°|° Woodland °|° ✓

| Chapter 2 |

(Cat above is Berrypaw)

Berrypaw looked around, confused. The camp was empty. "Hello?" she yowled.
No answer.
Panic rose in her chest. Berrypaw's eyes flicked to the Great Stone, where a sleek black-and-white cat sat.
"Swiftstar?" Berrypaw meowed in confusion, bounding over. He was leader when Tawnystar was Tawnywhisker! Berrypaw realized. This has to be a dream. Swiftstar died when me and Cherrypaw were kits!
"Hello. You must be Mapleflight's kit." Swiftstar said coolly. "Follow me."
Berrypaw quickly scrambled after him. They ran silently, until they broke out into WindClan territory. Berrypaw felt like stopping but didn't. Crossing the moor, they shot between a few Twoleg nests, then raced into a thick forest. Unfamiliar scents washed around Berrypaw. The young apprentice struggled to identify all of them - fox, prey, a stale bit of Twoleg mixed with dog, and..
Cats.
"There are cats here?" gasped Berrypaw. Swiftstar just flicked his tail for silence.
They emerged into a clearing. Four birch trees lay north, south, east and west of the clearing. In the centre sat a boulder. Berrypaw's breath was taken away as she saw a muscular grey tom sitting there with a very small black she-cat. She dashed up one of the birch trees, padding along and crouching at the tip of a thick branch. Swiftstar had disappeared.
"Antfur." sighed the grey tom. "Rogues drove us out. They don't want us there."
"Stonestar, at our last meeting I told you that WoodClan won't back off easily!" Antfur growled. "We can still try to go home."
"We can't. Unless.." Stonestar hesitated, his brown eyes not fully meeting Antfur's. "Unless the prophecy we received comes true."
"When cats starve, two berries will appear. One, blinded by loneliness, and two, blinded by love. Yet one is loyal enough."
"That makes no sense!" hissed Stonestar. "Two berries will appear? What nonsense!" he kicked a pebble off the boulder, annoyed.
Two berries. Two berries.
The voice rang in Berrypaw's head. My name is Berrypaw! Cherries are also berries.. Cherrypaw?! Are we included in this prophecy?
Darkness swirled around her. Antfur and Stonestar's hushed meows faded as Berrypaw awoke, her flanks heaving.
"Dear StarClan, what is up with you?" Oakpaw growled. "Yowling and wailing like a fox is chasing you, Berrypaw!"
Cherrypaw peered in. "Don't mind Oakpaw. He's worse than a badger today." she glared at the dark brown apprentice and muttered, "mouse-brain."
Dovepaw bounded in. "There's a Clan meeting. Moonfrost's kits are becoming apprentices, and it's mine and Birchpaw's warrior ceremony!"
"Cool, Dovepaw. Let's go." Cherrypaw's ears pricked. "It's Sootpaw's ceremony too!"
They skidded into the crowd, halting at the front. Birchpaw sat there with Sootpaw. Their pelts were neatly groomed, every hair pressed back in perfection.
"I, Tawnystar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down at these apprentices. They have worked hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and with your help they will serve their Clan for many moons."
Cherrypaw padded forward, twining her tail with Sootpaw's, who looked very nervous.
"Dovepaw, Birchpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your own life?"
"I do," called the apprentices in unison.
"Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names; Birchpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Birchnose. StarClan honours your bravery and courage, and we welcome you as a true warrior of ThunderClan." Tawnystar rested her head on the new warrior's head. Birchnose gave her shoulder a respectful lick and sat back down.
"Dovepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Dovesong. StarClan honours your bravery and courage, and we welcome you as a true warrior of ThunderClan."
Dovesong purred, licking Tawnystar's shoulder. The leader's eyes fixed on Sootpaw.
"Sootpaw. Your official ceremony will be at the Skystone, where we speak with StarClan. Until you receive your true name, you will be known as Sootpaw."
"Er.. Tawnystar?" Sootpaw yowled. "I'm not sure the path of a medicine cat is the path StarClan want me to walk."
Cherrypaw blinked at him, as if she knew what was coming next.
"I..I'd like to become a warrior."
Tawnystar gazed at him. "Very well." She repeated the ancient calls to StarClan. Chants echoed around camp.
"Sootpelt! Birchnose! Dovesong!"
Sootpelt pressed his muzzle to Cherrypaw's. "I'm sure you'll receive your warrior name soon,"
Berrypaw gave her chest fur a quick lick as Hazelwing approached. She padded past Berrypaw to flick Sootpelt's ear with her tail. "Hi, Soot pelt." She purred. "You'll make a fine warrior. And mate to Cherrypaw," Hazelwing added more quietly.
Sootpelt just nodded, flicking his tail for Cherrypaw to follow him. The pair bounded from camp quietly.
Smokefur, Birchnose's former mentor, licked the tom's ears. Dovesong's mentor, Bramblefoot, approached and flicked her ear approvingly.
"Clan dismissed!" yowled Tawnystar, leaping down and nodding to Turtlewing, the deputy. The two she-cat's slipped into the leader den, murmuring.
It better not be about this prophecy thing. Berrypaw almost sighed out loud. It's driving me insane. StarClan, why me?
Oakpaw and Leafpaw passed her. Leafpaw followed his mentor, Blackyowl, out of camp. The enormous black warrior curled his claws into the ground.
I should get some rest. Berrypaw forced herself to drag her eyes from Blackyowl and nosed her way into the apprentice den. She curled in her nest. Make me tired. Make me tired. Make me.. Berrypaw yawned, closing her eyes and drifting into an uncomfy, light doze.

