Foxgaze's Haunting

Chapter 4

(Cat above is Lakeheart)
"Is she going to survive?"

"I don't know Leafpaw"

"She looks like she's breathing okay".

"I know that. Now go get me some poppy seeds. She is going to be really sore".

"Yes Lakeheart".

"Oh my poor kit! This is all my fault!"

"Hush Specklefrost. It wasn't your fault"

"Don't shush me Lakeheart. They wandered out of camp and now one of my kits is dead and the other nearly killed!"

Dead! Adderpaw is dead? Birdpaw opened her eyes. Specklefrost was huddled next to her nest like she did when Birdpaw was a kit. She was in the medicene cat den. Lakeheart was sitting a little bit further away from Specklefrost. Her thin tail was wrapped neatly around her paws. Both she-cats looked worried.

Birdpaw winced as she tried to lift her head off from her nest. Her head spun and ached like it had been caught in a river.

Like wind escaping from a cave, Birdpaw said in a dry creak "Where is Adderpaw?"

Specklefrost wailed and looked away. Lakeheart looked at her paws and said nothing. Birdpaw was growing desperate "Where is he?" she asked again.

Lakeheart looked at her with her cold blue eyes. She sighed and said in a shaky tone "I tried to save him but he was already with StarClan".

Birdpaw's stomach dropped like stone. Like a stone sinking in a puddle of grief. "What do you mean! You're saying that my brother is dead. W-Why?"

"Firefur found you. He had seen you and Adderpaw leave camp after being told not to. He followed you and fought off the fox once you passed out" Lakeheart turned her head away from the grief filled apprentice "It was too late to save Adderpaw but he could see you were still alive".

Birdpaw said nothing. Very faintly she rememembered seeing the ginger and white warrior crash through the bushes and the fox yelping.

"The fox bit you pretty bad" Lakeheart mewed as she eyed the cobwebs around Birdpaw's neck "It's going to be a pretty deep scar by the looks of it".

"You're also going to have a small problem with fainting. The veins in your neck were partially severed when the fox bit you so they will be weaker than before. In a battle you could kneel over from them bursting" Lakeheart stretched and got to her paws. She looked at the tortishell apprentice sadly with her blue eyes before padding outside of the medicine den. Birdpaw assumed it was to get some freshkill.

"I brought you some poppy seeds" a warm mew said from behind Birdpaw. She turned to see Leafpaw holding a beech leaf in his mouth. He dropped it at her paws, his leafy green eyes shone despite the darkness of the den.

Birdpaw lapped up the seeds without resentment. She was tired. The evening light was beginning to fade, the sun was falling behind the pine trees surrounding camp. Birdpaw sighed and closed her eyes. Thoughts like fireflies lit her troubled mind. Lakeheart said I might have trouble in battle. Does that mean I'll ever be a warrior?
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"Will cats old enough to hunt join us beside the High Rock for a Clan meeting" Nightstar called out.

Birdpaw padded out of the medicine cat den. Four sunrises had past since she had found out Adderpaw was dead. Ever since then, it's been a whirlpool of grief and confusion. Lakeheart had said that she'll heal completely in about a moon but Birdpaw was just beginning to walk. Every time she stood for too long, her head would throb and ache, forcing her to lie down. Specklefrost had been hovering over Birdpaw like a vulture. Bridpaw was beginning to grow tired of her wailing and grieving over her poor Adderpaw. Birdpaw had longed for the day she would be allowed to leave the medicine cat den.

Nightstar's yellow eyes scanned the clearing like a hawk before he spoke "I have an announcement. Birdpaw! Please step forward".

What does he want now Birdpaw gulped. She stepped forward. Her paws were shaking from the effort but she hid it to appear strong.

"Spirits of StarClan, you know every cat by their name" What is he talking about Birdpaw thought. She was beginning to grow uncomfortable.

Nightstar continued "I ask you to take away the name of Birdpaw. For for her negligence to the warrior code and the price she made all of us pay, it is my authority as leader to call on your powers to change this cat's name to Foxpaw".

Birdpaw's eyes widened as wide as moons. She felt the gaze of every cat on her, even StarClan seemed to be glaring at her. She wanted to scream that she didn't mean for this to happen but the words couldn't escape from her mouth.

"From this moment on, Birdpaw, until she receives her warrior name, shall be know as Foxpaw" Nightstar yowled.

No! No! Please just let this be a dream! Addrpaw is alive, Birdpaw is still here and I'm just tossing in my nest. Oh StarClan why?