Thank you for all of the reviews, favs, and follows! :) I can't believe I'm at 40 follows and 85 reviews already!
Anyway, special thanks to Bobbie1776 for this chapter. All credits go to Bobbie1776 for the first part of the chapter (until the '...' line break), because Bobbie1776 wrote that. I thought it was fantastic and I loved the way it was written, so I decided to add it in.
Firepaw crept through the undergrowth, eyes narrowed as she pinpointed her prey. The mouse quivered, as if it sensed her, but as no immediate danger approached, it relaxed. One wrong move, mouse, she thought.
She pounced, landing on the mouse before it had time to ascertain her position. The ginger she-cat gave it a neat bite, and carried it in her maw as she traveled back into camp. Prey was so abundant, she barely had move from the camp exit to find a mouse, or other prey animals. The warmth of the mouse tempted her to crunch into it, but this was for the elders. No way was she disobeying the warrior code at a crucial time in her apprenticeship.
Firepaw trotted into camp, her heart skipping a beat as she saw Tigerpaw chatting with Hollypaw. His dark fur gleamed in the dappled light, and his muscles bulged under his silky pelt. She breathed a sigh but shook herself. What was she thinking?
She padded to the fresh-kill pile, and laid it down. Firepaw realized the heap was so large, she didn't even need to go hunting again that day. It was well past dawn patrol, or any of the patrols, so she had a lot of free time on her paws. She flopped down beside Tigerpaw and meowed, "What's happening?"
Tigerpaw glanced at her, eyes surprised. However, he managed to reply, "There's talk Cherryfall is expecting. With Toadstep, I think."
Firepaw gaped, "But she's my mentor! She can't just abandon me!"
Hollypaw shrugged, "Well, it's happened before; it's just not common. Besides, I thought you wanted a different mentor?"
She blinked and thought about it. Did she? Well, now that she thought about it… "Well, she's not even that good of a mentor. She doesn't even care about my progress. She's the slacker, not me."
He purred, "Well then everything works out for the best. Maybe you'll get Lionblaze."
She churred, "That would be nice."
Hollypaw slyly mewed, "I hear it's Bramblestar…"
"No! That would be awesome, but how?"
"He wouldn't be showing too much favoritism, I mean, he used to ignore you, right?" Tigerpaw asked thoughtfully.
"I guess."
Firepaw heaved herself up as Bramblestar yowled from above, "Let all cats old enough to catch your own prey gather for a meeting!"
The other two apprentices followed her, Tigerpaw leaping beside her. She was conscientious of their pelts brushing for a second, before he blushed and leaned away. Firepaw felt a burning gaze in the back of head, and she turned to see Owlpaw, a look of pure fury written on her face. She shifted uncomfortably and tried to ignore the unpleasant sensation whilst Bramblestar began his announcement.
"Cats, we are here to congratulate Cherryfall and Toadstep, who are now expecting kits! However, this leaves Firepaw un-apprenticed, and we cannot have that! So, I have decided to place her under Squirrelflight." Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Murmurs of unease. Bramblestar noticed this and twitched an ear. "It is rare that an apprentice gets their mother as a mentor- but there is a certain reason I have done this."
Firepaw felt her heart drop as she went to touch noses with Squirrelflight. Her mother nodded and touch noses with her. Owlpaw nuzzled her and whispered enviously, "I wish Mother was my mentor."
Owlpaw appeared to want to say something else, but shut her mouth abruptly and in a sudden mood change, shouldered past her sister. Squirrelflight passed Firepaw to talk to Owlpaw, and Firepaw choked back a sob. Why did her mother love Owlpaw more? And why was Owlpaw so mad? It wasn't fair!
She fought the tears threatening to stream down her cheeks and ran. She ran to where she and Tigerpaw had become friends and threw herself to the ground, sobs and tears pouring out. She crumpled and closed her eyes, wishing with all her heart the pain would stop. She cracked her eyes open as a cat laid beside her, so close their pelts were brushing. It was Tigerpaw.
"Are you okay?" He asked softly.
She didn't reply.
He just lay down quietly and breathed. The rising and falling of his chest was rhythmic. It soothed her, soon drowsing her into a slumber. The last thing she remembered was the feel of his fur on her own.
