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| - CHAPTER 4 “Hey Widowpaw, come check out the lake!” Nightpaw called out from behind one of the large oaks. Widowpaw padded over, her black fur like a shadow within each tree shadow. Hopefully, he doesn’t do what he did last time, she thought. “What a sight!” Blizzardpaw gasped. “What is it Nightpaw? You always show me things, then trick me!” She reminded him. He twitched his ears. “Well, i trick you good! But you should look at this, isn’t it amazing in leaf-bare?” Widowpaw nodded. It truly was beautiful. The lake looked like a large blanket of ice and snow, and shone like the sun, blazing high above the trees. Widowpaw’s red neck bristled in the wind. It felt cool, making her shudder. “What a draft!” “Oh you felt that! Hah!” Nightpaw laughed, “So you aren’t immune to the cold!” Widowpaw’s tail shot straight up. Blizzardpaw eyed them both. “Not true!” she laughed, “You can’t stand put in leaf-bare for more than an hour!” “Oh, but i can last longer!” Blizzardpaw challenged, her white tail fluffing up. “Neither of you are! You’ll get frostbite!” A chirpy voice sounded behind them. Widowpaw spun around, and her tail drooped along with her tail. Uhh, not Hornetstrike! “Hey, maybe we could take this on ice!” Nightpaw exclaimed. Widowpaw backed up surprised, “What do you mean?” “I mean on ice fur-brain!” he rolled his eyes, “We could play in it!” “I guess,” she shuffled her paws in the earth. “I don’t know,” Blizzardpaw muttered, turning to Hornetstrike, “Is it even safe?” “I wouldn’t agree on doing that, but-” Hornetstrike hesitated, before placing his paws upon the sheet of ice. Thankfully, it didn’t break, nor budge. “Okay, take it back, it's safe! I trust you two after what work you’ve done so….just remember not to run out into the open far off, it might be too thin,” he instructed. Widowpaw nodded. Without thinking, Nightpaw sprinted out into the icy lake, slipping and falling face first a few fox lengths away. Widowpaw balled out laughing. Maybe this isn’t so bad after all! She walked upon the ice, feeling the smooth surface freeze her pads. Or is it? “Woah.” her paws slid on the ice, moving away from her. Slowly, she made her way to Nightpaw, spinning in circles around the clearing, “C’mon Blizzardpaw!” “Not interested!” She called back. “Look at me!” Hornetstrike then popped up, skimming to the right with laughter. “It's good to get a little air and free time out here!” he meowed. Widowpaw nodded smiling, then looked down into the ice, spotting little orange squiggly moving figures slithering like snakes down below. Fish! And lots of them! She dabbed at the creatures underneath the frozen world, in the shadows of the lake. With a flash, they took off in all directions. She followed the closest one, swimming from side to side. Its eye seemed to lock onto her from behind, scared of what she might do. “Gotcha!” She leaped and pounced on the ice above, making it speed away. Hmm, she wondered, the trees on the other side seem closer than before. Suddenly, she heard a crack noise deep in the ice. Once it sounded, it seemed as though everything else around her vanished and went silent. Fear dug into her claws. Was it the ice? No, she thought again, it can’t be. She walked alongside, following the other fish around her spot. I can’t believe we’re on a lake in the middle of spring, she sighed to herself. Suddenly, a crack from the floor made her jump, and her previous thought began to haunt her. “Wait a second, we’re on a frozen lake in the middle of spring!!” Widowpaw took a step back from where she was previously standing, and heard the noise again. Her tail lifted up. The sheet of coldness was splitting, a white line streaking towards her. Something was definitely wrong. She looked up and spun around, and with each turn, the distance from the forest and land were the same. She gasped in horror. “I’m in the middle!” She whispered. She took a step back, but the crack followed her closer. She began to jog backwards, but even it began catching up to her, splitting the ice and exposing the water. Run! She turned around, and sprinted, struggling with each breath of terror. She heard the cracks behind her, which pushed her harder. “Nightpaw! Hornetstrike!” She cried out. The 2 dark figures ahead of her turned in her alert. “Widowpaw?” “Help me!” Widowpaw shrieked. The crack following her was now next to her. Widowpaw’s heart pounded faster. She wasn’t going to make it! “Get off the ice! Hurry!” she yowled. The 2 cats thundered off onto land. “Widowpaw, get out of there!” Hornetstrike insisted. The crack suddenly split into 2, the 4, then a whole bunch of lines. With a cry, Widowpaw hurled herself over the breaking ice, skidding on her side as she landed, knocking the wind out of her. The ice shattered, now floating like ducks on the cold water. “I’m okay!” she called out, standing up. Bad move. The ground beneath her began to crack all around, all the way to the lake edge. It felt shaky and wobbly on her pads. Widowpaw’s eyes went wide. “Widowpaw, jump!” Nightpaw screamed. Before she could even pounce, the terrible sound of shattering ice, like glass, echoed the lake. The block of ice in front of her broke away first, where her forepaws were. Then the block