WattyWarriors Fan Magazine 2.0

Contest Entree: Swiftpaw's Death (Warriors6226)

I padded silently through the green undergrowth of the forest, with Brightpaw right next to me. I could see fear, and excitement dance in her eyes, and I shuffled closer to her. I could tell that she would rather run back to the camp screeching than face whatever was at Snakerocks with me, and I admired her bravery, and devotion for me.

Don't worry Brightpaw. We'll save our Clan! And then we"ll be heroes, and we can be more than just friends, I thought, gazing at her beautiful pelt in awe. I chose to ask her to go with me because she had an undying friendship with me, and I had an undying love for her. I shook myself, snapping out of my trance of love. I needed to stay focused.

I knew that our mentors would be angry with us for leaving the camp without permission, especially at such a dangerous time in Clan life. Tigerstar was ruling over ShadowClan at the moment, and had now taken over RiverClan. His cats could be lurking around every tree, every stone, every fern bush. But that didn't stop me, or Brightpaw. Bluestar our leader, had made Cloudpaw, now Cloudtail, a warrior, and had refused to give the same privilege to any of the other apprentices. We had all been angry, and we didn't even know why Bluestar was doing this. But no one had been more angry than Brightpaw and I. There was a mysterious animal hiding at Snakerocks in our territory, and they had also been stealing prey. So, Brightpaw and I had come up with a plan to go discover what had been stealing prey, and terrorizing the Clan at Snakerocks, then to fight whatever it was off. Then, Bluestar surely wouldn't be able to neglect us, and she would have to make us warriors.

We finally made it to Snakerocks, and padded around the rocky clearing. I could see one green snake head poking out between two small boulders, but once I hissed, it slithered back into the rocks. Brightpaws head was darting around the clearing, her eyes flicking back and forth. I could tell she was extremely stressed, and scared. I pressed my flank against hers, then she relaxed a little. Suddenly a large, dark shape rammed into my side, and knocked Brightpaw onto the ground. I lay there dazed for a moment, then I got up. The large creature was rushing towards Brightpaw, who was already on her feet. She whipped her head from side to side, looking for an escape. But before the animal reached her I crashed into it, sending it tumbling to the ground. Brightpaw gave me a grateful look, then turned back to the creature. We started digging into it with our claws, tearing into its flesh, and shredding its body. While we were battling, I realized that our opponent was a huge dog. It had thick brown fur, evil black eyes, and glistening white fangs. We soon sent it running through the bushes with it howling like a lost kit.

Brightpaw and I glanced at each other with happiness. We had done it! We had saved our Clan! And now we would be warriors!!!

Suddenly, our celebration was cut short as at least eight more dogs slithered out from the murky depths of the Snakerock boulders. They seemed to whisper kill kill, and pack pack. They all slowly circled around us, snarling viciously, and every now and then snapping their teeth at us. Suddenly, one lunged straight for Brightpaw. I threw myself in front of her, and slashed at its muzzle. I tore through its nose, and it jumped back with a whimper. I blinked with satisfaction, but at the same time another one leaped, this time straight at my tail. I flicked my tail away, and struck out my front paw. My claws tore through the flesh on its head, and it recoiled, snarling. The pack of dogs soon grew frustrated, and they all leapt for us in a frenzy of teeth, and claws. I lost Brightpaw in the throng of legs, and started to panic. But I was distracted as one dog bit down on my tail, hard. Another one slashed at my face with its claws, and yet another was clenching my back paw in its teeth. I howled in pain, and started to randomly strike out with my claws in panic. The dogs backed off for a moment, and gave me a clear pathway to my escape route. A tree stood just a few foxlengths away. I raced for the trunk, running for my dear life. I leapt onto the tree, and grasped the rough bark with my claws. A small spark of hope lit up inside me, and I thought for a heartbeat that I would make it out of reach of the dogs. But all of my hope vanished as I was once again dragged back down by the teeth of a dog by my tail.

I prayed to StarClan that Brightpaw was alright, but I screeched in horror as I finally found the cat I loved. She was lying on the ground, dust surrounding her. One half of her face was drenched in blood, and her once beautiful ginger and white fur was now stained crimson red. But I once again lost her in the frenzy of dogs, and I soon snapped out of my thoughts as the dog that dragged me down clawed into my belly fur. But before I had time to defend myself, the creature lunged with a lighting quick move, and clamped down on my throat.

