Warriors: Into The Wild - Book One (Completed)

Chapter Eleven

It was dark and cold, except the silverpelt was still shining as ever. Almost every cat didn't sleep that night after the burial. Bluestar had yet to name who was next deputy, and Waterpaw was restless. She had guessed that Bluestar would appoint Tigerclaw as deputy next, but she had hoped she was wrong. Bluestar finally got up to her paws. She looked around the clearing at all of the cats, then up at silverpelt. Redtail would be up in silverpelt tonight and lay as one of the stars above, like all others before him. "I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors Redtail may hear and approve of my choice." Bluestar paused, looking down at Redtail. She then looked back up at the Clan, "The new deputy of ThunderClan is Lionheart." She glanced over at the golden tom. Lionheart dipped his head in respect at the old she-cat and turned to his clanmates. All the cats padded up to him and congratulated him with purrs and murmurs. Waterpaw took a short glance at Tigerclaw. He showed no emotions towards Lionheart being the new deputy, but she guessed that he must have been upset if he really did kill Redtail.

Spottedleaf padded back to her medicine den and sniffed Goldenflower, then padded over to Ravenpaw who was laying near his mother. His wounds were healing fairly fast, but he was nowhere near ready to talk about what had happened. Waterpaw wanted to speak with Bluestar, but knew it still wasn't time. Maybe Featherwhisker would know what to do! She thought to herself, closing her eyes tightly and thinking of him. She opened her eyes and found herself to be in a forest. It was wide, open and smelled of fresh, warm air. She was in StarClan and purred at the sight of the twinkles that were lit everywhere. Featherwhisker's purr was heard behind her. She turned around and padded up to him, rubbing his cheek, "Featherwhisker," She purred, "I'm glad that I was able to see you!"

Featherwhisker dipped his head, "You're in the medicine den?" He mewed, "Are you thinking of becoming a medicine cat?"

Waterpaw hesitated and shuffled her paws nervously. "I-I..." She stuttered, "I don't know." She finally meowed.

Featherwhisker tilted his head slightly, but didn't say anything else about it, "So what's troubling you?" He changed the subject quickly.

"I want to know what to do about Tigerclaw. He killed Redtail, and I want Bluestar to know, but I don't know when to tell her or how."

"I may be a medicine cat in StarClan, but that doesn't mean we know everything."

Waterpaw's eyes narrowed in sadness. If Featherwhisker couldn't help, who would? She nodded her thanks, then rubbed his cheek again, saying goodbye. She woke up, but didn't stir. Her chin still laid on her paws. She sighed, then blinked her eyes closed, slowly.

Spottedleaf woke up from her slumber, and stretched out her front paws and yawned. "Waterpaw, you're still here?" She mewed, in between a yawn.

"Oh, sorry. I'll go find Runningwind." She didn't wait for Spottedleaf to answer and she padded off to find Runningwind. He was out in the clearing talking with Darkstripe and Dustpaw. Runningwind looked up and saw Waterpaw padding toward him. He respectively said goodbye and turned to Waterpaw.

"Are we training today?" She asked, happily.

"Yup! Let's go!"

They trekked into the clearing near Sunningrocks and stopped near some bramble bushes. "Other Clans have a disadvantage here because we have the brambles. Fighting here helps us." He looked over his shoulder at Waterpaw, "Attack me." He mewed, turning and facing her, then crouching down with his paws outstretched before him.

Waterpaw tilted her head to the side and studied his position. Runningwind was slightly leaning to the left, ready to pounce when she came at him. She looked over at his right side. His back leg was tucked underneath his belly, and his tail was twitching with anticipation. She then sprinted toward him and swerved around him on his right side. Runningwind lost his balance and rolled over onto his belly. Waterpaw pinned him down before he get up, and gave a nip to his belly. Runningwind yowled and went limp. Waterpaw let go, thinking he gave up. He rolled her over and pinned her down. "Never let your opponent give up by going limp unless they tell you verbally. " He mewed, pushing down harder onto her belly.

Waterpaw's eyes widened in shock. She felt like a gust of wind knocked her down. "Sorry." She mewed, trying to breathe.

Runningwind let her go, and padded a few tail-lengths away from her, "Now try again." He mewed, crouching once more.

Waterpaw softly sighed and studied him again. This time he weight wasn't shifted just on one side. His hind quarters were slightly off the ground, ready to pounce. So she sprinted again at him. He leaped onto her, but missed as she crouched under him and rolled over onto her left side, then back again on her feet when he landed with a big oof. Waterpaw raced around him and nipped his hind paw, then around to his front paw. He tried to paw at her, but missed when she veered her head away. Runningwind softly growled, then leaped onto her, pinning her again onto the soft, ground. She went limp, but he knew better and raked his sheathed claws onto her belly. Waterpaw then raked her hind paws against his chest and kicked him. She then, slithered away from under him. Runningwind rolled backwards as she kicked him off, and went tumbling a few tail-lengths away. He got up to his paws a little dazed, then shook his head. He nodded his approvingly, "Nicely done." He purred.

Waterpaw puffed out her chest and purred with delight. She was finally beginning to be good at something. They practiced fighting skills almost all afternoon and they were both exhausted. When they both reached camp, Waterpaw glanced over at Bluestar's den. She narrowed her eyes in worry. Runningwind noticed her sudden change in mood and nudged her shoulder with his. He pressed his body against hers, and she almost fell over when deep in thought. "You've been awfully quiet," he mewed, echoing her sadness.

"Oh, sorry." She replied, rather quietly, "I just have a lot on my mind."

Runningwind stopped, then gave her a quick to the cheek, "I hope it gets better." Then he padded off towards the warriors' den to sleep. Waterpaw looked over at Bluestar's den again, then decided to head to Spottedleaf's den instead. Spottedleaf was putting some comfrey on Ravenpaw's wounded leg. She sniffed it thoroughly. "It's healing nicely," She purred. "I'll get some poppy seeds to help you sleep tonight, Ravenpaw." She padded over to her supplies and gently grabbed a few poppies in her mouth. She dropped in front of Ravenpaw and he licked them quickly. "Thanks." He rasped.

"Can I have some poppy seed as well?" Asked Waterpaw.

"Can't sleep, eh?" She padded to her supply store and grabbed a few in her teeth for Waterpaw, then dropped them in front of her.

Waterpaw licked them up and swallowed them hard, "Thanks." She purred, "And no. I'm still distraught on what to do about Bluestar." She meowed quietly to Spottedleaf. Spottedleaf didn't say anything, but she knew that Waterpaw would have a hard time on this. It was not easy talking to the leader after a death, especially about her friend and deputy being murdered. "Bluestar will know about it in time." Spottedleaf finally mewed to Waterpaw. "Go to sleep. It'll do you some good."

Waterpaw nodded her head, then padded off to her moss bed in the apprentice den. Firepaw, Graypaw and Dustpaw were already asleep. She could hear their hard breathing. Sandpaw padded in behind her. She glanced over at her with a side eye, and then circled in her bed. Waterpaw did the same. She was going to close her eyes to sleep, but something else troubled her. Featherwhisker's and Spottedleaf's words pierced through her thoughts. You have a true gift that most cats can't even imagine. Your power to talk with StarClan is a destiny for another role. Perhaps she really was meant to be a medicine cat.