Chapter Six: Misunderstood
When Soundpaw barreled into the camp behind the other cats, she was met with furious screeches and shrieks of her clanmates, and not her own as well. The camp was lit up commotion, blood and fur being splattered all around. Cats using their abilities all around tousled and fought, and Soundpaw wasn't going to lie, it looked terrifying. She backed up, eyes stretched wide, attempting to dart to a more secluded area, only to be stopped mid way by a snarling ashy black and grey apprentice.
"Trying to flee?" He sneered, lashing his tail, before inhaling deeply. Soundpaw swallowed, bracing herself for an attack, only to be shrouded in a large cloud of ash and dust. Coughing and hacking, she attempted to clear the area around her with rapid swipes of her paws, stumbling. The ash only appeared to thicken, and her eyes burned to the point where she had to close them. She stepped back, only to let out a harsh shriek as she felt a stinging blow to her hind leg. Another blow was dealt to her head, sending her staggering off to the side.
Coughing, Soundpaw shook her head in an attempt to clear her thoughts and try to pinpoint the apprentice. "Something wrong?" The young tom's voice snickered. "Mother 'aint here to save you, huh? How disappointing." Hearing his malevolent snarl, the MoonClan apprentice darted forward in an attempt to escape his blow. However, she was only swept straight off her feet in a reeling strike. Hitting the ground, the breath was knocked straight out of her, and when she attempted to breath in fresh air, all she inhaled was smoke.
It burns… So bad… She hacked, weakly scrambling up to her paws. With blurry vision, she attempted to see through the smoke, to pinpoint her opponent. Now that the ash was clearing, she was able to see the form of the apprentice in the shadows, cackling as he made his way towards her. Soundpaw tried to climb to her paws, only to fumble and slump back down, coughing and rasping as she attempted to take in more air. Suddenly, someone leapt in front of her, startling the young she-cat. She wasn't able to see much of what was going on, but the apprentice shrieked in surprise as her savior attacked.
Soundpaw was able to see some sort of tendrils shoot up from under the ground and wrap around her attacker. They seized him to the point of where he was immobile, and then the other cat leapt forward, attacking. Soon, one had fled into the recesses of the camp. Once the ash had cleared, the MoonClan apprentice was back on her paws, coughing and gasping for breath, and someone hurried over to her.
"Are you okay? Looks like I got here just in time." Brackenpaw breathed out, and Soundpaw looked at him in surprise.
"Bracken...paw?" She wheezed out, looking around to see the clearing contained even more felines than before. "Did…?"
"Paradisestar sent us to help." He informed. "Look out!" He pushed Soundpaw out of the way just in time, and managing to catch a glance, she saw a cat glide over her. Eyes enlarging, she scrambled to her paws, the cat before her snarling. Feathered, night black wings flared out from her side as she faced the two. Brackenpaw bared his teeth, stepping partially in front of Soundpaw as he ducked down slightly. Around him, bracken tendrils had begun to break through the earth.
If Soundpaw had of blinked, she would have missed it. The grey she-cat leapt forward, yet Brackenpaw had yanked her back as the tendrils shot up, wrapping around her wings. She howled out in pain, and he leapt, only to receive a harsh kick to his jaw from her. They both fell to the ground, and Soundpaw was frozen to the spot, not able do one thing or another. She was barrelled off her paws in a sudden sweep, and found herself pinned down by an apprentice no bigger than her.
It's… Fernpaw! ShadowClan is attacking then? Her eyes widened, and Fernpaw snarled, moving her head down to bite at Soundpaw's shoulder-throat area. Senses whipping back into place, she jerked her head to the side, receiving a bite to the shoulder, and she growled out, rabbit-kicking Fernpaw's belly with unsheathed claws. The apprentice howled out, letting go and rolling off. Soundpaw scrambled up, only to be knocked aside. Gasping out, she was knocked the other way, sent sprawling. No sooner was she pinned down on her side, all breath gone from her lungs. No way she's that strong for a new apprentice! She must be using… Something else. Soundpaw narrowed her eyes as Fernpaw leaned down to take another bite, but the dark brown apprentice suddenly pushed herself up, unbalancing the lighter colored apprentice momentarily. She was quick to move away, and as Fernpaw turned to her again, and ran at her, that's when it hit her.
