A/N: Yay for Chapter Five! :)
ferntailwarriors- Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying it! x3
Most of the names are of course Warrior inspired, but Firepaw wasn't named after Firepaw from the original series. I just really like the name x3
Chapter Five
Shadowpaw pushed through brambles, his ears alert for the sounds of screeching cats. Worry and panic seared his pelt. Rapid pawsteps followed closely behind him, and he skidded to a halt. Spinning around, ice blue eyes met dark blue. Firepaw was panting, her fur spiked up.
"F-Firepaw?" Shadowpaw panted, surprised to see his denmate had followed him.
Firepaw lifted her head, eyes narrowed. "Did you honestly think I'd let you charge through the forest alone?" she growled, swiping her sheathed paws across his ears. "Mouse-brain!"
Flinching back, Shadowpaw lowered his head. "S-Sorry!" he apologized. "B-But Sagepelt..."
"Save it," Firepaw snapped. "We're here now right? Might as well finish what we came out here to do."
Without waiting for a response, the ginger she-cat pushed past him. Not seeing if he was following, she pressed forward. Reluctantly, Shadowpaw bounded off behind her. The two apprentices ran through the forest, the sounds of screeching cats drawing closer and closer. Firepaw leaped onto a tumble of rocks, gazing down a small ravine into a clearing. Shadowpaw jumped up beside her, his eyes widened in shock.
Down below were the LeafClan patrol, swiping and hissing at a large black-and-white creature. It had a narrow snout, with black beady eyes. Twice the size of the cats, the beast lumbered around on four, thick legs. Laying beside a bush bleeding profusely from deep claw marks, was Rainpaw's mentor, Timberfall. Sagepelt was standing in front of his wounded Clanmate, hissing angrily at the large creature. Scratches laced his flanks, and blood dripped from a gash on his head. Nearby, a dark ginger tom leaped onto the snarling beast's back. Another tom, a golden tabby, swiped at him with sharp claws. Biting into its leg, a dark ginger-and-white she-cat clung on fiercely. With a heavy thud, the ginger tom was flung onto the ground. Ears flat, he spat angrily as the beast loomed over him.
"Alderleaf!" Firepaw screeched, charging down into the clearing.
"Firepaw!" Shadowpaw called after her, as he half-ran, half-tumbled down the ravine.
Without hesitation, the small tabby leaped and fastened herself onto the beasts snout. Roaring in fury and pain, it lunged back with its muzzle thrust in the air. The dark ginger she-cat released its leg, leaping back, the golden tabby right at her side. Not waiting for the vicious animal to regain its footing, Alderleaf rammed himself into its exposed belly. Watching in horror, Shadowpaw let out a yowl as their attacker fell onto its back. The impact caused Firepaw to loose her grip, and she was flung into the brambles.
"Lionclaw!" the dark ginger she-cat yowled.
"On it!" the golden tabby replied, charging into the brambles Firepaw was flung into.
Alderleaf backed up, as the creature rolled to its paws. It turned its gaze to where Lionclaw had went after Firepaw, and began to lumber after them. Alderleaf snarled and leaped onto its back, the ginger she-cat following suit. Sagepelt was trying to get Timberfall to his paws, nudging him up. However, the brown tom was too badly wounded to move. Frozen in horror, Shadowpaw felt the world around him spin. His heart raced at the chaos around him, and his mind whirled with panic.
"Shadowpaw!" Sagepelt's sharp mew brought him back. "Come help me!"
Snapping his gaze towards his mentor, he shakily raced to his side. "Sagepelt!" he gasped, seeing how badly the gray tabby had been wounded.
"Focus!" Sagepelt hissed. "We need to get Timberfall back to camp!"
"B-But what about the others?" Shadowpaw stammered, trembling.
Sagepelt lashed his tail. "They'll be fine! Right now Timberfall needs our help!"
Not wanting to argue anymore, Shadowpaw silently agreed. The two toms nudged Timberfall to his paws. The wounded warrior let out a hiss of pain, almost causing Shadowpaw to leap back in fear. Sagepelt heaved him up, the two cats managing to sling him over Sagepelt's back. Shadowpaw pressed close to his mentor's flank, keeping his Clanmate's head up. Before they could get out of the clearing, Firepaw's yowl of terror stopped them in their tracks. The large, lumbering creature had her cornered.
Shadowpaw stared in horror, the stunned body of Alderleaf laying a short distance away. Lionclaw and the ginger she-cat were slashing at the animal, but it had its beady eyes focused on Firepaw. His denmate struck out aggressively, but her eyes were wide with terror. Dashing from Sagepelt's side, Shadowpaw leaped onto its head. He dug his claws in, hanging on tightly as it shook its head in pain. He felt his claws well up with blood, before being flung back down. Managing to land on his paws, he leaped back as it crashed back down onto its paws. Blood gushed from where its right eye was, and Shadowpaw realized with horror that he had blinded the beast. Lionclaw swiped his claws across the animal's nose, before it finally relented and charged away into the forest. Lionclaw and the ginger warrior raced after it, while Shadowpaw stared in shock.
