Allegiances

Leader: Hailstar, a light gray tom with white splotches and green eyes. (2 lives)

Deputy: Daisyheart, a yellow tabby she with amber eyes. Apprentice: Applepaw

Medicine Cat: Molecloud, a black she with copper eyes.

Warriors: Sandflower, a pale ginger she with barely visible stripes and yellow eyes. Apprentice: Marigoldpaw and Buzzardpaw

Firewhisker, a ginger tabby tom with yellow eyes. Apprentice: Buzzardpaw

Hollyfoot, a white tom with green eyes.

Sedgeflower, a brown tabby she with white paws and orange eyes. Apprentice: Beepaw

Starlingfrost, a black she with a white dash on her chest and copper eyes. Apprentice: Swiftpaw and Beetlepaw

Honeyheart, a light yellow tabby with copper eyes.

Apprentices: Marigoldpaw, a light yellow tabby she with amber eyes.

Beepaw, a light yellow tabby tom with green eyes.

Buzzardpaw, a brown tabby tom with orange eyes and a fully white underbelly.

Swiftpaw, a black tom with a white line that travels down from his chest to his underbelly with yellow eyes.

Beetlepaw, a black she with yellow eyes.

Applepaw, a yellow tabby tom with lots of orange and amber eyes.

Her eyes slowly opened. Someone had called her name, and she felt the urge to hiss, guessing that it was a dawn patrol. It wasn't until her eyes rested on an empty nest, that she remembered.

Last night, almost the entire clan had been woken up by screeching and yelling. It was thought to be a raid, until someone pointed out that it was coming from the medicine cat tunnel.

Hearing that news had made her heart sink. After Swiftpaw had been attacked, only a few cats were allowed to see him. On the first night, Moleheart had told them that it was nothing to worry about, but when she saw how distressed the leader was when he left the den, she knew that Moleheart was lying.

And on that night, even though she didn't know exactly what was going on, her assumption was proved to be correct. Swiftpaw only acted in such a way when something bad happened to him. Be it because one of his family died, or something as simple as losing a friend, Swiftpaw would always have a strange set of emotions. She knew this, of course, because they were brother and sister. They didn't have any real parents, so they always had to look out for each other. That's how siblings were supposed to work.

A voice snapped her back into reality, and she looked towards the source. Embarrassment flooded through her when she realized that she had been lost in thought. "Yeah, sure," she said, coming up with the best possible answer to whatever he had just told her. "Anyways, what do you want?"

But instead of hearing an answer to her question, Buzzardpaw only frowned. "I said, 'Beetlepaw, we need you for something.'"

She flattened her ears, feeling her fur grow hot. "Sorry, I kind of got distracted." She rose to her paws, hoping that he would soon forget how she had ignored him. "So, what is it?"

"Follow," Buzzardpaw meowed as he turned. Beetlepaw caught him rolling his eyes, and instinctively she looked down at her paws. But when she didn't hear anything after that, she looked up, confused, and was shocked to see that he was already gone!

Why am I so mouse-brained?! She hissed, quickly searching for his pelt and catching up to him when she spotted it. Thankfully, he didn't seem to notice, but that didn't stop her from mentally scolding herself over and over.

He led her to a group of apprentices, and with a frown, she recognized them all as her least favorite members of the clan; Applepaw, Beepaw, and Marigoldpaw.

"Finally!" exclaimed Applepaw, causing the other apprentice's heads to turn in Beetlepaw's direction. "I wanted to ask you about something."

"Alright, what's your question?" she mewed, taking a seat beside Beepaw. She was amazed at how well she was doing with keeping the annoyance out of her voice.

"Is your brother insane?" Applepaw asked, tipping his head to the side.

As soon as Beetlepaw heard that, she imagined herself slamming her face into the dirt.

"No," she answered simply.

"But he was acting so weird!" Applepaw insisted.

"He's fine," Beetlepaw pressed, irritation already seeping into her words.

"But he was acting, really, like, disturbing," Marigoldpaw chimed in, giving Beetlepaw an apologetic shrug when their eyes met. "Sorry, but I think Applepaw is onto something."

Beetlepaw clenched her teeth together. She wanted to desperately tell them to just shut up already, but she couldn't. The tiny part of her that demanded that she kept her cool wouldn't allow something as foolish as that.

"I don't know if we should keep him in the group."

At the sound of that, Beetlepaw's eyes widened. She didn't know who exactly had said it, but based on how Marigoldpaw's head had snapped towards Beepaw, she guessed it was him.

