Warriors Fanfiction
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This is a one-shot for Misty's contest. Enjoy!

Prologue

The she-cat's pale gold pelt was a small ray of light in the foggy darkness as she thrashed frantically. A dark force, half-cat, half-cloud, was moving towards her.

"You cannot escape. It is your destiny. You must die. It is for the good of the clans. You are not a cat. It is you. It is within you."

The she-cat's round pale green eyes grew wider and wider with fear as the dark cloud-cat became bigger. "Please," she sobbed. "I just want to live a normal life."

"Impossible! Childish fantasies! You must accept who, or what, you are. And fulfill your purpose. You have a purpose, a use. That is all."

The cloud enveloped her, but there was no one to witness the dream. If they had though, the would see that her coat grew dazzlingly bright, bursting into a brilliant golden yellow. The she-cat writhed in pain and horror as the light and darkness combusted, and she was thrown back into a silvery realm, into the clutches of sleep.

Chapter One

Runningpaw licked the last bits of vole from his lips, then stood and stretched his lean body. Looking around, he saw that, as usual, GrassClan's camp was quiet. To Runningpaw, it seemed like his warrior ceremony couldn't get here fast enough.

There was one other apprentice in the clan, a moon younger then him, but he rarely spoke to her. There was something odd, or at least different, about Sunnypaw. She had large green orbs for eyes, and a pale coat that looked like it was made from molten gold. Runningpaw kept his distance from her, not exactly because he disliked her, but because when he looked into her large eyes, he felt as if taking a step towards friendship with her again would suck him into a deep abyss that he could never get out of. Like there was much more to her then the pretty she-cat who excelled at hunting that the rest of the clan saw. But he could see it. And it kind of scared him.

"Runningpaw!" Barkleaf, their medicine cat, was walking towards him. "Can you take this mouse-bile and get rid of the elder's ticks?"

Though on the inside he cringed as he picked up the foul smelling pouch, he had to admit that, pathetically, this was the most exciting thing that had happened all morning.

"Sure Barkleaf," he mumbled around it.

"Thank you," the brown tom meowed. "I have to go harvest some dock and marigold, and I had no time to do it. Get Sunnypaw too, if you can find her."

"I think she's out hunting," he put in hastily, which was partly true. The young she-cat was an excellent hunter, and it was probably what she was doing right now. Either way, he wasn't about to go looking for her.

"Hello Runningpaw," Darkflight meowed as he entered. "Come to hear a story?"

"Actually, to tend to your ticks. But I'd love to hear one as I work," Runningpaw replied pleasantly.

"Which one should we tell him?" Darkflight turned to the other two elders, Scratchfur and Linktail.

"How about the time a fox came into the camp?" asked Scratchfur lazily. The reddish tom turned to Runningpaw. "It was the scariest thing I ever saw, let me tell you."

As he listened to the story, with each elder coming up with more outrageous additions to the tale, Runningpaw let his mind wander. Would he ever be forced to fight a fox? He wanted to do the right thing for his clan, but would only fight to kill if it was absolutely nessacary.

After he was done with the elders, Runningpaw headed outside. There was no sign of his mentor, Redberry, so he decided to go for a walk in the woods and do some hunting as well.

The sunlight was warm on his back as he weaved through the forest. Just then, he heard a low, chanting sound. Puzzled, he followed the noise and emerged into a hidden vale. Sunlight filtered through so many layers of green leaves and cherry blossoms that it splayed out in an emerald and ruby pattern on the grass. The cherry trees' long branches brushed the ground, and all manner of beautiful flowers grew around the alcove.

And sitting in the middle of the clearing, bathed in ethereal light, was Sunnypaw. She appeared to be in a queer trance. Her green eyes were wide open, but unseeing. Her body was vibrating slightly. The chanting sound he had heard appeared to come from around her.

Slowly, he backed away, then turned and ran. What is wrong with her?


Chapter Two

"Aolani," Sunnypaw said impatiently, glaring at the dark, wavering form of a cat in front of her. "Can't you talk about anything but how to control my power till the 'time'? Why can't you explain to me what exactly is going on with me?"

The cloud-cat sat, and her eyes emerged from the ever-moving mist she was made of. "Sunnypaw," she sighed, or at least that's what it looked like. It was quite odd talking to her. "It's difficult to explain. Now, let's try that again. This time, when I lunge at you, no matter how angry or emotional you get, do not let it happen."

