Deep Blue Eyes-- a warriors fanfic (completed story!)

Chapter 22

Blazefire yawned. It had been a moon since the Gathering, and the worst wounds have healed. Blazefire still felt guilty over Flowerpaw and how she had been attacked.

What could I have done? Blazefire asked himself miserably. It couldn’t have been Dapplesplash… she wouldn’t do such a thing. But it couldn’t have been Flowerpaw either!

“Blazefire, you should get some rest.” Blazefire almost jumped at the sound of his mentor behind him. “You look tired.”

Blazefire rolled over. “No, I’m just…” he tried in vain to think of an excuse.

Goldenblaze nodded slowly, thoughts flickering in her eyes, but curled up in her nest. Blazefire watched as her breathing slowed into the depths of sleep.

Blazefire lay there for a while. No matter what he tried, he couldn’t get his mind off of Flowerpaw and his forbidden mate, Dapplesplash. Blazefire sort of felt uncertain about Dapplesplash sometimes. But she loved him, and what else mattered?

Blazefire padded out of the den, seeing Dapplesplash’s moonlit figure next to the fresh kill pile. She purred when Blazefire approached, and rubbed her cheek against his.

“Hello,” she whispered. “Can’t sleep?”

“No,” Blazefire replied.

“How about we go out for a run?” Dapplesplash suggested. Blazefire nodded.

Dapplesplash had found an old broken stone wall just outside of a secret tunnel to camp. Blazefire shuddered whenever he saw it, wondering how many forbidden lovers have used this place to get away from their clanmates.

Dapplesplash leapt up onto the wall, grunting from the effort. She seemed to be tired out and stressed lately. Blazefire hoped she wasn’t sick. He leapt up next to her, curling himself around her. He matched her steady breathing and swiftly fell to sleep.

He awoke to see his mate’s body cold. He leapt back, nosing her. “Dapplesplash!” He mewed urgently. “Dapplesplash!”

Dapplesplash didn’t stir. Blazefire couldn’t feel her breathe, or her heart beating. “Dapplesplash!” Oh StarClan, please don’t let her be dead! He buried his muzzle in her flank, crying.

“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here for a clan meeting!” A voice rung out. Blazefire looked to his right and saw a grey she-cat standing over a clan. Blazefire recognized the scent. ShadowClan? How did I get into their territory?

“Flowerpaw, Nightpaw and Hazelpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend your clan, even at the cost of your lives?” Shadestar asked.

“I do,” all three cats spoke clearer than the sun on a cloudless day.

“Then I present to you your warrior names. Hazelpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Hazelflower for you weren’t ever pushed down when you have been captured in RiverClan, but made the most of your time there. You always came back when we thought you had died, like how the flowers in new-leaf always come back even after the coldest bitter leaf-bare.” Shadestar waited for the cheers to die down when she continued. “Nightpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Nightclaw for your ambition and tongue can be sharper than claws if you would let them and you never fail to displease any of us.” More cheers were heard for Nightclaw. “Flowerpaw, you will be known as Flowerblaze, for you didn’t stop when ThunderClan exiled you and came straight to ShadowClan, unafraid of the consequences that may have come. You were born ThunderClan, but you are a true ShadowClan warrior now.” Blazefire was shocked when the ShadowClan cheered loudest for Flowerblaze. She’s a warrior…