Chapter Nine

Sunpaw and Sebastion walked into camp behind Sandnose. Whitepaw and Cherrypaw, who were eating together, looked up. Whitepaw stood up, as if to come over, but Sandnose stopped him with a flick of his tail and Whitepaw sat down, looking at Sunpaw longingly.

"Who is this?" Demanded Dapplestar as Sebastion was led into camp. Sandnose had a whispering converance with the leader as other cats gathered around. Cherrypaw's mentor, Appleleaf, had appeared suddenly by Cherrypaws side. Twigkit and Seedkit ran towards her, but Raindrop stopped them. They looked at Sunpaw questioningly.

Dawnsky had also appeared, and Cloudwhisker was sitting at the entrance to the warriors den, watching it all. Perhaps he'd smelled Sebastions unfirmilar scent and come out to see what was going on. Sunpaw could hardly blame him.

Mintpaw peeked out at Sunpaw from the warriors den, but something made her look back, and she disappeared again. Firestreak had probably said something or done something. Sunpaw also noticed other cats gathering. Blazefur, Sparrowfeather, and Pebblefur. Only Milkyeyes, Firestreak, and Blossomtail weren't watching.

Sunpaw remembered Twigkits mouse. She wondered if she gave Whitepaw or Cherrypaw the directions if they could fetch it for her. Sunpaw guessed she wouldn't be allowed after Dapplestar heard about this.

"Sunpaw, would you care to explain everything?" Dapplestar said.

Sunpaw did. She was so tired of lying, tired of having to live up to everyones expectations, that she told everything. "Well, after Brownroot died, I decided I couldn't leave the clan, so I went to tell Sebastion erm... Rootpaw. We argued, and I ran away."

Whitepaw was looking at her in shock, like most of the other cats. Twigkit and Seedkit seemed confused.

"Sunpaw, this is a most severe breaking of our warrior code." Dapplestar said.

"Yes Dapplestar." Sunpaw said, her head hanging in shame.

"However, I am anxious to hear your story Rootpaw. You disappeared without a trace several moons ago, now did you intend for Sunpaw to do the same?" Dapplestar asked. Sebastion looked ashamed.

"I only wanted the company of a cat who was like me." Sebastion admitted.

"Well, you certainly have had that, you could've always had that if you'd stayed." Dapplestar said dryly.

"Dapplestar, when my mother died, I was heartbroken. Lonely and desperate, I wondered off. You'll recall not being able to locate me for two days? I was with the circus cats, my friends. They taught me so much, of course they aren't good hunters or fighters, but they have tricks of they're own. One of them in particular was a good friend to me, and she asked me if I wanted to stay with them. I left shortly after, and stayed away for two days. Thats when I had that argument with Brownp- Brownroot, and I ran off, agreeing to stay because of my anger."

"Coward!" Called a warrior. Sunpaw thought it was Blazefur, but she couldn't be sure.

"I am not a coward." Sebastion said, turning to face the Thunderclanners. "I only sought friendship that I couldn't find here." He said.

"Enough." Dapplestar said. "Sebastion, you're free to go, you will be attacked as any rogue or loner found on our territory if we spot you after sunhigh." Dapplestar said.

"Yes Dapplestar." Sebastion said, dipping his head, but he didn't turn to leave. "What about Sunpaw?" He asked.

"Sunpaw will be punished severely, but I haven't decided how yet." Dapplestar said. "She is however, free to leave with you now if she so chooses." Dapplestar looked at Sunpaw with a demanding stare. Sunpaw couldn't face it.

"I'm staying." She mumbled. Sebastion sigh, licked her ear, and left the camp. Sunpaw stared at her paws the whole time. She could hardly believe what was happening. She wished she'd stay in her nest this morning. She wished a lot of things, actually, but she nolonger regretted meeting Rootpaw/Sebastion. Instead, she was disappointed she'd allowed herself to get caught up in his showy life, not only breaking the warrior code, but ruining her reputation in the clan. Dapplestar would probably exile her.

"Sunpaw, you've broken the warrior code, what would you do in my place?" Dapplestar asked.

"Punish me?" Sunpaw suggested timidly.

"How?" Dapplestar pressed.

"Um... I don't know...Exile?" She thought of how disappointed Brownroot would be, and there, in front of the whole clan, she burst into tears.

Dapplestar seemed taken aback. She looked at Sunpaw a long time.

"It hardly seems fair to do anything too serious, in light of recent events. I will discuss the matter with your mentor and we will try to come up with a fair punishment. Until that time, you are to sit right where you are, here in the clearing. You are not to talk with anyone, but to sit in silent vigil, and think about your actions." Dapplestar ordered. Sunpaw nodded miserably. That was probably worse then anything else Dapplestar could've said.

