WARRIORS - The Pony Prophecy

Chapter 19

Lightpaw's POV (Starlight)

"Us?" I asked. The others all had the same confusion expression, aside from Duskpaw, who was deep in thought. "Why would the prophecy have anything to do with us?"

Shadespark looked from Breezepaw to me as she answered. "'The breeze has come and light will follow.' Could that have possibly been any more obvious?" Softpaw quickly understood what her mentor was saying.

"Right, that part of the prophecy must be talking about Breezepaw and Lightpaw!" The young medicine cat mewed. Duskpaw gave a small nod, having come to the same conclusion.

"As for the second part," Shadespark went on, "'Two must become one to join the six,' I think it's safe to assume it's talking about the same two from the first part, and the six are likely the rest of their friends."

"What about the last part?" Mapleshade asked.

Shadespark flicked her tail, and her gaze shifted to the side slightly. "I'm not completely sure, but I do have one idea. Though I won't say anything about that until I'm sure." The tortoiseshell she-cat nodded.

"But if your guess is right," Lilypool meowed, "and the prophecy really is about them..."

"Then StarClan will guide Spicepaw back to the Clans." Shadespark finished.

There was a beat of silence before Ravenstar spoke. "The sky is beginning to grow lighter," she stated, "We should be heading back to our Clans." Flashstar, Whitestar, and Ripplestar all nodded as everyone started to get up and head toward the tree bridge. Only Shadespark didn't move, and Softpaw padded toward her.

"Shadespark? Are you coming?" The pale ginger she-cat asked.

"You go on ahead, Softpaw," the dark gray she-cat meowed, "There's something I want to ask Mapleshade first. I'll catch up."

"Oh okay, I'll meet you back at camp then." Softpaw purred. Shadespark smiled as she watched her apprentice run after the others.

Breezepaw and I padded after her, but just as I set paw onto the tree bridge, Shadespark spoke.

"Why are you helping us?"

The question was one all of us had been wondering, and as I looked at Breezepaw, I knew there was no way she was going to miss hearing the answer. The two of us slipped underneath a bush where we could see and hear what was happening.

"What do you mean?" Mapleshade asked.

"You yourself admitted that you're part of the Dark Forest," Shadespark went on, "Those cats are there because they could not respect StarClan and the warrior code. If you're one of them, then why do you keep helping us?"

Mapleshade hesitated, thinking deeply about how to answer. After a few moments, she spoke. "Before I answer that question, let me ask you this."

"I'm listening." Shadespark meowed.

"Would you believe me if I told you there was another world?"

The WindClan medicine cat said nothing, but tilted her head in curiosity. Mapleshade took that as a cue to elaborate.

"That other world does exist, I know because I stumbled upon it by accident two moons ago. It ran on magic and had ponies and other magical creatures. There was a pony there who was intent on helping me, but at first I didn't want to accept that I needed help. Though after a while, I finally gave in and told her what had happened.

"She taught me how to use magic and helped me get back to this world, and during the time I was there, I began to bond with her. It surprised me how similar we were, and it felt so relieving to have someone who understood me. I realized that our friendship was something I valued, and for once, it seemed more important than revenge.

"So to answer your question, why I'm helping the Clans, it's because I'm trying to make things right. I know it doesn't make what I've done in the past deserving of anyone's forgiveness, but at least it showed that I'm trying to-"

A distant high-pitched shriek interrupted the tortoiseshell she-cat, and at once all four of us recognized who it belonged to.

"Softpaw!"