Gingerheart's Prophecy

Chapter 4

Gingerpaw padded into camp, just finished with a border patrol. It was already sunhigh, so she decided to talk to Moonglow. She padded over to the medicine den, and sat down. She felt someone staring at her, so she slowly looked around and met eyes with Blackpaw. He quickly looked away embarresed. Moonglow saw what was happening and she mrowed of laughter. "I think someone likes you Gingerpaw." Gingerpaw sighed. "Oakpaw doesn't talk to me very much anymore, even at the gatherings. He just talks to this other apprentice called Barkpaw." Moonglow looked over at Oakpaw, who was talking to Quilltail. "I don't know either." Moonglow wondered if she should tell the prophecy to Gingerpaw yet. Starclan didn't give her many answers. Gingerpaw was a very intelligent cat, she would probably instantly figure out the prophecy. She shook her head of the thoughts. "Well, at least your warrior ceremony will be in about 2 moons." Gingerpaw nodded and stood up. In the corner of her eyes she saw Blackpaw head over to her as well. She sat down next to the fresh-kill pile and picked out a mouse. Blackpaw padded over and sat beside her. "Hi Gingerpaw, want to share tongues tonight?" Gingerpaw thought for a moment, not wanting to sound rude. "Sure!" She started eating her mouse, until Hallowstar called the clan to a meeting. They all gathered beneath the high rock and waited. "Amberpaw, Blackpaw, and Brightpaw, come here." The three cats stood up and sat beneath the high rock. "Amberpaw, you have shown great courage and compassion to your clan, and we make you a true warrior in return. Do you promise to uphold and defend the warrior code, even at the cost of your life?" Amberpaws eyes shown brightly and she replied. "I do." Hallowstar nodded. "Then by the powers of starclan, I give you your warrior name, Amberglade." Gingerpaw didn't really pay attention after that, but Blackpaw was named Blacktail, and Brightpaw was named Brightsong. She looked up and noticed it was night. She padded over to Blacktail and the two other new warriors. "Don't forget to do your dusk watch, all new warriors must be quiet for thier watch until dawn." She paused. "And don't fall asleep!" Blacktail mrowed of laughter and the other two nodded of thier agreement. Gingerpaw curled up beside Oakpaw, feeling warm beside her brother.

Oakpaw woke up in a dark forest. He looked around, and finally a cat emerged from the undergrowth. "Who are you? And where am I?" His voice sounded commanding, but the cat didn't flinch. "I will answer your questions, then ask you a question. I am Darkscar. You are in the Dark Forest. Now answer my question: Do you want to be the best cat possible?" Oakpaw thought and immediately nodded his head yes. "Come then." Oakpaw followed the black pelted cat farther into the forest, looking up but seeing nothing but darkness.

Gingerpaw woke up to a figdeting Oakpaw. She gasped as she realised he had a wound on his flank. She shook him awake, and pointed to it with her tail. She quickly took him to Moonglow without anyone noticing they were up. "I don't know what happened, I was just walking in a dream." Oakpaw lied carefully, looking fake confused. Moonglow sighed and brought out some cobwebs. "I'll try to hide the cut, just stay in here for the day." She tried colouring the cobweb to match his pelt, and she put some marigold on the wound. "Thank you Gingerpaw for bringing Oakpaw, you may go back to sleep." Gingerpaw nodded and curled up in the apprentices den, having troubled thoughts cross her head.