Sandnose gave her one disappointed look, then followed Dapplestar to her den. He'd probably request her mentor be changed. Who'd want to mentor a cat like Sunpaw? Maybe it would've been best if she had been exiled, rather then be the apprentice nobody wanted, then the warrior nobody wanted. She'd be chased out the second a new leader rose up...

Not only embarrassed, but totally defeated, Sunpaw sat there, trying to avoid looking around, but couldn't stop her eyes from wondering around the camp. It wasn't very busy, which made the situation even more boring. Twigkit and Seedkit kept looking at her and asking their mother quesitons. Raindrop seemed thoroughly annoyed with them, and made them go into the nursery.

The kits would probably never look at Sunpaw as they had before again. That bound was broken.

Cherrypaw was watching her beside Whitepaw, but when Sunpaw tried to meet the tom's eyes he looked away, and then turned to leave. Cherrypaw looked back at him, cast Sunpaw one last puzzled and disappointed look, and went after him. There went the pair that belonged together. Why was she so blind to it? It was so obvious that her sister could settle down when Sunpaw couldn't, just like the proud Whitepaw. They went well together, and would live together.

Sunpaw would nolonger exsist to them the way she had.

She saw her mother watching her. She looked hurt, like Sunpaw had betrayed her. Sunpaw looked away in shame. She didn't want to see her mother look at her like that.

Others were watching too. Mintpaw, her eyes so full of curiousity, walked out of the medicine cats den and held a whispering conference with Sparrowfeather and Pebblefur. Her eyes got wide and she sent Sunpaw a look of total unbelief. Sunpaw thought of the irony of it. She now could tell Mintpaw where she'd learned the trick of walking on ones hindlegs that had kept Twigkit and Seedkit occupied. But in the end, what would it matter? A kittypet trick would not be welcomed by the clans, and she brought it to them.

Mintpaw would avoid Sunpaw like a disease, provent her from having any influence in the clan. Perhaps that was the right thing to do.

Blazefur was watching her solemnly, his tail flicking. He wasn't a particularly cruel cat, but he thrived on the mistakes of others. He would never let Sunpaw forget this, no matter how long she lived. Sunpaw would forever have to live with the cruel taunts and sure rememberances of this.

Sunpaw looked up at the sky and Starclan would forever remember this too. Would she be accepted among them when the time came? Sunpaw doubted it. Where would her spirit go when she died?

Sunpaw had never felt so alone. She would've even liked to see Brownroot standing out there among the clan, watching her with his disapproving stare. At least he would be alive.

But she wouldn't find his face no matter how long she searched the clans faces. She would never see his face again, his dark amber eyes watching her and judging her every move.

No, she would nolonger have that.

Cloudwhisker was watching her still, Milkyeyes at his side. They were talking in low tones, and Cloudwhisker could only be sharing with his denmate that his son Rootpaw had returned and gotten Sunpaw in trouble. Milkyeyes got a determined look on his face, and started striding towards her. Cloudwhisker called something after him, but Milkyeyes response was very clear.

"No leader of this, or any other clan, will keep me from getting word of my son, understand?" Milkyeyes said. Cloudwhisker looked appalled.

"Sunpaw?" Milkyeyes said, walking unsteadily towards her, following his scent powers only. Sunpaw used her tail to guide him. That wasn't talking, that was aiding a cat weaker then herself. "What is he like? Is he well? He's found friends?" Milkyeyes looked so overwhelmingly happy that Sunpaw couldn't refuse to answer.

"He's a large tabby tom. He's well enough I suppose, and yes, he's part of a group of cats that preform for twoleggeds. Taylor, Tempest, Paws, and Maxzene." Sunpaw answered.

"He preforms?" Milkyeyes asked, incredulouos.

"Yes, he can walk on a... large round object called a ball without falling. He also remembers how to hunt and fight." Sunpaw said.

"Milkyeyes, I gave explicit orders Sunpaw was not to be talked to." Dapplestar said, coming out of her den. Blazefur was standing next to it. He must've told. Sandnose appeared behind Dapplestar, looking at Sunpaw angrily. She was in so much trouble already, this would seal her fate.

"Dapplestar, I respect you in most ways, but I want to know of my remaining son, and not even you can stop me." Milkyeyes said.

Dapplestar looked surprised, then nodded. "Very well, Sunpaw, why don't you reunite Milkyeyes with his son." Dapplestar said. Sunpaw looked at her leader in surprise, not knowing if she should question her leader or just say 'yes' or if she should talk at all.

Sunpaw finally decided to say yes. She led Milkyeyes out of camp, glad to get away.

"Milkeyes, you were so brave!" Sunpaw exclaimed once they were far enough away.

"Brave? Whats so brave about wanting to see my son? I feel bad about getting you in more trouble though..." He sounded half-sorry, half-glad about the turnout.