Firepaw blinked her eyes open blearily and gasped as she remembered what had happened. Tigerpaw was breathing gently, long lashes closed, a peaceful expression on his face.
She looked upwards- and saw it was already moon-high. They had slept all afternoon, ever since Tigerpaw had come back and they talked at noon.
She began to panic. Now the Clan would think they were mates! She felt even worse when she realized she wouldn't mind. They were related! That didn't stop Ferncloud and Dustpelt. Technically they were related in a distant way like her and Tigerpaw.
She shook him awake and hissed, "Get up! Come on!"
He blearily yawned, "Why?"
"Because, mouse-brain! They're gonna think we're mates!"
His eyes shot open. Tigerpaw immediately leaped up and jogged away. Firepaw cautiously followed him, being sure to stay behind a ways. When they reached camp, she cringed, for the evening patrol was already being organized. Squirrelflight was in charge at the moment. "I'll lead one, Lionblaze, you'll lead the other. Take Toadstep, Tigerpaw and Blossomfall. I'll take Owlpaw, Cinderheart and Ivypool."
Squirrelflight jumped down from the rock to join her patrol, when Lionblaze asked, "What about Firepaw? She is your apprentice…"
Tigerpaw had already joined the other patrol. Firepaw uneasily padded to her mother. Her eyes hardened when Squirrelflight gave Owlpaw a playful buck and an amused purr. She gave Firepaw a dismissive glance and meowed, "It's time to go."
Firepaw churned inside. No matter what Bramblestar said, her mother didn't love her. She simmered inside as they padded along the border they shared with ShadowClan. She barely noticed when she walked a little too close to the border, and right in front of patrol, led by Rowanclaw.
He snarled, "Get away from the border, apprentice."
Firepaw defensively retorted, "I didn't actually touch it, or cross it! I was lost in thought."
Squirrelflight gave an apologetic mew, "I'm sorry about her, she tends to daydream more than patrol."
Rowanclaw grunted, "Don't let it happen again."
When the ShadowClan patrol was well out of sight, the deputy gave Firepaw a furious hiss. "What were you thinking? Were you trying to kill us?"
Firepaw felt resentment bubble up inside of her. "At least I don't ignore my kits completely."
Squirrelflight spat back, "You don't have kits, and you don't know what a bother they can be."
Firepaw felt a spark go out of her. She growled, "Is Owlpaw a bother?"
Her new mentor didn't deign to reply, instead focusing on the border. Determined to show Squirrelflight what a maggot-mush she was being, she stared at the border as well. But she still fumed inside.
When they returned to camp, Tigerpaw walked up to her. He meowed, "So how did it go?"
She spat, "How do you think?"
He tried to soothe her, "It's okay, I'm your friend…"
Firepaw snapped, "I wish you would stop acting so friendly! You're only annoying me more."
He, taken aback, growled, "Well, if that's how you feel, maybe I don't want to be your friend!"
Both of them immediately apologized. Firepaw sighed, "I'm so tired of Squirrelflight treating me as if I don't matter. It's not fair. But I shouldn't have taken it out on you."
Tigerpaw laid his tail on her shoulder and replied, "Let's go get a mouse. Maybe that will make you feel better."
She nodded, but inside, her heart ached.
…
After the hunt with Tigerpaw, the ginger apprentice padded back to camp, feeling sullen. The dark brown tabby had talked to Owlpaw, and for some reason looked depressed, and immediately after that been called off to training with his mentor. He hadn't looked back at Firepaw or asked if she was okay. Firepaw was… in a word, depressed. Her ears were flattened against her head as she sat quietly in the clearing- alone.
It felt like she was waiting- waiting for a pelt to brush hers as it sat down beside her.
But nobody came.
Not even Hollypaw.
The dark gray furred she-cat and her sister were bouncing happily near Cinderheart and Lionblaze, their eyes glowing with the excitement of going to their first gathering. Firepaw wished she could feel as excited as them- but through the corner of her eye, she could see Squirrelflight gently grooming Owlpaw- her other daughter.
Her green eyes darkened even more as Bramblestar padded over to join them. Firepaw couldn't help but notice how happy the three of them were- just three of them, no 'Firepaw' in the picture. They were laughing, Bramblestar's eyes shining with affection, Squirrelflight's pretty green eyes glowing, Owlpaw looking excited as ever. They were a beautiful family.
