Lemurstar's Prophecy (book two)

Chapter 17

Lemurpaw struggled to her paws, gritting her teeth. The set on her chest had been removed, and she was standing for the first time in a moon.

"Thats it, take it easy," Splashflight coaxed. He was beside her to steady her shaking steps. She wobbled. "Gotcha!" He panted and nudged her back up. Lemurpaw smiled to her father.

"Thanks. I think I'm almost ready to train again," Lemurpaw said with a purr. "I just need to get steady on my paws again." She took another step, welcoming the cool, soft grass that tickled her pads. She let out a relaxed purr.

"Alright, I think I should get Morningstar and tell her you are healed. Lets go." Splashflight trotted off and Lemurpaw smiled. The day was perfect.

A sudden scream of pain interrupted her thoughts. She whipped around, running towards the sound, and she scented Snowtip. "Splashflight! She's kitting!" Lemurpaw yelled, and began to lick Snowtip's cheek. "Its ok. He's coming." She soothed.

Splashflight's fur brushed Lemurpaw's flanks, and she stepped back to give him some room. "How can I help?" She asked.

By now her sister had gathered beside her, along with the rest of the clan. Before Splashflight could answer, Turtlepaw pulled Lemurpaw back. "I need to tell you something!" She whispered urgently.

Lemurpaw started back to Splashflight. "He-"

"Its important, Lemurpaw!" Her sister cried, the note of hysteria in her voice rising. Lemurpaw sighed and nodded. Anything that had her sister this terrified had to be important.

"Alright. In the forest, come on," she followed her sister across the river to the waterfall. "What is it, Turtlepaw?"

Turtlepaw gulped. "I-I was hunting, and I started to hear things. I heard a cat scream like they were right next to me, but I was alone. When I turned around, I didn't see the forest behind me. I saw Snowtip in the camp, and then you, and..." She was sobbing. "What does it mean, Lemurpaw?! I saw the camp... But I wasn't there!"

Lemurpaw lifted a paw to calm her sister. "Turtlepaw, I never told you this, but I think we are part of a prophecy. 'The lake of blood will grow with every strike. Kits will drown in rivers of endless blood and pain and the clan will be wiped out. Only the ringed tail and the dappled turtle can deliver us from the fatal morning star!' I never told you, but I had a dream as a kit. And now we both have powers... I can see in battle, and you can hear things from far away. Don't you see? We must be the ringed tail and the dappled turtle, Turtlepaw... We must be."

Her sister stared at her. "Prophecy?! This isn't a prophecy, Lemurpaw! Morningstar is a menace to our clan and she will destroy it, yes, but there cant't be anything we can do, we're just ordinary apprentices!" She cried, and ran off. "You're lying!"