Warriors: The Shadow Figure (1) : Revenge

2.

Sunrisepaw was stalking a vole when she heard a bloodcurdling cry of pain. What happened? she thought. But the vole has already scattered away, so she went to check what has happened. Her mentor was standing horrified, as a monster passed by slowly back up the Thunderpath, and he held her protectively using his tail. Finchwater began sprinting across the unused Thunderpath and sat by something curled in the grass. What was it? Sunrisepaw didn't know. Then, a bolt of shock went through her body. That white pelt. The long fur. The absence of Lightpaw next to her.
Something happened to my sister! Sunrisepaw got out of Foxspark's grip and ran to the slumped, broken body by the edge of the Thunderpath. Finchwater was poking at it with her claw, whispering softly for Lightpaw to wake up. "You can't do this to me! Don't go to Starclan yet!" she was crying, Sunrisepaw realized. Was this a mentor's attachment to their apprentice? She never felt such pain cursing through Finchwater. Lightpaw had often complained about Finchwater being bossy to her, but did she ever realized the she-cat cared for her? What if it was me lying there? She thought. Would Foxspark also care so much?
"We need to get her to the medicine cats! Now!" Finchwater jerked beside her. "Sunrisepaw! Run ahead and tell them to prepare for her! She mustn't die!" Finchwater ordered. Sunrisepaw began sprinting, her paws burning, hearing prey getting out of her way. Soon she saw the hollow and began screaming. "Help! Someone! Lightpaw was hit by a monster!" The whole clearing was staring at her, until Splashleap disappeared into the medicine den with a bundle of herbs, Alderheart and Wisterialeaf right after her. They all began sprinting, Sunrisepaw led the way. Soon, she saw the terrifying cold stone path that doomed Lightpaw. She froze again, but the medicine cats were already by the motionless body. Sunrisepaw didn't want to look. She wanted to run away, away from her dying sister, away from monsters and Thunderpaths, away from disstressed mentors. Starclan, make it stop! Her head felt like it was going to burst, her heart racing, she desperately gasped for breath. Then her world went dark.

Sunrisepaw blinked and saw the smooth roof of the medicine den. Why am I here? What happened? she thought. And then it hit her. The body of her sister, laying by the Thunderpath and the terrible pain she felt. I must have blacked out from it. Sunrisepaw realized. Was her sister alright? Maybe a better question would have been - was her sister alive? Sunrisepaw lifted up her head and looked around the den. There were cats standing by one of the nests. Sunrisepaw identified them as Splashleap, Wisterialeaf, Alderheart and their mother, Skysong. They must be examining Lightpaw. Starclan, please let my sister live! Don't let us sit vigil for her tonight! Please, Starclan! Then, she heard her sister groaning. She was alive afterall! Thank you, Starclan! Oh, thank you so so much! She got up from her den and padded to her sister. "You should be resting, Sunrisepaw." Wisterialeaf muttered. "No! I have to see my sister!" Sunrisepaw insisted and peaked at her. What she saw was horrifying. Her sister looked so broken. Her flank was covered with fresh scars, with tufts of fur missing, and she looked like she was about to die. "Lightpaw! I am so glad you are alright!" Sunrisepaw cried. "I thought you were dead!" A mighty push pulled her away from her sister. Her mother! Why did she push her away? Her mother looked so hostile. Sunrisepaw shivered and padded out of the den. Outside it, Finchwater was standing, looking just as broken as Lightpaw. "Finchwater, do you know what happened to Lightpaw?" Sunrisepaw asked. "Like, what injury she got?"
"Something with her legs probably...leave me alone, please." Finchwater replied. Sunrisepaw was angry. No one is telling her what is wrong with her! She spotted her sibling by the fresh kill pile. She padded to them. "Hey Rainpaw, Crowpaw! What's up?" She greeted them. "What do you think? Our sister could be dying!" Crowpaw replied crossly. "I know! I just want a normal chat without mentioning our sister. Can't I get that?" Sunrisepaw insisted. Her siblings didn't reply. Fine, then be that way! Sunrisepaw thought. I'll find something to do by myself!