Written by Shiny
Hope you like it!
Prologue[]
"Bloodstar? We're ready." The black and white cat bowed to Bloodstar. The muscled smoke-colored tom grinned, exposing his sharp teeth.
"Excellent." He hissed. "They'll never know what hit them. Come." Bloodstar stalked out of his den. It was a small cave, carved into the mountainside, a few tail-lengths above the ground. Below spread SmokeClan; dens in every direction, pressed against the mountain. Beyond that, the Clan was ringed in trees. And if you went far enough through the forest, to the hills, yiu would find the border with OakClan.
The majority of SmokeClan was gathered beneath the Bloodcave. They all fell quiet as their leader stepped out above them. Bloodstar stood still for a moment, observing his Clan.
"For moons, OakClan has waged war with us. They accuse us of being ruthless, bloodthirsty, and a scourge to the name of cats. Today, that changes. Today, we attack with our full force. OakClan thinks they have weakened us, but in reality, they are the weak ones." Bloodstar paused. "BloodClan, you have trained your whole lives for this. Do not disappoint me. We strike at moonhigh."
A loud cheer met his speech. Bloodstar smiled, baring his fangs. "Darkheart." He turned to the cat next to him on the ledge. "Is there a problem?"
Darkheart, who had been quiet the whole time, fidgeted. "N-no, Bloodstar."
"Do not lie to me, Darkheart." Bloodstar's voice was barley a whisper. "What is it?"
"The prophecy, sir. It tells of a war, right? And a 'strike under the moon'. Do you think…could this battle be the one?"
Bloodstar's eyes narrowed. He lunged forward, grabbed Blackheart's fur, and flung him into the stone wall. "You fool. You…dare…talk to me of the prophecy? I've told you, I don't care if a dead cat tells me something. I renounced StarClan long ago. If they wish me to do something, they can come down and fight. Do not speak of the prophecy ever again. This battle will succeed."
"Y-yes, I'm sure it will." Blackheart stammered.
"My spies tell me well. I know every one of their defenses, their patrols, their numbers. If you have a problem with my chances, you can go join OakClan. Then I will slaughter you as I will slaughter all of them."
"I-I won't let you down, Bloodstar. I have no doubts that we will prevail."
Bloodstar snarled, and turned away. He jumped down the ledges to the ground. SmokeClan was preparing for battle. Everywhere, cats were getting ready. Sharpening their claws, practicing their battle moves. Bloodstar sought out a cat who had his back turned.
"Hello, Bloodstar." The cat said without turning around.
"Tidalwind." The medicine cat turned. He had a stony look in his eye, a challenging one.
"You push fate here, Bloodstar." Tidalwind growled. "You know the prophecy speaks of this night. Why have you chosen tonight to attack? Do you simply wish to spite StarClan?"
Bloodstar have a humorless laugh. "StarClan is nothing but a tale we tell kits. Prophecies are pointless. No cat can tell the future. I am simply proving that they are nothing but a bunch of old, dead fools."
Tidalwind jaw tensed. "You do not what you are saying, Bloodstar."
"Oh, I think I know exactly what I'm saying. Why should you become so much wiser when you die? True power is here, in life. It must be taken from others. I will prove myself to be the most powerful cat…above StarClan, even."
Tidalwind took a sharp breath. "You should not have said that. You push boundaries farther then they should ever be pushed."
"And why do you think that is, Tidalwind?" Bloodstar spat the last word.
"Maybe StarClan sets some rules for a reason. Maybe if you would slow you stupid reign of terror and think about the warrior code for a second-"
Bloodstar hissed, and flung his medicine cat to the ground. Tidalwind didn't even look scared. "A reign of terror? The warrior code? STARCLAN? How dre you present these foul words to me. You know as well as I do that the warrior code gets no one anywhere. Look at OakClan. They follow some silly rules. And are they the ones about to be destroyed?"
"No, I really think that you are." Tidalwind meowed bluntly. "Prophecies are not wrong."
"Prophecies are a medicine cat's way of trying to change things. I don't care for them, any more than I care for StarClan."
"Ok, Streamstar." Tidalwind's eyes burned into Bloodstar's.
Bloodstar recoiled at the sound of his old name. "How…" He began.
"Maybe you can forget StarClan, but I won't. And as long as I live, this Clan won't either." Tidalwind turned, and padded off.
"Well then." Bloodstar's claws unsheathed. "We can't have you spreading lies, can we?" Bloodstar sprang at Tidalwind. His claws shot forward, and slashed Tidalwind's throat. It was over in less than a second. Tidalwind's eyes went wide, and he crumpled to the ground, his blood staining the grass around him.
Bloodstar turned, and stalked back to his Clan. No cat noticed as he returned to his cave, and waited for the attack. No cat noticed Bloodstar strike his own medicine cat dead.
Chapter One-Threepaw[]
Threepaw squinted in the sunlight that was pouring into the den. He stretched, and yawned.
"Morning, Threepaw." A cat called to him from outside.
"Hey, Pinepaw." Threepaw stumbled out the den, and yawned one more time. "Did I oversleep?"
"Yeah, well." Pinepaw scooted over so that Threepaw could share his mouse. "Lucky for you, your mentor did to. Cloudleap took me for a morning hunt before the patrols even got back."
Threepaw purred teasingly. "So think what a fine warrior you're turning out to be!"
"Well, I guess even badgers wake up!" Threepaw looked over his shoulder, and saw another of the apprentices, Crystalpaw. Crystalpaw sat sown next to them, smiling.
Threepaw purred. "Look who's talking!" He nudged her jokingly. They both laughed, but Pinepaw flicked them with his tail.
"Don't get too comfortable, Threepaw. Swiftriver just got up." He meowed. Threepaw groaned. He turned and saw, indeed, his mentor was getting up.
"He's gonna drill me all day because he slept in!" Threepaw frowned. "Nice knowing you guys." Crystalpaw sighed over-dramatically.
"Alas! The young ones are lost too soon!" She sighed mockingly.
"Oh, very funny." Threepaw meowed. "See you later."
"Bye!" She said.
"See ya." Pinepaw called after him. Threepaw ran over to greet his mentor, stopping to take in the vastness of OakClan as he did. OakClan was built in a big clearing, ringed with tall oak trees. Dens lines the outside, and a stream lazily splashed through the heart of it. In the center of it was the big fresh-kill pile. OakClan had two medicine dens, and four medicine cats. One on the north side of the Clan, and one in the south. The leader's den was nestled in the roots of the biggest tree in the Clan.
There were two apprentice dens, two medicine cat dens, four warrior's dens, and two elder's dens. It's a big Clan.
The only problem is SmokeClan.
SmokeClan is a bloodthirsty Clan of barbarians. They already destroyed LakeClan. They came after OakClan, but OakClan drove them off. Now they've been fighting a war for almost a year.
"Threepaw?" Threepaw was zapped out of his thoughts and realized his mentor was right in front of him. "You ok?"
"Y-yeah, Swiftriver. Just thinking." Threepaw shook his head. Focus, you mouse-brain! "What are we doing today?"
"Hmmmm." Swiftriver thought for a moment. Not tree-climbing. Threepaw thought. Please not. He'll refuse to be my mentor if he finds out that- "We'll do a bit of everything, Threepaw. I slept in, my mistake, so we'll have a day of everything."
"Oh…ok, cool." Threepaw nodded. "What first?"
"Let's do some battle training." Swiftriver lowered his voice. "Between you and me, I'm worried about SmokeClan. We've seen more and more of them near our borders. Best to be ready, eh?"
Threepaw nodded, but inside, his veins turned to ice. If another big battle was coming, if SmokeClan stormed the camp…
…again.
Memories shot through his head. Cats screaming. His mother, hiding him behind her as she fought to protect the nursery. A lifeless body lying just outside…a tear slipped down his face. "Threepaw?" Swiftriver sounded a little frightened. "Are you ok? What's wrong?"
"N-nothing." Threepaw choked out. "It's just…S-SmokeClan."
