The Warrior Within: #2: Fallen Stars

Chapter 4

I wonder where we are going, Plumepaw thought as they trekked.along the valley.

They had stopped at a very tall oak tree.
Why here? He thought.

"Plumepaw," Graystripe turned to face Plumepaw and meowed slowly, "I need you to listen. And I mean really listen. Bramblestar has sent us on a very important mission. Now, it's going to be hard, but do you promise, by StarClan, that whatever it is, even if it involves another cat's necassary death, you will do it with me?"

Plumepaw stared hard into Graystripe's innocent amber eyes. Another cat's necassary death? Why would StarClan approve of that?

"Yes, Graystripe," he mewed, and they continued around the tree's big trunk.

They stopped at a hole in the ground, which Plumepaw thought must be a badger set due to its size.

"Millie," Graystripe yelled halfway down the hole, "step away from your kits!"

"Graystripe! I knew you would come back and help me!"

"No, Millie. I came back to take your kit. It is too much care for the Clan. We cannot spare enough food to get enough strenth to even get it to apprentice."

"W-What?"

Graystripe moved closer to the kits, but Millie, a pale tabby she-cat, moved in front of them.

"No!"

"Yes!"

"Graystripe! How could you do this to me?"

"I obey the warrior code, Millie! You are making StarClan unhappy!"

Just then, thunder roared from the clouds, starting a drizzle.

"See? They want your kit gone!"

"But-"

"No, Millie! And you know the price to pay when you don't obey StarClan's orders from the leader!"

"B-"

"Death, Plumepaw, grab it!"

Without thinking twice, Plumepaw reached under Millie's legs and grabbed the kit. It melwed patheticly, but Graystripe and Plumepaw raced out of the set and across the plains, and over to the lake.

"C'mon! To the edge of ThunderClan territory! Follow me!" Graystripe yowled to Plumepaw, who was a cat-length behind, the kit dangling from his mouth.

They heard rapid paw-steps behind them.

"Oh no! Millie's following! Quick, just throw the kit to me!"

Plumepaw thrusted his head forward and let go of the kit's scruff. Luckily, Graystripe jumped and caught the mewling scrap in mid-air.

"Faster! See that halfbridge! Over there!"

A quarter-territory away, Plumepaw saw the halfbridge, poking out of the water like thorns on bramble bushes. Plumepaw felt a nip to his tail. Millie!

"Graystripe! Millie!"

Then Plumepaw heard something else. . . . More paw-steps! He looked over his shoulder to see Squirrelflight, Pebblecoat, and Mushroomtail, all led by Bramblestar.
Thank StarClan, thought Graystripe. Help!

"Millie, give up!" It was Bramblestar.

"NO! THAT'S MY KIT!"

Graystripe's eyes widened. They were heading straight for the broken half-

bridge, and one slip could lead to death, the water is to deep here.

"Bramblestar, the half-bridge!" Graystripe yowled, but before Bramblestar could respond, the were all on it.

Graystripe, Plumepaw, Bramblestar, Pebblecoat and Mushroomtail had all unsheathed their claws and had stopped at the edge. But Millie and Squirrelflight were still running, unaware of the slippery half-bridge. Squirrelflight lept, landing on Millie, and they tumbled across the half-bridge. Graystripe nearly got trampled, but he moved out of the way, and dropped the kit. It fell right in their path, as the tumbled to the edge.

"SQUIRRELFLIGHT!" Bramblestar shouted, but his warning was too late.

Squirrelflight, Millie, and the kit all fell into the lake. There was one more splash of shock from Squirrelflight, and then she dissapeared.

"BRAMBLESTAR! NO, DON'T DO IT!"

But it was also to late. Bramblestar had jumped in after her.

***