"Lets just hope Sebast- I mean, Rootpaw... will see you." Sunpaw said. "He might not have shown up at his home yet."

"Call him by whatever he goes by now." Milkyeyes instructed. "What is it again?"

"Sebastion." Sunpaw replied.

"Sebastion... suits him I'll bet." Milkyeyes mused. "He was terribly upset when his mother died. We weren't the best parents, see, we each had our buddy. Brownroot had me, and Sebastion had his mother. It wasn't very easy for him when she passed away. He got really depressed. I'd feared he'd died when he ran off, shortly before you were born. Brownroot missed him too. We never realized how close we all were until we lost one another. I was the only one left until you discovered Ro- Sebastion. Now I have a reason to keep living- I have a son!"

Sunpaw didn't know what to say. Milkyeyes sounded so happy. He was so wrapped up in family, not like Sunpaw, Cherrypaw, and Dawnsky. Sunpaw realized how alike the families now were. Sunpaw had almost been lost to them, just like her father. Cherrypaw was really closer to Dawnsky anyway. How strange indeed. If she had left, would Cherrypaw have become cold like Brownroot? But then again, Cherrypaw had Whitepaw, and Brownroot had had no one.

"I really do miss her." Milkyeyes said. "She was a lot like you to be honest. Always questioning things and very stubborn... no offense."

"Really?" Sunpaw asked, surprised at the kindness in Milkyeyes words. Here was one cat who wouldn't abandon her. Maybe life would be worth living so long as she had him to talk to.

"Yes... If we would've had a daughter, I bet you two would've been a lot alike." Milkyeyes said. Sunpaw felt so honored.

They reached the tents and Sunpaw stopped. Milkyeyes stopped to.

"We there?" He whispered.

"Yes, perhaps I should go fetch him and you should wait here." Sunpaw said.

"Alright, but hurry back." Milkyeyes said. She could feel his excitement like it was contagious.

She ran into Taylor on her way into the cats 'room'. "Sunpaw, what are you doing here?" Her tone was so demanding Sunpaw guessed Sebastion must've told them all what had happened.

"I need to talk to Sebastion, please Taylor, theres someone here who wants to see him." Sunpaw said.

"What, you have a patrol of warriors out there come to rip him apart for what he did, no way Sunpaw." Taylor said, turning away.

"Sunpaw?" Came a voice. She turned around to see Sebastion.

"Sebastion I-" Sunpaw was cut off by a yowl coming from the forest. "Milkyeyes!" Sunpaw ran towards the yowl, and noticed Sebastion right on her tail.

They found Milkyeyes bravely facing a fox. It was a young fox, inexperienced. It snapped at Milkyeyes, who was bleeding in several places. Sunpaw didn't even stop to think, she lunged onto the fox and bit down, hard! She felt the fox rear up, and she clung on as hard as she could. Then the fox rolled, squashing her under itself. The air rushed out of Sunpaw, and she lay on the ground for several moments. She heard Sebastions yowl, and the fox give a cry of fury and pain. Then, more yowls were heard. A white streak and an orange streak raced past Sunpaw and hit the fox with such force that it fell over. Sebastion jumped clear just in time.

Cherrypaw and Whitepaw! Sunpaw could've cried with joy. They pattered the fox with speed and stealth that amazed Sunpaw. She watched at they fought side by side, angering the fox with their quick bits and scratches. Sebastion took care of the foxes other side, and Sunpaw ran to help him. She gave the foxes muzzle a good bit as it turned to snap at Sebastion. It yelped with pain and ran back a few paces. Sunpaw, Whitepaw, and Cherrypaw gave chase, and the fox turned quickly away, its courage gone.

"Whitepaw, Cherrypaw, you have no idea how glad I am to see you!" Sunpaw blurted. They looked at her, then one another, then smiled at her.

"Hello Sunpaw." Cherrypaw said.

"You okay?" Whitepaw asked.

"Yea, just a bit winded." Sunpaw said. She looked around for Sebastion and Milkyeyes.

The son was standing over his father, looking him over. "Sunpaw, he needs treatment badly, the twoleggeds can help him..." Sebastion seemed to run out of words.

"Then get him to your twoleggeds." Whitepaw said. Sunpaw looked at him. "It's whats best." Added the white tom.

"Thanks, you'd better get yourself looked at Sunpaw, but I bet your medicine cat can handle that." Sebastion said.

"Bye Sebastion." Sunpaw said, not knowing what else to say. She wondered if she'd ever see Milkyeyes again. Probably not. He'd probably choose to stay with his son after the twoleggeds healed him. Sebastion would take care of him anyway.


When Sunpaw got back to camp, she was exhausted. Whitepaw led her to the medicine cats den while Cherrypaw explained what had happened. Sunpaw fell asleep the instant she lay her head down.

This time, there were no dreams.

TBC

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