Willow | Warriors Fanfic | Nightcloud x Feathertail |

Chapter Two

A sweet scent stung her nose as she breathed softly. Her tail wrapped around her body, warming her as she slept soundly. A soft breeze ruffled her fur and she stirred, blinking open her eyes.

The air around her seemed to shimmer, the scent of stars hitting the roof of her mouth. Nightpaw leaped to her paws and looked around wildly, her widened eyes darting. Her field of vision was blurry, everything seemed distant even how close she got to the edge of the den. The apprentice felt a familiar presence behind her, whirling around to be face to face with Deadfoot.

The lame tom's gaze was full of scorn as he eyed her up and down. He then began pacing around her, having Nightpaw constantly move to keep her focus on him. She felt her fur rise in consternation, her claws sheathing with anticipation.

"StarClan is troubled," he began, stopping to face Nightpaw directly "there's not enough time. You must go to Fourtrees at once to meet the others."

Her unusual red-amber eyes widened to where the whites showed, blurting, "but I'm not ready! I'll be in so much trouble if I left now!" Deadfoot snorted, turning on his heels as he resumed his pacing, tail sweeping over the crevice where the herbs were stored, yet they seemed to be left untouched.

"Why did you have to choose me," The young apprentice pressed on, she felt more confused than ever, musing if Starclan made a mistake on choosing her. "Why did Starclan chose me? I'm just an apprentice, I'm nothing special."

"Starclan does not make mistakes, young one. We have chosen you for a reason we will not sure, but one you will seek yourself." Nightpaw's jaws gaped open in disbelief, the former WindClan warrior was speaking gibberish right before her very own ears. She shook her head desperately, she didn't want this, she just wanted to be an ordinary apprentice. Pleading for this to all be a dream. She collapsed onto the ground, her chest heaving as she tucked her head into her paws. The molly whimpered, whispering to herself this wasn't real.

"Darkness, Air, Water and Sky will come together and shake the forest to its roots. Nothing will be as it is now, nor as it has been before." Deadfoot's voice lingered at the edges of her mind as Nightpaw's eyes shot open. Her rich gaze swept around the end as she bit her lower lip. She seemed to be back in the medicine cat den. She bounced to her paws frantically, sniffing at the edges of the den. The apprentice exhaled softly, slumping down wearily. She rolled her shoulders, her muscles felt tight, feeling them ease slightly as she pulled them back. Deadfoot's voice echoed in her mind, ringing the edges of her ears.

He's right, I must do this! She felt determination surge through her but an uneasy feeling tugged her back, what if she got caught? Her gaze drifted to the territory beyond the dip they lived in. Wind howled outside, the gorse lining the camp swayed wildly. Nightpaw's tail frizzled, excitement sparking energy into her body. She managed to ignore the stress that oppressed her, rolling her shoulders back as she poked her nose out of the den.

Nightpaw's leafy green irises searched the shadows, her nose twitching numerous times as she breathed in the familiar scents of her dozing clanmates. The moonlight seemed to dance for her, bringing plenty of upmost beauty as it shone down onto the center of the camp. Her small figure slinked through the shadows that the gorse lining cast down, Nightpaw's pupils spreading like a field as she caught sight of movement at the far edge of the camp. She detected the scent of a nearby warrior, inclining against the camp entrance as they looked on, their gaze searching among the rolling moonlit eminences that spread on.

The ebony apprentice's pelt filtered against the flickering moonlight, pressing herself closely to the camp walls. Ahead of her the gorse rustled, the apprentice shrank back, biting back a squeal of fright that beseeched to pour out like warm liquid drizzling from thunderstricken clouds. A dark figure slinked out of the tunnel, their chin tilting upwards to gaze up at the star dappled sky, seeming to habitat the warriors of Starclan whom stared down onto the clans with substantional forecasting and endless aspiration.

