Hey, ya'll! Don't worry, my author's comments isn't going to be as long this time. Read and enjoy! …And please don't forget to review! I really want to know what you think!
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"The air is so cold!" I yowled when we reached the surface. It really was. But I was secretly surprised. I expected the feeling of air through my fur to feel completely alien and uncomfortable to me, but to my immense surprise it somehow felt vaguely familiar. I glanced at my sister, and even though her expression gave nothing away, I could see that confused glint in her eye.
"Quiet, Blackenedpaw!" Riverpool snapped at me. "Do you want both ColorClan and TreeClan to hear us?!" I ducked my head in shame. My name is Blackenedpaw, and I'mma proud LakeClan apprentice! I just became an apprentice today, really, and already I've been chosen to go on a patrol! Whitepaw and Tsunamipaw must be so jealous!
"…Sorry." I mumbled. Whitepaw is my sister, as well as Wavepaw, who is also with me. Tsunamipaw is the brother of Wavepaw's best friend, Pixiepaw, and he's an arrogant brat! He thinks he's all that just 'cause his father, Riverpool, is Clan deputy--
"Blackenedpaw, pay attention!" Frostbite, my mentor, hissed in my ear. We had all been floating with our heads above the surface of the water when I dozed off into thought, and I felt my eyes widen in shock when I saw everyone else was a few trout-lengths in front of me already. Clumsily splashing through the water, I caught up with them, while everyone else -and surprisingly enough, Wavepaw- were swimmingly silently and fluidly through the water, heads above the water, even though we really didn't need to. I guess we were to let ColorClan or TreeClan patrols know we were coming, or something like that.
Wondering what in StarClan's name Wavepaw's secret was, I stared at her for a minute, then noticed she was staring at something. Following her gaze, I discovered she was intently watching and mimicking Snowtiger, her mentor, and I nearly slapped my forehead at my own stupidness. I shoulda thought of that! Turning my eyes to Frostbite, I did my best to copy how his legs moved, and did a pretty good job, if I do say so myself… even if my swimming was a little sloppier than everyone else's.
After a few minutes we reached the Forestshore. The sky was just starting to turn orange, violet, and all those other colors. It was sunset, after all. Keeping our paws to the water, we walked along the border, making sure to look out for anything suspicious.
Well, the older cats were. Wavepaw and I were blindly following, mesmerized by the striking green beauty of the forest. It was so green! We've been so used to seeing almost everything in shades of blue that this certainly seemed alien to us. And the sun! Oh, the sun! It much brighter than how it looked to us underwater! Painfully so, in fact. I squinted my eyes shut and I bet my next meal Wavepaw was doing the same.
I shivered. The air was penetrating to my skin, and it felt so cold. I blinked when I heard an unfamiliar noise. Turning my head in it's direction, I saw something that matched the description of a mouse under a… bush? I think that's what it's called. It looked like a fluffy clump of reeds, or something along those lines.
"I think I smell something." I faintly heard Drizzlesong hiss. "I think it's--"
I stopped, and, crouching instinctively, I sprinted for it. "Blackenedpaw!" I heard the others shout after me. I ignored them. It's a free meal, who wouldn't go for it? Plus, I've never tasted land prey before. Besides, there was no ColorClan patrols aroun--
My thoughts were immediately cut off when I felt something barrel into me, and I felt completely winded. "Don't you dare go for that mouse, LakeClan kit!" I heard a voice snarl above me. Opening my eyes, I caught my first sight of a ColorClan cat. It was a dark gray -almost black- she-cat with neon-green eyes.
Eyes narrowed, I spat, "Look who's talking, ColorClan kit! You're just as big as me!" My tail lashed, and so did hers. Great StarClan, ColorClan cats smelled awful! They smelled like rotting… something and many other scents I've never smelled before. What, don't they ever clean themselves?! Then I noticed something odd. My fur was rising. Why? It's never done so before. Maybe it's because I've been underwater all my life?
That's not important. I told myself sternly. What's important is teaching this kit a lesson she won't soon forget. I silently stressed the word 'kit' like it was a bad taste in my mouth, even though I knew I was also pretty much a kit myself. Mouth curling into a snarl, I tried to stand up. I was about to leap at her when I felt a paw bash itself into my head. Feeling dizzy, I flopped back down to the ground like a rock.
"Mouse-brained fool!" Wavepaw snarled furiously. My sister was scary when she was mad. I could literally sense the shock coming off of the ColorClan she-cat in waves. "I'm so sorry. My brother doesn't know when to shut up. You moron, why did you go after that mouse?! You know that's ColorClan prey!" Wavepaw berated me, and I just laid there. Best let her get it out of her system, otherwise Wavepaw would explode at the wrong time. It's happened before.
I heard pawsteps and splashes so I knew the others were approaching. Then more disgusting scents filled my nostrils, and I felt a jolt of fear shoot up my spine. More ColorClan cats! Great, just what I needed! I'm gonna have this stink in my nose and mouth for moons! StarClan, I might even start smelling like them!
