Hey guys I am back! Indeed I am, anyways, thanks again to those who faved, followed, and reviewed! Also, I got Amnesia. And I only played 9 minutes and 38 seconds before I didn't want to continue. I didn't get past the tutorial area…. ;_; without further ado, enjoy! Also I realized I am an idiot and I am stopping with the title before the chapter.
Marshpaw continued on through the forest. He scented for prey as he walked. From time to time he heard something behind him but when he turned around nothing was there. By the time he had reached the center of the forest he was beginning to panic. He whipped around and surveyed his surroundings. No one was around. And it wasn't Forestclan because the border was still a distance away from where he stood. His ears twitched. He heard the slight rustle of bush and leaves, making him back up a few paces. Then the sound grew louder. The bush in front of him rustled. He braced himself. Maybe it was a rouge. He was about to attack when a rabbit shot out from the bush. Marshpaw stared at it in shock.
"I don't believe it." He mewed aloud. The rabbit twitched and looked at him. Marshpaw chuckled to himself.
"I was scared of some stupid rabbit." He gave out a purr. The rabbit twitched again and bolted. Marshpaw watched it run off before turning around.
"Well, there it-"He was cut short when something slammed into his chest at full speed. He was flown across the clearing. He gave a squeak of terror before a paw slammed down directly on his chest causing him to gasp in pain.
"You think you're all that don't you?" hissed a voice above him. Marshpaw gave another gasp of pain and looked up. There, standing on top of him, was his brother Thistlepaw.
"Thistle…paw…?" he managed to choke out. His brother pushed down harder, making it difficult to breathe.
"Hah! What you did at the Gearclan border was nothing. I was able to sneak up behind you and take you down easy. What wrong whelp? Can't fight back?" Thisltepaw gloated. Marshpaw squirmed under his weight, trying to push him off. He began to feel dizzy and his vision was blurry. Thistle paw finally released his grip. Marshpaw gasped and tried to get to his paws, but Thistlepaw was faster. He slammed into Marshpaw with full force sending him flying through the bushes. Marshpaw squeaked in pain as thorns raked his sides.
"See? You weren't able to even block that. I don't see why Quakestar choose you anyways. All your good for is collecting moss for the elders. Just remember this, 'brother'; you and I are two different levels. I will always be better than you. And don't tell anyone what happened, unless you want to play another game with me." And with that Thistlepaw stalked away, laughing as he went. Marshpaw stayed in the bush. Everything hurt. His vision was fine, but his head was still fuzzy. Not only had that but scratches decorated his sides. His body was sore from Thistlepaw slamming him across the clearing and into the bush. He tried to get up but he was tangled in the vines of the thorn bush. He gave up trying to escape and sighed heavily. Well what now? He thought to himself.
What are you going to do Marshpaw? Moonsong's voice echoed in his head. He gave a small growl.
Leave me alone.
Come on Marshpaw. Think. What are you going to do to get out of this?
I said leave me alone!
Ah, I see…. You're in denial.
What do you know? And I said leave me alone! He felt Moonsong's presence beside him. Turning he looked into her eyes.
"Marshpaw, I'm trying to help you." He turned away and rested his head on his paws. Moonsong, sighing, rolled her eyes. "Come on now let's try again shall we?" Marshpaw looked to her then mumbled something under his breath. She grinned and disappeared. Marshpaw attempted to get out of the thorn bush. He pulled on the thorns and attempted to claw his way out, but with no avail. He ended up with more scratches that began to hurt. The sun was beginning to set when he started to fall asleep.
DON'T FALL ASLEEP MARSHPAW! Moonsong's voice exploded into his mind. He was jolted awake. Shaking his head he realized she was right. What if someone came looking for him? But he was beginning to feel tired again, the sun had almost fully set, and it was nearly pitch black in the bush. He was fine with the dark, but alone in the woods? Oh great Starclan no, just no. Just when he thought he was going to die there in the woods he heard a familiar mew.
"Marshpaw?" Echopaw padded around the clearing. She had been tracking his scent for a while, it seemed to have stopped in the clearing though. She pricked her ears for the slightest sound, hoping to find him. Then she heard the little whimper of pain, along with the rustling of a bush. She whipped her head around and dashed over to the sound.
"Marshpaw! There you are! I have been looking all over the place for you!" She mewed worryingly. Marshpaw gazed up at her, his eyes were clouded in pain. "Don't worry, I'll get you out! Echopaw is here to save the day!" Then she began to tug and pull the vines trapping Marshpaw. He began to help her as they slowly freed him from the bush. When the last vine released him he crawled out slowly on shaky legs. Echopaw sniffed him from head to tail tip. Her eyes widened as she found all the scratched of his previous attempts to escape.
"Let's get you back to camp." She mewed hurryingly. Marshpaw only nodded and began to limp back to camp with Echopaw close by his side. It took them a while to reach camp but they did it. Echopaw guided Marshpaw down the gorge, but stopped him when he tried to head to the apprentice den. Everyone else was asleep.
"Treeheart stayed awake in case you came back. Let him put herbs on the scratches." Marshpaw numbly followed her, he was tired, his scratches burned, and his left front paw was aching. Echopaw lead him into the medicine den, where Treeheart was waiting by the entrance.
"Thank Starclan you found him!" Treeheart exclaimed when he saw the two. He led them inside. "I was worried if you were coming back Marshpaw. I saw Thistlepaw go into the forest with you, but he was acting… odd. When only he returned I grew worried. Echopaw offered to go look for you." He began to ready herbs for the scratches while Marshpaw looked down in shame. Treeheart turned back to the two.
"Now let's see, I can see that you have scratches, but is there anything else?" Treeheart mewed. Marshpaw winced and lifted up his paw.
"My paw hurts pretty badly. I think there's a thorn." Treeheart nodded. He instructed Echopaw on how to put on the herbs, then he himself began to investigate Marshpaw's paw. Indeed there was a thorn, and it was stuck deep in there too. Treeheart waited till Echopaw was done before trying to remove the thorn.
"Okay, Marshpaw, the thorn is deep in there, don't try to move, otherwise it might break. Anyways, I am going to pull it out, but this may hurt okay?" Marshpaw nodded. Treeheart gripped the thorn and pulled. Marshpaw felt the very hair on his pelt stand up. His leg went all tingly and he tried not to twitch. It seemed like forever, but Treeheart finally got the thorn out. He spat it out to the side so that no one would step on it. Then he began to mash the herbs and place the solution on the wound. He eventually wrapped it in cobwebs because it wouldn't stop bleeding. Marshpaw relaxed a little when he felt the pain ebbing. It was almost moon high and he was exhausted.
"Well, that all done. You may head back to the apprentice den. I want to check you paw tomorrow though. Don't want it getting infected." Marshpaw nodded and the two apprentices headed out of the medicine den. Treeheart watched them go, and then he tucked the spare herbs back where he got them. Curling into his own nest he began to think about the relationship between Marshpaw and Thistlepaw. If the prophecy was true, then Marshpaw may one day fight not alongside, but against, his own flesh and blood. He yawned sleepily then covered his nose with his tail tip. There was much to think about and the night was nearly half over. He needed sleep or he would be tired tomorrow. He pushed all other thoughts from his mind and began to truly fall asleep, with the hopes that he would share dreams with Starclan.
If a war between those two comes. Starclan help us.
That is the end of this chapter! Thanks again for reading! And, of course, please review! :3 See you next chapter!