Nightpaw held her breath, feeling it hold like a swarm of splentic wasps being held captive against their own assent. Her eartips flickered like a firelight, the apprentice's fur flashing between the insipid shadows, seeing her chance as the warrior on guard stumbled to their paws; lumbering off to the warrior's den to assign a new post. She slipped past the corner, silently creeping out of the entrance unable to pivot her head to look back once more.

     Wind blasted against her small body, whirling around her madly as she dug her claws into the soggy peat to grab hold. The molly's eyes darted amongst the forest that dwelled before her, eyes wide as she gingerly stepped forward, shuffling along. Her gaze hardened and she crouched down, sudden determination surging through her, sparking energy into her core and muscles.

Bunching her hind legs and shoulders, she leaped forward and raced towards fourtress. A mist began to sink into the valleys, the air around Nightpaw became chilly. She could barely see her own paws in front of her as she bounced forward, tail streaming behind her. Nightpaw's chin tilted slightly towards the star speckled sky above.

      Were her ancestors watching her every move this very instant? Her chest seemed to tighten, knowing the clan's seemed to depend on her actions now, their fate was in her paws and of the others who were chosen to go on this quest. She pulled on, racing across the moortops and skimming past heather and brittle grass. The haven loomed ahead, her ears pricking as sudden anxiety and excitement fluttered in her belly.

      She darted onto the twoleg bridge, her heart seeming to leap in her chest as the worn down planks groaned beneath her added pressure. The rusted wood creaked, slightly dipping towards the river. At the sudden movement, Nightpaw squeaked quietly and quickly fled from the bridge, barely glancing over her shoulder for a brief moment before stopping abruptly.

      Nightpaw slammed her paws into the ground, staying quiet as she inspected her surroundings warily. Quiet voices sounded in the hollow below, ears perking as she followed the familiar scents of the other clans. She could see faint figures moving below, peering over the edge. The ground beneath her paw shifted, moving away from the edge as a pebble rolled off, tumbling into the clearing below.

      The voices grew quiet, hushing as they noticed the fallen pebble. She inhaled softly, holding her breath as she ever so quietly trudged to the entrance of the Fourtress. Rolling her shoulders and puffing out her chest, she slipped into the entrance, holding her head high as she padded down the path.

       Five cats were seated in the middle of the clearing, instantly detecting her presence as they pivoted their attention towards her. Their gazes seemed to bore into her head, leaving Nightpaw wanting to flee from the scene and never return. She could abandon the mission for all she cared. She gulped, her gaze slowly flickering to one cat to the other, inspecting them closely.

      A dark brown tabby tom was seated on the far right, his tail was neatly wrapped around his paws as his magma eyes seemed to search hers intensely. He seemed well fit and surely didn't seem to be easy to win through in a battle. She would have to be careful around him.

      Next to the tabby tom was a seemingly energetic she-cat, increasing energy seemed to sizzle right off her. Her bright green eyes sparkled with deep confidence, a goofy grin was plastered on her furry ginger face. The she-cat's plummy tail swept along the ground, lashing around without a care.

      A lean, mottled she-cat was staring right at her, a slight distrust glimmered on her light green eyes. She had the familiar but distasteful Shadowclan scent lingering on her, leaving Nightpaw's fur on end. Although she had the same aura as the tabby tom, they seemed alike in some odd way, yet she couldn't quite understand why.

      Stormy fur seemed to blend into the shadows, blue orbs had already burned holes into her skull. Nightpaw didn't like the look of this cat, his gray fur rippling as he glowered at her. Okay, he definitely has a problem. The stormy gray tom's eyes bore into hers, seeming to challenge her to take another step forward. And with pleasure, she absolutely didn't want to.

      The world seemed to pause right at that moment, her paws beneath her didn't feel existent any longer and the air around her became thick. Her breath hitched in her throat, eyes widening as she felt herself get wrapped into the longing feeling as she stared into the very familiar yet strange aqua optics. The butterflies in her belly began to flutter once more, getting anguished as they beat their wings faster as to escape the captivity of her stomach. Nightpaw's ear tips felt hot, her pads tingling as she stared at the beautiful she-cat.