Chapter 2- Danger

Darkpaw's POV

I hurried back to camp, heart pounding. The earth was cool and soft beneath my paws as I ran on, breathing in the pine smell.

Beneath the scents of forest I could also detect the faint odour of Rustpaw's blood.

Mangy WindClanners!

They would pay for attacking a ShadowClan cat!

I raced through the forest and skidded into camp.

Brokenstar was on the Clanrock, organizing some hunting patrols, but I paid him no attention. I needed to find Yellowfang.

"Yellowfang!"

I burst into the medicine den, my tabby sides heaving for air.

"What is it, Darkpaw?!" Yellowfang snapped, looking up from some greenish herbs she was sorting.

"Rustpaw-bleeding-WindClan-attack-" I gasped out. Rustpaw was running out of time.

Yellowfang narrowed her eyes. "Don't bring her back to camp."

"What?!" I said, confused. "Rustpaw is-"

"I know, Darkpaw. I may be old but that doesn't mean I can't hear." the she-cat growled.

I was about to sink my teeth into medicine cat's mangy pelt in frustration when I heard a voice call "Let all cats gather! I have an announcement!"

My eyes gleamed. Brokenstar is about to say something.

Running into the clearing, I almost collided with Stumpytail.

"Watch it, Darkpaw!" the warrior hissed.

I bobbed my head with respect. "I'm sorry, sir."

The tom hissed at my but didn't scold me further.

I sat down and waited for Brokenstar to climb onto the Clanrock. Blackfoot glanced at me and padded over, his tail thrashing. "Darkpaw, where have you been? We just got back from the marshy hollow with Strikepaw and you weren't with us!"

I hung my head. "Sorry, Blackfoot. I needed to think… after, you know, Strikepaw…."

Blackfoot's eyes were icy cold as he snapped, "Weakling! Cats die, learn to live with it!"

I cringed and looked away, turning my gaze towards the Clanrock, where our great leader waited for the Clan to gather.

"I have news," Brokenstar snarled, his eyes hard, "Strikepaw and Rustpaw, two of our new apprentices, are dead. They were too pathetic and weak to survive even one day of training."

Whispersoul gasped and Farcry, her mate, dug his claws into the earth. I understood their pain- Strikepaw was one of their only two kits. But Rustpaw, she wasn't dead! Why would Brokenstar say that? And how did he know about Rustpaw anyways?

"Both died in training accidents. There will be no vigil for the weak."

I turned to Blackfoot, "Where was Rustpaw training?"

"She was with Brokenstar, in the training hollow."

That had been where I had found her, but why would Brokenstar leave her there? Had he gotten there after me, and Rustpaw wasdead?

My gut twisted. No. I refused to believe it.

Brokenstar needs to know that Rustpaw isn't dead.

I waited until the crowd dispersed before starting to walk towards Brokenstar.

A hiss stopped me.

"Don't."

I whipped around to see Yellowfang glaring at me.

Resisting the urge to slash my claws across the irritating she-cat's face, I growled "What?"

Yellowfang padded up to my ear, so close that I could smell her rank breath.

"Do not tell Brokenstar that Rustpaw is alive."

"Why not?"

"He will kill you and Rustpaw for making him look wrong."

I gaped at her. Why would he do that?

Yellowfang rolled her eyes. "Close your mouth, you look like a gaping frog. Now, take me to Rustpaw."

Confused, I was about to question her but thought the better of it. Almost running, I led Yellowfang into the forest.

Rustpaw's POV

I lay there, pain wracking my body as I forced myself to focus on my breathing.

In and out.

In and out.

Calming and routine as the action was, it still felt as though I was being slowly crushed to death.

Still I held on, unwilling to go back to the hopeless gray of the Nameless Place.

I don't know why I looked up, he didn't make a sound as he stood there, watching me silently.

"Strikepaw." I rasped, feeling pain worse than my wounds as I gazed at my dead brother's starry form.

He just nodded, moving forwards to lie down beside me. I couldn't feel a thing though it seemed as though our pelts would have been brushing. It was comforting and chilling at the same time.

"He isn't coming back is he?" I whispered softly, resting my head back on the ground. It felt hard and unforgiving.

Strikepaw just looked at me, blue eyes seeming to glow in the now-fading light.

"Why don't you say something?" I whimpered, my voice pleading with my brother to speak. I needed to hear his voice again. I wouldn't be able to live remembering him like this; Unfeeling and silent.

"They aren't coming, are they?" I mewed again, "They just left me here to die."

A tear slipped down my cheek. I couldn't imagine never seeing my mother and father again or my friend, Inkpaw. I didn't want to die so quickly. Already I could feel myself slipping back into the Nameless Place. The only thing keeping me from going back was my stubborn will to live, clinging to the hope that, somehow, I would survive this.

