WARRIORS - The Pony Prophecy

Chapter 22

Snowpaw's POV (Rarity)

I watched Petalheart carefully, observing any movements she made. Duskpaw and I were both training with her, as Whitestar was busy. The cream tabby she-cat crouched down, and I prepared to leap out of the way, knowing exactly what she was going to do. The sound of pawsteps quickly approaching broke my concentration however, and Petalheart was easily able to knock me over.

"For StarClan's sake, Snowpaw," the cream tabby she-cat hissed, "Focus!" She stepped back, letting me get up and shake myself off. I gave my fur a couple brisk licks before responding.

"Sorry about that," I meowed, my gaze turning to where the noise had come from. "I just thought I heard-"

"Snowpaw! Duskpaw!" Lightpaw bounded forward, coming to a stop in front of us. Duskpaw immediately stepped toward her while I glanced at Petalheart, making sure she knew not to attack the ThunderClan apprentice.

Just one look at Lightpaw told me something was wrong. Her blue eyes were wide and her fur seemed ruffled. "Lightpaw, what happened?" Duskpaw asked.

Taking a deep breath, the silver tabby she-cat spoke. "Firepaw, Breezepaw, and I were sitting in a small clearing in the forest, and a big black tom jumped out and attacked us. Breezepaw seemed to recognize him, and sent us to get help. Firepaw went to find Dashpaw and Softpetal, and I came for you two."

"What about Bubblepaw?" Duskpaw asked.

"I'll get her," I offered, "You go with Lightpaw." The two nodded and set off and I raced toward the ShadowClan border, hoping that the ginger she-cat would be there.

Thankfully she was, and I quickly explained to her everything that Lightpaw had said. Bubblepaw paid close attention as I spoke, as well as Smoketuft, her mentor. Already knowing what she was going to ask, the dark gray tabby they-cat gave a nod of approval, allowing her to come with us.

The two of us set off and started the journey back through RiverClan territory. "I wonder if the black tom Lightpaw described was the same one from Softpetal's vision a couple moons ago," Bubblepaw meowed.

"You could be right," I responded, flicking my ear as thoughts began to form. "I mean she did say he just attacked them out of nowhere. Maybe that vision was trying to warn us that he's a threat."

"In that case," the ginger she-cat began, "we should probably pick up the pace. The others probably need us."

By this point, we were almost to the WindClan border. I nodded and we broke into a run, heading towards ThunderClan territory as quickly as possible. Finally the forest came into view, and soon after, the stream that marked the border between WindClan and ThunderClan territory. We leaped over the stream, racing in the direction of the clearing Lightpaw had mentioned. 

As we raced deeper into the trees, a torn maple leaf that had been lying in the shade was sent flying. We emerged into the clearing and joined the others, who were also joined by two other apprentices from WindClan who I recognized as Mosspaw and Darkpaw. Breezepaw stared at the black tom, her eyes narrowed and her fur bristling. The tom smirked and lunged toward her, knocking her to the ground before any of us could react.

We spun around and raced towards the blue-gray she-cat, all of us standing defensively around her. Even Darkpaw and Mosspaw joined, two cats who had nothing to do with this and yet were just as affected by it as we were. The black tom's dark amber eyes narrowed and he leapt again, but before he could strike, a flash of tortoiseshell and white fur crashed into him, knocking him back.

Mapleshade hissed at him, her tail lashing furiously and claws unsheathed, standing between him and all of us.