished as she bowed her head and accepted her place. Most of the cats muttered their approval but some hissed and bared their teeth, WinterPaw looked around to see who that was. MouseFang, ShortEar, TalonClaw and CheetahTail. WinterPaw was shocked at these cats, well MouseFang she knew would be one, but the others? Looks like MouseFang is recruiting more Dark Forest cats... We need to stop this. 
WinterPaw sat on the overhanging rock and gazed at the frozen river, stars glistened in the reflection of the sky. WinterPaw wondered which cats do they belong to? I think that ones BrackenTail. She gazed up at the brightest shining star, WhiteFern said that the brightest shining star was the most recent cat to be welcomed there. WinterPaws mind suddenly went to FrozenPaw, what was he doing? What had happened there? Was he really going to join the dark forest cats? WinterPaw shook her head and gazed at the sky, I should find out soon, but not tonight. Someone joined WinterPaw where she sat, WinterPaw looked behind her, SeaPaw. "Hi, uh. What are you doing?" SeaPaw sounded awkward. "Just, watching the stars, it's amazing how the stars make such a beautiful reflection." WinterPaw replied but she wasn't sure SeaPaw heard her, was was just staring at WinterPaw, he shook his head "Cool, sorry i was just a bit-" SeaPaw searched for a word "I was just thinking." SeaPaw sat up "sorry for disturbing you," he stormed off through the bushes, seeming angry and sad for some reason. WinterPaw pushed through the bushes "SeaPaw?" She called, no reply, how is he so fast? That was just a few seconds ago. WinterPaw headed to camp, it could have been an illusion, she was tired. 
SeaPaw trudged into camp and slumped down in his nest with a sigh, OceanPaw and SkyPaw were already asleep I wonder if they care for anyone? Someone who isn't family?... But they can't and I can't either... WinterPaw entered the den, SeaPaw closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep to ignore WinterPaws voice. Once he fell asleep he awoke in a dark place, almost pitch black, he crept forward and spotted two cats in the distance. WinterPaw and.. Who was that other cat? SeaPaw had never seen him before. He called out to WinterPaw and trotted forward "where are we?" SeaPaw asked as he approached "SeaPaw! Why are you here?" WinterPaw looked startled and exchanged a glance with the new Tom cat "surely this is a mistake, you aren't here on purpose, right?" WinterPaw edged forward "no, I'm not here on purpose and what is this place?" SeaPaw looked around seeing a few bushes, but like before just more darkness. WinterPaw sighed "I can't tell you, they told me to keep it a secret" WinterPaw kept glancing behind her shoulder. "Why are you so worried? Who are you talking about?"SeaPaw was puzzled "look, SeaPaw, go do something to wake yourself from this ok?" The new Tom cat glanced around quickly and shoved him away "go, go!" He whispered. "FrozenPaw, WinterPaw, so good to see you tonight" a new voice spoke and SeaPaw peered through the bushes, "Hey D-arkHeart" FrozenPaw and WinterPaw said in unison, they both sounded scared. "Hello my little students, how have you been? I hope you have been training...." DarkHeart purred, it sounded more like a growl. "Yes, I have! I want to be the best Dark Forest cat I can be!" FrozenPaw lashed his tale and narrowed his blue and red speckled eyes. "FrozenPaw your eyes...." WinterPaw stared at FrozenPaw and started backing away, "no! WinterPaw please stay! Don't leave me again," FrozenPaw stared at WinterPaw, frowning. "Fine, yes DarkHeart I trained to.... I guess I am just as determined as FrozenPaw is to impress you," WinterPaws stared at the ground, SeaPaw started backing away, trying to take this all in, suddenly there was a snap behind him and SeaPaw felt himself hit the ground, he shook his head and gazed up, he had fallen into a hole. FrozenPaw, WinterPaw and DarkHeart came into view "well well, who is this? A new member?" DarkHeart grinned and narrowed his eyes "No!" WinterPaw blurted out, she covered her mouth with her tail and tried to redeem herself "I mean... Should we help him?" WinterPaw gazed down at SeaPaw "no, just let him die down there, he has no reason to live anyway..." FrozenPaw grinned at SeaPaw from the edge of the hole. WinterPaw glared at FrozenPaw and snarled "I'm kidding! Help him, I don't care, fall into the hole while you are attempting to get him out, I'm just going to leave." FrozenPaw shrugged and walked off.
Betrayal. Anger. Hatred. These described her feelings right now. WinterPaw stared down at her bed of moss and narrowed her eyes. FrozenPaw has changed, he didn't help SeaPaw. WinterPaw noticed the red specks in his eyes to. She looked up at the den entrance, OceanPaw entered. "WinterPaw? What has happened to your eyes?" OceanPaw stared at her in shock, WinterPaw looked back at her, confused. Suddenly she knew what OceanPaw was talking about. WinterPaw had the red specks in her eyes too. She was turning into a dark forest cat...
