Warrior Cats - New Hope in the Skies (On Hold)

Chapter 13 - Melancholy

The camp was deathly silent. Every cat, who attended the Gathering, was clearly shocked at what happened. The ones who did not attend the Gathering were shocked at the sight of our bloody pelts and wary faces when we limped back to camp, looking utterly defeated.

At times like this, warriors will look to the leader for guidance, I thought while trying to calm down my shaken heart. What will Strikestar do?

The light grey tom stood in front, his shoulder too damaged to allow him to leap up the Highrock to address the Clan.

"ThunderClan, I urge of all you to stay strong," Strikestar meowed, facing the crowd of anxious and tired cats. "Flowerstar has agreed to become our allies, and will assist us to fight ShadowClan. However, Smokestar has turned his back on us and joined ShadowClan."

Instead of a cacophony of disgust for the WindClan leader's action, only silence followed Strikestar's words.

"At the Gathering, Fangstar came again with the offer to join him. Flowerstar and I refused and we were ambushed. WindClan also joined in the fight," Strikestar mewed grimly.

"Did StarClan do anything?" Kinktail, who was resting at camp during the Gathering, asked.

"No," Treewhisker rasped, barely holding in a cough. Flamecloud ushered him to the medicine cat den, talking to the former ShadowClan elder quietly.

"It looks to me that StarClan has abandoned us," Nightflame growled. "Previously, when fights occurred at the Gathering, StarClan would send clouds to cover the moon. Now, they did completely nothing."

"Aspenfern," Strikestar called the medicine cat, who was tending to Rosepaw's wounds, "did StarClan share anything with you?"

She shook her head gravely. "StarClan has been silent lately," she admitted.

I was rather shocked. While I was aware that StarClan usually do not intervene in the living world, I could not think of any logical reason that StarClan would just stay silent and watch coldly.

The Clan was beginning to panic. "What chance do we have against ShadowClan without StarClan?" Nightflame sounded angry and disappointed. "I thought coming here would allow me to live the rest of my miserable life peacefully and safely, but I am wrong. I rather die to a fox than by the claws of whom I called Clanmates."

He heaved himself to his paws and started to head out of the ThunderClan camp. "I'm leaving," he spat. "You don't have to follow me."

"Nightflame!" Treewhisker called weakly. "Wait!"

"I'll get him," Dustpaw told the elder, looking worried. He ran after Nightflame, who had just disappeared behind the wall of thorns.

Strikestar's gaze landed on each of his Clanmates' eyes, which were overwhelmed by despair.

Nightflame has a point, I thought sadly. Maybe there is no hope.

"Strikestar," Woodspots spoke abruptly. "May I speak to the Clan?"

The ThunderClan leader nodded.

Woodspots leaped up the Highrock, giving us an intense gaze. "ThunderClan, it is true that we are facing dark times, so dark that we may not overcome alone. We have RiverClan on our side, and even if StarClan does not say anything, I'm certain that we have their support."

He paused to let his message sink in.

"You have two choices: fight and die, or run and live," Woodspots meowed simply. "If you fight and die, you will be honoured as a true warrior. If you run and live, you will live in shame."

"That's all I have to say," the deputy finished. "Strikestar, please continue."

"You have already said what is needed," Strikestar meowed simply. "Meeting dismissed."

I yawned, deciding to head back to my den to sleep. It was very late, and I would not be able to focus on my training if I didn't sleep soon.

I lied on my mossy nest and my thoughts drifted to the events like this that happened in the Warriors books. How did they win even if the odds are stacked against them? Is it plot armour or just skill?

My thoughts were interrupted by a sudden sound of some cat leaving their nest. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Stormpaw leaving the apprentice den.

I felt a strange urge to follow him and unknowingly, I got up and padded after the grey tom.

He was heading outside the camp, which became empty after the meeting. I continued to follow him.

Finally, Stormpaw stopped at a clearing with smooth stones. It took me a while to figure out that the place was Snakerocks.

I tensed, keeping a close eye on the stones, half expecting a snake to spring out and bite me.

"I found this place when I was with the border patrol a few days back," Stormpaw spoke. "I know you have been following me."

"How did you know?" I asked, moving out of my hiding spot.

"You were making a lot of noise," he meowed. "I could hear branch cracks behind me."

"I did?" I mewed, embarrassed.

Stormpaw sighed. "Frostpaw, I... want to talk to you about something. It has been bugging me, and I couldn't find anyone else to tell."

"Go ahead."

"I realised that I was spending less time thinking about our human lives," he mewed. "It bothered me a lot, and I am worried that at this rate, I will forget it altogether. We don't belong here, Frostpaw. In fact, those aren't even our real names. I thought the simple memory of my name would come back, bit by bit, but nothing has changed."

"I'm feeling that way too," I admitted guiltily.

"I don't want to lose my identity," he continued. "And it seems to me that we are going to stay here for a little while longer. Who knows? Maybe one day, we will forget everything..."

I sat closer to him, hoping that it would bring him some sort of comfort.

As the first few specks of snow drifted down to the earth, I gazed at the view. "The snow seems sad," I commented, watching the snowflakes taking their places on the ground.

"We all are," Stormpaw meowed.

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Will Dustpaw manage to convince Nightflame to stay? How will Stormpaw manage while struggling to keep his memories about his former life?

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. :)