A Misty Path (A Warrior Cats Fanfiction)

Chapter 17

"He was brought in too late," Mistlefrost explained. "I did everything I could, but without Speckledpaw I could only do so much. Not only that but most of the herbs I needed were destroyed by the ThunderClan and ShadowClan raiders." Mistpaw wasn't listening. Sandpaw? Dead? There's no way. This has to be some sort of joke!

"Do you want to join us?"

"It'll be Mistpaw soon!"

"I wait for you every day just to talk to you!"

"I think it's cool."

"I've wanted to be an apprentice ever since you were made an apprentice!"

"We'll be warriors soon, and Dewspeck told me being a warrior is really, really hard!"

"I can't run away, not now! I have a duty! A duty to my Clan to protect them until my last breath!"

"I'm still standing, aren't I?"

"When we triumph against these trespassers, I will be here to celebrate with you."

"I promise you, Mistpaw."

"I promise you."

"I promise."

Mistpaw sank her claws into the moss bed. You promised! She felt tears building up in her eyes. She felt Mistlefrost sitting beside her, stroking her flank with her tail comfortingly.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "But he's happy now. He's in StarClan."

Mistpaw gritted her teeth. He was happy! I was happy! We were happy together, with - "Where's Mudpaw?"

Mistlefrost sighed. "I... don't know." She shook her head. "It's been a rough time for all of us, but don't worry, StarClan will fix everything."

"StarClan shouldn't have let this happen in the first place."

Mistlefrost rose to her paws. "I know you're frustrated," she meowed. "Just rest, okay?"

Mistpaw sighed. How could she rest? One of her friends had died and the others were missing! She narrowed her eyes. That's not the only thing that changed. She remembered the cruel icy-blue gaze of Sparkfang, the crazed ShadowClan warrior. She could still feel the sting of his claws in her pelt. She winced as she remembered her mother's terror, her wide fearful amber eyes. The tears trickled down her face and brushed a scratch on her cheek. Flinching, she buried her face in the moss, closing her eyes and letting sleep overcome her.

Light flooded her sight as her eyes slowly opened. Blinking as her eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness. She saw the woven walls of the apprentice den around her. A comfortable moss bed was stretched out beneath her. Her fur was sleek and intact: no scars or bruises. She frowned. Am I in camp?!

"Hey!" Jumping, she turned to see a pale-pelted figure standing at the lichen entrance to the den. Sandpaw waltzed over to sit beside her. He prodded her with a paw. "Why aren't you up yet, lazy-bones?"

"Sandpaw?!" Mistpaw's eyes widened. "W-what're you...?"

"Uh... what?" Sandpaw blinked at her, his handsome green eyes confused.

"How... I thought Mistlefrost said -?"

"Mistlefrost?" Sandpaw raised an eyebrow. "What'd you go to Mistlefrost for?" His eyes widened in concern and he pushed his snout into her muzzle. "Are you hurt?"

"I..." Mistpaw inspected her pelt again. Sure enough, there was nothing. No scars, no bruises, no blood. "I... Don't worry about it."

"Great!" Sandpaw rose to his paws, excitable and bubbly once more. "Dewspeck, Shellwing and Perchscale are out hunting together so you, me and Mudpaw can go have some fun!"