Steelpaw's Shadow

==Prologue==
A tortoiseshell tom walked silently through the dark forest. Aware that any time a cat could be appear, he looked around. The forest, shadowed by darkness, seemed dead and empty. But somewhere, anywhere, were cats. Cats who did something terrible, that they are left by StarClan after their dead, here in the dark and gray forest. The tortoiseshell cat walked a long time, on the sticky, bare forest floor. The air was cold, thick and foggy, and the trees were so high that the starless sky almost impossible to see. Suddenly, a big, muscular tom came from behind one of the gray trees. The tortoiseshell cat stopped at the sight of the dark, ginger tom who came tripped towards him. “Mossstar, I didn’t see you for a long time,” the dark ginger tom said with a deep voice when he stood before him. “Eagleclaw,” the tortoiseshell muttered, “what are you doing in my dream?” “I take a visit,” the dark ginger tom replied dryly, “to tell you about a new prophecy.” The tortoiseshell tom sat down. His tail swished. “A new prophecy?” “Soon, a new leader will be born,” Eagleclaw declared. “But that will be not one of Shadowpelt’s kits, before you ask. The new leader will be from another Clan.” Mossstar looked at him with big eyes in disbelief. “But the ShadowClan leaders have always been related to each other. It is a promise that the great leader Shadow has made​​! Otherwise there might be a gentle one it would take over from her or any other leader!” “Shut up, Mossstar!” Eagleclaw hissed. “Yes, that promise has been there, but the only family of us who are still in ShadowClan are Redstripe and Shadowpelt and soon her kits. Redstripe can't be leader because he is the medicine cat, and Shadowpelt is a warm-hearted she-cat who have to wait seven moons before she can be a warrior, and her kits shall be no better than her.” Those words strike Mossstar's heart like a lighting bolt. How dared he to call his daughter a warm-hearted she-cat? And that he thought that Mossstar's grandchildren will be as gentle as she is, went to far. “Father...” he began, but Eagleclaw interrupted him angrily. “Listen to me, Mossstar,” he growled, “you have to find the new leader and take him to your Clan.” “But how can I find that cat?” Mossstar asked. “You said he shall born in another Clan.” “Therefore you need to attack another Clan's camp and search for a gray tabby tom-kit,” Eagleclaw replied impatiently. “Do it when it's newleaf, not later. Around that time he is still a kit so you can pick him up from the nursery. When he's an apprentice you must train him much and hard. He must be as soon as possible be a warrior. And take, in the time he is not a warrior yet, Fernheart as your deputy. When the gray cat is a warrior, you will kill Fernheart and tell the Clan he died due to some disease or so. Then, the chosen cat will take his place in as deputy, and he will be, after you, the greatest ShadowClan leader ever!” Mossstar had heard a glimpse of triumph in his father's voice. He thought it was a ridiculous idea to steal a cat from another Clan to make him ShadowClan leader, but he had no other choice than listen to him. “I understand, Eagleclaw,” Mossstar mumbled reluctantly. “Can you leave me alone now, please?” “As you want, Mossstar,” he meowed, and before Mossstar was surrounded by clouds of darkness to fall asleep again, Eagleclaw added: “Watch out for the moonlight. And avenge my death, please. I'm sill angry that I had lost the change to became leader.”
==Chapter 1==
A chilly breeze was blowing thought the fur of a white tabby she-cat. She was lying in the cold grass when the pretty warm sun was shining on her pelt. She listened to the soft murmers of the cats in the camp. Rainpool, the ThunderClan deputy, was talking to Ravenstar, the leader of the Clan. Graykit and Tigerkit were playing next to the nursery, while their mother Barkfur kept an eye on them.
When she began to doze, a voice called to her: “Moonpaw, it's time for training!” She was startled, then she saw Whitetail in frond of the gorse barrier, the entrance to ThunderClan camp. She stood up and walked to her mentor. She was excited; she liked to learn new things with her mentor Whitetail.
“Hello, Whitetail,” Moonpaw meowed when she was arrived at the gorse barrier. “Hey, Moonpaw,” the light gray tom greeted, “do you like it to go to the Sandy Hollow to train your battle techniques?”
Moonpaw nodded. The two cats walked through the gorse barrier into the forest. Sunlight shines though the trees and dappled their pelts. Singing birds filled the forest. There was a plenty of prey and the Clan recoverd after the heavy weather of leaf-bare. The two ThunderClan cats walked towards the beginning of the river, but there they went in a different direction. Soon they reached the sandy hollow. Whitetail sat down in the middle of it.
“Ok,” he mewed. “Attack me.”
Moonpaw's eyes flashed from left to right, then she raced towards him. She leaped, but ended up, right on her paws, on the sandy floor, when Whitetail dodged her. She tried again. She sank down and jumped on her mentor, while she put her claws lightly in his coat. The two cats rolled on the dusty ground so that clouds of sand blows up. Whitetail pushed her away with his hind legs so he was free from his apprentice. Moonpaw shook herself. Her mentor stood up and ran to her. She could barely sprang away. The practicing battle went on until the sun was low, near the horizon. The sun cast long shadows across the forest. Moonpaw lay tired down onto the sand. “You had trained enough for today,” Whitetail meowed pleased. “You're doing great. You will be warrior soon.”
Moonpaw purred for the compliments of her mentor. She always did her best at the trainings.
The two cats were just staring at the horizon for a moment, at sunset. The sky was colorful bij the setting sun. The clear blue color mixed with the yellow sunlight for a beautiful purple and orange sky.
Whitetail stood up and meowed to his apprentice: “Com on, it's time to go back to the camp.”
Moonpaw rushed after Whitetail out of the sandy hollow. Their paws were back on the soft grass in their familiar forest. Their forest, their territory where ThunderClan lives. The forest was, like now, in newleaf always full of scents of the moist soil and the trees, and of course the most important thing: the scent of prey.
But on that moment Moonpaw could smell something else. Cat smell, but not the scent of one of her Clanmates. She tasted the air, but she couldn't figure out from which Clan, or from which cat whatsoever. However, she heard the bushes rustle and a tail was waving behind her no more than a few fox-lengths away. A small head appeared from a gorse bush and a ShadowClan cat raced towards ThunderClan camp.
Moonpaw was startled and flinched away. A ShadowClan partol burst out of the gorse bush and followed the leading cat.
“They attacked ThunderClan camp!” Moonpaw called alarmed to Whitetail, but he already raced after the ShadowClan warriors. “Wait for me!” She hurried after her mentor. ShadowClan was the most cunning cat Clan in the forest and who knows what kind of plan they were doing.
When she reached the camp, it was a chaos. The battle was already begun and Moonpaw saw that almost every ThunderClan cat was fighting. The ShadowClan cats fought rough and blood filled the camp floor. Moonpaw knew she had to help her Clan. She joined the battle.
Moonpaw leaped on a ShadowClan apprentice and clung on to her. But the blue-gray she-cat was not a beginner. She trew Moonpaw off and bit into her paw. The ThunderClan apprentice gave a cry in pain and terror and she nudged with her hind legs in the enemy's belly.
The ShadowClan cat flinched just a mouse-length away and throw herself onto the ThunderClan apprentice again. Then she grabbed her by her scruff and slammed her to the ground. She winced in pain. A scratch wound hurt and was bleeding. Dizzy from the smack on the ground she saw that the ShadowClan apprentice took off to attack another opponent. Everything around her blurred, everything seemed to spin, and the last thing she saw on that moment was an black-gray tabby cat who cried out her name.