Firepaw flattened her ears, darting to Alderleaf's side. "Alderleaf!" she yowled, staring at him with round eyes.
Alderleaf gazed up at her. "I'm okay," he rasped. "I'm just a bit winded."
Pressing her nose into his flank, she laid beside him. Shadowpaw blinked, surprised to see the feisty she-cat so terrified. Sighing with relief that the battle was over, he stared down at the blood glistening his claws. The bushes rustled behind him, and he leaped forward. Fur bristling, he arched his back in a surprised hiss—ready to defend himself from the beast they had just fought. To his relief, Lionclaw and the ginger warrior pushed their way through.
"That badger won't be returning anytime soon," Lionclaw rumbled, his voice a deep mew. "Foxchaser and I made sure of that."
Foxchaser nodded. "Alderleaf, Firepaw," she meowed, approaching the two cats. "Are either of you hurt?"
Alderleaf lifted his head, slowly rising to his paws. "No, just a bit winded from hitting the ground," he answered.
Firepaw shook her head. "I'm okay too," she said. "Though I think I may have wrenched my shoulder from being thrown."
Lionclaw padded over towards Sagepelt, sniffing Timberfall's wounds carefully. "Let's return to camp," he meowed. "Timberfall needs to see Whispersong, and quickly."
Foxchaser nodded her agreement, and the rest of the cats quickly made their way up the ravine. Shadowpaw started to follow after them, but was stopped by the LeafClan deputy.
"That was a very reckless thing you did back there," she growled, her eyes narrowed. "If that badger had turned in time, you would have easily been killed."
Frowning, Shadowpaw dipped his head. "I-I'm sorry..." he mewed softly. "Firepaw was in trouble, and I-"
"That's enough," Foxchaser cut him off. "It may have been reckless, but I cannot ignore the fact that you fought bravely. You are new to Clan life, but you still protected your Clanmate like a warrior."
Shocked by the deputy's praise, he gazed at her with round eyes. "R-Really?" he stammered.
Nodding, Foxchaser turned to follow after the others. "Yes," she said. "Perhaps Echostar's faith in you was not misplaced after all."
Warmed by her praise, Shadowpaw followed closely after her. As they returned to camp, Whispersong and Sleetpaw began to assess the wounded cats. Rainpaw emerged from the medicine cat den, his eyes brightening upon seeing the returned cats. Sagepelt met the dark tabby half-way, and the two touched noses in greeting. Foxchaser had went into Echostar's den, while Alderleaf and Firepaw sat close together under the Highoak. Shifting his paws awkwardly, Shadowpaw wasn't quite sure what he was supposed to do.
"Shadowpaw," Whispersong greeted, padding up to him. "Were you injured at all?"
Shadowpaw shook his head. "No."
Dipping his head in acknowledgment, the medicine cat went to check on the others. Deciding it was best not to just sit around, Shadowpaw headed towards the apprentices' den. Exhaustion made his paws heavy, and he noticed just how tired he was from the day's events. Slipping into his nest, he parted his jaws in a wide yawn. Before he could close his eyes to sleep however, Firepaw's ginger pelt flashed at the entrance. She quietly made her way over to her nest, before turning to look at him.
"Er, thanks for saving me earlier," she mumbled, almost awkwardly.
Blinking, Shadowpaw nodded. "Oh, uh, you're welcome," he replied. "Were you hurt at all?"
Firepaw curled up into her nest. "Not really," she sighed. "Just a bit of a wrenched shoulder is all. Nothing too major."
"What about Alderleaf?"
"He's fine too. He managed to get away without any scratches."
Shadowpaw yawned. "Glad to hear it," he mewed. "You seemed pretty worried."
"He's my father you know," Firepaw said. "Of course I'd be worried. He's the only family I have."
"Really? What about your mother? Or your littermates?" Shadowpaw asked, not really thinking.
Firepaw was quiet for a moment, but just sighed. "Dead," she answered quietly. "My mother died after giving birth to my littermates and I. My brother and sister were stillborn. I was the only one to live."
Pity and sadness for the tabby apprentice welled up in Shadowpaw's chest. He lowered his head sympatheticly. "I'm so sorry," he murmured.
Firepaw just shrugged. "It's okay. Alderleaf is a great father, so it doesn't really matter."
Shadowpaw didn't know what else to say. He just frowned and curled up into a ball. Firepaw did the same, and in only a few moments did Shadowpaw hear the faint sounds of snoring coming from his Clanmate. Casting a glance at her, he couldn't help but admire the strength Firepaw seemed to have despite what she had lost. Sighing, Shadowpaw just wished he could do the same.
