Warriors-Omen of Thunder-Book 1- Lightning of the Storm

Chapter 9

"Lightningpaw, crouch down more," yowled Blazeflight. Airblaze insisted she practiced even though she was aching. The dark brown tom had taken place of Lightningpaw's mentor. Blazeflight was a senior warrior. Lightningpaw could tell he was a well respected warrior.

"I am crouching down," complained Lightningpaw.

Blazeflight laughed, "I thought Thunderclan cats could fight!"

Lightningpaw hissed. "At least Lilacleaf is nice!"

Blazeflight mumbled, "She's medicine cat. It's her job to be nice."

Lightningpaw did the move perfectly this time. "And it's your job criticize everyone!" Lightningpaw murmured loudly.

Blazeflight laughed. "You do realize I am teaching you Shadowclan moves?"

Lightningpaw was stunned, "Why?"

Blazeflight shrugged, "I guess some cats trust you. Hey, it's the gathering tonight. You should say your goodbyes."

Lightningpaw had almost forgotten that she had stayed with Shadowclan for almost a moon. "Thanks, Blazeflight. You were a good mentor," mewed Lightningpaw as she dipped her head in respect.

"Go, say goodbye," mewed Blazeflight.

Lightningpaw ran off to Shadowclan camp. "Bye, Rainbowlight. It's the gathering tonight so I am going home." Rainbowlight had given birth to Pinetree's kit just days earlier. "Bye, Goosekit. Bye, Snowkit."

Goosekit was a gray tom. Snowkit was a white she-cat. "Where you going?" asked Snowkit.

"Home," laughed Lightningpaw. Snowkit stared at Lightningpaw with confusion. "You are home," mewed the small white kit.

"No, I am Thunderclan."

Snowkit laughed, "Bye then."

Lightningpaw continued to say her goodbyes. "Bye, Moonspirit." Lightningpaw had learned Moonspirit was Bluesoul's mentor.

"Bye, young Lightningpaw," laughed Moonspirit.

Lightningpaw skipped over to the elders den. "Windwhisper?"

"Yes, who is it," mewed the old gray she-cat sourly.

"Sorry for waking you. It's just I am going home tonight," mewed Lightningpaw shyly. Lightningpaw realized she never really talked to the elders, and now a different clan elder had always chatted with her. When I get home I am going to hang out more with Beaverpelt and Serpentheart.

"Lightningpaw? The battle will never be over tell the code is changed," coughed Windwhisper.

"What do you mean?" asked the sandy she-cat.

But Windwhisper was in a better place now.

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"Thunderclan has suffered a great lose this moon," mewed Honeystar from Great oak. "Twoflower has joined Starclan due to a bad fever. The new deputy however is Lizardleaf!"

Lightningpaw gasped. Twoflower was a older cat. She was going to retire soon, but death? Had she heard her right. Twoflower was Snaketail's and Lizardleaf's older sister. How did Beaverpelt and Serpentheart take it? Questions raced through Lightningpaw's mind.

"Also, we are excited to have our apprentices back from Shadowclan. Our apprentices got hurt in a battle. They wouldn't survive the journey back to our camp, but Noblestar took them in," yowled Honeystar.

Noblestar looked down at his paws. "Shadowclan lost two cats in that battle. One was Bluesoul and the other was a Thunderclan apprentice."

"No! My kit! Which .... Which one is dead?" Snaketail yowled.

Lightningpaw walked up. She stood next to the deputies. Lizardleaf shed a tear. Flamepaw was her first apprentice. Airblaze nodded. She knew Lightningpaw meant to speak. Eaglewing of Windclan and Fishswipe of Riverclan stared at this small apprentice that was with the deputies.

"I survived, and I wish every second that Flamepaw was here, but I don't blame Shadowclan. I blame no one," yowled Lightningpaw so everyone could hear. She looked in the direction of her kin. Skypaw stood in horror. Lionstripe was motionless. Snaketail wept.

"I don't know if it is a good time to continue, but Rainbowlight has given birth to two kits. Goosekit and Snowkit, and earlier today Windwhisper passed away," mewed Noblestar.

The gray she-cat that was leader of Windclan spoke next. "Windclan has no new news."

Creekstar of Riverclan then mewed, "neither does Riverclan."

"Then the gathering is over."

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Lightningpaw and the other apprentices laid down in the apprentice den. "I can't believe he is dead," said Skypaw as she looked over at Flamepaw's empty nest.

"I remember he had a bad feeling before the battle. I told him everything would be alright. I am sorry Flamepaw," cried Brownpaw.

Lightningpaw laid down. She thought about her memories. Flamepaw and her hunting. Flamekit, and Flamepaw wrestling over who was the strongest flame. Skypaw and Flamepaw trying to scare her. Lightningpaw had thought her tears were done a moon ago, but this night she cried herself to sleep.