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Brightpaw — Chapter four-Sanctuary
Published: 2008-03-02 07:31:37 +0000 UTC; Views: 2110; Favourites: 23; Downloads: 10
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Description “This is only the beginning.” That horribly familiar voice growled softly, and Leafpool turned to meet the burning gaze of Tigerstar.   
  Like a demon from hell, his amber eyes glittered with the cold fire of hate. Leafpool tried to force her eyes open, to wake up. But something held her tight, not letting go.
  “Tigerstar!” a voice snarled, ripping through the darkness and shattering the nightmare Leafpool was living, though only for a moment. The new voice calmed the storm of fear the young medicine cat felt, thought it still tickled her paws, threatening to overspill at any moment.
  “Spottedleaf!” Leafpool breathed, relief glittering in her eyes as the tortoiseshell medicine cat stepped forward, an angry look scrawled across her pretty face.
  “Tigerstar! How dare you? You know the law!” Spottedleaf spat defiantly, brushing past Leafpool to stand in front of Tigerstar.
  “The law? I warned you, Spottedleaf! You and that ginger fool, Firestar! Things have changed”  Tigerstar replied coolly. “Nothing can last forever. Not even this safe-haven, StarClan.” And for a moment, Leafpool could see genuine fear in Spottedleaf’s eyes, though it vanished beneath a cloud of anger.
  “Not even you can change what is set in the stars.” Spottedleaf growled, lashing her tail.
  “Ah, but that’s the thing, my little medicine cat. This hasn’t been set in the stars yet.” Tigerstar laughed, harsh and cold.
  “Not yet.” Spottedleaf rasped.
  “Nothing is set in the stars until it has happened. Nothing is for sure. Anything and everything can change at the last moment.” Tigerstar mewed, lifting his head up to gaze at the starless sky. Leafpool didn’t understand what he was staring at, and then she saw them. Four glittering stars, the only stars in the black sky. “You see? This is the only thing that set to happen. Four will be born, basked in light, and bathed in dark. A river of blood will flow from their paws, leading to the Clan‘s future..” Tigerstar growled, his voice dropping down to a whisper as he spoke the prophecy.  “No matter what it will be.” The tabby warrior added triumphantly.
    Spottedleaf bared her teeth, fur bristling.
  “Are you angry that I exposed the prophecy to Leafpool so early? Afraid that it might effect the outcome of her-”
   “Stop!” Spottedleaf cut Tigerstar off. The dead warrior smiled coldly, but didn’t speak again. This whole time Leafpool had been staring at the two ghostly cat, too afraid and confused to speak.
  “My what?” the tabby she-cat finally asked, wincing as Tigerstar turned his amber gaze to her.
  “You see? Even she wants to know! Not for long though.”  Tigerstar growled. He had been sitting back on his haunches, but now stood straight, padding towards Leafpool.
  “Come, Leafpool. You need not stay here any longer ” Spottedleaf mewed softly, gesturing with her tail for Leafpool to follow. Leafpool nodded starting to step forward. But Tigerstar snarled, leaping in front of her.
  “You have no right, Spottedleaf! She trespassed on our territory! She is our responsibility.” He growled. Spottedleaf said nothing, her eyes sad.
  “I know.” she finally murmured.
  “Spottedleaf?” Leafpool asked, confused. You can’t just leave me here!
  “I’m sorry Leafpool The territories of the stars have been remapped by this traitor.” the tortoiseshell she-cat mewed softly.
  Leafpool pulled her lips back in a snarl, glaring at the StarClan she-cat.
  “Are you just going to leave me here?” she whispered, fear creeping up on her again. Spottedleaf opened her mouth to answer,  but no sound came from her lips. Instead a high pitched screeching cut through the air, riding on the wind, which had grown. It now whirled around them, blowing Leafpool’s fur in all directions, blocking out Spottedleaf’s mews.
  “Spottedleaf!” Leafpool cried. A terrible pain was cutting through her stomach. Her vision flickered, and for a moment all she could see was the splashing of blood. Another high pitched cry stabbed the air. The pain was growing worse every moment. “What’s happening to me?” The tabby medicine cat whispered, but her words were lost to the wind. No more cries stained the air. The medicine cat’s vision of blood vanished, and she  now found herself staring into the Moonpool. Wide amber eyes stared back up at her, and for a moment Leafpool felt a fresh wave of fear crawling up her spine, until she realized that it was only her own amber reflection staring back up at her with anxious eyes.
  “What mistakes have I made to deserve this?” Leafpool murmured, raising her head to gaze into the sky. The terrible pain was gone now, but the memory of it still haunted Leafpool. The sky was splashed with pale shades of gink and gold, a welcome sight from the dark forests she had been in only moments ago.  
  Leafpool scrambled to her paws, sliding on the slippery rocks. Turning around, the young medicine cat bounded up the stones and away from the Moonpool. Away from StarClan.
  It didn’t take her long to get back to the moors. Following the stream she made her way back to the forest. Her paw steps were lighter now, as though a great weight had been lifted from her. And no matter what she had just been through, Leafpool felt better. As if learning of the prophecy had been her sanctuary. Or perhaps it was simply being so close to StarClan, no matter the circumstances.
  The scratches from her fight with Squirrelflight still stung through. Thinking of Squirrelflight, Leafpool felt a pang guilt.
  “Attacking my own sister?” Leafpool whispered out loud. She attacked you first. She told herself, dismissing the guilt with a wave of her tail. As the medicine cat padded into LionClan’s camp, she glanced around. Everything seemed normal. The Clan warriors were doing their duties, the apprentices complaining about chores. Padding to her den, Leafpool quickly dressed her own scratches. Their were several deep ones. Squirrelflight had grown into a fine young warrior with great skill.
  “I told you would get torn to pieces by her.” a voice growled softly. Leafpool glanced up to see Crowfeather. His eyes glared at her, fur bristling.
  “Calm down Crowfeather. I’m fine.” she soothed, touching her tail tip to his flank for a moment. Crowfeather’s lip curled up as though he were about to snarl, but he didn’t.
  Just then Barkface padded into the medicine cat den, jaws filled with herbs. (I suck at naming herbs. Sorry.) Not watching his step, the old tom bumped into Crowfeather.
  “Oh. Sorry, Crowfeather. Didn’t see you there.” he mewed. The brown tom’s eyes narrowed. Leafpool looked away, self consciously licking her ruffled chest fur. Crowfeather sighed, looking as though he wanted to say more. Letting out a sigh, the young warrior simply mewed,
  “Err, thanks for the herbs for my belly ache, Leafpool.” Nice cover-up.  Leafpool thought, nodding as the gray warrior turned and bounded out of the medicine cat den. Barkface said nothing, but bent over to place his herbs down. He began sorting through them, singling some out for drying. Leafpool watched for a moment, remembering the days when Cinderpelt had taught her to do just the same thing. Cinderpelt. She hadn’t shown herself at all while Leafpool had spoken with StarClan since she died. Sighing sadly, she turned away and padded out of the den, ignoring the look Barkface gave her.
  As she padded towards the fresh-kill pile, Leafpool felt a shiver run down her back. Slowly turning her head, Leafpool met the green eyes of her sister. She longed to bound forward and tell Squirrelflight that she was sorry, and that she hadn’t meant what she had said. But Leafpool had meant what she had said. That, and stretched out beside Squirrelflight was Bramblestar. He looked happier than a kit becoming an apprentice. The way he watched Squirrelflight sent jealously racing through Leafpool Not for Bramblestar, but for Squirrelflight. She was able to be with Bramblestar, anywhere she went. Their love wasn’t forbidden. No cat could stop them from being together. But for Leafpool, it often felt like she was fighting the world to even see Crowfeather’s face.
  Turning her head back to the fresh-kill pile, Leafpool picked through it till she found a small mouse to her liking. Taking her fresh-kill, she padded over to a sunlit corner of the camp. Enjoying the warmth on her fu, Leafpool crouched down to eat her meal. But before she could take a bite, a yowl split through the air.
  “Great StarClan, what now?” Leafpool sighed, turning towards the area where the yowl had come from. It was Ferncloud, her eyes wide.
  “Leafpool! Come quick, Whitetail’s kits are coming!” Leafpool sighed again, and casting a hungry look at the mouse, padded forward to help Whitetail though the passage to motherhood.
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Comments: 15