"I'm the sun." Sunnypaw still cringed and bit her lip when she said those words, though she had known for some time now.

"Not exactly," meowed Aolani calmly. The large golden eyes disappeared, and she reared back and prepared to strike, growing bigger.

With a shrug, Sunnypaw braced herself. As usual, she felt the sunlight. Not the warm sunlight she felt normally, and other cats must all the time, but a hot raging inferno that threatened to engulf everything. Next came the burning in her chest. Then the flash of light- No! She focused her mind intently, trying desperately to keep herself together. The rays began to dim slowly. Aolani's eyes appeared once more, and she gave a nod of approval, receding into her regular form.

"You're getting better."

"Save it."

"It's really helping. Soon you'll be able to fight like a normal cat."

"A normal cat! What do you care if I get to be normal? All you're trying to do is keep the power safe till the time comes. You don't care about me! You think I'm a weapon! Something to be used." Sunnypaw felt her rage building again. Light began emerging once more, chasing Aolani back. She swished her tail agitatedly.

"That's not true Sunnypaw. Calm down, now."

"Forget it!" Sunnypaw expelled a few rays and blinded herself as well. The clouds faded and she was back in her secret place with the new-leaf air surrounding her comfortingly. She blinked a few times, and regained her composure. It always took a while to get adjusted back to the normal world after her training sessions.

As she headed back, she thought that for a second she scented Runningpaw. Runningpaw. She had liked him since they were kits. She could remember when they had been best friends and done everything together. That was before Aolani. Before she found out who she really was. Before her family had died because of it.

Before. And it will never be the same again.


The whole clan was enjoying a quiet evening. Sunnypaw enjoyed it as well, but for a different reason. As the sun went down, the power within her dimmed. It was still there, she knew, a bright, burning presence, but it was much easier to control. It let her mind refocus on regular happenings instead.

A twinge of loneliness stabbed her as she looked about at her clanmates all sharing tongues and talking. Only one other cat was alone as well. His warm blue gaze caught hers for an instant, and she felt her neck-fur growing hot. She looked away.

Runningpaw and she hadn't really spoken since her family had died. Since she had met Aolani. Sunnypaw knew she had changed then, and probably not for the better, but she didn't know how to get back to normal. What was normal anyway, when you were destined to die for your clan. When you knew that no matter how hard you tried to escape it, your only fate was to be a massive bomb. She wasn't even sure what she would be fighting against when the "time" came, but Aolani made it soud like a tiger and lion combined. And Sunnypaw had no desire to fight. It came not from gentleness, though she would never hurt something without reason. It stemmed from the fact that here on earth, without Aolani's help and in the heat of battle, they could never be sure what would happen.

So far she had avoided all the border skirmishes. But as new-leaf made them stronger, GrassClan's biggest advesaries, WillowClan, were attacking more and more often, trying to steal the little portion of woods GrassClan owned. They did most of their hunting on the prairie, but the woods served as a good hunting grounds and a place to make their camp. The clan would defend it fiercely, and Sunnypaw knew it wouldn't be long before she was called into battle. She was also sure that nothing short of an eclipse would stop her from exploding and destroying every cat in the forest, including herself.


Chapter Three

Runningpaw lay awake in his nest, unable to stop his gaze from straying to the other side of the apprentice's den, where Sunnypaw was curled into a tight little ball. Every few minutes she'd murmur something incoherent in a pleading tone, making him wonder what she was dreaming about. What had she been doing when he saw her today?

His thoughts travelled back to his kithood. In almost all of his early memories, she was there. The night she'd been born. Their first trip outside the nursery. Listening to elder's tales together. Getting chased out of the warrior's den by Darkflight. His cheeks grew hot as he remembered the day he'd marched up to his mom and announced that he loved Sunnykit, that they were mates, and were going to have one hundred kits when they grew up. I was little then. I didn't know any better.

Then her parents had died. Their bodies had been found in the woods. The clan had assumed that they had been killed by rogues, because they couldn't come up with anything else. But there was no way a mere cat could have broken two cats' spines like that. Sunnypaw, who was a kit then, had been stricken. But Runningpaw could tell she knew more about her parent's death then she let on.

After that point though, it became impossible to reach her. She retreated into a shell no one could penetrate, and the bonds of their friendship had disappaited into his pitying looks and her defiant glares. Sunnypaw hated to be pitied; Runningpaw knew that much. But it was hard not to feel sorry for her, whatever she was going through had most definitely not ended with her parents being killed. And he wasn't sure if it would ever end.


