Moon Of Warning - Warrior Cat Fanfiction

Chapter Nine

Moonpaw woke slowly. She was cold. She carefully stood up, shook herself, looked down for a moment, and left the den. She had woken up without her brother. It was so strange, she had never slept beside him, then woken up to find him gone. He would never leave her side while she was sleeping. Moonpaw smelled something that was also strange, but she ignored it. She saw every cat gathered in the clearing, and saw something that made her mad as well. "Why did he sleep out here?" She cried incredulously. Her eyes filled with fiery rage. "He was safe and warm with me! Who brought him out here in the cold night?" She glared around, trying to spot a guilty face. She found none. She padded to her littermate's side, pressing his cold body with her nose. "Shadepaw." She mewed quietly. "You can wake up now." He didn't move. "Shadepaw." She pressed harder, smelling leafy scents all over his stiff body. "You great badger! You can't sleep forever you know." She purred, amused, but her purr was short-lived because she realized that every cat's eyes were upon her. They looked sad. Crystalflower stepped forward. Moonpaw tilted her head, confused. Why were they all staring at her? Crystalflower squished Moonpaw into her, and Moonpaw saw her mother's eyes were filled with sorrow. "Momma?" She mewed, becoming more and more puzzled with each passing moment. "Now your brother can sleep all he wants." She murmured, releasing Moonpaw. "What do you mean?" She asked. "He's dead little one. He died soon after he was brought in the camp. He died where he would have wanted to. By your side." Moonpaw shook her head. "No Momma, he isn't dead." Moonpaw said it with such certainty that she wanted to be proved right. She turned to her brother, and let her nose rest against his flank. It didn't move. "Shadepaw?" He didn't stir. Moonpaw felt every bone in her body turn to ice. Then she felt them shatter. "NO!" She cried. She pressed her muzzle deeper into his fur, realizing the scent she had smelled earlier was death- and the herby smell was trying to mask it. Her mother laid beside her. Moonpaw gazed at her beloved littermate, oblivious to the sun starting to sink below the horizon. As the other cats started to gather, she sat up with her mother. Laurelstar said a few words about him being loved by all. Moonpaw said nothing, because everyone knew she loved him more than words would allow. Stonewhisker said the time-honored vow over his body- May you find good hunting, swift running, and shelter when you sleep- and left the cats to grieve. Moonpaw stayed there all night, and when the sun rose, she ignored her leader again. "Now it is time to bury this brave apprentice." Twigleaf and Marshheart moved forward, and bent to pick him up... "NO!" Moonpaw yelled again, suddenly filled with anger. "No cat touches him!" She leaped up, and carefully picked up Shadepaw's scruff, as if he could feel her touch. She tried to drag him, and stopped. "I'm going to hurt him..." She murmured, and circled him rapidly, trying to find a way to bring him away from the other cats. She didn't hear Laurelstar's orders to Sharppaw. "We need someone who is near her head-height. She hates Litchenpaw, so you must do it." He moved to help her. Moonpaw grabbed his scruff again, and let Sharppaw help her -even if she did so reluctantly. They found the hole the elders had dug, overlooking the lake. They laid Shadepaw into it, not knowing they had chosen the same exact spot where the ancient warrior Mousefur had once been put to the same rest. After the sad task was done, Moonpaw followed Sharppaw back to camp. As they entered, Laurelstar called the clan together. She said some meaningless nonsense, and Moonpaw tried to turn away. Sharppaw slapped her back with a paw, and hissed, "Moonpaw! Have some respect. Shadepaw wouldn't want-" Moonpaw snarled furiously. "Don't even go there! You don't know what my brother would have wanted!" She shut her mouth, not wanting to talk further. "I meant that Shadepaw wouldn't want you to miss your own warrior ceremony." Sharppaw said, ignoring her barbed comment. He pushed her forward, and followed suit. Litchenpaw came forward as well. "Even though you were not in the battle, it would be unfair to make your brother a warrior and not you as well." Moonpaw's heart cried out like a starving kit as Laurelstar said the word brother. She turned to the mentors. "Have each of your apprentices learned the ways of the warrior code?" They all nodded. She turned back. "Do each of you promise to uphold the warrior code, even at the cost of your life?" Moonpaw felt another pang as she said the last words. She unconsciously replied with the others. "I do." They each said the vow. Laurelstar brought Litchenpaw forward. "I, Laurelstar, leader of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend them as warriors in their turn. Litchenpaw, from this day forward, you will be known as Litchenfeather, and we honor your speed and accuracy. We welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan." Litchenfeather bent her head as Laurelstar laid her muzzle on top of it. She backed away, and Sharppaw stepped forward. "Sharppaw, from this day forward, you will be known as Sharpstone, and we honor your patience and determination. We welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan." Laurelstar laid her muzzle on his calico head as well. Moonpaw stepped forward this time, and this time she listened to Laurelstar. "Moonpaw, from this day forward, you will be known as Moonshade, in honor of your brother who gave his life for us. We honor your eagerness to learn, and your kindness. We welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan." Muzzle to head once more. She stepped away as their new names were called. "Litchenfeather! Sharpstone! Moonshade!" When they quieted, Laurelstar continued. "Now we have no apprentices, what a shame! Well, we will just have to fix that!" She brought Mintkit and Greenkit forward. They each were made apprentices, and were assigned mentors. Greenpaw got Marigoldheart, and Mintpaw got Leafnose. Greykit hung back. "Laurelstar?" She squeaked. "I want to be a medicine cat. Is that okay?" Laurelstar nodded. "If that is what you wish." Greypaw bounced around, mewing, "Thank you Laurelstar, Oh thank you!" Every cat grinned at the little she-cat. Moonshade realized she was grinning too. It was hard not to. Another voice interrupted the happy moment. "I'm sorry, if it's too much happiness in one day, but I have news as well." It was Whiskerear. "Me and Slightshadow are mates! And I'm expecting kits!" Ever cat congratulated their two young clanmates. Moonshade blinked. Had they forgotten her brother already? He had been buried this morning! She hissed, and left camp. She ran blindly, her paws leading to where Shadepaw was buried. Oh Shadepaw... She had earned her warrior name, but her brother would forever be an apprentice. She bowed her head, and jolted it up again. She had heard a voice. It had sounded so achingly familiar. You've never struck me as the kind who lingered, and continued to cry over spoiled prey. There it was again! "Shadepaw?" Moonshade looked around, looking for a grey-black pelt - identical to her own. Quit grieving! She looked more urgently. Oh, stop it! I'm not here! You need to stop coming here, even if you only did it today. Today will turn into tomorrow, and then it will become a habit. What if you came here and you were Thunderclan's best fighter? How would they fight without you if there was another attack? Moonshade growled. She knew the voice was in her mind. So she responded there. Shadepaw, I'm not their best fighter. I never will be. And you can't stop me from coming to see you, even if you are in the ground. Imaginary Shadepaw hissed. I can! I'm your brother, and you don't want to disrespect me. You wouldn't be acting like this if I was there! Moonshade yelled to the sky. "I know Shadepaw! But you're not! I won't come here if you don't want me to, but I can't live without you. I can't! It's like the nursery tales of Squirrelflight and Leafpool, we had the same kind of spirit link. Now, I'm empty. I'm lost. And without you, I'm useless!" She curled her limbs together, and heard his voice in her head again. I know. You're special, my beloved sister. I will stay in your heart forever, and I will stay in your mind until your job is finished with me. With that, it sounded like his paws padded away on an invisible floor. Moonshade sat up again and whispered, "Thank you Shadepaw. Thank you."