Owlflight's Kits (Book One)

Chapter Twenty Five

Owlflight was dreaming again. He instantly recognized the eerie green light and Rainpaw, who sat in the center, his glowing blue eyes focused on Owlflight.

"Rainpaw.. Is everything alright?" Owlflight almost panicked, wondering if something had gone wrong with Winter.

"Winter is fine." Rainpaw replied. "This has nothing to do with him."

"Oh.. Thank StarClan." Owlflight breathed a sigh of relief.

"I had a vision, Owlflight. You will restore the clan.. If you stay with them. You, and Robin, and Firepaw, and all of them.. You need to stay with MudClan. Thorncloud is taking this message to Stripedstar. Winter is on his way, and he knows that he must stay. This is important. Do not leave your clan again."

Owlflight's heart raced. "Okay!" He gasped, horror suddenly taking over his thoughts. Rainpaw disappeared, replaced by Bloodshed. The white cat stood with his teeth bared, blood dripping from his claws.

That image stayed in Owlflight's mind even after he had woken up. Robin slept peacefully next to him, while the rest of the clan was seemingly awake. "Stripedstar!" Owlflight called, padding over to the MudClan leader.

"I received dream, too, Owlflight." Stripedstar said, seeming to read his thoughts. "You and your friends will join MudClan."

Owlflight found himself feeling relieved. He would be much safer being with the clan than ever being alone. "Thank you, Stripedstar." He dipped his head.

As he spoke, the leader called the summons to the clan. As the others gathered around, Owlflight noticed that Winter had arrived in the camp, settling down beside Cloud.

Stripedstar began by telling the cats what their apprentice names would be. It was nothing surprising; Robinpaw, Cloudpaw, Firepaw. Then she got to Winter, and stared long and hard at the tom. "Winter is an unknown word to the cats of MudClan." She began. "Because of this, you will be known as Coldpaw, rather than Winterpaw."

Winter- no, Coldpaw- dipped his head respectfully. Owlflight felt a burst of pride when Stripedstar announced that he would mentor Robinpaw, Flamefur would mentor Cloudpaw, Spottedfeather would mentor Coldpaw, and Snowstorm would mentor Firepaw.

My very own apprentice. Owlflight thought, nearly trembling with excitement. He did think it made sense for him to mentor Robinpaw, being the closest cat to him besides Firepaw.

"Hey, Winter- er, Coldpaw!" Cloud shouted, bounding over to Coldpaw, who sat beside Robinpaw. "You're going to be mentored by Spottedfeather!"

"I heard." Coldpaw replied. "Is she nice? I've never met her."

"I've heard she makes a great mentor." Owlflight told him.

"Who was your mentor?" Robinpaw asked, kneading the ground with his white paws.

"Mine? Oh, Moonbeam, the deputy." Owlflight said. "She's a good mentor. It's too bad she won't be mentoring any of you.."

"What about Flamefur?" Cloudpaw asked. "He's your brother, isn't he? Is he a good mentor?"

"He's never had an apprentice. He became a warrior just a few days before I did.." Owlflight shuddered, remembering that Flamefur and Bloodshed had been given their warrior names together.

"So that only leaves Snowstorm. Is he good?" Firepaw asked, settling down beside Robinpaw.

"I suppose. I wouldn't know.." Owlflight shrugged.

"Hey, Owlflight!" Flamefur called. "Welcome back to MudClan. Eagletail is leading a border patrol... Care to join him? I am!"

"Sure." Owlflight agreed, "Can I bring Robinpaw?"

"Yeah. And.. I'll bring Cloudpaw?" The warrior shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Cloudpaw to see if it's okay. She nodded happily, so the four made their way over to Eagletail, who sat with Spiderpaw.

"Morning! This is a big group to lead on a simple border patrol.." Eagletail's whiskers twitched. "Whatever. Let's go!"

*

When they got to the river, the GreenClan scent markers were stronger than usual. "What is this?" Eagletail growled. "It seems that they've marked our side of the river."

"Are they claiming the river as their own? Now, when a threat hangs so strongly in the air?" Spiderpaw said, stress clear in her voice. "I can't believe that!"

Owlflight felt his fur bristling in anger. Then, a white she-cat appeared, her ears flat. She was on MudClan territory, though she was not MudClan.

"Skywing?" He suddenly recognized his mother. "What are you doing?"

"The river belongs to GreenClan now." She growled. "Coldstream's orders."

"Who died and put Coldstream in charge? Not Hawkstar, if I know anything!" Flamefur spat. "Coldstream is no leader!"

"Hawkstar is ill. Coldstream is leader until he is better." Skywing explained. Her son glared at her, his green eyes blazing with fury.

"Chase her out!" Flamefur spat at the others. Eagletail darted forward, leaping at the tiny white cat. Skywing shrieked, kicking and biting at the larger cat.

Owlflight watched on. Skywing seemed to be the only cat in MudClan territory at the moment, and it wasn't exactly fair for the entire patrol to fight one cat. Only Eagletail fought, while Flamefur muttered something to Cloudpaw. Robinpaw stayed at Owlflight's side, trembling with fear.

Not long passed until Skywing dashed across the border, wailing. Owlflight felt a pang of sorrow, but he ignored it. Even at times like these, his clan had to protect their borders.

But if the clans kept on fighting each other, how would they ever be able to fight Bloodshed?