Broken Love
Chapter Three
Brokenpaw stretched, yawning, as dawn's early light filled the den with a warm, rosy glow. Clawpaw and Nightpaw were sleeping in the nests next to him. Occasionally, Clawpaw let out a snore, or Nightpaw would cough, but other than that, they were silent. Tanglepaw batted at something in her sleep, grunting.
Brokenpaw's gaze trailed to the newest member of ShadowClan. Her fluffy gray pelt stirred in the faint wind that blew, and her tail was tucked underneath her nose. She looked so peaceful, so calm. . .
Remember, you are to get rid of her, Shredtail reminded him harshly.
I know, I know, Brokenpaw said, annoyed. He glanced back at the apprentice, trying to scan her for weaknesses. She was a bit on the small side, but other than that, Brokenpaw would have to watch her in action to see any flaws about her. He sighed, and after giving his sleek dark brown pelt a few licks, he padded out of the apprentices' den.
"You're up early," Brackenfoot greeted him. "Good. We're on the dawn patrol." A few moments later, he, Brackenfoot, Scorchwind, and Deerleap were padding out of the camp entrance towards the WindClan border. Brokenpaw wrinkled his nose once they got to the moor. He hated everything about it: the coarse grass, the harsh sunlight, the blowing wind. It annoyed him more than a tick on an elder's pelt.
"And those mangy rabbit-chasers," he muttered, clawing the earth beneath him.
"What was that, Brokenpaw?" Brackenfoot asked sharply.
"Nothing," the apprentice muttered, raising his defiant orange gaze to look at his mentor. "Nothing at all."
After the patrol, Brackenfoot and Brokenpaw padded to the Training Hollow.
"We'll be practicing hunting with Raggedpelt and Mintpaw," Brackenfoot said. "And no complaining," he added, having taken notice of Brokenpaw's dislike towards the fluffy gray she-cat. Brokenpaw rolled his orange eyes, appearing to only be annoyed, but inside, he was seething. Why couldn't he train with Clawpaw? Or even Nightpaw? But as he thought about it, it'd be a good time to scan her for weaknesses. She would be easier to dispose of that way.
"Good, you're here," Raggedpelt greeted them with a nod of his head. Sitting beside him, Mintpaw flicked her tail happily. Brokenpaw bared his teeth at her.
"We'll start with the hunting crouch," Brackenfoot said. "Mintpaw, I'm assuming you know how to do this if you've been hunting by yourself." Mintpaw nodded.
"A little," she said.
Great, Brokenpaw thought. She knows more than me.
She makes a dangerous opponent, Shredtail observed. But do you see any weaknesses? Brokenpaw thought for a moment, watching the green-eyed she-cat as she explained something to Brackenfoot and Raggedpelt. They nodded, understanding. Brokenpaw remembered his observation from that morning that she was a bit on the small side, which would make fighting with brute force harder, but easy for her to slip through small spaces. She also seemed to favor her right paw a bit more than her left.
Does she limp? Brokenpaw sifted through his memories. When he had attacked her in the beginning, she seemed fine, and didn't show any limp. But now, as he watched her, Brokenpaw realized she winced in pain whenever she put weight on her left paw.
Good job, Shredtail praised. This will make fighting your enemies easier. Finding their weaknesses, pointing out their flaws. Brokenpaw smirked. In a matter of moons, she would be fleeing ShadowClan with her tail between her legs.
"Brokenpaw, for the last time, it's like this!" Brackenfoot snapped. He crouched down, showing his apprentice how to do it. "Remember-"
"I know," Brokenpaw interrupted. "Lift your tail, lower your belly, blah blah blah." He looked over at the rogue, who was slowly stalking forward, occasionally looking towards her mentor for approval. Every time, Raggedpelt would smile and nod his head encouragingly.
"If you want to be good as Mintpaw, then pay attention!" Brackenfoot huffed. Brokenpaw rolled his orange orbs.
"Why would I want to be good as a rogue?" he said lazily. "I mean, it's not like their good at anything."