behind her on her hind legs fell in at the same time. With a yowl, Widowpaw plummeted into the icy grey water, the shock of the coldness of the water stunning her. She cried out underwater as her body twisted upwards to the light above where she fell. Why can’t I swim! What’s happening to me! She thought horrified. Thrashing and shaking violently in the freezing temperature, she attempted to pull herself up to the air, but not even that worked. Her body floated silently along with the fish near her. No! She thought, get back, must get back. Widowpaw struggled to kick her hind legs up, which could help her back up to the surface. Screams and yowls echoed into silence in the lake from above. It's quiet, she thought, it's peaceful and silent, like what i’ve always needed. Widowpaw felt the current beginning to pull her down into the darkness, and she let it go, ending the strain of fighting it because atlas, it was too strong to fight anyway. She had to submit. She felt the water close in her chest, filling up her lungs, choking her. I guess this is the end. She looked up painfully, gaping her mouth to try and get any type of air to breathe through. Widowpaw’s body floated farther down the lake, the pressure of it digging into her like claws. She jerked, water filling in her lungs even farther. I’m sorry StarClan, she thought in silence as the darkness began to cover her eyes, I failed you, please forgive me… At last, her eyelids gave up on her, and her world vanished in a black wave, a black shadow of death. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “So, the patrol will hit the part near the Twoleg’s nest. There was a dog there yesterday, and I want to make sure it doesn’t enter our boundary lines. A hunting patrol will hit the river and the lake. Try to find as much food as possible Spikestem, we’re low on fish and frogs for the kits and elders.” Ripplestar spoke. The cats in the clearing sat silently, some whispering in agreement. “Do you want another patrol to the west, where the docks are, ands ShadowClan’s territory?” Her deputy, Thunderhawk muttered. Ripplestar nodded. “See if they are still peaceful after the incident a half moon ago. They may be trying to break our barrier to come after us.” she meowed. Thunderhawk dipped his head, then turned to his group. “Move out! We got work to do!” Ripplestar stared out into the horizon, the wind swishing through her fur. She began padding slowly back to her den. Another day in the Clans, she thought to herself, it's so much work nowadays. She circled around her soft bedding, carefully pushing in a few broken strands. Suddenly, a bright light began burning behind her, and her fur started to prickle. “So you came back again,” Ripplestar sneered to the calico tom standing behind her. The tom sighed, “At least I’m not stopping until you listen to me,” he mewed. Ripplestar lashed her tail, and spun around to face the cat. “Why should i listen to you?!” “Because you life depends on it! Why else?” The tom snapped back. “I know you didn’t care about me before you died! You loved someone else!” “I’m sorry about that! I didn’t want you to-” he cut off shaking. “You left me to soon Redfern! Why are you still here?” Ripplestar hissed. “To keep my promise. To stay with you to the end. Remember that promise i made? No matter what ever happened, or stood in my way?” Sadness began to overwhelm him. He brushed passed her, his tail swishing low to the ground. “Why did you save my life from the fox in the first place?” Ripplestar relaxed. “Because i knew you had a future Ripplestar. And your Clan deserves a future,” Redfern whispered. “Deserves?” “Listen,” he muttered, “One of your clanmates is about to become part of another prophecy. But this time, you aren’t all going to survive this one. Matter fact, this may become the last prophecy you’ll ever hear.” “My Clan’s going to die?” she shuddered. Redfern shook his head. “All of them are.” “What are you talking about?” “There is a cat in your clan, along with many other ones who will be the last of our species. One of StarClan will tell her this prophecy. But you have to save you clan, kits and apprentices, before the twisted river of death approaches this land.” “Who?” “Oh, you’ll find out soon enough.” Redfern meowed, before vanishing into the mist. Ripplestar sat there, staring at the spot where Redfern stood. Suddenly, a yowl emitted from the entrance. Hornetstrike trampled into the den, panting, his eyes wide in fear. “Hornetstrike? Are you-” “It's Widowpaw!” He gasped, “She fell into the frozen lake!! I tried to stop her, but-” “Wait, where is she? Is she ok?” “No,” Hornetstrike said bluntly, “She’s gone.” