Prophecy of the Stars

Chapter 15

((/: A.N: Hey everyone! The next chapter is out! By the way, me and a special someone have made a fanfiction called 'The Looming Darkness' for Warrior Cats! As always, if you would like to read it you can click my profile then you can find it in my works. 

(((SHADEPAW'S POV)))

Shadepaw stretched, yawning as he pricked his ears.

"Shadepaw! Shadepaw we're on the dawn patrol!" Rootspring called from outside the apprentice's den.

"I'm coming," Shadepaw mumbled drowsily, although he knew Rootspring couldn't hear him.

Sure enough, Rootspring poked his fluffy head into the den. "Shadepaw! Are you coming?"

"Uh huh," Shadepaw nodded his head slowly.

He padded slowly outside, wishing the sun was higher so that he could feel its golden warmth across his fur.

"Shadepaw!" Rootspring called again, sounding ever so slightly annoyed.

Shadepaw quickened his pace and stopped in front of the patrol. 

Stemleaf, Rosetail, Thriftear, and  Bristlefrost were waiting. Thriftear looked like she was going to fall asleep standing on her paws, Stemleaf's whiskers were twitching in amusement, and Bristlefrost was talking to Rosetail.

"Is Flowerpaw coming?" Shadepaw asked.

"Check if she's awake. The more cats on the patrol the better, I suppose," Rootspring shrugged his broad, fluffy shoulders.

Shadepaw padded away and stuck his head into the apprentice's den, resisting the urge to drop into one of the nests and drift off to sleep. "Flowerpaw! Are you awake?"

Flowerpaw raised her head from where it was buried in her paws and narrowed her eyes, which Shadepaw noted were free from sleep. "What does it look like? Now I am, sure."

"Do you want to come on the dawn patrol with us?" Shadepaw ignored his sister's grumpiness, guessing she was just tired and hadn't been able to sleep.

"I might as well now," Flowerpaw sighed, and got to her paws.

"You look tired." Shadepaw meowed cautiously, not wanting to set off a ticking bomb.

"Ya think?" Flowerpaw grumbled, brushing past him.

"Flowerpaw's coming." Shadepaw told them, hurrying ahead of his sister.

"Yeah, go ahead and tell them, I don't think they noticed I'm here." Flowerpaw snapped.

"I told you dawn patrols make cats grumpy." Thriftear told Bristlefrost.

"Come on!" Bristlefrost flicked her tail cheerfully.

Thriftear and Flowerpaw rolled their eyes in union.

Rootspring took the lead of the patrol, his furry head raised and his fluffy ears alert.

Shadepaw nudged Flowerpaw, trying to wipe the permanent scowl on her face off. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing!" Flowerpaw snapped.

"Are you wondering who our father is?" Shadepaw lowered his voice and Flowerpaw glared at him even more vigorously.

I'll take that as a yes.

"Who do you think he is? Do you think we're half-kittypet?" Shadepaw whispered.

"Maybe you are. That would explain why you're so annoying." Flowerpaw quickened her pace and padded ahead of him.

Shadepaw almost lost his temper and hissed a sharp retort back, but stopped. Flowerpaw's head and tail were dropping and she was searching the forest with a wistful mix of anger and longing.

Does she miss someone?

***

(((MOONPAW'S POV)))

Moonpaw blinked at Bramblestar, puzzled.

"So you have a headache?" She repeated.

"Are you sure Jayfeather or Alderheart can't help me?" Bramblestar glanced at the medicine den.

"No, I can do this." Moonpaw insisted and stared down at the leaves at her paws. "Hm...maybe...yarrow?" More confidently, she added, "Here, eat this," And shoved a pile of yarrow towards him.

Bramblestar looked suspiciously at the yarrow as if it was poison. "Are you sure this won't make me sick?"

"Who's the medicine cat here?" Moonpaw demanded.

"Me," Jayfeather hissed, snatching the yarrow away from Bramblestar. "Yarrow makes cats vomit incase they ate something poisonous, you mouse-brain! Hasn't Alderheart taught you anything?"

Moonpaw's ears burned as she flattened them against her head. "I'm sure you made mistakes too!"

Jayfeather snorted.

Before Moonpaw could tell Jayfeather how much living with him was like living with burrs stuck on her fur, Alderheart intercepted. "Moonpaw! Could you come help me sort through these dock leaves?"

"Sure," Moonpaw grumbled, flicking her tail in Jayfeather's face and earning a disgusted hiss.

"Apprentices! If she were my apprentice, why I'd have her cleaning out the elder's den for a moon! And her..." Jayfeather's voice faded as she padded away.

Why can't I do anything right as a medicine cat?!

(((ICEPOOL'S POV)))

Icepool dropped a thrush and two mice onto the fresh-kill pile before sitting down a few fox-lengths away to wash herself.

Bramblestar was sharing tongues with Squirrelflight, and Thriftear, Bristlefrost, Rootspring, Flowerpaw, Shadepaw, Rosetail, and Stemleaf had just returned from the dawn patrol.

Rootspring and Bristlefrost sat down together and started eating fresh-kill, while Rosetail and Stemleaf discussed which parts of the forest were best for hunting.

Flowerpaw ignored Shadepaw who was talking to her, and thrust her way into the apprentice's den.

"Is Flowerpaw upset?" Icepool looked up and asked Shadepaw, who nodded and sat down next to her.

"She's been snappy and grumpy all morning long. Even Thriftear said she was a bit hotheaded, and Thriftear's always grumpy in the morning when she has to go on the dawn patrol." Shadepaw explained, then meowed more carefully, "I think she wants to know who our father is."

Icepool's fur tingled. 

What can I tell them?

She had promised Shadowsight she would tell her kits who their father was but...were they really ready for that?

Shadepaw blinked expectantly up at her, and Icepool felt as if mice were scurrying around in her belly.

"Err................................"

Shadepaw tilted his head curiously at her.

"I'll go talk to Flowerpaw and see what's wrong." Icepool mewed and padded towards the apprentice's den.