I don't own Warriors!

Broken Love

Chapter Six

Brokenpaw stood stock still. How had this happened? Hadn't Raggedstar been keeping an eye on her while she was hunting? Nonetheless, she was his so-called "Clanmate," so he had to help her. He copied Raggedstar's movements, slowly circling the fox, intimidating it. The russet creature hissed through a mouthful of fur, dropping Mintpaw roughly to the ground. The gray she-cat let out a low moan of pain.

"We'll all attack when I give the signal," Raggedstar hissed. He waited for a moment, then kinked his tail. All three cats dove towards the fox. It let out a shriek of fury and swiped at Raggedstar, but he dodged. Brokenpaw latched himself onto its back while Brackenfoot slashed at its eyes. The brown tabby apprentice dug his claws deep into the fox's fur, but its harsh bucking made his hind paws jolt off. Brokenpaw tumbled to the ground, landing a hair's breath away from Mintpaw.

For the first time, he saw the wounds that covered her body. Deep gashes wound their way through her flank, bruises were practically everywhere, and her paw was twisted. Brokenpaw's stomach lurched.

He turned his attention back to the battle. The fox was limping now, it's front paw slightly lifted off the ground, its snarls becoming whimpers as Brackenfoot and Raggedstar attacked it from every angle. Suddenly, it started charging towards the two apprentices, apparently still wanting its prey. Brokenpaw scrambled up and hissed, swiping at it muzzle. The fox backed away, a deep scar decorating its snout. The russet creature, once ready and eager to fight, was now weak and defeated. It let out a whimper of defeat and darted away. Brackenfoot started to go after it, but Raggedstar shook his head.

"It knows not to mess with ShadowClan warriors now," he said solemnly. The two warriors lifted Mintpaw onto their shoulders, and they padded back to camp.

"Is Mintpaw alright?" Fernkit asked for what seemed like the thousandth time. Brokenpaw groaned and resisted the urge to bat away the kit. She and her siblings were growing larger and would be apprenticed soon.

"She's fine, Sagewhisker will heal her," Brokenpaw replied dully. "Now, why don't you go play with your siblings or something? I'm starving." Without waiting for an answer, he padded towards the prey pile and picked out a juicy vole. After settling down in the shade in the corner of camp, Brokenpaw promptly dug into the meal.

After they had returned, it had been well after dark, and several warriors were still up. They were, after all, ShadowClan. The night was their domain. Brokenpaw had gotten Sagewhisker, who was not pleased to be awoken, but after learning that an apprentice was in critical condition, she immediately forgot everything and set to work healing Mintpaw.

It would've been better if she had been killed, Brokenpaw thought, but uncertainty clouded his mind. How determined was he to get rid of Mintpaw? Surely he wouldn't want her to die by a fox, would he?

It doesn't matter how she dies, Shredtail growled. All that matters is that you gain power, and that you have no distractions.

What do you mean, distractions? Brokenpaw fired back. How is she a distraction?

Shredtail didn't reply. Brokenpaw sighed and buried the remains of his vole, then padded into the apprentices' den. Tanglepaw, Clawpaw, and Nightpaw were already sound asleep. He flopped down into his nest and closed his orange eyes, falling into the world of sleep.

"Your progress is limited, Brokenpaw," Shredtail growled. "I expect you to act faster. If you want to become leader, you must do things quickly without thought."

Brokenpaw frowned. Why was Shredtail so determined to get rid of Mintpaw? What about Tanglepaw, or Clawpaw? Why not them?

"Shredtail," he began. "Why are you so-" He struggled for the right word, "-against Mintpaw being in ShadowClan?" Shredtail glared at him, his yellow eyes practically searing into his brain. Suddenly, Brokenpaw was lying on the ground, struggling for breath. Blood trickled out of a gash Shredtail had made. Brokenpaw scrambled up and darted out of the way as Shredtail reared again. Brokenpaw backed away, stumbling on a rock. Shredtail pounced on him, digging his claws into his fur, making fresh blood spring up out of his dark fur.

"Never," Shredtail growled, "question a Dark Forest warrior." He wrenched his claws out of Brokenpaw's shoulders and licked the blood off of them. Glaring one last time at the dark brown tabby, he padded away. Brokenpaw closed his eyes miserably and sighed. The dream faded.

"Brokenpaw! You're bleeding!" Tanglepaw screamed shrilly. Brokenpaw's eyes flew open. He glanced down at his nest, the moss and pine needles stained in sticky, red, blood. He winced as more dripped from his fur.

"Probably a thorn," Brokenpaw mumbled. "I'll go to Sagewhisker."

"We'll clean your nest," Clawpaw volunteered as the dark brown apprentice padded out of the den. Brokenpaw made his way towards the medicine cat den, trying to inconspicuously make his way to the other side of camp without being noticed. He didn't need Yellowfang or Raggedstar to bother him about his wounds. Luckily, no one noticed.

"Sagewhisker?" he called softly, peering into the dark den. He looked around and spotted Mintpaw, her fur covered in green splotches and white cobwebs. He inched closer to her. She looked much better, the dirt and blood groomed from her pelt, cobwebs neatly patching up her wounds. He sighed in relief, then mentally kicked himself.

I'm only relieved because... because... He shook his head. Why was he relieved Mintpaw was safe?

"What's wrong, Brokenpaw?" Sagewhisker emerged from the darkness of the den, her green eyes pooled with concern for what would be her latest patient.

"I, um, scratched myself on a thorn in my nest," Brokenpaw said. Sagewhisker nodded, then called back into the den. "Runningpaw!" Her gray and white splotched apprentice appeared from the shadows, sniffling. His eyes widened in fear when he saw Brokenpaw, the dried blood caked on his shoulders.

"Y-yes?" he stuttered.

"What do we use for scratches?" Sagewhisker asked calmly.

"Dock, goldenrod, and marigold," Runningpaw recited. "But we're low on goldenrod and dock, so we'll have to use marigold."

Sagewhisker nodded approvingly. "Good. Please fetch them." She glanced back into the darkness. "I'll go out and get some goldenrod and dock. Do your best to patch Brokenpaw up," she instructed.

Runningpaw nodded and disappeared back into the den. Sagewhisker padded towards Mintpaw, giving her a quick sniff, probably to check for infection or something, Brokenpaw didn't know, before leaving. Brokenpaw turned away from the patient and waiting for Runningpaw, who was taking quite a while to find some leaves.

"Thank you," a weak voice whispered. Brokenpaw whipped around. Mintpaw's pale green eyes were open, staring at him. Brokenpaw shifted uncomfortably.

"For what?" he grunted.

"For saving me," Mintpaw replied softly. "You chased the fox away from me." Brokenpaw looked at his paws. How would he answer?

"Just protecting my Clanmates," he said gruffly. Mintpaw nodded and gave a quiet sigh. When Brokenpaw looked back at her, her eyes were closed and her flank was lightly rising and falling.

Runningpaw returned with a mouthful of leaves and a pawful of sticky cobwebs. Brokenpaw watched as he chewed up the marigold leaves and spat them onto his scratches. The dark brown apprentice winced as the juice seeped into his wounds, but a soothing sensation followed it. Runningpaw bound the chewed-up pulp with cobwebs.

"Thanks," Brokenpaw nodded to the apprentice, padding out of the den.

Hmm... interesting. So, what do you think? Please review! ^.^