Chapter 8!
Reviews`
Peperpaw- their will be more romance in the next few chapters(but see only just became an apprentice, and I'm not cray about "kit love")
Hawkwing- Glad you like it!
Prowriter13- yeah it is thirty now.
Howlsong13- I'm so so, happy you think the fighting seen was good! I haven't done one before now and I was worried I would get it wrong
Enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 8
It was one moon after the fight with RiverClan, and Blackwillow had finished showing her the borders, and had taught her the different techniques for hunting. Blackwillow had also showed her some basic defense moves, which Bluepaw had mastered quickly.
Bluepaw watched the sun sink, and the full moon start to rise in the night sky. She had been chosen to go to the gathering along with Stonepaw, Foxpaw, and Darkpaw. As she waited, Silverstar headed toward the group of cats near the entrance, that were going to the gathering. Bluepaw was about to join them when a voice behind her made her pause.
"Why do you get to go the gathering, and I don't?" Mousepaw growled behind her. Turning to face his flashing blue eyes, "because Silverstar picked me over you, that's why!" she growled back impatiently. "You can't talk to me like that! I'm your clanmate!" Mousepaw mewed back in surprise. "Really? You don't seem to have a problem with it!" Bluepaw snapped in reply.
Not waiting for an answer she darted after the patrol of cats that were beginning to disappear through the barrier. Catching up she ran between Ravenfeather and Foxpaw, who wouldn't stop purring next to her, can't he moon over another she-cat? when they came to a stream the other cats jumped over it, but Bluepaw splashed through the small stream, enjoying the soothing water around her legs.
By the time they reached four trees her fur had dried, but she had gotten some weird looks from the other cats, which she had chosen to ignore. Silverstar flicked her tail, signaling it was time to go down, the clan sprang down and padded into the clearing.
From the smell of it, ShadowClan and RiverClan were already here. Remembering the fight with RiverClan she unsheathed her claws, and dug them into the grass. Reminding herself this was a gathering she sheathed her claws again and calmed herself down.
"Remember me?" a familiar voice spoke up in front of her, gazing at the tom coolly she answered. "Yes, your Greypaw aren't you" she mewed coldly, "yes! And you are?" Greypaw mewed cheerfully, "Bluepaw" she answered. What does this stupid tom want? "You fought well Bluepaw," Greypaw continued.
Go away! she thought, "my mentor is Rushclaw, who's yours?" he continued not noticing her glare, sighing she decided to just go with it. "My mentor is Blackwillow, you said yours was Rushclaw?" Bluepaw mewed feeling a prickle of curiosity about Sweetspots mate. "Yeah! He's a great mentor! And I bet Blackwillow must be great to, since you were able to beat me, and you were on patrol with your leader!"
"Yeah" Bluepaw agreed, no need to tell him that I had no training from Blackwillow, or that Silverstar only came to see if I was strong enough to be an apprentice. Spotting Sweetspot and Rushclaw whispering something on the edge of the clearing, excitement and worry in both gazes, what now?
"Come on, the leaders are speaking" Greypaw mewed, nodding Bluepaw moved closer to Great-rock and settled down next to Foxpaw, and to her surprise Greypaw sat down on the other side of her, but bluepaw realized she was pleased instead of annoyed. Silverstar started off the gathering, "We have five new apprentices Stonepaw, Darkpaw, Pricklepaw, Mousepaw, and Bluepaw!" the clans let out murmurs of congratulations.
"Prey is plentiful, and ThunderClan is thriving but," Silverstar broke off to glare at a hefty grey tom who stood next to her. "I demand to know why RiverClan attacked my patrol, which was completely unprovoked, and threatened to hold an apprentice prisoner!." Greypaw tensed beside her, while the grey tom padded forward and answered.
"Your apprentice was on our territory" the tom answered, "She was on the border, and on our half of it!" Silverstar growled back. "That's not what I heard, I was told by my warriors that she was searching for prey on RiverClan territory" the tom growled. "That's a lie! And we weren't hunting! We were showing her the borders! It was her first time out of camp! How would she know how to hunt?" Silverstar defended herself.
Maybe because I taught myself? but Bluepaw reminded herself that Silverstar didn't know that, whispering in Greypaws ear she mewed, "you know that's not true, right?" she growled in a icy voice, Greypaw flinched away nodding hastily. Satisfied, she saw that Silverstar had moved on and the grey tom had stepped forward.
