A/N
Oof I'm so excited for this reboot yeeeeeeeeeet! I hope everyone likes it aaaahh...
Chapter 1: Nose Goes
Hawkkit woke in a cold sweat, heart pounding and breathing heavily. She looked around to the other sleeping cats in the nursery beside her. Her brothers had curled up in their mother's belly fur while one of her mother's hind paws had pushed Hawkkit away. Be it in her sleep or accidentally, Hawkkit frowned in dejection.
She shook herself and shifted a bit in her nest. She calmed herself down, and curled into herself with her tail over her nose as she drifted back to sleep.
Hawkkit squinted. She couldn't see anything through a thick fog in front of her, not even her own paw in front of her face.
"Hello?" Hawkkit called out into the nothingness. She remembered dreaming like this in the past, always with the same dense fog.
This time, the fog slowly parted at the sound of her voice. Clear, grassy fields stretched for what seemed like forever. A wide, calm and sparkling river lay in the distance directly in front of her. Her heartbeat echoed faintly in her ears.
Hawkkit tried to run towards the river, feeling a sudden sense that she needed to get to the river, but no matter how fast she ran, the river grew farther and farther away.
"No! Wait!" Hawkkit panted. The sound of her heart soon became the only thing she could hear, thumping so loud and quickly in her own ears. She caught a glimpse of a greyish cat bound over the hill and sit by the river.
Hawkkit could not see the cat's face. "Hello?!" Hawkkit called out in desperation. Her heart was racing at paces she thought impossible. The head of the cat snapped up, and Hawkkit felt the ground beneath her paws suddenly disappear. She fell.
Hawkkit jumped out of her nest and gasped. It had felt like she had been dropped right into her nest. Her heart was still pounding and the blood roaring in her ears. She stared at her paws and took a deep breath and looked about the nursery. No one was there.
She felt dizzy and spots invaded her vision. She blinked the sleep from her eyes and stepped out into the sun. She felt the warmth hit her pelt and she let out a yawn and arched her back as she stretched.
"Get enough beauty sleep?" A voice crowed. Hawkkit turned from where she had begun grooming her fur from moss to see the cat.
"Very funny, Vinekit," Hawkkit rolled her eyes at the sassy she-kit. She had shiny black fur that seemed to have golden highlights when the sun hit her fur just right, and the greenest eyes Hawkkit had ever seen.
"Yow!" Hawkkit cried as she felt a force bowl into her and bite down on her ear.
Hawkkit licked her paw and swiped it over her ear. "What was that for, Rainkit?" She asked pitifully as Vinekit erupted into unceremonious laughter.
"Smokestar is on the warpath for you!" Rainkit gasped, his bright green eyes wide. "You overslept and he's mad."
"Oh, mouse-dung," Hawkkit grumbled. "Just my luck. I'm about to become an apprentice and Father's going to bite my head off and spit me back out."
"Hawkkit!" Came a brown mottled tabby tom kit's voice. "You're awake!"
"Seems like not for much longer if Smokestar gets his way," Vinekit snickered behind them.
A ginger she-kit popped out from behind the brown tom. "Vinekit, where are your brothers? I suggest you go and fetch them before they're chewed out by my daddy, too," she said with a smirk.
Vinekit blew her a raspberry and scampered off. The ginger she-kit turned to Hawkkit.
"Don't worry, sis," she said gently. "We'd never let daddy bite your head off for merely sleeping in."
Hawkkit gave her a thankful smile. "Thanks, Cardinalkit." Hawkkit then tilted her head. "What if I did something worse than just sleep in?"
Cardinalkit cocked her head and the traces of a smirked played on her lips. "Well…" she trailed off.
"Cardinalkit!" Hawkkit cried. The ginger she-kit burst out into giggles.
Rainkit stepped between them. "What were you and Pinekit doing anyways?"
Cardinalkit straightened up, but Pinekit beat her to it. "We were speaking with the warriors. Kind of scouting out what they train like so we can be ready for any of them."
"That's-" Hawkkit cut herself off. "-not such a bad idea…" she admitted.
Rainkit scoffed. "You're an isolated weirdo if you don't know the training tactics of our clanmates."
Hawkkit shrunk down a bit. Pinekit have her a sympathetic look. "And you're a boasting narcissist if you think everyone is like you," Pinekit retorted.
Cardinalkit snorted and didn't even bother to contain her laughter at the mocked hurt that Rainkit feigned. Pinekit only rolled his dark green eyes at his brother.
Hawkkit's eyes scanned over the camp. Snowwing was sunbathing beside her mate, Leaftail, and her brother, Cloudclaw. Blackpelt was sharing tongues with his son and daughter, Shadefur and Nightbreeze, respectively. Nightbreeze got up to go speak with Brackenfang.
Flamepaw and Lightpaw were play-wrestling in the clearing, before Flarestorm came to snap at them. They scampered off to join Dawnpaw and Needlepaw. Mouseclaw and Squirrelnose came marching back to camp with freshly caught prey in their jaws, with Mintpaw coming in behind them with herbs she needed to restock her stores. Mapleflower, Mosspatch, and Thornsnag were behind them, also all with prey in their mouths.
Bluewing was watching her son, Featherkit, mewl and stumble around camp and pummel into his father, Fernstorm, while chatting with Sandwhisker and Appleberry.
Tulipwood was purring as her daughter, Frondgrass, groomed through her fur with mouse bile. Hailfall and Mallowtail were laying next to her, as Redbreeze and Mintpaw listened to them griping about their sore joints.
Sleetclaw, Stonetail, Quickstep and Thrushtalon were discussing battle tactics about taking back the Flat Lands from WindClan, while Thrushtalon was distracted by Amberleaf walking by them.
Just then, Gingerroot ran from the nursery and scooped up Cardinalkit and began grooming her rapidly.
"Mama, stop!" Cardinalkit squirmed. "I look fine!"
