Dark Destinies {Book 1}

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

(Hollypaw)

My eyes fluttered open, though my eyelids felt like heavy stones and my eyes felt dry whilst my whole soul and heart seemed numb or frozen. I turned my head to gaze around the clearing that was covered in a misty blanket of fog, most warriors were in their dens expect me, Ashpaw, Stormbreeze, Robinsong, Hiddenstar, and Poppylight (one of my mother's good friends).

It was predawn, the sun had not yet risen but a chill had settled down on us. Ashpaw who was still sleeping began to gently shake from the chill, I curled in closer to him trying to keep him warm. Solemly I turned to see my mother, her pale grey fur was damp, cold and lifeless, now it felt as if my heart was no longer in my chest and all my tears seemed to be gone.

I stood up and stumbled over to the apprentice den, not wanting to see any more heart break and sadness. I pushed into the apprentice den, tears sliding down my muzzle now. Brindlepaw's head shot up at the sound of me entering, sadness and sympathy flickering in her eyes.

"Hollypaw..." she trailed.

I dropped down in my nest, crying deeply into my paws and ignoring Brindlepaw who was now trying to comfort me. After a moment Brindlepaw sighed and backed away into her own nest, I sighed and sucked in a lot of air then let myself be drifted away by sleep.

I woke up drozily again, to find the den was filled with warm sunlight, my heart still felt numb and sadness was filling my body and mind. The den was empty but I could hear a hush hustle and bustle of cats outside in the clearing, I sighed and pushed myself to my paws. Warm sunlight was dappling the clearing, causing the snow to sparkle and shine, mother's body was gone and was now replaced by Ashpaw and Stormbreeze. I padded over to them, feeling the sympathic gazes of cats on my pelt, Ashpaw looked up at me sadly.

His eyes were half open half closed and he sat slouched, Stormbreeze just sat beside him staring blankly at nothing, clearly still in shock. I curled my tail around Ashpaw and leaned against his shoulder.

"I miss her already" Ashpaw mumbled.

"I know, me too" I whispered softly, trying to relax him. "But she's happy in Starclan" 

I stared around the clearing, the whole clan was gathered as if some sort of ceremony was going to start, confused I looked up at my dad.

"Why is everyone gathered?" I asked

"U-h Hiddenstar called a meeting" Stormbreeze mumbled shaking himself from his frozen like state.

"Why?" I asked.

Stormbreeze shrugged and stared down at his paws again, I sighed and gently groomed my little brother's pelt while I waited for the meeting...

After a moment Hiddenstar pushed out of his den and into the clearing, he quickly bounded up on The Snow Rock and began his speech.

"After yesterday's battle we lost and won, the fight between Fireclan and our warriors was won but we lost a life in the process" he sighed and stared down at us sadly "but knowing that Fireclan will not give up without another battle, I have concluded that new warriors are needed and today one shall be granted his warrior name"

I gasped shocked and turned to look at which apprentice it was, surprised to see Copperpaw and Poppylight padding into the center of clearing. As he walked past me an Ashpaw we exchanged looks, mine shocked and his sympathetic about my mother yet excited and happy about his ceremony.

"Poppylight" Hiddenstar began, looking down on Copperpaw's mentor, the black she-cat with white paws raise her chin proudly. "Do you believe Copperpaw has trained and learned all of our ways and codes? Is he prepared to become a full warrior?"