Chapter 10

Swallowpaw stared at the tabby she-cat in horror, wishing she could be anywhere else. "Uh…hi, Streampaw," she mewed weakly. "How are you today?"

"Don't 'hi, Streampaw' me!" the medicine cat apprentice hissed, lashing her tail furiously. "You're on enemy territory frolicking about with an enemy apprentice!"

"We were just playing," the black she-cat meowed quietly. "We weren't doing anything wrong."

Streampaw rolled her eyes, the amber orbs dark with anger. "You can't be friends with a ShadowClan cat, Swallowpaw. The warrior code forbids taking mates from another Clan!"

The ShadowClan apprentice stepped forward, his ears pressed flat against his head. "Hey, now who said anything about us being mates?" he asked. "We're just friends!"

"Sure, you're just friends now," Streampaw growled, "but what if you two decide to be mates later? What are you going to do then?"

"Come on," Swallowpaw sighed, hoping her sister would relax and calm down. "We weren't doing anything wrong! We talked to each other for a little bit, and then we had a race. It's not like we caused the world to end or anything disastrous like that."

The tabby she-cat shook her head furiously. "Your mentor is worried sick about you, Swallowpaw. Cherryfall is certain you got hurt while looking for bedding. Where is the bedding for the elders, anyway?"

The black she-cat swallowed nervously. She hadn't picked any moss for the elders yet. She had been so focused on meeting her new friend that she had completely forgotten about her duties. "I'm sorry, okay?" Swallowpaw muttered. "I'll go get the bedding now. Just tell Cherryfall I thought I'd try to hunt and that's what was taking me so long."

"You want me to lie?" Streampaw gasped. "I will not lie to anyone for you, Swallowpaw. You're breaking the warrior code. It's not my duty to protect you!"

"But you're my sister!" Swallowpaw cried. "We're supposed to look out for one another."

The tabby snorted, glaring at the black she-cat. "I will not support you breaking the code and neglecting your duties! Does Sandstorm deserve to lay in old stinky moss? Does Leafpool? They are elders and have served our Clan well for many season-cycles. The least they deserve is a soft place to sleep!"

Newtpaw pushed his way in between the sisters. "Calm down, Streampaw. Swallowpaw will go fetch the bedding now and everything will be fine. There's no need to yowl."

"You stay out of this!" Streampaw screeched. "She's been gone since dawn and it's way past sunhigh now! She'd be in trouble even she wasn't wasting time with a ShadowClan apprentice."

"Hey!" Swallowpaw spat. "Newtpaw is not a waste of time! He's a nice cat and my friend!"

The medicine cat apprentice unsheathed her claws, glaring at her sister furiously. "You can't be friends! In fact, you two shouldn't ever meet again. You have duties, Swallowpaw, and meeting this tom is getting in the way of them!"

The black she-cat sighed, knowing deep down that her sister was right. She had been gone a long time, and she had forgotten to get the elders new bedding, but she didn't want to give up the friendship she'd formed with Newtpaw. Why couldn't she get her duties done and still meet with the dark gray tom? It could work if she tried hard enough. "Please don't tell on us," Swallowpaw pleaded, giving Streampaw her sweetest look.

"Are you going to see him again?" the tabby asked.

The black she-cat exchanged a nervous glance with Newtpaw. Was he willing to forget their friendship or did he want to see her again? She knew what she wanted.

The dark gray tom gave her a slight nod and turned to Streampaw. "I don't think it's any of your business whether we meet again or not. Just don't tell on us!"

"Please!" Swallowpaw begged. "I'll be more careful not to neglect my duties, I promise!"

"So you're still going to meet," Streampaw sighed. "Alright, I won't tell, but I don't like this. If you want to break the warrior code, fine! I want no part in what you're doing. If someone else finds out and you get in trouble, don't come crying to me!"

Swallowpaw heaved a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank you! I promise I'll be careful! Cherryfall won't have to worry about me again."

The tabby shrugged, turning away from her sister. "Whatever. I don't care what you do. Break the warrior code for all I care. You're only hurting yourself." She stalked back to the bush, grabbing her pile of berries. Without another word, she marched away from the two apprentices, her tail still lashing angrily.

"Well, at least she's not going to tell on us," Newtpaw mewed, trying to sound cheerful.

"I've never seen her this mad," the black she-cat whispered. "She's never been angry with me before."

The gray tom pressed his nose into her fur. "She's just worried about you, that's all. She doesn't want to see you get hurt."

Swallowpaw trembled slightly, wondering if Streampaw would really keep their secret. "What if she changes her mind?" the apprentice fretted. "What if she tells Cherryfall or worse- Bramblestar?"

"You're her sister," Newtpaw. "I'm sure you could change her mind."

The she-cat sat down on the soft grass, staring down at her paws. "We have to be more careful. I can't risk being found with you again."

The gray tom nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, maybe meeting during the day wasn't such a good idea. We both have things we need to do and there's too much risk of a patrol finding us."

"And if we're gone too long our mentors will get mad," Swallowpaw added.

"What about at night?" Newtpaw suggested. "Can you slip out of your den without waking anyone?"

Nodding slowly, the she-cat thought the idea over. "I think so. There's usually someone guarding the camp entrance, but there's a low ledge behind the apprentices' den I could use to climb out. I think I could get out of camp without being noticed."

"Great!" the ShadowClan tom mewed, bouncing. "Let's meet at moonhigh every night!"

"Every night?" Swallowpaw asked, feeling nervous. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

Newtpaw nodded. "We like each other, right? I know I don't want to go too long without seeing you. You're my best friend."

The ThunderClan apprentice sighed, leaning against the dark gray tom. "You're my best friend, too. Okay, I'll meet you at moonhigh."