"Oh." Swiftriver's eyes widened with understanding. "Your mother. I'm sorry, Threepaw. I forgot."
"'s ok." Threepaw mumbled. "Just…bad memories."
Swiftriver murmured something encouraging, and gently led Threepaw out the camp. "Let's not do battle training. Maybe a bit of hunting? Nothing like being out in the forest to take your mind off things." Threepaw perked up.
"Really? Yeah, I'd like to go hunting." They shared a small smile, and then trotted off to into the forest. Once they had gotten far enough away from camp, Swiftriver turned. "All right." He meowed. "Show me the hunter's crouch."
Threepaw crouched, keeping his stomach low to the ground, his tail still, his weight balanced. "Very good!" Swiftriver complemented him. "Pounce on that leaf."
Threepaw nodded, focused on a falling leaf, and jumped. Silently, he flew through the air, his claws unsheathes, and he landed on the leaf, shredding it.
"Not bad, not bad." Swiftriver mused. "See that sparrow up there? I want you to catch it."
Threepaw nodded. "Ok…you mean, the one up in the tree?"
"That's the one."
"You mean, climb the tree?"
"Yeah." Swiftriver cocked his head. "Is that a problem?"
I can't climb trees! Threepaw wanted to yell. Because of my-"No, no problem." Threepaw carefully slunk over to the tree, and unsheathed his claws. He tried to keep his eyes off of his right paw. He hooked his claws into the bark, and began to climb. He could already feel the unbalance in his paws. Halfway up, his right paw slipped out of the bark. With a yelp, he crashed back down. The bird flew away.
"Threepaw!" Swiftriver ran over. "Oh my gosh, Threepaw. What happened?"
"I, uh, I slipped." He muttered. "Sorry."
"There's nothing to be sorry about, it wasn't your fault." Swiftriver meowed reassuringly. "Is your paw ok?"
Threepaw lifted it, and flexed his left claws. No pain. "Yeah, I think I'm-aaahhhhhh!" He tried to stand, and pain flared in his shoulder. "No, I am not ok."
"Ah, dirt." Swiftriver frowned. "Come on, you can lean on me. Let's get you to a medicine cat."
……
"Well, Threepaw, you managed to not break or sprain your shoulder. It's just a bruise. You'll be fine in a day, but I'm keeping you here for now." Threepaw nodded as on of the medicine cats, Thornlight, gave him the report.
"How long will I be here?" Threepaw asked. He wanted to get back to training. Take his mind off everything.
"Oh, too long." Thornlight assured him. "Tonight at the most. If you feel better soon, I'll release you, but don't put too much weight on that shoulder."
"Ok." Threepaw nodded. Thornlight went about her business, rummaging through her herbs. Threepaw thought about asking her about Swiftriver's suspicions, about SmokeClan attacking. He had just opened his mouth to ask her, when the moss drapes rustled, and Crystalpaw poked her head in.
"Can I come visit?" She asked. Thornlight chucked.
"Of course, of course." She went back to sorting herbs. Crystalpaw came over to Threepaw, followed by Pinepaw.
"You good, bro?" He asked. Threepaw smiled. Pinepaw had always had a weird way of talking, like bro and 'sup.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just fell." He subconsciously glanced at his right paw.
"You fell out of a tree?" Pinepaw's mouth twitched, like he was suppressing a smile. "I wish I had been there."
"Pinepaw!" Crystalpaw shot him a look. "He's hurt."
"Yeah, 'cause he fell out of a tree! That's halarious!" Pinepaw laughed. Threepaw smiled.
"He's still in the medicine den! Show some respect!" Crystalpaw told him. "Honestly."
"I'm not joking. It's funny that he fell out of the tree."
"Cats have broken legs falling out of trees!"
Threepaw decided to intervene. "Crystalpaw, relax. I'm fine."
"Yeah! See?" Pinepaw turned to Crystalpaw. "Just proving that I'm right and you are wrong!" He mockingly turned away, and trotted out of the den. Crystalpaw turned back to Threepaw.
"How did you even fall out? Was the bark wet?" She asked.
Threepaw frowned. He had been hoping to avoid that subject.
"Uhh, no-" He started.
"Did something scare you?"
"No, I just-"
"Crystalpaw." Thornlight, who had been quiet, spoke up. "Please do not question my patient." Her tone implied that she knew exactly why Threepaw didn't want to tell.
"Sorry." Crystalpaw mumbled.
"I just sort of…fell." Threepaw meowed. It wasn't a lie, it just wasn't the full truth.
"Oh." Crystalpaw seemed to think that there was more to it, but she didn't press. "I'm just glad you're ok."
"Thanks, Crystalpaw." Threepaw smiled at her, and she returned it. The moment was broken when Pinepaw came back.
"Hey, Threepaw, you want a mouse?" He asked. "Cause I caught one, and the elders already ate."
"Yeah, sure." Threepaw looked at Thornlight. "Can I go? I promise not to put weight on my bad shoulder." Thornlight gave a smile.
"Yes, I think so. Just don't leave the camp." Threepaw thanked her, and padded out with his friends.
"Crystalpaw, can you go and get us a mouse?" Pinepaw asked. "Please?" Crystal nodded, and once she left, Pinepaw turned to Threepaw.
"Your fall." He nodded at Threepaw's right paw. "It was your paw, right?"
Threepaw nodded. "I can't climb with it. Swiftriver told me to catch a bird, and…bam." Pinepaw nodded.
"Just tell your mentor. The Clan isn't gonna exile you." Pinepaw sounded exasperated, like they'd had this conversation before…which they had.
"I'll never be a warrior. What kind of cat can't climb?" Threepaw's spirits sank as he confessed his fears. Pinepaw was one of the the only cats that knew about the problem on his right paw.
"Threepaw, chill out. You're fine. It's just-"
"Hey! Are you two coming or not?" Crystalpaw called from the fresh-kill pile. She had a mouse and a vole in front of her.
"We'll talk later." Pinepaw promised. And they came over to sit by Crystalpaw. Crystalpaw narrowed her eyes, and looked between the two of them.
"What were you talking about?" She asked.
"Um." Threepaw stammered.
"I was asking him if he could re-create the falling out of the tree. I mean, it must have looked funny." Pinepaw lied. Unlike Threepaw, Pinepaw had no trouble lying. And he was good at it.
"Sheesh! Still on that?" Crystalpaw asked. Pinepaw shrugged. They sat down to eat.
"By the way." Pinepaw has a mouth full of mouse, so it sounded more like blah sha hwa. Then he swallowed. "What was going on this morning? I saw you crying."
Threepaw started down at his portion of the mouse. "Swiftriver mentioned that SmokeClan might raid. I guess it just…"
"Brrought back memories." Pinepaw nodded. "I've been there." Threepaw shrugged, silently thinking, no you haven't. Threepaw had grown up never knowing his father. He had met hi once, as a kit, when he said goodbye.
Be strong, my Threepaw. His father had said. I'll be back in two moons. Then he had left. Rapidstar had sent him on a spy mission. Two moons gathering intel. He had been the best spy. But he had never come back from that mission. Then, a moon after he had left, SmokeClan had attacked the camp. The fox-hearts had tried to attack the nursery. His mother had fought bravely. She took two of their warriors with her. She she didn't make it.
And now, if they attacked again…would worse things happen? Would Pinepaw not make it? Would Crystalpaw die?
"Hey, guys." Crystalpaw was staring at the entrance to camp. "Do you remember Blazefur?"
"The cat who was sent on that mission to become a SmokeClan cat and get info?" Pinepaw asked. "Nah, never heard of him."
"Why do you ask?" Threepaw followed her gaze.
"Because he just came back, and it looks like he came from a fight."
Threepaw got to his paws. If Blazefur was back, then something bad must have happened.
Between you and me, I'm worried about SmokeClan. We've seen more and more of them near our borders. Swiftriver's voice came back to him.
Other cats were starting to take notice, too. Rapidstar and the deputy, Braveshine, hurried over.
