Flamepaw's Quest

Chapter 9

            The success of the day seemed to fall rather short. Flamepaw had grabbed her fish from the fresh-kill pile and bit into it, wondering where Mothwing had gone. She hadn't seen her all day, and she longed to tell her friend about her exciting day.
            Glancing around the RiverClan camp, she took another bite of the sweet fish, glancing around. The camp seemed rather empty, and she wondered if others were still on patrol.
            Fireclaw, a ginger warrior, padded into camp seconds later, huffing and out of breath.
            "G-GOLDSTAR HAS GONE MISSING!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.
            Gasps came from the cats, and Flamepaw dropped her fish into her paws. What did he mean Goldstar was missing? She was the RiverClan leader! She couldn't have just vanished out of thin air.
            "What do you mean?" Mountainheart, the deputy, asked, stepping forward.
            "She went out on morning patrol this morning and hasn't returned!" Fireclaw exclaimed.
            Cats began to sigh in relief. It didn't seem like she was missing after all.
            "Perhaps she has business in the forest," Mountainheart suggested.
            "That's what I assumed, but I'm usually put on her patrol. She left the patrol halfway through, claiming she'd been doing some work of her own, and I haven't seen her since."
            "This is nonsense," Brownpelt stated. "She'll be back soon."
            "But she always comes back for an afternoon snack, doesn't she?" Fireclaw asked.
            Flamepaw watched as her mother froze.
            "Yes, she does," Suntail spoke quietly. "I can't imagine why she would break the warrior code and eat prey she's caught."
            "We returned from patrol late morning, and since then, I have not seen her. As it came towards late afternoon, I went searching. I followed her scent, but it was stale, and it had been for several hours. I traced it all the way to the RiverClan border until it grew dull and I could not smell it any longer," Fireclaw exclaimed.
            Mountainheart seemed to be worried now. "And she did not tell you where she was going?"
            "No," Fireclaw said. "I would've thought maybe you knew, Mountainheart. After all, you are RiverClan's deputy."
            "She did not tell me anything," Mountainheart sighed.
            "Perhaps she is only visiting Moonpool," Cherrypool, another warrior, suggested.
            Cats nodded in agreement, but Mountaineye, the medicine cat, frowned.
            "I would've thought she'd tell me or you, Mountainheart, if she were visiting Moonpool. RiverClan is doing well. There is no need to call upon our ancestors," Mountaineye admitted.
            "Perhaps there is something she doesn't want us to know," Brownpelt suggested.
            "Enough!" Mountainheart shouted. Cats grew silent, their gaze adjusted on Mountainheart.
            "We do not know where Goldstar has gone. She probably is just visiting Moonpool. Still, it is odd she did not tell any cat anything. We still should send out a search patrol though," Mountainheart explained. He gazed up at the orange sky, frowning. "But we should wait until morning."
            "Who knows what will happen by then!" Daisyflower shouted.
            "As deputy, I am only doing what I believe is right. We may just be overreacting. We will wait until dawn, and if she hasn't returned, we will send out a search party," Mountainheart declared.
            Cats nodded, some whispering among themselves. Flamepaw left her fish, suddenly not hungry, and found her mother and father.
            "Mother, do you know where Goldstar has gone?" Flamepaw asked, concerned.
            Suntail shook her head nervously. "No. Let's hope she just went to Moonpool."
            "It seems odd she wouldn't tell the clan," Brownpelt admitted.
            "Goldstar has always been mysterious," Suntail replied.
            Flamepaw, knowing she could no longer help, left her parents and went around camp. What if Goldstar had truly vanished? What would they do? Would Mountainheart become the new leader?
            She'll be fine, Flamepaw told herself. After all, she was only an apprentice. She knew the warriors would take good care of it in the morning.
            As the sun finally disappeared later that evening, rumor began to spread about cats who had gone out to look for Goldstar.
            Flamepaw pricked her ears, trying to listen in, but it was always very secretive, and she supposed it was probably just a bit of rumors. Perhaps some cats were out hunting late at night or doing night patrols.
            "Well this is just great!" came an old raspy voice. Flamepaw turned, noticing No-Claw padding up to her.
            Flamepaw gazed at the tom, tilting her head.
            "First Goldstar goes missing, and then Mothwing goes after her!" No-Claw exclaimed, frustrated. "Of course, it wouldn't be complete without Snowheart and Daisyflower tagging along!"
            Flamepaw froze. "What do you mean? Mountainheart said he wasn't sending out patrols until the morning."
            "Those stupid youngsters. They think they can find Goldstar all on their own. I hope you won't do that when you're older," he muttered.
            "I'll try not to," Flamepaw admitted, but her stomach felt queasy. Her friend was out there in the woods. Though, she had two other warriors by her side. Perhaps it wasn't that bad. After all, it didn't seem like they'd be gone long...
            "Yes, yes, well I suppose Mountainheart has already heard. Go get me some prey from the fresh-kill pile and I'll tell you a story," No-Claw instructed.
            Flamepaw wasn't necessarily in the mood for a story, but she knew it probably would mean something to No-Claw if she stayed around and listened to him. She quickly went to the fresh-kill pile and grabbed a robin, making her way back to the elders' den where he had retreated.
            No-Claw sat in the corner of the den, licking his lips as he saw the delicious robin in Flamepaw's jaws. She dropped it beside him, and he immediately licked it up. Who knew he could have such a big appetite from sitting in the den all day?
            "Now," No-Claw spoke, chewing his food. "Have I told you of Goldstar's favorite kit?"
            "Favorite kit?" Flamepaw asked.
            No-Claw chuckled. "I suppose I haven't. I'm sure you'll have a favorite kit when you're older as well. Why, she loved that kit more than the kit's mother!"
            Flamepaw sat down, suddenly intrigued by No-Claw's story.
            "The kit's name was Gingerkit," No-Claw began, now finished with his meal. "Goldstar loved her dearly."
            "Gingerkit. That's a nice name," Flamepaw responded.
            "One day, Gingerkit became sick," No-Claw explained.  "Oakleaf, the medicine cat at the time, said it was because she was not eating."
            "What happened next?" Flamepaw asked. She hadn't been this into elder stories for awhile.
            No-Claw yawned and stretched out, laying down instead of sitting up. "Goldstar caught fresh-kill for her and threw in some cat-nip or berries so she would eat them. But Gingerkit did not fancy the food, and each day, she grew hungrier and hungrier." He paused for a moment, closing his eyes and then opening them. "And the next sunrise came, and the kit did not wake. She had gone to StarClan."
            "Poor Gingerkit!" Flamepaw gasped. "And poor Goldstar too."
            "Yes, it was a tragic death. Goldstar often sits on the highest tree in the forest and thinks of Gingerkit from time to time. So eat well, Flamepaw. Goldstar overreacts when she sees cats are not eating enough."
            "Yes, I will," Flamepaw assured him. "But Goldstar is still missing, No-Claw."
            No-Claw nodded. "If only she were in the tree right now."
            "I hope she's found," Flamepaw sighed. "May StarClan grant her a safe return."
            "Yes," No-Claw agreed. He then shut his eyes, and Flamepaw, realizing it was time for her to sleep too, left the den and went to the apprentice den, finding her nest in the corner of the den.
            She laid down and shut her eyes, falling into a deep sleep.

