Hurricane {Spiritpaw}

Spiritpaw sat panting as he listened to Hazelstar. Remnants from their previous conversation still haunted the young toms mind, but he was determined to not let his fear show. He could do this. He could be the greatest warrior WindClan ever saw without the help of his father. He'd have Hazelstar teach him everything, from basics up, even if he already knew it. The chocolate colored leader was much more wise and powerful than Nightstalker was.

But when Hazelstar told him his assignment, he felt his stomach drop. He was already worn out from his training with Nightstalker, which he wasn't going to do again. Chasing that rabbit had been hard. Now she wanted him to run down and up that rabbit hole five times? Spiritpaw let out a sigh of determination before he stood up. The only thing playing through his mind was Hazelstar had told him before.

If he wanted to live up to her expectations, he had to be able to do this.

The black tom lifted himself up, and stepped over to the rabbit hole. The hole was small, and dark. He would just be able to fit in it. There wouldn't be enough room to turn in until he got to the actual rabbit den. He had to be totally aware of his surroundings. Danger could lurk in the depths of that hole, he had to be prepared not only to run up and down, but to possible fight of an enemy.

Waiting one more moment to check for any danger in the depths below, Spiritpaw plunged in. It was dark, damp, and cold. It felt like ages before the tunnel began to widen. He felt himself come into a small den. He slowed down and took a sharp turn to go back up. The light from the top got brighter and brighter. Four more times.

Hazelstar watched her eyes never leaving the tom's dusty black coat. Surprise mingled pleasantly upon her face as she watched him dive into the den, He didn't need to do that. she mused quietly to herself. Still it was extra work that he definitely needed. Anything Spiriptaw had learned from Nightstalker had been wrong in the least. He needed to learn the Windclan way; even if his blood led him to Shadowclan. This included learning how to keep up on patrols. Windclan warriors were quick, not every apprentice could fall swiftly beside their mentor on the first day. So she wouldn't expect Spiritpaw to zip up and down five times in a wink. Though he was a bit faster than the usual scrawny Windclan runts. Which was also surprising. Bearing Shadowclan blood Spiritpaw wasn't as lanky, nor skinny as the normal Windclan cat. He was built more broad shouldered, much like a Shadowclan tom. He inherited that from his father. Sighing she still tried to rake together the pieces from their previous conversation. She was training Nightstalker's son. Hazelstar shook her head, what had I gotten myself into? But she was already hooked; captured into this deed. The chocolate brown she-cat was destined to shape him into a reasonable Windclan tom; one the clan would be proud to call their own. Somehow she only felt dread prickle her stomach. Which was odd. She wanted to do this so bad; fix a broken soul. But why did she feel so weary; as if her death were at the end of this dark tunnel. She visibly remembered her earlier visions. They were horrifying. But somehow she wasn't in any of them, and that fact terrified her even more. Why wasn't she beside her clan? Why were they alone; without her sturdy guidance? She found her eyes catching her apprentice's staggered movements. He was nearly done with his assignment; and he looked exhausted. Hazelstar gulped; her voice dry, "Come on Spiritpaw just one more! You can do it! Your a Windclan cat!" Muse: Test out my template ; D Word Count: 351 Comments: She's so flippy floppy xD [bg=33251a][atrb=border,0,true]

His muscled burned, his legs ached. His breath was ragged and his pelt was full of dirt and grit from the tunnel. One...Two...Three...Four... Spiritpaw plunged into the den once more, Hazelstar's encouragement pushing him on. He had to make Hazelstar proud. He wanted to make her proud more that he wanted to make his father proud. He didn't care about his father, he didn't. But when the young tom reached the end of the tunnel, instead of going straight back like he had previously, he stopped. He heard a dripping sound; like water. But the summer had been so dry, he didn't expect to hear water dripping, especially in an old rabbit's den. Curious, he followed the sound. Crawling on his stomach, his whole body took up the den. He didn't think that rabbit's dens were so long, but they were. Even though he was sure Hazelstar was getting worried, he had to find out why there was water dripping in the tunnel. He went deeper and deeper. As he went deeper it got colder. As it got colder, it became damper. Spiritpaw could barely breath from the moisture in the air. But still, something kept him going forward. He just had to know what that sound was. He saw the tunnel widen, and as he stepped into another den he felt like he was pushing himself into an ant hole. Everything felt tight, he could barely breath. Fog appeared every time he breathed out and the black tom began shivering. It felt like the dead of winter. He tentatively put a paw in front of him. He could barely see, it was pitch black. He quickly brought it back when he stepped in something cold and wet. Spiritpaw felt his eyes widen in fright as a smell he knew all to well filled his nostrils. Blood. The whole den was covered with blood. And suddenly it was like daylight, and there in the center was Spiritpaw hanging over a dark brown body. One that looked all to familiar. Before he could get a good look at it though another form appeared. It was Nightstalker. He lunged right at Spiritpaw. The tom yelped and scrabbled back wards, trying to get away from his father. He turned and raced as if every cat from the Place of No Star's was chasing him, and they very well could have been. It took him less time to get back into the main den than it did to go into that death room. As the light got brighter and brighter, Spiritpaw went faster and faster. He burst out, panting and shaking. He never wanted to go down there again. He huddled up, away from that den, his fur sticking on end and his eyes still wide. He could barely breath from the shock. All Nightstalker needed, was darkness. That scared Spiritpaw above everything else. [bg=df9f22][atrb=border,0,true]