"Get a medicine cat! Blazefur!" Rapidstar called. "What's happened?"
"I…they…Bloodstar…coming." He panted. "I came as fast as I could. Rapidstar, he's coming. Tonight at moonhigh. They've grown, Rapidstar, there's so many of them. We don't stand a chance. We need to evacuate."
Startled murmurs and terrified yells started up. Threepaw's heart raced. Another battle. He thought. Another one is coming. He started to get dizzy, and shake, unable to control his fears. Pinepaw snapped him out of it by stepping on his tail.
"Ow!" Theeepaw cried. "Sorry, I'm just scared."
"I get it." Crystalpaw pressed against him. "You lost both your parents to SmokeClan."
Threepaw shuddered. "Y-yeah." He breathed. "I don't know if I could handle another raid."
Crystalpaw was about to speak, when Rapidstar called out. "We need all cats to evacuate. SmokeClan is going to attack. I want half the warriors to escort the queens, kits and elders to safety. I don't know where, but we need to get away. Head for the mountains. The other half is going to follow, but lag behind to fight off any SmokeClan raids. Apprentices may do either, but they need permission from their mentors. OakClan, stay safe."
The warriors started to get organized. They split into two, and prepared. The queens and kits were already starting to escape. The elders hurries after them. A few cats climbed trees to scout for enemy's.
Pinepaw turned to Threepaw and Crystalpaw. "What should we do?" He asked.
"Threepaw, I need a word." Threepaw turned, and found himself looking at Snowbrach, and elder who had helped raise him.
"Are you sure, Snowbranch? We don't have much time." Threepaw pointed out. But Snowbranch's eyes were serious.
"Right now. It's urgent. And, um, alone please." She turned, and padded off a good distance. Pinepaw shot him a look like what's this about? Threepaw just shrugged, and followed.
"Snowbranch, what could be-"
"There's a prophecy." Snowbrach told him. "An old one, that not many remember. It didn't seem important, but it's starting to make sense."
Threepaw took a step back. "A-a prophecy? From StarClan? You mean, like a prediction about the future?"
"Wow, you're dense." Snowbranch muttered. "Yes yes yes, a prophecy. You need to know it."
"Why?" Threepaw was really confused now. He was just an apprentice in a big Clan. Why should he know?
"It's about you." Well that shut him up. Threepaw just stood there, open mouthed.
"Uhh, ok." He managed. Snowbrach rolled her eyes.
"It might next the reason SmokeClan is attacking. It goes like this." She closed her eyes.
"Blood fights trees, and south conquers north
The three in the east shall come forth
Finding the place where the sun lifts the stars higher
Killing blood to save blood, on the river of fire."
Chapter Two-Pinepaw[]
Pinepaw frowned as he watched Threepaw follow Snowbranch.
"The heck is that about?" He muttered to Crystalpaw, who shrugged.
"Whatever it is, it's not for us. Don't try to intercept it."
Pinepaw faked being insulted. "How dare you! I would never!"
"You're listening, and trying to read their lips." Crystalpaw raised an eyebrow. "So stop."
Pinepaw grinned. "You know me too well!" Crystalpaw snorted.
"Nah, you're just easy to read." She teased. Pinepaw was about to come back with a snappy remark, when they were interupted.
"Why are you two just standing there like dead mice? Let's go, there's a war to fight." It was a snotty warrior, Blink…something? Blinknose? Blockhead? All were worthy suggestions.
"We're waiting for someone." Crystalpaw raised an eyebrow. "Don't you have better things to do than stand around yelling at apprentices?"
Blockhead…um…Blinknose snorted and ran off. Threepaw came padding back, looking dazed and wobbly.
"Hey man, you ok?" Pinepaw asked. Threepaw's eyes looked into his, but it was like they didn't see him. It was like Threepaw's mind was a million miles away.
"I-uh, y-yeah." Threepaw nodded. Pinepaw glanced at Crystalpaw, like he having a stroke? Crystalpaw shrugged. Pinepaw raised a paw, and bopped Threepaw on the nose. That seemed to wake him up. He shook his head, and his eyes focused again.
"Sorry." He meowed. "Yeah, we gotta go." Together, they helped the rest of the elders out, and then went off with them. OakClan was heading for the mountains away from SmokeClan. If they could get there, they might be safe. The three apprentices quickly asked their mentors for permission to head out, and then followed the big group. They stayed a little ways back, checking over their shoulders for any SmokeClan cats coming, but none did.
The group moved slowly, and in a hushed silence. Thanks to Blazefur, OakClan might get away. After all, they had hours before moonhigh. The sun was only starting to sink below the horizon. Of course, once SmokeClan found out that they were gone, they would start to look. But with any luck, OakClan would be gone by then.
Pinepaw's eyes scoured the shadowy trees behind him. No sign of SmokeClan…yet. Then, a dark shape slipped between two trees. Pinepaw stopped, his claws sliding out. "Hey." He whispered to Threepaw and Crystalpaw. "I saw something."
Crystalpaw's eyes went wide. "SmokeClan? Where?" All three were facing the trees behind them now.
"Over in those trees." Pinepaw whispered back. "Let's go see what it is."
"Ok, I'll take the center. Crystalpaw, you take right flank, and Pinepaw, you take left." Threepaw divided them up. Pinepaw nodded, and dropped to a crouch. He slipped through the forest, carful not to make a sound. When he reached the tree, he peered around. A dark gray cat was crouched there, staring at the big group of OakClan heading to the mountains. This cat was obviously not OakClan.
Pinepaw prepared to pounce. He sat back, and tensed his muscles. His claws slid out, and snapped a twig.
The SmokeClan cat's reflexes were amazing. As soon as the dry snap sounded, he shot forward, his claws extended. They were less than a mouse-length from his face when a brown blur slammed into the attacker's side.
Threepaw smashed the SmokeClan cat to the ground, but the cat just rolled backwards, and threw Threepaw into a tree. Crystalpaw attacked from behind, but the SmokeClan cat just rolled to the side, and slashed at her flank. Rage filled Pinepaw as he saw his friend's blood splattering the ground. He rolled under the attacker, and kicked upwards. The older warrior reared back and lost his balance, falling to the ground. In an instant he was back on his feet.
Pinepaw stared right into the SmokeClan warrior's eyes, and saw something he didn't think existed; hate for a cat he didn't know. This warrior didn't know who Pinepaw was. And he didn't care. He was gonna kill him simply because of who he was born to.
Then it hit him.
We do the same thing to SmokeClan…
SmokeClan didn't care if OakClan were good cats. Just like OakClan didn't care is SmokeClan was. Pinepaw had always been raised to believe that SmokeClan were the bad cats. But we're they? Or were they just following a bad leader?
Pinepaw's hesitation would have cost him his life if Threepaw hadn't been there. As the warrior attacked again, Pinepaw couldn't move. Threepaw managed to knock him away, and Pinepaw rolled to the ground. The blow gave him a wake up call. The thoughts vanished, and he saw the bottom line of the situation he was in: this warrior wanted to kill him. He had to help his friends. So as the warrior attacked, Pinepaw rose up, and fought back.
Together, he and Threepaw fought, driving back the warrior. Crystalpaw launched in from behind, sweeping his legs out from under him. The SmokeClan warrior fell, and Pinepaw jumped on top of him.
"Why are you here?" He snarled. The warrior didn't look the slightest bit scared as he replied.
"I don't know, why am I here?" He smirked.
"He's stalling for time." Threepaw unsheathes his claws, and Pinepaw noticed he still wouldn't unsheathe his right claws. He was still hiding it from Crystalpaw. "Let's convince him."
"That's an empty threat if I've ever heard one." The warrior looked as calm as ever. Pinepaw knew he was right. Threepaw would never torture any cat, no matter how bad. Threepaw growled, and sheathed them again.