A metal paw. Then nothing. Then that metal paw again, but now it was a long, thorn-sharp claw. The claw picked up someting. A shadow. Suddenly a face from a silver-colored cat appeared. It screamed and disappeared. Now a wide clearing appeared where a metal cat was standing in. He screamed again and suddenly blood flowed through the clearing. Death cat bodies lay around the metal cat. He smiled evil.
Abruptly the clearing changed into the dark blue Silverpelt and the metal cat was a star now. The star fell down on the forest, so it turned into fire, and the star turned back into the cat. He sat down there, satisfied in the middle of the fire, and his eyes gleamed maliciously.
“Is she alive?” Moonpaw heard someone say.
Slowly, she opened her eyes. The last ray of sunlight reached her pupils. It was dark around her. The only thing she saw were glittering, amber and green eyes. Her eyes opened a little more. She couldn't see brighter now. Beneath her she felt soft moss and dry leaves. She didn't have enough strenght to raise her head and look around her were she was.
Suddenly she felt that someting lay down against her. She felt it was a soft, living thing. And it felt pretty warm. Whatever it was, she got a good feeling.
“I think she's still breathing.” That voice again. So familiar.
She closed her eyes. Werever she was, she was save.
Then she felt that painful sting in her flank. A soft, growling mew escaped from her mouth, and she clutched her jaws in pain. On the same moment she felt breathing down her scratch wound and whiskers tickled her fur. Quickly the breathing stopped and the whiskers turned away, then someting was pressed on her wound. She opened her eyes again, now faster, but they were wide open when she heard a shriek. The warm, soft thing left her and she heard it's pawsteps fade away. Only the shape with the green eyes stayed with her behind.
For a while she lay still when she got used to the darkness. Finally, her eyes were brighter and now she could see the silhouette of the shape. She blinked at him. It was a dark brown tom.
Suddenly she reminded the brown tom's name: Forestleaf, medicine cat of ThunderClan. It becoming also clearer in her head. Slowly she raised her head. She took her tongue over an paw and began to wash her head. But where am I? she wondered after a while. She looked in the bright green eyes of the medicine cat. She shook her head and reminded herself this was Forestleaf's den.
Her head ached. She lay down, curled up her tail and closed her eyes.
Outside the ThunderClan medicine cat's den she could heard voices. “The ShadowClan had stolen my kit, Ravenstar,” she could hear, and “Why would they steal only Graykit?” and “We will get him back tomorrow, I promise.” Then it was quiet. Only the rustle of leaves and the whispering of the wind.
Whiskers tickled in her face when Moonpaw opened her dark blue eyes. She yawned and stretched herself, but cringed when she felt the sharp sting on her flank. She looked up and saw a dark gray tabby tom. He smiled with relief, and she wondered why he did that.
“Fortunatly,” he sighed, “I see you're feeling better.” The dark tabby tom pushed his nose against his cheek. “I though you wouldn't make it.”
One moment she could remember nothing again. But then a horrible flashback shot through her mind from a blue-gray cat who slammed her to the ground. Moonpaw moaned. There was a chaos in her head from countless thoughts. The thoughts swirled together like a fierce storm had broken out. For a moment it seemend she knew nothing. But finally, the storm in her head stopped. She searched in her mind, even she didn't now to were she was looking for, and then she came to the picture of the dark tabby tom who shouted her name while she closed her eyes.
“Darkpaw,” she murmered and dug her nose in his fur. The dark tabby cat rested his head next to her paws. For a moment the two cats closed their eyes. They enjoyed the deep silence of the early morning. A cold breeze was blowing through Moonpaw's fur, but by Darkpaw's warmth she hadn't noticed.
Suddenly a muzzle appeared through the crack in the rock from Forestleaf's den and Rainpool came in.
“Darkpaw,” she meowed softly to don't wake up the medicine cat, “are you ready to get Graykit back?”
Darkpaw looked up. “Yes, Rainpool,” he answered, when he leave Moonpaw and followed the deputy out of the den.
Actually, Moonpaw had no idea where Darkpaw was going to. Rainpool had asked him if he was ready to get Graykit back. But where from? And where he was, how and why would he get there?
Then she remembered what she had heard the previous day outside the den. ShadowClan, who had attacked ThunderClan camp the previous day, had stolen Graykit! But why... that was still the question. Their leader, Ravenstar, had probably organized a patrol to take the gray kit back.
Moonpaw knew too well that Darkpaw woud like to get a revenge on ShadowClan. After all, Graykit was Darkpaw's little brother, because they were both–along with Firpaw and Tigerkit–Barkfur's kits.
Moonpaw sat up and began to wash carefully the wound on her flank. In the beginning the scratch wound stung, but a little later the wound was almost numb, so she could easily sat up.
Opposite her, she heard a sigh. Moonpaw saw that Forestleaf was awake and that he strechted himself. Then he sat up en blinked at Moonpaw.
“Did you sleep well, Moonpaw?” he asked friendly.
“Yes, Forestleaf,” Moonpaw murmured. She tried to hide the weariness in her voice. “But, can you tell me wat happened yesterday?”
“ShadowClan had attacked the camp,” he told her. He curled his tail around his paws.
“Luckily, there are not so many wounded. But after the fighting we discovered that Barkfur's kit Graykit was stolen. Ravenstar ordered Rainpool to organize a patrol at dawn–that's now–to take Graykit back.”
“But why would they steal only Graykit?” That question just kept hanging in her mind. “Why only Graykit and not he and Tigerkit?”
“Maybe they had not the change to steal Tigerkit too,” Forestleaf answered doubtfully. “Anyway, the patrol is now underway to get Graykit back.”
For a moment she felt disapointed because she could not come to take a revenge on ShadowClan. But then she remembered that it was because she had to recover from the wounds the ShadowClan apprentice had done. She was slammed to the ground and was knocked unconscious, and thereby she had also a deep scratch wound. Now she doubted whether it was a apprentice or a warrior. Maybe just a young warrior, Moonpaw thought.
Though the crack in the rock of Forestleaf's den she could see a glimpse of gray fur. Curious, she looked outside through the crack, and she saw it was her brother Lightpaw. She wondered why he was so early oudside if he was not one of Rainpool's patrol.
Moonpaw put her muzzle between the crack. “Lightpaw?” she meowed.
Lightpaw turned to face her sister. “Oh hello, Moonpaw,” he replied. The light gray tom tripped to Forestleaf's den and entered through the crack. “I'm glad it gets better with you.”
“Are you the only cat in the apprentice's den?” Moonpaw asked after she had greeted him. “Yes,” her brother replied. “Firpaw is also gone to save Graykit. Do you know about the patrol?”
“Yes, Forestleaf told me.”
Lightpaw looked around as though he didn't seen the medicine cat. “Oh sorry, Forestleaf,” he meowed quickly, “I had not seen you yet.”
Forestleaf looked at him kindly. “Doesn't matter,” he purred.
“But uh,” Lightpaw began, “that cat that attacked you, how did he look? Then we can contradict Mossstar on the next Gathering.”
