It's Me! Another chapter already! I'm on a roll!
I'm trying out some POV switches this chapter. Let me know how you like it!
And OC submitters, review or PM me with anything you want me to do with your characters.
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Disclaimer: I do not own warriors or any related content.
Chapter 9
*Redpaw's POV*
Redpaw lay awake, waiting for moonhigh so he could go meet with Grasspaw. He sighed, remembering the first time they had shared tongues on the Great Hill. Lost in reverie, he failed to notice the presence sneaking up behind him.
"What're you doing up so late, Redkit?"
Redpaw jumped at the sudden voice, and spun to face it owner. "Leave me alone, Falconpaw," he spat, trying to sound tough, "Or I'll make you, like I did last moon."
Falconpaw laughed in his face. "You just got lucky, worm. And most of that luck was your stuck-up brother."
Redpaw bristled at the insults but held his ground determinedly. "I said, leave me alone."
Falconpaw waltzed right up to him and slid a paw around his neck. "Aww," he crooned sarcastically. "The little kittypet doesn't want to play a game?"
Redpaw backed up slightly, confused. "What game?"
Falconpaw grinned evilly. "Hide and seek," he responded, "But with a twist. Every time I find you, I scratch you once or take one piece of prey. We play until dawn, or until I find you ten times."
Redpaw didn't want to play, but knew if he refused, Falconpaw would only do something worse to him. "All right," he mewed uncertainly.
"I'll give you twenty heartbeats," Falconpaw announced, closing his eyes, "Then I'll come for you."
Redpaw sprinted away, instantly feeling out of breath. Panting, he pelted into the forest, an idea popping into his head. He'd go find Grasspaw. It was almost moonhigh, so she'd probably be there, Falconpaw would never look there, and Grasspaw could protect him in a direct fight.
Exhausted, he hauled himself to the top of the Great Hill and simply collapsed, flanks heaving as he gasped for breath. He couldn't see Grasspaw, but he was early, so he wasn't worried. His breathing gradually evened out, and he still hadn't seen Grasspaw.
Suddenly, he heard voices, and pressed himself low to the ground, so as not to be seen. He caught a whiff of Grasspaw's scent, and crept forward to follow her. He saw a glimpse of her tail disappearing into a tunnel, and wondered where she was going. He made to follow, but realized there were other cats with her.
She must be on a mission, he thought. I can't disturb her. He sat down in the brambles, waiting for her to come out. After a while, he heard voices again, this time more urgent, and he was surprised as Grasspaw and two other cats, one of which was the ForestClan leader, Maplestar, came barreling out of the cave.
He got up and bounded in pursuit, wanting to find out why they were in a hurry. He raced along the riverbank behind them, then skidded to a halt as a strange cat leapt, dripping, out of the river. Not wanting to be seen, he slipped into some reeds and watched through a parting.
He caught only snatches of their conversation, but barely stopped himself from crying out as the strange cat leapt at the group, obviously intending to kill Maplestar. The grey tom leapt in front of her, taking a fatal-looking blow to the throat and eliciting a scream from Grasspaw.
The cat strode off, leaving Grasspaw and Maplestar to carry the grey cat back to their camp. Redpaw desperately wanted to find out who the grey cat was, and why the strange river cat had attacked Grasspaw and Maplestar, but knew this would be a bad time. Worried, he slunk back to the Great Hill.
Falconpaw suddenly leapt from the shadows, pinning a shocked Redpaw to the ground. "Thought you could run away, did you?"
Redpaw shook in fear, his earlier triumph over Falconpaw having no effect on his terror now.
"Well, I found you, so here's one scratch." Falconpaw's claws tore through Redpaw's muzzle and he recoiled, screeching in pain. "That's what I thought," Falconpaw sneered. "You can't even take a tiny cut. You really were a born weakling, just like your kittypet mother."
At this final insult, Redpaw's anger exploded. He roared in rage and sprang up, throwing a surprised Falconpaw off down the hill. Fueled by his pent-up anger, he leaped up and raced over to where Falconpaw lay winded, grabbing him by the scruff and throwing him down the tunnel. "This is the last time!"
He ran after Falconpaw and placed a paw on his throat, claw's unsheathed, breathing heavily. "It's over."
Falconpaw coughed up some blood and laughed weakly. "Yes it is," he replied, seeing Redpaw's strength ebbing. "You can go see your mother in WeakClan!" Falconpaw surged upwards, shoving Redpaw's head into the Moonstone with a resounding crack.
"I should have done this so long ago," Falconpaw hissed, stalking across the cave to Redpaw, who was lying in a daze on the ground. "You were a disgrace to our clan, you slimy piece of kittypet scum. We'll be better off without you."He smirked as he raked his claws through Redpaw's throat, letting the blood pool at his paws.
Suddenly, the fire in his eyes died out. "Oh, great StarClan above, what have I done?" he whispered. "What have I done?" he wailed, scrabbling out of the cave in despair.
Redpaw weakly looked down at the puddle of his own blood, mingling with his pelt and spreading out on the cave floor. He watched in awe as it touched the Moonstone, and became infused with the light of the stars. The Moonstone blazed forth, encasing him in a beam of pure light and raising him off the ground. He felt the blood flow back into his veins as the light from the Moonstone healed his fatal wound. The light faded and he dropped back to the ground, blacking out from shock and exhaustion.
*Falconpaw's POV*
Falconpaw's mind blurred as he raced away from the Moon Cave. I killed him. He had realized the horror of his crime, but too late. He had killed Redpaw out of spite, and now he thought the guilt would destroy him. On and on he blundered through the forest, until he finally couldn't run anymore and sprawled on the ground. His flanks heaved with sobs and gasps, tears running freely from his eyes.
