This chapter is re-done AGAIN! Just mostly I fixed some problems and added details! I'll be doing this to the other chapters so get ready! (:
"Gingerpaw! Wake up! We are going on the dawn patrol," Dovewing's voice yelled into the quiet apprentice's den.
I got up groggily and groomed my messy ginger fur. I looked for a certain dark ginger pelt among the sleeping bodies of my den-mates and spotted him, smiling at his sleeping form. He looked so handsome when he was sleeping. I turned away and walked out of the den and stretching my legs as I shook the remains of sleep away. Spotting my mentor along with Foxleap and Moleclaw, I ran over to them and we exited through the thorn tunnel. As we headed towards the Shadowclan border, I let the soothing smells of the forest and relished the feeling of walking under the trees in the morning, where the birds sang happily as the forest woke up.
As we neared the Shadowclan border, I focused my attention on the bordering clan, straightening my ears as I heard the sound of cats outside our border, I started to hiss a warning but stopped when I realized that Dovewing had already noticed and was staring at the border with fear and hope clear in her eyes. I looked at her in confusion but she didn't notice my look. I turned my head back to the border just as Tigerheart, Snowbird, Hollypaw, and Toadfoot appeared out of the shadows. I saw surprise and joy flash in Tigerheart's eyes.
"Hello Dovewing," Toadfoot greeted my mentor calmly.
"Toadfoot," She greeted back, dipping her head to the senior warrior.
"This is my new apprentice Hollypaw," Snowbird introduced, pointing to a small black she-cat beside her.
"Nice to meet you Hollypaw, this is my apprentice Gingerpaw," Dovewing meowed. I looked at my paws embarrassed.
"Aren't you one of Bumblestripe's kits?" Toadfoot asked me.
"Yes," I answered. Toadfoot nodded and him and his patrol left, disappearing into the trees.
"That was weird," Moleclaw commented.
"I know, it's not like Shadowclan to be nice," Foxleap agreed as we started walking back to camp. I noticed Dovewing staring nowhere in particular with a distant look in her eyes.
"Dovewing?" I whispered.
"Yes, Gingerpaw?" she said, turning her gaze to me.
"Are you okay?" I asked nodded and we quickened our pace back to camp. As we ran into camp, I spotted my best friend Lilypaw. She also happened to be Redpaw's sister. I ran up to her.
"Hey Gingerpaw! How was dawn patrol?" She asked.
"Good but it was weird because a Shadowclan patrol came by and they were being nice," I replied.
"Did you just say Shadowclan was being nice?" Swiftpaw mewed, as he sat next to Lilypaw, trying to look shocked. I purred and nodded. Amusement lit up in his green eyes. I looked around and spotted Redpaw sitting by the apprentice's den. I flicked my tail in goodbye to Swiftpaw and Lilypaw and padded over to him.
"Hi," I said shyly.
"Hi Gingerpaw!" Redpaw said, smiling. He and I have been best friends since we were kits. It was kind of weird but I was really good friends with his mother. The only thing Redpaw doesn't know is that I have a major crush on him. I was too nervous to tell him. I mean what if it ruined our friendship? I shuddered at the thought.
"Do you want to share a mouse with me?" I asked.
"Of course" He replied, although his eyes were somewhere else. We walked over to the fresh-kill pile and I grabbed a mouse. We sat down next to each other and ate, our pelts slightly brushing. My ears got hot and I took a deep breath.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here for a clan meeting," Firestar yowled coming out of his den. His fiery pelt was glossy and his bright green eyes glowed in excitement. I watched as Icecloud led her two kits, Snowkit and Patchkit out of the nursery. Snowkit's white fur shone like crystals while her brother's black and white pelt glowed in the evening sky. It was obvious that these were Icecloud and Toadstep's kits. Snowkit looked exactly like Icecloud and Patchkit looked almost exactly like Toadstep. Toadstep joined Icecloud as they sat to watch their kits become apprentices.
"Snowkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day, until you earn your warrior name you will be known as Snowpaw. I ask Starclan to watch over you and guide you until you find in your paws the strength and courage of a warrior," Firestar gazed at the gathered clan and his eyes landed on a brown and cream tom.
"Moleclaw, you are ready to take on an apprentice, you had received excellent training from Bumblestripe, and you have shown yourself to be fierce and brave. You will be the mentor to Snowpaw and I expect you pass on all you know to Snowpaw," Firestar says. Snowpaw leaps down from the high rock to touch noses with the surprised Moleclaw.
"Patchkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day forward, until you earn your warrior name you will be known as Patchpaw. I ask Starclan to watch over you and guide you until you find in your paws the strength and courage of a warrior," Firestar says again but to gaze travels once more of the clan and his eyes land on a ginger she-cat.
"Cherrybreeze, you are ready to take on an apprentice, you had received excellent training from Rosepetal, and you have shown yourself to be fierce and brave. You will be the mentor to Patchpaw and I expect you pass on all you know to Patchpaw," Firestar jumps from the high rock to touch noses with his new mentor and my mother.
"Snowpaw! Patchpaw! Snowpaw! Patchpaw! Snowpaw! Patchpaw!" the clan cheers for the new apprentices, I join in along with Redpaw.
Firestar jumps down from the high rock and walks over and congratulates the new apprentices, before he goes to the fresh kill pile to share a vole with his mate Sandstorm. I turn to Redpaw and smile. He smiles back and licked my ear. We walk over to where the apprentices usually shared tongues under a large rock. I lay down and started sharing tongues with Redpaw. I purred as I kept cleaning his dark ginger fur. I was happy.
After awhile we went to the apprentice's den to sleep. I was about to fall asleep when I heard a cat hiss outside the apprentice's den. I got up quietly and poked my head out of the den. Dovewing was looking at her side where she probably lost some fur. I hid in the shadows as she looked around the camp alertly. Assured no one was watching her she left camp. I decided to follow her.
I slunk through the dirt place tunnel a few moments after her, so Dovewing wouldn't know she was being followed. Silently, I followed her, my heart filling with dread as we seemed to be going in the direction of the Shadowclan border. I peeked out of the bushes and saw Dovewing run to a brown tabby tom that looked a lot like Brambleclaw. It was Tigerheart. They purred and twined their tails together. Then it hit me; Dovewing was having a forbidden relationship with Tigerheart.
I knew I didn't want Dovewing to get in trouble since she was my mentor and she was a good friend, so it would stay a secret but I still worried what would happen if the clan was to find out. Would they exile them? What would happen if Dovewing has Tigerheart's kits? I pushed my worries aside and slunk out of the bushes, so they could be alone. I ran to the lake where I sat and watched the stars reflect in the water. I jumped when a cat came out of the bushes behind me. I relaxed when I saw the familiar dark ginger pelt. I smiled at Redpaw.
"Are you ok?" He asked.
"Yes, why?" I replied with another question.
"I came to find you once I realized you weren't asleep beside me," he said worry creeping into his eyes. I purred and rubbed my cheek along his. We sat there in silence for a while until he broke away and we walked with our pelts brushing into the forest. We stopped beside a large tree and I stared into his amber eyes. It was time to tell him, I didn't care about what would happen to our friendship, I just wanted him to know I loved him.
"Redpaw, I l-love you," I said with a shuddering breath.
I -," He broke off as the sound of paws rushed towards us. But it wasn't the sound of one or two cats, it was a lot of cats. We jumped to our feet, our pelts bristling and watched in horror as a bunch of Windclan cats burst through the bushes. Their eyes were bloodthirsty and full of rage. I stepped in front of Redpaw and snarled at the closest cat. It was Breezepelt. Big mistake. He lunged at me and grabbed my by the throat. I shrieked in pain as he pinned me to the ground and clawed me. All I could feel were claws slicing through me. I cried in pain when he kept dragging his claws through. My eyes widened when he threw his paw in the air and brought it down, slicing my stomach open.