"What's going on over here?" Wavepaw went silent at the new voice, and I lifted my head, curious. My ears flattened instantly at the sight of the newcomer, and I hastily stood up, my fur rising in… apprehension? Yes, I'm sure that what rising fur means. Stuff like that.
The newcomer was a black tom who's fur seemed to have a blue tint to it, and his forehead held the white mark of a crescent moon. But that wasn't the trait to him that scared me. His eyes were blood red, and they seemed to glow. I barely concealed a shiver. How can his Clanmates go through every day looking at those eyes? They're terrifying! He looked about the size of a new warrior. I wonder how recently his apprenticeship ended?
"Everpaw… what are you doing with these LakeClan cats? And why are they on our territory? Rainbowsun's gonna be mad." The dark tom hissed. Everpaw whirled on him.
"Don't go blaming me, Nightstalker! This little kit," she sneered, pointing her tail at me, "trespassed on our land." Nightstalker's eerie eyes turned to me, and I gulped.
"Stop." Riverpool's voice rang out. "It was a mistake, no harm was done. Blackenedpaw will be severely-" Riverpool looked at me with narrowed pupil-less eyes. "-punished." His dark blue eyes were like fire. Snowtiger beckoned her apprentice over to her with a flick of her tail, and Wavepaw obeyed without question.
Nightstalker opened his mouth, a hostile expression on his face, then he blinked in what looked like surprise and closed it. "What's that?" He meowed, glancing around himself.
What's what? I strained my ears forward, trying to catch whatever sound the dark tom was hearing. I heard screeches in the distance, and they were growing louder. Rustles and muffled yowls became loud crashes and ear-splitting screeches as two fighting cats tumbled towards us, a spitting, furious mass.
I leapt back in shock, eyes wide, and I heard Drizzlesong give a started yelp. I focused my eyes on the two fighting cats, and saw that one was a massive-looking black-and-white tom, only catching a few glimpses of his neon-green eyes. They reminded me of Everpaw's. The other was a brownish-black tom.
Neither of these cats are from my Clan. I noted. I would have recognized them if they were.
Nightstalker launched himself into the screeching rolling mass, breaking them up. "Totalpaw, Shadowfire! What in StarClan's name are you doing?!" he spat.
I was sure that Totalpaw was the dark one, but Shadowfire proved me wrong. "Totalpaw is a menace to ColorClan! You heard what Seedscatter said when he was born! He's an evil omen, and must be killed!" The brown, smaller tom snarled, pointing his muzzle accusingly at the black-and-white larger tom. Totalpaw's eyes narrowed, and he hissed. So did Everpaw, but much more ferociously.
Wait, he's an apprentice?! I thought in awe. He looks strong enough to be a senior warrior, at least!
Nightstalker sighed. "Shadowfire, Coalstar's been over this time and time again--"
"And has he done anything about it?! No! He knows what must happen, and yet he just lets his guard down like a sitting duck, giving Totalpaw-" Shadowfire spat out the name like it was a curse. "-the perfect chance to strike at any given time!" Shadowfire hardly seemed to notice us at all.
In one swift movement, Nightstalker had bitten a key spot in Shadowfire's neck, and Shadowfire was down like a rock, unconscious. Turning to us again, Nightstalker mewed, "Don't tell your Clan about this and we won't tell ours."
I looked at my Clanmates. Snowtiger looked stoic, as usual, Wavepaw and Drizzlesong were wide-eyed with shock, Frostbite looked… well, he just had one brow raised, surprisingly. I think there's even amusement in his eyes. Odd. Riverpool also looked wide-eyed for a moment, before he gave Nightstalker a sympathetic look. "I would, Nightstalker, but as deputy of LakeClan, I cannot." he answered the dark tom.
Nightstalker looked dismayed, but nonetheless meowed, "I understand. Totalpaw, Everpaw, come." Shadowfire on his back, Nightstalker began to pad away, Everpaw following suit. Totalpaw did not move. Nightstalker stopped. "Totalpaw, come." He beckoned the apprentice.
Totalpaw did not move.
Nightstalker looked worried and exasperated at the same time. "Totalpaw, please. We don't have time for this--"
"Don't call me Totalpaw! That's not my name anymore!" Totalpaw exploded. His neon-green eyes blazed with un-comprehendible rage and hatred. "I'm sick of being treated like an evil omen from the Dark Forest itself!" His voice sounded older than it should for someone his age. "Everyone hates me, nobody cares about me, except my sister!" His eyes darted to Everpaw for a heartbeat, then back to Nightstalker.
"My name is no longer Totalpaw, it's Totaldarkness! And you will address me as such!" Swinging his head in Everpaw's direction, Totalp--… Totaldarkness meowed in a much calmer and friendlier voice than before, "My sister, please, join me! We'll leave this awful place and start a life all our own!" His eyes were practically begging.
