Turtlestar's Destiny: Book 1

~Chapter 32: A Vision~

~Chapter 32: A Vision~

What seemed like moons passed after the battle with Thunderclan. Windclan and Riverclan relieved their alliance. Honeypaw started training with the rest of the apprentices, however unwelcome they were to her. She was mentored by Sunstripe.

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"Hunting patrol!" Beepelt yowled, catching tje clan's attention. "Hollowstep will lead it. Turtlepaw, Tigerstripe, Falconpaw, Sunstripe, and Honeypaw will join it." Honeypaw bounded up to Turtlepaw, who was standing in the shadow cast by high rock. She was pretty fast for a former Thunderclan cat. "This is...my first time...hunting..in moors." Honeypaw gasped between pants.

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Turtlepaw smiled slightly. "Yeah. It's so awesome...being out in fresh air...not all cooped up in the forest!" Honeypaw's eyes clouded. She was clearly remembering good times back in Thunderclan. Turtlepaw realized with a sting of guilt that she probably shouldn't have said that.

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"Let's head out." Hollowstep mewed, limping briskly by the two she-cats. Honeypaw nodded, catching up with him and leaving Turtlepaw. The apprentice sighed, following the two. Sunstripe, Falconpaw, and Tigerstripe were waiting by the camp exit. "I already showed Honeypaw some Windclan hunting tactics." Sunstripe announced, looking proudly at his apprentice who offered a sad smile. Tigerstripe nodded. "Er..good... she'll need them. Let's go before it gets too hot...."

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The patrol traveled deep into Eimdclan territory before halting. "Okay," Hollowstep said, "We should split up. Falconpaw, Tigerstripe and I will go east. Turtlepaw, Sunstripe, and Honeypaw will go west. Okay?" His clanmates nodded, and the assigned groups spilt up.

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Turtlepaw's pupils narrowed into slits, her heart thumping. Before her laid the biggest rabbit she had ever seen. The creature was huge. This was it. She could finally prove herself. She was perfectly set up, not downwind from it so it couldn't smell her, and her brown and white pelt hidden in the heather. Turtlepaw gathered her haunches, ready to spring. Her tail twitched. She was alone, nobody around to pressure her. It was just her...and the rabbit. Then, she sprang...landing right next to it. The gray rabbit panicked, slamming into Turtlepaw, and huge feet landed on the apprentice's chest. Predator knocked out cold by prey.

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That was the last thing Turtlepaw remembered before she blacked out. Suddenly, her eyes opened. Shoulders aching, Turtlepaw got up. But she was not in the familiar Windclan moors. Her eyes widened and the hair stood up on her neck as she looked at her surroundings. A battle. A vicious battle. Frozen in mid-scene. Warriors lay on the blood splattered ground, their eyes wide open and frozen on their faces were the last look of terror before they were murdered. Their murderers stood triumphantly over them. Turtlepaw's heart caught in her throat as she caught sight of the bodies of the cats she loved...Otterpaw...not strong enough to survive the war...her mother....attempting to protect her clan, throwing her life away..... Falconpaw....his throat torn out in a mess of blood....and Honeypaw....her back broken by an enemy's strong paws. Turtlepaw slammed her eyes shut, having seen enough of the gruesome sight.

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"Horrible, isn't it?" Turtlepaw opened one eye as she heard former Windclan warrior Heathertail's calm voice. She was I longer surrounded by the battle. She stood in a misty nothingness, Heathertail sitting across from her, her tail wrapped neatly around her paws. "W-what...what was that?" Turtlepaw was shocked of how kit-like her voice sounded. She realized she was shaking, and tried to stop, but found this impossible. Heathertail looked away, hiding her dark expression. "It's what you must prevent." "Me? All alone?" "Well..no." "How would I prevent it? Who will help me? Was that a vision from the future-" "Hush," Heathertail's eyes softened at the young apprentice. "You will know in your own time...you will know...."

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Turtlepaw snapped awake, gasping for air. The rabbit was long gone. Nobody stood over her, like she had partially expected. Turtlepaw got up shakily, looking around to confirm she was in the real world. "I'd better tell Lakesong about this!" Turtlepaw thought, racing back to camp without telling Sunstripe or Honeypaw.

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Turtlepaw found Lakesong right away, in her den. Luckyily, Breezepaw was not present. For some reason, Turtlepaw felt that the medicine cat apprentice should not know about her vision or phrophecy just yet......

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