"Brokenpaw!" Raggedpelt said sharply. "Mintpaw is your Clanmate now, and you will treat her with respect!" Mintpaw straightened up from her stalking position and looked at Brokenpaw warily. She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it.
"Whatever," Brokenpaw hissed. "I didn't even want to train with her!" He whirled around and stalked off into the marshy forest.
Inhaling the fresh scent of pine, Brokenpaw sighed, but his nerves were still on fire. Why did Cedarstar ever have to welcome that rogue into ShadowClan? She wasn't even Clanborn! Was he out of his mind?
That is why we need a stronger leader, Shredtail said. Like you.
Yes, Brokenpaw thought, savoring the idea of being the leader of ShadowClan. He could picture himself standing atop the Mossy Stump, proudly gazing down at his Clanmates that weren't mixed kittypets and rogues. The other Clans would tremble in fear when they faced his Clan in battle. Yes, that day would come soon.
But to be leader, you must become a warrior, and to become a warrior, you must master your skills and prove yourself to be a noble and worthy warrior, his Dark Forest conscience reminded him harshly. Practice your hunting crouch again. Brokenpaw sighed and dropped back into the uncomfortable position. He shifted his paws, trying to get comfortable.
Move them a little closer to your chest, Shredtail advised. Brokenpaw did so, and was relieved to find that it was slightly more comfortable now. He started slowly moving forward, keeping his tail and belly low to the ground and treading lightly on the pine needles that littered the ground.
Pretty good, Shredtail mused. Now, pounce on that pinecone. Brokenpaw stalked closer and closer to the small pinecone. When he was close enough, he leaned back and leapt at it, feeling the satisfactory crunch of the pinecone as his weight landed on it.
Well done, Shredtail praised him. Now, you should get back to camp. Your Clanmates are worried.
Brokenpaw straightened up, feeling pleased with himself, and padded back to camp.
When he stepped through the camp entrance, he was immediately covered in licks from his frantic mother. "Oh, my poor kit!" Yellowfang said, grooming the dirt out of his pelt. Brokenpaw shot a glare towards Clawpaw, who was silently laughing at him, earning a cuff on the ear from his mentor. "Where have you been?!"
"Practicing my hunting crouch," Brokenpaw told her smugly. "I've already gotten it mastered!"
"Oh, really?" Brokenpaw looked up and saw his mentor, Brackenfoot, glaring suspiciously at him. Yellowfang shot her father a glare.
"Don't be so harsh on him," she snapped. Her gaze softened. "Now, Brokenpaw, you should get some rest." She gave him one last lick on the ear before padding over to Raggedpelt. Brokenpaw rolled his eyes for what seemed like the hundredth time that day and padded over to Clawpaw. "Not a word to the others," he growled. He didn't need Tanglepaw, Nightpaw, and the rogue to know about his mother's gesture of affection for him. Clawpaw smirked.
"I won't tell," he promised, but his eyes had a mischievous glint in them. Brokenpaw flicked his friend's shoulder with his tail tip.
"You better not," he growled menacingly. Clawpaw smiled again. "Always so serious, Brokenpaw," he grinned, and padded into the apprentices' den.
Remember, you don't need friends, Shredtail growled. Only followers, and maybe a few allies. Friends are weaknesses.
Brokenpaw glanced over at the camp entrance, where Nightpaw, Tanglepaw, and Mintpaw were padding into camp, laughing at something that Nightpaw had said. Suddenly, he felt a lonely feeling in his heart, like a chilly breeze had flown inside. He turned away.
I don't need friends, he reminded himself. Friends.
That word rang in his head the whole night.
A/N: I just wanted to point out that Brokenpaw never really addresses Mintpaw by her Clan name. From his point of view, she is usually just called "the rogue" or "the fluffy gray she-cat," since he doesn't really view her acceptance into the Clan as a wise one. As the story progresses and he begins to know *cough* like *cough* her, Mintpaw's real name will begin to pop up more and more.
So, what did you think? Please review! They are my number one motivation! ^.^
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