Book 1: Echoing Voices - Warriors

Chapter 8

Drizzlepaw's POV

Drizzlepaw jolted his head off the ground as he panted heavily, his ears were flattened to his head and he felt as stiff as the rock he laid on.
Flowerlily and the other medicine cats were looking over him with excited looks on their faces.
"What did StarClan say?" Flowerlily almost squealed.
Drizzlepaw moved away slowly from the cats and Shimmersong narrowed her eyes.
"Drizzlepaw. StarClan has spoken to you, after so many moons of absence. You must tell us what happened." the ThunderClan medicine cat urged.
Drizzlepaw slowly moved himself up to a sitting position and continued to slowly scoot away from the she-cats that followed him until he hit the wall of the cave.
"Drizzlepaw, please." Flowerlily pleaded, "At least tell us who came to you."
Drizzlepaw quickly shook his head, "No one came to me! It was just a nightmare." he answered in a sharp tone before suddenly pushing himself to his paws and shoving his way through the cats.
That wasn't really a lie. No one came.
He exited the place of the moonpool and just pelted back towards the RiverClan camp. He had to find Fishpaw and get away from all this StarClan nonsense. That dream had been terrifying and there was no way StarClan made him see that. Flowerlily always described StarClan's meetings as pleasant and informative. He would be surrounded by cats with stars in their fur and it would be warm.
Drizzlepaw shuddered slightly and continued to run, the wind made his whiskers hit his cheeks. He just wanted to get away from all the medicine cats' questions.
He panted slightly as he slid into RiverClan territory and perked his ears as he glanced behind him, then towards camp. No matter how much he needed to talk to Fishpaw, he decided to stay out of camp and think to himself for maybe a day. He quickly moved over to a bush of cat mind and rubbed the scent all over his fur before laying down in the plant, hoping the scent will mask his scent.
This was a terrible idea.
His mouth watered as he breathed in the sweet scent of the catmint and he had to hold back from eating it and going crazy. Dawn was beginning to rise and Drizzlepaw just wanted to sleep, deciding he'd eat later and sleep now.

"Drizzlepaw!"
Drizzlepaw grumbled under his breath slightly, keeping his eyes shut.
"Go awaaaay." he complained.
"Drizzlepaw! Get. Up!"
He shook his head slowly and began to open his eyes until Murkpelt was clear in his vision. He was out from under the catmint bush and he pinned his ears back.
"Where have you been? Lakestar sent out a patrol to find you!" the warrior hissed.
Drizzlepaw shifted his weight and pushed himself to his paws and hesitated before answering.
"I...uh-"
"Never mind. You can explain to Lakestar." Murkpelt interrupted.
Drizzlepaw hung his head slightly at the thought of telling Flowerlily about his dream, though he didn't have any intensions to. He didn't know why, but he had the urge to keep the dream a secret. Lakestar was also the last cat he wanted to talk to...ever.
Drizzlepaw looked around slowly, "It's almost sunhigh?" he meowed, almost not believing he had slept that long.
"Yes, fishbrain! Now let's get back to camp." Murkpelt meowed and nudged Drizzlepaw back towards camp.
Drizzlepaw lashed his tail before letting Murkpelt force him back to camp.

Lakestar paced in the den, her tail lashing slightly as her white fur rustled slightly. Drizzlepaw sat down at the entrance with his ears slightly flattened for the side. Flowerlily just followed the leader with her eyes, watching Lakestar pad back and forth...back and forth...back and forth.
"You're going to tell us one way or another." Lakestar meowed with a slight grumble forming in her throat.
Drizzlepaw had to hold back from rolling his eyes. He wasn't going to tell anyone.
"What proof do you have that StarClan even came to me? You couldn't be able to read my dreams." he retorted, mostly towards Flowerlily.
Flowerlily twitched her ear before looking away and not replying.
"You know, Lakestar, maybe we are getting our hopes up too far. None of the other medicine cats had any sort of message." Flowerlily muttered.
Lakestar and Drizzlepaw both perked their ears in shock. Flowerlily was the one who was always insisting on trying to find StarClan. She wasn't one to give up on, well, anything.
"What are you saying, Flowerlily?" Lakestar asked.
Flowerlily heaved a small sigh and she got to her paws, looking suddenly weary and beaten.
"I'm going to sleep." was what her reply was.
Drizzlepaw narrowed his eyes slightly as Flowerlily left the den. He was about to get up and follow her out.
"No, you're staying in here until you tell me exactly what happened in that cave." Lakestar ordered, her tone suddenly sharp.
Drizzlepaw twitched the tip of his ear out of irritation before he raised his muzzle stubbornly.
"I guess we'll have each other's company forever then." he meowed lowly.
Lakestar's gaze flickered with annoyance before her eyes hardened slightly.
"Very well."