"Runningpaw! We're going out for some hunting practice." Runningpaw loooked up to see his mentor, Redberry, walking towards him. "Sunnypaw and Crimsonfall are using the sand-pit for fight-training, so I thought we'd go down to the field and catch some hares. It'll help your speed."

"Sure," Runningpaw meowed. Oddly, he felt a bit disappointed that Sunnypaw wasn't coming. He wanted to ask her what she had been doing yesterday, lost in that odd trance. It scared him somewhat, but another part of him wanted to reach out, to know more. How much had his old friend changed?

They headed out of the camp and through the woods. The field opened up in front of them as an endless expanse of grass stretching as far as they could see. The light wind carried the scent of hare on it, making Runningpaw's mouth water. His long legs longed to race over the grassy turf in pursuit of one. It was in his blood.

Spotting a brown shape huddled in the grass, he dropped into a crouch and began stalking it. Keeping his tail still, he wove between the stalks till he could see the hare clearly. Then he leaped out of the grass in an explosion and gave chase. The hare began running as fast as he could, but Runningpaw hadn't recieved his name for nothing. He accelarated till he was a blur, using his long tail as a rudder to help steer himself as he moved. Closing in on the hare, he pounced and delivered the killing bite just before his momentum caught up with him and he somersaulted with the fresh-kill clenched in his jaws.

Redberry caught up with him and smiled approvingly. "Good job," she praised. They hunted a bit more, then headed back to the camp.

Runningpaw dropped his hare and two squirrels on the fresh-kill pile. As he looked up, he caught Sunnypaw's brilliant green gaze, and turned away. Why was she everywhere he looked?

The quiet of the dusk was shattered by Oakclaw, who had just rushed into the camp. "WillowClan is attacking!"


Chapter Four

Sunnypaw's stomach gave a sickening twist when she heard Oakclaw. Somehow she knew her luck had run out. It was time to fight. To find out what she was made of. Already, despite the coolness of the sunset, she could feel her power alight within her. When she looked at Runningpaw, she knew he saw it burning in her eyes, and hot shame crept through her. Why couldn't she just be a normal cat?

Larchstar emerged from her den, her gray-brown agouti coat rippling over nimble muscles. "Then we will fight back. Where are they?"

"The border by the woods. Our patrol is holding them off, but they can't last much longer." Oakclaw licked a spot of dark red blood off his brown coat.

"Redberry, Hareleap, Birdwings, Runningpaw, and Sunnypaw, go with Oakclaw."

Automatically, though her brain didn't register what she was doing, Sunnypaw felt herself moving after the patrol. What would happen now?

As the patrol headed through the woods, the scent of WillowClan became stronger. Sunnypaw felt her warrior blood rising, and fought to control it. She would fight it as long as she could.

Yowls exploded in her ears as they burst into the battle-scene. Screeching cats clawed at each other's pelts frantically. The GrassClan warriors were outnumbered, Sunnypaw observed. She would have to fight. Hareleap and Birdwings, two mates, streaked past her and pounced into the fray. They were followed by the rest of the patrol, except for Runningpaw. He glanced at her, a bit nervously. "You okay?"

She swallowed, trying to force down the intense heat boiling over inside her and focus on his face, the sound of his voice. "Yeah." He gave a short nod and sprang into the fight.

Aolani, please help me make you proud. With that, Sunnypaw pounced on a WillowClan cat and bit down hard. She let out a screech of pain almost the same time he did, but hers was at the scorching pain that lanced through her. She bit down on her tongue, hard, ignoring the salty flavor of blood in her mouth, and scrabbled determinedly at the WillowClan tom's pelt. She would learn to fight normally. She had to.

Hareleap and Redberry were tackling a large tom she recognized as Yodelthroat, WillowClan's deputy, while Oakclaw and Birdwings tussled with another pair of cats. Runningpaw was pinned to the ground by a huge tom, who was diving for his throat. No! There was no way she could save him. He was too far away. But suddenly, just as she thought it, the WillowClan cat was thrown back against a tree. The fighting ceased, as all the cats turned horrified, just in time to see his fur catch fire.

"Snapclaw!" screamed a cream she-cat. The tom let out a howl of pure terror and beat himself furiously on the tree, which ignited. He raced away, his fur charred and leaving a trail of smoke, as the flames began spreading.

