Strength Of A Leopard (BOOK THREE) [ON HOLD]

Chapter Five

Nearly a moon had passed since Dustpath's death. Stormpaw was showing no signs of healing, her heart still broken. Leopardpaw found himself becoming closer to the moon cat apprentice, always tying to heal her.

"I brought you some moss. Frostytail said your bedding was low." Leopardpaw announced one morning. Her and Rainstorm shared a den in the LightClan camp, as they still hadn't found a mooncave.

"Thank you." Stormpaw whispered as he began to arrange the moss, getting rid of her old bedding. "You're very kind."

Leopardpaw shrugged. He was just happy to finally have a friend besides Frostpaw. "How are you doing?"

"Terrible, as always." She slumped down on the newly made bed.

"Has StarClan spoken to you lately?"

"StarClan has spoken to no cat." Rainstorm growled from his own nest. "They have given up on us, I believe. They've sent this pack of dogs to kill us off, one by one."
Stormpaw nodded sadly as the moon cat spoke. "That can't be true!" Leopardpaw protested. "StarClan loves us all. Why would they want to kill us?"

"Never before have they ignored my prayers!" Rainstorm hissed. "They're ignoring the prayers of all of us!"

"Perhaps it's because you have no mooncave."

"What significance does the mooncave have? It's just that, a cave! The only importance it had was sheltering us. This den, here, is our new mooncave."

Leopardpaw sighed. He turned back to Stormpaw, "Do you really believe him?"

"No cat knows more about StarClan than a cat who walks among them." Stormpaw replied bitterly.

Leopardpaw shifted his paws. "Well, I might have a message from StarClan."

Stormpaw's ears perked up. "Really?"

"Yes. Almost every night, I dream that I'm in the nursery, and I get crushed by falling rocks." Leopardpaw said. "Is that not a message from StarClan?"

"I don't think so." Rainstorm spoke up. "Have you spoken to Frostpaw about the dreams? Maybe she's having them too."

"I did, she isn't." Leopardpaw admitted.

"Weird. We should look for a new mooncave, Rainstorm! And ask them if our nursery will be crushed. Why don't you warn Silverwing?"

"Pointless." Rainstorm huffed. "We'll figure out the dreams later."

Leopardpaw eyed him suspiciously. He knows something. He realised, but what? "I'm going to go see Silverwing just in case." He decided, realising that Brackenkit could be in danger.

He left their den, padding across the cave to the nursery. "Hello," He greeted Silverwing. Stoneclaw slept by her side, but she was awake, nursing Brackenkit.

"Hello, Leopardpaw." She purred.

"Hello. I uh.. Was just gonna say.. Uh.." Leopardpaw stammered. "I've been having this dream lately, that I got crushed by falling rocks in the nursery. I wanted to warn you in case.. You know, it could be a message from StarClan warning me that the nursery would be crushed." He left out the fact that there were two other kits, not only him.

Silverwing looked nervous. "Okay, well.." She didn't seem to believe him, which Leopardpaw understood. He was only apprentice, not even clan born. He had MudClan blood, but his mother was full kittypet.

"I know you don't believe me, but if it is, then you-" Leopardpaw froze as a horrible stench filled his nose. A moment later, frantic shrieks began to echo around the cave.

"Silverwing!" Coldwind burst into the nursery. "The dog pack is attacking our camp! We need to get you up higher, hurry!"