"Blazefur was wrong." Crystalpaw's eyes were wide, like she had just realized something horrible. "Bloodstar told SmokeClan he would attack at moonhigh so that the spies would go warn the Clan. Then, once we're separated, he attacks. We don't have our full strength, a camp, nothing."
The SmokeClan cat smiled evilly. "Well, she's a smart one. We could use her in SmokeClan."
Crystalpaw glared him. "When the sun shines in the Dark Forest." She snarled, and turned to Pinepaw and Threepaw. "We have to warn the Clan."
"Bit too late." The warrior spoke up.
"Do me a favor." Pinepaw told him. "And shut up." The warrior fell silent, looking a little impressed by Pinepaw's words. Pinepaw looked around, grabbed a string of thorns, and strung them around the SmokeClan cat's paw. "There. It'll take you half a minute to get out of that, and we can get away. Come on." They turned, and ran off in the direction that OakClan was headed. They caught up relatively fast, and Pinepaw was relived to see that they all looked fine.
"Maybe the warrior was wrong." Threepaw suggested. "Or maybe-"
That's when cats started yowling. SmokeClan plowed into their flank, and OakClan scattered. For a moment, Pinepaw couldn't move. SmokeClan had planned it perfectly. They attacked from everywhere, and OakClan scattered. Warriors, apprentices, elders, and queens went every which way. SmokeClan divided them. Pinepaw just stood there, watching the carnage. Then he came to his senses. He jumped into the battle, but OakClan hardly stood a chance.
The warriors tried to protect the elders and queens, but SmokeClan had divided them well. There was so much confusion, Pinepaw didn't even know who was on who's side. Something hit him in the side, and he rolled the impact off. He whirled towards the attacker, and found himself facing a wispy gray she-cat apprentice.
This time, though, Pinepaw didn't even think about not attacking her. Not after seeing the havoc SmokeClan just released. He howled, and charged her. She dodged to the right, but he anticipated the move. Pinepaw raked his claws down her flank, and she fled into the woods.
Crystalpaw had climbed a tree to escape a warrior, and was now scurrying along a branch. Once it got too thin, she jumped down, and flattened a SmokeClan cat.
Threepaw was having some trouble. He was backing up, slashing at the cat advancing on him, when he tripped. He fell backwards, and his right paw got caught in a thornbush. He growled in pain, and tried to free himself, but couldn't. Pinepaw ran to help, but another warrior knocked him to the ground. Pinepaw rolled into a tree, and slumped to the ground. An OakClan warrior drove the cat away, and Pinepaw saw Threepaw again.
The cat was upon him low, grinning. He unsheathed his claws. Threepaw screamed for help, but no one heard him in the chaos. Pinepaw tried to get up, but he was too late. The cat brought his claws down. Threepaw freed his right paw in the same moment. As the warrior slashed his belly, Threepaw raked the warrior's side with his right paw, leaving three bleeding gashes.
The warrior stumbled away, and stared at the gashes Threepaw had cut. He glanced at Threepaw, then his cuts, then back to Threepaw.
"Get Bloodstar!" The cat yowled. The fighting nearest to him stopped completely. Not that there was much anyway. The group of fleeing OakClan was either dead, wounded, or running away.
"Why?" A SmokeClan cat asked. He had the OakClan deputy, Foxclaw, pinned to the ground. Foxclaw followed the warrior's gaze to the gashes Threepaw had cut.
"Oh StarClan." She whispered. "Oh no. Threepaw, run! Threepaw, get out of here!" But Threepaw was still on the ground, but something dawned in his eyes, something Pinepaw didn't understand.
"Get Bloodstar." The SmokeClan warrior repeated. "And tell him we found the cat of prophecy. We found the 'three in the east.'"
Pinepaw didn't know what was happening, but he knew that if Bloodstar was being called because of Threepaw, then Threepaw was about to be in big trouble.
"Run, Threepaw!" Foxclaw shouted again, but the cat pinning he down pressed his claws to her throat, and she fell quiet. Pinepaw scrambled to his feet, and ran at Threepaw. He knocked the warrior nearest to him to the ground, and Threepaw shot to his feet. The majority of SmokeClan surged forward, trying to stop Threepaw from leaving.
They ran. And suddenly, Crystalpaw was next to them. They sprinted away from the trees, away from the battle. Pinepaw could hear the SmokeClan cats roaring in rage, and the sounds of them running after them. But Pinepaw just kept his eyes straight ahead. One step in front of the other. They ran for a long time, until they heard the pawsteps fading behind them.
And they kept running. All Pinepaw could think about was how Rapidstar had separated OakClan into two groups. They had witnesses what happened to one, but what about the other? Had Rapidstar and all the other warriors been massacred? Had Bloodstar killed them as easily as he had defeated the rest of OakClan?
Did Pinepaw even have a home anymore?
Chapter Three-Crystalpaw[]
Crystalpaw sat alone in the den with Threepaw. A steady rain was falling, but Pinepaw had decided to look for prey anyway. They had found this little cave in the mountainside, and decided to make camp there. The cave branches off into tunnels at the back, but they didn't want to explore. Their home, their friends, their family had just been ripped from them.
Crystalpaw was full of worry, sadness, grief, hate, and longing. SmokeClan…after fighting a Cold War for moons, had decided to attempt the second raid in the history of the Clans.
And they had succeded. Bloodstar, however savage and horrible he was, he was smart. He had separated the Clan, and attacked them while they were apart. Divide and conquer. Split and kill.
Crystalpaw glanced at Threepaw. He was curled up, facing away from her. He had been distant ever since they had come, and Crystalpaw didn't know why. It probably had something to do with the three in the east that SmokeClan had been talking about. But what could be so…this…that he refused to talk about it?
"Threepaw." She started. No response. "Will you please talk? We're the last hope OakClan has. We need to know everything. No secrets. Please tell me."
Threepaw sighed, and sat up. "There's a lot to think about, and not all of it is good. Not all of it is something I want to share."
"I get that, but is it something that could help OakClan?" Crystalpaw was getting close to that touchy subject. The one Threepaw always avoided. Something about his name, and his paw, and something. Threepaw just shrugged.
"I don't know." He mumbled. "I'll think about it." He lay back down.
Crystalpaw frowned. "Stop running away." It came out a little harsher than expected. Threepaw uncurled, and raised his eyebrows.
"What?" He asked.
"You're running from your past, and I know it." Crystalpaw didn't really know where she was going with this, but she had wanted to say it for a long time. "I know you have some secret, and Pinepaw knows. It's about your right paw, isn't it? And Snowbranch, what did she say? Stop shrouding us all in mystery. I want to help you, Threepaw, but you're not letting me."
Crystalpaw sat there in silence. Threepaw seemed at a loss for words. Then his expression got softer, and he smiled. "I'm so sorry, Crystalpaw. I just…" he frowned, and unsheathed his right paw. Crystalpaw gasped. On his right paw, he had only three claws.
Right in the middle, where his two most prominent claws should have been, there was only empty fur.
"That's why you're named Threepaw." Crystalpaw realized. Threepaw nodded.
"My mom named me that as soon as she saw. Pinepaw knows, but I've never told anyone else. A couple of the older queens know, too, because they helped raise me as a kit. That's why Snowbranch knows."
"Why did you never tell me? Or your mentor? Why did you hide it?" Crystalpaw scooted closer to him. "Why did you hide it from me?"
Pinepaw chose that moment to come back. He froze in the entrance to the cave, glancing at Threepaw, then his unsheathed claws, then Crystalpaw, and then back to Threepaw. "Oh." His eyes were wide. "Oh shoot, did I choose the wrong time to come back, or what?"
Threepaw snorted. "Nah, it's cool, Pinepaw."
"You mean I walk in on you telling someone your lifelong secret, and it's cool?" He grinned, and sat down. "So, Crystalpaw. Welcome to the club."
"I still can't believe he hid this like it was some huge secret." Crystalpaw shook her head. "It's not that bad, Threepaw."
"Right?" Pinepaw agreed.