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Widowpaw waited for the sound of StarClan, maybe even a peep of a cat in the black void, anyone, anything anywhere. She began feeling her paws, the tingling sensation that ran up her forepaw, through her muzzle and scruff, and to her head. Noises soon overtook her, and she felt wind breeze through her fur. Opening her eyes, she peered down upon the ground, moving to the right. It was dark, the night sky covering the shadows that once moved in the sunlight. Someone was carrying her. Widowpaw felt limp underneath the tom holding her as she felt his teeth latch onto her fur. He smelled like a ShadowClan cat mixed with the stench of the lake. Within seconds, her scents around her vanished. Where am i going?, she wondered, Where are we going? Where’s the camp? I can’t smell anything... Widowpaw still didn’t feel like herself, she couldn’t talk or breathe, and her heartbeat sounded dead too. Was i dead? She saw her tail, hanging lifelessly and limp like her paws. Her black fur was soaking wet, dripping mud and water onto the soil. I look dead alright. The cat holding her then turned into a cave entrance and the world went dark again, but her eyes were open. They descended into a large clearing in the cave, a bright moonlight streaming down on the floor. The cat paced himself into the clearing where a bunch of large boulders laid out on the floor, then dropped Widowpaw there. She saw him finally, a gleaming flame-colored pelt enlightening the cave. He walked away again, then returned with some other things in his mouth, which looked like leaves and roots that she couldn’t describe. The flame-colored cat then walked over to her, placing the materials by Widowpaw’s tail, and grabbed a dark green leaf, chewing it up in his mouth to squirt out yellowish liquid from its veins. With the water in his paws, he padded up to her head, then dripped the liquid in her mouth. It tasted like honey, mixed with a rotten mouse aftertaste. She felt it make her stomach bubble, and a tingling sensation ran through her hindlegs and to the tip of her tail. With a cry, water splurted out from her mouth, making her gag and spring her head up. The flaming cat then padded over to his leave gatherings, pulling out a curling leaf. Widowpaw took in a deep breath, screeching as the oxygen rushed into her lungs. It burned badly, as if the oxygen itself was ripping her apart. She coughed up some more water and earth in her mouth, digging her claws in the ground. “Here,” the tom meowed to her. She looked up, gulping as his shadow covered her own. He pushed forwards that leaf she spotted, but now filled with clear water and little prickly leaves. She sniffed it cautiously. “What is it?” “Peppermint and water,” he responded, “It’ll help you calm down at least instead of poppy seeds. Drink.” She lowered her head down to take a lick of the water, tasting the spicy and sweet flavor in her tongue. “Thanks,” Widowpaw coughed, after taking a few more extra licks. Her whiskers trembled, the cold water she almost drowned in making her shiver every sip she took of the sweet and spicy drink that ran down her throat. A thought twitched in her tail “Where am i?” she rasped. The cat turned around in the dark corner. “You’re safe, underneath the ancient tunnels. Jayfeather used to tell me all about the tunnels that ran throughout all the clans all the time,” he muttered. “Jayfeather?” “Yes, “ he sighed, then looked back to the wall, “But he’s gone now, he disappeared right into thin air after a dream.” The thought of him wanted Widowpaw to shiver after the old medicine cat suddenly began warning the cats across the Clans, but after failing walked away expressionless into the fog. Although Willowshine was her clan’s medicine cat, she had some sympathy for the old cat of ThunderClan. But how did he know that? “Who are you?” The flame-colored pelt tom froze in mid step. “Flametail,” he meowed “Flametail,” she echoed quietly, “I’ve heard about you before, the cat that was believed to be killed by Jayfeather.” Flametail nodded, “And i died the same way you almost did.” “Wait, so am I’m dead?!” “No,” he chuckled, “Barely alive. You are lucky i saved you, because no one else would’ve done it.” Widowpaw dipped her head, then flattened her ears in guilt. “Sorry.” “For what?” “Bringing you into this mess, i guess i should’ve died. I didn’t listen and i deserve it,” she turned her head, looking sadly at the ground. “Mistakes happened,” he responded trying to cheer her up, “Everyone is going to run into their own mistakes. My mistake lead to my destiny, and my own death too, but you have to fulfill your destiny first before it comes.” “My destiny?” Widowpaw seemed confused “Yes, like what you were brought here in StarClan’s world for, not just to be there, but for something important that can change the generations that follow you.” Widowpaw shrugged, “I guess.” She shrugged. She heard the noise of pads and looked up from the ground, but Flametail wasn’t there. She opened her mouth to take in his scent, only taking in the scent of rocks and soil. “Flametail?” she stood up and spun her head around in circles. Was it a dream? “You ok?” Flametail was pacing back now, 2 mice dangling from his mouth. Startled, Widowpaw jolted around to face him in relief. “Uh huh, unless you’re talking about something else…” “Feeling good i mean?” “A little-” Widowpaw said solemnly, coughing and nodding her head at the same time. “You need to eat to regain your strength too.” he dropped the plump mice on the ground. Her mouth watered in hunger as she sat down, folding the mouse between her claws. “Thanks.” Flametail nodded as he began eating. Widowpaw sank her own fangs into the warm body, feeling the sweet meat on her tongue. It was funny to her about when you get super hungry, the food you get used to become like a first time delicious delicacy. She