WinterPaw, OceanPaw, FeatherSwoop and WhiteFern all were trotting toward the hunting area, they were doing training "Okay! So, I want you two to show me your crouch and leap!" FeatherSwoop meowed, filled with joy. WinterPaw did her best hunting crouch, she looked at OceanPaw and meowed in amusement, her sisters apprentice was walking like a lopsided bear, "I'm coming to get you voles!" She said in a silly voice. "OceanPaw, don't be all funny, I know it's exciting but-" FeatherSwoop stopped as she started meowing in amusement too, OceanPaw was now jumping through the snow, her pelt completely covered in white, she stood next to WinterPaw and said "Hey look! We're twins!" The whole patrol were now rolling in snow and pretending to be another cat, they were all having so much fun. "I know that was fun and all but we should really start training," WhiteFern explained, WinterPaw and OceanPaw groaned, "of course it was the oldest one here to tell us all off and ruin the fun," OceanPaw whispered from the side of her mouth, WinterPaw stifled a laugh.
WinterPaw got back from the fun and tiring training and flopped down in her nest, she wanted to sleep but she didn't want to go back to the dark forest. Time passed and WinterPaw gave up, she rested her head on her paws and closed her eyes. She opened them in a completely different place than she thought she would, WinterPaw slowly walked forward. She heard whispers, though there was ones she could hear the loudest, mouse, frozen, winter. Mouse, ice, snow. There was now a whisper that became so loud it was like it was trying to tell her something. The mouse that changes groups makes one of her own, with ice and snow as her friends... WinterPaw caught a faint glimpse of a starry cat in the corner of her eye but it disappeared quickly and she faded into darkness... No not darkness, faint shed of light. Dark forest. WinterPaw didn't know how to wake herself up, so she thought she may as well find FrozenPaw. 
She did find him, with his eyes more red than ever, actually one was nearly fully red. What was he doing? WinterPaw edged forward to get a better look, FrozenPaw has his paw on a cat, the cat that is under him has small bleeding wounds on their back, he had been hurting them! Suddenly WinterPaw saw who it was, OceanPaw! WinterPaw ran to them and knocked FrozenPaw off OceanPaw, WinterPaw looked at her, she was breathing heavy and fast with her eyes wide open, "what did you do to her!" WinterPaw looked at FrozenPaw and snarled "she trespassed on Dark Forest land... She was so easy to catch, and she is so small and weak" FrozenPaw laughed at OceanPaw and grinned like a Dark Forest cat would. WinterPaw lunged herself at FrozenPaw and scratched the side of his face, blood poured down his neck and he threw himself at WinterPaw but she dodged and scratched his back, the next thing WinterPaw remembered was a flash and waking up with a wound on the side of her neck.
WinterPaw walked through the forest, having heavy steps and not caring if the prey heard her, she had more rough nights in the Dark Forest and each night making her more frustrated. More cats had commented on her eyes, WinterPaw just suggested she may have ancestors with red eyes. WinterPaw assumed every night in The Dark Forest her eyes got redder. "Have you heard?" A sly voice whispered in her ear "MouseFang is making a clan.... She wants us in it, WinterPaw, this is your chance" WinterPaw swung around "A Chance for what FrozenPaw! A chance to betray my clan? A chance to be never made a warrior? A chance to be in a clan with mangy-flea-filled cats?!" WinterPaw was shouting in FrozenPaws face but he didn't even flinch. "WinterPaw, everyone is going to rebel sometime... Let this be the way you do it..." FrozenPaw started walking away but stopped and turned to WinterPaw "This is your chance to be with the cats that understand you... The cats that believe in you, the cats that truly want you and have a purpose for you..." FrozenPaw nodded to WinterPaw with a grin, turned away and ran off. 
WinterPaw wandered into camp, actually thinking about this offer, the Dark Forest was changing her. She thought about how it would be nice to be a main cat in a clan, to be treated like a real leader... She went to her nest and closed her eyes without hesitation, she wandered through the darkness and stopped as she heard FrozenPaws voice, "Father, I did it, I took it, it was right where you said it would be.... In the ForestClan camp... They all stared, they didn't recognise me at first, but then... They thought I was you... And I found her, gave her the offer, just like you asked me to... She is a Dark Forest cat now, but something is wrong with me, I feel, different. I should be gone, but I'm not, I'm living in shadows. There is only one thing left for me to do now, join you, become a real Dark Forest Cat... I'm going to be in FangStars clan..." WinterPaw took a few steps backward and shook her head, took what? What is there to take in our clan... A life? WinterPaw shook her head again, wondering why she was thinking like this. "Took what" WinterPaw finally got the courage to step into the training grounds and ask, they stared at her "took what?" WinterPaw repeated. "Nothing that you need to know about" DarkHeart slowly walked up to her, "It's my clan, so I need to know what's going on in ForestClan," WinterPaw looked at DarkHeart not even flinching at his evil expression "Oh, but I thought you were going to join NightMareClan?.. FangsStars clan?" DarkHeart leaned forward and snarled, trying to scare WinterPaw. "You don't scare me DarkHeart," WinterPaw snarled back, then she stood up straight "and yes, I will join NightMareClan..."