"You don't get it? I can't climb trees. I can't climb anything, for that matter. My lack of claws unbalances me. And without my two front claws, it's harder to fight. Two less chances for me to hit. I'd never be a warrior if Swiftriver found out. Or Rapidstar."
"Well, Bloodstar knows now. And if Bloodstar is interested in something, that's never good." Crystalpaw looked right into Threepaw's eyes. "So what was that about? I know you know, Threepaw. Don't lie to me." Threepaw looked down at his paws.
"Well…um, I, uh…there was…um." Threepaw seemed at a loss for words. Pinepaw thumped him on the head.
"Come on, out with it. Does it have something do do with Snowbranch talking to you?"
"Um…yes."
"Well there we go!" Pinepaw pretended to be amazed. "You shared something with us!"
Threepaw smiled. "Aw, come on. I share so much with you." He nudged Pinepaw, and his face turned dark again. "She told me a really old prophecy."
"You mean like when StarClan tells medicine cats something and it's really vague?" Pinepaw asked.
"Shut up, Pinepaw." Crystalpaw told him. "This is serious."
"But yes." Threepaw nodded. "Yeah, like that."
"Well, how'd it go?" Crystalpaw could see Threepaw's unease, but she kept going. "We need to know. It could save the Clan."
Threepaw nodded. "Ok. It went like this;
Blood fights trees, and south conquers north
The three in the east shall come forth
Finding the place where the sun lifts the stars higher
Killing blood to save blood, on the river of fire."
For a moment, there was silence. "Well." Pinepaw meowed. "That metions blood a lot."
"Yeah, I don't like that." Threepaw agreed. Crystalpaw's mind was racing. What had the SmokeClan cats mentioned? That they had found the three in the east. "But apparently it's about me."
"If you were facing north." Crystalpaw knew she was on to something, she just didn't know what. The other two looked at her. "South would be behind you. West would be to the left, and east would be…" her eyes fell on Threepaw's right paw. "…to the right."
Threwpaw's eyes went wide as he came to the same conclusion. "The three in the east shall come forth…you mean, that might mean me? My claws, I mean?"
Pinepaw frowned. "But what about the other lines? Blood fighting trees, and killing blood to save blood? Isn't blood…you know, not alive? How can you kill it, and how can it fight?"
Unfortunately, Crystalpaw had a suspicion about that. "Well, blood fighting trees is obvious. That means Bloodstar, right? He's fighting OakClan, and that's oak. A type of tree."
"Ok, sure." Pinepaw nodded. "And, um, what's all this about finding the place where the sun is higher? Or lifting stars higher? And a river of fire?"
"We can't obsess over it." Threepaw sheathed his paw again. "It'll come true eventually. But constantly thinking about it will only lead to more confusion. I say we don't think about it."
Pinepaw grinned. "Not thinking about stuff is what I do best!"
Threepaw smiled, and Crystalpaw let herself smile too. But inside, her mind was still thinking about the other lines. The sun lifting the stars higher…no idea what that meant. Killing blood…maybe killing Bloodstar? That would be good…right? But the next line, to save blood. Did that mean that they were killing Bloodstar to save their own flesh and blood? Or were they killing something else to save Bloodstar?
Or did Bloodstar not have any connection to the lines at all? There were so many questions swimming around, and most of them were bad. But Crystalpaw didn't have the slightest idea what they meant. But Threepaw was right. They should just not think about it. At least…not now. Not yet. Not until they made more sense.
If they ever did. A part of Crystalpaw had her doubts. SmokeClan was looking for them. OakClan couldn't help. They were just three apprentices, in a cave, alone, without any help, facing a prophecy that made no sense. Part of her wanted to just accept that they were doomed. But the other part knew better. We can do this. She thought. We can beat SmokeClan.
Threepaw and Pinepaw were already eating what little prey Pinepaw had managed to find. Crystalpaw put on a half-fake smile, and joined them.
"You guys get some sleep." She told them when they were done. "I'll take the first watch."
"Why do we need a guard?" Pinepaw asked, but he was already curling up.
"The whole of SmokeClan is hunting for us, we don't know where we are, and there are dark tunnels in the back of this cave." Crystalpaw pointed out. "I say we have a guard."
"Cool." Threepaw lay down too. "Wake me up at moonhigh, and I'll take the next watch."
Crystalpaw nodded. Being alone, while her friends slept, would give her time to think. It had been a crazy day, and she needed some time to herself. Soon, her friends' breathing softened as they fell asleep. Crystalpaw gazed out into the rain. She could just barley make out the dim glow of the moon. The stars weren't visible through the sheets of rain.
And she let loose the memory that she had been trying not to think about.
She thought back to a memory when she was just a kit. Her mother, Blueblossom, had taken her to a tall hill in the forest, and showed her the rising sun.
Look at it, Crystalkit. Her mother had told her. Stars only shine at night because the sun shines in the morning. Crystalkit had wondered what was so special about a sunrise. She had whined, and asked to go back to camp. Her mother had smiled, but there was something behind it. Crystalkit hadn't know what. But now that Crystalpaw recalled it, it seemed almost…regretful. Like her mother knew that her kit's days were numbered.
But now, Crystalpaw thought that maybe her mother knew the prophecy, and knew that Crystalpaw would be in this situation right here. Had her mother been trying to tell her something? Her mom had never brought it up again, never taken her to see the sunrise. But now her words came back.
Stars only shine at night because the sun shines in the morning. That sounded an awful lot like the prophecy.
To find the place where the sun lifts the stars higher.
The stars only shine at night because the sun shines in the morning.
Isn't that the sun lifting the stars?
Crystalpaw's mind clicked it into place. The sunrise. The sun lifting stars higher. She wheeled around, and ran to where Threepaw and Pinepaw were sleeping. She was about to wake them, when two things stopped her;
First, she had a small doubt. What if she was wrong? This could be a big goose chase. She couldn't lead her friends into that.
Two, a howl echoed through the woods outside. Crystalpaw wheeled around. There was nothing but darkness ahead. Slowly, she crept forward. Another howl sounded. It was close. Crystalpaw shakily backed up. Then she heard pawsteps running. Too loud for a cat. A small growl from the darkness sent her stumbling back.
Through the rain, Crystalpaw could see something-no, several somethings. They were standing just outside the cave. Crystalpaw backed up further, and tapped Threepaw.
"Wake up!" She hissed. "We have company."
Threepaw's eyes slowly opened. "What?" He mumbled. "Is it my turn for watch?"
"No!" She whispered. Her panic was overwhelming her. Something out there, dogs? Foxes? Something was obviously about to come in. "Wake up, we have to run. Something's out there."
Threepaw looked toward the mouth of the cave, and his eyes snapped open. "W-what are those?"
"I don't know. Wake up Pinepaw. We can-" her words her cut short as the creatures stepped in. They looked like dogs, but…not. They looked bigger, stronger, and their faces were that of hunter's. Their muzzles were longer. Their teeth were sharper.
There were five of them. The first one was pure white. It glared at them, as if assessing a threat, or maybe prey. Three others were light gray, and the last one was a darker gray.
The lead one of them growled softly. The animals spread out on either side of the leader, all of them watching the cats. Pinepaw was awake now.
"What…are those?" He whispered.
"I don't know, but not good." Threepaw whispered back. "On three, we turn and run." Crystalpaw nodded.
"One." Threepaw counted. "Two."
"Three." They turned as fast as they could, and the animals shot forward. Crystalpaw rolled today one side to avoid their jaws, and she escaped into the tunnels at the back of the cave. The animals howled, and followed.
Crystalpaw braced herself, and ran forward, into the dark.
Chapter Four-Threepaw[]
It wasn't every day that you fell asleep after showing your friends your biggest secret and telling them a prophecy, and then waking up to a bunch of animals tree to maul you.
Threepaw jumped sideways as the first animal lunged. But a second one brought a paw around, and caught him in the stomach. Threepaw slammed into the side of the cave. The breath was driven out of him. He slid to the ground. Pinepaw grabbed his scruff, and dragged him to his feet.
