Black Sky

Chapter 14

Blackpaw followed his Clanmates down into the tunnel, wishing he didn't have to go to every gathering. What was he, a hero in some story?

I guess, judging that I recieved a prophecy. Blackpaw remembered. But Fernstar doesn't know that!

The scent of SandClan filled the air. DustClan wasn't here yet. Blackpaw stared around the clearing, feeling a little bored. He felt like that a lot these days, with all these dramtic things happening they started to get a little boring.

"There are so many cats!" Turtlepaw, who was a few tail-lengths away, mewed in awe.

Jackalpaw nudged his sister. "Wait until DustClan gets here! Then it'll be even more cats! Wait a second, is that Beechleaf, the SandClan deputy?"

Blackpaw looked up in surprise as Batwing led DustClan into the hollow. He noticed Emberpaw and Lemonstrike were missing with Volestar.

"The gathering shall begin!" Woodstar announced as Batwing leaped up onto the Great Stone. "Batwing, you may go first, as I'm sure you have something to say."

Batwing nodded. "Volestar, the former leader, has left our Clan. He broke the warrior code, but knew what he did was wrong and left in peace. Only four of our warriors followed him, proving that even without our old leader we are still strong. I travelled to the moonstone and recieved my nine lives and the name of Batstar."

"She's a better leader than Volestar," Honeypaw's mew made him jump. He didn't hear her approch.

Batstar stepped back, letting Woodstar take her place.

"Prey is running well," Woodstar meowed. "But we mourn Troutpaw's death. The young cat was killed by a sea urchin's poison not long after he was apprenticed. May StarClan light his path."

After a moment of silence, Fernstar stepped forward.

"Tonight we bring two new apprentices, and two new warriors." Fernstar announced. "Jackalpaw, Turtlepaw, Oliveleaf and Nettlestem."

The Clans cheered. "Jackalpaw! Turtlepaw! Oliveleaf! Nettlestem!"

Then, the gathering ended. Blackpaw narrowed his eyes. It was a quicker gathering than usual, he realised.

"What a boring night!" Honeypaw whispered to him. "Why did we even come here? All we got out of it was cold paws!"

Blackpaw widened his eyes at her. Weren't the gatherings important, even if there was nothing exciting going on? He believed they were.

"But it was nice to... Catch up with my friends from other Clans," She meowed quickly, turning to him. "And I sure hope that these gatherings are keeping the peace! I understand Fernstar's motives from that last battle, but I hope she doesn't start any more."

Blackpaw was about to agree when he felt a chill along his spine. He turned his head to see Willowpaw staring at him from across the clearing, her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Blackpaw, we have to go," His sister called, her normally calm green gaze now sharp and fixed on Honeypaw.

Blackpaw nodded then turned to Honeypaw. "I have to go, bye!"

"Bye, Blackpaw!" His DustClan friend mewed as he padded away, smiling. "See you next gathering!"

He looked at Willowpaw as he neared, angry. Why was his sister staring at Honeypaw like that? Did she not like her for some reason?

"What was that about?" He asked her as they followed the rest of CaveClan out of the hollow. "Why were you giving Honeypaw that look?"

Willowpaw stared at him, distrust in her eyes. "I know you like her. You two are so obvious."

"What?!" Blackpaw exclaimed, shock coursing through him. "What are you on about?! She's my friend! I don't like her like that! Are you bee-brained?!"

Willowpaw just shook her head, the distrust replaced with sadness. "I know. You don't know how you feel. I won't tell anyone. I just want you to be careful."

"But I don't!" Black protested, trying to convince himself more than her. "I swear, I'd never! Why would you ever think that?"

Willowpaw shivered, but Blackpaw realised it wasn't from the cold; there was hurt in her eyes. "I guess you will have to find out for yourself. But I knew about myself right away."

Blackpaw watched her walk away, confusion gnawing away at him. Knew about herself right away?

What did his sister mean by that?

*

That night, Blackpaw dreamed.

He found himself walking along the trees of CaveClan territory. A pelt brushed against his. He turned to see a golden brown tabby, one he knew well. Although she didn't seem to know he was there, he walked alongside her.

"Honeypaw?" Blackpaw mewed.

She gave him no response.

Blackpaw studied his surroundings. They were on the border between CaveClan and DustClan, trees and undergrowth on one side and grass on the other which eventually led to the Twolegplace. He still had a clear memory of crossing Trailstones about two-thirds of a moon ago. Suddenly, Honeypaw stopped and turned to face him. And looked right through him. He turned, then froze.

A blizzard seemed to be arriving, and the stars and moon disappeared, turning the sky black. Something small flew past him, tossed about by the storm. He looked wildly around, searching for cover, but there was none. Honeypaw was still beside him. He froze, noticing a pair of red eyes watching him in the blizzard. The cat started running towards him, their pelt pure white.

"When the snow falls in leaf-bare..."

Blackpaw couldn't see Honeypaw anymore, just the wailing snow and the white red-eyed cat.

"...the sky will turn black..."

Blackpaw struggled to get a sense of what was going on. What was he hearing? Who is this cat that had white fur and red eyes and was running towards him?

"...Beware the insect that flies by..."

The cat got closer and closer, until suddenly the there was a flash, like lightning. Except there was no thunder. Blackpaw yelped. The cat was replaced by a white kitten wailing in the the snow, and with another flash, the cat came back and leaped at him, claws outstretched.

"...for small things can become great threats."