"I could use some help with this moss behind my ear," Pinekit mewled. Gingerroot gave her daughter one last look before walking over to her son.
"Here, let me help," she said softly and Pinekit bowed his head as she scraped away the dry bedding moss.
Gingerroot gave Pinekit a onceover and then looked at Rainkit. She frowned. "Rainkit, sweetie, have you been playing in the brambles again?"
Rainkit gave a little "hmph!" and Gingerroot sighed as she began to work on his messy fur.
Hawkkit frowned a little and began an attempt to smooth down the white fluff on her chest. She caught the eye of her father and tried to give him appealing smile. He didn't seem to see her.
Smokestar flicked his tail as he jumped up onto a smooth, flat rock. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Tallrock for a clan meeting!"
Most of the cats were already near the center of the camp, so only a few stragglers came closer. Vinekit came tumbling in with a blue-grey tabby tom kit and a mottled brown tabby tom kit in tow behind her.
Hawkkit saw all three of her siblings huddled around each other, bristling with excitement, and felt a surge of sadness. Fawnkit should be here with us... she couldn't help but think. The voice of her father brought her back to reality, where Fawnkit was absent.
Smokestar turned to address Cardinalkit first. "Cardinalkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Cardinalpaw. Your mentor will be Snowwing. I hope Snowwing will pass down all she knows on to you."
He turned to the frost-white she-cat. "Snowwing, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Beetleclaw, and you have shown yourself to be clever and nimble. You will be the mentor of Cardinalpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her."
Snowwing gave an encouraging smile, and they touched noses together. Rainkit soon became Rainpaw, and Pinekit to Pinepaw, each assigned to the brothers Mouseclaw and Squirrelnose respectively.
Vinekit was squirming impatiently, and she nearly fell over when Smokestar called her name and made her an apprentice to Bluewing. Her two brothers, Webkit and Sprucekit, were made apprentices and assigned to Sandwhisker and Mapleflower.
"Hawkkit," began her father. She managed to keep still but her eyes were round with anticipation. "You have grown to the age of six moons, and until you gain your warrior name, you shall be known as Hawkpaw. Your mentor will be Thornsnag."
Whatever excitement she had previously felt had been quickly extinguished. Her blood ran cold as ice when her eyes met the blue-green ones that belonged to her new mentor. Thornsnag had a reputation for being ill-tempered, bossy and generally cross with everyone.
Smokestar looked almost amused. "Thornsnag, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Thistlefur, and you have shown initiative and determination. You will be the mentor of Hawkpaw. I expect you to pass on all you know to her.
Hawkpaw couldn't help but feel Smokestar did this intentionally. Rumor had it that Smokestar had never made him a mentor before because of the sudden death of his former mentor, who Thornsnag grieved like one would when they lost a lover, not a friend.
She felt a flash of pity for him. She swallowed dryly and met his eyes. There was no discernable expression on his face. Hawkpaw fidgeted with anxiety. She had never really seen him before, and she didn't even meet his eyes long enough to get a vague idea of what he looked like up close.
Her nerves blinded her, and she barely registered the pain when they slammed noses clumsily. Only when it felt like her nose was running, did she look down and see blood gushing.
"Ah!" She cried and held a paw to her nose in embarrassment.
"Oh my StarClan, I'm so sorry!" Thornsnag gasped. He sounded more sincere than Hawkpaw expected. She saw red leak from his nose as well, but much less noticeable than hers.
"Ah, you- um-" Hawkpaw said feebly. She pointed to his nose. He touched his nose, and saw the blood on his paw. A frail, ginger she-cat came from the medicine den to see what the commotion was, and quickly ushered Hawkpaw into her den.
A lithe grey she-cat with pale, frosty green eyes came into the den as well, with Thornsnag behind her. She was scolding him profusely and he just sat there with helpless look on his face.
Redbreeze, the frail medicine cat, began applying cobwebs to Hawkpaw's nose, which had thankfully slowed down than in the initial contact. She was now feeling the pain.
She looked over at Thornsnag, who still had that miserable look on his face, and giggled. He snapped his head over at her and miraculously, she didn't flinch away. "What are you laughing at?" He demanded.
Hawkpaw held back a snicker. "You look silly with all those cobwebs in your nose."
Thornsnag's expression softened. "You… you don't look so appealing yourself."
Hawkpaw only let out an amused hum. "I wouldn't imagine so," she mused. "I can't breathe through my nose," she said in a nasally voice.
The faintest traces of a smirk danced on his lips. "Same here," he said, matching her nasally tone. She smiled. He smiled back.
"Hawkpaw!" a small, white tom came barrelling in. He was feeble in comparison to Thornsnag, but still larger than Hawkpaw. He had long white fur, a smooth black chest, and bright, jay-blue eyes.
Thornsnag's face visibly steeled at the young tom's presence. Hawkpaw didn't notice.
"Jaypaw," she gasped. "What are you doing here?"
He frowned. "I was there for the ceremony, you know. Mintpaw refused to let me in until she finished."
"Oh, that," Hawkpaw's face fell and her cheeks went hot. "Right."
Jaypaw instantly seemed to regret his words. "Oh, wait, no, no! It wasn't that bad!"
"We botched the whole ceremony and on top of that, both ended up in the medicine den," Thornsnag piped up. His voice was cold yet scalding. "It was that bad."
Jaypaw's eyes narrowed in the direction of the chocolate tom. The noon sun glinted off his hazel-brown stripes, and there was smudged blood on his white chest.
"Is this tom bothering you?" Jaypaw asked.
Hawkpaw felt the awkward tension. "Mm… no."
She looked between the two toms. "Actually, we were having quite the fun conversation." She sent him a small grin. Thornsnag wore a tenuous surprised look.
Jaypaw's face hardened. "Well, let's go for a walk around the territory. I bet you're aching to see it all."
"That's my job, as her mentor," Thornsnag furrowed his eyebrows.
