Warriors: Setting Sun: Returning Sky #2

Chapter 8

Frosted grass gently swayed in the wind. Stars twinkled with an unnatural brightness, their light reflecting down on a small black she-cat. She looked confused.

"No," Nightpaw muttered. StarClan? Am I dead? She had fallen asleep earlier on accident, but now she wasn't sure if this was dream. Further ahead, standing in the tall grass was a large gray tom with a torn ear. 

"Hello, Nightpaw. This is dream, no need to worry," the tom soothed, stepping closer. He slithered through the grass, the stars in his pelt brushing onto the tall green stalks. "You should know who I am, but perhaps you don't. I was ThunderClan's previous leader, Ashstar."

"A-ashstar, wha-?" Nightpaw gasped. "Why... are you here?"

"To prevent you from doing a terrible thing. Once you wake up, you'll steal from your own Clan and give to another Clan," Ashstar meowed, a slight hostile tone to his voice.

Nightpaw flattened her ears. He's talking about the catmint. But what does he mean that it'll be a terrible thing? "You think saving kits would be a terrible thing?" She growled.

"We gave them a sickness for a reason. Though I can not see the future, I see that those kits will cause bad things," Ashstar growled. "So please, don't deliver that catmint."

"How do you know they'll turn up bad?" Nightpaw questioned.

Ashstar ignored her. "I gave Whitewing's kits greencough. It was a test for you. A test for where your loyalty lies. It doesn't seem to be with ThunderClan," he hissed. 

"M-monster! How could you willingly give sickness to kits?" Nightpaw asked, outraged. No... her kits will make it, but I won't let another Clan's kits die. "My loyalty is with ThunderClan. But if I allowed kits to die, I couldn't live with that guilt."

"One life over several," Ashstar muttered. "I see, Nightpaw. From this night on, you will live in a shadow of regret and guilt. StarClan does these things for a reason," he growled, lashing his tail.

Nightpaw wanted to respond, but she suddenly snapped awake. She held in her gasp. Mudpaw was the only one in the den. Featherpaw... She rose to her paws and slithered through the darkness. Should I be doing this?

Nightpaw moved silently towards the medicine cat den with the help of the moon's light. Heart pounding, she slowly crept into the den, the strong scent of all the herbs hitting her at once. She stopped abruptly, realizing she almost stepped on Flamedawn's tail. I shouldn't be doing this. And yet here I am.

Nightpaw carefully stepped over the sleeping tom, then managed to hobble to the herb shelf. She used her nose to guide her to what she believed to be catmint. Through the darkness, she could see the nettle-looking plant, so she grabbed a few stalks. There were only three stalks of catmint left. I'm so sorry. 

Nightpaw turned away blindly, her fur burning with guilt. She saw the silhouette of a cat sitting by the entrance, so she turned to the dirt-place tunnel. She passed the nursery, and when she did, she heard a small, weak cough. She ignored it though, and slipped through the dirty tunnel. I'm out. Now all I have to do is head for Spirepaw! She ran through the forest quickly, her tail flying behind her.

The crickets chirped quietly, and there was a quiet sound of dead leaves rolling on the ground. A thin layer of snow covered the ground, and a light snow was falling. Nightpaw's paws felt frozen as she ran through the snow. I have to hurry! Getting closer to the ShadowClan border, she could feel her pelt burning with guilt.

The snow-covered tree branches creaked in the still air, their branches collecting more snow. Nightpaw slowed down, shivering. The cry of an owl pierced the night, and there was the distant sound of branches falling and splintering on the ground. Moonlight sprinkled down once the clouds cleared away from the moon. The tall, heavily-leaved trees creaked silently, snow glistening on their branches.

Nightpaw walked slowly, her jaws aching. She paced along the ShadowClan border, her paws numb. StarClan, it's so cold. I'm going to freeze to death out here! Her whiskers twitched with irritation. Where are you Spirepaw?

Suddenly, a shadow slid from behind the tree. Spirepaw quickly trotted over to her, his eyes bright. He spotted the catmint in her jaws, and he lifted his tail. "You got it! Thank you, Nightpaw! I promise I'll repay you next time!" He purred. He noticed her expression. "Huh, what's wrong? You should be happy, Nightpaw, you just saved kits' lives!" 

"I..." Nightpaw sighed.  "Whitewing's kits are sick too. You're lucky I care so much about you," she meowed.

Spirepaw stood still for a moment. 

"And..." Nightpaw added. She slumped her shoulders. "Nevermind. I probably shouldn't tell you."

"What is it? You know you can tell me," Spirepaw prompted.

Nightpaw looked away. She saw her breath in the cold air when she sighed. "I.. had a dream. Ashstar came to me. He told me that... those kits shouldn't be saved. That they're supposed to die because they won't be good cats."

"A StarClan cat said that? What nonsense! These are kits, they're harmless!" Spirepaw growled. "He's just trying to scare you."

"But what if he's right? StarClan knows what they're doing. They gave the kits greencough so prevent... the death of others. I think Ashstar was truthful," Nightpaw meowed, almost stuttering.

"Wasn't Ashstar a bad cat though? Haven't you heard of those nursery stories how he killed his own Clanmates?" Spirepaw questioned. "Do you want to believe a killer's word? What gives him the right to call others bad?" He prompted.

Nightpaw avoided his gaze. He has a point. "Well he's in StarClan, so surely he's some good," she excused. "And yeah, you have a point, but I'm doubting this decision. If.. if my Clan finds out what I've done-"

"They won't. And if they do, it'll be stupid to shame you for saving kits," Spirepaw meowed. "You can... always come to ShadowClan. I'll beg for Snowstar to let you in!" He squeaked, shuffling his paws.

"They definitely will shame me though. If Whitewing's kits die, it'll be my fault. I'll live with the pressing guilt of that," Nightpaw whined.

Spirepaw looked at his paws. "Well, I hope they get better, I really do. I'm not saying that ShadowClan's kits are more important, but I'm afraid they'll die. Their greencough has gotten worse. "

"I.. I should go now, Spirepaw. Just take the catmint back quickly before the frost kills it. And just tell your medicine cats that you happened to find it," Nightpaw sighed, turning away.

"W-wait, Nightpaw!" Spirepaw gasped. He dropped the catmint on the ground and rushed forward. His whiskers twitched nervously. "I-I like you. L-like more than a friend. You don't have to respond. I know this is probably a lot, coming from me."

Nightpaw stood still, her eyes wide. Despite the snow that gently drifted onto her fur, her pelt burned. Her whiskers twitched. "I like you too," Nightpaw purred, her tail lifting.