White ll Dreams --x

[frosty ♥]

Chapter One-- The Damage

“Whitepaw, you lazy furball! Wake up already!” A tom’s voice yowled into a sleeping ivory cat’s ear, at once sparkling emerald green eyes flew open and moss slipped high into the air as the snowy white body scrambled desperately to her paws.

“Badgers?! Must call the alarm--!” The young she-cat was roughly pushed back into the nest of moss that she had been sleeping on a moment before, her blurry eyes widened in surprise before she fell back onto the ground with a soft thump. The white she-cat couldn’t see from her fuzzy vision and from the brown flecks of moss showering from above. “I- I must protect the Clan!” The feline cried, trying once more to get to her soft paws in quite a flurry.

“Stop it! It’s me, Birchpaw, you mousebrain!” Birchpaw hissed, jabbing her flank, the she-cat blinked a few rapid times before things fell into place. Here she was in the ThunderClan apprentices' den, her previously neatly formed mossy nest battered and torn apart whilst some parts were floating casually to the ground. Sunshine trickled through some large holes of the den, causing it to be slightly warm-- and rather comfortable.

“Birchpaw...? Birchpaw!!” Whitepaw’s eyes narrowed as she gazed at her amused companion. "Why you no good--" she wiggled her hind-quarters, "--mean old--" the ivory she-cat leaped forward "evil little piece of mousedung!"Whitepaw swatted his face but with her claws carefully sheathed, the brown tom below her struggled at first before using his hind paws and roughly pushing her off of him. For a few moments they clambered over each others until Whitepaw slipped away, giving him a irritated look, before giving her shoulder and chest a few brisk licks.

Suddenly, those penetrating green eyes locked onto him, "Why did you do that? Especially so soon after the attack! I could have called the alarm for nothing and it would have been all your fault!" The apprentice scolded him-- just as a queen to her kit would. Whitepaw lifted her chin up slightly, "Besides... aren't you supposed to be in Leafpool's den? Seriously! Have you even looked at your haunches?" Some concern laced her meow as her eyes rested on them.

There had been a horrible badger attack last night-- ThunderClan wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for WindClan's timely arrival. During the battle, a badger had scored its claws down her friend's haunches causing them to be fur less. It was a pretty nasty sight to see and it was probably stung a lot from the odor of marigold that came off of it.

Birchpaw shuffled his paws, "Well sorry! But Firestar ordered that we have to clean up the camp. Its destroyed as you can see," his eyes flickered to the empty den then back to her face. The younger apprentice listened to her second comment before muttering in a low tone, "Its nothing. It'll grow back eventually."

Whitepaw dipped her head just a bit, "Next time, don't wake me up by yowling in my ear like that!" The she-cat took a few steps forward and brushed her cheek against his own in a sisterly way, "And take an easy, okay?" Whitepaw rasped her tongue swiftly over his ear before slipping out of the apprentices' den. What a way to wake up. My cuts hurt and my paws are aching! I guess Birchpaw is right though, we have to clean up this mess... The apprentice slowly lifted her gaze from the grassy ground to let it take in her surroundings and what came to her was absolutely disastrous in all ways.

Her eyes widened immensely; branches were laying in the clearing, cold blood was still visible on the ground, bushes were ripped apart, and the entrance tunnel was so messed up the whole of ShadowClan could probably come charging through within heartbeats! All the dens were broken apart-- just as their den was. Whitepaw gasped faintly... it was too much to take in all at once. Suddenly, in her mind's eye, she saw slashing claws, fangs, and blood spraying across the grass.

Her paws slipped, then she felt it coming and she couldn't stop it from happening-- her body swayed dangerously then the apprentice collapsed. Whitepaw let out a soft hmph as she hit the blood-stained grass... "B-Brightheart," the helpless she-cat uttered her mother's name before she slipped away into blackness. As she laid there, letting herself feel the soft lapping of unconsciousness, she heard a voice.

"Whitepaw? Whitepaw!" It was Birchpaw.

Then she was gone. She was smothered by blackness that she couldn't cease until it swallowed her whole. Nothing... nothing... nothing...

