A Melody of Blood

CHAPTER TWO

Oddpaw woke up with a start. She had a dream of a cat yowling her name over and over.

I must be going insane. She shook her head and let out a purr of amusement at her silly imagination. As she looked out of the den, she saw the sun shining, and as she looked around, she saw she was the only one still in the den. She felt a prickle of confusion, but then realized, all the other apprentices were at training.

Mouse-dung! She scolded herself. I must have slept in!

She ran out into the sandy clearing, seeing all her clanmates out. Goldenstripe was giving a badger ride to Rabbitkit along the nursery while Fawnspots rested her sleepy head. Foxstar was curled up neatly along the Tallrock, and was whispering something inaudible from where Oddpaw was standing. Rosefern and Amberpelt shared tounges outside the elder's den. Firespark was following Berryfern around camp, love shimmering in his eyes.

Oddpaw rolled her eyes playfully at Firespark. He's lucky we changed the Warrior Code!

Moons ago, the Clans had agreed to change the Warrior Code. Medcine Cats were allowed to have mates and kits. But if it came to battle, their mind must be focused on helping their Clan, not their family. Thats how Oddpaws mother, Fawnspots had become a medicine cat while still having 4 kits. Borders were not required to be checked every day, but if a neighboring Clan wanders over the border, and the scent is weak, they may not challenge them. Other than those two, most of the Warrior Code remained untouched, and unchanged.

Oddpaw continued to look around for the other apprentices, and soon saw them entering the gorse tunnel, each carrying amazing prey. Catpaws eyes were shining with delight, as she held a blue jay in her mouth. Many of the feathers rested on Catpaws pelt, sign alling she and the elegant bird had quite the fight.

Swiftpaw was carrying an ordinary vole, but it would still be a nice addition to the prey pile. He glared at Catpaw as he strode through camp, most likely jealous of her magnificent catch.

Even the busy apprentice Dottedpaw held a rabbit, its weight pulling down the lithe she-cat.

As the exhausted cats approached Oddpaw, she felt a twinge of anger swelling in her belly. "Why didnt you wake me up?" She mewed quietly.

Gingerstrike looked down at her apprentice. "Its your fault you couldn't wake up in the morning, so its your fault you didnt learn how to hunt."

Oddpaws whiskers began to twitch, and the four note tune began to loop in her head. No, no. Not the cat. Please, let me grow out of it!

But as the four note tune looped in her head, and both eyes flashed green, it was inevitable. She felt as if she was ripped out of her body, but yet-she was still there.

Then, she felt the sense of drowing; her paws flashed at the surface, but she kept sinking, until she hit rock bottem.

This is new.... She thought, trying to remain calm. But as she continued to lose air, she continued to lose her sanity.

Suddenly, she lost all control of her voice, and everything she-or the cat who had taken her body, was forcing her to say it instead.

Her head pounded, and all around her-the water, the walls, the ground, everything blasted one word.
Jaysong. Jaysong. Jaysong.

Oddpaw suddenly found herself on the ground. She looked around frantically. Where'd all the water go? Nothing made sense.

Despite not knowing where or how she was here, she bolted off in a direction, willing herself to wake up from this silly dream, but her whiskers continued to twitch, the walls continued to chant 'Jaysong', and the four note tune continueslly played over and over in her head.

Two red eyes gleamed from the shadows, and Oddpaw took a startled leap backwards, bumping into somthing. As she turned around, she saw that there were red eyes circling her everywhere.
No, no no. It can't end like this. I need to wake up! This is all a dream!

But as the bloody fangs got closer and closer, she began to realize, she was stuck in reality.
The winced as fangs grabbed her scruff, but they weren't killing her. As she opened her eyes, she saw that the cat who had picked her up didn't have red eyes, or bloody fangs. She had stars in her fur!

She had to stop her jaw from dropping. A-a StarClan cat!

Her pelt was beatiful. It was a silky soft grey, with darker stripes and speckles along her body. Her eyes were a beatiful blue, like pools of water.

"Hold on Oddpaw!"

She know's my name.

They came running up to a cave, and as they entered, there was a pool of water. Before Oddpaw could realize what was happening, the StarClan cat dropped her into the pool.

"Wait! No! Help!" Oddpaw screeched, as she flailed in the water.

But the StarClan cat made no attempt to stop her, but instead whispered. "Fight him."