Apprentice and Pregnant 2

Chapter 10: Laurelpaw Is Not My Type

Every living thing

Pushed into the ring

Fight it out to wow the crowd

I guess you thought, you could just watch

No one's getting out

"Thunderclan!" Swallow Star called out. "We're leaving now, everyone follow me!"

Laurelpaw slunk over to where her clan mates were gathered, sheepishly dragging her tail between her legs and looking at the ground. Beside her Firepaw pretty much looked the same, looking awkward as ever with the same shameful expression.

I can't believe that just happened, Laurelpaw thought to herself, wincing as she saw the amused smirks and angry expressions on her clan mates faces. How are we ever going to explain ourselves?

It was basically the biggest walk of shame Laurelpaw ever had the joy of being a part of.

As they walked past the Shadowclan group, someone whistled loudly. Laurelpaw felt her face grow hotter than the sun as she heard more than a few of them snicker and whisper.

"Guess she takes after her mom," Laurelpaw heard one of them say. It took all Laurelpaws strength to ignore them and keep walking, the scorn nearly making her lose her breath.

You know nothing about my mother, you jerk, Laurelpaw thought angrily. And you know nothing about me. How dare you judge me?

Beside her, Daisy was struggling to keep up. It was obvious he was worn out from the day's events, but thankfully he didn't let it show. That would make things even worse if he decided to stop in the middle of the clearing. As if we need more attention drawn to us.

Come to think of it, I don't think that's possible anyway.

By now everyone had noticed Daisy, and their amused snickering started to turn to murmurs of confusion. It seemed to take moons to walk over to Thunderclans group, and Laurelpaw wondered just how long everyone planned on staring at them.

"Alright, now that everyone's here," Swallow Star announced as Laurelpaw and Firepaw finally came into earshot. "Tigerstripe, you can lead the front of the patrol, and I'll take the back."

"Okay," Tigerstripe nodded. Laurelpaw sighed as he turned to wink at her before turning around to guide the cats out. She quickly took her spot in the line, making the sorry mistake of hoping that no one would say anything.

"Laurelpaw and Firepaw," Swallow Star called out in an exaggerated tone. "How about you two join me back here."

Dammit!

His words caused an outbreak of laughter throughout Thunderclan, and Laurelpaw was so embarrassed she couldn't even speak. She shoved her way back through the line, not meeting anyone's eyes.

"How could you do this to Ivypaw," Pinepaw hissed as Laurelpaw walked past her.

"This is all a misunderstanding," Laurelpaw whispered, glancing up quickly to meet her friend's eyes. Pinepaw was shaking her head in disgust, ears flat against her head. She looked so disappointed it made Laurelpaw want to cry.

Everyone has the wrong idea!

But will they ever believe us?

"So," Swallow Star said as Laurelpaw and Firepaw approached him. "I'm a little bit angry at the two of you right now."

"It wasn't what it looked like," Firepaw said at once, in a desperate tone. "You have to believe us!"

"I'm having a hard time believing that," Swallow Star sighed, looking completely fed up. "Considering the fact that the entire gathering just watched you, ah, well I don't really know what that was but it wasn't appropriate."

"We were fighting," Laurelpaw said.

"Didn't look like fighting if you ask me," Swallow Star mumbled. "Or if you ask anyone in the entire damn forest."

"It's true!" Firepaw insisted. He nodded his head at Daisy. "We found this kit, and then we started arguing-"

"Cause I got mad at him," Laurelpaw cut in, realizing with a hideous dread that their story sounded ridiculous. "So I attacked him and wouldn't let him up."

"Right," Swallow Star said. Laurelpaw sighed, frustration making her want to yell and stomp her paws on the ground. Swallow Star didn't sound as if he believed them at all.

"You have to believe us," Firepaw cried, looking equally frustrated.

"Yeah!" Laurelpaw put in. "Me and Firepaw would never do… that. We hate each other!"

"Yeah, ew," Firepaw said. After Laurelpaw said this, Swallow Star sighed loudly and stopped walking. He looked over at Laurelpaw with the biggest look of disbelief she had ever seen.

"I'm not an idiot," he snapped.

"W-what?" Laurelpaw stammered.

"You two don't hate each other," Swallow Star said as if that was the stupidest concept he'd ever heard. "I don't really know who you two think you're fooling with all the arguing you do, but a blind kit could see that hate is one emotion you definitely don't have for one another."

"I think they love each other," Daisy piped in, clearly trying to be helpful. Swallow Star laughed shortly. "See? There you go."

"WHAT?" Firepaw yelped. "Are you serious? Hell no-"

"We don't love each other," Laurelpaw said at the same time, completely startled. "That's completely ridiculous and-"

"Whatever," Swallow Star interrupted. "Love, hate, whatever. It's not really my business, but now sadly thanks to your um, episode at the gathering, everyone's going to be in your business whether you like it or not."

"But we didn't-" Laurelpaw protested.

"Laurelpaw is not my type!" Firepaw cried.