Moonpaw could see a glimpse of revenge in her brother's blue eyes. She shook her head. “That's not a good idea, Lightpaw. Mossstar is pretty dangerous. It wouldn't surprise me if that discussion would turn into a battle.”
Moonpaw knew only to well what had happened a few moons ago. One day, RiverClan was attacked by ShadowClan. RiverClan was in the minority, so when a ThunderClan patrol noticed the battle, they called in a couple of cats to help them. ShadowClan lost. On a Gathering, when Moonpaw was there for the first time, Mosstar told that his mate Cloverfur was killed in that battle. The ShadowClan leader blamed that Brownstripe, a senior warrior of ThunderClan, had done that, because he claimed that he had found a shred of brown fur hanging on Cloverfur's claw. ThunderClan didn't believe it. Mossstar had ignored them and told Brownstripe that he would catch her one day. That happened. A few days later she walked through the forest with her mate Darknessfoot to search herbs for their son, Forestleaf, who was not so long ThunderClan's medicine cat yet. After that they never come back anymore.
“Hey, hello... Moonpaw!” Lightpaw meowed in her ear.
Moonpaw was startled en shook her head before she could sunk further in her thoughts. “Is there something wrong, Moonpaw?” Lightpaw sounded worried. “You look a little grave.”
“No, nothing wrong,” she meowed quickly. “Well, I just thought about ShadowClan. Why are they so brutal? They only want to fight for force and steal everything.”
“Yeah, that's who ShadowClan is. But, how did that cat look like who attacked you?” Lightpaw glanced quickly over his shoulder at Forestleaf, then he whispered in Moonpaw's ear: “Then I can take a revenge if I ever have to fight with him.”
“Alright,” Moonpaw sighed. She knew her brother wasn't a cat who liked to kill annoying cats, so she could trust him. “It was indeed a she-cat, so call her not he.”
“Such thing you would not expect a she-cat,” Moonpaw could heard her brother mutter. “Anyway,” Moonpaw hissed. “It was a young, blue-gray she-cat with that deep blue eyes. But not as dark as mine,” she added a little snooty.
Suddenly she could hear pawsteps at the clearing.
Moonpaw turned her head to the crack and glared through it. But the only thing she could see through the fern tunnel was a flash of black fur.
Forestleaf had heard the soft patter of cats too, because he stood up, wriggled himself through the crack and ran through the fern tunnel to the clearing.
Moonpaw could no longer sit still so she walked after Lightpaw to the middle of the camp. While she tripped through the fern tunnel, she could notice the scratch wound on her flank again. She clenched her jaws against the pain and she tried not to think about it. She tried to focus the though what would happen on the clearing.
When the two apprentices stopped at the border of the clearing, they got the answer.
The patrol had returned from their mission to bring Graykit back.
A few cats raced through the gorse tunnel, with Whitetail in front. In the middle of the camp he came to a halt and looked fiercly around. A blue-gray she-cat with a terrible injury where an eye should have been and a "V"-shaped nick in her ear, hobbled after Whitetail.
Moonpaw could barely see who it was because of her rumbled coat.
“Forestleaf!” Whitetail called across the clearing. “Rainpool is injured!”
==Chapter 2==
Ravenstar walked to Whitetail and Rainpool. “What happened?” he asked urgently. Whitetail breathed heavily from the race to the camp. “S-ShadowClan... they were too strong... at the nursery... a cat attacked her...” he gasped. “Calmly, Whitetail,” Ravenstar meowed gently. “Catch your breath.” Whitetail sat down. Rainpool was lying so that Forestleaf could cure her. A cry of pain escaped from her throat. Her whole body was covered with scratches and her fur was tangled. That had been a fierce battle, Moonpaw thought. She looked beyond the clearing and saw that the other cats of the patrol are spreading over the camp. Ashcloud tripped to her mate Barkfur who sat worried beyond the nursery with her kit. The gray tom murmured anyting in her ear and he licked comforting over her head. Featherstorm, Moonpaw's father, chatted with Snowfur and Silverface, who were only just out of the warrior's den. Beside her, Firpaw greeted her friend Lightpaw and finally Darkpaw was running towards her. “Moonpaw,” he mewed relieved, “looks like it's better with you!” Darkpaw pushed his nose against hers. Moonpaw could see he had a few fierce scratches, but they were no worse than hers or those of the ThunderClan deputy. “Have you brought Graykit back?” Moonpaw asked hopefully. But the courage sank her in the paws when she saw disappoint in Darkpaw's eyes. “They were with too many,” he meowed disapointed. “Or... we where with to few. Why would they steal kits when they are with enough cats?” There was anger in his voice. Moonpaw understood he was angry. Graykit was his little brother, and even though he didn't come from the same litter as his, they were quite related. And you protect your family, at all cost. “Maybe we'll never get him back,” Darkpaw wailed. “What if ShadowClan steals all of our kits? Then ThunderClan is lost! Great StarClan, what can I do...” Moonpaw gave him a friendly push against his shoulder. “Calm down,” she murmured. “This is not the end. It was just the first time in moons ShadowClan had stolen an kit or even attacked us.” “Hm, that's true,” Darkpaw mumbled, not completely convinced. Suddenly, Moonpaw heard approaching pawsteps and she saw her mother Snowfur coming towards her. “Moonpaw!” she meowed. “I'm glad to see you are feeling better.” Snowfur pushed Darkpaw away so she could reach her daughter, wich the gray apprentice staggered but he could only just keep his balance. Snowfur pushed her nose against her daughter and licked her forehead. “Mom,” Moonpaw muttered. “I am not a kit anymore!” Next to her, Firpaw chuckled sneering. “You looked hungry, Moonkit! Do you want some milk from your mommy?” Lightpaw warned her friend with a flick from his tail. Snowfur ignored her but she stopped washing her daughter and signaled with her tail that she had to walk behind her. “Come with me, Moonpaw,” she mewed calmly. “Wer'e going to Forestleaf to do someting about your wound; I think it bleeds a little. ” Moonpaw looked back at the other three apprentices–Darkpaw went to her sister to speak to her and Lightpaw looked at her for a moment–before she walked after her mother. Moonpaw glanced at the scratch wound on her flank. It was indeed start bleeding again. She looked quickly ahead, but she felt the pain sting again. She did her best to ignore it and just followed her mother. They walked to the middle of the clearing where Forestleaf was taking care of Rainpool. The medicine cat chewed on a marigold and dribbled the juice of it on her wounds. Snowfur leaned over Forestleaf. “Forestleaf,” she meowed, “do you want to do something with Moonpaw's wound? It's bleeding a little.” Forestleaf looked up. He gazed at the scratch wound on Moonpaw's flank, and he replied: “That's all right, Snowfur. Would you like to get some cobweb from the forest? That will stop the bleeding.” Snowfur nodded. She gave her daughter a last lick and she tripped through the gorse tunnel to disappear. Moonpaw sighed and she lay down beside Forestleaf and Rainpool. She watched as the medicine cat was taking care of Rainpool's wounds. Moonpaw hear her moan sometimes painful and her remaining eye was closed. Who did had done to her, it had been a strong and fierce cat, Moonpaw knew. Suddenly she thought of the she-cat who had wounded her. Maybe that cat had wounded Rainpool too! It was possible, because Moonpaw could remember well what the she-cat had done to her. Such fighting techniques she did not know. Probably just another crafty ShadowClan trick. Whitetail, who was laying next to Rainpool, licked troubled her ears while he was softly muttering things to her. Rainpool looked a little comforted by the presence of Whitetail; she purred softly between the little pain cries and she relaxed. Moonpaw had never seem this two together like now. Was Rainpool maybe Whitetail's mate? No, that could not. Before the battle there was noting between the two. They were just rarely together. Was there someting happened during the battle that he fel in love with the ThunderClan deputy? Ravenstar stood in front of the four cats. He bent over Rainpool's injured body. “Do you think you can heal her?” he asked Forestleaf gently. The medicine cat looked up. “Most of the wounds are not so serious, except her eye wound,” he replied. “I'll do my best to heal her. She will be okay.” Ravenstar heaved a sigh of relief and Whitetail brightened a little. “But,” Forestleaf continued urgently, “I fear that she can't be the deputy anymore. Certainly not now the wounds still need to heal. There should be a new deputy chosen.” Moonpaw was shocked by the last words. A new deputy? So she could never fully heal? “That seems the best choice,” Ravenstar meowed. “I will chose a new deputy before moonhigh. But because there is still a whole day to go, so I will chose the new deputy before sunhigh. Until then, I shall sent a few patrols; above all a patrol to guard the border between our Clan and ShadowClan. We will to be sure that ShadowClan invades our not for the second time.” The ThunderClan leader turned his head to Rainpool. “And when you are feeling better, Rainpool, I would like to have you in my den to tell my about the battle,” he added. “And take Whitetail then along with you.” Ravenstar's gaze slid across the camp. Moonpaw followed his gaze and ended up at the nursery where Ashcloud and Barkfur were talking to each other while their son a little confused was laying beside. “I'll go to Ashcloud,” Ravenstar said. He stood promptly up and tripped to the nursery. Moonpaw felt that Rainpool was shivering next to her. “A new deputy?” she moaned with a voice of disbelief. Whitetail pressed her nose against Rainpool's cheek. “It will be all good soon,” he murmured in her ear. “Maybe it's just temporary.” Moonpaw doubted that. To see Rainpool's injury she can't be deputy anymore, or even as a warrior. Would she join the elders on such a young age?