[frosty ♥]

Chapter Two-- Unwell

Life could be such a delicate thing, like a dewdrop hanging into the edge of a leaf. The sun can shine through it making it glitter beautifully for all of those to see but there is a darker side to one's life too. You could have a pocket of air inside you, an empty space that perhaps couldn't or won't be filled again. Finally, there is a time when the leaf might be shaken terribly by something beyond what is dark, where you might fall-- hitting the ground with a soundless shatter, which in this case happened to Whitepaw. Unconscious Whitepaw.

The white feline's head pulsed, wrenching her body so that she gritted her teeth and fidgeted in this endless darkness of her mind. Claws. Blood. Agony. Horror. Death... Suddenly Whitepaw's eyes opened and she let out a gasp. She was alive? What happened? The apprentice tried desperately to remember and eventually revived the part where she hit the ground and Birchpaw's frantic voice. She fainted...? Why?

"You're awake," a gentle voice soothed her thoughts.

Whitepaw blinked and turned her head to see Leafpool, the tabby looked worn and her amber eyes were glistening with sadness that the ivory she-cat was rather confused about. Then it hit her, Crowfeather. The WindClan warrior must have left with the rest of his Clan last night, so what happened between the two?

"Leafpool? What happened?" She threw the questions then slowly got to her paws, an almost healed wound around her hip giving her some trouble. Whitepaw's glimmering green eyes flashed as she looked around her, the medicine cat’s den-- her gaze landed on Ashfur. From the reeking scent of marigold that came off of him she guessed he had been in here a while too, the grey tom was looking curiously at her but those blue eyes were shadowed.

"You passed out from shock after seeing the clearing." Leafpool padded forward and gave her a quick sniff then nosed her flank with gentle probes, searching to see if she was stiff in that area from her fall earlier. Her touch helped the bewildered apprentice gain control.

Whitepaw eyes widened. "Oh," she murmured quietly.

Ashfur smiled at her though his eyes still stayed the same-- dark. "Well, you're all right and that's what matters," he blinked kindly at her before turning his head back to Leafpool. "Are you finished with me? I really think I should be helping Dustpelt with the nursery." Leafpool seemed to be pulled from her thoughts, she murmured something inaudible and dipped her head in agreement.

"Just don't work too hard, and come back to me if it opens up again. I also want to check up on you during sunhigh for some more marigold. Brambleclaw's wounds and your wounds are the worst in the Clan," Leafpool meowed quietly, her voice soft and quiet, she seemed to be lost in another world. Somewhere, Whitepaw guessed was filled with sorrow and love for the tomcat Crowfeather.

The apprentice's beautiful green gaze flickered back to Ashfur, she was taken back from the way his eyes darkened even further at the mention of Brambleclaw. Whitepaw felt a sudden lurch in her heart at the sight, and sympathy washed over her.

Squirrelfight and been hanging out with Ashfur for a few moons... now that the badger attack was over it seemed she revived the relationship between Brambleclaw and herself-- leaving Ashfur in the dust since he must have only been a prop to thrust her anger toward and to make the dark brown tabby jealous. Squirrelflight didn't deserve anyone! Whitepaw was older than that ginger she-cat and she didn't have her warrior name or had a relationship problem!

Ashfur turned to look at Whitepaw and rasped his pink tongue swiftly over her ear. "Be careful," he murmured quietly before brushing past Leafpool and out of the den. The apprentice plopped back down into the nest again and let out a sigh, her ears tilting to the sides in irritation, why did Squirrelflight have to make it so difficult for everyone? Firestar, Ashfur, Brambleclaw-- and as much as she hated to admit it even herself. Squirrelflight was just a bunch of trouble waiting to happen.

"Be safe with yourself, Whitepaw, and you're free to go," Leafpool breathed before turning away and disappearing into the cleft in the rock where her herbs were stored. Whitepaw sat there for a moment more, thinking over what had just happened, before getting up and leaving her younger niece behind.

As soon as she stepped out of the medicine cat's den two cats came toward her, one was Birchpaw and the other Brightheart. "Are you all right?" they asked in unison, eyes glowing with concern.

Whitepaw nodded innocently with a pretty smile on her face. "I'm okay!" She chirped pleasantly even though she was rather frustrated inside. What kind of cat is Squirrelflight anyway?