"Beet," Beepaw continued, making Beetlepaw internally flinch at him for calling her that. How could he not say her full name after announcing something like that? Beetlepaw may not have liked any of these apprentices, but she couldn't say the same for Swiftpaw. They were the only apprentices left in camp- that was why Beetlepaw had gotten wrapped up in this. If Swiftpaw were to be kicked out, where would he go?

"-and he might be dangerous. What would we do if one of us were alone and he did that again?"

Beetlepaw straightened, barely managing to catch the last of Beepaw's explanation. She quickly glanced from 'paw to 'paw, hoping to somehow figure out what to say next. She didn't want this to happen to Swiftpaw, of course, but she was stumped. It was four to one, or at least, that's what she assumed. After all, Buzzardpaw always sided with his closest friends.

"Sorry if this is all too much," Marigoldpaw added on to whatever Beepaw had said, giving Beetlepaw her usual apologetic look. "You can always think this over; we'll wait for your decision."

"No way!" Applepaw exclaimed, making Marigoldpaw look like she was going to jump out of her fur. "Beetlepaw is just going to say yes. They're siblings!"

"But," Marigoldpaw looked lost, and yet again gave Beetlepaw that stupid apologetic look.

"You shouldn't talk so badly about your clanmates like that!"

Beetlepaw sucked in a deep breath of air; it was the closest she could get to actually sighing. Finally, someone is getting me out of here! She turned to the source of the voice and-

Oh no.

It was Honeyheart, known by Buzzardpaw's group as the worst cat in all of SunClan. There was no possible way that she could win against these four.

"It's a disgrace!" Honeyheart continued, flicking the tip of her tail to the side. "Swiftpaw is hurt and upset, wouldn't you feel the same if something like that happened to you?"

"Disgrace?!" Buzzardpaw took less than a heartbeat to answer, already on his paws. Beetlepaw quickly noticed that all of the apprentices now had a glimmer of anger in their expressions. "You should stop being such a hypocritical freak!"

Honeyheart returned the same hostile gaze that Buzzardpaw was giving her, and opened her mouth the speak, but Buzzardpaw had already beaten her to it.

"You need to go away. No one likes you and we don't want you here either."

For a split-second, Honeyheart looked hurt, but her scowl soon returned. Admittedly, Beetlepaw felt bad for Honeyheart.

"You need to grow up," she finally hissed, spinning herself around before stalking off to the fresh-kill pile.

"And you need to get a life!" Buzzardpaw shouted after her, turning around with a huff as he seated himself back down.

After such a scene, the air was hostile. There was a long silence, and, surprisingly, Beetlepaw saw that even Applepaw looked uncomfortable.

"Honeyheart should learn that none of this is her business," Buzzardpaw half-sighed, half-growled. Beetlepaw didn't even need to look at the other apprentices to know that they were probably hoping for something other than this. "We could have figured it out on our own."

Buzzardpaw looked Beetlepaw straight in the eye, and she felt like she was going to shrink right as that moment. She internally hissed, wishing that her emotions weren't always so warped when around these four. Why were those two words so hard for her to say out loud?

"Do you agree with us?" Buzzardpaw asked. Everyone's eyes were now on her.

Say it!

"About what?" she asked innocently, but it wasn't even close to what she was yelling at herself to meow.

"Your brother!" Buzzardpaw hissed. "Have you not been listening?"

"Of course!" She was quick to say this, but not quick enough to think of an excuse. Buzzardpaw was giving her the most threatening look she had ever seen- causing her to avoid his gaze by looking down at her paws.

For a while, everyone was silent. As if they were expecting to hear her response.

"Say it then!" Buzzardpaw snapped. "Do you or do you not agree to kicking him out?"

"I don't know!" Beetlepaw tried to say, though it came out as more of a wail than anything else. This was all too much for her. She looked up for a brief moment, only for it to reoccur to her that everyone was staring at her. What was she supposed to say?

"I need to go do something." Without waiting for a response, she leaped to her feet and sprinted to the Warriors' den, blocking out the noise around her in case she were to hear them calling her back.

She halted just outside the entrance, her heart pounding and senses clouded. But then, all at once, she was filled with a whole new emotion.

That was so stupid! she hissed, furious at herself for doing something like that yet again. No matter how much she hated them, and how often they annoyed her, forcing out any argument was impossible! Beetlepaw was practically two-faced- angry on the inside, but a mouse on the out, and she was so sick of it! To her, standing up against someone was like walking through a thorn bush ten times. How could she-

"Are you alright?"