My sight became blurry but I could see Redpaw staring in horror at Breezepelt who kept clawing me. Redpaw looked back at me and then raced back to camp. The rest of the Windclan battle patrol raced after him and that left Breezepelt who was still slicing through my fur. I didn't understand why he couldn't let me go. He knew he had beaten me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a Windclan warrior staring at me in horror.
It was Crowfeather, Breezepelt's father. I stared at Crowfeather with desperation in my eyes, hoping he would help me. Breezepelt started clawing my face and then grabbed my throat in his jaws. I was in too much pain to cry in out pain. He let go of my throat after a second thought and grabbed my paw. He bit down so hard that I heard and felt my bones shatter. I gave the most loudest and horrifying painful shriek I could. It seemed as if my shriek broke Crowfeather's frozen trance. (A\N: If it was too hard to understand, Breezepelt just keeps slicing Gingerpaw. He is too crazed to notice that he has already won and he just keeps clawing and clawing her!) He yowls in fury and drags Breezepelt off me. He pins the crazed black warrior and snarls in his face. I watch as Crowfeather stares at Breezepelt in disgust and hatred.
"What in Starclan's name is wrong with you? You probably just killed that poor apprentice," Crowfeather snarled.
"I was taught in the Dark Forest to kill everything in my path and she was in it! The main reason I went to the Dark Forest was to rule all the clans and kill you!" Breezepelt snarled at his father. Crowfeather's eyes widened but then narrowed in rage.
"You are no son of mine!" Crowfeather shrieked.
I watch in shock as Crowfeather raises his paw and brings it down over Breezepelt's throat. Breezepelt's eyes widened as blood gushes out of his throat.
"The dark forest will…. welcome me and I will kill you when the… Dark Forest destroys the clans!" Breezepelt croaked and then slowly, as if letting all the hate he had for his father flow out of his eyes before he let out a shuddering, gurgling breath. He didn't breathe again.
Crowfeather stared in shock at his dead son that he just killed. He turned his dark grey head toward me and once again his blue eyes widened in horror. He ran over to me and started licking my multiple wounds. I whimpered in pain. The horror in his eyes turned to worry. He softly picked me up and set me on his back. Running as fast he could with me on his back, he ran towards the Windclan camp. When he got to camp I was barely conscious. He ran right towards the medicine cat den where their medicine cat, Kestrelflight, stared in confusion at Crowfeather and then looked at me in horror. Crowfeather set me in the medicine cat's den and the last thing I saw was Crowfeather staring at me worry, horror, and sorrow.
I woke up to someone licking my fur gently. I looked up to see two cats. One was a grey she-cat and the other was a light brown tabby she-cat.
"Hello young one, my name is Ashfoot, Windclan's deputy and Crowfeather's mother," The grey she-cat said gently, her eyes looked at me kindly and I told myself to trust her. My pelt hurt slightly but it felt much better.
"I'm Sedgewhisker, if you don't mind can you tell us what happened?" she asked, indicating my majorly cut fur that was covered in a lot of cobwebs.
"I-I was in the forest with Redpaw and I told him I l-loved him when your battle patrol burst through. I stood in f-front of R-redpaw so he wouldn't be hurt and Breezepelt attacked me. H-he wouldn't stop hurting me and Crowfeather saved my life b-but he also had to k-kill Breezepelt," I stuttered.
"I'm so sorry, thats horrible. What's your name sweetie?" Sedgewhisker asked, her eyes widening in I could reply Ashfoot got up and exited the den quietly.
"My name is Gingerpaw," I told her. She smiled and licked my forehead kindly. Ashfoot came back in with Crowfeather and Nightcloud following her.
"Will you now tell me where my son is?" Nightcloud asked grumpily, her eyes wary.
"I killed him," Crowfeather whispered.
"You did what?" Nightcloud yowled, her eyes flashing in rage.
"I did it to save her," He growled looking at me. My eyes widened when Nightcloud snarled and slashed at Crowfeather. Ashfoot jumped and pinned down Nightcloud.
"You do not attack your clan mates and not my son," she snarled.
"Is Windclan so weak they can't punish a murderer?" Nightcloud shot back.
