Dark Destinies {Book 1}

Chapter 14

HOLLYPAW

I woke with a jolt, a loud yowling had startled me awake. Instantly my fur ruffled and I bounded to my paws quickly. My mind was racing with a million different thoughts. Ashpaw was on his paws too along with Copperpaw and Krestelpaw; who'd finished her punishment early due to good deeds.

I pushed hastily out into the clearing. The first thing I could see was a frightened Hazelstripe; her fur was matted with thick, oozing blood and the look of terror on her muzzle ignited the same sort of fear within me as well.

"Fireclan!" She yowled. "They attacked Robinsong, Stormbreeze and I," she panted, even more fear soared through me as a gasp rung out around the clearing. 

Hiddenstar jumped out of his den, his eyes wide and all of his muscles looked tightly coiled.

"Alright!" He yowled, instantly taking charge. "Doveleap, Poppylight, Copperpaw, Blizzardchaser, Krestelpaw, Owlclaw, Hollypaw, Larkwind, Ashpaw and I will lead the charge." No one protested. 

"Sunray; you will lead the protection for camp, Rabbitwhisker, Whitemist, Brindlepaw, and Sandtail," he yowled quickly then bounded for the entrance of camp, not checking to see if anyone was following. 

Owlclaw ran toward me, worry in his eyes and voice while he spoke. 

"Remember everything I taught you," he sucked in a large breath, "Attack apprentices, got it?"

All I could do was nod, my body and mind felt numb like all my blood had gone cold. My paws acted on their own and before I knew it I was bounding out of camp.

While I was running, I couldn't help but think about death. Images of my own death and the death of my mother, father and brother kept replaying in my mind. I felt like I might get sick.

The whole forest was alive with the screeching and yowling of cats. Patches of black and red blood stained the white snow on the ground along with littered clumps of fur. Without hesitation our patrol leapt into battle against the sick and thin Fireclan cats. 

I jumped onto a solid brown tom, taking him off guard and knocking him off of his paws, he looked up at me and recognition hit me; Thornpaw. He growled and lunged at me, his claws raking down my muzzle causing it to sting and me to recoil, I growled and stuck out my paw tripping him, he tried to roll but I jumped on his side too quickly. I bit into his shoulder and tasted tangy blood as my teeth reached flesh, he yowled but I didn't let him go and threw blow, after blow at his shoulders and side. He jumped up quickly and knocked me down, I twisted but he was big and he quickly landed on my belly pinning me down. I struggled feverishly but without any aveil. 

 Thornpaw smiled darkly and my stomach flipped, that smile was not polite and friendly anymore, it caused a shiver to slide down my spine. Thornpaw brought a paw to my thoart, pressing it down tightly until I was gapping for breath and praying for help, I tried to call out but my voice was only a hoarse whisper. Thornpaw's claws escaped his paws and they dug into the flesh in my neck. 

I realized in a split second that he was going to kill me. My body was seized with terror as I stared up helplessly at the cat that would end my life.

I could feel my own blood slipping from my body as I was replaced with emptiness. I closed my eyes tightly not wanting to see his face before I died.

I hoped Ashpaw would be okay... I wondered about my parents, my warrior name and if Copperpaw loved me.

Suddenly the large weight of Thornpaw was flung off of me and air was finally able to flow into my lungs, I blinked my eyes, confused and thankfully to my saviour who happened to be...Krestelpaw? 

The pale brown apprentice stood before me, her claws dripping with Thornpaw's blood and when I turned my head to the side I could see him scampering away across the border. I blinked at her and smiled but then winced and grimaced at the pain that overcame me.

"You should get that neck checked out," she muttered, signalling with her tail to Splashfoot who was watching nervously from the side lines for any injured cats, then she sprang back into battle, dissapearing into the haze of fighting cats. 

I laid in silence for a moment then slowly got to my paws weakly, how come she saved me? I thought she hated me? I staggered over to Splashfoot and he gasped at my ingury, I stumbled and fell to his paws. Suddenly a large wave of darkness swept me away and I realized just how bad the cut was... My first battle could be my last. 

I woke drozily in the medicine cat den, an anxious Splashfoot sitting beside me, when I opened my eyes he sighed in relief. His gaze was hard and heavy, mixed with apparent sadness.

"Hello," he meowed. 

"Hi" I mumbled feeling weak. 

"Are you OK?" he asked. 

"Yes, I just feel a bit weak" I admitted then looked around the den, where's my mother? My father? Normally they'd always be here if I was in the medicine cat den, then suddenly fear shot through me, what if they died? "My mother, father?" I asked silently, Splashfoot sighed sadly. 

"There's something you need to see..." he muttered. 

My heart sunk and tears welled at my eyes, there dead! I cried into my paws, shaking and sobbing. 

"Who was it?" I cried out sadly. 

"Your... your mother" he admitted silently, I cried even louder, my mother was everything to me! Then I remembered Ashpaw, he must be so hurt!

I sprang to my paws, tears flowing from my eyes and I quickly pushed out into the clearing to see my mother's pale grey lifeless body laying in the middle of the camp, the clan surrounding her. I pushed past them and cried out, Ashpaw looked up at me, his eyes shinning with tears. I dropped down to the ground and burried my muzzle in her cold body, Ashpaw curled beside me and Stormbreeze stared on, speechless but tears were dripping from his muzzle onto her fur. 

I wailed out, then stared up at the sky as it was darkening for the night, this was what Froststar and the other Starclan cats were talking about, so that there could be no more heirs, they killed her! I growled lowly, she didn't deserve this... I stared at my father, knowing now that he too would die, he doesn't  deserve it either! Why? I questioned! 

"Today we won the battle against Fireclan but we lost a very valuable warrior and friend to her clanmates, Doveleap was amazing at everything she did and loved everyone in and outside of her clan, she was a great mother and mate, she will live on in our memories and hearts forever" Hiddenstar mumbled, the clan muttered there agreements but I continued crying into her fur "Tonight we will sit vigil for her, without speaking or eating" he finished then curled down beside Stormbreeze. 

I fell asleep burrying my muzzle into Doveleap, my mother's fur, for the very last time in my whole life... Never being able to feel her warmth, see her smile or hear her voice ever again, Ashpaw laid beside me the whole night, unmoving. I'll be there for you Ashpaw, I thought but Starclan I'm not so sure...