|| The Prophecies Begin || Book 1 Of 6 || Warriors fanfic

~~Chapter 4~~

Author's POV

Shocked yowls rose from the Clan cats and echoed through the forest.

Ravenpaw staggered slightly. His right foreleg glistened, wet with blood that flowed from a deep gash on his shoulder. "We m-met five RiverClan warriors beside the stream, not far from Sunningrocks," He went on shakily. "Oakheart was among them."

"Oakheart!" Graypaw gasped between Firepaw and Moonpaw. "He is the Deputy of RiverClan. He's one of the greatest warriors in the forest. Lucky Ravenpaw! Wish it could have been me. I'd have really-" Graypaw was silenced by a fierce glance from the old gray tom who had first sensed Ravenpaw's return.

Firepaw and Moonpaw turned their attention back to Ravenpaw.

"Redtail warned Oakheart to keep his hunting parties out of ThunderClan territory. He said the next RiverClan to be caught in ThunderClan territory would be killed, but Oak... Oakheart would not back down. He said his Cl-Clan had to be fed, whatever we threatened." Ravenpaw paused to wheeze for breath. His wound was still bleeding heavily, and he stood awkwardly to keep the weight off his shoulder.

"That's when the RiverClan cat's attacked. It was hard to see what was happening. The fighting was vicious. I saw Oakheart had Redtail pinned to the ground, but Redtail..." Suddenly Ravenpaw's eyes roll in his head and he lurched sideways. Half scrambling, half falling, he slithered off the Highrock and collapsed on the ground below.

A ginger queen bounded towards him and crouched at his side. She licked his cheek briefly and called out, "Spottedleaf!"

Out of the fern-shaded corner trotted a beautiful tortoise-shell The new apprentices had noticed sitting next to Graypaw earlier. They watched her hurry over to Ravenpaw and mewed for the queen to stand back. Then she used her small pink nose to roll the apprentice over so that she could take a good look at the wound. She glanced up and meowed, "It's alright, Goldenflower, his wounds aren't fatal. But I'll need to fetch some cobwebs to stop the bleeding."

As Spottedleaf sprinted back to her den, the hushed silence in the clearing was broken by a mournful howl. Everyone turned to the direction it had come from.

A massive dark brown tabby staggered through the gorse tunnel. Between his sharp teeth the warrior held not prey, but the lifeless body of another cat. They all watched as he dragged the tattered creature into the middle of the clearing.

Moonpaw and Firepaw craned their necks and glimpsed a flash of bright ginger tail hanging limply in the dust.

Shock rippled through the Clan like a chilled breeze. In between the new cat's, Graypaw dropped into a crouch as grief swept over him. "Redtail!"

"How did this happen, Tigerclaw?" Bluestar demanded from her spot on the Highrock.

Tigerclaw let Redtail's neck fall from his mouth. He steadily looked back at Bluestar. "He died with honor, struck down by Oakheart. I couldn't save him, but I managed to take Oakheart's life while he was still gloating over his victory." Tigerclaw's voice was strong and deep. "Redtail's death was not in vain, for I doubt we'll see RiverClan hunters in our territory again."

Moonpaw glanced at Graypaw. The apprentices eyes were dark with sadness.

After a moment's pause, several of the cats moved forward to lick Redtail's bedraggled fur. As they groomed they purred hushed phrases to the dead warrior.

Firepaw whispered into Graypaw's ear, "What are they doing?"

Graypaw didn't take his eyes off of the dead cat as he replied. "His spirit may have left to join StarClan, but the Clan will share tongues with Redtail one last time."