"I should have realized earlier," he moaned, looking up at the sky. "StarClan, will you forgive me?"
A single star blinked in the night, and Falconpaw sighed with the small relief it brought. All those times I tormented him, insulted him, took his food, and hurt him, and I can't even apologize.
He thought back to the first day his hate for kittypets had been kindled. It had been a beautiful day, a few fluffy white clouds in a peaceful blue sky. He had gone out hunting with his sister, Flowerpaw. They had caught a lot of prey and had a great time, until they found a kittypet invader on their territory.
They expected it to be easy prey and attacked it, but it was vicious, striking back and killing Flowerpaw. Falconpaw had killed it in revenge, but ever since that day had hated kittypets with a vengeful passion.
"I forgive it," he mewed to nobody. "I have let it go." But at what cost? He thought, thoroughly depressed and disgusted. He hauled himself up, trudging back to camp. He had decided to admit to what he had done, and take whatever punishment was necessary.
He slid into the tunnel which led to his camp, pushing his way into Sandstar's den.
"What is it?" Sandstar mewed sleepily.
"I killed Redpaw," Falconpaw answered, head bowed.
Sandstar sat bolt upright. "Where? Take me to him!"
"It's at the Great Hill," Falconpaw told him sadly, setting out towards the Moon Cave.
"Oh no," Sandstar gasped as Falconpaw led him down the tunnel and into view of Redpaw's motionless form. The EarthClan leader scampered over to the small apprentice, picking him up by the scruff.
"We're taking him back to camp," he mumbled through the mouthful of fur. Falconpaw followed behind as they headed solemnly back to the cave they called home. As they walked in, cats began to wake up and notice. Some came over to see what was happening, then recoiled in shock as they saw Redpaw's limp body being carried by Sandstar.
Redpaw was carefully placed in the center of the cave where all could see. Falconpaw decided to go tell Redpaw's brother what happened.
"Crowpaw," he called softly to the black apprentice. "Get up."
"What do you want," Crowpaw replied indignantly.
"Redpaw is dead," Falconpaw told him.
Crowpaw leapt up, racing over to see. He halted, letting out an earsplitting yowl at the sight. "NO! Redpaw!" He shoved his muzzle into Redpaw's flank, whimpering.
Falconpaw came up beside him, nuzzling Redpaw's neck. He pulled back, flabbergasted as he felt a weak pulse.
"He's alive," Falconpaw gasped.
Crowpaw turned to him, jaw dropping and tears still streaming down his cheeks. "What," he spluttered.
Falconpaw shrugged to say he didn't know, then spontaneously came over and licked Crowpaw's shoulder.
The black tom stiffened. "What was that for? I thought you hated Redpaw."
Falconpaw sighed as he explained. "I did, until now. It took me nearly killing him to realize he's just a cat like us all."
Crowpaw rounded on him, eyes blazing in fury. "You did this to him?"
"Yes," Falconpaw said. "But now I'll never do anything bad to him again."
"Liar," Crowpaw snarled. "I don't believe you. I'll flay you alive, you reeking piece of fox dung!" With that, Crowpaw leapt at Falconpaw, who didn't resist, allowing himself to be pinned down and his chest clawed.
"Stop this at once!" Sandstar barreled into Crowpaw, knocking him off of Falconpaw. "I will have none of this! Falconpaw's punishment will be decided later, fairly."
Crowpaw scowled and padded back to his brother. Falconpaw was now exhausted and went to his den to fall asleep, infinitely thankful Redpaw had survived.
*Grasspaw's POV*
Grasspaw woke up, groaning as she stretched in the bleak sunlight. She glanced over at Skypaw's barely moving flanks, and her memory of the previous night came rushing back. She staggered as the horror of Blackheart's attack returned. Whimpering slightly, she padded over and buried her nose in Skypaw's fur. He was still breathing, but only just.
She suddenly realized that nobody else knew of Skypaw's injury. Sighing, she headed over to the warriors' den. She nudged Shinewing with her nose. "Wake up," she breathed.
Shinewing yawned and got up. "What is it?" she asked brightly.
"It's Skypaw," Grasspaw replied grimly. "He's been badly injured."
"What?" Shinewing bolted out of her nest, sprinting over to the medicine den. "No! Not Skypaw!"
Grasspaw followed slowly, suppressing a wail of distress.
"Stay with me," Shinewing was whispering, tears seeping from her closed eyes and onto Skypaw's fur. "You can't go."
Grasspaw slid closer and brushed Shinewing's pelt with her tail. "Where there is life, there is hope," she mewed, pressing her side to Shinewing's in comfort. "He will live, I promise."
The two she-cats stayed there until sunhigh, lost in their grief and worry. At that point, Redface came over.
"Here," he said kindly, dropping two mice at their feet. "I brought you some prey.
"Thank you," Grasspaw gulped, bending down to pick at the food.
"I know this is hard for you," he mewed, "But we need to go hunting now."
Grasspaw accepted, happy to have something to do to distract her from Skypaw's condition. They set off away from the other clan borders, to the deeper forest near the edge of their territory. Grasspaw threw herself into the task, driving all other thoughts out of her mind. It was now leaf-fall and the prey was beginning to hide underground, but Grasspaw still caught a lot in her determination.
Redface, holding his own prey, nodded in congratulation as they met up outside of the camp entrance. Grasspaw was tired from worrying and from hunting, and lay down in her den after setting her fresh-kill on the pile. She closed her eyes and drifted off, her sleep peacefully dream-free.
Whew! Now it's Redpaw? Blackheart's attack was bad enough right?
And I think Skypaw x Shinewing is sealed am I right?
Note: The idea for the Moonstone scene came from my sister!
Anyway, Please please review. I have 330+ view but only 11 reviews.
Thanks again for reading, and have a wonderful day!