Warriors: A New Beginning #1: The Beginning

Chapter 10

Wavepaw scanned Sunningrocks, sitting on a flat rock.

Was this battle really worth it? she wondered. Blood covered most of the usually smooth and clean rocks of Sunningrocks. Most of the cats were severely wounded, and Goldstar was dead.

No. This battle was not worth it.

Wavepaw felt like screaming to the sky. StarClan, why did you send me this dream? It only brought death and tragedy. If I hadn't told ThunderClan about my dream, then none of this would have happened.

An image of a grey and cream tom popped into her head. Wavepaw filled with fury. And Berrytail! As if you hadn't done enough by killing Wolfpaw. You had to kill Goldstar too!

Wavepaw felt a ca nuzzle her. She turned, but saw nothing. Then Wolfpaw's voice whispered in her ears:

"Goldstar was meant to die, like me. StarClan wanted him. It was not your fault."

Wavepaw's fury turned to sadness and she wished that she could see her brother. All my loved and honored ones are dying!

"Wavepaw." Curlyfur padded up to her. "It's time to bring Goldstar to camp. And Cloverwing needs herbs desperately."

Wavepaw sighed. "Why did he have to die?"

"He was on his last life." Curlyfur wrapped her tail around Wavepaw's shoulder. "He had to die sometime." She gestured to the few stars that were appearing at sunset. "Look. He's watching us right now." She stood up. "Come on." She padded over to where the patrol was waiting. Wavepaw slowly rose to her paws and followed her to camp.

***

When the patrol came into amp, everyone stopped what they were doing and stared, in shock, at Goldstar's limp body.

"What happened?" Tussledpaw raced out of the elders den, eyes wide.

Wavepaw recoiled. "You smell of mouse bile!"

Tussledpaw looked at her paws. "Yeah... I'm in the middle of getting Sandypelt and Whiteheart's ticks out."

"And you should continue that!" Her mentor, Treetail, glared at his apprentice. "Otherwise I'll have to give you more tasks..."

"Uh...nope!" Tussledpaw ran back to the elders den, and Reedtail padded up, his mouth open in shock.

"Is he...dead?" The deputy was shaking a little.

Speckledfur nodded gravely. "Berrytail killed him."

"No!" Reedtail lay down beside Goldstar's body. "He can't be dead. He can't be!" He then murmured, "I'm not ready to be leader."

All the cats gathered to see what was going on.

"Goldstar!" Featherdapple ran out of the nursery and buried her muzzle in Goldstar's fur. "You were my mentor and leader...and now you're gone."

"Featherdapple, what are you doing?" Smokekit, Ashkit, and Whitekit scurried out of the nursery. "Why is Goldstar sleeping?"

"Kits..." Dawnpool padded out of the nursery. "Goldstar isn't sleeping. He's dead."

"Dead?" Smokekit's eyes widened. "But then, who will become ThunderClan's leader now? Will we have to live as rogues?"

"Of course not." Featherdapple came back and rested her tail on Smokekit's head. "Since Reedtail is deputy, he will travel to the Moonstone and receive his nine lives. Then he will become leader of ThunderClan."

Mintleaf padded out of the medicine cat den. "Cloverwing, follow me into the medicine cat den and I'll treat you." He turned to Dapplecloud, who was standing nearby. "Can you see who is badly wounded? If there are, tell me."