Rising Tides - 1#Broken code (Warriors Fanfiction)

Chapter 9

Flamepaw woke up from his night training session. The woumd that Mapleshade left on his muzzle was stinging and blood was still oozing from it. He cleaned it with a paw and slowly emerged from the apprentices den. He almost bumped into Sagepaw, who's eyes widened with concern once she saw the scratches.
'Greetings Sagepaw. How was the meeting?' Flamepaw mewed before she could just to stop her from asking. But the white she-cat narrowed her eyes.
'We need to talk Flamepaw.' She murmured, her mew strict.
Sagepaw led the way toward the lakeshore, and halted beside the reed bed. She sat down on the pebbly shore and signalled to Flamepaw to do the same.
'What were you doing during the night?' She hissed at him through gritted teeth.
Flamepaw's fiery pelt prickled.
'In my nest sleeping, of course!' He hissed, his tail slightly bushing up.
Sagepaw's eyes narrowed and with a low growl, she rounded up on him.
'Stop making a mouse-brain of me!' She growled. 'You've been meeting that mangy excuse for a cat!'
Flamepaw hissed and bushed up his tail.
'Mapleshade is a worthy warrior!' He growled. There was no use keeping the secret that was already known by both sides.
Sagepaw's fur bristled. 'But she is not who you think she is.' Her voice was cold but edged with grief. Why is she sad? Flamepaw let his fur lie flat again.
'I know that she is a Starclan warrior that has chosen to train me.' He meowed calmly. 'Then, who is she?'
Sagepaw sighed and waved her tail.
'Mapleshade is no Starclan warrior Flamepaw. She is a manipulative cat from the Dark forest. Jayfeather has told me that the Dark forest used to train cats from the Clans and later persuaded some of them to fight against their Clans in the Great Battle. She was one of the cats that trained our warriors.' She explained, looking at Flamepaw with softness in her eyes.
He couldn't believe what he was hearing. 'So you are telling me that I wasn't chosen by Starclan?' His voice was cracking.
'Oh, you were!' Sagepaw purred. 'But you have chased that cat away on Mapleshade's orders.'
Flamepaw suddenly understood. The black cat with green eyes - Hollyleaf, was the true Starclan warrior.
'I.. I chased her away!' He growled, thinking about how mouse-brained he was.
Sagepaw brushed his flank with her tail. 'You are no mouse-brain, Flamepaw. You were just manipulated. But now, you should do what's right. It's the only way how you can follow your destiny.'
Flamepaw shot his head up. 'What are you talking about?'
Sagepaw shook her head slowly, purring.
'Fire, snow, water and burning leaves will be left as silhuettes in a freezing darkness. Unless they follow the trail of stars. I didn't know what it meant, but now I am a pawstep closer to figure it out.' She mewed enthusiastically, but Flamepaw still couldn't understand.
'Flamepaw! You are the fire!'
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Once the two cats returned to the camp, they heard terrible shrieks coming from the nursery. 'Great Starclan! Raventail must have started kitting!' Sagepaw stammered. She shook her head, concentrating.
'Flamepaw, fetch Scorchtail. I can't believe he didn't hear the screeching!' She ordered and shot into the nursery. Raventail laid on her side, her bulging belly rising and falling rapidly.
'Calm down Raventail. You are going to be fine.' Sagepaw ran her paw along the queen's belly. Suddenly, she saw a flash of orange fur at the entrance.
'Flamepaw! Where is Scorchtail?' She urged, slowly starting to panic.
'No one has seen him since dawn.' Flamepaw murmured, lashing his tail.
Sagepaw sighed turning to the queen. 'She will need a twig. Please, go and fetch a sturdy one, so it won't splinter in her jaws.'
At her words, Flamepaw dashed out of the nursery. Sagepaw brushed her tail along Raventail's belly.
'I guess there is only two of us to get this done, Raventail. You will have to do it without herbs. Until the kits come.'

Time was passing by and by sunset, Sagepaw felt useless. Raventail started kitting too early and that brought more trouble. At last, the first kit came out.
'Raventail! You have the first one out.' She picked up the small bundle and nipped at the sack. The blueish tom was barely breathing.
'Oh no..' Sagepaw whispered and licked furiously at the small kit, until it's breath steadied.
By then, two other kits were born, one pale gray and the other one was a tortoiseshell-and-white kit. They all suckled close to their mother's belly, but the queen was still not done. At last, fourth bundle, this time a dark gray tabby, appeared and Sagepaw placed it beside it's mother.
'Two toms, two she-kits, Raventail.' She purred, knowing the queen did great.

During the night, many cats came in and out to see the new addition to Riverclan. Their father, Whiskerfur, hasn't left his mate's side since sunset. But as she studied the camp, she glimpsed his white fur as he emerged from the nursery. He trotted toward Lionstar's den, tail high. In a moment, he emerged with Lionstar behind him. The Riverclan leader raised his voice. 'Raventail has kitted four beautiful, healthy kits - Bouncekit, Lilykit, Dawnkit and Mistykit!'
The whole Clan started cheering. Sagepaw felt a cold gaze rake her fur. She turned and saw Scorchtail gazing at her, claws unsheated, pelt prickling. Her eyes slightly widened. Why is he staring at me with such manace?
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