Birchpaw gave her a jovial grin whilst Brightheart purred and gave her a lick between the ears. "Leafpool just said I was shocked by everything," Whitepaw confessed, looking down at her paws.

"I was shocked too," Birchpaw sighed once Brightheart was finished embracing her daughter with her love and had padded away. Whitepaw's fluffy tail flicked in acknowledgment before she leaned forward and touched noses with him, gratefulness gleaming in her eyes for his concern for her. Her friend smiled sheepishly in return.

Whitepaw backed away, letting out a long sigh, Brichpaw watched her in puzzlement. Finally, the ivory she-cat's emerald green eyes flickered up off of the ground so that they rested on the features of Birchpaw's face.

"Time to get to work!"

[[:; [h] e a r t ::♥]]

Er, I believe that Squirrelflight is much older than Whitepaw...

[/size]

[frosty ♥]

Oh, Whitepaw is actually older. ^.^ Here, its quoted in Firestar's Quest after Squirrelflight and Leafpool were born.

"Whitekit, Brightheart and Cloudtail's daughter, was looking down at the two kits (Squirrelkit and Leafkit) with as much pride as if they were her own. She was nearly old enough to be apprenticed, and Firestar knew how protective she felt about the new arrivals.

Brightheart roused from her nest and stretched out a paw.

'Be careful,' she warned her kit. 'Don't get too close. They won't be ready to play for a while yet.' "

Whitepaw was almost ready to be an apprenticed by the time Squirrely and Leafy were born. (: Squirrelflight was made a warrior for randomly disappearing on a quest (not her quest anyway) and Leafpool got it fairly. -nod- So, Whitepaw was older and it was also not right for her to be made a warrior moons away from the time her neice was.

In reverse. Whitepaw is much older than Squirrelflight. ;D

I'm pleased to see you are reading my fanfic too. C:

[frosty ♥]

Chapter Three-- Difficulties

So, life is going okay and I suppose I'm fine with that. I'm still rather sore from the Badger Attack but I'll try to pull through-- and hopefully Birchpaw will too. His haunches are a little fuzzy but mostly scarred, every time I see them I have to stop a shudder from passing through. I can't believe he is acting like it isn't such a big deal when it really is!

Oh, apparently he sneaked out of the medicine cat's den to come and help me patch the holes in the nursery. I thought Leafpool said it was okay but I guess not since she came out in of the den all flustered then swooped down and dragged my poor friend back into the his refinement.

I'm also rather worried about Ashfur and how he is keeping sane with the whole Squirrelflight plot going on. My niece seriously needs to learn to stop acting so rude to other cats! How could you just blow someone off after they cared and comforted you for such a while? Its just horrible! Now that I think about it, I never really talk to Squirrelflight anymore-- its like I don't exist in her eyes. As though I'm invisible...

Whitepaw bounced through camp, her snowy white paws lightly touching the ground with each dainty step. The apprentice let out a soft sigh as she eased her way to the fresh-kill pile, it was time to hunt for the Clan but of course one needed some energy to do it. The apprentice gazed down into what was left of it until a voice, a familiar voice got her attention. Whitepaw flicked her sparkling green eyes to the left without moving her head, what came to her was slightly surprising and made her forget her task to hunt.

Ashfur and Squirrelflight were standing outside of the Warrior's Den talking in low quiet voices but that only made Whitepaw even more curious. She began to lean just a tiny bit their way when she stopped-- what was she doing? Wasn't this wrong? For some reason the ivory she-cat just had to urge as though something was telling her this was right, so she continued to lean and listened intently to the two warriors' conversation. She was careful to keep silent.

"Look, Ashfur," Squirrelflight's voice tight and her eyes were narrowed in barely suppressed frustration, her claws flexed and suddenly Whitepaw thought she was trying to resist hurting the poor tomcat. Why was she so angry? He didn't do anything! "I really care about you as a friend, but I don't want anymore than that." The ginger cat's tail lashed as she waited his reply.

"But a love you!" Protested Ashfur, desperation lacing his meow as he gazed at the she-cat warrior. Whitepaw flinched at the way he wanted her and from what he said, loved her... what cat loved Squirrelflight? He then added rather hesitantly, which caught a bit of Whitepaw's interest, "We'd be great together, Squirrelflight, I know we would." Her eyes adverted away as she studied what he just said, why was he hesitant before? Was there another he cared for? Whitepaw closed her eyes in confusion.