finished the mouse first, leaving the entire skeleton on the ground. Then the icy thought of her family dawned on her. What if RiverClan was worried about her? “I’ve got to go,” she insisted standing on her paws, “My parents are probably worried!” Flametail looked up to her, eyes glowing in the moonlight. “Ok, then you may go,” He meowed, “After you here what StarClan’s message is to you.” Widowpaw halted in the darkness in front of the entrance, turning to face the old medicine cat. “What message?” “A very important one, but to StarClan, it may be the last one.” Widowpaw slowly moved forwards as Flametail spoke. “I have a new prophecy, one that may decide the fate of all the cats and Clans of the forest,” He began. “Fate? You mean our own destinies?” “Precisely,” he purred, “You must warn the Clans of this danger. We can’t stop it, nor can we prevent it. It depends on how many cats you and your Clanmates save, because you all must work together as one Clan to save our species.” Widowpaw’s eyes darkened in fear. “Are you saying we’re possibly all going to….die?” Flametail looked up to Widowpaw without a sound. She backed up shaking her head. This wasn’t supposed to happen! “No!” “Widowpaw-” He stood up in front of her, but she lowered herself more and backed up faster. “Why? Why now?!” “Widowpaw, you must listen to me! It's not my fault for this to happen!” “So, what’s the prophecy then?” She snapped. Flametail lowered his head, then opened his jaws. “After the darkest days and the wettest nights, a twisted puddle from the sun-drown place will drown the forest. It doesn’t make sense, but it does show a danger that can wipe out your world for good.” “It doesn’t mean anything good!” she remarked. “Of course it doesn’t!” Flametail responded lashing his tail. Widowpaw scraped her claws into the earth. “But what do I do? Why did you tell me?” “Because i believe that you can help warn them. Maybe even be the lifesaver of our world.” Widowpaw shuffled her paws in the dust. “But how do i do it? No one will believe me!” “They will,” Flametail mewed, his body beginning to fade, “Trust me.” “Flametail wait!” But he was already gone. Widowpaw stood there in the shadows, heart pounding faster each second. “What do i do? What do i do?” She paced back and forth in the moonlight, her shadow streaking into the darkness. She looked up to the moon, the white pale sun in the sky that looked over the clans. She had to tell someone, someone who will actually believe her, and one name popped up in seconds, “I have to tell Ripplestar!” CHAPTER 5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Ripplestar!” The old grey she-cat jerked up as the sound of her name flooded into her ears. She groaned as she sat up on her paws, stretching her back and her tail to the roof of the cave. She squinted at the moon, now halfway down the sky. It’s not even morning, Ripplestar thought to herself. A shadow began streaking into camp, catching her eyes. She couldn’t see who it was because the night was way too dark, and the water that washed over the entrance of the cave make it look like a blur. The shadow began to creep even closer to the leader’s den, and worry spread through Ripplestar’s body. Was it a rogue? Or another clan cat? She couldn’t tell because the scent of the cat was hard to catch through the watery smell. The figure was now right next to the cave, and at the same time, she unsheathed her claws to the danger she thought laid behind the cave. “Who’s there?” Ripplestar hissed. The shadow grew tense, then quickly sprinted through the water. Ripplestar was about to jump, but then her heart stopped as she discovered the cat before her. “Widowpaw? Is that even you?” Ripplestar’s eyes grew wide. She believed that she was dead, after the news from Blizzardpaw about her drowning when she vanished beneath a wall of ice and snow on the lake. Widowpaw nodded. “What happened to you? You smell of ShadowClan!” “No, it's not what you think!” She meowed, “A StarClan cat from ShadowClan spoke to me.” Ripplestar’s eyes went wider. Was she the cat in the prophecy? “Who?” “Flametail!” she gasped, “He saved me! I almost drowned!” “How did you even end up in the lake in the first place?” Widowpaw froze, then shuffled her paws. “It was my fault-” “Who even let you?” “Well, it was-” she cut off, staring through the water, her heart pounding faster. “Who?” “Nevermind that,” Widowpaw shuddered. Ripplestar squinted. She’s protecting someone, she thought, it seems like it after her stare... “Are you ok?” Widowpaw turned around to her. “Yes.” “Ok, get some rest. You need it.” She noded, then busted through the water to the apprentice den. Quickly, Ripplestar thundered out of the water too, into the clearing. Then she caught something on the side of her eyes. Her ears pricked as she stared at a black figure, hiding behind one of the dens. She couldn’t recognize the cat, but it stared at her with the darkest expression, a slim smile drawing on its face, before it vanished again behind the den. Ripplestar’s heart stopped. Was something hunting Widowpaw? Or was it her? And who? “Alright,” Talonclaw meowed happily, “Tonight is your warrior ceremony!” “I know!” Widowpaw exclaimed happily, her tail shooting straight up. “I’m actually glad that you did