Once more I tried to get to my paws, wanting to go back to camp so at least I could die with the cats I cared about instead of all alone with my silent, dead brother. Strikepaw stood as well, fixing me with his starry blue gaze, watching as I tried to take a step and failed, slumping back to the hard ground with a sob of frustration.

I had held back my tears before but now I let them come, pathetic sobs wracking my small pain-filled body. It hurt so much, all I wanted to do was give in.

I don't know how long I lay there, sobbing pitifully while Strikepaw watched silently, a slightly pained look on his face, blue eyes filled with sympathy.

Suddenly I heard soft voices and I pricked my ears, grateful for the keenness of my young hearing. Had Darkpaw returned after all? No, it couldn't be him, the voices were far too deep.

"When you find her, do whatever you can to capture her. Bring her to me, dead or alive."

That was Brokenstar's voice and I resisted the urge to whimper in the fear that suddenly began pulsing through me.

"But why sir, why waste a perfectly good apprentice? We need all the able-bodied warriors we can get if we wish to fight the other clans." I strained to recognize the second voice. Blackfoot? Stumpytail?

"Do you question my orders? You know my orders and you will obey!" that was Brokenstar again, his voice harsh with rage. There was a soft scuffling and a cry of pain and I flattened my ears in terror. Was I the cat that they spoke of? What had I done that Brokenstar wanted me dead instead of alive? Great StarClan, why does fate hate me so much? I was just a kit and already I was afraid for my very life.

The voices faded away, leaving me feeling helpless and weak.

"What did I do wrong?" I whispered aloud but Strikepaw said nothing, his gaze impassive.

Time passed slowly, dragging on as blood continued to drip slowly from my wounds. I could feel myself slipping away but at least the pain had settled to a dull throbbing.

Once more, I heard voices approaching through the undergrowth and panic filled my heart. Brokenstar was back, he was coming to kill me. This was the end.

"She's over here." came a soft voice and I felt the fear inside of me dissipate instantly.
Darkpaw was back!

"I'm over here!" I croaked, my voice feeling small and feeble, scratching in my throat.

Soon Darkpaw came into view, Yellowfang padding along close behind with a small bundle of herbs in her mouth.

"Thank StarClan you're alive!" Darkpaw meowed as he darted forwards, a smile of relief on his youthful face. "I worried we'd be too late after Brokenstar-"

Yellowfang let out a warning hiss and Darkpaw snapped his mouth shut, looking away,

"Nevermind." he muttered, padding off to the side.

Yellowfang cleared her throat, examining my wounds with the efficiency only a medicine cat could possess, once in awhile breaking the silence by asking a quick question.

"Where does it hurt the most?"

"My shoulder. And my chest." I replied without hesitation.

After what seemed like ages, Yellowfang finished her examination and took a step back, meowing in a rough voice, "Your shoulder is dislocated. I can pop it back in place but it's going to hurt a fair bit. You've also seemed to have most likely bruised several of your ribs, maybe broken. As for the rest of the wounds, they aren't too serious. Considering the amount of minor wounds, the bloodloss still might've killed you but you're young and strong. Most of the cuts will probably scar as well but I doubt any of them will be too serious except maybe that one on your shoulder."

I nodded, sighing slightly in relief but cringing at the same time. I was too young to have battle scars. Then again, I was too young for a lot of things.

"Darkpaw, I'll need you're help to fix her shoulder." Yellowfang meowed to the young tom, who nodded and padded over, his face unreadable.

"What do I do?"

"Hold her down as best you can while I relocate her shoulder." the medicine cat replied.

Darkpaw nodded, placing his strong paws on my back and haunches, grabbing my scruff firmly in his teeth to keep me from squirming too much.

Yellowfang grasped my paw in her own teeth, careful not to puncture my delicate skin as she meowed to Darkpaw, "Ready?"

Darkpaw nodded, a look of uncertainty flashing in his golden-amber eyes.

Yellowfang barely gave any warning as she gave a sharp yank on my paw. I let out an involuntary scream of pain, thrashing unsuccessfully under Darkpaw's strong grip. There was a sharp clicking sound and Yellowfang released my paw, nosing my throbbing shoulder gently.

"It's back in place." she meowed, looking proud of herself, "Good work Darkpaw."

The apprentice dipped his head, getting off of me awkwardly, an embarrassed look on his face.

"So," I panted, clenching and unclenching my jaw against the pain, "What now?"

"Well, you can't go back to camp. Brokenstar announced you as dead." Darkpaw meowed, receiving a sharp glare from Yellowfang for his efforts, "And you can't very well stay here all alone with no training."

"That doesn't leave me many options." I mewed softly, staring at my paws.

Darkpaw looked thoughtful for a few moments before meowing, "I could train you."

((A/N- Wow, this took forever XD Really sorry all, been super busy with science fair and other stuff involving school and other things. Either way, it's finally up! Hope you all enjoyed, reviews are always appreciated! ~Supernova750

Wow! Another Chapter! This is getting intense... Keep reading, and review :D ~Thia))