"I'm sorry," Squirrelflight continued. "I never meant to hurt you but Brambleclaw-- well I think StarClan has destined us to be together," she replied with a hint of affection in her voice from the tabby tom. Whitepaw whipped her head back to them, her green eyes wide in amazement, how could the ginger warrior say that?! That's almost like saying StarClan was against Ashfur!! Whitepaw felt her claws dig into the ground-- to think she was proud of Squirrelflight! Now all of that was swept away to be replaced by frothing waves of sympathy for Ashfur.

Now the grey tomcat's ears pricked forward and his fur bristled, the apprentice felt a flicker of satisfaction that he was angry now but she wasn't sure why. "I don't know how you could say that!" Ashfur snarled, "You said yourself that its impossible to trust a cat with Brambleclaw's heritage. He's a great cat, I know, but he's still Tigerstar's son." Whitepaw blinked, her mind bubbling ferociously until she came to the conclusion that what the tom warrior said really did make sense.

Squirrelflight's green eyes flickered away from his face to her paws for a quick heartbeat before they flew back to Ashfur's face. "I'll judge Brambleclaw by his own actions," she retorted hotly, "not by something other cats did long before I was born." The ginger she-cats reply was all right, it was rather reasonable too but why didn't she explain the StarClan deal to Ashfur? He should have a right to know, shouldn't he? Squirrelflight couldn't just say it to help her unfair argument.

"I'm only thinking of you, Squirrelflight," Ashfur meowed, his blue gaze searching her green one. "I remember Tigerstar. His paws were red with blood of innocent cats. You know that he murdered my mother to lure a pack of dogs to our camp?" He asked her, his fur blowing gently in the breeze.

Whitepaw froze, her glittering emerald green eyes grew glossy in surprise, Brindleface was Ashfur's mother?! A new sense of sympathy and loyalty to Ashfur seem to rise from within her heart, that must have been the reason why he never really liked Brambleclaw in the first place. It must be so much worse with Squirrelflight, his love, tangling herself with the brown warrior.

Squirrelflight's voice grew quieter, the white apprentice's ears strained to catch her words, "Yes, I'm very sorry for you about that." Whitepaw almost smiled, her claws beginning to slide back into her paws, so her younger niece wasn't all bad was she? Then she heard the little hint of sarcastiness clinging to the fluffy ginger cat's meow and the ivory she-cat scowled, almost at once her claws raked the forest floor once more. "But that doesn't mean Brambleclaw will turn out like his father," Squirrelflight went on more clearly, her chin high but her eyes narrowed dangerously.

Suddenly, Brambleclaw came out of the Warriors' Den and touched noses with Squirrelflight... Right in front of Ashfur! How rude was he? Whitepaw started to become suspicious because as soon as Brambleclaw was out Cloudtail sleepily stumbled after him. Was the tabby tom listening too? Perhaps he had been hiding or something behind the den walls? How much did he hea--?

A whirl of guilt came splashing all over Whitepaw, she couldn't attack him much because she had been listening for quite some time. The apprentice's ears twitched as Ashfur meowed abruptly, "I'm going to check on Birchpaw." He got up and stalked away but when Ashfur turned to pad into the Medicine cat's Den Whitepaw got a glimpse of his eyes, which were full of betrayal and anger.

Poor, poor Ashfur. Cheated out in such a horrible way...

Whitepaw finally picked up a mouse and settled down under some shade, her tail lashing impatiently, somehow she was going to help Ashfur through all of this. The apprentice didn't know how to start but she was, one way or another she definitely was.

[frosty ♥]

Chapter Four-- A Dream?

Whitepaw lay in sand, her eyes closed and her tail flicking in a slow rhythmic way, but even in such a relaxed pose her body was pulsing slightly. It had only been eight days after the Badger Attack and her muscles and wounds still ached, the she-cat wasn’t worried about herself, she was more worried about everyone else. Especially Birchpaw and Ashfur… suddenly a shudder slid smoothly down her spine and through her limbs. It wasn’t out of shock though but more into a gentle lull, as if on cue Ashfur came trotting into ThunderClan camp laden with fresh-kill, a smile curled onto the edge of Whitepaw’s lips. Another shudder flashed softly through her until her thoughts grew fogged.

