Moon Of Warning - Warrior Cat Fanfiction

Chapter Ten

With all of the commotion, Moonshade had forgotten about the strange creature that had killed her father. She remembered it when she saw it. She had been hunting, and she saw a gigantic thing demolishing a tree for no reason. She strangely felt sorry for the poor tree. The thing itself was a huge deer-like creature, and it was covered in dark brown fur. It had big horns like a buck, but they were rounder, and larger. Actually, Moonshade had realized everything about the monster was larger. She had bolted for camp, and brought Laurelstar and more warriors. Now, Moonshade was staring at it, and it wasn't moving. Just like Shadepaw... She thought, and the voice that had been in her head for the past few moons purred. You're feeling sorry for a piece of prey? Moonshade started. How could something that big be prey? But, Moonshade reasoned, Shadepaw was right. This thing would make a good meal. Leaf-bare was harsher than Moonshade had anticipated. Marshheart had died, and Twigleaf had soon followed. Moonshade ran her idea by Laurelstar. "It will take a lot of effort to bring it back..." She murmured. Moonshade nodded. "I know. But it will be worth it." Laurelstar blinked. "Alright. Come, my warriors! We will be full tonight!" It took the whole rest of the day to drag the thing back to camp, but Moonshade had been right. It was worth it. The only bad part was that it wouldn't fit through the entrance tunnel. They dragged it in, and had to patch the barrier up again. When it was laid in the clearing, Twinklepelt padded forward. "I know what that is!" She mewed, prodding the huge creature with a paw. "It's a moose! I've never seen one, but Marshheart had. He told me all about it!" The other cats came to examine the 'moose'. Whiskerear, her two tom-kits following her, came and asked Laurelstar when they were eating. "Right now." She replied, and called to every cat, "Dig in!" Moonshade chose a place at the moose's side, and started to eat. It tasted somewhat of willow bark. After she had finished eating, she sat and began to wash, also beginning another imaginary conversation with Shadepaw. Can you believe I've just eaten moose? He purred. Nope. But you have. Suddenly his voice went solemn. You have to go right now. I will talk to you later. His voice receded, and Moonshade sat up. She looked around, and spotted Laurelstar leaping onto her rock. "Let-" She started, and broke off with a violent cough. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather... here!" She wheezed. At that moment, their once-strong leader was really showing her age. Moonshade realized that the cream she-cat was looking extremely frail. Every cat stopped eating and turned towards their leader. "Starlingmist wishes to retire." She said bluntly. Moonshade jumped to her paws. Her old mentor nodded. "Starlingmist, is it your wish to give up the name of warrior and go join the elders?" Starlingmist replied, "It is." Laurelstar coughed again. "Your clan honors you and all the service you have given us as our deputy. I call upon Starclan to give you many seasons of rest." The whole clan chanted her name. "Starlingmist! Starlingmist!" Moonshade called the loudest of all. When the noise had died down, Laurelstar continued. "Now we have no deputy. So I will appoint a new one. Even though this cat has had no apprentice, it will not be long before they do. I can see no better other choice. So, I say these words before you, Starlingmist. Please hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of Thunderclan will be Moonshade." Moonshade's eyes widened at her name. "Laurelstar! I'm not ready!" Her leader shook her creamy head. "Your old mentor will show you what you must do. Moonshade dipped her head. "Thank you... For the... umm, honor." Moonshade stammered, not really knowing what to do next. She was dragged aside by Starlingmist, who purred and congratulated her before her mother even had the chance to move. "You've done so well!" She called, and stepped back to let Crystalflower in. Her mother positively pounded Moonshade into a happy little pancake. "Mother... You're...Squashing...Me..." She puffed, as the joyous queen stepped away. "Oh my kit, oh, if your brother could see you now..." She murmured, saying the words so quickly, Moonshade thought she was going to faint. She usually talked really fast before she fainted. Moonshade grinned. So many things had changed since then. Greenpaw, Mintpaw, and Greypaw had all become full-fledged cats in their clan, Greenlight, Mintnose- in honor of her mentor- and Greyleaf had all been very happy when they received their full names. Just like any normal apprentice. Except for me. Moonshade shook off the bad thought. She had to find