Hawkpaw looked weakly between them. "Thornsnag is right, Jaypaw. You can come with us when we go, though!" She forced a smile. Jaypaw and Thornsnag were still glaring daggers at each other.
"No, he cannot," Thornsnag huffed. "Jaypaw will be busy."
"Will not!" Jaypaw retorted.
Thornsnag rolled his eyes. "Yes, you will. Shadefur has you on the noon patrol, remember?"
"Oh," Jaypaw sighed. "He does."
"That's okay, Jaypaw! I'll ask Vinepaw if she wants to go with me," Hawkpaw said nervously.
Jaypaw opened his mouth to make a retort, but the voice of his mentor interrupted him.
"Jaypaw! Quit your squabbling and get on this patrol," Shadefur called. Jaypaw hissed under his breath and then turned to Hawkpaw with a softer look.
"I'll see you later, yeah?" He said with a shy grin. Hawkpaw nodded.
Jaypaw gave Thornsnag a resolute look and then turned tail and joined his mentor with three other cats. Thornsnag let out a sigh and turned to Hawkpaw when he felt her eyes on him.
"What do you want?" He grumbled.
Hawkpaw dropped her head to the side dramatically. "You said we were going to see the territory."
Thornsnag let out an audible groan. "Fine. Go find Vinepaw and Bluewing."
Hawkpaw bubbled with excitement and quickly spotted Vinepaw shooing Flamepaw away with a scowl. Hawkpaw saw as he stalked off with a bitter look, and then gave Vinepaw a quizzical look.
"Oh, hey Hawkpaw," Vinepaw acknowledged. She was grooming a paw.
"What just happened with Flamepaw?" Hawkpaw asked.
Vinepaw's face tightened. "He was flirting with me. I simply told him I didn't appreciate it," she said, her voice sharp.
Hawkpaw was skeptical for a moment, but pushed the thought out of her head. "Okay. Wanna come see the territory with me and Thornsnag?"
"Fine," Vinepaw said indifferently. She got to her feet. "Got nothing better to do."
Hawkpaw smirked to her best friend. She always admired how sassy yet nonchalant she could be.
"Vinepaw!"
The two she-cats saw Bluewing walking towards them. She had her usual hard expression. "Where do you think you're going?"
Vinepaw's face scrunched defiantly. "To walk around the territory."
"No, not without your mentor you're not," Bluewing said. "I'll accompany you."
Vinepaw's eyes narrowed, but she didn't bother to argue any further. She glared at the ground all the way until they got back to Thornsnag, who was tapping his claws impatiently on the ground. He lit up when he saw the three of them.
"Thornsnag," Bluewing greeted him. He dipped his head in acknowledgement and they headed out through the barrier. Hawkpaw felt a surge of excitement as the brambles of the barrier combed through her pelt.
"What are you so worked up about?" Vinepaw sniggered at Hawkpaw, who was practically vibrating with eagerness.
"I'm just excited," Hawkpaw said sheepishly. She made an effort to seem calmer. "It's my first time out of camp."
"That's because you didn't want to sneak out with me when I did those few times," Vinepaw huffed.
"My father is the leader, Vinepaw!" Hawkpaw said indignantly. "Do you have any idea the dung I would've been in if I got caught with you?"
"Key word being 'if'," Vinepaw emphasised. "You're such a goody-goody."
"Am not," Hawkpaw retorted. "If I'm going to break the rules, I want to be sure I won't get caught. Otherwise you're just flat out reckless."
Vinepaw's eyes flickered with vehemence. "Goody-goody."
Hawkpaw just sighed. She rolled her eyes and trotted ahead a few steps to catch up to Thornsnag and Bluewing.
"Where are we?" Hawkpaw asked, taking in the tall trees on her right, and the bubbling river on the other side, with smooth rocks that sun shined on and grassy hills with trees few and far between.
"Take a whiff," Thornsnag said.
She parted her jaws and raised her nose. "I smell the water, what I assume is fish, and… something else... fishy?"
Bluewing let out a chuckle. That was the first time Hawkpaw had heard her laugh. "That is RiverClan. Slimy and slippery little eels. Gross, isn't it?"
Hawkpaw let out a nervous chuckle. She wasn't about to admit the smell of the water was more appealing than that of her own home. She saw Vinepaw looking over the moors with a strange yearning in her eyes.
Hawkpaw snickered and left her, making her way back to Bluewing and Thornsnag, who were a few mouse-lengths away. "Where's Vinepaw?" Bluewing asked. Hawkpaw turned behind her to see Vinepaw hadn't followed her.
"Vinepaw!" Bluewing hissed. She had crossed over the stepping stones and was dancing on RiverClan territory. "Get back over here, now!"
"Hawkpaw, Hawkpaw!" Vinepaw called eagerly. "Lookit me!"
"Vinepaw!" Hawkpaw squeaked. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
Vinepaw only shrugged. Her ears dropped and her face fell but she didn't move.
"It most certainly is not!" Bluewing snapped. "Get back here now, Vinepaw."
The black she-cat grimaced and hopped across the stones again. She met her mentor's bluebell eyes aggressively.
"This is not becoming behavior for an apprentice," Bluewing growled. "Until you show a more acceptable attitude, we won't tour the territory with your friend."
"What!" Vinepaw shrieked. "You can't do that!"
"Watch me," Bluewing hissed through her teeth. "We're going back to camp."
"No, please!" Hawkpaw gasped. She shrinked back when Bluewing rounded on her.
Bluewing's hard face softened a smidge. "I'm sorry, Hawkpaw. Maybe another time. Come now, Vinepaw."
Vinepaw shot Hawkpaw a dejected look and Hawkpaw gave her a sympathetic frown. They disappeared into the undergrowth and Hawkpaw sighed.
Thornsnag came up behind her. "She's a pawful," he noted.
Hawkpaw puffed her cheeks. "She's my friend."
Thornsnag flinched. "Right, sorry. She's just very… brazen."