Everpaw looked shocked for a moment, before her eyes became overwhelmed with sadness. "Totalpaw… I… I can't. You know that. And neither can you. We belong here, in ColorClan. Everything will get better, I promise. You just need to prove yourself--"
"I've proven myself countless times before!" Totaldarkness snapped harshly, and Everpaw flinched. An array of emotions crossed the larger tom's face. Betrayal, anguish, sadness, shock, anger. He backed away slowly, before whipping around and dashing out of sight into the forest.
"Totalpaw!" Nightstalker's caterwaul echoed throughout the forest as he shot after the broken apprentice. Everpaw followed soon after. Shadowfire was left on the ground, unconscious, but nobody made a move towards him. In fact, I think everyone else has forgotten about him entirely.
"…That was… interesting…" Frostbite mewed blankly after several moments of awkward silence. I nodded in agreement. What was going to happen to Totaldarkness? Not that it was any of my business, but still.
"…Redclaw…" I blinked when I heard Snowtiger whisper a name. There were several emotions in her voice that made it sound downright alien: worry, love, dread, and loneliness. I felt Wavepaw stiffen beside me and knew she had heard it too.
"What was that about?" Drizzlesong asked no one in particular.
"We must report this to Waterstar now. Let's go back." Riverpool ordered. However, Wavepaw and I did not follow immediately. I felt as if we had just gotten our first hint at some big secret. Something big. And what's more, I felt as if the forest was calling me. I actually felt torn between the water and the forest, when I didn't even know fox-dung about the forest!
"Wavepaw!"
"Blackenedpaw!" Our mentors called. Snapping out of it, I turned and leapt into the water, making a loud splash, but no one complained. I wondered if Wavepaw had felt the same. She had paused just as long as I, after all.
Snowtiger had a troubled look on her face -very unusual- while Riverpool looked to be in deep thought as we ducked our heads underwater and swam back down into the lake, down towards the camp. Where we belong. I told myself. Perhaps Riverpool was thinking of how to explain this to Waterstar? It was understandable. I mean, this was confusing. Very much so.
------At Camp (I'm lazy XP)------
"Then what happened? C'mon, tell me!" Whitepaw pestered as I took a bite from my fish. It was dark now, and Riverpool was talking with Waterstar. Frostbite and Snowtiger had gone to the warrior's den to sleep, and Wavepaw had vanished to somewhere. I didn't worry, though. Wavepaw was pretty much the leader of us three. She never made any stupid decisions or anything. Tsunamipaw was near us, eating his own prey. Pixiepaw had already gone to sleep in the medicine cat's den, and I think I saw Wavepaw go in there earlier before she disappeared.
Swallowing, I answered, "Well, then I said, "Oh yeah?! Say that to my face!" And she did. So I gave her a few good scars to remember." I finished my story proudly.
"…Liar." Tsunamipaw growled quietly. I stiffened and whirled on him.
"Oh yeah?! Well, what proof do you have that I'mma liar?! Huh?! You weren't even there!" I sneered, knowing I had hit a sore spot.
Tsunamipaw looked at me with dark blue eyes, his expression dark and loathsome. "…Where are your scars? Surely she fought back when you 'gave her a few good scars to remember.'" He had one arrogant brow raised.
I bristled. Ever since I came back down from the land I've been able to do that even underwater. Which is odd, because I've never seen any of the other warriors do it, and they've all been on land and get mad enough to bristle. "I-I-I-I um…" I was at a loss for words. The stupid, arrogant piece of fox-dung had caught me!
"Y-yeah. I didn't fall for it either." Whitepaw mewed, but the stutter clearly proved that she had.
"Oh, stop getting your tails in a knot, Tsunamipaw, Blackenedpaw." I jumped at the sound of my sister's voice. Tsunamipaw's eyes lightened at the sight of her, which I almost missed. Oh, don't worry. I'll ask him about that later.
"Wavepaw! Where were you? … And why do you stink?" I practically yelled. Wavepaw slapped her tail over my mouth and I coughed.
"Quiet! What, do you want to wake up the whole camp?!" I blinked and glanced around. Everyone was asleep in their respective dens or reeds right now, except for Lightpebble and Tawnysplash, who were sharing tongues and gossiping like typical she-cats outside the warrior's den. Lightpebble's my aunt, you know! Tawnysplash yawned, then Lightpebble, and they both entered the warrior's den.
Tsunamipaw stood and yawned. "Let's go to sleep." He said in between yawns, stretching. We all wordlessly agreed and made our way over to the apprentice's reeds, slipping in and finding our own individual spots.
Everyone else was asleep almost as once, but I hesitated to close my eyes. I had missed something. I looked at Wavepaw and blinked. She hadn't answered my question! And I knew I had missed something else too. Tilting my head to the side, staring at Wavepaw's peaceful sleeping face, I wondered just where she had been while she was gone.
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