Warriors: Into The Wild - Book One (Completed)

Chapter Sixteen

The wind blew harder, creating drafts in the dens of the Clans. Waterpaw's fur fluffed up. Dawn was nearly here. She was glad to be able to suck up the sun's warmth once it came up.

It has been many moons since she became apart of ThunderClan. Leaf-bare had passed a few times and even though it felt like forever, new-leaf is finally coming back. She started to get used to the medicine cat duties, and began liking them. Saving cats made her feel important. Everyone respected Spottedleaf. She hoped to be one day respected by her Clan as well. Just hearing her medicine cat name would make her smile. That is... if she ever did get her medicine cat name. Firepaw and Graypaw were almost done with their training. They were traveling to Mothermouth pretty soon this sun high. Every warrior apprentice had to travel there at least once in order to become a warrior. Graypaw was an apprentice only a moon before Waterpaw joined. If Waterpaw was a warrior in training, she probably wouldn't be too far behind. Or even better, becoming one soon. All that had to be put behind her now. She was a medicine cat, not a warrior. Her duties now were training how to be a healer to the Clan.

The Sun crept up slowly, now finally visible in the clouds above. It was an orange color and shined brighter than before. Bluestar padded into the medicine den. Spottedleaf was just beginning to stir around from her slumber and greeted Bluestar with a flick of her tail. She padded into the herb store and grabbed a large oak leaf. She set it down, gently, then picked a few traveling herbs. She wrapped them up into the oak leaf, and took it delicately in her jaws. Dropping it in front of Bluestar, she purred. "This should be enough for the five of you." 

Bluestar dipped her head. "Thank you, Spottedleaf. "

Waterpaw longed to go back to the Moonstone. No cat was ever able to answer her questions. The last two moons were the same visions as the first. Yellowfang being in danger, and Brokenstar destroying his Clan and the others. She shook off the thought and padded into the herb store. They were missing quite a few herbs, but no cats were sick. They had plenty of time to go searching for them later.

Lionheart stretched out his paws and gazed at the morning sun. His fur fluffed up. He yawned, then padded up to Whitestorm. "Get a hunting patrol ready." He meowed.

The white tom's eyes blinked graugyly at him. "Yes, Lionheart." He replied with a nod. He was an old warrior, but he still had pep in his walk as he padded up to Darkstripe. "Can you and Dustpaw join a hunting patrol with me?"

Darkstripe nodded his head, not showing any emotions. Whitestorm heard Darkstripe call to his apprentice as he padded away in search of another warrior to join. On his way, he headed into the apprentices' den and peeked inside to see if Sandpaw was in there. She was just waking up, and looked up at him with worry. "Is everything alright?" She asked, wide eyes.

"Yes, just rallying up warriors for a hunting party."

Sandpaw leaped to her paws quickly. "Great!" She mewed happily. Then padded off after Whitestorm.

Waterpaw watched as the warriors stirred around the camp. Some went on hunting parties, some on a border patrol. All she could do was stay in camp all day. Her paws pricked with anticipation. Without noticing, her fur bristled for a few short moments. She then quickly flattened her fur.

Spottedleaf noticed her hair was slightly on end. "Are you okay?" She asked, nudging Waterpaw.

Waterpaw shook her head as if to clear it. She was deep in thought and Spottedleaf surprised her. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine." She lied.

Spottedleaf didn't seem to be believe her, but she didn't push for more answers. "Come on," she mewed. "Even though we have no sick cats, we still have to tend to the store." She padded over to the herb store, still talking as she walked, "It's inventory day, and we have so much to still get together for new-leaf from what we're missing from leaf-bare.

Waterpaw didn't answer her mentor. Her brain was too tired to think. She slept all throughout the night, but her mind kept racing about StarClan not giving her any more answers than what they already told her. Yellowfang was still in danger. Brokenstar had told the Clans that she was a rogue and that no one was to be nice to her if they saw her. Bluestar never admitted that she has her in ThunderClan. She doesn't intend to let them know either. 

Waterpaw picked through the leaves that were wilted and crumbled, then put back the ones that were still fresh. They were running low on dock, but luckily it grew just outside the camp. Just as Waterpaw was about to head out of the camp to get some herbs they still needed, they heard a screech from outside their den. Spottedleaf looked at Waterpaw with wide eyes, then raced out of the den. ShadowClan was attacking! Waterpaw raced after her, then stood beside her as they stared out at the cats fighting in the clearing. "Can you fight?" Asked Spottedleaf, her eyes still wide with worry.

"Not much, but I think that I can manage." She replied. 

Spottedleaf gave a swift nod, then darted into action. A big brown tom pinned her down, but she was able to get away by kicking her claws into his soft belly. He scowled with pain, then swiped his forepaws across her face. She was too fast for him and got out of the way before he could touch her. She gave a swift blow to the chest, then backed away, snarling. Her ears laid back in fury, hissing furiously. 

Waterpaw didn't know what to do. It looked like Spottedleaf could cleary defend herself. She didn't need her. She looked around, hoping to help another warrior. Suddenly she was pushed down and slid across the clearing. She got up and shook out her fluffy fur. She looked up to see who her opponent was. It was a tabby tom. She tilted her head to the side. She recognized his blue eyes, but shook her head then started growling. The tom raced toward her, then leaped. Waterpaw was knocked again. She laid on the grass, out of breath. She closed her eyes, and concentrated on beating this ShadowClan tom. Before she could get up, the tom stood over and pinned her down. 

Waterpaw went limp, but the tom knew that move too well and gave a quick blow to her belly. Waterpaw screeched in pain, and tried swiping her paw across his face, but he moved too quickly and bit her again. She yowled, and tried wriggling from his powerful grip. She then suddenly, knew who the tom was. It was Littlepaw! He grew up fairly quickly and looked more like an apprentice than he did before. She stopped trying to fight. He looked down at her, then widened his eyes as if he suddenly figured out who she was as well. He stepped back a few tail-lengths away, shaking his head slowly like he was in denial. "Littlepaw." She mewed softly, "It's me, Waterpaw."

Littlepaw didn't want to respond. His eyes were slightly wide with fear. Waterpaw broke his heart when she became a medicine cat. They could never be together now. 

A loud yowl came from behind her, and she whirled around to see Spottedleaf pinned down by the big brown tom. Waterpaw sprang into him, knocking him down from his paws. He got up and shook off his pelt, then glared at Waterpaw with fury in his eyes. Waterpaw crouched down and leaped onto him. The brown tabby jumped out of the way in time, making Waterpaw thud down and make an oof sound. She quickly flattened her ears, and growled, crouching down to leap again. Just as she was about to leap, a loud yowl was heard a few fox-lengths away. "Retreat ShadowClan, retreat!" It was the ShadowClan deputy, Blackfoot.

Another yowl came across from the clearing. Waterpaw stretched out her neck to see what had happened but too many warriors were in a circle and she could barely see. Spottedleaf gasped and raced toward the group of cats. She looked at Bluestar with grief in her eyes. "Lionheart is dead."