Firepaw was just the 'other'. The outcast. She didn't know why, but she was. When she was a kit, her mother was so nice to her! Ever since her mother talked to Leafpool that one time, after they had snuck out of camp, Squirrelflight's eyes had turned cold and she had never regarded her daughter in the same caring, loving way.
Mentor-apprentice bond. The bond, usually so strong, was cold as ice and just as brittle, when it applied to them. The mother-daughter bond wasn't even existent. Firepaw often wondered if her mother even realized that she had another daughter.
It wasn't like Firepaw was ugly or disabled. She was a regular she-cat. All her limbs worked, and the ginger she-cat thought she looked just fine. Sullenly, she padded towards a frozen-over puddle, a small block of ice, and looked at a quite blurry, but still see-able reflection.
She had a sleek fiery colored ginger pelt, with a slender but still strong frame. She had neat, triangular ears, and her cheekbones were angular. She had long, strong limbs and a long tail- sure sign of being a good warrior. Firepaw was often complimented on her eyes- which apparently were a beautiful, almost emerald green color. Not in a stuck-up sort of way, but Firepaw considered herself quite pretty.
Sighing heavily, she lay down on the ground again, looking sideways at the puddle. She dragged one paw through the ice, her claws unsheathed. She watched as her sharp tips dug marks in the ice, digging up snow on both sides as her claw marks engraved themselves into the icy solid.
She longed for nothing more than a simple 'hey' or 'hello' of acknowledgement- from either parent, or sister! Firepaw realized that she may have been the one who marred the relationship she held with her sister, but she regretted that. She had apologized countless times, but her stubborn amber-eyed sister had refused to accept the apology, without stating a clear reason.
Then the most odd thing happened- a light brown tabby padded over, stripes rippling as she sat down beside her. "Firepaw? Are you feeling okay?" She questioned.
Without responding, she turned her face away and glanced back at her family. Bramblestar caught her gaze for a moment, and his eyes darkened a bit, emotions swirling in his amber depths. Guilt, shame, worry, fear. Then he tore his gaze away and fixed them on his other daughter, but he wasn't smiling anymore.
"No." She meowed, lowering her gaze onto the ground ahead of her. "I'm not."
She didn't expect him to care- she didn't expect anyone to care. After all, she was Leafpool, wasn't she? Squirrelflight's sister- someone who probably hated Firepaw as well. Miserably, the she-cat lowered her gaze and pressed herself against the ground.
"Are you feeling alright?" Leafpool meowed, sounding worried. The she-cat gently parted Firepaw's fur, and checked through it- as if checking for disease. "Will you roll over onto your back, so I can feel your lungs?"
The ginger she-cat shook her head no. "I'm feeling fine. I'm just upset." Firepaw meowed, trying to resist the urge to snap at her.
"Are you sure? Let me check your lungs, anyway." Leafpool insisted, eyes narrowed. "Before the gathering."
Firepaw hissed something inaudible. "Why." She muttered, narrowing her eyes. "It's not like there's anything wrong with my lungs…"
Leafpool hesitated for a heartbeat, a shadow flickering across her face. Then she smiled again. "No, no." She reassured the apprentice. "Your lungs are fine- just let me check. I'm just… curious."
"Fine." The ginger she-cat scowled, flicking her tail.
"Come to my den." The light tabby meowed, and Firepaw padded after her.
Once in the den, Firepaw rolled over and Leafpool gently placed her paw on her chest. "Breathe in and out. Deeply." The light brown tabby meowed gently. Rolling her eyes, Firepaw took a few deep breaths. Leafpool's eyes were narrowed in concern, but she released Firepaw.
"Happy now?" Firepaw snapped, all of her loneliness had vanished- only to be replaced by irritation.
Leafpool looked worried. "Maybe you should stay in camp, instead of going to the gathering."
"What?" Firepaw growled, eyes blazing. "I don't want to stay in camp!"
The light brown tabby murmured something under her breath, looking worried again. "You can go next time." She offered, but Firepaw shook her head angrily.
"No!" She exclaimed.
Leafpool frowned. "Stay in camp, Firepaw. I'll go tell Bramblestar."
