Warriors: A New Beginning #1: The Beginning

Chapter 44

Thunder roared and rain was pouring. Wavepelt felt frozen, her eyes on the Great Rock. She knew what would happen next, though it was terrifying every time.

A flash of lighting struck Icestar, and the ShadowClan leader caterwauled. A smouldering body was left. Wavepelt looked away and almost yowled in fear.

She woke up shaking, her pelt bushed out. It had been three sunrises since the chaotic Gathering, and now she kept having nightmares of Icestar's death. It was either Icestar dying or Wavepelt was in the ShadowClan leader's position, getting struck by the lightning.

"Are you having nightmares again?" Wheatwing asked beside her.

Wavepelt nodded. "I don't get what it is about Icestar's death... it's just disturbing to think about." She shuddered.

"Don't worry, it'll pass." Her sister gave her a comforting lick. "We've all had nightmares. They all disappear after a while."

"I hope so," Wavepelt mewed.

"Perhaps hunting will take your mind off it," Wheatwing continued. "Or we could go out for a walk."

"A walk would be good," Wavepelt agreed. She stood up and shook the scraps of moss off her pelt. "You ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be." Wheatwing jumped to her paws. "Let's go."

They exited the warriors den, and Wavepelt stopped by the fresh-kill pile to gobble down a vole before heading out of camp.

Bushtail was just returning from guard duty and he spotted the two she-cats.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"Just for a walk," Wheatwing told him. "In the forest."

"Okay." Bushtail nodded and bounded over to Greeneyes, who was talking with Tussledstorm.

Wheatwing's face was thoughtful as she and Wavepelt crossed the gorse tunnel.

"It feels strange to be out in the forest and not doing anything," Wavepelt commented. "I just feel... I have to be hunting or patrolling."

"You need to know when to take a break!" Wheatwing exclaimed, amused. "Just relax." Then her face became more serious. "I once had dreams like you're having."

"Really?" Wavepelt's eyes widened.

"I did." Wheatwing gazed at Wavepelt. "It was when Wolfpaw died."

I can understand that. Wolfpaw's death was a hard blow.

"I just kept experiencing it like as if I was seeing it through your eyes." Wheatwing paused to lick her paw, then continued walking. "Sometimes it was me who was thrown onto the Thunderpath."

"How long did they last?" Wavepelt asked.

"Hmm..." mused Wheatwing. "About a moon, at most."

"So my dreams will last until the next Gathering." Wavepelt sighed. "I hope it won't be as chaotic as the last one."

"Me, too," Wheatwing meowed. "How do you think Bushstar got the idea that we captured Ironstrike?"

"Flyfish lied to her," Wavepelt growled.

"Why?" Wheatwing asked. "Ironstrike's her Clanmate."

"She—" Wavepelt saved herself just in time from revealing Ironstrike's secret. "Flyfish blames Ironstrike for something terrible." Well, terrible for her.

"But why almost kill him?"

"Like I said. Flyfish is a lot like her brother."

"Her brother?" Wheatwing's eyes widened.