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talonslockau · 1 year ago

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Fire and Ice - Chapter 40

Chapter 39 || Index || Chapter 41

Firepaw's spine tingled as he followed his leader into the darkness. He couldn't see anything; any light had faded quickly as they went further into the ground. He could feel Graypaw's whiskers on his tail, and the cold stone beneath his paws, but beside that he felt blind.

Still, he trusted in the silver queen leading them deeper into the tunnel. She strode confidently, seemingly unbothered by the pressing shadows around them. It was cold down here, colder than any of the nights so far in the forest. These tunnels, he realized, had never known the warmth of the sun. He bushed his fur, trying to keep warm as they continued forward.

The tunnel wound this way and that, and he was grateful Bluestar had taken the lead. He had no idea how he would have found his way alone down here. As they went on and on, a small flicker of fear lit in his heart. Were they going the right way? How far had they come? What if they were trapped down here-

It was then that he caught a familiar scent; that of heather and prey. He realized the tunnels were beginning to light again; there was another entrance nearby. Just as he was about to ask the molly in front of him, the tunnel opened up.

In front of them was a small cavern, no bigger than the healer's den back at camp. The tall walls were smooth, worn by wind and rain. Above them was a round hole in the ceiling; the entrance he had smelled, he realized. Now he understood why they had entered via Highstones; trying to use this entrance was quite a fall, and even if it was survivable it wasn't likely to be pleasant.

In the center of the cavern was a large lump, one he couldn't make out very well in the low light. It was bigger than Tigerclaw; two Tigerclaws, even, standing atop one another. He watched as Bluestar circled it to the other side quietly, and he did the same, allowing Graypaw to get out from the tunnel behind him.

There was silence as they all stood there, before Bluestar laid prostrate, facing the lump in the middle. The Moonstone, he realized, and he quickly did the same. The stone floor below him was chilly, and his fur prickled as he waited anxiously.

The cavern lit up in a brilliant flash, and Firepaw had to shield his eyes against it. Then, slowly, he opened them.

The Moonstone was radiant now, glittering and flashing like a spider web covered in dewdrops. White light washed over the walls of the cavern, bathing it in a cold glow and illuminating everything around it. Even the air was shimmering, like sunlight shining through mist. Bluestar shone even brighter than the first night he had met her, dazzling like the stars above, and Graypaw's dark fur was like silver in the captivating light.

He looked down at his own paws to see his orange fur looked almost golden like Lionheart’s. This, he imagined, must be what he would look like if he were standing on the surface of the moon, or walking the Startrail like the many warriors that had come before him. It was breathtakingly beautiful, and he understood now what Bluestar had meant when she wished she could experience the Moonstone again for the first time.

He blinked as he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye, and saw Bluestar reaching forward to touch her nose to the Moonstone. Her blue eyes sparkled for a moment in its glory, before she closed them and laid her muzzle down on her paws. Firepaw diligently copied her, and he could see Graypaw do the same before he closed his eyes.

Everything was still and quiet for a long time. Even with his eyes closed, he could see the Moonstone burning in front of him, and he wondered if he should open his eyes. Perhaps it was only part of the ritual? Still, he felt like Bluestar would tell him if he was supposed to do something else. He waited a moment longer, hoping that someone would-

"Hello, little one."

He opened his eyes in surprise at the unknown voice. He gasped as he realized he was no longer in front of the Moonstone, but somewhere else entirely. Trees of white bark glittered around him, their dark leaves sparkling at the edges as though covered in dew. The grass below him was silver, the same color as Bluestar's coat shining beneath the moonlight. Fireflies danced through the air, but they weren't fireflies; they were stars, floating like snowflakes on the gentle breeze.

In front of him was a dark cat, smaller than him or Bluestar. Their coat was a deep, rich black, with faint white stripes like a tabby's. A locket of bright white was framed by their dark chest, and as he looked up to meet their eyes he saw a warm, motherly emerald gaze watching him.

He must be in Starclan. Which meant that the cat in front of him…

"My name is Nightwish." He knew that name, though it was only spoken to him once or twice; this was Ravenpaw's mother. "I've been hoping to meet you for a while now. I've watched you with my son."

"Where is Redtail?" He looked around, but they were alone in the clearing. "I- I need answers from him!"

Nightwish's eyes dropped to the ground. "Redtail isn't here." She admitted. "His spirit… it wanders, in the lands beyond the Startrail."

