Warriors: A New Beginning #2: Midnight Rising

Chapter 6

Suddenly, there was a silvery blur.

"Stop!" A grey and white tom blocked Flowerpaw's killing blow.

Midnightpaw gazed up at her rescuer. He was the size of an adult cat, but he seemed younger than he actually looked. Stars shimmered around his outline.

"You're a StarClan cat!" Midnightpaw breathed.

The tom smiled at her. Then his gaze hardened when he turned to Flowerpaw. "You have no right to attack, much less kill, your own Clanmate!"

Flowerpaw's eyes widened and she backed away slowly. It was the first time Midnightpaws had seen the tortoiseshell look afraid.

Slowly, Midnightpaw stood up. Her legs wobbled, and her body felt like it was on fires.

"Go back to camp," the StarClan cat told Flowerpaw. "Midnightpaw needs to be alone."

Flowerpaw's eyes were as round as moons. She took one look at Midnightpaw and dashed back to camp.

"T-thank you," Midnightpaw managed. "Who are you?"

"My name's Wolfpaw," the tom purred. "I'm Wheatwing and Wavepelt's brother."

"Wheatwing told me about you!" Realization dawned on Midnightpaw.

"Let's go back to camp," Wolfpaw mewed.

"You're coming too?" Midnightpaw asked hopefully.

"Only you and Flowerpaw could see me, and you need someone to lean on, so yes, I'll come until the camp entrance."

Midnightpaw beamed. She took a step forward and almost fell to the ground.

"Lean on me," Wolfpaw beckoned. Midnightpaw wasn't sure if she would go right through him or not, but she leaned on him successfully.

Together, they padded in the forest.

"Why does Flowerpaw hate me so much?" Midnightpaw wondered.

"Some cats are just like that." A shadow flickered in Wolfpaw's gaze but it quickly disappeared.

"And how did she fight so well?" Midnightpaw asked. "Medicine cats don't learn how to fight... right?"

"They do, a little," Wolfpaw replied. "But with one moon of training, she couldn't have possibly learned those moves."

"Do you know why?" Midnightpaw asked.

"...No," Wolfpaw finally answered. "We don't know."

"Okay." Midnightpaw continued walking. She could scent a patrol.

"There's a patrol coming," she told Wolfpaw.

"That's where I need to leave you," Wolfpaw nuzzled her.

Midnightpaw looked at him sadly.

"I'm sure you'll see me many more times," the StarClan assured her. "Don't worry."

"Bye..." Midnightpaw whispered.

Wolfpaw smiled, then faded away. Midnightpaw was left staring where he had been.

"Midnightpaw!" Silverfang burst out of the trees. "What happened? Flowerpaw said a fox attacked you two while you were herb collecting. Are you all right?"

So Flowerpaw found a story.

"I'm... fine," Midnightpaw murmured.

"You're injured pretty bad," Silverfang continued. "We need to get you to Mintleaf! Come on, you can lean on me. We're almost at camp."