"I guess that's true," Hawkpaw admitted. "She's always been a bit imposing. But I like that about her."
Thornsnag made a noise in the back of his throat and he flicked his tail for her to follow him. She stared at the bush Vinepaw disappeared through for a few more moments before scampering after her mentor.
"Where are we going next?" Hawkpaw asked, trying to push the dismal look Vinepaw gave her out of her mind.
"We're going to follow the river up to WindClan, then circle around to ShadowClan and head back to camp. I think it's better if you get scents for now before you know where the landmarks are," Thornsnag explained.
Hawkpaw cocked her head. She kicked a pebble that was in her way. "I guess that makes sense."
They approached the WindClan border, and Hawkpaw felt her paws refuse to move when she saw the endless, grassy hills. The river was churning, and sunlight glinted off it.
The river from my dream… Hawkpaw stared at it, eyes wide. She felt a chilled breath on her neck fur.
She shivered and turned to look behind her. No one was there.
Hawkpaw snapped back to reality when the voice of her mentor shouting flooded in her ears. "Hawkpaw!" Thornsnag hissed loudly. "Can you hear me?"
"S-sorry," Hawkpaw said pathetically. "I thought I- mm, no, never mind." She shook her head.
Thornsnag frowned a little. "Maybe we should head back early."
"No!" Hawkpaw said quickly. "I just got distracted."
"Very well then," Thornsnag nodded. "Let's mo-" he cut himself off and his face grew annoyed.
"Oh, joy," he grumbled. Hawkpaw followed his gaze over to where a group of six cats came steadily over the hill in front of them. His eyes narrowed. "WindClan patrol."
"Oh." Hawkpaw couldn't think of much else to say. She jumped a slight at Thornsnag touching her shoulder.
He pulled back instinctively and gave her a look that barely lasted a second. "We should get going," he said quickly.
They turned tail, but a voice stopped them. "Running away with your tail between your legs yet again, Thornsnag?"
Hawkpaw spun around. "We are not running away!" she snapped.
The voice belonged to a grey and brown tabby she-cat with a twisted look to her face. "Ooh, I do love a naive, spunky little apprentice now and then. Who might this tasty little morsel be?"
Hawkpaw flinched back. "Leave her alone, Fernbreeze," Thornsnag growled. Hawkpaw felt him bristle beside her.
"Or what?" Fernbreeze chuckled. Her laugh sent chills down Hawkpaw's spine. A ragged tabby behind Fernbreeze let out a low cackle.
"Come here and find out," Hawkpaw challenged.
Fernbreeze raised an eyebrow. "Quiet, Hawkpaw!" Thornsnag hissed through his teeth.
"We were just leaving," Thornsnag forced a smile.
"No we're not!" Hawkpaw's tail was puffier than ever.
"Yes, we are," Thornsnag said, much harsher this time. "Bye now, Fernbreeze. Always such a pleasure to see you."
He stalked away from the WindClan border and ducked behind some undergrowth to glare at Hawkpaw disapprovingly. "What in StarClan's name was that?" He demanded.
"I-I just thought-" Hawkpaw began, but he cut her off before she could finish her feeble excuse.
"No, that's just it," he growled. "You weren't thinking. You're still young and impulsive."
Hawkpaw glowered at him. "You're not much older than me!"
"And yet I can refrain from challenging another clan to a fight we would very clearly lose!" Thornsnag retorted sharply. "Did you really think a young warrior and a kit could fight off a WindClan border patrol?"
Hawkpaw bristled angrily. "I know now that the rumors are true! You really are an ill-tempered, bossy, downright sour jerk!"
Thornsnag recoiled at her words, but his face steeled a few seconds later. Hawkpaw could feel the temperature change. His body language was much more rigid now. Shoulder squared, jaw set, eyes cold.
"Th-Thorn-" Hawkpaw gulped, but he cut her off yet again.
"We're heading back to camp," said Thornsnag in a flat tone. "Don't bother to protest- you won't change my mind. We'll pick up tomorrow."
"But what about seeing ShadowClan or SkyClan territory?" She blurted.
Thornsnag glared at her icily. "SkyClan doesn't share a border with us. That would mean crossing WindClan and ShadowClan territory, which is out of the question."
Hawkpaw opened her mouth, ready to spit fire, but she decided against it. She always too afraid to speak up, but for some reason, she could barely contain the sharp words that poured out of her mouth like instinct.
The walk back to camp was awkward. They trudged in silence, Hawkpaw trailing behind him with her eyes glued to the ground. They ran into the border patrol on the way back, but Hawkpaw didn't even register Jaypaw saying hello to her.
She made a beeline to the apprentice's den, and marched straight to Vinepaw, who had saved her a nest in the very back corner. Hawkpaw didn't even look at the black she-cat. She promptly buried her face into the fresh moss and screamed as loud as she could, her high-pitched whine muffled by the moss.
"That bad?" Vinepaw mused.
"They're gonna have to name me Stubbyclaws by time I'm a warrior!" Hawkpaw whined. She had a nervous habit to chew on her claws, which would most likely prove to be potentially problematic.
Vinepaw eased Hawkpaw's paw away from her mouth. She hadn't even realized she'd started chewing on a claw again. "Hawkpaw, you know that no matter the mouse-dung Thornsnag puts you through, we'll make it through together."
Hawkpaw managed a smile. "Together?"
Vinepaw grinned back. "Forever."
Hawkpaw let out a heavy sigh. "Thanks, Vinepaw."
Vinepaw chuckled. "What would you do without me?" she teased.
"Probably live a life without any unnecessary risks," Hawkpaw snickered.
"You mean without any fun," Vinepaw corrected her.
Hawkpaw opened her mouth to answer, but stopped when Flamepaw, Lightpaw, Needlepaw and Dawnpaw came into the den. They spotted Hawkpaw and Vinepaw and they smirked and whispered and snickered together.