The sun was high in the sky when Moonpaw, after she have not eaten for a long time, chose a plump mouse from the fresh kill pile. She sought a sunny spot beside the apprentice's den and sat down next to Darkpaw.
“Darkpaw,” Moonpaw meowed so softly that only her friend could hear that. “Listen to what I have heard Ravenstar said when I was waiting for my mother.”
Darkpaw stretched his neck so she could whisper it in his ears. Moonpaw felt his fur prickle with curiosity.
“There will be a new deputy.”
Darkpaw looked at her with wide eyes. “Really? When?”
“At sunhigh,” Moonpaw replied. “He can appear on any time on the Highrock.”
“But why?”
“You saw Rainpool's wounds, right?” Moonpaw sighed. “I know. I will have to get used that someone else take her place. But Rainpool can't help it. It was the ShadowClan cat who had wounded her.”
At that last sentence, Darkpaw turned away from her and turned his face to her. “I have seen wich ShadowClan cat it was.”
Moonpaw took a bite from her mouse and curled her tail over her paws. She looked expectantly at him.
“It was a dark gray tom with paler paws and tail. I think I have seen him at a Gathering. Featherstorm told me his name is Icetail.”
Darkpaw paused. He gazed thoughtful at the sky, deep in thought.                 
Where would he think about?
But before Moonpaw could ask it, he went on.
“And I know the name of the cat who had attacked you.”
Moonpaw's whiskers prickled. The curiosity had risen to her head. “Who? Who was that she-cat?”
“Mistypaw.”
Moonpaw let out a deep sigh. The answer to that question was given.
“But,” she wondered aloud, “how do you know she is called Mistypaw?”
“Featherstorm told me that on the Gathering too,” Darkpaw replied. “Mistypaw is Icetail's apprentice. So he had passed his evil fighting techniques on to her.” “Have you seen her on the Gathering?” Moonpaw asked.
“Yes,” Darkpaw meowed. “And she looked like exactly at the Gathering. Large, strong, blue-gray fur, and of course her dark, icy eyes. But on the Gathering she was younger. Now she hase the size of a warrior.”
Moonpaw was surprised how well Darkpaw watched cats. He could describe them completely from up to down.
“I hope...” Moonpaw began, but she was interrupted by the familair, loud call from upward the Highrock: “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!”
Ravenstar had already jumped on the Highrock and a few cats were already walked to it.
Moonpaw and Darkpaw left the remains of their prey and followed their Clanmates to the Highrock. They sat down behind Cinderflame and Silverface on the soft soil. Forestleaf, Rainpool, and Whitetail–who gave her trembling body support–sat in front of the Highrock. Firpaw and Lightpaw were sitting a little farther away, with next to them Featherstorm and Snowfur.
Moonpaw could see Barkfur sitting hunched beside the nursery with Tigerkit, and Ashcloud, who kept an eye on them. Tigerkit seemed not really happy. He looked all the time around as if he was looking for his brother or if he expected that at any moment ShadowClan cats would invade the camp.
Ravenstar waited patiently until all cats had gathered around the Highrock. The two elders, Cloudpelt and Lionclaw, came as the last on the clearing. The two had as kits grown up along with Ravenstar in the nursery, they had told Moonpaw. That was many moons ago, and now the three were the oldest cats of ThunderClan. In former times, Ravenstar had more peers, but they died in the course of time and had all joined StarClan.
When Cloudpelt and Lionclaw had chosen a place next to Amberheart, Ravenstar began with the Gathering.
“Probably you already know,” he spoke, “we had sent a patrol to take Barkfur's stolen kit back from ShadowClan. But unfortunately, I had let my warriors to a dangerous risk; the battle hadn't end as I had hoped. We were not prepared for that we would be in such a large minority. There are many wounded; although the most are not serious. But in a fight with a harsh opponent is my deputy Rainpool badly injured. Maybe it takes moons before she is fully healed,”–at this moment all eyes were focused on the blue-gray deputy, who ducked her face nervously in Whitetail's fur–“so this is the best moment to introduce our new deputy.”
Murmers rose from the cats around the Highrock. Rainpool dove deeper into Whitetail's fur, her whole body quivered. Whitetail soothed her with licks over her ear and he whispered a few reassuring words.
Moonpaw turned his head to Darkpaw. “I hope Ravestar had made a good choice.”
Darkpaw purred softly. “Of course,” he meowed undoubtedly. “My grandfather is well in take decisions, also in difficult times!”
They couldn't talk more, because Ravenstar continued.
“I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice.”
The Clan waited anxiously. It was completely silent on the clearing, you could only hear the song of the birds and the rustle of the newleaf leaves.
“The new deputy of ThunderClan is Featherstorm.”
Pride welled up in Moonpaw. Her father was the new ThunderClan deputy!