Beetlepaw blinked in surprise. She hadn't even noticed that she'd gone off into a rant until the voice, or Honeyheart, to be exact, had interrupted her.

"I'm okay," she finally said, glancing over to the left to confirm that it was, in fact, the yellow tabby that was speaking to her.

"Are you sure?" Honeyheart pressed. Although it was hard to see, Beetlepaw noticed that there was some hesitation in her tone.

Beetlepaw bit the inside of her cheek. Yes, Honeyheart was already getting on her nerves, but Beetlepaw didn't want to just get angry at her for such a simple thing. After all, Honeyheart did stand up for Swiftpaw earlier. It wouldn't be nice to just brush her off.

Not like I could, anyways, she instantly thought, her mind returning to some of her former thoughts. But, when Beetlepaw realized this, she flicked her ear. Just calm down already, she told herself, not willing to let her aggression take over.

"Okay, I'm not." Beetlepaw, thankfully, didn't take very long to come up with an excuse. "I'm just worried about Swiftpaw."

For a split-second, Honeyheart looked relieved, making Beetlepaw feel puzzled. Was she expecting a different answer? But, immediately after that, Beetlepaw realized why. Oh. Maybe I looked like I was going to kill her or something.

"Thought so," Honeyheart responded. Despite the told-you-so response, her tone was neutral. "Those mouse-brained apprentices don't know anything, so ignore whatever they say." To make her point clear, she rolled her eyes. "I'm sure Swiftpaw's fine."

Beetlepaw took a deep breath, but froze instead of breathing it all out. It was nice to know that Honeyheart shared the same feelings as she did, but how could she just pour out all of her feelings to a complete stranger?

"I guess so." She wasn't very sure of what to say, so that was the best response she could make.

"But you don't look so sure," Honeyheart insisted. Her voice was already going back to that half-sure half-not-so-sure tone. "I can go with you, if you'd like."

"Uh, okay." At this point, Beetlepaw had no idea of what she was talking about.

But, thankfully, without warning, Honeyheart decided to take the lead. Beetlepaw hastily matched her pace to Honeyheart, who led her to the medicine cat den and ducked inside. For a second, Beetlepaw froze, but soon went in after her. For some odd reason, Beetlepaw's stomach was still churning.

"You can't. He hasn't recovered."

Beetlepaw walked in to see Molecloud huddling in front of a large boulder, with Honeyheart standing cautiously a few steps away. Molecloud's eyes shifted to Beetlepaw, and something stirred in them that Beetlepaw couldn't understand.

"But… I guess she can," Molecloud contemplated, looking over Beetlepaw as she said this.

"But," Molecloud continued, her voice turning stern, "Do not talk about his leg, and think before you say anything. It's very easy to set him off."

Surprisingly, that last part had caught Beetlepaw off-guard. She felt her stomach churn again, but this time she knew what had caused it.

Am I really starting to believe them?

"Do you promise to be careful?" Molecloud asked. Her words were still stern, but they were accompanied by a certain tone that made her sound as though she didn't expect Beetlepaw to say "Yes".

Beetlepaw simply nodded.

"Then go." Molecloud moved to the side of the boulder, shoving it with all her strength to reveal a small opening.

Beetlepaw looked inside, expecting the worst. But, instead of a terrifying beast, she only saw a giant, messy furball.

Beetlepaw couldn't help but hiss. How could she have been afraid of her own brother?

Something nudged her from behind, and, instinctively, Beetlepaw moved into the den. She heard the same noise again- the one from when Molecloud had first opened up the entrance, and guessed that it had just shut behind her.

Beetlepaw slowly made her way around the lump, or, to be exact, Swiftpaw, and only stopped when she could see his face. As soon as Beetlepaw spotted that his eyes were open, he shut them tightly.

Beetlepaw thought, trying to go over ways she could speak to him in her head. But despite having so many things to consider, she was silent for far too long, and Swiftpaw was the one to begin.

"Say it."

Beetlepaw blinked in surprise. "What?"

"Say it," he repeated.

"Um, hello?"

"No!" Swiftpaw hissed hotly, "You know what I'm talking about."

"I really don't," Beetlepaw mewed softly, practically pleading for him to calm down.

"I know you're lying." Swiftpaw's eyes flashed open. His voice was starting to crack, lessening the hostility that he was obviously trying to show her. "You think I've lost my mind. Everyone does."

Beetlepaw was quick to defend him. "No they don't!"

"Quit trying to tell me otherwise, I know they do. The clan heard it all- and I doubt any of them will ever want to talk to me again." Swiftpaw buried his nose in his tail. "And I can't blame them."

