I Fell In Love With My Apprentice

Chapter 3: The Fearsome Threesome Sounds So Wrong

"Will the fearsome foursome please come to my den. NOW!" Leafstar shouted across the clearing. Darkclaw looked up in surprise at Leafstars angry tone. He could see Gingertail and Amberpelt across the clearing, and by the look on their face he could tell they looked just as confused as he was.

"Sucks for you," Jaystorm said happily. "Since I'm not allowed in the fearsome foursome I guess I don't have to get yelled at."

"You're not in the fearsome foursome because the fearsome fivesome sounds really stupid," Darkclaw snapped, getting tired of Jaystorm constantly bringing it up.

"Jaystorm, you too!" Leafstar called. Jaystorms happy expression turned into a scowl.

"I'm not even in the group and I still get harassed," Jaystorm mumbled.

"Stop complaining, let's just go," Darkclaw sighed, getting up. He could see Talonstrike push his way into Leafstars den, with Gingertail and Amberpelt close behind. As Darkclaw walked into the crowded den, he had to stifle a groan. Leafstar looked really, really ticked.

"What's going on?" Gingertail dared to ask.

"Did you or did you not provoke an attack on the Darkclan border?" Leafstar yowled.

"They provoked it," Amberpelt exploded. "They called me a conceited kit who can't even do a successful hunting crouch."

"Yeah, it was so mean," Gingertail put in. "So totally don't blame Amberpelt."

"Stop talking, now," Talonstrike muttered as Leafstar started to growl in annoyance.

"I don't care if they called you a name," Leafstar hissed. "You four are my strongest warriors and-"

Jaystorm made a point to clear his throat loudly.

"My strongest five warriors," Leafstar corrected, rolling her eyes. "And you shouldn't be acting like newborn apprentices. I mean for Starclans sake, the last thing you should be doing is making fools of yourselves."

"We're sorry," Gingertail hung her head.

"It's fine. Just make sure you start acting more respectable from now on," Leafstar said. Darkclaw took this as a dismissal, so he stood up to leave.

"I'm not done," Leafstar snapped.

"Oh," embarrassed, Darkclaw sat back down.

"I need you to do the evening patrol," Leafstar explained. Amberpelt and Gingertail exchanged excited glances.

"Please take the apprentices with you," Leafstar continued. Gingertail and Amberpelt exchanged another look, but this time it was a look of annoyance.

"Which apprentices?" Darkclaw asked mildly.

"Jinglepaw, Moonpaw, Lilypaw and Snowpaw," Leafstar said. Talonstrike narrowed his eyes as Darkclaws face lit up at the mention of Lilypaw.

"Okay, I'll go round them up," Amberpelt smiled, then she and Gingertail stalked out of the den, their noses high in the air.

...

"ALRIGHT, KITS, LET'S MOVE!"

Lilypaw woke with a start as Amberpelts snarling voice echoed around the apprentices den.

She groggily raised her head, confused.

"DO YOU NEED TO BE ASKED TWICE?" Amberpelt screamed. "LET'S GO! EVENING PATROL, RIGHT NOW!"

Then she left.

"What the flying fox dung," Moonpaw grumbled, getting up slowly. "Why does she have to be such a -"

"Cussing won't help," Jinglepaw put in, blinking open her eyes.

"Stupid fearsome foursome," Moonpaw said angrily. "They think they can treat us however they want."

"They're nothing but a bunch of bullies," Snowpaw spoke for the first time. Snowpaw was the newest apprentice, she was only 6 and a half moons old. She still had all her soft white kit fur and rubbery soft claws.

"Let's just go," Lilypaw mumbled. "Before she comes back."

Lilypaw padded out of the den, yawning. Mid yawn she spotted Darkclaw staring at her. Lilypaw shut her mouth with a snap, feeling very stupid to have her mouth hanging open. When she walked over to the group, Jaystorm gave her an encouraging smile which made her feel better.

"I thought the evening patrol was done already," Lilypaw commented, trying to force the sleep out of her bones.

"It's elders day," Talonstrike replied. Elders day happened once a moon, it gave a chance for the elders to go on a patrol and look at the scenery. It was always a hassle, the elders always took forever and when they got back they complained for hours that their legs hurt.

"Well, what happened to the elders?" Lilypaw asked.

"They got tired and took a nap on the Greenclan border," Talonstrike snorted. "Greenclan was not very impressed."

"I'll bet," Lilypaw murmured, wincing as she heard the harsh voices of Amberpelt and Gingertail coming closer.

"Where's the rest of the kits?" Amberpelt snapped the second she walked up. "Did I not make my point clear?"

"They're coming," Lilypaw pointed with her tail at the other three apprentices, slowly walking over.

"Oh my god, this is going to take forever," Amberpelt hissed at Darkclaw before turning and screaming "HURRY UP!" at the stricken young cats. Lilypaw looked over at Darkclaw, who gave her an apologetic look. Lilypaw shrugged and looked away.

When the other apprentices finally got to the group, they looked nearly petrified. Lilypaw tried to soothe their terror of Amberpelt by giving them a smile. No one returned it.

"All right everyone, I know it's late. However, Elders day took a turn for the worse and we were chosen to pick up the slack," Talonstrike explained to the apprentices. "We're going to be patrolling the whole border, and make sure you watch your step around Darkclan. They've been more than a little neglecting of their scent markers, and it's easy to cross. Any questions?"

Snowpaw raised her paw.

"What?" Gingertail snapped. Snowpaw quickly put her paw back down.

"No, ignore her," Jaystorm said kindly, while glaring at Gingertail. "What did you want to say, Snowpaw?"

"I was just wondering if we could hunt too," Snowpaw said softly. Amberpelt and Gingertail burst into laughter.

"What an idiot!" Amberpelt shrieked.

"Everyone knows you don't hunt on a border patrol!" Gingertail screamed.

To Lilypaws embarrassment, Snowpaws eyes began to water.

"YOU ARE MEAN BULLIES," Snowpaw cried at the two she cats. Then she turned and ran away. This only resulted in Amberpelt and Gingertail to laugh harder.

"That's it," Darkclaw said calmly. "You two are kicked out of the Fearsome Foursome. Right now."

Gingertails mean expression turned to one of horror. "You don't mean that!" she gasped.

"I do," Darkclaw said sternly.

"You can't kick us out," Amberpelt scoffed.

"I'm the deputy, I can do whatever I want," Darkclaw snapped. "Now get out of my face. Now."

Amberpelt turned tail and stalked away, cursing at no one in particular. Gingertail spat in Darkclaws direction and then walked away as well.

"Well, I guess you're the fearsome two now," Lilypaw commented, trying to lighten the mood.

"Well, the fearsome threesome," Talonstrike replied. "Jaystorm is part of it now."

Jaystorm beamed, then his expression turned funny. "The fearsome threesome sounds really wrong," he mumbled.

"For Starclans sake," Darkclaw rolled his eyes. "We can still be the fearsome foursome, Lilypaw can join."

Moonpaw and Jinglepaws eyes flew open, and their jealousy was obvious. Lilypaw felt as though lightning was running through her veins. "I'd love to be part," she smiled. "But won't Gingertail and Amberpelt get mad?"

"Who cares," Jaystorm snorted.

"No kidding," Darkclaw smiled at Lilypaw. "Now let's go do that patrol before it gets too late."