"Breezepelt almost murdered Gingerpaw! If it wasn't for Crowfeather she would be dead and your son would've probably killed more innocent cats!" Ashfoot yowled, getting off Nightcloud.
"How is she innocent?" Nightcloud asked, disgusted.
"You know what Nightcloud? You really want to know what Gingerpaw was doing? She was telling a tom she loved him when your son tried to kill her and I bet that tom watched it and he now thinks that the cat he loves too is dead!" Sedgewhisker yowled in rage.
Nightcloud's eyes widened in sorrow but quickly turned back to rage. She snarled at me and stomped out of the den. I stared after her in shock. I looked at Sedgewhisker whose eyes had turned back to gentle when I looked at her.
~A few days later~
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather below me," Onestar yowled.
Crowfeather helped me up from where we were sitting in the clearing, enjoying the sun.
"It is time for the injured Thunderclan apprentice to go home! But I have one more thing to announce, I have thought long about this and I think it is best for Crowfeather to be exiled," Onestar said. Shock coursed through me and I felt Crowfeather tense beside me. Ashfoot yowled in grief.
"I know, but he did murder a clan mate and Kestrelflight and I have decided to exile you in hope that Firestar takes you in," Onestar hopped down and went into his den.
"Crowfeather! I'm so sorry! This is my fault!" I said, sorrow laced in my voice.
"No, it's not your fault! It was my choice and I don't regret it," Crowfeather hissed. I didn't believe him, but left it alone as Kestrelflight came to Crowfeather and told him it is his destiny to go to Thunderclan. Ashfoot, Sedgewhisker, Kestrelflight, and Windpaw were the patrol to take us back.
"Crowfeather, my son, I'm going to mentor Windpaw for you and you'll always be my son," Ashfoot said, her voice cracking with grief. We left Windclan's camp and walked to Thunderclan in silence. Ashfoot entered camp first, then Windpaw, and last Sedgewhisker and Crowfeather on either side of me. All the cats in camp looked at us, alert. No one seemed to notice me between the Windclan cats.
"Ashfoot, what brings you to our camp so shortly after your attack?" Firestar asked calmly.
"Firestar I promise you that I don't understand why Onestar ordered us to attack but I brought a gift and a favor to ask," Ashfoot replied.
"We don't want a gift from you!" Dustpelt yowled from where he sat beside Sandstorm.
"What is this gift and what favor do you ask? We might be none for being nice but we are dealing with a great loss thanks to your warriors" Firestar asked stiffly, silencing Dustpelt.
I walked out from behind Sedgewhisker. The clan stared at me in confusion before a ginger blur raced towards me. Cherrybreeze covered me in licks.
"Oh Gingerpaw! I thought I lost you!" She said through tears. I purred and rubbed against my mother.
"Where did you find our apprentice?" Firestar asked, still staring at me in shock.
"My son attacked her and was killing her when I dragged Breezepelt off her and I umm killed him," Crowfeather said coming to stand by Ashfoot.
"You killed your son for a Thunderclan apprentice?" Leafpool asked coming to stand by Firestar.
"He's not my son anymore but yes," Crowfeather said stiffly.
"Oh thank you," Bumblestripe said coming to touch noses with Crowfeather.
"Because he killed Breezepelt he was exiled and I was wondering if you could accept my son into Thunderclan?" Ashfoot asked, her voice once again cracking in grief. Firestar looked at his clan. Leafpool nodded, Cherrybreeze and Bumblestripe doing the same. Then one by one the Thunderclan cats nodded.
"Then welcome to Thunderclan, Crowfeather," Firestar said warmly.
Crowfeather blinked in surprise but he was happy. He turned to Ashfoot and they said goodbye. Crowfeather said goodbye to Sedgewhisker and Windpaw and the Windclan patrol left. Leafpool walked up to Crowfeather and they stared at each other. She welcomed him with a purr and she said some quick words before going up to her sister Squirrelflight. A grey tail put on my shoulder and I looked up to Jayfeather. I followed him to medicine cats den where he checked out my wounds.