Sharpstone. The calico tom was sitting beside his sister, Litchenfeather. Litchenfeather had warmed to Moonshade, and she no longer tried to annoy her. She padded away, going to talk to Treeclaw. Moonshade twined her tail with Sharpstone's, and took it away quickly. They weren't mates. Not yet. She thought. That would change tonight, she was sure. She gathered all of her courage, and whispered, "Can... can we go for a walk together?" She asked. Sharpstone's brow shot up, as if he were surprised. He nodded. They walked out of camp, not aware that every eye had been trained on their backs as they had left. They walked in silence, coming to a stop at the Ancient Oak. Moonshade sat, and turned towards the handsome tom. She took a deep breath. You only get one chance... Shadepaw teased in her mind. Shut it! Need to focus. She hissed back to him. She could have sworn she heard a snort of derision. She brought her mind back to Sharpstone. She opened her mouth, and Sharpstone beat her to it. "You brought me here because you have something important to tell me. I know what you're going to say. So, I'm going to say this. I want to be your mate. I really, really do. But, you're going to say that now you're the deputy, we can't be mates, or have kits. You're going to say that the clan comes first. Well, I'm going to say that I love you, no matter your choice." He looked down, but not before Moonshade could see that his eyes were filled with sadness and hope. Did not see that coming. Shadepaw's voice mewed flatly. Oh, you're just mad because your game was spoiled. Stop being such a grumpy elder. Moonshade ignored his cry of indignation. I'm not an elder! I'm young forever now, don't you forget. He must have realized something, because he scuffed the non-existing floor with his paws. That means when you die... Oh-no! You'll be in adult form... You'll be taller than me! If he was alive, he would have run away to ponder the new thought. Instead, he returned to Starclan for a few moments, because that was how long it felt to a dead cat. In truth, the two cats were beneath that tree for quite a long time. "Sharpstone. I'm not going to say that. I... I brought you here to ask if we could be mates. You beat me to it. We can have kits. That won't stop me." She stood up, a playful gleam in her eyes. If it were not for the white claw-scratch moon on her head, she would have looked exactly like her brother- except for her height. She lunged for Sharpstone. He backed away, not sure if it was a game. If she had been lying to him... Moonshade pinned him down, and stepped back. She made a face. It looked just like a kit- one that had had a perfect game spoiled by someone else. "That was no fun! You didn't even put up a fight." She looked sideways, pretending to think about something distracting. She let her face move to a blank expression, as she continued to look at a random tree root. In the corner of her eye, Sharpstone's face lit up at the prospect of a play-fight. He started to creep towards her, stalking her like a piece of prey. As he bunched his muscles to jump, Moonshade jumped on him instead. "Gotcha!" She called, batting him lightly on the nose. She put her full weight on his shoulders as he tried to throw her off. "Having kits won't stop me, because I'm the greatest warrior in Thunderclan!" She purred. Then, abruptly, she let her focus slip, and Sharpstone tossed her off. He growled like a kitten, and tried to prod her belly. "Grrrr. If you want to be a warrior, you have to be slimmer. You look like you just ate a moose!" Moonshade let her stance of battle fall, and she fell to the ground, helpless with mirth. She laughed, and it was the sweetest sound Sharpstone had ever heard. She regained some of her lost air, and bopped him sweetly on the nose with her own. "You mouse-brain! That's because I have eaten a moose!" Moonshade sat down suddenly, looking up at the stars. "You know what?" She murmured. "What?" Sharpstone asked, looking at the glittering lights as well. "Those stars will be there after we are long gone. So will our love." He nodded. "It sure will." Moonshade laid her head on his sturdy shoulder, and let his soft breathing lull her into a kind of doze. Then, when she was just starting to slide into real sleep, he slumped over. Moonshade sat up quickly, and glanced at him. He wasn't hurt. Thank Starclan. She peered closer. Moonshade clenched her teeth, holding back another laugh. He definitely wasn't hurt, because he was snoring! Moonshade curled him into a more comfortable position, and settled down as well. She was aware of every single sound in the territory. The only thing she was not aware of, was every one of her clanmates in the bushes, looking at the wonderful sight of the two young cats.