Reviews:
Whitespirit - 1) Wasppaw isn't exactly very coordinated, so I guess that Wasppaw fell in first then Sandpaw tried to save her. 2) Well, Violet's trying her best. Later on there'll be a softer side of Violet (probably in Firegaze's chapters, though) 3) Yeah, I am doing that more. I don't think I'll need to use it anymore, though. I think they'll just be referred to SkyClan from this point on. 4) Not yet, since it's so early in the story. Since this will be like a series, the next part I might start accepting OCs. But thanks for asking!
Blaze felt her fur pricking. Why is Wasppaw here? She noticed Twyla, Tristan, Ivy, Firegaze and Dylan rushing towards the exit. Probably to save Wasppaw, she guessed. I've gotta go help her too! Blaze carefully slipped away from Jayson's side and attempted to run with them. Each step she took made her want to screech in agony, but she couldn't let that stop her. I need to get to Wasppaw!
"Blaze, where are you going?" Jayson's mew startled her. "You can barely walk!"
"I know that voice! It's my friend! I need to help her!" Blaze hissed back at her mentor. I don't care if I can't walk properly! I need to at least try to save her! She now was running, with her broken leg trailing behind herself.
Blaze was now outside the camp, now out in the open. She felt a few raindrops pour down on her muzzle. Oh no! It's raining! Blaze knew she had to find Wasppaw now. It was too dangerous to be out of camp during rain, even for a fully grown cat!
She heard a squeal from her left. "Help!" That wasn't Wasppaw. It was someone else. Blaze turned to see a pale ginger tabby she-cat flailing helplessly in the river. "Anyone! Please!"
Blaze looked around herself. Where's the patrol? Didn't they see her? Blaze shrugged her shoulders. There wasn't any time to wonder. This cat needs help now. She struggled a little, but she managed to limp over to the shore. Luckily, the she-cat was somewhat close.
"Grab my paw!" Blaze yowled. She outstretched her paw over the rushing river, making sure she wouldn't fall in as well. The she-cat was unsure for a heartbeat. "Just grab it!"
Almost instantly, the she-cat grabbed Blaze's paw. Blaze tried to pull her out, but her heavy fur made that even harder. It's even harder to do with a broken leg!
Blaze yanked harder on the she-cat's paw. "You need to try pushing yourself up!" Blaze hissed. "My left leg is broken, and I'm not sure how long the patrol will be! You've gotta use your back legs!"
The pale ginger tabby hastily started to struggle forward, paddling upwards towards the shore. Come on! Blaze urged. You're so close! The she-cat took one final push, and finally they'd made it onto land. Both cats were now breathing heavily.
"Blaze! What're you doing out here?!" Blaze turned to see Firegaze, out of breath. "You're supposed to be in camp!"
"I had to help." Blaze growled. Not going to mention Wasppaw, though. I don't wanna confuse poor Firegaze.
Firegaze glowered at her. "You have to rest." She then held the pale ginger tabby she-cat by the scruff. "I'll take this to Violet." She mumbled.
Blaze resisted the urge to claw Firegaze's ears off. She always acts like she's a mentor. Why can't she lay off of me? Ever since Firegaze became an apprentice, she's been acting like she's the leader. None of the apprentices liked her attitude, except for Dylan, who thought that it was pretty cute.
Firegaze stomped off in a rage, angry that no one was following her orders. Blaze looked over to Dylan, who was beside himself with laughter. Oh? What's this about, then? She prodded Dylan gently with her paw.
"What's so funny then, hmm?" Blaze asked, starting to get curious.
Dylan chuckled to himself. "It's kinda adorable when she acts like the leader." Oh really? It's adorable when she starts bossing everyone around?
"How? It's so annoying when she does that!" Blaze groaned, irritated that her friend would even say that.
"I like her feistiness. It's like she's the miniature leader of The Ten Flames." Dylan mused, still smiling. "Heck, I think she might even be leader material as well!"
Blaze then grinned smugly. "Oh, now I see. Don't worry, it won't be long before we're all fully trained and responsible." Dylan looked at her in shock.
"T-That's not how I feel about Firegaze, I swear to Silverpelt!" Dylan yelped. Yeah, right. "When have you ever seen me talking to her, anyways?"
"Oh, alright. I won't tease you anymore." Blaze snickered. Just for today.
Blaze was still panting from saving the she-cat. Each time she blinked she started to fall over a little. Blaze attempted to walk back into the camp behind Firegaze, but could barely move due to how tired she was. I...I can't go any further. I need to rest…Soon Blaze gave in to the force that was pulling onto her.
Blaze opened up her eyes to find herself back in the nest she was sitting in from before. She looked up to see her mentor, the deputy and leader. Oh no. I'm going to get scolded so much… Jayson's eyes were narrowed. She couldn't tell what he was feeling. Violet's tail was lashing in anger. Hazel was both angry and relieved.
Violet was the first to speak. "Blaze, I'm very disappointed in you!" Blaze winced. I should've seen this coming. "You can't just run off like that when you're badly injured and when there was already a patrol out there!"
"I was only trying to help…" Blaze whimpered.
"Help?! The others were already out there! They had the situation under control!" Violet snarled. I would start crying, but I'm too scared to. Violet forced her fur to lie flat. "But it's over with." She sighed. Violet turned to Jayson, who had his eyes closed. "She's confined to camp for the next quarter-moon." The SkyClan leader padded out of the Healer's den, leaving Hazel and Jayson behind.
