Chapter 2- "Sibling Rivalry"
When Maplepaw finally woke the next morning, the sun shone through the den and warmed her pelt. It was nice and she was tempted to stay, but she knew that her mentor may not wait much longer and she wanted to get something to eat before she had to do more work. She stretched out before getting up, feeling soreness all over from yesterdays training. Her stomach growled, and hesitantly she got up, bleary eyed and blinking away sleep.
The den was completely empty besides herself and Ferretpaw, who seemed way too deep into sleep to be bothered by her presences. After a moment of clearing her mind, she pawed pasted him and out of the den.
The sun blinded her momentarily in the clearing, but its effects were quickly discarded for the ravenous hunger in her gut as she went straight for the fresh kill pile and picked out a small rat.
Curling up in a spot nearby, she ate while looking around the camp.
It was a much clearer day then the past one and the breeze was much warmer than usual. It was coming from the west rather than east, and it was unusual so close to leaf-bare. It was had a strange feel to it that sent a chill down Maplepaw's spine, but it was forgotten almost as soon as it came.
The rat was stringy and took her awhile to finish. When she did she sighted her mentor across camp. He sat talking with Wetfoot, Blackfoot, and Clawface; three warriors she found freighting and she knew were closely tied to her leader.
"Look whose up." Cloverpaw's voice suddenly emanated from behind Maplepaw. She meowed it playfully, and her sister came pouncing onto Maplepaw, knocking her back.
Maplepaw was too shocked to react and Cloverpaw had her pinned by her shoulders in seconds.
Maplepaw got over the shock in a wave of emotions, fear jarred her heart and having just been staring at the frightful fighters she reacted unkindly towards her sister's tackle.
She flung Cloverpaw off roughly and snarled at her. "What do you think you're doing? Are you still some mindless kit!"
Flatpaw and Featherpaw, who had been walking behind Cloverpaw, stopped short and stared at Maplepaw. As well as everyone else in the clearing paused to do.
Cloverpaw got back to her feet and hissed defensively. "You're just upset I was able to sneak up on you!"
Before the she-cat could say more she turned and walked away stiffly, her fur raised and bristling with indignation. She was stalking off towards the den and Flatpaw and Featherpaw followed her; while giving Maplepaw reproachful looks.
Maplepaw watched them go, angrily, her own self giving off a wave of hostility. She looked up and found every cat staring at her still.
The embarrassing display she put up now reached to her, and a slight humiliation made her head swing lower, avoiding their eyes. She quickly made up her way towards the den though and was wanting to be out of sight, but when she looked up again the four warriors that she had been staring at were looking directly at her now.
But they weren't looking shocked, like the other faces that were turned towards her. They were only... appreciative and.. calculating.
This confused her, but instead of returning to the den she decided to walk to them. She didn't want to face her sister yet anyway, Cloverpaw could be unbearable sometimes. She shook off her embarrassment, it was easy to hide and she held her body high, determined to look unshaken by the clan's opinion.
She stopped just before Brokenstar and was placed in-between Clawface's and Wetfoot's towering figures. She felt small, but kept the fear out of her eyes again with the fierce look she gave to Thunderclan.
"Will we be training today?" She meowed, looking her mentor straight into his eyes. They narrowed as she spoke.
Brokenstar exchanged looks with his company, then nodded. "Yes, collect Flatpaw and Cloverpaw meet me by the burnt sycamore."
"Cloverpaw?" Maplepaw asked hesitantly.
"It is not your place to question you mentor." Hissed Clawface. "But if you must know I have asked him to train her for today. I have a bothersome wound from a border fight that Yellowfang suggested I needed to keep rested for a few days."
Maplepaw nodded obediently wide eyed at the vicious tom. She scampered over to the apprentice den as she was ordered.
As she entered she saw them gathered into a group, fawning over Cloverpaw, who revealed a small scrape the she 'suffered' from.
Maplepaw nearly scoffed.
The now roused Ferretpaw sent her a scathing look as she approached.
"What do you want?" Cloverpaw meowed moodily.
"Brokenstar sent me for you and Flatpaw. Clawface has Brokenstar training you today, with us, because Yellowfang won't let him."
Flatpaw nodded and got up from his place after of moment of silence. Cloverpaw made no move to follow. "Come on he won't want to be waiting then. You don't know how he gets.." He sighed to his sister. Cloverpaw grudgingly got up followed after the two.
Maplepaw lead them through the small journey out to the burnt sycamore.
The burnt sycamore was an ancient tree, that had long ago been struck by lightning. It was many, many moons ago though and it is now used as a common training post.
When they approached Brokenstar was sitting at its base, but as Maplepaw looked up at him she didn't see him yet instead something (the gleam of sunlight in her eyes?) caused a different scene to flash in front of her eyes.
Brokenstar didn't stand there, no, but a different and huge warrior that was in his place. It was the Thunderclan warrior, Tigerclaw.
His dark coat with even darker with shadows clinging to it. There were frightening scars on the bridge of his nose and crisscrossed over his pelt, showing his fearlessness. His unusually long front claws dug into the dirt, itching to tear something. His lips pulled back in threat to revel his sharp teeth, his tail was flickering back and forth, and pale amber eyes were amused and blood thirsty.
It wasn't daytime; it was the dead of night. Not even prey was out at the late hour. Everything was long asleep. The blackened destroyed bark of the tree was alive with fire, dark destructive fire, all around and flickering at the tom malevolently. Hanging in the gray stormy clouds above, was a ghostly, full moon.
However, as soon as she saw it.. it was gone. There was bright sunlight blinding her and it was her clan leader seated in front of her, not the stranger tom.
She composed herself quickly and sat with her kin in front of Brokenstar. The shaken effect the flashing image had given her was making her clammy, but it was hidden behind a mask of calm attentiveness.
"What will we be doing?" Cloverpaw asked excitedly. Her spunk was restored in the travel there, she was happy to get a chance to be trained by Brokenstar even after being upset with her sister.
"Since Clawface has informed me of your nice catches during your last session, and considering Flatpaw's show yesterday... I think I will start you two on some fighting techniques."
Flatpaw stood taller and prouder. Cloverpaw threw Maplepaw a sly look.
Maplepaw, unnerved by her sister, was peeved enough to toss aside the memory of the vision. Instead she spoke out. "And what about me?"
Brokenstar looked at her with that same calculating look. "You'll go hunting, where ever you like, just stay in our borders and I expect a decent amount too." He snapped.
Maplepaw nodded obediently and turned to leave, but before leaving she glanced over at her sister.
Her sister just stared at her, looking torn between saying something and holding it back. Before Maplepaw or Cloverpaw could find out what to say or who was forgiven Maplepaw slipped into the underbrush and though she didn't know it... would never get to know.