"Run!" yelled Runningpaw. He shot forward, a brown blur, and suddenly panicked cats from both clans were rushing past her. But Sunnypaw couldn't move. She'd caused this. The bushes had caught fire now, and slowly it was easing into a circle, surrounding her. "Sunnypaw!" Runningpaw appeared at the last gap where the flames hadn't reached yet. "Come on!"

Sunnypaw closed her eyes, trying to shut out the image, then she ran. She felt Runningpaw alongside her, slowing his paces to meet hers, but she didn't open her eyes. She slammed headfirst into a fallen log and collapsed. Hot tears coursed down her cheeks, not from the pain, but from the sickening guilt of what she had just done. "Sunnypaw?" Runningpaw's voice was softer now, gentle, despite his fear of the fire that was quickly chasing them.

"Runningpaw," she managed to get out. "Go on without me. I'll be fine." She wasn't sure how true this was, but surely she had more immunity to heat than other cats. He didn't respond, just curled up beside her. She raised her head. "Go!"

He shook his head pointedly. "I'm not leaving you here."

"You'll die!"

"We'll die." He was completely calm. She couldn't tell if he meant it, but no more cats could be hurt because of her today.

"Come on." They scrambled to their paws and shot through the woods and grass, headed for the river. Sunnypaw had no time to wonder why he had done it; she was too busy trying to keep up with his long, quick strides.

Many other cats, WillowClan and GrassClan alike, were already there. "Runningpaw! Sunnypaw!" They saw Redberry gesturing frantically and jumped into the river beside her.

"Where were you?" she gasped, staring at her apprentice and Sunnypaw. Sunnypaw opened her mouth to say something, but Runningpaw cut her off.

"Sorry. We got sidetracked."

Redberry nodded and padded off towards another group of GrassClan cats huddled together. "Thank you," she whispered.

"Thanks nothing," Runningpaw said. "I want to know what happened back there Sunnypaw."

"W-what?" she stammered.

"I know you did something." She detected a hint of desperation in his voice. "I don't understand what, but I know something happened. Something you didn't intend."

She stared at him in shock. How did he know? For some reason she didn't feel like lying. There was enough of that in her life. "It's a long story."

He glanced at the burning forest. "We've got time."

"You won't believe me."

His steady blue eyes met her troubled green ones. "Try me."


Chapter Five

Runningpaw felt his heart thud as he realized she was going to tell him. He curled his tail around his paws and waited, surprised she trusted him enough with her secret. Whatever it was, it had hurt her more then it had hurt Snapclaw and the forest. He could tell that much.

"I'm not a regular cat," Sunnypaw sighed. "I couldn't tell you what I am if I tried. No one will tell me. All I can say is this. I have a... connection with the sun."

"The sun?" Runningpaw meowed, confused. "What does the sun have to do with anything? Oh. Your name. What's the big deal?"

She looked exasperated. "I don't know! But whatever it is, it's tearing my life apart." Shocked to find her eyes filling with tears, Runningpaw bent and gave her a quick lick on the forehead. Her eyes went wide, and he took a step back as though he's touched the fire.

"Ow! You're burning up!" Realization dawned on him. "You set the fire like that."

"It wasn't on purpose," she stammered. "All I know is one moment I was thinking that he couldn't hurt you and the next I felt some of my power go out and the tom was on fire."

"Wait. Power?"

Despite herself, she gave a small smile. "What did you think I had? A disease? Though sometimes it feels like it," she said sadly. He couldn't stand to see the glow leave her pretty face, so he pressed on.

"How did you figure it out? How did you know what happened?"

"Nothing happened. I was born this way. That's what Aolani told me." Anticipating the question, she said, "Aolani is kind of like my coach. I could take you to meet her right now if you want."

He stared, then glanced around. "In case you haven't noticed, we're stuck in the river because of a giant fire that will devour us if we set foot on dry land." Her face fell, and he winced, biting his tongue. He hadn't meant to remind her of what she had done.

"It's not like that. We don't have to go anywhere. Here." She pressed against him, and he felt her skin sear his. A low chanting sound filled his ears. He recognized it from the time he had seen her sitting alone in the clearing in that trance. Before he could say anything, he felt the world fading around him. A sucking sensation filled him, as though he were being ripped through time and space.

"Sunnypaw-" They landed on hard ground with a thud that knocked the breath out of him. He froze, glancing around wildly. Sunnypaw stood next to him, perfectly calm. "What is this place?"

