Warriors (Fanfic):Moonpaw's Destiny

Chapter 6

Moonrise surveyed the camp for Lionpaw and Mosspaw. They sat in the middle, noses buried in their mother's cold fur. Embertail had been killed in the battle, along with Bloodshed.

Moonrise padded over to the young apprentices. She lightly touched her nose to each of their heads.

Dappleheart sat wailing in the clearing. Bloodshed had been her mate. Her belly was now full of kits that would never know their father.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under Clanrock for a DeathClan meeting," Darkstar yowled.

Almost every cat was already in the clearing.

"It is time I appoint a new deputy. I say these words before the spirit of Bloodshed, that he may hear and approve my choice. Cometflash will be the new deputy of DeathClan."

"Cometflash! Cometflash!" the Clan cheered half-heartedly.

"I have another annoncement. Smallfoot is moving to the elders den."

"Smallfoot! Smallfoot!"

Moonrise sighed. No one was very enthusiastic about this victory. Besides the apprentices, of course.

"And then I slashed him like this-" Bramblepaw leaped in the air and clawed the air. "-and he went wailing back to camp, along with the one Moonrise got."

All the other apprentices looked at him in awe, except Patchpaw.

"I wish I could've gone!" she mewed wistfully with a sigh.

"You'll go next battle, for sure! Then we could probably face warriors!" Bramblepaw meowed enthusiastically.

"You crazy lump of fur! I don't even know a battle move!" Patchpaw giggled, pushing him over.

"Neither did I! All instinct!"

"Oh, and hedgehogs. . ." Moonrise turned her ears away from their chatter. How could they be excited about bloodshed?

Suddenly, she started.

"I'm meeting Stormclaw at Sparkling Cave!" she whispered.

Moonrise dashed out of the camp. It was almost moonhigh! Her paws skidded on the leaves as she raced towards Sparkling Cave.

As she ran into the main cave, she bumped right into Stormclaw. Their heads knocked together in a painful collision.

"Ow! Are you okay?" they meowed simultaneously. They both giggled.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Moonrise meowed. "You?"

"Wonderful!" Stormclaw tackled her to the ground.

"I'm so glad you came!" he meowed, nuzzling her face. Moonrise purred and blushed.

"Me too," she murmured. She quickly licked his cheek and stepped away.

"I-I. . . really shouldn't be here," she meowed, looking at her paws.  Stormclaw lightly pushed her muzzle up to face him with his paw.

"Why?" he meowed softly.

"Because you're from different Clans," a voice echoed from the shadows. Redfur stepped forward.

Moonrise gasped. Stormclaw stepped in front of her protectively.

"What are you doing here?" Stormclaw growled. 

"I'm here to stop you from doing something you'll regret," Redfur meowed strongly, looking at Moonrise.

"Please. . . Don't tell," she begged.