Quite literally. Soundpaw was knocked clean off her paws once more she was attacked. However, she had figured it out. She's much faster than a normal cat! That must be her asset. She also noticed how the she-cat was only biting her. No clawing. Is she simply toying with me? A snarl tore from Soundpaw's throat, and she was quickly up again. "What? Am I not good enough to be scored with your claws?" She spat, ears flattening and eyes narrowing. Fernpaw hissed, dropping low to the ground.
"If I did, you'd be dead." She snarled in response, and when Soundpaw looked down at Fernpaw's white toed paws, she couldn't see any form of any kind of claw. Does she… not have claws? She thought in surprise, but had no more time to linger on said inquiry. Fernpaw dashed forward, and Soundpaw rose to her hind legs, ready to slam down on the apprentice. However, Fernpaw had stopped short, and the MoonClan apprentice slammed down with might intended to crush the ShadowClan apprentice, only to hit the ground.
She noticed, still, that Fernpaw stumbled back, when she clearly had been intending to leap forward again. Soundpaw's eyes widened, but she didn't try to think of why this had happened. She only leapt forward, grabbing onto Fernpaw and battering at her furiously with hind claws. She bit into the other's shoulder and throat area, receiving a screech in response. She was suddenly hauled off by someone, and turned to give them a good scratching, only to see Clovenbreeze.
"Don't kill her." She gasped out, and Fernpaw scrambled up, growling at the two.
"Who cares? One less ShadowClan cat!" Soundpaw snarled out in response, turning to continue the fight, only to be blocked by Clovenbreeze, whom gave her a stern, and scared, look. Suddenly, there was a retreat caterwaul, and Fernpaw's eyes widened. Soundpaw pushed around her mother, leaping towards Fernpaw and clawing an ear. She shrieked, turning and fleeing with her clan.
"That's right! You better run, you fleapelts!" She yowled after them, only to coughing shortly afterwards. Her throat was still burning from her earliest encounter…
When ShadowClan had retreated, only MoonClan and SunClan cats were left in the clearing. Springstar slowly limped forward, and Paradisestar padded over to her. Soundpaw could clearly see the difference in them- How youthful and sleek Paradisestar looked, as compared to Springstar, whom was rather beaten up, and near frail looking.
"I am pleased to view that no clan members have fallen from this unpredicted skirmish." Paradisestar announced to nobody in particular, but her main focus was on Springstar. The elder leader dipped her head in agreement, and Soundpaw could see she was having trouble standing, and maybe even focusing.
"Thank you, for… Assisting us." The MoonClan leader rasped out, straightening up to face Paradisestar evenly, whom dipped her head in return.
"Of course. I shalt always be just a beckon away if anything hinders you, or thy clan, in any fashion. Would you allow me to spare you some of my own to help with anything? Snowsong is able to remain with you to help with medical procedures." She offered, amber and green eyes blinking with concern.
"Amberstripe will… Fare fine. We do not need anymore help. Thank you, Paradisestar." Springstar dipped her head almost dismissively, and Soundpaw felt a breath of relief leave her. So her leader still had her wits about her… Good.
"As you wish. May StarClan grant you plentiful rest and healing." The SunClan leader dipped her head as well, turning to address the cats. "SunClan! Let us return to camp." She announced, heading to the entrance of the camp. The cats followed her, but somebody caught Soundpaw's eye.
"Brackenpaw!" She suddenly said, heading over, only to feel a sting of pain. She opted for going slower, and Brackenpaw turned to her. "T… Thank you." She said, a little awkwardly. Almost a little begrudgingly. The young tom dipped his head.
"Of course. Anything for a friend!" He purred, before turning and bounding after his clan. She blinked in surprise, slowly padding back to her group of cats.
"Friend, huh?" She mumbled absentmindedly. No way he could be a friend… They were in different clans! "Just an acquaintance." She mumbled, suddenly stumbling over her own paws and sunk to the ground.