"Who is this intruder?" asked a cold voice. Runningpaw's blood ran cold. Around them, the gray mist began to gather, swirling and shifting into the unmistakable shape of a cat. A pair of sharp golden eyes emerged from the cloudy figure. "Sunnypaw! How dare you bring another cat here?"

"Sorry! I- I had to tell him." Sunnypaw sounded half-defiant, half-pleading. "Please Aolani. It's my only chance to have a real friend."

Runningpaw blinked. "I was always your friend." The both knew that was a lie. "It wasn't just me! I thought you hated me after..." he trailed off.

She sighed. "I know. It was my fault too. I'm really sorry."

Aolani, if that was what the strange apparation was called, appeared to be frowning. "He will only mess up your training."

"Wrong! How can I not control myself when I risk hurting another cat? It will raise the bar." Sunnypaw looked less sure then she sounded.

"Hurt me?" Runningpaw squeaked. Neither she-cat glanced at him. They seemed to be locked in a stare-down, communicating in a silent language. He wondered if they were telepathetic as well. At this point, nothing would surprise him about Sunnypaw's secret life. "So... Sunnypaw? What about, you know, back at the river. Did we just disappear." She finally turned to face him.

"No, we just appear to be in a trance. Let's hope no one notices in all the commotion."

"Oh. Okay." Was she crazy? Hope no one notices? Fat chance. Runningpaw wondered what the others would think if they turned and saw two apprentices staring off into space, sitting in the middle of the river calm as anything. That was how she had been when he's seen her, but that was different. She was alone, at least, except for him, and hidden. No one had noticed. What if GrassClan left without them? What if they were burned to death? Would they be trapped here forever?

"I'm training," Sunnypaw explained. "To control my powers while fighting." Her eyes dimmed. "To avoid things like what happened today."

Aolani's form had been drifting and becoming more vague, but now she snapped back together and her eyes blazed like a pair of miniature suns. Runningpaw could practically feel the heat radiating from her and Sunnypaw, filling even this huge endless void with its intensity. "What happened today?"

Sunnypaw looked miserable. "I had to go into a fight."

"And?" The cloud-cat began to turn darker. Runningpaw guessed that was what happened when she grew agitated. Silver threads of mist became almost blackand began whipping about in a frenzy. Sunnypaw didn't bat an eyelid.

"I lit a cat on fire. And a tree. And by now the whole woods might have burned down."

Aolani gave a tired sigh. "You poor child."

"I don't need your pity!" Sunnypaw's golden fur stood on end. "I just need your-"

"Help?" she interrupted. Sunnypaw's ears flattened in shame.

"I'm sorry Aolani. I just can't do anything right today." Runningpaw stared at her, then brushed against her pelt hesitantly. It was still unnaturally warm, but it didn't scorch him this time. He let their flanks remain touching, and she gave him a wan smile. He returned it, despite how weird this all was. His former best friend was actually a sun-cat with superpowers. Who knew?


Chapter Six

Despite the bravado she had put on to Aolani, Sunnypaw was beginning to be really nervous about this training session. She had just lit a cat on fire for crying out loud! There was no telling what might happen to Runningpaw. But there was also no turning back now. She felt her friend tense as Aolani's golden eyes blinked once then vanished. She began to expand once more, lightning crackling and thunder rumbling as she became a giant, living breathing, storm.

"What in StarClan?" Runningpaw breathed. Sunnypaw didn't have time or breath to reply. She managed to stagger a few steps away from him, and focused on trying to contain herself. The fiery heat was puslating within her violently, wracking her body with spasms of random light. She forced it down, focusing on the center of the cloud-cat storm, where a purple glow served as a reminder that it was a living thing. Just when she thought her power was subdued, she felt as if a giant claw was reaching into her and yanking out. Bending backwards as light splayed out in all directions, she let out an agonized wail.

"Sunnypaw!" Runningpaw's voice was desperate. "What's happening?"

She couldn't hear Aolani's reply, because she was experiencing a familiar tugging. Like she was being ripped out of this realm and into another. "Aolani! I'm being Pulled!"

Instantly the cloud-cat reformed and darted towards her. "Resist it!"

"I can't..." Sunnypaw's could feel her strength ebbing. She was vaguely aware of Aolani by her side, and then Runningpaw's smooth brown tabby coat pressed against hers. Then there was a giant force of suction, and they were Pulled into another dimension.