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~×~ One Moon Later ~+~

Berrypaw gazed around. These days-off are actually boring. Now that Cherrypaw spent all of her time with Sootpelt, Berrypaw had zero things to do while Hazelwing was out. Maybe I could hunt? You know what, I'll eat. She grabbed a vole and padded into the apprentice den to eat.
Before she could sink her teeth into the flesh, a fierce battle cry rang in her ears. Dear StarClan! She wanted to yowl. RiverClan cats filled the clearing, steadily fighting Berrypaw's Clanmates. No! Berrypaw lunged at a scrawny grey apprentice. Smokepaw! She recognized this cat from Gatherings. She was quickly pinned, her soft belly exposed. "Traitor!" Berrypaw hissed, slashing open his ear. Smokepaw slid nimbly from her grasp, striking her tail. Blood swelled around the tip, filling Berrypaw with fury. She whipped round, weaving in between of the apprentices legs. He peered down in confusion, and Berrypaw used the moment to grasp his neck in her strong jaws. Smokepaw gave a wail
Suddenly Blackyowl rolled Berrypaw away. "Do not kill." Blackyowl turned to Smokepaw, clawing his eyes.
"Smokepaw!" cried Lemonlight. The yellow she-cat hurried over to the half-blind apprentice. Smokepaw was her kit! Dread swamped Berrypaw. I heard from Gatherings that Lemonlight is really protective about her kits..
With a furious screech, Lemonlight pinned Berrypaw. The apprentice squirmed as Lemonlight's claws curled into her soft belly. Help! I can't die! I'm special!
Something grey and red leaped at Lemonlight, rolling her off. Cherrypaw! Sootpelt! Berrypaw gasped for breath. Sootpelt and Cherrypaw fought side-by-side, their pelts brushing. Berrypaw joined in by sinking her teeth into her bloody tail.
Slowly, the RiverClan cats spilled out of camp, hissing and snarling. A hardly injured grey she-cat tried to lunge at Berrypaw, but Leafpaw was quicker. He stood in the attacker's way, growling. "Berrypaw - run!"
She obeyed, dashing from the battle. Leafpaw! Oh, Leafpaw, I'm so sorry.. Berrypaw hid behind the Greatstone and peered out. The warrior had pinned a squirming Leafpaw, and was steadily curling her claws into his uncovered belly. Leafpaw! Berrypaw wanted to wail, but fear and horror kept her silent. Leafpaw!
Relief swamped her as Blackyowl attacked the grey she-cat. Leafpaw staggered to his shaking paws, blood dripping from his throat and belly. A moment later, the RiverClan cats were gone. Coffeenose and Sootpelt took Leafpaw to the medicine den. I really hope he'll be OK. Leafpaw's mother, Gooseflight, bounded after them. I'm coming too! Berrypaw quickly followed, her belly pressed against the floor as she bounded along, tail swishing. Leafpaw lay in a soft, already blood-stained nest with Gooseflight crouching beside him. Coffeenose watched helplessly. Sootpelt and Cherrypaw were crouched together a little way away from Gooseflight, their ears flat and tail twined. Berrypaw settled beside Cherrypaw, watching the dying cat with sadness.
Leafpaw's head lifted weakly. "Berrypaw. I love you.."
Berrypaw's heart shattered into a million pieces as the gorgeous tom's head fell back and he became limp. "Leafpaw.. I love you too. Don't go.." Berrypaw whispered. She wailed. "Leafpaw!"
Leafpaw's mentor, Alderwing, padded in, his eyes dull with grief. Leafpaw.. I loved you so much. Oh, Leafpaw..
Tawnystar flanked Alderwing. She meowed a few calm words, officially naming Leafpaw Leafsong. Welcome to StarClan, Leafsong. Berrypaw pressed back tears. Mapleflight and Swiftstar will welcome you with open paws.

Word count (not including this) : 1479

I hope you like this chapter! It's a bit longer than I usually write, I tried to make it as long as possible. What do you think will happen now? Will Berrypaw find a new tom for her? What about Cherry X Soot? Do you think it's a good relationship?
Write any questions/feedback in the comments!