==Chapter 3==
Mistypaw waited calmly until Mossstar jumped on the Ancient Trunk and called the Clan together. Her fur tingled with longing. Now she would finally be a warrior! Next to her was sitting Firepaw, a ginger apprentice. His confident glance was focused on the ShadowClan leader. Their mentors Icetail and Strawfur were sitting beside them, who watched proud at their apprentices. It was only recently that ThunderClan had attacked their camp to take back their stolen kit. But they failed. ThunderClan couldn't win in a battle that took place in ShadowClan camp. They will never get their kit back. But why would they put so much effort to take one kit back? Their deputy was injured on her face by that attack. Icetail had caused that, because she had tried to steal their kit back from the nursery. And because he wanted to protect Shadowpelt, the foster mother of the ThunderClan kit. Mistypaw wondered why Mossstar tried to steal only the gray one. They did not even try to steal the second kit! Was there someting special about this kit? Mossstar's voice sounded from the Ancient Trunk. “This morning, these two brave apprentices”–he nodded to Mistypaw and Firepaw– “had proven to be a great honor to fight with all their warrior forces against ThunderClan. They have shown that they are ready to be a warrior.” Mossstar took a step backwards so that he had a good view from up the Ancient Trunk. With loud voice he spoke: “I, Mossstar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentices. They had trained hard to ignore the warrior code, and I comment them to you as warriors in their turn.” Mistypaw was actually digusted by that last sentence. ShadowClan had to listen to the warrior code, but Mossstar had declared, when Mistypaw was still a kit, that ShadowClan would no longer believe in de warrior code. They were allowed to listen to the cruel StarClan cats who were formally ShadowClan warriors. Mistypaw had just accepted that all, and she was regrets that she had killed the ThunderClan apprentice when Mossstar had said that she was ready to be a warrior for that reason. She had only killed her to be a warrior. Mossstar continued when he fixed his eyes on the two apprentices. “Firepaw, Mistypaw, do you promise to ignore the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?” Mistypaw swallowed, and the two apprentices replied at the same time: “I do.” “Then by the powers of the Dark Forest, I give you your warrior name,” he explained. “Firepaw, from this moment you will be known as Fireclaw. The cats of the Dark Forest honors your courage and intelligence, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan.” Then Mossstar turned to Mistypaw. “Mistypaw, from this moment you will be known as Mistystorm. The cats of the Dark Forest honors your strenght and skill, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan.” Mossstar leaped from the Ancient Trunk and rested his muzzle on Fireclaw's head, then the ginger warrior gave a lick on his leader's shoulder. Mistystorm did the same. “Above all, Mistystorm deserve it to be a warrior,” Mossstar went on. “Because during yesterday's battle she had killed her first cat. I am very proud of you, Mistystorm.” He gave her a grateful nod. “Of course you've also done a fantastic job in the battle, Fireclaw,” he added. “ShadowClan can be proud on warriors like you both.” There sounded cheers of the spectators on the clearing, and everyone called their name: “Fireclaw! Mistystorm! Fireclaw! Mistystorm!” Mistystorm was hot of proud. Mossstar had mentoined her to praise her for all the great things she had done! But then the proud sank into her paws when she realized again what this all means to the death ThunderClan apprentice. She was a ShadowClan warrior now. For the other Clans not something to be proud of.            ShadowClan was the most brutalist, combative Clan of the forest. For a moment, Mistystorm doesn't like that idea. But then Fireclaw tipped with his tail on her shoulder. “We're finally warriors!” he mewed excited. “We can hunt and patrolling now... and we are freed of the hard apprentice tasks.” “Was it hard?” Mistystorm meowed a little surprised. “I thought it was pretty fun.” “Do you like removing ticks?” he answered. “That nasty mouse bile makes my nose die. I'd rather have a large scar where I can be proud of.” “You do have a point,” she sighed. “Even though I'll miss listening to story's from the elders.” “We can still visit them sometimes for a short story.” Fireclaw probably noticed that Mistystorm looked a little unsure, because he meowed: “Hey, what is it?” Mistystorm shook herself awake. “Uh, nothing,” she replied quickly. “Let's look for a nest in the warrior's den.” “That's all right.” Together, they walked to the warrior's den. Mistystorm noticed that the sun had almost disappeared below the horizon. The sunlight cast long, black shadows across the landscapen, and it shone a warm, orange glow. A few bats left already their roost to hunt. Mistystorm found this one of the most beautiful times of the day. Along with Fireclaw, she installed herself at the warrior's den. They chose a place on the egde of the den next to Strawfur and they began to prepare their nests. Meanwhile, more ShadowClan warriors joined them, until almost the whole den was filled with cats. ShadowClan grew well. There were born many kits last newleaf and greenleaf. Including Mistystorm herself. When their moss nests looked pretty and warmly, Mistystorm and Fireclaw lay down and fall asleep. That night Mistystorm had a dream. For a moment she thought she was still awake, but then she could hear a very familiar voice. “Hello, dear Mistystorm.” Mistystorm jumped when she saw suddenly a dark gray she-cat stood in front of her. Her blue eyes had a warm glow she knew very well. This was her sister Nightpaw. When she was only just a apprentice, she was hit by a twoleg monster because the frog who she hunted, had sprinted across the Thunderpath and had distracted the young cat's attention. Mistystorm do never forgive herself she hadn't kept an eye on her sister. Now she hunted in StarClan. “N-Nightpaw?” Mistystorm looked at her in surprise. Nightpaw nodded. “We don't have seen each other for a long time,” she murmered. “I thought, let I visit my sister.” Mistystorm glowed with joy. But then the joy made place for guilt. “Oh, Nightpaw,” she whispered with sorrow, “it was all my fault you died. I had to watch much better for you. I am a bad sister.” Nightpaw shook her head and she laid lovingly her tail on her shoulder. “No,” she soothed her, “it was not your fault. I had to be more alert. I was too focused on my prey that I didn't saw that monster.” Mistystorm remembered how cheerful her sister had been. During her trainings she listened only half and she was known as the fastest apprentice of ShadowClan. Now she was no more than a luminous cat spirit that will never life again. And even though Nightpaw was right, Mistystorm will never forgive herself what happened to her. “Hey, come on,” Nightpaw mewed playfully, and she gave her sister a shoulder stump, “don't mope. You may be happy we can still talk together.” For a little while, she seemed to think about someting, then she went on: “And don't worry about Moonpaw. She's still alive and she will heal in the paws of the ThunderClan medicine cat. I've heard he is a wonderful medicine cat.” “Huh?” Mistystorm had no idea what she was talking about. “Who's Moonpaw?” Nightpaw gave herself a gentle slap for her head. “Oh, stupid me,” she muttered, “you don't know her name yet. Moonpaw is the ThunderClan apprentice which you had attacked at the fight of yesterday.” “Oh,” she replied. “Huh... she's not dead?” She shook her head. “No. She was unconscious, but not dead. She woke up this morning with only a scar on her flank. It's not as bad as you think. But the next time you want to kill someone,” she said with a sparkle of humor in her eyes, “I would attack him by the throat. That's the weakest point.” “I don't want to kill a cat anymore,” she growled. “That's cruel. And you helps nobody with it.” “Well, that's ok,” Nightpaw meowed and sat down with a sight. “And if you want to make it right with the apprentice, you have to speak with her on the next Gathering. She seems to be gentle and willing to forgive you.” “Gentle,” Mistystorm muttered. “Maybe you could be friends with her.” Friends? With a gentle ThunderClan cat? ShadowClan was evil and bloodthirsty and that's nothing for a little ThunderClan apprentice. After all, ThunderClan and ShadowClan were about to start a war. “Anyway.” Nightpaw stretched herself. “It's time for me to go.” “But you just got here,” Mistystorm meowed disappointed. “Stay with me, please. I miss you.” The dark gray StarClan cat shook her head disapprovingly. “You have to rest well, my precious sister. Tomorrow is a special day for you; your first day as a warrior. You need to be healthy and ready to take care of your Clan. But I will always watch over you,” she added, “forever and everywhere.” “Okay. Goodbye, Nightpaw.” “Goodbye, Mistystorm. Good night.” They pressed their muzzles against each other. Nightpaw disappeared as if she dissolved in the sky. She looked after the tiny gray stars of her sister's pelt, closed her eyes and gently soothed into sleep by her. Good night, Mistystorm, sleep well.