"No time to lay down!" He yelled. "We gotta go!" He nodded to the back of the cave, where Crystalpaw was already running. Threepaw scrambled afternoon her. The five dog-like things bolted after them. Threepaw followed Crystalpaw into the darkness of the tunnels. The space was just wide enough for the animals. Threepaw's ears were alert, trying to detect anything that might help his not hit a wall.
It didn't work. He slammed nose first into a wall of stone, and tumbled backwards.
"This way!" He heard Crystalpaw's voice over to the right.
"How am I supposed to see?" Pinepaw yelled. "Stupid tunnel!" The following thump probably meant that he had run into a wall. On the bright side, the other animals were having trouble, too. Threepaw took it slower, and the tunnel turned, and split, and doubled back. Threepaw just tried to keep Crystalpaw's pawsteps in front of him, and Pinepaw's behind him.
Eventually, the tunnel narrowed, and the celing dropped. The cats could get through the narrower tunnel, but the other animals couldn't. Threepaw heard something ahead. A flowing sound, splashing and swishing. The sound echoed around more ahead.
Threepaw read the signs a bit too slow. Before he could yell stop!, the floor dropped out beneath him. He heard Crystalpaw scream as she fell, too. Threepaw turned in midair, and hit the first rock with his feet. He tried to balance, but he pitched sideways, and fell down the rest of the jagged rock wall.
He rolled to a stop at the bottom of a huge subterranean cave. A swift river flowed through the middle of it.
"OH FOX DUNG!" Pinepaw shouted. "THAT HURT!" Threepaw agreed. He could feel his various cuts and slashes bleeding, but they had to do something. He managed to get to his paws. Pinepaw was lying close by, but Crystalpaw was nowhere to be seen.
"Crystalpaw?" Threepaw's voice came out as a hoarse groan. "Crystalpaw?" He asked again louder.
Silence followed. Pinepaw yelled more curses. "Am I dead yet?" He asked. "And are all my limbs still attached?"
"Pinepaw, where's Crystalpaw?" Threepaw asked, urgency creeping into his meow.
"Heck if I know! I just fell down a rock hill!" He groaned.
Threepaw looked around, and for the first time, he took in his surroundings. He was in a cavern, tall enough for a tree to fit upright, and wide enough for a tree sideways. A river flowed through the middle, and Threepaw realized he could see.
Around the roof of the cavern, clusters of crystals and gems glowed with a small, white light like moonlight. Stalagmites and stalactites filled the cavern, with various rock jumbles all around. They had come in through a hole in the wall, about two fox-lengths up, with a tower of rocks leading down, or rather, a place to fall down painfully.
Threepaw heard a slight groan from behind a rock. He jumped over, and gasped. Crystalpaw lay there, and she was bleeding from a rock shard sliced into her side.
"Oh no. Oh, no no no." He fretted. "PINEPAW! I need help! Crystalpaw's hurt."
"We're all hurt!" He grumbled, but he came over. "OH STARCLAN!" He yelled. "THAT'S BAD!"
"Ya think?" Threepaw asked. "All right, we gotta get that out, and stop the bleeding." He thought about all the times he had been in the medicine den. They had used cobwebs, but there were none down here.
"We could use that pool." Pinepaw suggested. "Put her in there to help calm the bleeding."
Threepaw nodded. In one part of the cavern, the water spiked away, and formed a small pool. Threepaw felt it. It was freezing. "Ok." He decided. "Let's do this."
Together, they grabbed Crystalpaw and carried her over to the pool. They nodded to each other, and set her down in it. Her body flinched, but she disn't regain consciousness. "Ok." Threepaw tried to stay calm. Do this for Crystalpaw. He thought. "Ready?"
"Ready." Pinepaw agreed. Threepaw took a breath, hooked his claws into the rock shard, and in one swift movement, he pulled it out. Crystalpaw cried out, but then fell silent. Threepaw felt her chest. She was still breathing. The water in the pool was turning red, but Crystalpaw's blood was slowing, the cold water doing it's job. They waited. It felt like several moons to Threepaw.
Finnaly, the flow of blood stopped. Crystalpaw's breathing was shallow, but steady. Pinepaw sat back on his paws. "Should we take her out?" He asked.
Threepaw nodded. They lightly dragged her out of the small pool. Her scratches looked better, but her bad one was still dangerous. It could open up again very easily. They laid her down in a spot about a tail-length away from the pool. Threepaw exhaled for the first time since they had gotten the shard out.
"Th-Threepaw? A light whisper made him turn. Crystalpaw's eyes were open, just a little. "Am…I alive? Did we…did we make it?"
Threepaw purred in relief. "Yeah, we made it. Y-you've got a bad wound, though. We had to, um, pull out a rock." Crystalpaw's eyes closed again. Then she spoke.
"Thanks, guys. You saved my life."
"And you saved ours back in the cave." Pinepaw reminded her. "All right, get some sleep. You need it."
Crystalpaw gave a slight smile, and then her head laid back down. Her breathing evened out, and she fell asleep. Threepaw sat there for a few minutes, trying to control his own breathing. Then he turned to Pinepaw.
"What a night, huh?" He gave a small laugh. Pinepaw smiled, too.
"Yeah. We got chased out of the forest, and then chased out of a cave. What's next?" Threepaw could see that a Pinepaw was trying to stay upbeat, was something was bothering him.
“Hey.” He stared into his best friend’s eyes. “What’s wrong?”
Pinepaw dropped his gaze. “It’s nothing.” He mumbled. “Nothing to worry about.”
Threepaw raised an eyebrow. “Seeing as we might be the last of OakClan, everything is worth worrying about.” He pointed out. Pinepaw seemed to be struggling with whether to tell or not. Finally, he gave in.
“I don’t think the prophecy was finished.” He lifted his gaze again. “The part Snowbranch told you. I think there’s more.”
Threepaw tilted his head. “What do you mean?” He asked.
“It’s just…a couple moons ago, I kinda eavesdropped on Rapidstar.” He admitted. “Right before he sent out a spy. He said, ‘remember the prophecy. They will strike then. They know they can win.’ But…” Pinepaw shrugged. “There’s nothing like that in the prophecy we heard.”
Threepaw nodded. What did that mean? They know they can win? Did SmokeClan attack because…because OakClan was foretold to lose? Was there nothing they could have done? Was OakClan going to lose no matter what?
Had StarClan prophesied the fall of OakClan?
Had StarClan turned against them?
Pinepaw must have read his expression. “Hey, I didn’t mean that. I don’t think that StarClan would tell SmokeClan how to kill us. We’re the good guys, right?
Threepaw nodded, but he still had his doubts. From what Pinepaw had said, it sounded like Rapidstar knew that Bloodstar knew when he could win no matter what. Then why did he send out a spy in the first place? Did Rapidstar know that SmokeClan would attack?
“So…did Rapidstar know that OakClan would die?” Threepaw asked. Pinepaw frowned.
“Nah, I don’t think so.” Pinepaw shook his head. “Rapidstar’s a good leader.”
Threepaw frowned. “Yeah sure, but…still.”
They sat in silence for a while. Threepaw’s mind wondered. He thought about the strange dog-like things they had escaped from, the prophecy Snowbranch had told him, the stuff Pinepaw had told him. He remembered the look in that SmokeClan cat’s eyes as he had realized who he had pinned to the ground. He remembered them screaming get Bloodstar! We found him!
Why do I have to be the cat here? He thought. I’m just an apprentice.
“Hey, why’d you never tell Crystalpaw about your claws?” Pinepaw asked. It was such a change in subject, Threepaw took a moment to answer.
“Oh…um, I dunno. I just got scared, I guess.“ Threepaw shrugged. Pinepaw looked like he was suppressing a smile.
“Scared of what? I never-you know-rejected you for it. Some cats are born blind. Some deaf. Some are missing a couple claws. Heck, some cats lose a couple claws in their life.” Pinepaw leaded forward. “Were you scared of her not liking you for it?” Pinepaw was openly grinning now.
