Warriors: Hollow Spirits (Book 1)

Chapter Five

Soulpaw felt tired. Her limbs were numb already, but it was worth the Gathering. Soon after the group of cats returned she had collapsed on her bed of moss in the apprentices den. Foxpaw sat next to her and groomed her fur neatly before drifting off to sleep beside Soulpaw.

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Soulpaw found herself again in the bloody field, but this time two presences. Wolfscar was holding a cat in his jaws, ready to break the cats back. Soulpaw's heart lurched with terror. The cat that Wolfscar was holding was Foxpaw.

She was about to launch herself at the large dark gray tom when Foxpaw's eyes opened and quickly bit the leg of Wolfclaw. Wolfclaw dropped Foxpaw and put his large paw on Foxpaw's back, but the She-cat had slipped away and ran to Soulpaw.

"Quickly, let's get out if here, Soulmoon!" The name startled Soulpaw. Soulmoon? She thought wondrously. Suddenly instant pain shot through Soulpaw as Wolfscar ran up to the two cats and scratched Soulpaw's side. She collapsed to the ground with pain, and yowled. But no voice came out as she wailed for help.

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Soulpaw woke up and looked around. She got up and stretched, flicking off moss on her side and shoulder. She flicked her ears as Foxpaw padded up to her.

"Battle training." Foxpaw mewed, her eyes showing a hint of excitement. Soulpaw nodded, getting up and padding out of the den.

The sun brightly made way into camp, turning the clearing into a dew filled place of sparkles. Soulpaw smiled at the sight and flinched as Wolfpaw went past her.

"Move it! I have training to do today, and your in my way!" The tom hissed, his dark amber eyes full of annoyance. Soulpaw was shocked at the remark and she gave a hiss of annoyance back at the already larger tom.

Soulpaw decided to shrug it off and went to the fresh kill pile, grabbing a plump water vole. She sat down by a stump and gulped down bites of the vole quickly, soon finishing it. She got up and yawned, looking out of the camp. The forest seemed to call out to her, and she felt her paws leading her outside to the Fourpools.

The clearing soothed her as she reached the clearing shortly after, traveling lightly. "This place is so comforting!" Soulpaw mewed, her eyes glowing at the sight.

"So it is!" A voice came from behind Soulpaw as she whipped around, seeing that Sunfern was sitting next to one of the pools surrounding the Sacred Oak.

My mentor seems to be a bit on the Cheery side, she remarked as she padded over to Sunfern and sat next to him. "Why are you here?" Soulpaw mewed, a vision coming into her mind where Sunfern had caught her scent and followed her.

Sunfern looked at his apprentice with a flick of his tail hitting her ear. "I simply was close enough to see you going to Fourpools." Sunfern mewed, his eyes flicking to a bush on the other side of the clearing.

"Who's there!? Show yourself!" Sunfern mewed, getting up.

Soulpaw had layed down and watched with interest as a little tortoiseshell cat poked its head out of a bush, then the rest of the cat's body came out. Soulpaw made a remark that its eyes were a crystal blue color.

Soulpaw pricked her ears as Sunfern seemed to have calmed down. "Littleweb! I wasn't expecting to see you here!" Sunfern's tone seemed welcoming, as if they were friends from different clans.

"Its good to see you too, but at this time, I must ask to see Dapplestar emediately." Littleweb paused to look around warily. "And bring her." Soulpaw flicked her ears in surprise as Littleweb gestured to her.

Sunfern gave a frown. "Why does she need to be in this!? She is doing training today. Nothing else." Sunfern growled, seeing Littleweb coming closer.

"Please," Littleweb begged, his eyes growing desperate. Sunfern gave a sigh through bared teeth, and nodded.

"Follow me." The tom growled, seeing Soulpaw getting up to go with them.

Littleweb followed as told, his small body quivering with slight fear at the bigger warrior. Soulpaw pressed her pelt next to Littleweb for comfort, seeing the small tom relax at her pelt touching his.

"We're here," Sunfern mewed as he took a step into camp. Soulpaw took a small step away from Littleweb as they both entered, making sure their pelt hairs didn't touch.

Dapplestar came out if her den as soon as Willowsky told her about Littleweb. "In my den, NOW." the leader growled, barely able to hide her anger and hostility torward Sunfern and Littleweb.

Soulpaw didn't seemed surprised really, she knew that Dapplestar would get mad once she found out.

Sunfern flicked his tail for Soulpaw to follow the two warriors and rather deadly leader into the den.

The sun made the den shine with brilliance, and Dapplestar sat in her nest neatly. She flicked her tail for Sunfern to leave. Sunfern dipped his head and left the den quickly. Dapplestar turned to look back at Littleweb.

"So then, you have your little meeting, Littleweb. What now?" Dapplestar mewed, hiding her emotions. Littleweb cleared his throat.

"It is a prophecy from Starclan. Our medicine cat, Hollyfeather sent me to tell you, and no other cat." Littleweb dipped his head, and Dapplestar pricked her ears.

"You said that no other cat should hear this. Then why should Soulpaw!?" Dapplestar mewed, raising her voice. Littleweb looked at the leader.

"You don't understand? You don't know the prophecy. Then why doesn't she tell you!?" Littleweb defended himself, looking at Soulpaw. Soulpaw flinched. Then something clicked in her head.

Hollow souls that cure the dark, lost forever, until dawn. Soulpaw recalled the words Thistlestar said, and flinched when Dapplestar came up in front of her, tail flicking with curiosity.

"Well? Do you know of the prophecy from Starclan?" She mewed, her eyes looking over the apprentice with wonder and worry.

Soulpaw took a deep breath. "No, I don't know about the prophecy." Littleweb slightly jumped, and he gave a quiet hiss of annoyance.

"Then you should know yourself." Littleweb sighed. "Hollow souls that cure the dark, lost forever, until dawn."