The next days after her dream with Nightpaw, Mistystorm lived as a full warrior. She patrolled along with Fireclaw and her other friends along the borders, hunted her favorite prey and chased away some rogues and kittypets out of their territory. She did her job with pride.
Now she can choice more if she want to do something with her friend Fireclaw instead of being commanded by her mentor as a young apprentice. Now Mistystorm felt free. But sometimes she wondered what Mossstar whas doing the last time. Sometimes he nosed around in the nursery to see his adopted grandson and other times he was outside of the camp along with Pricklefur and Icetail. Was he make plans about the little Steelkit who was stolen from ThunderClan? Mistystorm just could not be sure. And it would be dangerous to spy on her leader. He was very strict and you would not bare to touch a tail tip without reason.
==Chapter 4==
Instead, she focused on her warrior tasks and refused to be distracted too much what all happened in her Clan. There was no other particular then that, so Mistystorm wondered where she was worried about. Maybe the Gathering, she noted. No, why would she nervous to meet such soft kitty?
Maybe that sharing tongues with Fireclaw will help her. He gave good advice. At sunhigh she invited him to share prey with her in the warrior's den. Fireclaw accepted.
“So,” the ginger tabby tom meowed when they lay in their own nests, “what do you want to tell me?”
“Uhm,” Mistystorm began. She decided to tell him about her dream with Nightpaw. Fireclaw listened fascinated and intently. He was a good listener, she noted.
“Nightpaw, you say,” Fireclaw mumbled after she had tell him her story. “Yes, I know her. I remember that every time she was near me, she was blushing.”
Mistystorm swished uncomfortable her tail. “Fireclaw, serious now.”
“No, really!” he meowed confident. “Just ask it her.”
Now she looked angry at him. “It's not funny, Fireclaw. She is dead now; it is not easy to talk with her as if she's been here.”
Fireclaw looked a bit embarrassed. “I'm sorry, Mistystorm,” he muttered, “I know it's hard for you.”
Mistystorm looked friendlier. “So, what do you think? Shall I talk with the ThunderClan apprentice?”
“I think it's ok,” he answered. “If she is as friendly as Nightpaw had sayd, then it will be easy.”
“Don't expect that too fast. I hurt her a lot.”
“Oh, who cares.” He stretched and showed his thorn-sharp claws. “And when she want to get you back, I am there for you.”
Mistystorm chuckled. “Oh, I can really fight her in my own.She's just a young apprentice and I am a large, strong warrior.”
“Fortunately,” Fireclaw purred.
Then they were silent.
“Hey, do you think Mossstar is planning something?” Mistystorm broke the silent with a whispering voice. “The last time he is so secretive.”
“He is always,” Fireclaw mumbled.
“No, really. I've spent some time watching him and I see him more and more sneak out the camp along with Icetail and Pricklefur. I think Mosstar's hiding something.”
“Or he is planning a next attack against ThunderClan.”
“Yeah, maybe.” Mistystorm hesitated. “But why so far outside camp? And why would he? He has Steelkit.”
“Steelkit?”
“The ThunderClan kit who we had stolen.”
“Oh yes.”
“We can take a visit,” Mistystorm suggested. “Maybe we discover than what makes that kit so special.”
“Well, ok.”
The two ate quickly their prey and then they walked to the nursery. Shadowpelt was sunbathing in front of the nursery, while Steelkit and her own kit Blackkit were darting ahead of her. The black nursery queen had been prepared to adopt Steelkit as her foster son after he was taken by ShadowClan. She had in fact, after the death of her second kit, enough milk to feed them both.
Shadowpelt looked up when the two young warriors came tripped forwarth to her. “Hello, Mistystorm and Fireclaw,” she greeted, “nice that you'll visit me.”
“Hi Shadowpelt,” Mistystorm greeted back. “How are the kits?”
“Fine,” Mossstar's daughter replied, “they grow very well through this warm weather. I think they have to eat their first fresh kill soon.”
“Nice to hear,” Mistystorm murmured. “How old are they?”
“Blackkit's I think three and a half moon old,” she meowed. “And Steelkit is a moon older than her.”
Mistystorm nodded. “But...” she began. Would she dare to ask? But she knew Shadowpelt could not easily become angry. At last, she was one of the most friendly cats of the Clan. “Why... why does Mossstar visits you for so many times?” she dared. “I mean, you're his daughter, but...”
“Uh, that's not your business,” she mewed quickly. “That's someting between me and Mossstar, sweety.”
“Uh, okay,” Mistystorm meowed and she exchanged a glance with Fireclaw. “Then we'll go.” They walked across the clearing to the warriors' den and they lay down to go sunbathing. Mistystorm did not understand. What could be so secret that Shadowpelt didn't want to tell? She shivered. Was Mossstar planning something where even his Clan knew nothing about?
Rustling sounded.
Moonpaw opened her eyes and pricked her ears.
Nothing.
There was a rustling again. Moonpaw looked wildly around.She saw a metalic tail dissapear in the bushes, glistening in the moonlight.
Then, there was silence again.
Moonpaw took a deap breath and turned her head slowly to one side, then to the other side. She stood in a forest. But this was not the forest Moonpaw knew as her home. Above her was a starless skye, with nothing but the full moon. Where's the Silverpelt? Moonpaw wondered.
Suddenly, a shape shoot from the bushes and it had a sleek, silver coat. Moonpaw leaped away from the thorn-sharp, steel claws. The shape dropped onto the grass and he turned as quick as lightning to Moonpaw. Shrieking, it leaped toward her and sunk his nails into her pelt. He put the ThunderClan apprentice on her back, showed his silver tooth and swung them to her neck. Just in time, Moonpaw evaded the deathly jaws from the beast; then she jumped up and ran away.
But a few mouse-lengths away, the metal shape appeared again. He jumped onto her and clung itself to her pelt again. Moonpaw cried it out, but it had no more sence. The metal shape lashed out to her belly with it's mighty claw. He ripped the soft, vulnerable skin of her belly and blood dripped onto the ground.
Suddenly a star appeared in the sky. A spirit appeared in front of Moonpaw. It was a gray-and-white she-cat, large and muscular like a wolf, with amber eyes that looked at her urgently. “Look out for the the steel monster,” she warned. “If you don’t look out, you will be destroyed. But if you use the moonlight wisely, you can win.”
==Chapter 5==
Mossstar! Moonpaw crouched and watched the cats spreading over the camp. They tripped to the directions of all the dens of the camp. Mossstar sneaked inside the warrior’s den, along with three other warriors, two cats walked into the nursery, two other cats to the elder’s den, one to Forestleaf’s den and two cats to Ravenstar’s.The cat spirit fade away quickly, then also the metal shape, and at last Moonpaw. “No!” Moonpaw screamed, while it was impossible to hear, “no, don’t leave me alone! Who or what’s that metal monster...”