Threepaw felt himself blush. “No!” He turned away from Pinepaw, who was laughing. “No, nothing like that.”
“Could’ve fooled me.” He meowed. Threepaw snorted. “Nah, I’m just yanking your tail. You like who like, right? Don’t matter to me if you start to grow a bit more than friends.” He leaned his head forward, smirking, and nudged Threepaw. Threepaw felt very uncomfortable now, and he knew that Pinepaw felt perfectly fine like this.
“Can we change the subject?” He asked. Pinepaw laughed again.
“I’m telling Crystalpaw you like her.” He glanced at Crystalpaw’s sleeping form. “When she wakes up.”
The problem was, Threepaw couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. “Please don’t.” He meowed.
“Oh, relax you great fur ball.” Pinepaw laid down next to the river. “I’m not that mean.” Threepaw sat down next to Pinepaw, and dipped his paw in the river. The cold current washed around pad. The river wasn’t super deep, but Threepaw couldn’t reach the bottom with just one paw. He unsheathed his claws, and let them slide through the water.
“So…what do we do next?” Threepaw asked as he watched the water current swish around his paw. “We’re trapped in a cave, Crystalpaw is hurt, and we have no idea what to do. Where do we go?” He didn’t know if he was asking Pinepaw or himself, but he had to ask.
“Heck if I know.” Pinepaw shrugged. “I guess…to the place where the ‘sun lifts the stars higher’? Where would that be?”
“Dunno.” Threepaw thought about that. “The east or west, maybe? The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.”
“Hm.” Pinepaw nodded agreeingly. “What about the other lines? The blood fighting trees, and south conquering north? Blood probably means Bloodstar…and we were in the north of the forest. They conquered us.”
“I guess.” Threepaw shrugged. “Maybe we should discuss it with Crystalpaw.”
“Yeah, I suppose.” Pinepaw stood up. “I’ll take first watch.”
“No, you get some sleep.” Threepaw ushered. “I got this.”
“Don’t have to tell me twice.” Pinepaw curled up, and was asleep in minutes. Threepaw turned back to the river.
“Why did you make a prophecy? Why now? Why me?” He asked the river. The river did not reply. Threepaw sighed. There was no way that they could save OakClan. They would need a miracle…
And then Threepaw realized that a pair of eyes was staring at him from the other side of the cave.
Chapter Five-Pinepaw[]
Pinepaw dreamed that he was back home at OakClan. Before SmokeClan had raided. The camp was perfect again. But something was wrong. It was deserted. No kits tumbled around, causing mischief. No elders sat lazily in the sun. No warriors were returning from patrol, or training apprentices. The camp was eerily quiet.
“It almost looked worse, doesn’t it?” A voice came from behind Pinepaw. He whirled around, and saw a cat sitting in the entrance to the leader’s den. But this cat wasn’t Rapidstar. Instead of a slick gray pelt, this strange cat’s pelt was…Pinepaw couldn’t tell. It was like he could see the color, but it was just out of reach. Like it kept shifting, but unnoticeably. Pinepaw backed away, and looked into the cat’s eyes.
Pinepaw flinched away. His eyes were impossible to describe. It’s like…close your eyes, and what color do you see? Black, right? But not really. It’s not fully black when you close your eyes. Staring into this cat’s eyes was like that. Black, but not really black.
“It almost looks worse.” The cat went on. “Deserted. Maybe some things really do look better destroyed.”
“Who the heck are you, and am I dreaming?” Pinepaw demanded. The cat turned toward him, like he was noticing him for the first time.
“Well, I would hope so. Standing there, awake, and doing nothing would look awfully strange.”
Pinepaw blinked. “What?” He asked.
“Oh, no matter. Yes, you’re asleep. I have a message for you.”
Pinepaw’s eyes widened. “Are you from StarClan?”
The cat cocked his head. “StarClan?” He asked.
“You know.” Pinepaw wondered how this cat could have never heard of StarClan before. “The spirits of our ancestors, watching us from the stars. Eternally hunting, and at peace.”
The strange cat raised his eyebrows. “My dear young cat.” He meowed. “A star is nothing but a giant ball of hydrogen fusing into helium.”
Now Pinepaw was sure this cat was crazy. “I have no idea what half those words mean.” He frowned. “Who are you, and why are you in my dream?”
“My name’s Gradient.” He meowed flatly.
Pinepaw’s head hurt now. “Gradient? I don’t even know what that is! Great StarClan, what is going on?”
“I told you. I have a message. It’s about that prophecy you keep worrying about.”
Pinepaw was intrigued now. “How do you know about the prophecy?”
“Maybe because I founded SmokeClan.“ Gradient’s eyes narrowed, as if daring Pinepaw to question this. “I was a kittypet until I ran away and founded SmokeClan. I know a few things that happen in my Clan.”
“O…k.” Pinepaw’s was pretty sure that his brain had collapsed. “I just won’t question anything you say anymore.”
“What a change in pace. Look, your friend with the three claws-“
“Threepaw?” Pinepaw asked. Why was Grad…e…ant…whatever his name was, why was he mentioning Threepaw?
“Yes, him. He’s getting attacked by the Cavecats right now, so we don’t have much time.”
“Wait, what? Threepaw’s getting attacked?” Pinepaw wasn’t sure if this cat was joking or not.
“Yes, yes. Anyway, you were right. The prophecy wasn’t finished. Snowbranch only heard part of it, the last part. There in another part to it. Some medicine cats, actually two, know the whole thing. They told their leaders. I only know one line. I believe the cats who are currently beating up your friend know another line. The other two…I do not know. Try the east. Where the sun lifts the stars higher. You may find something.”
Pinepaw’s heart was racing. Suddenly, the world dipped out of focus for a second. He could hear someone screaming his name. Then his dream came back to a rough focus. “What’s the line you know?” He demanded. “I’m waking up.”
“Four moons of war, a strike under the moon and stars.”
Pinepaw waited, but Greed…and…it…whatever his name was didn’t say anything else. “That’s it?”
“I only know that one line.” Great…in…fit…nope, not that either. The world dipped out of focus, and Pinepaw heard the sounds of cats screeching for a second. The dream came back, but blurred. Gradient-oh, that was it-said something, but Pinepaw didn’t catch it. Then the dream faded, and Pinepaw woke up fully.
To say there was chaos would be saying the least. There were at least eight cats, including Pinepaw and his friends. The five intruders were all dark gray, and blended in with the rocks with surprising efficiency. Three of them were attacking Threepaw, and the other two had Pinepaw pinned to the ground.
“Hey!” He yelled. “Who the heck are you cats?” He tried to jerk away, but the cats held him fast. Then Pinepaw realized something weird; the cavern was silent except for Threepaw and Pinepaw’s yowls. These cats attacked wordlessly. Pinepaw saw them flicking their tails, and their ears, signaling to each other. They fight with signs instead of words. Pinepaw realized. That’s pretty efficient.
While he was admiring the fighting techniques, he forgot that those techniques were currently being used on him. Pinepaw returned his attention to escaping.
He brought his feet up, and kicked them around, spinning on his back. The cat’s grips loosened, and he shoved them away, facing them down. They circled him silently, and they both lunged.
They fought in a way that Pinepaw had never seen before. Instead of slashing with their claws, or trying to bite, they used weight and clever tricks to unbalance their opponent. Once they were in the ground, you’ve won. One of the cats bared his fangs, and Pinepaw got ready to defend. Too late he realized it was only a trick.
The cat hooked a back leg around Pinepaw’s, and pulled the leg out from underneath him. Pinepaw wobbled, and the other cat plowed into his side, sending him sprawling. Pinepaw tried to scramble back to his feet, but the cats pinned his feet down. One of them unsheathed his claws for the first time in the fight. He pressed them against Pinepaw’s neck, and waited.