Firepaw's heart fell. He had hoped that he would finally get answers by visiting Redtail on his turf. "I have so many questions for him. He… Without him, I can't stop Tigerclaw from hurting Ravenpaw. I need to-"

"I know." The young apprentice blinked in surprise as Nightwish interrupted him. "I have seen your efforts, even from here. I am glad you've become such a close friend to my son. To have someone so passionate, so caring, to watch over and protect him; it is all I could have asked for him, when I was alive." She touched her nose to his forehead, gently licking it twice. "I would be proud to call you my kit if I still walked with Thunderclan."

He felt peace wash over him at her touch. He could sense the power radiating from this one Starclan cat; he knew every one of her words spoke true. It took all his effort to remember why he was here. "But I'm still not enough! I don't know- I can't stop Tigerclaw." He felt like a petulant kit as he said it out loud. "I can't save Ravenpaw."

"You can." Her voice was soothing, calming his anxiety like a queen would with her kits. "I have seen it. You have everything you need to save him now."

He frowned at that. How did that make sense? He was no closer now to saving Ravenpaw than he had been that morning. "What do you mean? How do I save him?" He pressed, stepping closer to her. "Please, tell me how to help him!"

"Remember your journey. You have come farther than you realize." She stepped away from him, turning and padding towards the white trees behind her. "Know that Starclan is watching over you, always."

"Wait!" He pleaded, trotting after her. "What do you mean, remember-"

He startled awake, the forest vanishing as he was once again laying by the Moonstone. It was dark once more, the cavern hard to make out among the shadows. Graypaw stirred nearby, and as he looked to Bluestar he realized that she was already awake and sitting up. "Bluestar?" He asked, finally breaking the spell of silence that had hung over the chamber.

"Are you both awake?" Graypaw mumbled a sleepy assent to the molly's question. "Good. We must hurry." She padded past them into the tunnel back to Highstones, the two apprentices following as fast as they could.

The route back to the entrance was shorter than it had been arriving. It seemed like mere moments before they were emerging from the shadows to see Tigerclaw and Ravenpaw. His heart leaped to see the younger tom still alive, before plummeting as he took in the apprentice's form. He was crouched down in submission, bristling in fear as he stared up at his father towering over him with wide terrified eyes.

"Tigerclaw? Ravenpaw? Has something happened?" Bluestar spoke quickly, her tail lashing as she looked between the two.

The oldest apprentice was silent, shivering in fear. He seemed unable to talk, as though paralyzed in place by his father's intimidating presence.

"Of course not, Bluestar." The dark tabby spoke respectfully as he stepped back and allowed them to pass. "I was merely reminding my son of his duties as a warrior. It doesn't hurt to have a refresher if his ceremony is to come soon."

"I see." The Thunderclan leader studied the giant warrior for a few heartbeats before looking away and bounding down the slope. "We must return to Thunderclan at once."

Firepaw glanced at Ravenpaw anxiously before following her. Her pace was rapid, faster than it had been arriving at Highstones. "Has something happened?" He asked the gray molly, trying not to seem too nosy. Was it forbidden to pry into the Starclan visits of others?

She glanced behind her, her blue eyes flashing in the moonlight before she shook her head. "It's probably nothing. I don't like to be away from my Clan for very long." She slowed her pace as they neared the Thunderpath. "We'll be following the Thunderpath back home. It should be quiet, now that it's past moonhigh, and it will be faster than our route here."

His fur prickled uncomfortably at the thought of the Monsters that patrolled the Thunderpath, but he knew she was right. During the late greenleaf night patrols, the seemingly endless rumbling of the Thunderpath had largely ceased, allowing them to patrol without worry. They had only occasionally seen a Monster traveling during the late night, its eyes shining bright as suns and racing by even faster than normal.

They were undisturbed as they crossed the Thunderpath as one, the only Monster long past before their crossing. They followed the ditch on the side of the Thunderpath, staying out of sight of the Monsters as they traveled. Bluestar's pace was swift and difficult to keep up with; Firepaw felt his muscles beginning to grow sore from all the traveling they had done so far.

Finally she began to slow somewhere along Windclan territory. "How was your first visit to the Moonstone?" The regal leader asked, glancing behind her at her patrol. Her blue gaze rested on Firepaw for a moment before moving to Graypaw before him.

"Incredible." He breathed, a little winded from the fast pace. "No wonder it's forbidden to talk about it."

"It's not forbidden." Bluestar replied, giving him a soft smile, though he could see her heart wasn't in it. "Most don't talk about it because they can't find the words to describe it. How would you describe color to a cat that can't see?"

"I understand." The ginger tom responded with a dip of his head. "It's so beautiful. And Starclan…"

"So you did meet them?" Graypaw asked in surprise. He coughed as the rest of the patrol looked at him. "It's just that, well, normally you meet your ancestors at the Moonstone. And you don't have any in Starclan. Unless you saw…?"