What's going on? Her hackles rose; the leader stood poised on her toes, waiting for her apprentice to reappear. He didn't. Something was wrong, it had to be. This was his last run, the fifth time he'd enter that rabbit hole. Each time it had only taken him a few seconds to scramble right back out. This time more than a minute had passed; not even a sound. Her golden eyes widened; perhaps something got him? She tried to shrug away the thought. But it only came back stronger. She squeezed her eyes shut; exhaling deeply as if to calm herself down. "He's fine." she muttered quietly; as if to reassure herself. Another minute passed by, Hazelstar resulted to pacing. She had half a mind to go in after him but what would that prove? That she didn't trust him? Spiritpaw was already clothed in darkness. He had his father shadowing him; what good would it do if she go after him? I need to know if he's okay But what in Starclan's name is he doing? Her mind was a jumbled mess; she half way believed he was being eaten alive by a fox. Or worse yet killed by the ghost of his father. Her eyes snapped open, "Is that even possible?" The queen had heard multiple stories in the past that involved the dead reaping the live. All they needed was darkness. Her eyelashes fluttered, "Spiritpaw?" she croaked; was Nightstalker really down there. The old queen was on her paws in an instant; rushing toward the den. A flash of black fur brought her to a halt. Spiritpaw stood trembling in fear; his eyes were as round as saucers. Immediately Hazelstar was by his side; smothering the crown of his head with gentle strokes from her tongue. "Everything will be all right." she murmured soothingly. She didn't know for sure what had happened; but maybe, just maybe it had to do with his father. Laying her tail on his shoulder she meowed quietly, "Come on let's go back to camp, you've had enough for today." With soft words she coaxed him up the moorland and toward camp. The leader's mind reeled; just what did he see? She wasn't sure if she had seen a cat so shaken up before. As they neared the camp's gait she brought the young tom to a halt. He was still shaking, but it wasn't as violently as before. She offered him a small, sincere smile before locking eyes with him. "Spiritpaw." she began, "What did you see down there?" [bg=33251a][atrb=border,0,true]

He couldn't stop shaking. He couldn't breath. Not even the sweet moorland smell could clear his nose from the smell of blood. When he had burst out of that rabbits nest, Spiritpaw had felt a heavy weight on his chest lift, but even so the young tom felt his chest tight with fear. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself as he stared at the den with horror. What had happened down there happened so fast that Spiritpaw was even sure if it had happened. Is this how it will always be? Is my father a curse I will never be able to escape? Spiritpaw felt a presence beside him. He closed his eyes with sorrow as her sweet scent infiltrated his senses. Her gentle licks seemed to wash the fright away. Is this what it's like to have a mother? Was it even possible for a cat to treat him like Hazelstar was right now? Only Hazelstar. Even though she knew the truth, or at least most of it, she was still willing to treat him almost like a son. "Everything will be all right." If only he could believe that. His mind flashed back to what had happened down there. Was Nightstalker giving him a warning? Was he just imagining things? A lot had happened in such a short period of time...was he going insane? "Come on let's go back to camp, you've had enough for today." Spiritpaw took another shaky breath as he stood on wobbly legs. Hazelstar gently lead him away from the rabbit's den. The farther he got away from it, the better he felt. As the two slowly walked back to camp, Spiritpaw looked all around him, wondering if he would see the shadow of his father. What had once felt familiar and well known now felt like an entirely different place. A strange place. Would evil be hiding in those patches of heather? Would he run into death over the next hill? His future was under control of his father...If you let it be. Hazelstar's earlier words came rushing back. As they neared the camp entrance, Spiritpaw felt his legs become even more stable. Maybe Nightstalker didn't have control over his future! Maybe, if Spiritpaw became strong enough, he could defeat this. But as the camp came closer and closer Spiritpaw felt his heart drop. What would happen when he feel asleep tonight? What would happen when the sun set? He couldn't run away from Nightstalker with the whole Clan around. Then they would know. Spiritpaw looked up into Hazelstar's eyes. Then his mentor spoke. "What did you see down there?" Spiritpaw adverted his gaze. How was he going to explain this to her? That he had seen a room covered in blood. That there had been a body that looked strangely like her? That Nightstalker had been in there? Would the little trust she had with him be lost? Would she get it wrong and think that he was still talking to his father? He had been down there for so long. Spiritpaw felt anger rise up inside of him. Not at Nightstalker, not at Hazelstar. At himself. He was so weak no wonder the Clan looked down upon him. Not just because he wasn't from WindClan, but because he was weak. When he was a kit hadn't he promised to become strong? To become a leader worth following? He just wanted to go away and think, clear his mind. Spiritpaw huffed in frustration. "I saw death." and then stalked away. [bg=df9f22][atrb=border,0,true]