When Lionpaw walked out the apprentices den he found Redclaw not Rainstar waiting for him
"Where?" but Redclaw cut him off with a quick shake to the head, he flicked his tail for Lionpaw to follow and moved swiftly towards Training Creek. Lionpaw had to move quickly to keep up. Redclaw stopped and sat three taillengths away from him
"Attack me" He growled. Lionpaw hesitated
"Why don't you go first?" Surprise flickered across the deputys face and he tensed ready to spring. He lept towards him, Lionpaw reared back and spun moving away from Redclaw. Redclaw stumbled and lost his concentration
"Thats new" He muttered spitting sand. Lionpaws eyes sparkled
"It was my own idea" He purred and pounced pinning down the larger tom cat easily. Redclaws eyes widened in surprise
"Let me up"He grunted"This time you will attack me first"He growled. Lionpaw blinked, did Redclaw think he wasn't capable of attacking. He circled his oppenent searching for a weakspot. He was about to pounce when
"INTRUDERS!" A Thunderclan patrol burst out of the bushes. Redclaw bristled
"What are you talking about, this is Training Creek" He snarled his amber eyes smouldering
"This is Thunderclan territory now. Riverclan are weak they should be driven out" A silver and black female spat. Redclaws eyes flashed
"How dare you, you of all cats call us weak" He roared. The Thunderclan deputy Silverwing stepped forward
"The last battle won us territory, YOU are trespassing"
Redclaw snarled and launched himself at Silverwing. Lionpaw quickly dodged out the way of a brown furred apprentice and slashed at her until she howled and ran back to her clan
"We will let you keep your territory for now" Silverwing snarled and raced after the retreating patrols. Redclaw looked at Lionpaw
"Are you ok?" He asked panting, he had patches of fur missing and his ear was dripping with blood. Lionpaw nodded.
"You fought well" He murmured" Lets get back"
When the two reached camp, Redclaw flicked his tail for Lionpaw to follow him into Rainstars den. The Riverclan leader was curled up in her nest but her eyes were wide open
"What happened" She demanded seeing Redclaws wounds
"Thunderclan patrol" He muttered. Rainstar bristled
"Cloudstar seems to think he can take any bit of territory he fancys" She growled
"Silverwing said we could keep the territory for now" Lionpaw blinked when he saw Rainstar stiffen, surely that was a good thing
"I'll speak about it at the gathering. Now how did the training go" Rainstar purred smiling warmly at Lionpaw. Lionpaw braced himself for the onslaughts of complaints
"He fought really well, he pinned me in a heartbeat" Redclaw murmured"And he beat an apprentice twice his size". Rainstar smiled at that
"Lionpaw you may go now" She mewed dismissing him with a flick of her tail. Lionpaw dipped his head and padded out the den
"So how did you do" Lionpaws ears twitched and turned to see Dappledpaw. Lionpaw was tempted to make a cruel comment but the fact she was speaking to him at all surprised him
"Uh I think I did ok" He answered quickly" Though we ran into a Thunderclan patrol on Training Creek" He added quietly. Dappledpaws eyes widenened in alarm
"That far onto our territory" She breathed" Are you ok?" She asked. Lionpaw stared at her
"I thought you didn't want us to be friends?" He mumbled bewildered. Dappledpaw stiffened but Lionpaw was tactful enough to change the subject
"So hows your training going" He asked kindly, Dappledpaw brightened
"Oh wonderful Goldendawns a fantastic mentor" She purred, Lionpaw smiled, his ears twitched
" I hope so even if she if a traitor" Tigerstripes growled joining them. Lionpaw froze
"What are you talking about" He said slowly, Dappledpaw leaned over and whispered
"Don't fight him its what he wants" Lionpaw glanced at her blinking in confusion. Dappledpaw flattened her ears and walked away as Tigerstripes edged closeer
"I thought I told you to stay away from my sister" He said coolly with a dangerous edge to his mew. Dappledpaw bristled glaring up at her brother was dark green eyes
"Don't you dare tell me who I should be friends with" She snarled. Suddenly Lionpaw understood
"He told you to stay away from me didn't he" He growled. Dappledpaw glanced at him, eyes wide and ears flat against her skull
"Did I now and how did you know that" Tigerstripes asked curiously. Lionpaw felt even more confused when Dappledpaw glared at her brother
"Lionpaw!" Lionpaw felt relieved when he heard his mother calling, he said goodbye to Dappledpaw and ran over to join her
"I'm so proud of you, Redclaw told me everything" She purred her eyes glowing with pride. Lionpaw sighed,more confusion
"Why would Redclaw tell you that?" He asked a tad curious. Goldendawn jumped as if something had stung or bitten her
"He er just wanted me to know what an amazing son I have" She purred affectionatly. Lionpaw narrowed his eyes in suspicion but didn't pursue the question that was tugging at his mind. He took a watervole from the fresh kill pile and lay down next to his mother. Goldendawn blinked at him gratefully and took a bite
"Wheres Streampaw" He asked, his eyes clouded with concern for his sister. Goldendawn looked around the camp
"I haven't seen her in a while, i'll talk to Redclaw about it". Lionpaws claws sank into the soft soil, his tail lashed. He had a horrible feeling he knew what had happened. An ambitious Thunderclan patrol had probably found her. He was so engrossed in his thoughts he hadn't noticed Goldendawn leave and talk to Redclaw. The deputy looked worried,his ears flicked to show he'd heard Goldendawns fears
"I'll send a patrol right away" Lionpaw heard him say, panic filled his mews. Why was Streampaw so important suddenly. Lionpaws ears twitched, he could hear Tigerstripes talking about Thunderclan patrols and something else, it sounded an awful like Streampaw. He shrugged it off and turned to see Dappledpaw. He smiled warmly at her but she didn't return it
"Please follow me" She mewed. Lionpaw blinked, it sounded urgent but it felt forced
"O-ok" He said slowly getting to his paws. Dappledpaw led him to the entrance tunnel, glancing around nervously as if she were worried someone would see them leave
"Hurry up" She hissed, Lionpaw blinked and quickened his pace. When they were far enough away from camp Dappledpaw turned to him
"Lionpaw I don't know how to say this but I think I like you" Lionpaws eyes widened slightly in surprise, he opened his mouth to speak when something landed on him forcing him to the ground. Dappledpaw was shrieking for whatever it was to stop. Lionpaw felt something like a paw crashing down onto his head. He let out a moan and fell limp, blacking out, sinking into darkness