Stars Without Borders

18

By the time the apprentices got back to camp it was already moonhigh and Softpaw was utterly exhausted. It felt as if she had run for moons and her paws were ready to fall off. After taking a small mouse from the fresh kill pile she sat down near the apprentices' den so she could sleep immediately afterwards. The mouse was cold and stiff, nothing like the warmth of a fresh kill, but she ate it nonetheless before giving her fur a thorough cleaning. She could make out the cats who happened to still be out of their nests. Softpaw couldn't help but wonder when she and Firestar would actually do some one on one training. He seemed busy all the time leaving her with some other cat's mentor. The thought made her ears fall back, but she brushed it off and made her way to her nest beside her brother's.

"Softpaw.." his mew startled her, but she met his gaze as he peeled out at her from his tail. "I don't think this is the place for me. I want to go home." A sharp pang hit her heart as she stared at her brother with wide eyes before her shoulders slumped.

"If.. if that's what you want." And with that she closed her eyes. The transition was smooth, like the last time she dreamed of StarClan. Only this time she was in the hunting grounds of her ancestors instead of what laid beyond its borders. Two smells washed over her and she turned to see Spottedleaf, the she-cat she met last time and another cat, a large black and white tom. Softpaw watched them curiously as they padded towards her, a heaviness in each step.

"Softpaw.. I'm so sorry." Spottedleaf started, but the tom raised his tail to stop her from going on.

"My name is Tallstar, past leader of WindClan, I bring you a warning, you and one from my clan shall suffer a great loss tomorrow, but you mustn't let this let your paws be guided to a new path because of this." Dread settles over Softpaw's heart as Spottedleaf looked on at her sympathetically as she touched her muzzle against Softpaw's shoulder.

"Be brave, little one."