Warriors: Losttail's Prophecy

Ch.21

(Cat above is Brownfeather)

Losttail awoke to the Clan beginning to gather in the middle of the clearing. Rabbitstar was standing on the Highledge, his light-colored pelt shining in the sunlight.

Losttail padded out of the medicine den. "What's going on?" she asked Berryseed, who was sitting by the den entrance.

"Willowhaze's kits are going to be apprenticed." Berryseed replied. "About time too. Now that Patchfur and Flowerpelt are warriors, we've had no apprentices."

Losttail took a spot next to the bengal tom. She gazed around the clearing. The clan had gathered and joyful murmurs echoed throughout the clearing.
Willowhaze emerged from the nursery with her kits. Rogueshadow followed; the black warrior looked ready to burst with pride.

The kits' eyes were bright with excitement, and their glossy pelts shone in the sunlight. All four of them were trying hard to be dignified until they reached the front.

Parsleykit and Silverkit bolted out of the den and ran to Losttail. "Willowhaze told us to sit with you." Silverkit mewed.

Losttail smiled and pulled the two kits closer to her. "Alright. Now be quiet. Rabbitstar is starting."

Rabbitstar bounded down the Highledge and called the four kits to stand in front of him. "Today is an excellent day for the clan. Willowhaze's kits have reached their sixth moon."

Rabbitstar looked down at Kestrelkit. "Until this apprentice has earned her warrior name, she will be known as Kestrelpaw." His gaze swept the clearing. "Rosewind," he continued, "You will be mentor to Kestrelpaw. You are an excellent warrior and I trust that you will pass your skills down to her."

Rosewind nodded and pushed her way to the front. Kestrelpaw excitedly reached up and touched noses with her new mentor.

"Until this apprentice has earned his warrior name, he will be known as Moonpaw." Rabbitstar went on. "Brownfeather, you will begin his training. Your brother did a marvelous job training my daughter and I have no doubt you would do any different."

Losttail let out a purr of amusement as Brownfeather, eyes wide with surprise, padded to the front and touched noses with his first apprentice.

Rabbitstar went on giving Shadepaw to Ratfang and Stormpaw to Graynose. The clan began to welcome the new apprentices by their names and swarm them with congratulations.

Silverkit and Parsleykit dashed over to their old denmates. Berryseed turned and slipped into the medicine den, his pelt beginning to bristle. Losttail followed him, anxiety rippling through her.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

"Yes. It's just-" Berryseed sighed as he sat in his nest. "I've been thinking about ShadowClan's missing apprentice. I'm wondering if Milkpaw's disappearance and Scalepaw's murder are related."

"Scalepaw did say RiverClan's become unsafe." Losttail commented. "That's why he tried to bring Parsleykit and Silverkit away."

"I know. I'm beginning to wonder if the same could be said for ShadowClan." Berryseed meowed. "And that's why Milkpaw left."

Losttail nodded. "What about WindClan?"

"No cat from WindClan has been mysteriously murder or gone missing." Berryseed mewed. "But I think we should still keep an eye on them."

"Because if it happens in WindClan-" Losttail began.

"Then the clans are becoming unsafe." Berryseed finished.

He rose to his paws and let his fur lie flat. He turned and headed for the den entrance. "I'm going to speak with Rabbitstar."

Losttail's anxiety slowly faded as her mentor left. She padded over and curled up in her nest and closed her eyes. Her head began hurt and her mind raced, trying to understand everything that had happened in past few moons.

"Are you okay?"

Losttail opened her eyes. Nighthowl was standing at the den entrance, his dark blue eyes clouded with concern.

"Not really." She answered.

Nighthowl let out a small sigh then padded over to Losttail. He lied down and wrapped his bushy tail around her. "What are you doing?" She asked.

Nighthowl smiled. "I didn't want you to be alone."

Losttail returned the smile and pressed her pelt against his, enjoying his company. The two stayed like that for several moments before Nighthowl spoke.

"I'm sorry that you have to go through all this." He mewed.

Losttail sighed. Why did she have to go through all this? She knew there were plenty of other cats who would handle this prophecy better than she was. She didn't like this. Part of her wondered if she had become a warrior, if StarClan would've still given the prophecy to her.

"I just want it to all be over." She quietly mewed.

"It will be one day." Nighthowl meowed. "You just got to stay strong." He rose to his paws. "Are you hungry?"

Losttail looked up and met his gaze. "A little."

A purr rumbled in Nighthowl's throat. " I'll be right back." And with that he bounded out if the den.

Losttail's heart speed up as she watched her white-stripped friend leave. The more time they spent together, the more Losttail didn't care if the clan found about her love for him. Something told her Nighthowl didn't either. Whenever the two were alone, he would openly show her affection. When their clanmates were around, the most he would do would be a friendly lick on the ear and that alone was enough to make Losttail's heart beat faster.

She snapped out of her daydreaming as Nighthowl slipped back intto the den, a mouse and a plump vole in his jaw. He padded over and lied down across from her. He layed the mouse at his own paws and passed the vole to her.

"I got the bigger prey for you." Nighthowl meowed. His whiskers twitched in slight embarrassment. "No offense but you don't look like you've been eating much."

Losttail turned her head to look at her body. It was true that she was noticeably skinnier. She's been stressed, her mind racing with thoughts and information, that she's been neglecting eating.

Nighthowl patted the vole. "I'm not leaving this den until you all of that vole. I like it when you're sleek and graceful."

Losttail bent down and ate the vole in a few quick, hungry bites. "I'm not so sure I'm either of those things anymore."

Nighthowl sheepishly looked down at his paws. "I don't care all that much. I still think you're the most beautiful cat in the forest."

Losttail met Nighthowl's dark blue eyes and smiled. "Thank you, Nighthowl." She motioned to her paws. "I ate the whole vole. I'm sure you have warrior duties to attend too."

Nighthow let out a small huff of laughter. He headed for the den entrance but stopped and looked back. "I'll see you later."

Losttail watched him leave, her heart fluttering with every second that she remembered their short, yet wonderful time together.

A/N:
Wooooooooo! I finally got Ch. 21 done! Hope you guys liked it. Alsooooooooo..........

This story just hit 2k reads!!!!! That is incredible!!! Thank you guys sooooo much! Stay tuned for more chapters!

Later!