The pretty ivory apprentice’s eyes began to close ever so slowly until her she curled into a ball and fell into sleep. For a few moments she hung in blackness… deep nothing.

Where- Where am I? Its so dark I can’t even see my body!
No light at all… what’s that?!

Whitepaw’s eyes grew round as she floated toward a round sphere of light, it was the many colors of a rainbow and it seemed inviting. As the she-cat grew closer to it she felt really hot, her pads grew a little moist and it was hard to keep her eyes from shutting. Whitepaw’s eyes narrowed against the brightness and she cringed. What was happening?

Then she went through it, as she did she felt a breeze ruffle through her fur and ears, cooling her down after being to hot a few moments ago. Whitepaw exhaled deeply before realizing her paws were lightly touching something below her- but what? Before she had time to think she was roughly pushed onto it… grass! The apprentice stumbled to her paws and looked around, there were little hills all around her and not a single tree in sight. It seemed like a huge moor but there was green grass not tan…?

Ah! I feel so exposed!

Whitepaw sank into the grass, frightened, I don’t know this place! The white she-cat’s ears flattened against her finely shaped head. Am I dead?? Is this StarClan’s hunting grounds?!

“Whitepaw! There you are! I was looking everywhere for you!”

The ivory feline whipped her head around until she saw a grey shape running through the grass toward her. Ashfur! Whitepaw silently admired how his muscles shown through his sleek pelt and how his blue eyes gleamed with never ending happiness. Whitepaw’s smile faltered. This was a dream wasn’t it? My dream so why is Ashfur here…? I only assumed this is a dream so for all I know Ashfur and I could have died! Fear shot through her veins.

“Hi!” A tom’s meow sounded close to her ear.

Whitepaw jumped, “Uwahh!” She gave the grey tomcat an irritated look but it quickly melted away, how could she be frustrated with him when he looked so happy and at peace? ”A-Ashfur!” Her fear was washed away as she took a pawstep toward him; Whitepaw brushed her head in mild affection across his chest and lightly twined her tail with his own, after realizing what she just did she immediately took a step back. If cats could blush Whitepaw could probably look like a chili pepper right now.

“Oh- I’m sorry- I thought- lost- you came- err,” the ivory feline stuttered, her emerald green eyes focused on the grass below her paws. I’m so stupid!!

A warm body pressed against her, Whitepaw looked at Ashfur in surprise, “Its okay. You’re cute when you are flustered,” The grey warrior cooed before giving her ear a lick.

Whitepaw took a step away, feeling highly uncomfortable, “Ashfur? Is this a dream or are we d-dead?” This isn’t like you, why are you acting so- so---

“It doesn’t matter,” the tom purred before advancing toward her with a sly grin.


The apprentice’s eyes widened, something clicked in her mind telling her to flee, Whitepaw’s claws unsheathed and dug into the ground. In reflex she dogged him and ran, Ashfur! What happened to you?! Whitepaw kept running and running, afraid to look back, this is a nightmare! The feline’s legs grew weary after nearly flying along the grassy-like moor but as far as she went it seemed to never end!

Whitepaw finally collapsed onto the ground, panting hard and fast before huddling in the grass. “Ashfur,” she whimpered before darkness began to pound its way into her mind. She tried to fight it but the feline was too exhausted, moments later it had invaded and she was thrown into the darkness. “Nooo!!”

---x---

“Whitepaw? Whitepaw, are you all right?”

Her eyes flew open after hearing a voice, her mind was extremely unclear, Whitepaw focused her bleary gaze onto the cat until it became clear. “Birchpaw!” Scrambling to her paws she pressed herself against his flank before looking around. ThunderClan camp! It had all been a horrible dream! The apprentice exhaled deeply and began to purr.

Birchpaw stared at her quizzically, “What’s your problem?” he asked.

“Mhm?” Whitepaw blinked up at him. “Oh, it was just a nightmare and a horrible one at that…. It was weird, then okay, and at the end it was creepy!” She exclaimed.

Her friend smirked at her in a friendly way before rasping his pink tongue swiftly over her ear. “Well, you’re okay now and that’s what matters,” Birchpaw flicked his tail.