"Don't be so mouse-brained," Beetlepaw retorted, failing to keep her worry out of it, "They know it wasn't your fault."

"How?" Swiftpaw growled. "Do you expect me to believe that you spoke to all of them? That they answered truthfully? That they weren't just lying to make you feel better?"

"No, but-"

"Just quit already! I don't want you here if you're going to keep lying to my face."

"They're not lies!" Beetlepaw snarled. Why was Swiftpaw being so harsh to himself?

"Say whatever you want- because I'm not going to listen anymore."

Beetlepaw searched for a response, but found nothing.

"F-fine!" she sputtered, having nothing more to say. There was a part of her that wanted desperately to make him feel better- but right now, the other part that was furious at him for not listening was overpowering it. She stomped over to the blockade, gave it a few hefty nudges and, finally, she was allowed to leave.

Without saying a word, Beetlepaw stormed past Honeyheart and Molecloud. She began making her way through the tunnel, but was forced to slow when Honeyheart tried to talk to her.

"Are you okay?"

"No!" There was no use in her even trying to lie. "Swiftpaw thinks everyone hates him!"

"Maybe he needs more time," Honeyheart mewed hopefully as they both reached the outside, "This could all be too much for him."

Amazingly, that simple phrase was enough to help Beetlepaw at least a little bit.

"Maybe," she echoed.

"You shouldn't worry so much," Honeyheart went on reassuringly, squinting up at the sun, "I'm sure he'll be better in a few sunrises."

Beetlepaw smiled. Admittedly, this was the nicest cat she had ever spoken to in moons- other than her brother, of course-. It was no surprise that the dreaded four hated her; they had nothing in common.

"I've got to go now," Honeyheart said, breaking Beetlepaw's brief happiness. Meowing one last, "Good luck.", she curved around Beetlepaw and began to head for the Warriors' den.

Beetlepaw was almost distraught to see her go. Honeyheart was the best cat Beetlepaw could ever be friends with, and she was expected to just go back to her "friends" and forget this ever happened?

"Wait!" Beetlepaw hastily shouted, catching up to Honeyheart before she could go inside. Honeyheart stopped, and Beetlepaw continued, "Do you want to go hunting tomorrow?"

Even though Beetlepaw was behind her, she caught a look of genuine shock from Honeyheart. However, it didn't last long enough for Beetlepaw to question it.

"Sounds great."

And with that, Honeyheart went into her den.

"Why were you talking to her?!"

Again, Beetlepaw's glee was broken. She slowly turned around to see who had spoken; Buzzardpaw.

Her throat was already tightening.

"She's bad!" Buzzardpaw hissed furiously, lashing his tail. "Don't talk to her, don't look at her- don't do anything with her!"

Beetlepaw couldn't say a word. She was frozen solid.

But despite her having no response, Buzzardpaw had no problem with going on, "You have no idea what she'll do to you!"

"Clan meeting! Everyone gather!" another voice boomed, surprising even Buzzardpaw. Beetlepaw couldn't remember any other time where she had been this grateful to have something interrupted.

Quickly, while Buzzardpaw was distracted, she scampered over to the other side of the clearing, for once, eager to hear Hailstar's news.

AN: Oh, boy! It's been a while, hasn't it?

To make a long story short, for a huge amount of time I've been effected by something that happened to me back in 2013. How did it mess with me, you ask? Well, I started to think that there was no use in trying to succeed in life. I basically only did things that made me happy and pushed away everything else.

But don't worry- a few weeks ago I finally broke out of it! And it feels great! This month I'm finally going to buckle down and finish my long overdue schoolwork and will do all I can to make my next year even better.

Anyway, since I don't want to delve too deep into personal stuff, this story has been through a lot in my absence. Firstly, I liked it enough to have it turned into a full story! Secondly, I started this chapter with only three new characters; Buzz, Mary, Beet, Apple, Bee, and Honey, (and even then only some of the four had finished personalities) but ended it with so many more! And to make things even better- they all have personalities, kin relations, everything! I've done a lot and this story is definitely not going to be cancelled at this rate.

And to end this, I'd like to apologize for how long it took to finish this chapter. I've been through a whole lot in these past few months (Oh, and did I mention that Beetlepaw was another reason for the delay? Her personality was a doozy to sort out.), and now that most of it is over I promise you that the next one won't take nearly as long- considering it's probably going to have about half the amount of words this one did. Thank you for reading, you wonderful people! 3