Startled, Moonpaw woke. Frustrated, she looked around. Fortunatly, it was just a dream. Now she lay along with her friends in the apprentice’s den. It was the first day after the battle with ShadowClan that she was allowed to sleep in the apprentice’s den. She had slept a half moon with Forestleaf in his den, to be sure the wound was being healed. Well, healed... she had still a scar on her flank of the wound. She would never get rid of it.
Moonpaw looked if she had woke someone. The other three apprentices were still asleep, their bellies rose up and down at each breath. Moonpaw sighed and she curled herself up in the soft moss of her bed. The half moon shone through the entrance of the apprentice’s den and covered her white pelt. Moonpaw narrowed her eyes against the fierce light.
Suddenly, she heard the voice of her dream again. “Look out, Moonpaw!”
Moonpaw shot upright. Her heart lurched in her throat. Was she still dreaming? Or was she really in danger?
Then she heard rustling. Pawsteps sounded and Moonpaw saw cats appear on the clearing. Large, well-muscled warriors walked after a tortoiseshell, his sleek pelt lit up in the moonlight. Moonpaw could just see who it was.
When Moonpaw looked better through the entrance of the den, she saw two other shapes came toward her. Moonpaw turned to Darkpaw, who was lying next to her, and gave him a soft poke against his shoulder. “Wake up,” she hissed. Darkpaw woke moaning. “Huh,” he mumbled, “Moonpaw, what is it?” “Hush,” Moonpaw hissed, “be quiet! ShadowClan cats come insite the camp.” Darkpaw froze. He was wide awake. “What?” he whispered nervous. “SchadowClan cats come to our den,” Moonpaw mewed impatiently, “quick, wake the others!” A little confused, Darkpaw did what his friend said. Moonpaw crouched on her hind legs, ready to jump. Blood buzzed in her ears when Moonpaw watched how the two SchadowClan cats came closer. A moment, just a very little moment... Moonpaw gave a cry and jumped onto one of the approaching SchadowClan cats. In surprise, he plopped down on the ground by the ThunderClan apprentice, while her claws held him in grip. Moonpaw released a claw and attacked his back, but she missed half because the ShadowClan cat jumped up and rolled on his back. Thereby, Moonpaw came to lie under the massive weight of the older warrior. Gasping for breath, the air squeezed out of her lungs. Suddenly, she felt the weight leaving her. Darkpaw had gripped the ShadowClan warrior by his scruff and had lifted him off. The enemy wrenched himself free from the jaws of the gray apprentice and jumped on him. Moonpaw sprang up and gulped for air. Then she turned to the ShadowClan cat and attacked him again. She burried her tooth in his hind leg while Darkpaw slapped him. Finnaly, the SchadowClan cat gave up and ran out of the camp. Gasping, Moonpaw let out a cry of victory and looked back at the apprentice’s den. Exactly on that moment, the other warrior shoot along her and followed his Clanmate. Firpaw and Lightpaw appeared from the apprentice’s den. “Yeah, run away!” Firpaw called to the ShadowClan cat. “Go back to your friends; they are securely no better than you!” “Come on,” Lightpaw mewed quickly, “let’s wake the others.” The three nodded. Darkpaw and Moonpaw raced to Ravenstar’s den. “I told you,” Darkpaw sayd angry, “they attack us, not long after the last fight.” Moonpaw looked at him. “I know, I know,” she muttered. “But let we drive away now that annoying ShadowClan out of the camp. After that, we will think about what to do.” Suddenly, Moonpaw stopped. This wouldn’t work, waking up them one by one; she would have to do it differently. She trew her head in her neck and let out a cry of alarm. The ShadowClan cats turned in surprise and looked at eachother. Then, a few SchadowClan warriors rushed toward the ThunderClan apprentices, while they showed their sharp tooth. The two apprentices thought no moment and ran off as fast as they could. But where to go? She could do better and join the battle, even though it would maybe cost her life. It was better that running away. Moonpaw stopped abruptly and threw herself onto one SchaduwClan warrior. For a little moment he was surprised, but then he sank his teeth in her paw. There was a jolt of pain and equally Moonpaw thought that he would jerk off her paw, but then Featherstorm came rushing toward them to release her from his malicious grip. Worn, Moonpaw stood up and watched her father fighting off the enemy cat and attacked the next. She wanted to help her father, but she realized that her wounded paw was bleeding heavily, and she couldn’t fight with a weak paw. Darkpaw tripped rapidly toward her. “Don’t take risks,” he meowed, “and look”–he pointed with his muzzle to the place behind the fight between Featherstorm and the SchadowClan warrior–“the others are coming." Moonpaw glanced past the two fighting cats and behind the ShadowClan cats and she saw ThunderClan cats attacking their enemies. She couldn’t be relieved because she realized they were with very few. Wait, Moonpaw thought, where are Snowfur and Cinderflame? They would watch the whole night over the camp.Like StarClan gave answer on her question, she saw Mossstar’s head appearing cautiously from behind the warrior’s den, his mouth filled with blood. That could not be... Suddenly, Mossstar looked at her. An evil smile formed at his mouth and his green eyes pierced into Moonpaw’s. Mossstar narrowed his eyes challenging and she could only watch the ShadowClan leader licking the red blood from his lips. This was the limit. Full of anger and resentment, she rushed toward the tortoiseshell cat. Amused, he dived aside, but he still sat down. “You can’t do something more, Moonpaw,” Mossstar growled. “Your Clan is too weak. Look at them!” He turned his muzzle to two white, lifeless cats with deep wounds and scratches in their skin where blood was running off. Snowfur and Cinderflame. Then Moonpaw felt even more rage and sadness. She had never felt so many negative emotions before. It had to get out. Get out! “You terrible fox dung!” Moonpaw screamed. “Murderer! You’re hopeless! The only thing you can do is kill, kill and kill! First Darknessfoot and Brownstripe, now Cinderflame and Snowfur, and don’t forget all those other cats you’ve slaughtered. You ShadowClan cats are no good with your mouse-brains! And above all you, Mossstar! What kind of leader are you? And are you going to kill your own cats too? Or shall I do that for you?” Well, that was bursted out. But her anger wasn’t over yet. She looked at her mother, full of blood and bald spots. Tears welled up and she burst into tears. Her dear Snowfur... she was so young, and now her spirit joined StarClan, still in grip of the most bloodthirsty leader who ever lived. Moonpaw glared at Mossstar. “But why do you show me my mother?” she asked with a lump in her throat. “Why have you lured me to here instead of hide their bodies? Now I have proof for Ravenstar that you’ve killed them!” Mossstar smiled evil again. “Oh, little apprentice,” he grinned, “Cinderflame isn’t dead.” Moonpaw glared at him angry, but also confused. “You’ll find out,” he whispered, “after I’ve killed you!” Before the answer could be clear in Moonpaw’s mind, the ShadowClan leader leaped onto her. She tried to move, but she was too weak because of the fight with the ShadowClan cats and the grief for her mother, that she collapsed hopelessly. Exactly on the moment Mossstar was ready to shatter Moonpaw’s belly, Darkpaw and Featherstorm emerged to kick the ShadowClan leader off of her. Then Darkpaw sank his teeth in his tail and Featherstorm trew hisself on the evil leader. He screamed in pain of his tail and the crushing pressure of the bigger warrior. Moonpaw couldn’t stood up. “Give it up, Mossstar!” Featherstorm spat. “Never!” Mossstar screamed. “You’re maybe stronger than me, Featherstorm, but I have more forse than your little Ravenstar.” He took a deep breath, and called out: “Icetail, Pricklefur, anyone, help me!” “Too late, Mossstar,” Featherstorm hissed, “they fled out of the camp with their tail between their paws. And leave now our territory, before I split your belly open en tear out one by one your entrails!” Featherstorm sank a thorn-sharp nail into Mossstar’s belly, not deep, but however deep enough to leave a nasty wound. Slowly, he drew a short slice in his belly skin, until he cried out afraid “I give up!”