"I'm surprised you're not more battered." A voice rumbled, and Soundpaw blinked bleary eyes, looking up as her mentor approached her. "Ashenpaw nearly bit your throat out back there." Boneclaw growled, tail lashing behind him, and Soundpaw swallowed in embarrassment and anger.
"H-he took me by surprise… I couldn't see anything either…" She murmured, biting back another stinging retort. This was, also, her first unexpected battle. Couldn't Boneclaw be a little more understanding?
"You can control sound, and yet you can't find out where a clumsy apprentice is?" He snorted, causing the she-cat to grit her teeth.
"I haven't been an apprentice for very long, and-"
"Yet you can eavesdrop perfectly onto other clanmates' conversations." Her mentor cut her off bitterly, green eyes now glittering with anger. Soundpaw made to reply, but shut her mouth, looking away. The sound of pawsteps approached.
"Soundpaw! Oh, finally, I found you again." Clovenbreeze breathed, looking between mentor and offspring. "Right! Boneclaw, haven't you taught her yet that you don't have to kill to win a battle?" Soundpaw looked at her mother in shock and anger. Was she seriously bringing this up? Right now of all times?
"Why?" He asked bluntly, irritation heavy in his voice, resulting in a scoff from Clovenbreeze.
"She nearly killed a ShadowClan apprentice!" Her mother fretted out, and Soundpaw let out a cry of outrage. "If I wasn't there, she would have-"
"N-No I didn't!" The apprentice spat out, managing to scramble up to her paws. She gave her mother a stubborn glare. "I wasn't even-"
"She was only protecting herself." Boneclaw rumbled, and Clovenbreeze gave him a look, tail tip twitching angrily. "...She is right, however." Soundpaw's jaws dropped open. "You must learn when enough is enough. Especially when it comes to your tongue. Maybe picking some ticks from the elders will help curb it."
"What!" She cried in outrage, and her mother gave a murmur of agreement. "You got to be- Grr…" She growled, cutting off. She turned, stalking towards the apprentices den, only to halt as Clovenbreeze called out.
"Don't sleep yet! Go see Amberstripe first about those injuries." Soundpaw squared her shoulders, almost tempted to not listen, but did as she was told. She stalked towards the medicine area, waiting to be checked up on.
"Alright." Amberstripe finally moved towards her, leaves stuff in her ginger-amber colored jaws. She set them down, checking Soundpaw over. "You got a nasty scratch on your right hind leg here… And a not very nice looking bite on your shoulder. Easy to fix, though." She assured, and Soundpaw just mumbled something under her breath, flinching as Amberstripe applied the poultices. "Don't strain them too much." The medicine cat warned, and the apprentice waved her tail, signalling that she heard, before heading towards her den again.
"Soundpaw, please." Clovenbreeze was suddenly behind her, and she grit her teeth, stopping and begrudgingly looking at her. "I know punishment is something nobody likes, but you have to understand. I just want you to grow up into an honorable warrior, and-"
"I wasn't close to killing her!" She suddenly spat, turning on her mother, whom recoiled back in surprise. "I know what I'm doing! Just because I'm new doesn't mean I don't know the code, or don't know when to stop, or don't know when I should retreat! I'm not a mousebrain, and you treat me like I am! You think I'm still a kit or something!"
"Oh, no, no! I think you're very smart, but you're still, young-"
"I don't want to hear it." Soundpaw growled, turning on hackle and stalking into the den. She settled down in her nest, and Hushedpaw, whom was beside her, looked at her. He shifted in his nest, prodding her slightly and trying to get her attention, but she only snarled at him, causing the young tom to flinch back, and shy away back into his nest.
Nobody thinks I know what I'm talking about. I may be new, but I'm not stupid. Soundpaw thought bitterly, curling up and closing her eyes. Fuming thoughts kept her up for awhile longer, but finally, exhaustion outweighed rage, and she fell asleep.
A/N: This took awhile to get up considering nobody was really reviewing and stuff, and I had lost the chapter. But I finally had muse, so yeah. Here ya are.
Fun Fact: Cinderpelt and Brackenfur were apprenticed before they were six moons old.