well on your assessment.” “We’re you watching me?” Widowpaw asked. The thought of the cat in the corner of the rocks staring at her with a deadly hiss make her shiver. “I wish i did.” “It's ok.” She felt nervous about it though. What was it like to be a warrior? Or live in the warrior's den? Would they even like her like this? It's been 5 moons since she drowned in what seemed like leaf-bare, and had the prophecy talked about, but for a second she believed that it wasn’t really true, because it was supposed to happen days ago. “Alright, I’m going to go hunting with the patrol.” “Can i come?” “Not really,” Talonclaw flattened his ears, “It’s only for the senior warriors. I volunteered to join since i was about to be one.” “That’s cool. Though i want to come,” Widowpaw shuffled her paws in the dust. “Worried about you ceremony?” “Mostly worried about how what i’d be named, and what i’ll become.” Widowpaw confessed. Talonclaw sat down. “It’s nothing serious. When i did it, it wasn’t a threatening ceremony, more like an accomplishment you’ve dreamed of that makes your heart soar. Nothing to be scared of. OK?” “Alright.” Widowpaw glanced to Talonclaw, now streaking away into the forest. His scent faded in a flash. Widowpaw shook in her position, let’s do this. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Talonclaw bounded around the forest, his ears pierced for the sound of prey. “Talonclaw!” Hornetstrike, Roseheart, Thunderhawk and Bumblethroat were standing near the edge of the lake. “See anything?” Talonclaw called out as he approached them. Bumblethroat shook his head. “Nothing. It's not normal for the fish to not come out.” “Lets try the river then.” Roseheart suggested turning to the three toms, “We’re not here to chit chat!” Roseheart began trotting into the forest towards the rushing water. Bumblethroat shrugged to Talonclaw, before racing after Roseheart. Talonclaw and Hornetstrike did the same. “C’mon, we have to get this done quick!” Thunderhawk mewed before leaving the two toms alone. “I have to admit Talonclaw,” Hornetstrike muttered, “You did a great job with Widowpaw.” “Thank you.” “You better look after her though, she could get hurt.” Talonclaw froze in his track to look at Hornetstrike. “Hurt? All warriors get hurt!” “But she’s a threat. Remember her drowning? She almost costed the lives of her clanmates! Don’t you see that?” “Leave her out of this Hornetstrike. She’s not a bad cat! And it wasn’t her fault she drowned either!” “But it was you fault for Fernpelt, right? You can’t escape her death Talonclaw! Nobody will let you forget.” Talonclaw froze in anger, lashing his tail. “Just because she died from a conflict with another cat doesn’t mean it was my fault! I didn’t reach her in time and-,” he moved up to Hornetstrike’s face, “Unless you want to get ripped apart, don’t criticize my friends and family.” Hornetstrike darkened his stare as Talonclaw joined Roseheart at the edge of the river. Fear was drawing up Bumblethroat. “Where’s the fish?” “I don’t know.” Talonclaw whispered, nudging the almost silent river. “Ok,” Roseheart looked up, “Maybe i was wrong about fish here.” “It's ok, you tried,” Thunderhawk insisted. Roseheart frowned in worry. “But we got nothing! Not a fish, frog, mouse, anything in sight!” Roseheart talked back to the deputy. Talonclaw stepped back. What’s going on today, he thought. He glanced back to the horizon, where the sun was setting. “Ok guys,” He interrupted the conversation, “We should go. The ceremony’s going to start in a few minutes!” He began bounding towards the forest. “But we can’t just leave here with nothing?!” “But-” “I know it's your apprentice Talonclaw,” Roseheart mewed, “Just go. We’ll keep looking.” Talonclaw swallowed back his response to her statement. “Yeah, we’ll catch up eventually,” Thunderhawk dipped his head. “Ok.” He turned around, walking back into the forest when at the same time, the ground began to rumble. Talonclaw grew tense. Maybe it’s those monster, he thought to himself to keep calm, maybe so… Seconds later, the ground gave way, and Talonclaw was thrown to the ground. He looked up as the trees began swaying back and forth, the floor rippling like waves. Quickly, Talonclaw jumped up, and ran. The noise burned like fire in his ears, and horror clenched in his throat. StarClan help me! He panted and took off into another flying leap at the tip of the stretch he had been running up, which was now almost vertical. I can't keep this up, He thought panting, I can’t….Talonclaw tripped on a busted rock, then landed badly, skittering to the side and he almost fell into a deep gully that was never there before. Panting heavily, he clung to the ground, which was rising into the air very fast. It reached it's peak and slammed back to the ground, launching Talonclaw into the air. His paws flew through the sky. Shrieking, he plummeted down with the ground twisting in the air violently. His sight went dark, but he could still feel the world shaking around him. Please stop, he thought in pain, please make it stop! Then all at once, the floor froze. The thundering sound vanished. It was dead silent. Talonclaw’s breath grew slow and felt like fire in his chest. “Hello?” He mewed. His tail was worse, almost like a bunch of foxes were tugging