Warriors: Riverclan's Fall Book 1

Chapter Seven

Featherpaw opened her eyes as a pair of blue eyes looked over hers. "Hey!" a deep voice said. "I dont believe we've met before." he said. Featherpaw sat up. "Haha. I'm Stormpaw." he said. "That's my sister, Rosepaw. I believe you've met Rowanpaw, and you know Tigerpaw..." he trailed off.

"I'm Fe-" "Featherpaw, I know. I was at you ceremony." he said. Featherpaw stifled a mrrow of laughter. "Hi!" a red she-cat mewed shyly. "Im Rosepaw." she said. "I'm Featherpaw! And that's my sister, Honeypaw!" Featherpaw pointed out. "Hi!" Honeypaw squealed, staring at Stormpaw with wide, green eyes.

"Featherpaw!" Applestar called. Featherpaw groaned and pushed out of the den. A fresh blanket of snow lay on the camp ground. She poked it with a paw. "It's cold!" she gasped. "It's snow." Stormpaw exclaimed, appearing beside her. His blue eyes twinkled with amusement. Featherpaw pushed through the snow, at Applestar at the other side.

When Featherpaw was at the middle of the camp, the snow gave way. She let out a yowl of shock as she tumbled down. Snow piled ontop of her. A few moments later, a gray pelt appeared above her. He grabbed her scruff and hauled her up. "T-thanks." Featherpaw mewed. Applestar raced to her. "Are you okay? Do you still wanna explore the territory?" she asked. "Ya!" Featherpaw squeaked, bouncing up.

"Okay." Applestar mewed. Featherpaw followed her out of camp. "Do you wanna go to the Thunderclan or Shadowclan border?" she asked. "Thunderclan." Featherpaw mewed, wrinkling her nose at the thought of Shadowclan. Applestar padded through the forest. Leaves scattered on the snow filled ground, and trees layed naked in the cold breeze.

Featherpaw fluffed out her fur as the wind blew lightly over her. Applestar haulted, her tail fluffing up. "What is it?" Featherpaw asked. "Fox" Applestar hissed. A flash of red fur caught her eyes as a creature stood in front of them, snarling. Applestar let out a yowl and lept onto it. It shook her off and lumbered towards Featherpaw. Featherpaw let out a screech as it neared. Applestar snarled and lept onto its back, slashing it's ears.

It growled and tried to shake her off, but she clung on. The fox rolled onto it's back. Applestar let go and tumbled to the ground. The fox recovered and stood over Applestar. It sliced her neck with long, dull claws. She lay limp. Featherpaw raged and leapt on it. It threw her off. Featherpaw snarled and summoned a random wind. It blew through the forest, throwing the fox high into the air. It fell. With a sickening thud, it fell onto the snow. Bones cracked and Featherpaw saw that it's paw was twisted a wrong way.

"I-i'm sorry..." she whispered. It looked up at her. "No, I sorry. I no mean to kill." it said. Featherpaw stared at it in shock. "Y-you understand me?" she asked. The fox nodded. "I understand all cats. I no speak in front them." Featherpaw stared at it in shock. "I-I'll heal you." she said, rushing off. She took thyme and rush from Echowing. She raced back to the fox.

"Here." she said. "This'll hurt." she warned before popping it's leg back in place. It growled softly. "Eat this. I'll grab you a rabbit or something." she said. A rabbit slowly hopped nearby. Featherpaw crouched, no practice at all. She leapt and clumisly pounced on it. She clamped its tail down and bit its spine.

She picked it up, embarassed at the messy catch. She layed it in front of the fox. "Thank you. I no hurt Riverclan no more." it said. "Thank you." she said, before padding to Applestar. She dragged her back to camp, and Applestar lifted her head weakly. "Featherpaw...is the fox gone?" she asked. Featherpaw nodded. "I have one more life left." she murmered.

Featherpaw let out a small wail. "I dont want you to die!" Applestar sighed. "Featherpaw, I was never ment to be leader. I'm too old. I could never of protected my clan." "No! Applestar please dont die!" she cried. Applestar weakly lifted her head. "It is my time, Featherpaw. You are destined to save the clans. I regret not being able to see your warrior ceremony. You'd make a good warrior." she murmered. "Cloudwisp, lead my clan well." she said.

Cloudwisp let out a wail of fear and grief. "No! I can't not yet!" But Applestar's pelt was already cold. Her eyes stared sightlessly at Cloudwisp, a tint of motherly love draining away. "Applestar!" he cried, nuzzling into her cold fur. "A-applestar?" Petaldusk and her three kits, Dovekit, Autumnkit, and Brightkit came padding up. "No!" Petaldusk yowled, staring wide-eyed at Applestar.

Featherpaw sobbed in her cold fur. Wind rustled around the trees and leaves blew onto the snow filled ground. Featherpaw knew when she saw the dark clouds that evil was rising...