Darkened skies (UNFINISHED)

Four

Hawkpaw awoke, gazing directly upward through the thin twigs and leaves in the medicine den's roof. She saw the cliffside towering above her, and pine trees leaning over the edge. The empty, grey clouds swirled and danced around. Hawkpaw lay there, and started to fall asleep.

"I thought you'd like to see the nice view, Hawkpaw."
Hawkpaw jumped, and sat up. Hollyfur had caught her off-guard.
"Oh, sorry." Hollyfur chuckled, slightly embarrassed.
"It's fine! I was dozing off then anyways." Hawkpaw gave a warm mew.

Hollyfur sat down and gazed up through the bushes.
"I like to lie here sometimes, and watch the clouds go by. It makes me forget all my problems and duties, in a way."
Hawkpaw gave an abrupt nod.
"Wait- is that a bit weird?" Hollyfur mewed, with a chuckle.
"Of course not!" Hawkpaw laughed. " Of course not. "

Hawkpaw had been great friends with Hollyfur for moons. A moon ago, she got her warrior name, and boy did she deserve it, after 8 moons of utter dedication. 

The medicine den was packed to the brim with herbs and poultices ready for any kind of danger a cat could face. The den itself was a small cave/hole in the ground, lit by daylight, and a small fire surrounded by a stream of freshwater in the winter, with various, cozy nests of seaweed, moss, and pine needles. A fallen tree sheltered a second room in the den, with a tunnel to outside camp.Half of the room was for immediate medical attention, and at the end of the tunnel, was a small, seperate part, for resting cats. This was where Hawkpaw was.

"I'll go get something to eat. 

Hawkpaw shivered, and settled down on the dry sand. She fished out a rabbit from the fresh kill pile, and sunk her teeth into It's warm side. It must've been killed by the dawn patrol.

Hawkpaw gazed around the clearing. It was like the battle had never happened, aside from the fact there were some cats silently talking about the battle, some with injuries.
They should be in Hollyfur's den.

"Hey, did you hear about Flamespark?"
Hawkpaw spun her head around.  Clementine and Glacierpelt were sharing tongues. The black she-cat didn't seem to notice Hawkpaw, and kept on grooming Glacierpelt. "I feel real sorry for him, you know?" Clementine muttered. "Tried so hard to be a good deputy."

"Flamespark!" Hawkpaw meowed. She rushed over to the medicine cat den, forgetting to greet Hollyfur, and Crackedjaw.

She ran under the fallentree, and went straight to Flamespark, sleeping under the leaves.

Hawkpaw gasped, and her heart filled with grief. Flamespark was lying down, a foreleg bent the wrong way.

"I couldn't heal it."

Hawkpaw spun round. Anger, and grief blazing in her eyes, and spotted Hollyfur in the leaf tunnel.

"Hawkpaw, I'm sorry." Hollyfur's eyes were upset. She lowered her head.
"It's okay, Hollyfur. Nothing can be done."

The two she-cats sat there in silence, watching the sleeping tom. His Flame ginger pelt now scraggly and messy, rather than smooth and shiny.

"He had so many dreams." Hawkpaw croaked, tears streaming from her glinting yellow eyes.
Hollyfur nodded.
"I wonder what he's dreaming now."

"Let all cats old enough to swim in the deepest waters, gather beneath the highrock for a clan meeting." A deep voice rang across the camp. This wasn't Driftstar...?

Hawkpaw trotted to the sandy clearing, and sat down among the clan's healthy warriors. This might be her naming ceremony! She would finally get her warrior name. Looking behind her, Hawkflower spotted Flamespark sitting with Hollyfur at the medicine den entrance. He gave Hawkpaw a polite nod, he looked so proud of her.

Hawkpaw shivered, and looked up to the highrock for the first time, to see Swiftclaw. Why him!?

Swiftclaw seemed to have spotted some confused looks and murmurs, and explained. "Hello, Beachclan. Today I am here in replacement of Driftstar and Flamespark, as the new deputy."

Hawkpaw scowled. Bad choice, Driftstar. I would've picked Glacierpelt or Woodberry.
A tall warrior next to her looked down, and gave her a hard look. "Respect Swiftclaw. He worked hard for this position."
Hawkpaw dipped her head in apology, but she still didn't see what was so great about Swiftclaw.

Swiftclaw carried on. "..Driftstar's cough is worsening. It's slowly taking his last life. I trust Hollyfur to look after him 'till his last breath."
Hollyfur nodded.

"..We also have a new warrior to name. I believe Hollyfur picked this one out for Driftstar. Hawkpaw, could you please step up here, and receive your warrior name."

Excitement welled up in Hawkpaw's chest. She didn't care who have her her name. This was the day she had been waiting for for 13 moons. It was time for her to become a warrior!"

"I, Swiftclaw, deputy of Beachclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this Apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a Warrior in her turn."
"Hawkpaw, do you promise to uphold the Warrior Code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." Hawkpaw smiled.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your Warrior name. Hawkpaw, from this moment you will be known as Hawkflower. StarClan honours your patience and caring, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Beachclan."

Hawkflower felt an outburst of joy. She had achieved everything that she had ever been working for. She beamed happily, and looked down onto her new denmates. Swiftclaw layed his muzzle into her head, and Hawkflower licked his shoulder, as the clan chanted her new name. Hawkflower then stepped down.

"End of Clan meeting." Swiftclaw smiled.

"Hawkpaw! I'm so proud of you! Wait- I mean Hawkflower!" Her mother, Applestream meowed, and nuzzled her.

"Thanks, Applestream!"

"Well done, Hawkflower! You did really well."
Hawkpaw spun around.
"Flamespark!" Hawkflower mewed. His back leg was lifted above the ground , and set straight with a strong stick and some slimy seaweed.
"Does.. Does it hurt?" Hawkflower mewed, concerned.
"I try not to let it bother me." Flamespark meowed, with a chuckle.
Hawkflower smiled.
"Thanks anyways, Flamespark. I'm glad I have you as my brother."
Flamespark gave her a warm smile, and they sat in silence for a while.
"Swiftclaw isn't as bad a cat as you said, Flamespark. He's nice."
Flamespark looked suprised. "Yes, he's a good cat. It's just he teased me and bullied me for the majority of my kithood and apprenticeship.  He's a very patient and helpful cat now, but I don't think he likes me that much."
Hawkflower nodded, and stared at the new deputy.
"A good cat."