Firepaw

More than a moon had passed since Firepaw came to ThunderClan. However, he still felt inferior to the cats here. Most cats treated him kindly, but the same can't be said for others.

"Yo, Firepaw!" Graypaw shouted from outside the den. Firepaw shook some moss from his pelt, and headed out. Graypaw and Spottedpaw were waiting for him.

"Stop shouting, you'll scare the kits," Spottedpaw chided. "Runningwind, Bluestar, and Lionheart are doing solo hunts at the same time today. Come on, we'll be late soon." She swished her dappled tail, and headed to the camp exit. Firepaw yawned. The sky was starting to turn blue from the colors of dawn, though it was still very early.

The forest seemed bright and sunny, with light filtering through the trees. Firepaw had been separated from his friends when they entered the forest, and Bluestar was likely somewhere watching. Tasting the air, Firepaw remembered what he had learned. A small scent of squirrel hanged in the forest, and he began following it.

Suddenly, the unfamiliar scent of a cat not in ThunderClan reached his mouth. Firepaw whirled around, but his mentor was nowhere to be seen. Heart pounding, Firepaw instead saw a old gray she-cat, with scars and blood on her.

"W-what are you doing here? This is ThunderClan territory!" Firepaw tried to sound menacing, but he himself heard the fear in his voice.

The old she-cat only laughed, though she coughed along with it. "I ain't scared of you, apprentice."

Firepaw tensed. "Leave my clan's territory, rogue!" He hissed. The she-cat did not move. Soon, Firepaw saw that a large wound was across her back. Somehow, he felt bad for the cat, for her ribs jutted through her matted pelt.

Firepaw, catching a rabbit, brought it to the cat. "Um, are you hungry?" He mewed, surprised at his own changed of mind.

"I don't need prey from a kit," she growled. However, Firepaw could see the hunger in her orange eyes. After a minute the cat sniffed the rabbit, and took a few bites. Within a few moments, the rabbit was left with only a carcass. Firepaw sat there, unsure of what to do next. Unfortunately, he didn't have much of a choice.

"FIREPAW!" Firepaw gulped, as Bluestar, Runningwind, and Lionheart stormed towards him, along with Spottedpaw and Graypaw. "What do you think you are doing, feeding a ShadowClan cat?" Bluestar yowled. Firepaw stared at the ground, unsure what to say.

It made sense now, the cat's strange scent. Firepaw pawed at a clump of daisies, fearful of Bluestar's punishment. "Lionheart, Runningwind, take your apprentices back to camp along with her as a prisoner. I will discuss Firepaw's consequences." The warriors dipped their heads, and walked off. Firepaw saw sympathetic glances from Graypaw and Spottedpaw, as they followed their mentors.

"You are to take care of the she-cat for a moon," Bluestar began. "If I am correct about her identity, she may be valuable to us." Without another word, the leader turned away. Firepaw laid down and placed his head between his paws. He hadn't even been in ThunderClan for a moon, and he was already in trouble.

Slowly, Firepaw walked back to camp. As he entered, the gaze of cats pierced him like a thousand thorns. The ShadowClan cat was resting at the center, underneath the Tallrock. As he neared his den, a mass of gray fur suddenly rushed towards him, pinning him to the ground. "Firepaw, what happened?" Graypaw asked, as he let go of Firepaw.

Behind him, Spottedpaw rolled her perfect amber eyes. "I swear, you're going to kill Firepaw one day tackling him," she chuckled and smiled warmly at him. Hastily, Firepaw stood and licked himself clean of any dirt. "But really, what were you doing with her?" Spottedpaw questioned, her voice serious.

"Well, I was hunting on the border with ShadowClan," Firepaw began.

When he had finished, Graypaw looked angry, and Spottedpaw appeared concerned. "Who's she to get you into trouble?" Graypaw hissed.

"Relax, it really was my fault," Firepaw admitted. "I shouldn't have brought her prey."

Spottedpaw stared at them, in thought. "I think you did the right thing, Firepaw. She wouldn't have lasted long on her own, by how she looked." Graypaw huffed, but didn't say more. "However," Spottedpaw started, worry in her voice. "Graypaw-you don't suppose that she-" her voice dropped to a whisper, "-she's the cat Brokenstar told us about at the gathering?"

Firepaw tensed. Brokenstar had reported a she-cat who murdered kits, and who had ran away. But it couldn't be, right? "I'm sure Bluestar knows this," Firepaw sighed. "It's not as if there's no tension between the clans, with WindClan being driven out and all."

Spottedleaf nodded. "I'm sure you're right, Firepaw." She murmured, and went inside the den.

A/N

Anyone else getting HP Golden Trio vibes? I didn't intend for Spottedpaw, Firepaw, and Graypaw to end up besties, but I kinda like it, haha! Comments are always welcome!