Now she wasn't lonely or irritated. Now she was just furious. "Stop telling me what to do! You aren't my mentor!" Firepaw yowled at her, unsure of what else to say. "Just keep away from me!" She didn't know why she felt so defensive, but she stormed out of the medicine cat's den.
The gathering patrol was already leaving, and she charged after them. She was slightly shaken from Leafpool's reaction to her lungs- but it was nothing… right? Mouse-brained medicine cat. Probably just trying to scare me. Maybe Squirrelflight put her up to it. As Firepaw padded after the patrol, she seethed.
She didn't look around as she walked, not curious at all of her surroundings. The green-eyed apprentice kept her head low, and was quiet. She would never admit it- but she longed for Tigerpaw to be at her side.
"Hi, Firepaw." A voice meowed in her ear, and she flinched away from it in shock. It was Owlpaw. The dark brown tabby's voice was overly bright as she addressed her sister. "I see you've got your eyes set on Tigerpaw."
Wow. Pretty straight-forward. Firepaw just shrugged. "We're just friends." She meowed quietly.
"I hope you really do like him as a friend. Only, a friend." Owlpaw's voice was dripping with venom now, as she shot her sister a poisonous glare. Firepaw didn't know what was wrong with her sister- half the time she was bright and happy, but the other half of the time Owlpaw acted more poisonous than an adder.
Firepaw shifted a bit further away from her sister, and muttered, "What does it matter."
The dark brown tabby stepped forward with her single white paw, Firepaw had noticed. It glowed softly in the light, a pretty snow-white color. What stuck-out to her more were the unsheathed claws.
"It's just that I like Tigerpaw." Owlpaw announced, smiling in a sickeningly sweet way. "And he says he likes me."
The ginger she-cat stopped in her tracks, the world spinning around her. Her stomach clenched and she felt sick, bile rising in her throat. "W-what?" She stuttered.
Tigerpaw had… laid next to her. He had comforted her. No. She refused to believe it. The memory of afternoon darted through her mind, as vivid as if it had happened just a while ago.
She cracked her eyes open as a cat laid beside her, so close their pelts were brushing. It was Tigerpaw.
"Are you okay?" He asked softly.
She didn't reply.
He just lay down quietly and breathed. The rising and falling of his chest was rhythmic. It soothed her, soon drowsing her into a slumber. The last thing she remembered was the feel of his fur on her own.
"Yeah." Owlpaw's voice jerked her out of the flashback. "And… he already asked me to be his mate."
Firepaw narrowed her eyes incredulously. "You're lying."
We hunted together… just earlier today.
Owlpaw smiled maliciously, showing teeth. "He already told me about how he was training you at midnight. About how you kept flirting with him, falling asleep on purpose beside him. He thought it was pathetic."
Suddenly the ginger she-cat's throat felt dry, and she couldn't meet her sister's eyes. Tigerpaw… Tigerpaw had told her? He had promised! He had promised to keep their training a secret, because Firepaw was embarrassed about it. How could he do this? How could he tell Owlpaw about it?
The green-eyed she-cat suddenly felt as if she couldn't talk. All she could do was listen as Owlpaw just said more and more things to back up her point.
She had so much evidence… how could Firepaw not believe her?
"Also, he told me about that night you guys were watching the stars. He imagined it was me, lying down next to him. He wrinkled up his nose in a cute way and looked sort of embarrassed, but I told him there was nothing to be embarrassed about." Owlpaw shrugged, as if it was nothing to her. "Not only that- but that night you guys didn't train, the night on his assessment… he actually spent it with me. He said he just used you as practice for how to talk to me, and how to have an apprentice."
Owlpaw sounded earnest, actually earnest, as she continued. Her mood had switched so suddenly Firepaw didn't have time to react. Either Owlpaw was extremely good at lying, or Firepaw was extremely bad at accepting the truth. The truth that, Tigerpaw didn't care about her. "I'm sorry, sister." She laid her tail lightly on her sister's shoulders.
"No." Firepaw choked out, shaking her head. "No."
"I can tell him I don't like him, anymore..." The she-cat meowed, amber eyes round.
The ginger she-cat just shook her head, feeling as if she had forgotten how to breathe.
Firepaw felt pathetic and used, flushing red. She couldn't bear it anymore, and took off from her sister's side. How could Tigerpaw betray her?