He considered taking offense at Graypaw's words, but he knew the tom had been well meaning. "I met Nightwish in Starclan." He finally answered, knowing that the other apprentice had been referring to Redtail.

"You did?" He glanced behind him to see Ravenpaw perk up. Beside him, Tigerclaw was looking out at the Thunderpath, seemingly uncaring at the mention of his former mate. "How was she?"

"Yes, what did she say?" He looked back to Bluestar to see her watching him curiously.

He considered for a brief moment telling the truth; about Tigerclaw, and Redtail, and the danger Ravenpaw was in. But would Bluestar believe him? After all, Nightwish was already dead by the time of the battle with Sunningrocks, so she would have no reason to know. And if Starclan hadn't already told Bluestar, why would they tell some random apprentice?

"She said she knew that I would become a passionate and caring warrior that would protect my Clanmates." He finally said aloud. It wasn't a total lie: she had called him passionate and caring, and that he did his best to protect Ravenpaw. "She said she would be proud to call me her son if she was still alive."

Bluestar smiled at that. "Nightwish likely saw in you a twin soul. She was a fierce and cunning warrior when she was alive, but she cared more for her Clanmates than even Spottedleaf. She would have been a great queen, if Starclan hadn't taken her so soon."

"I'm glad you got to meet her." He heard Ravenpaw speak up behind him, and looked back to see him come up alongside him and press into his fur. "I'd be happy to call you my brother."

"As would I." Firepaw looked over his shoulder to Tigerclaw, who was now scowling out at the Thunderpath. He didn't seem happy with the apprentices' conversation. "What about you, Graypaw? Which of your ancestors did you see?"

"I saw Swiftbreeze. She was my other grandmother, on my mom's side. Nightwish's mother, too." The gray tom replied with a dreamy smile. "She told me that as long as I stay true to my heart, my path as a warrior will be clear." He paused as he considered what he said. "It didn't make a lot of sense, but from what Dewpaw says, that's pretty typical for Starclan."

"Starclan can only advise us." Bluestar spoke from in front of them, causing all heads to turn back to her. "Their words aren't meant to be clear to those of us that are still alive. They are meant to be words of wisdom in dark times, rather than a course of action in the moment."

"I guess." Graypaw grumbled. "But hey, we're one paw step closer to being warriors!" He nudged Firepaw with a grin. "We've pretty much done everything required of apprentices. Won't be long before we're sleeping next to Peppermask!"

"Next to Ravenpaw, you mean." The ginger apprentice looked at the tom by his other shoulder with a grin, ignoring Tigerclaw's huff of contempt behind them. "He'll be getting his warrior name when we get back, after all."

"Might be." The skinny tom in question corrected him quickly with a glance towards the tabby behind him. "It's up to Bluestar, after all."

All three apprentices looked expectantly at her ahead of them, but she was no longer paying attention to their conversation. Instead, she was beginning to speed up again now that they had nearly reached Fourtrees. The Thunderpath diverted away from it, but they crossed the undergrowth towards it, ascending the slope to the hollow with ease.

As they crossed the Gathering space again, Firepaw sniffed at the air. The scent of Shadowclan was stronger than the rest now. He figured they must cross the hollow frequently in order to reach Windclan territory from theirs quickly. He scrunched his nose against the rather pungent odor and followed Bluestar up the slope to Thunderclan territory.

At the edge of the forest here, he could see out past the treetops of Thunderclan territory and to the horizon. Though the setting moon suggested it was close to dawn, the sky was still dark. Storm clouds were gathering where the sun would rise, threatening to drench the forest with torrential rain. As he followed the patrol down into the forest, he imagined everything around them would soon be soaked by the rainfall. Luckily, the tree bridge that Thunderclan used to cross the river was dry at the moment, and they all crossed it with ease.

Though his paws were aching, he was glad to feel forest leaves beneath them. They weren't far from camp now, and he was looking forward to sinking down into the moss back in the apprentices' den. Surely Tinyfrost wouldn't complain if they slept in a bit, given there would be little to do in the coming downpour. The training hollow would be a pit of mud and thick sand, which none of the Clan enjoyed.

"I can still smell that Shadowclan stench." Graypaw complained as they traveled deeper into the woods. "Did they really need to mark their new territory so… enthusiastically?"

Suddenly Ravenpaw stopped, his whiskers twitching. "Do you hear that?" He hissed to the others as they also halted.

They all strained their ears to hear what Ravenpaw had heard. The forest was waking up as dawn approached; birds were starting to sing their morning songs overhead, and the leaves rustled merrily in the wind.

Then Firepaw's blood ran cold. In the distance he heard the screams of cats in battle. Shadowclan was attacking their camp.

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