The New Prophecy

Chapter 10

Stormpaw jumped down from the tree bridge and ran to the gathering spot on the island, tonight would be her first gathering after being an apprentice for four moons, the older apprentices were now called by their warrior names; Seedfur, Lilypelt, Amberclaw, and Dewfrost. Snowpaw had disappeared a moon before his warrior ceremony, they had tried tracking him down but rain had hindered them. Stormpaw had noticed he’d sneaked out of the camp a few times at night and would come back at dawn with fern scent hiding something underneath.

            She felt someone nudge her and snapped out of her thoughts. “Huh?”

            “Let’s go find the other apprentices!” Tigerpaw repeated.

            “They’re over there.” Amberclaw said as she passed them.

            They ran over to a spot at the edge of the clearing and were met with scents from the other three clans. The apprentices looked up as they approached and made room for them.

            “So you’re the new Thunderclan apprentices, a dark black tom spoke. “I’m Darkpaw. The mottled cat over there by the half-clan Tigerheart is my sister Mottlepaw.”

            “I’m from Windclan, Galepaw, named after the powerful winds that came during that storm!” Galepaw, who was a gray tom; boasted.

            “Ignore him, my brother can be arrogant.” Another gray tom spoke. “I’m Smokepaw by the way. Our brother had to stay home.”

            “Well I’m Stormpaw, this is Tigerpaw, my brother. Our parents are the leader and deputy of Thunderclan.”

            “So you’re kitty pets.” A white-gray she-cat spoke up.

            “Icepaw they aren’t kitty pets. Any cat who wants to live in a clan and is loyal is a clan cat. Look at our leader, Mistystar is a half-clan and she’s a great leader.” A gray tom with black stripes defended them.

            “Quiet, the leaders are speaking!” A Shadowclan warrior snapped before turning back around.

            They went silent and watched as the leaders shared their news; apparently Thunderclan wasn’t the only one who had been attacked by the rogues. In Windclan Nightcloud and Heathertail had apparently left unexpectedly and they couldn’t figure out where they went. After the gathering was over they ran back to their camp only to find the ground with clumps of fur and the cats standing around a body.

            “Softpaw!” Cinderheart cried as she ran over to her lifeless kit.

            “What happened?” Bramblestar demanded.

            “It was Breezepelt! He’s leading a group of rogues he’s calling Eclipseclan!” Birchfall spat. “Seedfur left with them! We had a traitor in our midst!”

            “Who killed my kit?” Lionblaze interrupted any other rant Birchfall could’ve made.

            “Breezepelt’s son… I think called Twistedheart.”

            “Is anyone else hurt?” Squirrelflight asked as the other cats who had been at the gathering learned what happened.

            “Purdy was killed and Daisy’s badly wounded. There were so many.” Brairlight rasped as blood rolled into her eyes.

            “Any cat whose severely injured come to the medicine cats’ den immediately.” Jayfeather instructed as Leafpool searched the cats for injuries.

            Bramblestar ordered the apprentices to their nests along with the younger warriors while the ones that stayed in camp told him exactly what happened; Breezepelt had lead Eclipseclan which was made up of rogues into camp. Then Seedfur had attacked them; Sandstorm had said she swore Snowpaw had been with them. Nightcloud and Heathertail were also seen within the group.

            “So now they’re recruiting clan cats.” Brackenfur hissed. “Didn’t they learn where their loyalty lied when the Dark Forest attacked?”

            “It was their choice and they will be dealt with.” Bramblestar replied before leaping onto the Highledge and called a meeting. “From now on if anyone sees or scents Seedfur, Snowpaw, or any cat from Eclipseclan you will track it down and tell me about it immediately. We will double patrols along our back border, if you see any clan mate acting strange you will report it to Jayfeather, Leafpool, or me!”

            He went into his den and the cats hesitantly split up, Lionblaze, Cinderheart, and Softpaw’s littermates stayed vigil around her body while the others went to get their wounds checked or to their nests. 

(The picture is of Softpaw before she died.)