Winterpaw's wish

Chapter 4 ( The battle with Fishclan )

I stared at Sweetstream and she launched herself at another cat clawing at them, aiming for thier throats. Dewpaw, and Tigerpaw were leading The queens and elders to one den and I could see Darkstar battling the Fishclan leader Troutstar as if all of Starclan was behind him. I puffed up with pride for my mentor, he was an amazing cat, a cat I was proud of as a mentor.

Or maybe more? A little voice whispered inside of my head, but I couldn't focus on it, there was a battle going on. I launched myself with my powerful hind legs up onto the Skystone and watched the battle with clear sights on everything. I could just see Sweetstream ripping out the throat of a tom cat and a she-cat close by barrel into Sweetstream and push her nose into the dead tom's fur.  My mother was a monster, all because Shrewflight had died, all because claws had to be unsheathed at a patrol.

Sweetstream gritted her teeth and I could just see the blood that lined her inner jaw and the blood that was thick on her paws. She was bloodthirsty and by the rate she was going she would wip out the whole Fishclan itself. Troutstar was now panting and was looking around the clearing looking for something. Then he found the dark ginger tom's dead body who Sweetstream had first killed.

" Applefang!" He yowled clawing the ground in frustration. " Applefang is dead! Fishclan retreat!" Troutstar was about to turn around till he found the second tom Sweetstream had killed. He gasped and bolted to the black and ginger tom and bowed his head.

" Aspenwisp." He sighed. " You were a great deputy, I will avenge your death. I promise." He sniffed his fur onw more time and gritted his teeth.

" Sweetstream!" He yowled. Sweetstream was a little way off watching Troutstar grinning.

" So, you know it was me, do you?" She purred. Troutstar bared his teeth and started circling her crouching down with unsheathed claws.

" Why, Sweetstream? What did he ever do to you? He was a loyal deputy to his clan!" Sweetstream spat and turned to glare at the leader.

" Loyal! He killed Shrewflight! I reconized his scent and I wanted revenge. I loved Shrewflight like nothing else in the world, and then your deputy went off and killed the love of my life!" Troustar arced his hairless back in anger.

" My deputy was loyal and loved by his clan mates, you will pay Sweetstream!" Troutstar yowled and launched himself at Sweetstream's throat, Sweetstream tried to back away but Troutstar was to quick. Sweetstream was choking and collapsed onto the ground panting and puking blood.

" No!" I leaped off of the Skystone and looked at Sweetstream.

" Sweetstream! You can't die, Dewpaw, Rosepaw, Tigerpaw, and I need you!" For once Sweetstream smiled and weakly lifted her head to lick my cheek.

" I'm sorry, Winterpaw." She choked. " This is my destiny, Shrewflight and I will be watching you from above, being great warriors I know you will be." She gasped and her body went limp and her eyes glazed. I bowed my head and clawed the ground in rage.

I glared at Troutstar and I wanted to take every single nine lives he had, and make sure it was slow and painful.

Yes,could hear Scourge willing me. Kill him for what he did to Sweetstream he deserves to die.I almost did til Darkstar brushed against my side shaking his head at Sweetstream's dead body. He said nothing but glared up at Troutstar.

" Go home," Darkstar hissed. " There has been enough death today, to much if it was up to me." Troutstar snorted and gathered the rest of his clan and they raced out of the camp limping, and blood dripping from their wounds. Darkstar was still besides me, pressing against my side.

" Why?" I whispered. " Sweetstream, why couldn't you have just stayed and missed Shrewflight instead of avenge him?" I knelt besides her black tabby shape and buried my nose into her fur.

" Winterpaw, I want you in my den with your brother and sisters." Darkstar mewed. He then padded to where his den was in a cave underneath the Skystone. Tigerpaw, and Dewpaw were just approaching Sweetstream and gasped.

" Darkstar needs us." I sighed. Dewpaw and Tigerpaw padded to Darkstar's den and I slowly trudged to where Rosepaw was treating Ratpaw's wounds.

" What is it, Winterpaw?" Rosepaw hissed not taking her eyes off of the wounds she was working on.

" Sweetstream is dead." Rosepaw jerked her head at me and stopped working on Ratpaw's wounds.

" What?" She squeaked. I nodded and led her to where Darkstar was sitting in his den in front of Tigerpaw, and Dewpaw.

" Good you are all here. As you know Sweetstream has left us for Starclan." My litter mates nodded and bowed their heads sadly.

" So, Winterpaw you and Tigerpaw will take care of the elders. Dewpaw, you will help Rosepaw and Autumnbreeze with medicine cat duties."

" Why?" Tigerpaw protested. " We haven't done anything wrong!" I knew he was really mad, especially being paired up with me, I knew I wasn't his most favorite cat.

" Because," Darkstar replied calmly. " I don't want both of you parents death to effect the way you hunt and fight as well as others. It will give you some time to yourself." He mewed. I nodded and curled up where I sat. Rosepaw, Dewpaw, and Tigerpaw left and Darkstar was looking at me curiously.

" Aren't you going to leave?" He asked. I shrugged.

" I don't feel like getting up, can I take a nap in here?" I asked. Darkstar narrowed his eyes, but after a moment nodded.

" You can use my nest if you want." I mewed. I dipped my head gratfully and curled up in his nest. Darkstar padded towards me and licked my cheek.

" Sweet dreams, Winterpaw. Starclan send you good ones." I yawned and I feel into a soft sleep.

I woke up to be in a damp dark forest.

No! Not again!

Sure enough, Scourge was behind me clawing the ground in anger.

" What has gotten into you?" He growled. " You should have killed Troutstar, and how dare you? You can't fall in love! Power is the most important thing." I tilted my head, did I really love Darkstar? Yes, he was a strong, powerful cat respected by many, but did I really love him?

" No! I don't want this! I wish I was just a normal cat!" I spat. Scourge sat up and I could feel his ice-blue eyes burn into me like fire.

" Well guess what, your not! You wished for something, and so you most go for it! Bloodshed is everything! Power is what is most important and gets cats places. Only cowards go by loyalty and courage.  Winterpaw, this is your destiny!" Scourge growled. I shook my head in disbelief and backed away from the small black tom.

" I wouldn't let you change me! I'm loyal to Lightclan!" Scourge gritted his teeth and I opened my eyes sitting up panting. Darkstar was looking at me confused, he was right in front of me with his tail rapped around his fore paws. I could have guessed he was there for a while.

" You okay, Winterpaw? You were talking in your sleep. Something about you didn't want something?" Darkstar looked concerned and he slammed his tail to the cave ground.

I nodded and arched my back in a stretch.

" Would you like me to take care of the elders?" I asked Darkstar. The jet-black tom nodded and I could feel his eyes burning into my white pelt.