Her misery churned inside of her- like a storm. Anger managed to get ahold of the mix, and she had to grit her teeth at the thought of the tom.
I knew he was horrid! He was just using me all along… I'll show him. Then the she-cat hissed with fury and stalked ahead, not afraid of the tree-bridge.
"Be careful." Hollypaw called, eyes round.
"Like you care." Firepaw muttered quietly, under her breath.
Then she stood up onto the tree-bridge, and sauntered across. She felt shaky and miserable, and let out a yowl of surprise as she slipped. Nobody caught her scruff- remembering for a heartbeat that nobody was within range of her, due to her fast pace of walking. She scrabbled for a grip and shot across the log, praying she wouldn't fall. As soon as her paws touched ground again, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Firepaw didn't bother to explore. Whats the use of exploring, if cats were just going to hate you wherever you go? So she sat in the corner of the gathering, seething.
She listened to the reports.
Bramblestar announced Cherryfall's pregnancy, the five apprentices, and the two new warriors. WindClan announced Fawnpaw and Stagpaw, and a new warrior who's name she hadn't paid attention to. ShadowClan had Pricklepaw and Marshpaw, and a new queen. RiverClan had a new apprentice and a new warrior. Or something.
Firepaw couldn't concentrate. She was too miserable. She just wanted to go home.
"Is it your first gathering?" A voice said from above her. It was foreign, and she didn't recognize it. However, due to the scent that was tainted with the smell of rabbits, she assumed it was from WindClan. The voice was cool, collected, but also frosty- as if he were making an effort to be friendly.
"Yeah." She hissed, wondering what she would have to say to make him go away.
She lifted her head, and to her surprise a full-grown tom stood before her.
He had a lean, but sturdy frame. Sleek black fur covered his body, a body that was marked with battle scars. Muscle rippled beneath his pelt as he turned, and he had bright amber eyes.
"What's your name?" He asked.
Stifling a sigh, she replied, "Firepaw." As she spoke his name, a glint came to his eyes. An excited glint. Realizing he was expecting her to ask him his name, she did. "What is your name?" Her voice was dull, listless.
He smiled, showing razor-sharp teeth. "Breezepelt." He paused, then continued. "You're from ThunderClan, aren't you? Who are your parents?"
Thinking about them made her angry. "Bramblestar and Squirrelflight." She muttered darkly.
"Lucky?" He teased. He seemed to have lightened up a lot since she said 'Firepaw', and he looked almost… friendly.
"More like unlucky." She muttered, ear twitching.
Breezepelt shrugged. "It's okay." He answered, eyes gleaming. "My father didn't care about me that much either. But I know a way to make your parents care about you." He dropped into a low crouch, waggling his hind-quarters.
"Oh, and that is?" Firepaw meowed scornfully.
"I'll teach you how to be the best warrior in your clan." He offered, amber eyes glinting.
The ginger she-cat nearly scoffed at that. First Tigerpaw, now him. "You're in WindClan." She pointed out. "You can't train me."
"We could meet every other night- at midnight." He promised her.
Everything inside of her screamed no, and she thought about Tigerpaw. She trained with him. 'He thinks you're pathetic.' Owlpaw's voice danced mockingly in her head, taunting her, leering at her. Firepaw grit her teeth, eyes narrowed.
Breezepelt could teach her better- he was a warrior. And he was WindClan, which made him forbidden. She would prove to Tigerpaw that she didn't need him, and after she completely iced him out- completely showed to him she couldn't care less about him, then they could stop meeting.
A wave of hatred for Tigerpaw washed over her, so strong she she almost stopped breathing. She forced herself to remain calm as she looked up at the black tom.
Breezepelt could be the key to her revenge.
For now she would have to pretend she liked him, just so he would agree.
She smiled innocently up at him. "Okay. Lets do it."
Again, Bobbie1776, thank you so much :) ALL CREDITS GO TO YOU FOR THE FIRST PART!
Anyway, I know this chapter was really packed full of stuff. I do realize Firepaw and Tigerpaw had just gotten together, but the Owlpaw thing isn't going to be such a big deal. That is definitely not the biggest problem- but Breezepelt will play a big part. You might be wondering how it all fits together, but I've got it all planned out :P so don't worry.