Pinepaw realized that they were waiting for Threepaw to be subdued. Even as Pinepaw watched, Threepaw was losing badly. A cat behind him flicked his tail in a pattern that made no sense to Pinepaw. It must have made sense to the other two, though. They both lunged to the right, and when Threepaw turned to defend, the last cat hit him in the back.
Threepaw tumbled to the ground. The three cats swarmed him, pinning his legs to the ground. They communicated with each other for a minute or two in that series of flicks and signs that Pinepaw couldn’t figure out. Then they stepped off Threepaw, allowing him to scramble to his paws. One of the cats rested a tail tip of Threepaw’s shoulder, and Pinepaw didn’t need to understand their language to know what it meant.
No sudden moves. The cats pinning Pinepaw stepped off as well, and the cat with claws at his throat sheathed them. Pinepaw warily got to his feet. The cat on his right gave him a look that told him to stay in line, or the next attack might be a bit more vicious. Pinepaw kept his claws in, and followed the cats.
They led him across the river over some stepping stones. Pinepaw didn’t see anywhere for them to go from here. There were no tunnels, no exits or caves or anything. Then one of the cave cats pulled aside a sheet of gray plants that were hanging down, blending perfectly with the stone next to it. The cat beckoned Pinepaw and Threepaw in. Pinepaw glanced back at Crystalpaw’s limp form still lying beside the pool.
“What about her?” Pinepaw asked. One of the cats turned to him, and followed his gaze to Crystalpaw. He shrugged, and kept going. “Hey!” Pinepaw yelled. “You can’t leave her!” The cat to his right slapped a paw over Pinepaw’s mouth. Everything was still for a second as the cave cats listened for...something. Pinepaw couldn’t hear anything but the flow of the river. The cat let his paw down from Pinepaw’s face. Pinepaw hissed quietly at him.
They herded Pinepaw and Threepaw into the tunnel. Pinepaw couldn’t see anything, but the cats leading him apparently knew their way around. They navigated through the tunnels with ease, never stopping to readjust their course or double back. Pinepaw followed in complete scilence.
After a few more turns, the tunnel opened up into a vast cavern with a stream running through it. Cats were sprawled around it, lazing about, returning from or venturing into tunnels that led off in all directions. But what surprised Pinepaw the most was that they were talking.
The cats in this cavern were mewing to each other just like any other cat would be. Pinepaw looked around the cave. There was a faint light shining in through a small hole in the top, basking the cavern in a soft glow. There was a massive boulder in the middle, and tunnels leading out of the cavern on all sides.
“You can talk here.” One of the cats that had fought Pinepaw told him.
“Why couldn’t I before?” Pinepaw asked.
“It was unsafe to.” The cat answered simply. “You are safe here. Well…from wolves. We’ll see what the Stonemaster thinks.”
What the StarClan is a wolf? Pinepaw wondered. Or a Stonemaster.
“So…where are we?” Threepaw asked. “You are you all?”
“We are Cavecats.” The cat said. “The cats of the mountain tunnels.”
“I’ve never heard of you before.” Threepaw mused.
“Rather unfortunately, we’ve heard of you clans.” The cat meowed the word like he was saying crow-food. “Stealing prey, attacking our cats, sending foxes and badgers our way. So maybe it’s better that you don’t know we’re here.”
Pinepaw cocked his head. “We attack your cats?” He asked.
“Any time we accidentally step foot near the forest.” The cat nodded. “Yes.”
“Well, you are trespassing.” Pinepaw pointed out.
“Whoever said that forest was yours?” The cat asked. Pinepaw opened his mouth, but couldn’t form a reply. “Exactly.” The cat shook his head. “You Clan cats always think you own the world just because of your precious warrior code. What did we ever do to you to make you attack us? What makes you think you have all claim to that forest?”
“Stop harassing the poor younglings, Marble.” A she-cat came up behind the cat who was apparently Marble. “Just because you kicked their tails doesn’t mean you can be rude.”
“Hey, you didn’t beat our tails!” Pinepaw protested. Marble looked at him. “Ok, you did.” Pinepaw agreed. Marble turned to the she-cat who had come up to them.
“This is Lapis Lazuli.” Marble introduced.
“Call me Lapis.” Lapis smiled at them. “Come on, get yourselves comfortable before the Stonemaster comes back and decides what to do with you.”
“Will he decide to kill us?” Threepaw asked. “I mean…could he?”
“Could she.” Lapis corrected. “And probably no we won’t kill you, but if we decide that you are spies, or enemies, then…things might not go well for you.”
“We’re not spies!” Threepaw exclaimed. “We were forced out of our Clan, and-“
“Save it for the Stonemaster, because I honestly don’t care about your story.” Marble meowed. “Come on, we’ll give you the tour.” He turned around, and began to trot off into the cavern. Pinepaw glanced at Threepaw.
“Well…thoughts?” He asked. Threepaw’s eyes were wide, and he just shrugged.
“This may be the weirdest thing that had ever happened to me.” He meowed.
Pinepaw grinned. “Then you haven’t lived right.” He laughed at his own joke, but it died in the seriousness of the look that Threepaw was giving him.
“What about Crystalpaw?” He asked. “They just left her in that cavern! We have to get them to go back!”
“I mean…” Pinepaw shrugged. “We’re basically prisoners right now.”
Whatever Threepaw was about to say was interrupted by Marble. “You coming? I won’t wait all day.”
Pinepaw and THreepaw shared a shrug, and followed Marble off into the cavern. Lapis fell in beside them. “I suppose you’re wondering who we are.”
Pinepaw nodded eagerly, but Marble gave Lapis a subtle look. They seemed to have a quick conversation in their own language of signs, consisting of lot of ear, eye, and tail movements.
Finally, Lapis sighed. “Marble still thinks that you shouldn’t be trusted.”
”Do you think they should be?” Marble asked.
”I’ll reserve judgement.” Lapis replied. “Besides, they already know where we are. why not just fill in the blanks for them?”
”If you insist.” Marble turned away, and continued walking through the cavern. Lapis turned to Pinepaw and Threepaw, eyes bright.
”I’ll give you five minutes to ask me as many questions as you want.” She said. A thousand questions fought to be asked first in Pinepaw’s brain, and he ended up saying, ‘who-what-how-huh?’
Lapis giggled. “To answer that, we’re the Cavecats, like we already said. We live in the mountain, and prey on whatever we an find down here, or near the mountain if we have to.”
Pine nodded. “And what are wolves?”
Lapis shivered. “Ugh. Wolves. Those are what attacked you up in that cave. They’re like dogs, only bigger, stronger, and meaner. And they travel in packs. They live all over these mountains.”
”If they live all over, why did you just leave Crystalpaw lying half dead in that cave?” Threepaw’s voice had undisguised disgust in his voice. Pinepaw was taken aback. He knew that his friends were close, but Threepaw seemed to loathe these cats, and that was very unlike Threepaw.
Lapis lowered her eyes to the ground, obviously ashamed. “I know, it’s cruel. I don’t agree with it either, but-“
Marble interrupted. “She smells very strongly of blood. And if there’s one thing that wolves can trace, it’s blood. We couldn’t risk the wolves finding our cavern. They would massacre us all.”
”So you left her for the wolves. You left her to die.” Threepaw practically screamed the last few words. Marble barely even blinked.
”You do no better for our cats when we come onto your land.” He hissed. “Your Clans killed my father. I have no sympathy for you.”
”Marble!” Even Lapis was taken aback by Marble’s words. Other cats had started to gather around them now. Pinepaw took a step toward Threepaw, and rested his tail on his friend’s shoulders.
”You murderer.” Threepaw hissed.
”Hey.” Pinepaw stared wide-eyed at Threepaw. There was a rage in his friend’s eyes he had never seen before.
”You’ve as good as killed her.” Threepaw spat at Marble. He took a threatening step forward. Pinepaw stepped in front of him.
“Threepaw, chill. Crystalpaw’s resourceful cat. She’ll live.” Pinepaw tried to sound confident, but he knew the chances for Crystalpaw weren’t great. But he also knew that attacking these cats in their own home was basically asking for death.