Rising Greatness

Chapter 3

I let Runningfeather take the kit to the medicine den. After, I followed Dawnstar into their moss lined and dirt padded floor with the rocky cave for shelter "Dawnstar," I began, calm and cool but in a worried tone. " The kit trailed out of camp so I started to follow it. He was really hard to keep up with and once I knew she was in Shadowclan territory I knew it meant trouble. When I got there I saw her lying there. Two cats jumped on me and I chased them away." Her nod signed me to continue in thought. " They both carried Shadowclan scent but also weird cents from somewhere else." She looked puzzled then started, " You did the right to never let him go off alone. He could have been further hurt. Never go out of our territory again. Trouble always comes no matter what when you cross borders, no matter what the cause." I wanted to share what I thought about them being rouges. All the tales of them were known if you listened to elders close enough. " Dawnstar, I have had a dream about this exact thing from Firestar. He said look close at everything. You'll need it later on." "Nonsens, only Warriors have dreams, not apprentices barely six moons old." Firestar somewhat did, I thought. " And the smell, do you think the rouges came back or followed us?" " No! Don't listen to the elders there time maybe but we have moved on! I will not take action to something I do not believe has happened. Off you go" her voice turned cold with anger.

I knew someone would believe me. But who? I layed in bed thinking of how my dream added up with what happened. Definitely what Firestar dreams did. As I curled up Lunapaw whispered, " Don't toss around and meow all night okay? I like peace and quiet when resting for a big day." A dream flooded my mind as soon as I drifted to sleep. "You will have to see what the clan's anger do's. Use what you know, trust your instincts like me. It will all be fine....." I tossed and turned when the pictures of war entered my mind and strange cats being led by...... Drakenfur! Not him! How could this be? This cat wasn't ever led by greed and power hungry, it is also said to probably be the next deputy! He was sometimes pushy and impatient any other way to get things done faster he would do. Maybe he was led by misfortune.

I was woken up by the paw of Ivypaw on my face. "Wake up! Barkstripe never likes to wait! You of all cats should know that!" She hurried out of the den. I stretched really quickly trying to get the thoughts out of my mind. I trotted over and pawed out a small rat. As I ate it quickly, Barkatil came over nuzzling me. "Very good timing now, come on."

We started heading for the woods in the heart of the hunting ground towards a nice old rotting log. We sat on it side by side talking about warrior rules of hunting. " Always and I mean always hunt for the clan first. NEVER eat before them unless you're on patrol. If it's not leaf bare don't come back with a pitiful catch. Lastly, don't take from other clans." We tracked in a circle in one area then stopped. "Only hunt in this circle, and try to catch one, squirrel, rabbit, and mouse." She sat there in silence watching carefully. I knew she was watching for flaws we could work on. I was on the trail of a rat. As I landed on top of the rat my back leg made a loud thud, and the rat was gone.I knew I had failed but I decided to keep on hunting anyway. I found out that there was a squirrel not too far for me. So I decided to trail along there and sneak up on it from behind him. I took one big mighty leap on him and he was dead. I carried him back straight to my mentor. "Very good," she said, giving me a pleased little nod. I went on my way to find a rabbit. There is a big white one hopping along in the bushes. I had never seen such a fatter rabbit in my life. I knew this rabbit was going to be hard to catch because it sensed all my steps. As I stepped lighter the rabbit didn't even notice me. Two leaps and a crunchy bite told me that the big rabbit was no longer alive. After the rabbit she explained how to estimate what my prey will sense. "The bigger ears and feet the more attentive. The smaller the quicker but less attentive." She said, "Not bad for a limited area."I knew I had a big catch. Maybe even bigger than the warriors I thought.

Once I dropped off my catch I decided the medicine cats could share this big rabbit. Dragging it by the ears towards the den I could hear them talking about some patiences. "All this coughing must be pollen." Runningfeather meowed. " Not unless all the cedar I have suspected is giving irritated throats." Said Moonscare the young black she-cat that is the apprentice of Runningfeather. " Hey, what about whitecough? That always goes around in mild cases and affects some cats more than others." My sister's sweet voice rang out. The cat's all thought this was quite possible. " Hey, I brought y'all some rabbit!" I said. Daisypaw ran up to me nuzzling me. I knew she loved her training for a medicine cat even if she wouldn't fight side by side with me like we dreamed about. "Was she impressed with your catch?" Daisypaw said. "I assume she was." I said laying down my big catch. I watched them chow down on the big rabbit as they discussed over fourth fulls of rabbit. "See y'all later!" I said trotting out of the cozy den and into the warm breeze of summer. My stomach started to growl like a lion, I needed to go eat. But I really had to talk to my den mates about their training. We hardly shared any words together since they moved up to apprentices just a little before me. Even sharing the den, all of them were too busy. Lunapaw, Ivypaw, and Oceanpaw were gathered in a small circle licking foreheads. I dragged a small squirrel over to them and settled myself by Lunapaw. " What's up Willowpaw? Big catch today huh?" she said, licking her own paw now. " Pretty big, how's your training going?" I meowed in between mouthfuls of squirrel. " Well Flamefoot took me out hunting near the old ridge. We caught lots of rats." Lightpaw boasted timidly. Flamefoot was my father. He Respected us but had no strong connection with us at all. "Midnightrain taught me some tree climbing skills. Now I can catch birds." Lunapaw said. " Silvermeadow teaches me how to use my nose, ears and movement to catch things with not just my eyes. She is very calm and patient." Silvermeadow was my mom, and like my dad she didn't have a very strong relationship with us, but she still treated us like kits sometimes. "Leafleap, taught me some new battle moves." Ivypaw mewed. Leafleap is Flamefoot's older brother, he always was kind to me and Daisypaw, he acted like more of a father to us than Flamefoot. Me and Daisyfern both understood Flamefoot was a known and strong cat and he wouldn't be soft because of his daughters, although every now and then he would visit or play with us. "How was your day?" Oceanpaw said, disrupting my thoughts. "Good, I'm learning how to track prey. Barktail is a very good mentor, I think tomorrow we will train on hunting."

Once I cleaned all the squirrel fur out of my mouth I licked myself clean of all the dirt and grime. Drakenfur came over to me, eyeing me as if I had done something wrong. His expression softened when he got closer as though we were long lost den mates. "I have been watching your training. You're very good, smart and clever. Just remember, stay in your place. Don't fool around, it might get you or others hurt." He said walking away with anger that didn't come out but was in his eye. Why? He was nice and good and kind. Remember your dream Willowpaw. I thought.

Shaking all this aside I walked back to the den and curled up in my place. It needed to connect the dots so badly! Why this cat?! What war would be coming that would lead us to destruction and furry?! What!