"RiverClan has one new warrior, Rockpaw is now Rocksplash !" Bluepaw stretched her head to see the brown tabby she-cat she had fought, staring straight at her, anger and fear fighting in her gaze. Smirking at Rocksplash, she looked back up at the RiverClan leader. "We also have a new apprentice, Mudpaw!" Bluepaw glanced at a muscular dark brown, apprentice.
The RiverClan leader stepped back and a smaller tom with the longest whiskers Bluepaw had ever seen, took his place. What's the leaders name? she hissed to Foxpaw, "the RiverClan leader is Troutstar, the WindClan leader is Whiskerstar, and the Shadowclan leader is Pinestar." he mewed pointing with his tail at each one in turn. Nodding she turned her attention back to Whiskerstar, who was announcing a new litter of kits and that a patrol driven away a rogue.
Whiskerstar stepped back and dipped his head to Pinestar, who shot him a scorching glare. "I have a complaint against WindClan!" there was growls and mews of protest from WindClan. "A patrol crossed the border and was trying to find there way to camp!" Pinestar yowled, Whiskerstar stepped forward, looking troubled "I was informed about this, and I apologize for this inconvenience, and have punished my warriors that took part in this, it will never happen again" the pale yellow leader mewed.
Pinestar nodded, still looking angry, her black fur bristling and her dark green eyes flashing. "We have two new warriors, Snakeclaw!, and Dapplemist!" Bluepaw glanced at a red tom, with white spots, and green eyes. Then at the dappled grey she-cat next to him, she had a flat face and long fur, with whit ears, paws, and chest.
As Bluepaw joined in the cheering for the new warriors, she caught the gaze of a dark brown tabby ShadowClan apprentice, something in his gaze made her freeze and it took a few seconds for her to look away, what just happened?
The gathering was done, and Bluepaw was about to follow Foxpaw toward the ThunderClan patrol when a paw on her tail made her whip around, expecting Stonepaw. But widened her eyes as she realized it was Greypaw, "What?" she mewed irritated. "Please, don't ask any questions, just meet me at Sunningrocks on the next quarter moon." The desperation and hope in his mew made her agree quickly and look into his blue eyes.
Instantly she wished she hadn't, because she saw something in his eyes that made dread prick at her fur, it was a look she had seen on Foxpaw many times. But unlike with Foxpaw, she didn't feel annoyed or irritated she felt.. Happy, and she didn't know why.
...
Bluepaw padded out of the apprentices den, it was the day after the gathering and Blackwillow had told her to meet her at the Great Sycamore at sun-high. Racing out of camp she leapt up the ravine and headed into the forest, following the trail to the Sycamore. Darting through the undergrowth Bluepaw got to the Sycamore just before sun-high.
Bluepaw slowed as she neared the Great-Sycamore, so that she wouldn't be out of breath for whatever Blackwillow had planned. "Hello Bluepaw, get enough sleep?" Blackwillow greeted her, "yep!" she answered. Blackwillow nodded, "Good, because your going to need all your strength for climbing to the top of this tree!" Blackwillow mewed cheerfully, Bluepaw just stared at her, to the top! that's going to be hard!
"Now I realize you're a very good tree climber, but I want you to try to climb to the top without claws, just leaping from branch to branch." Blackwillow mewed cheerfully, Bluepaw nodded feeling dazed at the task in front of her. "You can start now, Bluepaw" Blackwillow mewed. Bluepaw sighed, then shot Blackwillow a glare. Blackwillow just purred, Bluepaw gazed up at the tree trying to find the easiest route.
Hesitating for a moment more before she jumped to the first branch, it was thick and easy to balance on as she bunched her muscles and jumped to the next branch, about a fox-length away. As she got higher, she had to try hard to keep her claws sheathed as the branches got farther apart and grew smaller and weaker.
One more leap, Bluepaw thought as she neared the top, jumping to the last branch, she tried to balance on the branch, which was no thicker then her two small paws next to each other. Glancing down Bluepaw could hardly make out Blackwillows black pelt, then she looked up and saw the sun starting to sink in the sky, wow that took a long time.
Looking out over the rest of the forest she could see the river gleaming like a silver snake and cats splashing in it, she could see the moorland looking flat and dull, but looking closer she could see two cats chasing a scrap of fur, which she guessed was a rabbit. Looking to her right she saw a patrol of ShadowClan warriors padding along the Thunderpath.
We all live together but separate at the same time, Bluepaw thought. pausing for a moment, she then started making her way down the tree, which was slower then going up, and one time she slipped about half-way down, and was only just able to keep herself from falling down the tree. Eventually she made it down, and she paused on the first branch she had jumped on before sun-high, and glancing at the sky she could barley see the sun as it set.
