A New Horizon Book 2: The Dying Forest {COMPLETE}

Chapter 24

"So what were the leaders meeting about last night?" Nightpaw questioned Wheatwhisker as they made their way back to camp. "Do you know?"

"I have no idea." Wheatwhisker replied through the squirrel he had in his jaws. "I'm sure whatever it was that Riverstar will tell us soon." Nightpaw nodded and focused on where she was going. I wonder if Blackpaw will tell me. He went too. He's been acting weird lately too, I wonder what's up. Nightpaw could only assume that it had something to do with the lack of prey and herbs that all the territories were facing.

Maybe we'll start sharing prey and herbs, but that seems like kind of a longshot. Nightpaw couldn't picture AshClan relying on the others for help. They were proud. But maybe it would help... She looked at the one, scrawny squirrel that Wheatwhisker had managed to catch after hunting from dawn to sunhigh. Nightpaw's stomach growled but with how low the fresh-kill pile was getting she imagined that she wouldn't be eating today. The kits and queens need it more than I do. Nightpaw told herself, shoving away the pains of hunger.

Wheatwhisker and Nightpaw reached camp to find that Riverstar had just called a meeting. She was sitting on her den looking over the Clan with fear and uncertainty in her eyes, which was not a common look for Riverstar. "What's going on?" Nightpaw questioned her mentor, wondering if he knew possibly knew what was going on.

"I'm not sure." Wheatwhisker replied and quickly set his squirrel down on the measly fresh-kill pile. The two quickly hurried to sit down with the rest of the Clan.

"This isn't easy news to share," Riverstar began, her voice trembling ever so slightly. "Skyfeather and Blackpaw received it a few days from StarClan when they travelled to the moonstone." She took a deep breath. "The forest is dying, and that is why we have no prey or herbs."

Nightpaw flattened her ears. The forest is dying? How does a forest die? She was certain that her own questions were running through the minds of all of her Clanmates.

"What do we do?" Lilyclaw questioned, meeting Wheatwhisker's gaze with fear.

"Is there anything we can do to protect the forest?" Foxfeather added.

"No there isn't. StarClan has given us only one option, to leave and find a new home." Nightpaw's jaw dropped. Find a new home? In the name of StarClan were they supposed to do that? A new home would have to be perfect, with prey, herbs, a gathering place, territory for all four Clans and a place for them to communicate with StarClan.

"Where are we going to go?" Wheatwhisker asked from beside Nightpaw. "Do we even know?"

Skyfeather shook his head. "We don't know where we're going, but StarClan promised that they would guide is. We have to put our faith in them and leave."

"Riverstar, have the other Clans decided to leave?" Ravensong questioned.

Riverstar nodded. "The only Clan who hasn't decided is us, I'm going to put aside my own feelings and fears and leave it up to all of you. If you want to leave then I will lead you to our new home."

"I encourage you all to leave." Skyfeather spoke up. "If we stay we will not survive leaf-bare. Hailkit and Sagekit may be put in danger when we leave, but if we stay they will not survive without herbs and prey. I have no catmint but there's a chance we could find some on the way. As your medicine cat, I promise I will protect all of you and keep you safe, I can't do that if we stay."

There were mutters of fear, concern and panic. Nightpaw felt her heart twisted, she looked to Blackpaw who was just staring at his paws. So that explains his weird mood. Nightpaw felt a deep ache in her heart, she had no idea what to do. Skyfeather's made it pretty clear that if we'll stay we'll die, but what if we die on the way there? Nightpaw took a deep breath. I'd rather die trying then not try at all.

"All those in favor of leaving, go to my right." Riverstar spoke up. Nightpaw stood up, honestly a little surprised that every cat stood up. It's completely agreed upon. A few cats hesitated, but even Silvermoon and Puddleclaw from the nursery joined the cats. Ashblaze, Skyfeather and Blackpaw also joined them.

"Then's it's decided." Riverstar mewed, Nightpaw couldn't place the emotion in her voice. "AshClan will be leaving the forest."

Nightpaw found it incredibly hard to sleep that night, she wasn't sure how to cope with the news she had just received. She wasn't sure what they would face on their journey to a new territory or what would happen to their Clan. However, eventually Nightpaw fell asleep and quickly found herself in the shadowy forest where she trained with Thornstar.

It didn't take long for the dark cat to show himself. His amber eyes were filled with interest. "Good evening, Nightpaw." Thornstar dipped his head.

"Did you see what Riverstar told the Clan?" Nightpaw asked him, wondering what them leaving meant for her training.

"I did." Thornstar replied cooly.

"And? What do you think of it? The forest is dying!"

"I'm already dead, Nightpaw." He licked his forepaw. "The forest dying doesn't affect me. I think that the Clans are making the right choice if that's what you want me to say." Nightpaw dug her claws into the marshy ground, feeling incredibly frustrated with her mentor.

"What is that going to mean for our training?" She demanded.

"We won't train while you're travelling, once your Clan is settled we'll pick up from where we left off. It's that simple, Nightpaw." Thornstar replied, looking moderately annoyed. "You're overreacting." Nightpaw snorted. "If you're done, I suggested we get started." Nightpaw turned her head only to be slammed in the ground. "I hope you'll pay more attention when you're travelling! Who knows what dangers could be out there."

Nightpaw hissed and lashed out, shoving Thornstar off of her and jumping to her paws, baring her teeth. A glint caught her eyes and Nightpaw noticed that Thornstar's claws were unsheathed. "What are you doing?" She questioned in shock. Is he trying to actually kill me?

"You'll fight harder if you think you're actually in danger." Thornstar explained. "You need to learn to fight harder, when you're training with apprentices keep them sheathed but you're fighting me, I expect you to fight with all your might."

Nightpaw swallowed her nerves. What's the worst that could happen? She unsheathed her claws and instantly Thornstar jumped to attack. Bracing herself, Nightpaw lashed out, feeling her claws rip into his fur. She felt a little bad about it, but during her moment of quilt Thornstar threw her to the ground. His claws digging into her skin.

Gritting her teeth with the pain, Nightpaw hissed and reached out, digging her claws into his pale fur. She saw blood well up around her claws and Thornstar let out a low growl. Nightpaw kept attacking, clawing him as hard and fast as she could.

She felt his own claws digging into her, ripping at her flesh and drawing blood. The pain was intense, but he was right: it was making her fight harder. After a moment, Thornstar stepped back, looking at the wounds that Nightpaw had left. "Not bad." He praised. "I hope to see this same kind of fighting against your enemies."

Nightpaw stepped back, panting from the fight. Her wounds stung and her body ached, but she had to admit; even with all the news that she had received: she had never felt more alive. My Clan is in danger and will be until they find their new home. Whether Thornstar is a good cat or not, he's training me to be the best I can be. Taking a deep breath, Nightpaw looked up at the starless sky. I promise you StarClan, I will protect my Clan until the day. As long as I'm alive, AshClan will survive. 

Keep reading for an extra story! Find out how Echoheart formed her band of rogues and devised her plot to attack SunClan!