A Refuge

[Cinderpaw]

I watched as Flowercloud stalked away to her den. Eaglepaw and me were just friends, right? Tired after the journey to Shadowclan and back, the confrontation with my mentor, and helping a queen deliver her kits, I padded over to my nest and settled down, thinking hard. Almost instantly it seemed, I opened my eyes. I knew I was dreaming, for I wasn't in the medicine den, I was staring out at fourtrees, sparkling with dew and reflected starlight. I stood up, and saw a starclan warrior padding towards me, but her fur was almost tranclucent; I could see through her, I realized, and her pelt rippled, blinking out every few seconds, "You must make a decision." She mewed, her voice was faint and echoed, as if she was speaking from far away. Very quickly, I saw Eaglepaw stalking prey in the forest, his pelt rippling, then I saw Flowercloud, asleep in the medicine den. Then it was over, the Starclan cat blinked out and did not return. And suddenly I was awake, staring at the entrance to the Thunderclan camp, but how did I get out here? Frightened,I returned to my den and settled down to a deep, dreamless sleep.

[Brightstar & Company]

ooc:// Cinderpaw is going to recive a medicine cat name in a few moons. She's also invited to the gathering. I'll send you the pass for the fourtrees board. the gathering ends next tuesday.



Flowercloud padded though a starry forest, her paws feeling less tired and her limbs, less sore.
A starry she-cat with a blue pelt and grey mussle sood in front of her.
"Bluestar!" She mewed in awe.
The blue-gray cat dipped her head. "Hello child."
Flowercloud let out a kittish sounding squeak.
Bluestar seemed to chuckle inwardly. "Are you ready to listen?"
Flowercloud nodded.

________________________________________________________________________________


Eaglepaw hauled the last of his huge catch into the camp and headed for the apprentices den, his fur begining to soak up the light rain water like moss. He shook his pelt but only got out a fraction of the water. He settled down by his nest, rasping his tongue over his wet pelt. After about an hour of grooming his pelt was dry and he headed for bed, trying to get enoug rest so he wouldn't be drowsy for the gathering the next night.

[Cinderpaw]

When I woke up, I saw that Flowercloud was still dreaming, she was totally still, and I wondered if she was speaking with Starclan. I was feeling refreshed and calmed after my long sleep, but then I remembered what had happened last night, when I had woken from my dream to find myself standing in the camp, right in front of the entrance to the ravine. I decided to ask Flowercloud about it when she woke up.

[Brightstar & Company]

Eaglefrost padded out of the warriors den. The morning air was crisp and fresh. He took in a deep breath before heading to the fresh-kill pile to grab a juicy mouse for breakfast.

He licked his lips, getting every trace of mouse out of his teeth and around his lips. Soon, he spotted Cinderpaw. He dashed toward her.
"I hear that we have to get a new deputy, now that Thunderheart is missing." She seemed to ignoring him. "What's wrong?"
He padded up to her, rubbing her cheek with his muzzle.

[Cinderpaw]

"yeah," i mewed distractedly, "I wonder who the new deputy will be." I grabbed a vole and quickly padded away, pretending I hadn't seen the hurt look in Eaglefrost's eyes.

[Brightstar & Company]

a few days later:


Eaglefrost padded up to Cinderpaw.
"Hello." he mewed with a trace of misery.

[Cinderpaw]

"Hey Eaglefrost," Cinderpaw mewed. "What's wrong?" She hoped it was nothing too serious, her mind was so frazzled right now she wouldn't be able to tell juniper from poppy seed, let alone treat a sick cat.

[Brightstar & Company]

Eaglefrost shook his head and forced a smile. "Wanna go hunting?I'm sure your 'boss' has it covered. Surely you can spare a few mintutes." he flicked her ears with his tail teasingly.
Flowercloud hesitated and flicked her ears. "Whatever."

[Cinderpaw]

I knew Flowercloud well enough to see the anger she was hiding, but maybe a quick run through the forest would clear my mind. As soon as I got back though, I would have to tell Flowercloud what was happening. I turned to Eaglepaw and mewed, "Sure, just a quick hunt, then there's something I have to do." I turned and let the way out of the tunnel and into the forest beyond.

[Cinderpaw]

That evening when I returned, I was exhausted. I padded to my den without eating anything and lay down. Almost immediately I opened my eyes and knew I was dreaming. I was padding through the forest at the height of greenleaf. Prey scent was everywhere, but before I could pinpoint them, they wisked away. Before long, I realized that I was being followed. I heard large paws crunching over bracken stems, and when I turned I just barely saw a flitting shadow. Then another, this time closer. I turned and fled. I could sense the creature gaining on me, imagined feeling its teeth meeting my scruff. I ran faster, but still the creature came. I could go no further. I stumbled over a hidden tree root, fell, and turned to look at my attacker, but all I could see was the gleam of evil eyes, sharp fangs, and unsheathed claws. Then suddenly I was awake. I leaped out of my fern bed, but my dream was still here, I wasn't in the medicine den, I was in the forest. The overhead moon and stars were blotted out by clouds. Silverpelt was not looking down on me now. I could barely see, for a minute I wondered if I had left Thunderclan territory, but as my eyes grew accustomed I realized I wasn't far away from the River. Good thing I had woken up or I had plunged into the freezing river. The thought chilled me, and I padded quickly through the forest toward camp, glancing over my shoulder every few pawsteps, half expecting the creature from my dream to appear and kill me. I'm in the middle of the forest, I realized. If that thing did show up, no cat could could hear me. I stepped faster, until I was racing through the forest, Just as I was sure that I would never find camp, that I would keep on running forever in the forest, stalked by a huge creature with a taste for cat blood, I saw the camp entrance. I pelted through it, not slowing until I reached my nest of ferns and collapsed, falling into a deep, dreamless, sleep.