Catching her breath she saw that Blackwillow was dozing, some mentor you are, she thought, then stiffened as she heard a cat padding quickly through the undergrowth. Recognizing Sweetspot by scent she called to Blackwillow, "Hey Blackwillow! Sweetspots coming, you don't want her to see you dozing do you?"
Blackwillow jumped up, her fur ruffled and dirty on one side but was perfectly clean and crisp on the other, Bluepaw had to choke down a purr of amusement at how funny Blackwillow looked. "Blackwillow! I need to tell you something about me and, uh, Rushclaw" Sweetspot mewed as she padded closer, her tortoiseshell fur bristling in anxiety. "Sweetspot, Bluepa" Sweetspot cut her off, "I'm expecting kits! Rushclaws and mine," Bluepaw gasped.
Half-clan kits! This isn't good. "Sweetspot, Bluepaw is here to!" Blackwillow growled angrily. "What! Where?" Sweetspot mewed looking around, I'm right here mouse-brain! Bluepaw thought irritated that a warrior couldn't be bothered to look upward. Dropping down on Sweetspots shoulders, which caused Sweetspot to stumble, she mewed as sweetly as she could.
"I'm right here Sweetspot!" she chirped, hopping off she looked at Sweetspots startled blue eyes, "I was practicing climbing" she mewed as nicely as she could. "I see that" Sweetspot mewed awkwardly looking flustered. Rolling her eyes Bluepaw mewed.
"So your having kits?! that's great news! Except that their father is a RiverClan cat." She mewed nonchalantly, "yes, are you going to tell the clan?" Sweetspot mewed worriedly. Sighing Bluepaw answered, "How would that help any cat? It wouldn't help you, your kits, or your mate would it? I'll keep it a secret… for now." Nodding Blackwillow asked, "how long until their due?" Sweetspot paused then mewed.
"Darkflower said about a moon and a half" nodding again Blackwillow turned to Bluepaw, "go hunting, then head back to camp after you catch two pieces of prey." sighing Bluepaw obeyed padding away from them and toward Sunningrocks. Catching the scent of squirrel she broke off of the trail and stalked the creature silently, checking to make sure she was down-wind she padded toward the squirrel. Which sat on a tree root nibbling a nut that it held in it's paws.
Using a clump of ferns for cover, she padded forward silently until she was close enough to hear it's teeth scrape against the nut it held. Leaping out, she landed squarely on the squirrel, and snapped its neck quickly, muttering a thanks to StarClan she buried the squirrel, then continued toward sunning rocks.
Bluepaw glanced up at the darkening sky, first she makes me climb to the top of the Great Sycamore while she sleeps, then makes me hunt, that's not fair! Growling she watched a bird swoop just above her head, leaping up she snagged the robin in her claw then drooped back down. There, now I can go back to camp and eat, but maybe I'll stay out a while.
Jumping on Sunningrocks she watched the sky darken until it was black, and the stars and moon shone overhead. She knew she should be getting back to camp, I doubt anyone cares anyway, she thought bitterly. As she watched the river she thought of Greypaw, he didn't judge me by my size, he believed in me, maybe I will meet with him, and maybe we could be friends.
(Here are the leaders, deputies, and Medicine-cats of the other clans)
ShadowClan
Leader=Pinestar- Sleek Black she-cat, with dark green eyes
Deputy=Frogtail- Pale brown tom, with a long thin tail, and blue eyes
Medicine-cat=Birdwing- Brown she-cat with white legs, and amber-eyes
RiverClan
Leader=Troutstar- Large, grey tabby tom, with pale blue-grey eyes
Deputy-Minnowclaw- senior, smoky-grey she-cat, with black paws, and pale green eyes
Medicine-cat=Herontail- White tom, with grey rings around his tail, and dark blue eyes
(Apprentice) Petalpaw- dark golden she-cat, with white paws, and underbelly, and amber eyes
WindClan
Leader=Whiskerstar- small pale yellow tom, with dark brown paws, long whiskers, and yellow eyes
Deputy=Badgerfoot- old sickly, black and white tom, with dull blue eyes(currently steeped down from duties)
Medicine-cat=Dewleaf- light grey she-cat, with yellow eyes
(Apprentice) Falconpaw- Dark brown tabby tom, with pale brown stripes, and blue eyes
Hope ya'll liked!
Also, Flamewing remember the Rogue?
