Splashflight's Mistake (book one)

Chapter 22

Brightshine's mouth hung open. "Splashpaw, what do we do? We haven't found the ringed tail or the dappled turtle! How do we save the clan?!"

Splashpaw hung his head. "I don't know. But I do know the Dark Times are fast approaching. We have no time to lose. We must try to find the foreseen saviors."

*****

Nightgaze stepped out of Aquastar's den. His eyes were forlorn. No better than when she had lost her life. He then led Splashpaw to the edge of the camp.

"Splashpaw, it's nearly moonhigh. We need to get ready to go."

Splashpaw was confused. "Go where?"

"You have earned your full medicine cat name," he said. Splashpaw's eyes widened. He purred.

"Nightgaze, I can't wait! Wait till Aquastar hears, she'll be so proud!" His excited tone faded when he caught Nightgaze's sad expression.

"I'm afraid Aquastar isn't in the state of mind to congratulate you, Splashpaw. She is much too sick." He said sadly. "Do you still want to go?"

Splashpaw nodded, all his excitement and anticipation gone. "Yes. I have to do my duty to the clan."

He nodded. "Then we leave at once." and with that, he started to the entrance of the camp.

Splashpaw trotted after him, through the trees and through the ferns, and the undergrowth. Across the river and past the cave he met in with Brightshine. Splashpaw prayed his mentor wouldn't scent the stale scents of their visits every night, but it seemed Nightgaze was too intent on finding the trail, or he knew about the meetings, just ignoring it. Splashpaw couldn't tell.

They passed the waterfall cave and stepped onto a well worn path, worn from seasons of use. Proceeding that was a steep incline that held rocks, slippery pebbles, and a trickling stream. They followed the stream and came up into a large pool, fed by a trickling waterfall. The waterfall was sparkling even with the night sky, giving it reason for its name, the Starlit Falls.

Nightgaze pointed to the water. "You know the drill, Splashpaw." Splashpaw nodded. He lay in his dip in the cold, hard stone, and lapped up the icy water in the pool. Almost at once he felt a tickling sensation, and his eyes drooped as the icy water trickled down his throat. His heart fluttered. He was whirling away to StarClan. What will they tell me? Will they help me find the saviors?

Splashpaw opened his eyes in a grassy field, his head spinning. Starry cats surrounded him, moving in sync, staring with glowing eyes at him. "The time draws near... The time draws near! Splashpaw, the time draws near! We must give you your name for you to fulfill your destiny!" They moved in closer. Each cat touched their nose to his body. Splashpaw felt a surge of overwhelming energy flowing through his veins.  He winced.

The cats lifted him off the ground. They began to float, and the wind pulled through Splashpaw's fur, and he closed his eyes, basking in the wonderful feeling of StarClan.

"Splashflight..." The cats whispered in an almost blood chilling unison. "Splashflight is the name we give you. For you will fly through the stars like no other. Splashflight..." The starry cats whispered, and then Splashflight was falling, and all went dark.