epiphany48 [2008-06-05 22:48:53 +0000 UTC]

very interesting!!! i love how it keeps u going!
awesome job!!!

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Brightpaw In reply to epiphany48 [2008-06-05 23:06:34 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Ghostpelt [2008-03-21 09:14:02 +0000 UTC]

It's Reallly good! Write the next chapter!!!! XD

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Brightpaw In reply to Ghostpelt [2008-03-22 21:15:46 +0000 UTC]

Will do

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Warriorsfan101 [2008-03-15 01:14:10 +0000 UTC]

It's sooo good! Your a great writer! You NEED to make more or i'll die!!!

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horseytamer1 [2008-03-03 03:37:44 +0000 UTC]

REALLY REALLY REALLY GOOD!!!!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Brightpaw In reply to horseytamer1 [2008-03-03 03:54:17 +0000 UTC]

Glad to know you liked it

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

horseytamer1 In reply to Brightpaw [2008-03-03 04:01:38 +0000 UTC]

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xBramblestarx [2008-03-02 20:56:14 +0000 UTC]

Oh, it's SO GOOD!!! Need...more...

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Brightpaw In reply to xBramblestarx [2008-03-03 03:56:10 +0000 UTC]

Lol, thanks!
More is coming soon.............

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xBramblestarx In reply to Brightpaw [2008-03-05 02:20:59 +0000 UTC]

Plz, plz, plz!!!

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Ghostpelt [2008-03-02 17:56:06 +0000 UTC]

It's really Good! Type the Next Bit!!!!!!!!!!

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Brightpaw In reply to Ghostpelt [2008-03-03 03:56:20 +0000 UTC]

Will do!

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hrtbwm [2008-03-02 07:48:23 +0000 UTC]

Oh my god, the middle made my eyes tear up ;_; It was so sad. You did an awesome job writing this. Yeah, my brain died too and I'm stuck on (I think) the 11th chapter in my fan fic. There isn't much sadness in mine but there will be. Right now mine's really boring --falls asleep--

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hrtbwm In reply to hrtbwm [2008-03-02 07:48:57 +0000 UTC]

First view!

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