I remember the fading, muffled sounds of barking and snarling, as if I were underwater. I remember gasping for air, but only spitting out blood. I remember the dust flying, and rocks tumbling through the air as the dogs and Brightpaw fought. But most of all, I remember the excruciating, unexplainable pain that was spreading through my throat. My whole life flashed before me.

Growing up as a kit, playing with the older apprentices and kits. The wonder I felt as I was made an apprentice. The strange feeling I felt in my heart every time Brightpaw came close to me. The love I felt for her. The enragement I felt as Cloudtail became a warrior, but nobody else did. The excitement I felt as the cat I loved and I trudged through the ferns to go investigate Snakerocks, so we would become warriors. And now, the pain and loss I felt as I realized that it was over.

I woke up to find myself in a beautiful, lush green forest. Sunlight dappled the ground and reached through the canopy of tree leaves above my head. My fur was clean of blood, and I felt young and refreshed again. I felt as if I could run through all of the Clan territories ten times, and back! But where was I? And what about Brightpaw? What happened to her? Was she alright? I had to find her! I was just about to call her name when a cat stepped out of the ferns.

She had sparkling crystal blue eyes, and beautiful long silver fur. Her pelt was dappled with black and gray spots, and black stripes ran down her back, face, tail and legs. She was the most beautiful cat I and ever seen, except for Brightpaw.

"Hello Swiftpaw. Do not be afraid. I am here to guide you up to StarClan. My name is Birdpaw. I am a former ShadowClan apprentice. I died as an apprentice too, under that wretched Tigerstars leadership in a horrible battle with WindClan. I have been watching over ThunderClan, because I know that they are one of only two Clans right now that are true to the warrior code, with undying loyalty, and pure hearts. I have also been watching you, Swiftpaw. I know this is hard for you to understand and accept, but you died in the dog fight. And do not worry. Brightpaw is alive and well. She is safe" Birdpaw finished. My eyes widened in surprise, and I was frozen with shock. I died? But- no! That wasn't fair , I wanted to become a warrior! I couldn't be an apprentice forever! No!

But I was suddenly distracted by Birdpaws intense gaze. A strange emotion pooled in her eyes. Love, perhaps? Did she- love me?

"Come, Swifpaw. StarClan is eager to welcome you. And do not worry. Young cats do not stay young forever. They eventually grow up to be an adult, just like live cats. You even get to receive your warrior name, and have kits" Birdpaw added. I widened my eyes even more. You could become a warrior!? And you could have kits!? But how was that possible? Well, she said she had been watching me from StarClan, so maybe she knew some things about me. Things that she liked. She suddenly blushed, and turned her gaze away from me as she realized that she had just hinted to having kits.

Then, she beckoned to me with her tail, and I fallowed her as we walked up to the sky together.

Many years later, I discovered that Brightpaw, now Brightheart, was expecting Cloudtails kits. I was so happy for her! I did not feel regret, or jealousy because I already had a mate of my own. Birdpaw and I had trained together in StarClan with normal mentors, just like always. And we received our warrior names soon after. Birdpaw was named Birdwing, and I was named Swiftneart. Birdwing and I grew to love each other as we grew up in StarClan, and we had three litters of healthy kits. No kit ever died in StarClan, so we were never scared that our kit would get sick and die. My Clan, WindClan, and RiverClan defeated Tigerstar, and after that I followed ThunderClan, along with the rest of StarClan to their new home by the lake. I watched over him as Brambleclaw was driven to kill his own brother, and I watched as Leafpool and Crowfeather had kits, and then lied about them. Birdwing watched as her Clan stopped believing in StarClan under Sols leadership, and she even told Brambleclaws sister, Tawnypelt to leave ShadowClan during that dark time. I fought alongside all of the Clans when they battled the Dark Forest, and then I returned to StarClan with Birdwing and my grown kits. And now, I rest in StarClan, as a young cat who never becomes an elder, and who found love when he needed it most. My mate, kits, and I may fade from the memories of countless cats from all of the Clans, but I will always have a place here in StarClan.