Hawkpaw felt a low growl in the back of her throat. Vinepaw's tail lashed back and forth and the fur on her neck was raised. "I'd tear them apart for you," Vinepaw swore.
"I know you would," Hawkpaw leaned her head into Vinepaw's shoulder. "You're the only one who likes me for myself around here."
Vinepaw smiled gently. "As much as I'd like to be your favorite, you know Jaypaw and your siblings like you, too."
"Well, you're the only one who is really there for me," Hawkpaw insisted. Vinepaw's eyes twinkled happily.
"Same to you, Hawkpaw," Vinepaw smirked. She shook Hawkpaw off her to stretch. "Okay, enough mushy feeling talk. How about some rule breaking to cheer you up?"
Hawkpaw raised an eyebrow. "What did you have in mind?"
Vinepaw beamed. "Follow me!"
Hawkpaw followed her without hesitation, watching her friend's thin, whitish grey tail whip behind her as they ran through the forest, orange with the setting sun.
Vinepaw slowed to a stop. "Aren't you worried about us getting into trouble?"
"No," Hawkpaw said quickly. "We're apprentices now. We can go out of camp. And besides, it's not like we're unaccompanied."
Vinepaw broke into a very pleased smile. "That's what I like to hear."
They came to a stop somewhere between the RiverClan and WindClan river border. Hawkpaw sat in awe to look at the setting sun reflected against the river water, making it look like it was beautifully on fire.
"It's beautiful," Hawkpaw breathed.
Vinepaw gave her a shove. "I didn't bring you here for the scenery. I thought we could splash around in the shallow end of the river."
Hawkpaw fidgeted nervously. "Won't we get swept away? We don't know how to swim."
"No," Vinepaw said confidently. "I heard Bluewing telling Featherkit that if you stay in the shallow end, you're safe. That's how some cats fish. RiverClan gets really mad when we do that, though."
Hawkpaw snickered. "I can't imagine why," she said sarcastically.
Vinepaw laughed, and felt Hawkpaw tug on her tail. "C'mon!" Hawkpaw laughed excitedly. She waded in and shivered at the cold water that lapped over her paws. Vinepaw let out a high-pitched shriek, which then turned into laughter.
Hawkpaw flicked water at Vinepaw, who gasped at the wet sensation. She saw Hawkpaw looking her at smugly, and moved to splash Hawkpaw as well. Hawkpaw shrieked in joy and continued to splash Vinepaw relentlessly, sloshing water up at each other.
A faint yowl drifted to their ears and their heads shot up in the direction of the noise.
"Did… did you hear that?" Hawkpaw turned to Vinepaw. Her eyes were fixated on where the scream came from.
"No… no, it was nothing," Vinepaw seemed trying to convince herself rather than Hawkpaw.
"You didn't hear that scream?" Hawkpaw sounded skeptical.
"I did. But-"
"Well, then we should check it out!" Hawkpaw insisted.
"We should head back to camp!" Vinepaw hissed, her voice wavering.
"You would leave a cat in danger?" Hawkpaw asked incredulously.
Vinepaw flinched and shook her head. "No, I- AH! There's no reasoning with you. Let's go."
Hawkpaw smirked with triumph and the two of them began running through the woods towards the origin of the screech. They ducked and weaved around low branches, fallen logs, and prickly bushes.
"This is what I meant when I said you're a goody-goody," Vinepaw growled.
"Would you leave me if I was in danger?" Hawkpaw asked between breaths.
Vinepaw looked surprised, and offended. "Of course not!" Vinepaw said instantly. "You're my best friend. Nothing will change that."
"This isn't any different," Hawkpaw argued.
"This is very different," said Vinepaw. "This cat is not my best friend, or in even our clan for any matter."
"Could be," Hawkpaw shrugged.
They stopped outside WindClan territory, and Hawkpaw got chills remembering her strange dream, and the cruel WindClan patrol.
"Look," Vinepaw said. "There's no one here."
"But we heard somethi- wait!" Hawkpaw gasped. "Over there! What's that?"
Vinepaw whipped her head around in the direction Hawkpaw was looking at. "Claw marks?" Vinepaw examined the upturned soil. "It leads to the river- oh no."
"Someone fell in the river?!" Hawkpaw screeched.
"That's… oh, I want to leave now," groaned Vinepaw. She wore a heavy frown.
"They're not coming back up…" Hawkpaw paced nervously, eyes scanning the water. "Vinepaw, they're not coming back up!" She shrieked.
Vinepaw was now wound up like Hawkpaw. "I can see that!" She yelled, nerves in her voice. "What do you want me to do?!"
"Go in!" Hawkpaw said without thinking.
"No way!" Vinepaw scoffed. "I'd do anything for you, except swim in a river to rescue a mysterious cat. You go in!"
"I asked you first!" Hawkpaw huffed, her voice shrill.
"I asked you second!" Vinepaw retorted.
"Fine!" Hawkpaw cried.
"What!" Vinepaw barely had time to process it. "Wait, Hawkpaw, no!"
She was too late. Hawkpaw had already swiftly leapt into the river.
Water instantly flooded her ears, making everything sound muffled. She saw the cat at the gravelly bottom- a silver tabby she-cat with cream paws, not much bigger than Hawkpaw herself.
She flailed her paws, trying to propel herself forward. Again, she felt a cold breath on her neck, and the sensation that someone was watching her. There was a voice in her head telling her what to do.
"It's like running through snow. Don't fight it. Go with the current."
Hawkpaw kicked her legs in and out in a rhythm, and found herself gradually moving towards the unconscious she-cat. Her fur was slick against her frame, and she soon got the hang of using her sleek pelt to her advantage.
She opened her jaws and closed them around the scruff of the tabby, and found it increasingly harder to swim up while carrying another cat.
Just then, everything went bubbly and white. Foam tickled all around her. The water parted to reveal Vinepaw thrashing uncoordinatedly towards Hawkpaw. She opened her mouth in relief to see Hawkpaw, bubbles escaping. She quickly closed her mouth.
