Goldstar's past

Chapter 6: "'Am I dead?'"

    Goldpaw fell face first into the dirt. Sneezing the dirt from her nose, she got up and shook her pelt. She wasn't going to enjoy the grit and dirt she was going to have to wash out of her fur.

"You have to surprise me, Goldpaw." Tigerlily mewed, slightly agitated. They have been working on this move for hours. "Try to make it look like your going to do one thing, but do the-" Tigerlily didn't even finish. Goldpaw had just rammed Tigerlily, head first into her flank. Tigerlily stumbled and tried to regain her balance. Before she could, Goldpaw launched herself at Tigerlily, claws sheathed. She slid under her mentor's belly and kicked it with her hind legs. With a yowl, Tigerlily jump up and spun around. She tackled Goldpaw and gently nipped her shoulder. Goldpaw instinctively rolled over and stood there panting.

"Good job, Goldpaw." Tigerlily panted. "You really caught me off guard!" She starts to groom her fur.

"That was amazing!" Goldpaw jumped at the meow. She spun around and saw her denmate, Bronzepaw. "You have to teach me how to do that!" Goldpaw looked down at her paws and scuffled them and blushed. Bronzepaw was so nice to her. She felt funny when she was near him. She loved his scent, how he smiled... How he laughed... His eyes. She shook her head and looked back at  Bronzepaw.

"Why? I-I'm not your mentor... Mistflower is." Goldpaw mewed shyly. Almost on as if she was called, Mistflower padded out of the brambles.

"I'm what now?" Mistflower purred. She was always kind-hearted.

"You have to teach me this battle move Goldpaw just did!" Bronzepaw meowed loudly. He was so energetic. Goldpaw watched him as he bounded over to his mentor and explained the move Goldpaw had done.

"That one is a bit complicated, but I think your ready. Tigerlily, will you help me demonstrate?" Mistflower told Bronzepaw. Goldpaw didn't think it was really complicated, but to be honest, she had never learned it before. It came with pure instinct. But, she didn't dare tell anyone about that.

"Of course, Mistflower." Tigerlily mewed. She slightly moved forward. Mistflower crouched and flicked her tail. She looked even more dangerous with her teeth bared. Goldpaw shuddered. She didn't want to meet Mistflower in battle! Mistflower tensed her muscles, and she was about to pounce. Goldpaw immediately looekd at Tigerlily.

But, before Mistflower could pounce, a shadow suddenly flashed out of the surrounding forest and tackled Tigerlily. Tigerlily yowled in surprised. Goldpaw tasted the air and her fur bristled. That scent was definately not Crystalclan scent! Bronzepaw skidded to a hault beside Goldpaw, so close that their pelts touched. Goldpaw didn't move away, because there was something comforting about his touch.

More cats poured out of the forest and tackeld Mistflower and Tigerlily. A pale orange she-cat attacked Bronzepaw. Goldpaw was about to help, but a sudden impact knocked the breath out of her and sent her flying. She landed on her side. Goldpaw slowly got to her paws to face a huge brown tabby tom with piercing amber eyes. His teeth were bared and his long claws were unsheathed.

"This is going to be easy" The tom snarled and took a step forward. Goldpaw almost turned tail and fled but a yowl made her look back at her clanmates. It was Bronzepaw. He was pinned down, blood welling from his throat. A shot of fury jolted through her. Goldpaw looked at the tom. He was just another obstacle. The tom smirked and lauched himself at her. Goldpaw slid under him and clawed his belly. Blood splattered her face. Pain burn her right flank. The tom was raking his long claws down her flank. Goldpaw bit the tom's tail which made him shriek and run for his life.

Goldpaw dashed over to the she-cat that was hurting Bronzepaw and flung herself onto her. Goldpaw raked her claws down the pretty she-cat's face. Tthe she-cat yowled and her paws flailed helplessly as Goldpaw clawed her. Goldpaw sunk her teeth into the she-cat's shoulder and let her go so the cat could flee.

Goldpaw turned to Bronzepaw. "Bronzepaw!" She whimpered. He looked battered. His neck was oozing out blood. Blood trickled out of his mouth. His fur was matted with blood and dirt.

"G-goldpaw?" Bronzepaw whispered, then started coughing. Blood spewed out of his mouth. "Oh Starclan that doesn't look pretty..." He looked pitiful.

"It's o-" Goldpaw ended with a yowl as she was rammed into a tree. She fell to its roots and laid there, dazed. Darkness enveloped her. She felt like she was floating, in utter darkness. It was like she was at the end of time.

Am I dead?