on it. He tried to move but he felt frozen. He didn’t even know where he was. With determination, he opened his eyes. Horror flooded in his body. He was lying off the edge of a deep cliff. The side of the cliff was actual a tail length away from him, so he could touch it. The actual ground though was many tail lengths up in the sky, like a miniature tree. He felt water was it? No, it was blood. He gasped, staring at the sharp root of a tree impaled in his shoulder. He was actually losing a lot of blood. “Help,” He croaked to the cliffside above him. Nothing answer. “Hello? Roseheart? Bumblethroat? Anyone?” What if they’re dead? And what about the rest of the Clan? That terrified Talonclaw even more. A loud meow echoed around the cliff. “Hello? Someone please! Help!” He yowled louder than his croak. A face appeared at the top, and Talonclaw recognized the tom immediately in the dying sunlight. “Hornetstrike! It’s me! Help me out of this trench, i’m bleeding!” Hornetstrike didn’t say a word, nor did he move a muscle. He had blood all over his fur. His stare down at Talonclaw was like a fox, deadly and dark. “Hornetstrike? Help me! What are you doing?” Hornetstrike didn’t say anything, but he did disappear from Talonclaw’s view. Minutes later, he arrived with a large twig and dropped it down the cliff to where Talonclaw was standing. “It's too short, but I’ll try it out!” He called from below. Talonclaw jumped upon the large twig shaking from his weight. Nervously, he climbed up to the tip of the twig, then moved up more where his hind legs were on the top of the stick, and his paws a few paws away from his own. The stick began cracking underneath him, and the place where he fell began to crumble away. With a yowl, he hurled himself into the air, Talonclaw’s claws piercing the edge of the cliff. At the same time, everything below him fell into the dark abyss. “Hornetstrike!” he cried, dangling on two paws, “Help me please! Pull me up!” Hornetstrike just lifted an eye. “Hornetstrike!” Another voice rang through the air. Talonclaw turned to look at Roseheart, her calico fur brushing with the wind, “Get away from him! I know what you did!” she hissed. What? Confusion sparked in Talonclaw as he struggled to lift himself up. “Roseheart, what are you talking about? Where’s Bumblethroat and Thunderhawk?” He winced. Roseheart thundered up to Hornetstrike, eyes blazing cold blue fire. “You killed him you son of a-” Her sentence was cut of once Hornetstrike stuck Roseheart in the head, giving her a light gash above her eye. “Guys? What’s happening? Stop!” Talonclaw pleaded. Roseheart swung her unsheathed paws around Hornetstrike, missing him duck under her. She fell on her side, then dashed up, knocking Hornetstrike onto the ground. Talonclaw could only watch the fight grow worse, as Hornetstrike struck her down with a powerful paw, then leaned over her and bit down on her neck. Roseheart screech only lasted a second as red liquid gushed from her throat. “No! Roseheart!!” Talonclaw shrieked. Hornetstrike turned from her dying body, to face him struggling on the cliff side. “No, no please no!” Talonclaw cried out to Roseheart. He looked up to the tom, now blocking out the last ray of sunlight. “Why are you doing this?!” He meowed. Hornetstrike launched his claws into the air, then slammed them back down, digging the black bones deep into Talonclaw’s paw flesh. He yelped, straining to get away from Hornetstrike. He pulled Talonclaw closer to his bloody jaws. “It's time for a new leader to take over RiverClan. Ripplestar deserves to die, and when she does, I’ll rule the Clans, and I’ll make sure that every traitor, every prophecy is dead and gone from my life! Tigerstar was right centuries ago, Clans are weak and pathetic!” He then lifted his hind legs, where a sharp shape was dug into his claws. “Remember this?” A memory of Fernpelt jolted in Talonclaw, seeing the old claw chip she lost when they found her body, and anger now boiled inside him. “It was you, wasn’t it!!” He cried out in shock, his eyes burning on Hornetstrike, “You killed Fernpelt!” “It wasn’t easy to kill a cat that’s been holding secrets,” he said darkly, “But I already know most of the prophecy, so i didn’t need her anymore.” His tail lowered on the ground. “And you tried to kill Widowpaw and those other apprentices on the ice!” “Great work, you’re getting somewhere!” He dug even farther into his flesh, now bubbling blood onto Hornetstrike’s claws. Talonclaw screeched, squeezing his eyes from the pain. “You’re insane! I’ll kill you once i get out of this!” Hornetstrike didn’t look surprised or threatened. “How? You’re already dead.” He leaned back, his golden eyes of hatred and demise striking Talonclaw in his soul. “Greet Thunderhawk and Bumblethroat for me.” he hissed, then threw his paws up, detaching Talonclaw’s claws from the cliff. Talonclaw swung his paws in the air as he plummeted into the darkness. The world flung around him as his stomach lurched, and the wind blew into his face. He closed his eyes, waiting for the strike. The ground began to come closer to him as he fell. Take care of Widowpaw for me, he wished to RiverClan. Instantly, he felt his body smack hard on the rocks, his bones breaking, and the darkness taking over into his death. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “What in the world?” Ripplestar gasped. She was getting up from the shake that just hit RiverClan, and everyone around her was just as shocked. “At least nobody died!” She heard Witherfur yell out. She was right. Nobody was injured or killed. It was somewhat miraculous! She stood up, staring out into the distance. The landscape changed a bit, but not as significant. Widowpaw sat in her position the entire time with Nightpaw, Stonepaw, and Blizzardpaw, from the beginning of the ceremony, to the earthquake, to now. Goldensplash, her father was next to her, and Blizzardpaw was lying down, claws still unsheathed. Ripplestar looked up to Silverpelt, now looming over the sky. Was it an omen for bad things to come? Or just a teasing sort of thing? She couldn’t tell. The water that flooded over the leader’s den was now a bunch of drips on the silent floor. A large roar sounded around the entire forest, like the sound of crumbling rock from a large distance away. What was that? She thought horrified. “Ripplestar!” a large meow echoed the camp. Surprisingly to Ripplestar, it was Hornetstrike who made that yowl. His yellowish fur was tangled in dirt and twigs, but blood soaked him entirely. “Where’s Thunderhawk? And my other four warriors?” Hornetstrike moved up closer to the center of the clan, where everyone was grouping. Widowpaw spun around to face him. “I’m sorry Ripplestar,” he moaned dropping his tail, “But, they are all…dead.” Shocking cries of anger and sadness rumbled through the clan cats. Nightpaw back up horrified. Ripplestar knew that he Bumblethroat was his father. Hornetstrike sighed as he went on, eyes staring silently up at the grey cat. “The quake created a large ditch in the ground. All of them fell in. I almost did too, but I survived.” He glanced down at Widowpaw, who was shaking with anger. What’s wrong with her near Hornetstrike, Ripplestar thought, there’s something between them that need to be revealed. Ripplestar nodded solemnly at Hornetstrike, “Thank you. We will hold a vigil for our dead Clanmates,” she meowed, watching Nightpaw run into the apprentice den. She froze horrified. “Who’s going to be appointed deputy then?” Flintclaw called out. The rest of the clan began to spread rumors nervously. “I’ll pick one by moonhigh soon enough. Right now, we must finish the warrior ceremony,” Ripplestar answered. She tumbled down the wet slope that stood outside the den towards the clan center. She looked down at Widowpaw’s tiny body, now shaking in fear. “Are you ok?” “No,” she stammered, “I’m really scared now. StarClan’s never done this before…” A thundering roar split in the air again, the wind now whipping into their faces, the clouds growing dark. “Something’s happening!” Ripplestar whispered. She turned back to Widowpaw. Widowpaw’s tail curled in wonder. “Just to make it quick, will you defend your clan, even in the darkest of times? Will you uphold the warrior code as well?” “We do,” Blizzardpaw eyed Stonepaw, was was shaking along with Widowpaw. Nightpaw suddenly rejoined them, which surprised Stonepaw. “Then by the powers of StarClan,-” A flash of lightning shattered the silence. The cats looked up in fear. Hornetstrike stood glaring at Ripplestar in silence without a flinch. “Is it a sign?” Goldensplash yowled over the screaming wind. The trees were shaking with the breeze, leaves flying off. Ripplestar’s ears flattened. “Ok then, Widowpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Widowheart, for your bravery and compassion. Stonepaw, you’ll be known as Stonespash for your power, agility and honor. Nightpaw, you’ll be known as Nightpelt for your dedication to the clan and your bravery. Blizzardpaw, you’ll be known as Blizzardfur for your strength and endurance as a helpful RiverClan cat. StarClan honors you all as-” A large roar thundered in the forest, making the ground beneath their paws rumble. Seconds later, the world went into silence, except for the sound of rushing water. “Ripplestar!” A cat with a scent of WindClan trampled into the camp. “Earthclaw? What are you-” “Leave now! Get your clan to safety! You have no idea what’s coming!” Ripplestar sprinted past him, heading towards the lake. Widowheart padded behind her, tail-lengths away. Ripplestar skidded to a halt at the edge of the lake. The water was dead calm, and the roar of water began to grow louder. “What is it?” Widowheart whispered. Seconds later, a scream from across the lake, a ThunderClan scream echoed the world, before an explosion of water busted through the trees outside the lake edge, throwing cats in the air and sending a large wall of water straight towards camp. “What the-” “RUN!” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Widowheart!” Stonesplash cried out running to her. Widowheart’s eyes were wide, “We need to leave! Get up the trees!” She screamed. What’s happening? The ground shook even more. Ripplestar was sprinting into the nursery, taking out the kits to give to the queens. She then thundered up to where she spoke to the clan from. “Everyone!!” The Clan turned to her quickly, “Get the kits and apprentices up into the trees! The newest warriors must go along with them. If we don’t hurry, they'll all drown!” “What about us?” Goldensplash meowed. Ripplestar lowered her head. The warriors and elder’s eyes went wide. “We need to save our future this time.” Widowheart’s eyes widened as she stepped back. She lost her mother, she can’t lose her father next! The roar of the water was edging closer. Screams from ShadowClan died out in seconds. She caught a glimpse of Stonesplash and Nightpelt running up the largest tree with two kits dangling from each of their jaws. Blizzardfur went up next. All the kits were safe, and most of the apprentices were up the other tree too. Spiderpaw, her brother was with her. “Widowheart!” He cried. “Goldensplash? Where are you? DAD!” “Get up here, you’ll die!” Widowheart began to climb the tree, then a sudden claw snatched her out of the air. “No you’re not going anywhere,” the tom hissed. Ripplestar spun around with Goldensplash, watching as Hornetstrike sank his fangs into Widowheart’s shoulders. “Traitor!” She yowled as she threw her body into Hornetstrike’s body. “Get away from me Ripplestar, she deserves to die! You know she’s part of the prophecy, and you’re trying to hide it!” he sneered. Widowheart froze. It was her all this time? “I’m not letting you take her,” Ripplestar’s fur rippled. “Fight me then. I mean, i already killed Thunderhawk and your other pathetic warriors, so-” Widowheart swung a claw into his face, slicing his flesh. Angrily, he jumped onto Widowheart with loads of strength, pinning her with his bloody teeth baring down on her. Goldensplash knocked him onto the ground with his chest and claws, making Hornetstrike slide. Widowheart glanced over to the lake, where the large wave was edging ever so closer. Then, as Ripplestar battered him in the shoulder, Hornetstrike raised up, and at once, Widowheart recognized Tigerstar’s move. “No!” Instantly, he sliced his claws easily through Ripplestar’s throat, making her screech before collapsing. The light died from her eyes as she went limp in seconds. “NO!!” Widowheart gasped in horror. “Ripplestar-” Goldensplash cut off as Hornetstrike landed onto his back, digging his fangs into his neck. “Dad!” Spiderpaw was mewing from above. “Widowheart, run!” “But-” “Run! I’ll always be with you I promise!” He yowled. “No, i'm not losing you too!” Widowheart cried. The wave of water was about to reach the shore. A scream from WindClan roared in her ears. “Go. I’ll be fine….Arrghh!!” Hornetstrike dug deep into the back of his neck, and Goldensplash let out a large caterwaul, before landing on his belly out of breath. “Go to hell,” Widowheart heard a crack, and Goldensplash’s tail and head fell to the ground lifeless. Widowheart screamed in pain. Hornetstrike then turned around to face her. “It's your turn now.” Widowheart heard the bone chilling sound of water ripping wood apart, and turned to watch the wall of water break through the trees. Frantically, she sprinted up her brother’s tree with other apprentices and kits, while Nightpelt watched terrified at the scene from the other tree. “Hurry!” Spiderpaw yowled. She moved up a branch, then hopped to another. The water was ten trees away, like a deadly stampede of death. Her eyes widened. She heard Hornetstrike below her, closing in to her. She sped up her pace, up the tree, only a few branches away from her brother. “Reach!” He stretched his forepaws to her. Heart shaking in her chest, she stretched her’s, only a mouse-tail away from Spiderpaw. Suddenly, sharp claws dug into her back, and she lost her grip on the tree, falling down with Hornetstrike onto the other branches. Widowheart landed on two branches, both catching her body. Unfortunately, Hornetstrike tumbled all the way down, and at the same time, the wall of water smacked right into him. Widowheart gasped as he vanished in the explosion of blue. But then, she saw the other RiverClan warriors, vanishing with screams and cries into the watery grave. Widowheart closed her eyes as the tree shook from the water’s strength. They’re all gone! She thought sadly, we lost… Suddenly, the tree began to lean down into the water. Widowheart let out a terrifying scream as her hind legs plummeted into the river, her grip failing on the smooth bark. “HELP ME!” She cried. Spiderpaw rushed over, Mosspaw with him. He grabbed one of her paws, Mosspaw snatching the other, tugging and lifting her up to the tree. She was panting, her fur soaked in water and blood. “Widowheart, I thought you were a goner!” Spiderpaw meowed. Widowheart shook her head, "I will never leave you." Then, they both turned to the thundering river that ran underneath them. Wails and cries of pain spread through the kits and apprentices. Widowheart just realized, all of the warriors and elders are dead. She felt the tears beginning to rush to her as soon as it all hit her. Spiderpaw lowered his body, mumbling to himself. She rested her throat onto the back of his neck, and they both began whimpering and crying. She was horror stricken. Now, the young were all alone, and all the Clans were dead and gone from existence. “I’m sorry,” she whispered painfully, “I should’ve protected Goldensplash better.” “You did your best, it's not your fault,” Spiderpaw responded. She felt like a kit now, wanting help and comfort. “They’re all gone…”
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