Vinepaw floundered towards Hawkpaw and joined her, taking some of the weight of the she-cat, and together they paddled awkwardly back to shore. Vinepaw got out first, shaking the water from her pelt. She took the unconscious she-cat and pulled her up, and then grabbed Hawkpaw's scruff and yanked her up as well.
"You're really strong," panted Hawkpaw.
Vinepaw panted as well, an exhilarated smile playing at her lips. Her current look mirrored that of a drowned rat, while Hawkpaw's fur had remained mostly glossy.
"Well, someone's gotta take care of you and your twig legs," Vinepaw said breathlessly. She looked down at the she-cat. She hadn't stirred. "Is she…" Vinepaw couldn't finish her own thought.
"No." Hawkpaw shifted. "No, she can't be. Not after we saved her."
"After you saved her," corrected Vinepaw. "I only helped."
"Don't be modest," Hawkpaw growled. "I would've died without you."
"How about we focus on figuring out if she's dead or not instead of arguing over my insecurities?" Vinepaw snapped.
"I saw Redbreeze lick Jaypaw's fur backwards when he fell in the river once," Hawkpaw noted. She hesitantly groomed the WindClan cat's fur backwards, it spiking up as she did so.
"Wait, turn her over," Vinepaw said. "I remember Mintpaw telling me to push on a cat's chest if there's water blocking their breathing."
Hawkpaw did as Vinepaw told her, and pumped on her chest and moved in circles as she did so. After a few seconds, the she-cat spluttered and gasped, rolling over to spit out water.
She coughed roughly, almost sounding like she was going to vomit, especially from the way she was keeling over. She stayed still for a few seconds after she stopped coughing, breathing raggedly.
She raised her nose to Vinepaw and Hawkpaw. "You… saved me?"
"That's what it looks like, yeah," Hawkpaw said awkwardly. She inadvertently picked up on Vinepaw's sarcasm.
"You're ThunderClan," she said weakly. She still hadn't met their eyes
"Wow, this one's observant," Vinepaw sneered. The WindClan cat frowned.
"I'm Frostpaw," she said, shuffling her paws. "The medicine apprentice."
Vinepaw's eyes went wide. Hawkpaw felt shock jolt through her. And Vinepaw wanted to leave her!
Hawkpaw shook her head. "That's Vinepaw. I'm Hawkpaw." She bent down to groom her fluffed up chest, and it smoothed for a second, before it poofed up again.
Frostpaw looked up and let out a small chuckle. Hawkpaw gave up and looked to meet Frostpaw's eyes. They were a cool amber, but Hawkpaw only saw them for a moment. The second Hawkpaw and Frostpaw met eyes, she gasped and looked back down.
"Got anything to say?" Vinepaw hissed lowly.
"No," mumbled Frostpaw. "Thank you for saving me. Goodbye."
With that, she bounded off, not casting them a second glance. Hawkpaw was looking at her paws despondently. Vinepaw crouched down and ducked under Hawkpaw so she'd have to look at her. Hawkpaw looked away.
"Hey, Hawkpaw, ignore her," Vinepaw said. "She's stupid." Her voice was bitter and venomous.
Hawkpaw stayed quiet, and Vinepaw frowned a little. Her eyes were full of pity.
"Mm… look on the bright side!" Vinepaw said. Hawkpaw looked up a smidge.
"What's that?" she asked dejectedly.
"You can swim! I didn't know you could swim!" Vinepaw exclaimed. "No ThunderClan cat can swim!"
"That's the point, Vinepaw," Hawkpaw sighed. "I'm different."
Vinepaw scoffed dramatically. "Where's the fun in being like everyone else in ThunderClan? I'd rather stand out in the crowd, wouldn't you?"
Hawkpaw shrugged. "Is that why you get yourself in trouble all the time?"
Vinepaw went still. "You could say that. But we're not talking about me. You're special, Hawkpaw. Like no one else. There's no one like you and that's a good thing."
Hawkpaw looked away and stood up. Her eyelids hung low sadly. She stared at her reflection in the rippling water, and gloomed at the color of her eyes. Her eyes were a sharp heather red, but all anyone ever saw, was the color of fresh blood.
A/N
LMAO UM I LOVE VINEPAW SO MUCH SHE'S SUCH A GREAT ADDITION TO THIS REBOOT AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH! I will be taking OCs (no more than 2) from five (5) people, but only those who can correctly guess how Hawkpaw and Vinepaw became friends out of these four choices:
1. Grew up in the nursery together and it just happened
2. Vinepaw bit the ear of an older kit who was bullying Hawkkit and pushed them into a snowmelt
3. Hawkkit rolled into her when playing with Jaykit
4. Vinekit had a bad cold and got Hawkkit sick and they ended up getting confined to the medicine den together
Hope you liked this first chapter! Read and review, and the more reviews I get, the more chapters I crank out! This chapter was beta-ed by SuperBailey. Allegiances are below.