Blaze looked away from them. "Blaze." Her ears pricked up to hear Jayson's mew. "Although I'm very proud of what you did, there's no excuse for you running off like that." Jayson's...proud of me? I never thought I'd hear that. "You heard what Violet said. A quarter-moon in camp." Jayson walked over to the other side of the den to help Holly, who was treating the pale ginger she-cat.
Hazel's eyes gleamed with worry. "You'll be the death of me, Blaze. Perhaps we should teach you some fighting moves." She mewed softly, nuzzling Blaze's forehead. "In case of another fight breaking out at the Gathering, or something similar."
"Mom, it's okay. I'm never going to another Gathering ever again." Blaze whispered. I never want to go again! And I never want to see that scary white tom again!
"It's okay, my darling. I'll make sure those nasty cats won't harm you ever again." Hazel meowed gently, trying to calm Blaze down. "The next Gathering, I'll have you stay by my side the entire time, if it helps."
Blaze sighed. "Okay. I know I don't have any choice in the matter, though…" Hazel licked her daughter's forehead. "Just don't let the scary white tom see me!" Blaze whimpered quietly.
Hazel tilted her head. "What tom?"
"H-He was really big, and he was white. He had black paws and ears." Blaze murmured. "He scared me, Mommy."
Hazel's claws slid out. "If I see him...I'll shred him if he so much as looks at you."
"Mom, please don't hurt anyone!" Blaze begged desperately. Please, don't start an all out war between us and ShadowClan! "You could start a war with ShadowClan!"
Hazel just growled. "I wouldn't be hurting anyone or starting any war. I would simply be returning the favor." She then looked over to Stargaze, who had just walked in. "Properly take care of your niece for once, will you? I've gotta join the dawn patrol, anyways." Hazel got up and left the den.
Stargaze opened his jaws to reply, but thought better of it. He walked past Blaze, who was now messing up the moss laid out for her nest. Stargaze came back over to Blaze soon, just noticing the mess she'd made.
"Blaze!" Stargaze's angry yowl caught her attention. "Why is there scattered moss all around your nest?" Blaze shrugged her shoulders. I don't care to even care about getting yelled at anymore. I literally just got yelled at by my leader. It doesn't matter a whisker now.
"So it moved all by itself, did it?" He hissed. Blaze rolled her eyes. "Don't roll your eyes at me! You know what I'm saying!" She stuck out her tongue at him. " Blaze noticed pawsteps coming from behind them. It was Holly, with a grumpier expression than normal.
"Stargaze, stop being a pain in the tail and shut up!" Holly snarled in his face. Holly turned to Blaze. "And you've got bees in your brain, thinking that it's okay to make a bigger mess than what your uncle did!"
Stargaze lowered his head. Blaze couldn't help but feel a stab of pity for him. He's not exactly the most coordinated cat in camp. And he's only so grumpy because no one really likes him that much. The only other cat that Blaze could imagine liking him is Dove, only since she doesn't seem to care when he snaps at her.
"I swear to StarClan, I'm surrounded by idiots!" Holly shouted. She trudged over to her nest, which had been moved over to the corner of the den. "I'm taking a morning nap, so leave me alone!"
Blaze caught Stargaze's eye, which was full of dejection. He simply walked out the den, with his tail drooping. Poor Stargaze. He really doesn't seem to have any friends. Blaze looked over to Jayson, who was now curled up beside his mate in their nest. She could hear them snoring from her nest. Great. And he's napping, too. Blaze noticed that both Wasppaw and the she-cat were now fully awake. Their nests were right next to hers.
"Ugh...my head hurts…" Wasppaw mewed. I'm not surprised.
The she-cat murmured in agreement. "Where even are we? Are we back in ThunderClan?"
"No, you're in SkyClan's medicine den." Blaze interrupted them from their daze. "You both had to be pulled out of the river."
"Blaze!" Wasppaw meowed happily. Blaze quickly shoved her tail over her mouth.
"Trust me, you don't want to wake them up." Blaze whispered, gesturing over to Holly and Jayson.
"So you're Blaze?" The pale ginger tabby asked. Blaze nodded. "I'm Sandpaw. Me and my sister here snuck out of camp to find you." They're sisters? I would never have guessed that.
"Why did you come to find me?" Blaze mewed.
Wasppaw sighed. "I was so worried about you after that battle. I couldn't do anything to stop Blackfoot from attacking you. And you seemed so shaken after it, too."
"Thanks, Wasppaw and Sandpaw." Blaze nodded. I can't believe Wasppaw did this for me. "But how are you going to get back to ThunderClan, then?"
They shared a brief unsure look. Sandpaw spoke up first.
"We should've thought that part through a bit more…" Sandpaw frowned. "I don't think SkyClan's leader is just going to let us go back home right away."
Blaze unfortunately had to agree. Violet wasn't exactly the nicest cat in the forest. Once there was a kittypet who'd wandered a little too far from their home that stumbled across their group. That kittypet adamantly refused to tell Violet who he was, where he came from and why he was there, so she kept him as a prisoner until he finally confessed. Hopefully ThunderClan notices that Wasppaw and Sandpaw are missing.
Wasppaw looked at Blaze. "How long do you think we'll be here?"
"I think ThunderClan will definitely notice two missing apprentices by now since it's already past sunrise." Blaze clarified. "Violet's probably going to call a Clan meeting to discuss you guys soon. She'll give you a chance to explain yourselves, don't worry. It's only me who's on her bad side today, so you should be fine." The two sisters barely looked relieved, but they nodded and waited for Violet's announcement. Sure enough, it came soon.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under Perched Rock for a Clan meeting!" Violet's yowl rang through the camp, reaching Blaze's ears. And here we go.