. Featherstorm led Mossstar go and he ran as fast as he could away. “And don’t dare to come back again!” Featherstorm called after him, before he dissappeared into the gorse tunnel that led to the forest. Moonpaw hadn’t moved. She had watched her father with proud how he had beated the ShadowClanleader, and now he ran away to his own territory like a scared kit. Then she looked sad at Snowfur and Cinderflame. Wait, Mossstar said Cinderflame was still alive. Moonpaw was angry that it wasn’t the opposite, that Snowfur was alive. Then she became full of regret. Cinderflame meant almost as much for her as Snowfur. Her mother and Snowfur were sisters of each other, so they were both Moonpaw’s kin. After all, she had to be glad that Cinderflame was still alive. Meanwhile, Featherstorm sat down next to Snowfur and lapped her bloody fur. Finally, Moonpaw had enough strength to stand up and she lay down next to them. To be sure that Cinderflame was alive, she glanced at her belly. It rose up and down very slowly, not much more. Then Moonpaw opened her half orange mouth to feel her breath. Abnormal; but, better than not. “Forestleaf!” Moonpaw called with her last remnanst of voice. Along with Ravenstar, Forestleaf tripped across the clearing to the place where Featherstorm, Moonpaw and Darkpaw lay next to Snowfur and Cinderflame. The two tom-cats were also wounded by the fight, but luckily not really severe. Ravenstar looked shocked at Snowfur and Cinderflame. “What happened?” Featherstorm lifted slowly his head. “Snowfur,” he said with a broken voice, “s-she is dead...” Moonpaw saw anger burning is his amber eyes. She felt the same anger blazing up in her. Why had Mossstar to invade ThunderClan and tried kill everyone? Had they done something wrong? Forestleaf walked to the two badly wounded cats to inspect them. Ravenstar stood still like he was frozen. His eyes were full of despair. “This can’t be true. Again a cat who’s perished in the claws of ShadowClan... What do they want? Destroying ThunderClan so they can take over our territory?” Stupid ShadowClan. Stupid Mossstar. They had a heart of stone. How could they? That foulish cats thought they could sneak into the camp like it was very normal. And Mossstar; he had just watched Moonpaw how she had mourned for her dear mother, like it was funny, as though he took delight in! Moonpaw looked a moment at Lightpaw who had patted to them, plopped down next to Snowfur and burried gently weeping his muzzle in her fur. Firpaw walked to him and began to lap compassionate his ears. Forestleaf lifted his head. “Cinderflame is still alive,” he sighed, with a glimmer of hope, “let we carry her to my den so I can care her wounds. Darkpaw, would you like to help me?” he asked the dark tabby apprentice. “Sure, Forestleaf,” he replied. He stood up to help Forestleaf carrying Cinderflame to his den. Meanwhile, the whole Clan gathered around Snowfur. Shocked, they murmured things to each other, and Moonpaw could smell their fears. Between the small crowd of cats, Cloudpelt wriggled herself forward. “What happened here?” She looked down at the body of her daughter. “Snowfur!” she shrieked. She crouched down next to the bloody white warrior and pushed her head against her daughter’s. “What have they done to you? Snowfur, please say anything to me!” she begged. Also Lionclaw came walked on. “She’s dead, Cloudpelt,” he murmured sad in her ear. Cloudpelt looked up from her daughter. “No... no!” Then she burst into tears. Lionclaw sat down next to her and lapped softly her ears. His eyes were dull of sorrow too. Moonpaw moved a little so her pelt touched Cloudpelt’s. She felt the warmth of her thick fur flowing into her. “And Cinderflame?” the elder meowed. Suddenly, her voice changed in the squeak of a kit who’s scared. “Is she... is she dead too?” Ravenstar dipped with the point of his tail on Cloudpelt’s shoulder. “Cinderflame is still alive,” he murmured, “but she is badly wounded, though. Forestleaf taked her to his den to take care of her. Go and look how she is doing. I think she might be happy to see you.” Cloudpelt looked up slowly and nodded. She blinked her tears away. Then she stood up and walked with Lionclaw to Forestleaf’s den. Moonpaw saw that Silverface was walking to Ravenstar. Her bright green eyes looked concerned at the Clan leader. “Ravenstar,” she murmured, “what do we do now? The Clan is too small to survive another attack from ShadowClan. We need more warriors.” Ravenstar looked at the gray she-cat with the same worry. “I-I don’t know, honestly. There are few warriors, few apprentices. And now few kits in the Clan. There’s no effort to take Graykit back. Even Barkfur agrees that. It will take long before the Clan is as big as formerly.” Ravenstar sighed. “But I wont give up. Whatever will comes, I am here to protect my warriors.” Silverface’s concerned face faded away a bit. “But I have good news as well,” she meowed with a glimmer of hope, “I have to join the nursery queens. I am expecting kits.” Ravenstar stroked the gray she-cat with the tip of his tail. “That’s indeed good news,” he purred, “and I think ShadowClan would not attack us easily now. After all, they losed again.” “You’re right, Ravenstar,” she sighed. Then she looked again at Snowfur’s body. A tear rolled down her cheek. Moonpaw heard pawsteps. Amberheart patted to Silverface. He pushed kindly his head against hers and lapped her wounds. The ThunderClan leader sat up and lifted his voice so everyone could hear him. “Cats of ThunderClan,” he spoke loudly, “ShadowClan had attacked our camp again, and you’ve seen where it leads to. Again, a brave warrior died in the claws of the homicial leader Mossstar. I want to give thanks to her for her courage and loyalty that has made her a worthy warrior. Let her spirit been received safely to our warrior ancestors so that she can watch over us until we have join StarClan by ourselves.” Moonpaw burried her head deeper into the thick fur of her mother. Thank you for all the things you have done to me, she said in her thoughts to Snowfur, I will never forget you. Will you watch over us? Suddenly, she felt a soft muzzle pressing against her head and for a moment, it felt like Snowfur was very close to her. Don’t worry, Moonpaw, her mother mewed softly to her, I will watch over you from StarClan, and over Lightpaw and Featherstorm. And over all the others of ThunderClan. Then her spirit disappeared and Moonpaw looked up. Was that really Snowfur who spoke to her? Or did she imagined it?
That night, Moonpaw slept, along with Lightpaw, Featherstorm and Silverface, a last time with Snowfur. They had laid her body on the middle of the clearing, and friends and family could say goodbye.
The next morning, they burried her.
Moonpaw still mourned her death, and she couldn’t see she would ever be happy again.
Category:Fanfictions