Allegiances
ThunderClan
Leader: Smokestar: a dusky brown tom with dark blue eyes
Deputy: Cloudclaw: a fluffy white tom with silvery eyes; brother to Snowwing
Medicine cat: Redbreeze: a ginger she-cat with faint swirl-marks
Apprentice: Mintpaw
Warriors
Thornsnag: a chocolate pelted tom with hazel-brown stripes and a white chest
Apprentice: Hawkpaw
Leaftail: a brown tabby tom
Snowwing: a fluffy white she-cat with blue-grey eyes; sister to Cloudclaw
Apprentice: Cardinalpaw
Mouseclaw: a pale brown tom
Apprentice: Rainpaw
Sleetclaw: a long haired white tom with black paws
Thrushtalon: a brown tabby tom with a white underbelly and paws
Stonetail: a pale grey tom with darker flecks
Apprentice: Needlepaw
Squirrelnose: ginger tom
Apprentice: Pinepaw
Quickstep: a lithe, silver mottled tabby she-cat with a jagged scar on her shoulder
Shadefur: dark grey tom with amber eyes
Apprentice: Jaypaw
Blackpelt: a black tom with amber eyes
Apprentice: Lightpaw
Brackenfang: a handsome tortoiseshell tom with a white chest and tail tip
Frondgrass: a yellow, brown and black striped she-cat with green eyes
Apprentice: Dawnpaw
Mosspatch: a rugged, senior grey she-cat
Flarestorm: dark ginger tom with a graying muzzle
Nightbreeze: a young black she-cat
Apprentice: Flamepaw
Amberleaf: a beautiful, orange, brown and white tortoiseshell she-cat
Sandwhisker: a slender, light ginger tabby tom
Apprentice: Webpaw
Fernstorm: a grey tabby tom with amber eyes
Mapleflower: a large, orange and brown tortoiseshell she-cat
Apprentice: Sprucepaw
Apprentices
Hawkpaw: a black she-cat with a fluffy white chest and heather red eyes
Mintpaw: a lithe, grey she-cat with a white underbelly and brown ears
Cardinalpaw: a reddish she-cat with pale blue eyes
Rainpaw a blue-grey tabby tom with bright green eyes
Needlepaw: a silver-grey she-cat with a white chest
Pinepaw: a mottled tabby tom with pine green eyes
Jaypaw: a long-haired white tom with a smooth black chest and jay blue eyes
Lightpaw: a cream she-cat with blue eyes
Dawnpaw: a light orange tom with yellow eyes
Flamepaw: bright ginger tom; son of Flarestorm
Webpaw: a blue-grey tabby tom with blue eyes
Sprucepaw: a mottled brown tom with blue eyes
Vinepaw: a lithe black she-cat with a whitish grey tail and green eyes
Queens
Gingerroot: bright ginger she-cat with brown eyes
Appleberry: a dusky red she-cat with a ginger chest and thick, white tail
Sorrelfrost: a little, pale brown tabby she-cat (mother to Toadkit and Cherrykit)
Bluewing: a blue-grey she-cat with amber eyes and white paws (mother to Featherkit)
Apprentice: Vinepaw
Elders
Tulipwood: a yellow and black she-cat with impossibly blue eyes
Mallowtail: a black and brown tabby tom with tangled fur
Hailfall: a pale grey tom with glossy fur
Kits
Featherkit: a dark grey and bluish tabby tom
Toadkit: a dark brown and grey flecked tom
Cherrykit: a bright orange she-kit with dark orange markings
RiverClan
Leader: Oakstar: a muscular black tom with a dark ginger blaze, underbelly and white paws
Deputy: Beechtail: pale ginger and creamy tom
Medicine cat: Alderleaf: an elderly brown tom with pale spots
Apprentice: Honeysnow: a beautiful golden she-cat with snow white flecks
Warriors
Gorseheart: a light brown tabby tom
Sandfern: pale ginger she-cat with black stripes
Apprentice: Dovepaw
Mudclaw: a grey tom with brown ears, muzzle, tail, and legs with yellow eyes
Apprentice: Pebblepaw
Creeksplash: a pretty silver tabby she-cat
Greywillow: a silvery grey she-cat
Apprentice: Troutpaw
Poppytail: a tortoiseshell she-cat with sharp amber eyes and a tufted tail
Fernblaze: a tortoiseshell tom with a fluffy chest and blue eyes
Apprentice: Swanpaw
Reedflight: a tawny-brown tom with black paws
Apprentice: Ferretpaw
Shellwhisker: blue-grey mottled tom
Wetstep: a bluish grey mottled tom with white legs
Apprentice: Stempaw
Marigoldfur: a pretty golden she-cat with dark brown flecks
Softbelly: a fluffy white she-cat
Apprentice: Redpaw
Goldenwhisker: a bright tabby ginger tom with thick fur
Badgerfoot: a black and white tom
Apprentice: Doepaw
Flowerpelt: a tortoiseshell she-cat
Weaselclaw: brown tom with darker stripes
Seedberry: a large, cream-ginger tabby she-cat
Apprentice: Thistlepaw
Spidertail: a grey-black tom with a short tail
Apprentice: Juniperpaw
Puddlewhisker: a pale grey she-cat with white stripes
Wrenshadow: a silver tabby she-cat with a white tail-tip
Apprentice: Shadepaw
Mothleg: a mottled brown tom with short legs
Apprentice: Briarpaw
Rowanstorm: dark brown tabby tom
Rosethorn: a fiery red she-cat with a darker chest and underbelly
Twigstep: a dark brown tom with a paler underbelly
Apprentice: Littlepaw
Tawnyclaw: a light beige tabby tom
Shrewnose: a dusky brown tom with white flecks
Apprentices
Dovepaw: an off white silvery she-cat
Pebblepaw: a grey tom with darker stripes and amber eyes
Ferretpaw: a dark brown tom with paler paws
Swanpaw: a white she-cat with black paws and ears
Doepaw: a brown she-cat with a white muzzle and black paws
Stempaw: a light grey tabby tom with green eyes
Thistlepaw: a bluish grey tom with black ears, paws, cream underbelly and a striped tail
Juniperpaw: a dark grey tabby she-cat
Briarpaw: dark brown she-cat with grey paws
Littlepaw: a tiny, cream and white she-cat
Troutpaw: a dark silver tabby tom
Shadepaw: an almost black she-cat with silver ear tips
Queens