"Wait, what?" Laurelpaw snapped, getting distracted for a second. "What do you mean; I'm not your type? That's so rude! Are you saying I'm not good enough?"

"Well I'm not exactly yours!" Firepaw snapped, glaring at her. "I've heard what you've said about me!"

"We've already talked about this!" Laurelpaw yelled. "Drop it or-"

"This is exactly what I'm freaking talking about," Swallow Star said loudly, stopping the argument at once. "Just shut up, both of you. I don't know how I'm going to deal with this because quite frankly, this kinda thing isn't really covered in the warrior code. And it shouldn't be, because this kind of thing shouldn't happen at all!"

"We're sorry," Laurelpaw said quietly. "Seriously, Swallow Star. We're sorry."

"Yeah," Firepaw put in, agreeing. "We didn't mean to make a scene… and I know you don't believe us. But it wasn't what everyone thinks it was, and I'll argue that until I die."

"They were just fighting about who was going to take care of me," Daisy said sadly. Laurelpaw jumped, she was so focused on the conversation that she almost forgot the little cat was there. A sudden thought then struck her, and hope sparked in her heart once again.

Swallow Star doesn't believe us.

But he might believe Daisy!

Laurelpaw looked up hopefully at Swallow Stars face, wondering if he had heard the kit. It was apparent he did, because he looked feverish and ready to give up. He stopped walking, and sat down at the grass.

"Alright," he said at last. "How about you explain this to me from the beginning? I haven't even addressed where you found this kit yet. Just tell me what happened and I'll do my best to understand."

"Oh, thank you," Laurelpaw sighed with relief. This is our chance!

"It started out fine," Firepaw began. "We were sitting with the rest of the cats, waiting for the gathering to start. Then we noticed one of the trees shaking, which was weird because it wasn't windy and none of the others were moving. So we went over to investigate…"

Meanwhile…

Thornpaw was finally beginning to fall asleep when he felt someone poke him. Oh, come on! He thought angrily. I've been up all night, who honestly needs to talk to me right now? Just go away.

He felt the poke again, and whispers.

"Dude, Thornpaw," it was Berrypaws voice. "Wake up."

"I was almost asleep," Thornpaw hissed, getting up against his will. "I didn't sleep all night and I wanted to sleep in and WAIT A MINUTE, IT'S STILL THE MIDDLE OF THE FREAKING NIGHT!"

"Sh," Berrypaw hissed, looking around at the dark Shadowclan camp. "You're gonna wake everyone up!"

"Oh, like you just did to me?" Thornpaw hissed, getting very annoyed at a fast rate. "What do you guys want that couldn't wait till morning?"

"We just got back from the gathering," Redpaw said quickly, looking excited. "And oh my god, you won't believe what happened."

"I wish you'd been there," Berrypaw said in a rush. "Trust me, Thornpaw. Cats are going to remember this one, that's for sure."

"Why?" Thornpaw suddenly felt very uneasy, and he wondered if the kit he had found had something to do with it.

I was at the gathering; well, for a little while. I wonder what happened…

"You know that girl from Thunderclan we met a few moons ago?" Berrypaw asked, eyes shining. "That pregnant apprentice's daughter?"

"Laurelpaw," Thornpaw said quietly. "Yeah, why?" Oh shit

"She was like, doing it with some other cat in the trees," Berrypaw cried in a mixture of disgust and fascination. "AND EVERYONE SAW!"

"THE ENTIRE GATHERING," Redpaw yelled.

Oh what the freaking hell

"That doesn't sound right," Thornpaw scoffed. But he felt the blood drain from his body slightly, and his legs felt weak. "Why would she be doing that?"

"Well I don't know," Berrypaw sighed. "Thornpaw, we were expecting you to at least laugh or something. Why do you look so stricken?"
"I just don't understand," Thornpaw shook his head. He was very confused and upset to hear this information, and he struggled to accept it.

I thought she liked me… I don't believe them, there must have been a misunderstanding.

But why would they lie about something like that?
"Sheesh, Thornpaw. You're no fun when you're tired," Berrypaw rolled his eyes. "Come on, Redpaw. Let's go get something to eat before we go to sleep."

"See you in the morning," Redpaw said kindly, clearly trying to make up for Berrypaws rudeness. "Sorry for waking you up."

"Goodnight," Thornpaw mumbled, lying back down. His thoughts were spinning, and he didn't know what to feel. Part of him didn't believe his friends at all. I know Laurelpaw, and that just seems like something she'd never do, he thought. She's sweet… and kind! Definitely not the type to go do it in the trees when there's a gathering going on. And who's the cat they said she was with? I'd like to give him a piece of my mind!

Thornpaw was starting to feel sleepy again, and he shut his eyes. He was content with his thoughts, just because everyone else believed something didn't mean he had to too.

But there was still that feeling in the back of his mind, the feeling that his friends were right.

He thought of Laurelpaws mother, and how she got pregnant as an apprentice. It wasn't her fault, but what if that affected how Laurelpaw acted?

What if she feels like she has to follow her mother's paw steps?

Would she really do such a thing at a gathering?

Ugh, I don't know what to believe