Golden Suns, Purple Skys

Chapter I

It had been a moon since Goldenpaw had been apprenticed and he was actually enjoying himself. Fawnleap had showed him the territory, took him hunting and taught him some battle moves! Goldenpaw was also now able to train with Waterpaw another tom apprentice who was a moon older than him and despite Waterpaws boasting he was fun to train with. Waterpaw taught Goldenpaw a few battle moves that Fawnleap wouldn't teach him for another half moon or so. At that moment Goldenpaw was taking the fat mouse he caught into the elders den hoping Brokencrown would enjoy it. Goldenpaw had gained a lot of respect for the one eyed white tom even if he could be scary sometimes. As Goldenpaw walked in he was more than frightened to see Brokencrown standing up in the den his remaining eye rolled back into his head he was muttering all sorts.
"Um... Brokencrown.. are you ok?" Goldenpaw stuttered out.
"Get out of my den you traitor I thought you were loyal!" Brokencrown hissed lashing his unsheathed claws at Goldenpaw. The golden apprentice flinched as he just managed to back away in time.
"What do you mean I'm only loyal to the clan?" Goldenpaw asked the old white tom. However the old tom couldn't respond because he fell down shaking, having some sort of fit.
Goldenpaw stared down at Brokencrown in horror before dropping the mouse and running out of the den yowling for Tinywish the clans medicine cat who came sprinting out of her den immediately.
"What's the matter?" She questioned a worried look on her face.
Goldenpaw couldn't speak and instead pointed with his muzzle and lead the way into the elders den where Brokencrown lay on the ground a blank look on his eye. Tinywish padded swiftly up to the old tom, crouched down and put her ear to Brokencrowns chest and her eyes filled with sorrow,
"He's dead Goldenpaw," She sighed standing up. Goldenpaw looked at her as if he'd seen a ghost,
"But how he.. he was.. he only was shaking," He said his mew shaking.
"What happened to him you were here when it started," Tinywish queried.
Goldenpaw didn't know if he should tell Tinywish what Brokencrown told him. What if she thought he was crazy?
"I just came in here with this mouse," He began pointing with his tail to the mouse that lay on the ground, "And then he just started shaking and he fell over," Goldenpaw finished not telling her what Brokencrown said just in case she did think him weird.
Tinywish gazed at Goldenpaw for a few heartbeats then nodded, "I'd better announce this to the clan don't worry I won't mention that you were involved in any way," She meowed, walking out of the elders den. Goldenpaw followed and walked over to a shaded part of the camp so he could think about what just happened. What did Brokencrown mean? He had never been disloyal to his clan not ever. Before the apprentice could think for long Shortstar leaped onto the tall tree and yowled for the cats to gather around. Goldenpaw knew what she was going to say but he stood up and walked over to sit beside Fawnleap and Springtail still looking distressed.
"I have some regretful news to report, Brokencrown has died," Shortstar announced. Goldenpaw saw the sadness in her eyes then he recalled that Brokencrown had been her father. Then he heard all of the questions,
"How did he die?"
"Where is his body?"
"Did anyone see it?"
Goldenpaw ducked his head down but then felt his fur bristle, How could they just ask this and not mourn the elders death! He felt Springtails long grey tail stroking his back and he let his fur lie flat,
"Tinywish has said it was natural so there isn't anything to worry about, Maplegrass, Goldenspike you can carry his body out of the elders den," Shortstar told them it seemed as if she also couldn't believe the clan cared more to ask questions than to mourn her father's death. Maplegrass and Goldenspike nodded and trailed into the elders den and soon after came back carrying Brokencrown. Goldenpaw couldn't look at the tom so he looked at his paws instead,
"Tonight I will set vigil for my lost father and friend," Shortstar spoke before jumping off the tree.
"Are you alright?" Goldenpaw could hear Fawnleap asking him.
"Yes yes I just feel bad for Brokencrown," He muttered.
"It was his time to join Starclan I'm sure he'll be much happier there," Fawnleap assured him. Goldenpaw nodded and stood up and watched as Fawnleap went to assign some patrols quickly before bounding back to him.
"I'm going on a hunting patrol you don't have to join me..,"
"No I want to join who else is going?" Goldenpaw meowed.
"Coalpelt, Waterpaw and Snowshine," She replied
Goldenpaw purred with relief he liked all of the cats in the patrol and strolled up to the entrance to camp awaiting the others arrival. When each cat did join him they headed out deeper into the forest,
"What can you smell Goldenpaw?" Fawnleap questioned him.
As Goldenpaw breathed in the scent of the forest the sudden scent of Heartclan hit his nose.
"Heartclan," He whispered then realised how dumb he sounded, We don't even border Heartclan. As each cat took a whiff they all bristled up.
"Your right, Waterpaw go get more cats I think we're about to get attacked," Coalpelt ordered unsheathing his claws.
Waterpaw gave a brisk nod and sped off through the forest. Goldenpaw unsheathed his claws as well as Fawnleap and she started slinking through the forest. The scent got stronger and stronger until they saw what the scent was coming from it was Purplepaw a single apprentice...
"What are you doing here?" Goldenpaw growled at the black she cat.
"Help.. camp being invaded!" She gasped just as more cats reached them.
"We can't swim though," Goldenpaw muttered to his mentor.
"There's a bridge fishbrain," Purplepaw retorted, "Are you helping or not?"
The group of cats glanced at each other and nodded then followed Purplepaw to Heartclan.