Sunnypaw was the first to spring to her paws. Her head throbbed, as did her power, a searing ache within her. Runningpaw and Aolani got up beside her. "What's going on?" Runningpaw said.

Sunnypaw felt her heart twist when she saw how scared Aolani looked. She had never seen her mentor like this before. "I- I don't know."

Then Runningpaw nudged her. "Sunnypaw? I don't think that's a good guy." She looked where his tail was pointing. What she saw nearly stopped her heart.

A large purple-black form was making it's way towards them. It was like Aolani, only five times as big and with a much more sinister look about it. Glowing red eyes appeared, accompanied by a pair of long tusk-like white fangs that protruded out of what she assumed was it's face.

"No beast, sun or moon escapes me. Fear me. I am the Tear."

Runningpaw is the first to speak. "The what?" Aolani gave him a muffled hiss. Sunnypaw was appalled at the pure terror she saw on her face. Runningpaw shut his jaws abruptly.

"What do you want?" Sunnypaw said shakily. "Why did you Pull me out of training?"

He examined her closely with his beady blood-colored eyes. "Such power. I could feel it through the realms and dimensions. I had to see you in person. I am not impressed anymore." He ran his eyes over her small frame. She could see his point; he was much bigger then her, but that didn't stop her blood from boiling. Literally.

"I'm not small!" He gave a cruel smile. Sunnypaw felt a sickly cold feeling seep through her veins.

"Sunnypaw! Stop! He's absorbing your power!" Aolani screeched.

"Hush sister," the Tear said. "This is not your place to speak."

"Sister?" Sunnypaw meowed increduloulsy. "Aolani's your sister?"

"Okay, this is officially the weirdest thing that's ever happened to me," Runningpaw muttered. "Some big-shot bigfoot called the Tear, a ghost, and a suncat. What's next?" Sunningpaw nudged him, trying to look disapproving, but she couldn't stop her whiskers from twitching. Aolani shot them both a glare without answering the question. Quite convenient, Sunnypaw observed.

"So you can absorb my power?" she asked.

The Tear scowled darkly. "You're stupid." And just like that, they were Pulled out of the realm and thrown back into the river. For a few seconds they stood facing each other. The cool water sizzled as it touched Sunnypaw's burning skin.

"Did that just happen?" asked Runningpaw.

Sunnypaw nodded feebly. "You're stupid? What kind of a villian can't do better then that?" she spat angrily. "And what does he mean by that?"

Runningpaw glnaced around. "Where's Aolani?"

"She can't come here," Sunnypaw explained. "She's probably back in that realm."

Runningpaw frowned. "You took me there to explain everything to me. But all I have now is a bunch of new questions. Starting with, what the heck is Pulling?"

"It's hard to explain," she said uncomfortably. "It's like... well, pulling yourself, or someone else, through the dimensions. So, they still exist in their Home plane of existence, which is here for us, but they also are where you Pulled them."

"What?" He stared at her in shock.

"I know it's a lot to think about at once," she said.

"That's the understatement of the year," he muttered. "But in return, I think I can answer one of your questions." Sunnypaw frowned.

"What would that be?"

"What he meant when he said he was absorbing your powers."

"Aolani said that."

"Whatever," he mewed irritably. "The point is, I know what he is. At least sort of. You're the sun. He absorbs your powers, only he uses them for evil I'm pretty sure. Darkness if you will. That means there's only one thing he can be." He paused for dramatic effect, and Sunnypaw tapped her paw impatiently. "Your opposite. He depends on you, but he opposes everything you stand for. He's the ultimate enemy. He's... the moon."

Sunnypaw would have laughed if she wasn't so horrified. "The moon? Of course. How coud I not see it? Thanks Runningpaw." He shrugged modestly.

"I just care about what we can do to stop it."

"We?" she asked incredulously.

"Yeah," he said a bit sheepishly. "There's no way I'm letting you face it alone."

"Well," she said, pressing against him; she had cooled down by now. "Let's start by getting out of here. The fire's out."

Together they joined the WillowClan and GrassClan cats, all sore and defeated. Yet for the first time, Sunnypaw had hope. She had a friend again. And with him, she felt like she could do anything.


Chapter Seven

Runningpaw felt dizzy on his paws as he looked around the charred remains of his home. If it weren't for Sunnypaw's comforting presence at his shoulder, he was sure he would have toppled over. But she felt horrible enough, and she hadn't been able to help it. He had to be strong for her.