WinterPaw woke from her dream and her choice, she didn't want to join NightMareClan but she can't turn back, now that DarkHeart and FrozenPaw heard her confidentiality say that she'll join. WinterPaw rolled her eyes at herself I wish I'd never done that, at least I could've been scared when I said it. WinterPaw walked out of her den and saw that cats were gathered beneath the TallRock, she looked up and saw MouseFang "Good, everyone is here? CloudStar and FeatherSwoop are on patrol so they can't hear about this ok?" MouseFang snarled "I am making a clan, NightMareClan to be exact, all cats who think that they're being treated badly or any cat who thinks they have a dark side, join us. We all meet at the FieldClan lake at sunrise tomorrow... I'll make sure I see lots of you there" MouseFangs gaze met WinterPaws and she did a evil looking smile, nodded to her and jumped off the TallRock. "I'm headed to MeadowClan if any of you want to come with me now." MouseFang turned and trotted out of the clearing, CheetahTail and EagleClaw following her. I won't go now, I'll go at sunrise tomorrow, it will give me more time here. WinterPaw looked at her ClanMates, BlazeHeart, SeaPaw, PeltPaw, SilverPaw.. WhiteFern, Snow... WinterPaw sighed as she saw OceanPaw, how will I leave all these ClanMates behind? How will I leave FeatherSwoop behind? How can I leave my clan? But I am, I'm going to and nobody can change that.
WinterPaw slowly and soundlessly padded through the bushes to leave the camp, she looked behind her and saw everything that she was leaving, the camp, her DenMates and her kin... WinterPaw narrowed her eyes and turned away, heading to FieldClan. She crossed the MeadowClan border and trotted through it like it was her own territory, head high and tail up. WinterPaw heard noises behind her and turned to see FrozenPaw trot toward her "Hey WinterPaw!" FrozenPaw touched noses with WinterPaw and walked beside her, pelts brushing. They approached the FieldClan scent line and walked over it without hesitation. Once they reached the lake they sat down waiting for the others. First ScarPelt, then IvyHeart, PoisonWhisker, then all of the cats who travelled to all the clans to say the message, CheetahTail, EagleClaw, BlackPelt, DeathEar and MouseFang... There were cats that WinterPaw didn't know the names of, lots more... WinterPaw was surprised that so many cats wanted to join NightMareClan, she didn't think that so many other cats felt misunderstood or badly treated. MouseFang beckoned the clan with her tail to follow her, they all walked through the FieldClan territory. They all jumped over the river that leads to unused territory. Once they had travelled far away MouseFang called everyone to a stop, she ordered a patrol of hunters and everyone else slept. WinterPaw settled down next to FrozenPaw and his grey and white spotted fur warmed her as she fell asleep. WinterPaw woke in another dark forest dream, DarkHeart approached her "Hello WinterPaw, I am proud to work alongside you in your Dark Forest life. I will train you to be just like us, I will train you to forget about your old ClanMates and know your knew ones, let me show you what your future will be like." DarkHeart Stared at her and all of a sudden she was flung into the future, she saw herself, sitting on a tree branch, much older and scars on her face and pelt. Her ClanMates were gathering beneath the tree, as time went by she saw a battle, she saw herself leading her Clan into that battle. She would become leader of this clan, NightMareClan, and she would become a Dark Forest Cat when she would loose her life, WinterPaw smiled, no more StarClan, the Dark Forest will become stronger as time passes, and I will become leader of NightMareClan and I will die as a Dark Forest Cat.
WinterPaw walked with the clan that will be her clan someday. She was happy with all that was happening at the moment, her new knowledge, her new clan, and FrozenPaw by her side. MouseFang called the clan to a stop "Take a good look around, this is our territory now," MouseFang climbed up to a high tree branch that's the one I saw in my vision! "Welcome NightMareClan, this will be the clan you will live in until you join the Dark Forest, I would like to start by giving FrozenPaw his warrior name." FrozenPaw stood up and grinned, MouseFang jumped down from the tree "From this day forward you will be known as FrozenHeart, you have this name in honour of your heart as cold as ice." MouseFang lifted her claw and scratched FrozenHeart's shoulder, WinterPaw jumped up and snarled at MouseFang, narrowing her eyes she stood in front of FrozenHeart. "Don't worry WinterPaw, we are all getting this, it is a mark sign that you are a NightMareClan warrior," MouseFang grinned. "WinterPaw, you will now get your warrior name. WinterClaw, in honour of your sharp killing claws." MouseFang lifted her Paw, WinterClaw flinched as her shoulder became wounded and bleeding. "All of you, come here and I will give you your marks, and from now on call me FangStar." Cats gathered around FangStar while FrozenHeart and WinterClaw stayed back. "We're warriors now WinterClaw... Warriors of NightMareClan," FrozenHeart touched noses with her and bounded off to a bush "Come on! We will make the Warriors den here!" WinterClaw Glanced behind her and saw what she would be like in the future, she saw it in MouseFang.
End of Book one
Category:Stories
Category:Cats
Category:Clans