Duskflower: a dark grey she-cat (mother of Petalkit)
Cloudypool: a silver she-cat with white ears and a blue grey tail tip (mother of Mistkit)
Russetwing: dark red she-cat with an orange chest and underbelly (expecting Tawnyclaw's)
Elders
Whitefog: an off white tom with a silvery muzzle (oldest in RiverClan)
Bramblewhisker: a tabby tom, deaf in one ear
Yellowlily: a somewhat young tannish she-cat (retired early due to failed hearing)
Mudflower: a frail black she-cat with remarkably long fur and brown patches with sage green eyes
Fadedtail: a worn white tom with a pale grey tail
Kits
Petalkit: pale grey she-kit with golden spots
Mistkit: blue-grey tabby she-kit
ShadowClan
Leader: Fallenstar: a black she-cat with pale grey flecks and a twisted front paw
Deputy: Stagstrike: a dusky brown tom with a stubby white tail
Medicine cat: Thymetail: tabby she-cat with one silver paw and a white muzzle
Warriors
Nettletail: a skinny light brown she-cat with a large, prickly tail
Bloodyfur: a ginger tom
Apprentice: Forestpaw
Maggotheart: a pale cream tom with long legs
Scorchscar: a dark ginger tom with a long scar down his face
Darkheart: dark grey tom
Waspstripe: a dark ginger she-cat with black stripe and scarred ears
Frogthroat: a dusky brown-grey tom with a grey throat
Apprentice: Vulturepaw
Dapplefur: a brown tabby she-cat with three long scars
Apprentice: Crowpaw
Furzestorm: a dark brown tabby tom with broad shoulders
Heronclaw: a grey and black splotched tom
Talonsting: long clawed, grey tom
Apprentice: Thornypaw
Weedthorn: a dark cream tom with a lighter underbelly, chest and paws
Darkflame: a dark grey she-cat with pale ginger stripes
Marshypelt: a black and brown tom
Viperflower: a dark grey-brown she-cat with a narrow build
Burrpelt: a dark brown tom with tangled fur and scars
Apprentice: Hollypaw
Prickleclaw: a rugged brown flecked she-cat
Rockfall: a dusty brown tom
Firethorn: a dark ginger she-cat with a lighter underbelly and black paws
Flintheart: a black tom with grey patches and yellow eyes
Apprentice: Bristlepaw
Daisystripe: a cream she-cat with black stripes
Heavyfoot: a stocky grey tom with a stubby tail
Beetlesting: a black tom with white patches and tail and blue eyes
Stormstrike: a blue-grey tabby tom with a missing ear
Apprentices
Forestpaw: grey tabby tom
Vulturepaw: a black and white she-cat with yellow, beady eyes
Crowpaw: black tom
Thornypaw: mottled she-cat
Hollypaw: a black she-cat with yellow eyes
Bristlepaw: a dark brown tom with spiky fur
Queens
Shreddedpelt: a dark cream she-cat with ragged fur (mother of Fangkit)
Willowleap: a silvery she-cat (expecting Maggotheart's)
Elders
Foggysoul: a silvery tom with a grayed muzzle
Kits
Fangkit: broad faced cream tom with black paws
WindClan
Leader: Sunstar: broad shouldered golden tom
Deputy: Roseclaw: a dark ginger she-cat with long legs
Medicine cat: Blueberry: a blue-grey she-cat
Apprentice: Frostpaw
Warriors
Duskheart: a sleek black tom
Buzzardwing: a brown mottled tabby tom
Flameheart: dark ginger tom with a pale ginger tail
Apprentice: Silverpaw
Marshystripe: a senior tabby tom
Brightcloud: a ginger she-cat with white splotches
Apprentice: Owlpaw
Stonefoot: a senior speckled grey tom
Blossomfur: a tortoiseshell she-cat
Apprentice: Brindlepaw
Mosspetal: a grey mottled she-cat
Whitefur: long haired white tom
Apprentice: Mousepaw
Ryeclaw: a brown tabby tom
Fernbreeze: a pale grey and brown tabby she-cat
Eaglepelt: dark brown tabby tom
Apprentice: Birchpaw
Apprentices
Frostpaw: silver she-cat with cream stripes and amber eyes
Mousepaw: black and white tom
Owlpaw: brown and white tom
Silverpaw: a silver tabby she-cat with green eyes
Birchpaw: a tan and brown striped tom
Brindlepaw: golden-brown she-cat
Mintpaw: a grey and white she-cat (formerly of ShadowClan, no mentor yet)
Queens
Streamfur: silver tabby she-cat (expecting Eaglepelt's)
Barkflower: brown she-cat with white stripes (mother to Dustkit and Deerkit)
Lilypelt: white and silver she-cat (mother of Pebblekit)
Elders
Half-face: a grey tom with half a scarred face
Kits
Dustkit: a pale dusty brown tom with black stripes
Deerkit: a dark brown she-kit with light stripes and ears
Pebblekit: a dark silver tom with a white muzzle
SkyClan
Leader: Cricketleap: a greyish brown tabby she-cat with a small frame
Deputy: Perchwhisker: a black she-cat with yellow eyes
Medicine cat: Nectarpaw: a light ginger tabby tom
Warriors
Molenose: a dark brown tom
Lilytail: a white she-cat with long legs
Apprentice: Pouncepaw
Wrenwing: a grey tabby she-cat
Snakeleap: a greyish brown tabby tom
Apprentice: Flippaw
Swallowfeather: a black and white tom
Sequoiafern: a light brown tabby she-cat
Apprentice: Finchpaw
Berrybranch: a light ginger tom
Dustbreeze: a dark brown she-cat
Furzeheart: a dark grey tom with sharp amber eyes
Apprentice: Cloverpaw
Bristleleaf: a brown tabby tom
Seedshade: golden-brown mottled tabby she-cat
Littlefoot: golden-brown mottled tom with a singular white, deformed front leg
Apprentices
Pouncepaw: a fiery red speckled she-cat
Flippaw: a black tom
Finchpaw: a mottled red she-cat
Cloverpaw: a grey tabby tom
Queens
Snapflower: a light silver tabby she-cat (mother to Silverkit and Tanglekit)
Lichenclaw: a bluish grey she-cat (expecting Snakeleap's kits)
Elders
Jumpfrost: a ragged grey she-cat
Kits
Silverkit: a silver she-kit with faint stripes
Tanglekit: a dark grey tom kit