The GrassClan cats that hadn't been on the fighting patrol had joined them at the river, and now Larchstar lined them all up to take stock. She glanced around. "Where is Twigtail?"

Runningpaw scanned his clanmates. He hadn't seen the skinny brown elder since this morning. "Uh oh," he whispered.

Larchstar seemed to be thinking the same thing. "Birdwings, take Sunnypaw and Runningpaw and search for him. Everyone else, take a little time to rest. We'll need to find a new or at least temporary camp, unless we can fix this one up."

"I'll take Oakclaw and Mintwhisker to examine the camp," offered Redberry.

"And I'll tend to wounded cats as best I can without herbs," said Barkleaf. Larchstar nodded gratefully. Then Birdwings flicked her tail at the two apprentices and they dashed off into the woods. They had to find the missing elder. He couldn't be dead. Runningpaw chanced a look at Sunnypaw. Her jaw was set and her eyes were grim and full of self-loathing. He knew she would blame herself forever if Twigtail was dead. Please let us find him.

They inspected every bush and charred tree, but it was no use. Nothing could be smelled over the reek of burnt wood and smoke. A few embers still somoldered in the dirt, stinging Runningpaw's eyes with heat, sparks, and billowing clouds.

Birdwings' silver-white pelt was blackened by soot, but she continued to search doggedly. Still, after about half an hour, they were all exhausted, their paws burnt(except for Sunnypaw) and claws clogged with ash and debri. Birdwings voiced what they were all thinking. "It's no use."

Sunnypaw seemed to deflate. The light left her luminiscent green eyes, and she sagged against a tree. It seemed to cut through Runningpaw's heart like a knife. He couldn't stand seeing her so sad. But there was no way he could cheer her up either. Birdwings began to hurry back, her head down and her tail sweeping the blackened ground.

"Come on," he said softly. Sunnypaw sighed and padded slowly after him, dull and listless. Then, without warning, her head snapped up. Her eyes suddenly glowed dazzlingly bright, so that he almost had to look away, and the next thing he knew, she had whirled around and was running in the opposite direction. Runningpaw glanced desperately over his shoulder. Birdwings had already disappeared. He raced after Sunnypaw.

Quickly, his long strides ate up the distance between them. "Where are we going?" he yelled.

"I don't know," she called back. She skidded to a stop at the outer edge of GrassClan's territory, the one on the opposite side of the WillowClan border. Runningpaw watched as she paced around frantically. What was she doing? Every few seconds she would stop, and her eyes would ignite with the unnatural emerald light. Then she'd continue pacing. Finally she froze. "There!" She bounded up to an old boulder and circled it, her face full of concentration. Then she called, "Twigtail?"

"Sunnypaw?" Runningpaw couldn't keep the questioning out of his voice. Why was she talking to a rock?

She didn't respond. She was too busy digging frantically against a small gap near the base of the boulder, hwere it didn't meet the earth. "I've got you," she murmured determinedly. "Don't worry." He could see blood seeping out from her paws where her claws had torn, but she kept at it. Finally, he joined her. His heart thumped wildly as he caught the faintest trace of cat scent.

"Twigtail!" They both stopped as a pair of amber eyes appeared in the darkness. The elder's croaky, hoarse voice drifted out of the opening.

"I'm saved." Runningpaw leaned into the opening and fastened his teeth in the elder's scruff, ignoring the foul taste of burnt fur. The scrawny tom collapsed on the ground, his flanks heaving as he breathed in the outside air. Twigtail coughed violently. The two apprentices stared in horror. His brown tabby coat was nearly black. His right ear was burnt so badly that part of it was missing, and the edge was raw and bloody.

"Runningpaw," whispered Sunnypaw. "Go get help."

For a moment, the command didn't register in his numbed brain. Then he whirled around and dashed off through the woods. "Birdwings!" He charged into the camp. "We found Twigtail! He needs help!"

Birdwings and two other cats rushed towards him, and he led them across the charred fields and woods at breakneck speed. Everything else happened in a daze: dragging Twigtail home, Barkleaf's worried face, and the Larchstar's gratitude that they had found him. Finally, the smoke in his lungs, the soot lining his fur, the embers that had burnt a black fringe around his eyes, and his exhaustion at running through the territories back and forth overwhelmed him. His head slumped against Sunnypaw's shoulder, and he fell into a deep, nightmare-tortured sleep.

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