Flamepaw awoke to find herself in the clearing of a forest. A gentle breeze fluttered across the clearing, causing Flamepaw to shiver slightly. She glanced around, confused where she was.
            "Where am I?" she wondered, glancing around.
            Suddenly, she noticed a young kit running forward, a smile on her face. Her sandy fur was long and silky, and her chest was white. She stopped in front of Flamepaw, her golden eyes gazed on Flamepaw's.
            "Hello, Flamepaw," the kit spoke sweetly. "My name is Gingerkit."
            "Gingerkit?" Flamepaw asked. She gasped, realizing she was in StarClan. "You-you were Goldstar's favorite kit! I'm not dead, am I?"
            Gingerkit giggled. "No, you're not dead. And I wouldn't say I was her favorite. She treated me awfully nice though."
            Flamepaw tilted her head, admiring how Gingerkit spoke. To Flamepaw, she did not sound so much as a young kit, but as a wise leader who had lived through many seasons.
            "I am only here in your dreams," Gingerkit explained. "Goldstar is in grave danger."
            "Danger?" Flamepaw wondered. "What do you mean? What can I do?"
            "Find her," Gingerkit said quietly. "Find her." The words repeated as Gingerkit began to fade, the words fading with her.
            "Wait! Where do I start to look?!" Flamepaw called, running after the tiny she-cat who had nearly faded completely.
            "Find her," she heard one last time. Then, everything faded until all Flamepaw could see were two bright green eyes, staring at her.
            Then, everything darkened.