Blackstar stretched, yawning as he did so then exited the leader's den. The white tom guessed it must have been early morning due to the scarce amount of cats outside in the centre of ShadowClan camp.
Still, the ShadowClan leader had to train Sparkpaw and chew him out for not caring for the elders has he had been instructed. The brown tabby been arguing with the elders and had been checking them for ticks half heartedly. The elders had been making that very clear to him.
Frankly, Sparkpaw hardly got on with any of his clan mates. The brown tabby was extremely aggressive towards Rowanclaw. Borderline bullied his fellow apprentices daily. Now, he was calling elders hags.
Blackstar would be surprised if he wasn't exiled before he even reached the status of warrior. If somebody doesn't kill him first.
Although, Sparkpaw was flying through his training. The ex-rouge caught on fairly quickly to everything he was taught. He excelled in battle training, so much so that Blackstar decided that he should be training with experienced warriors.
But the brown tabby's stealth skills were awful. He could be left in a sandy hollow on top of a mountain and he would still be louder than thunder.
For the first time, Blackstar felt pride for his apprentice. If he kept going the way he was, Sparkpaw would be a warrior by the time he was twenty moons. Considering he had been here for a moon, it seemed that he would need to start considering Sparkpaw's warrior name soon. The ShadowClan leader padded towards the apprentice den, ready to collect Sparkpaw.
"Sparkpaw, get up. It's time for training," he called into the apprentice den.
The White tom waited for several minutes, waiting for his apprentice to stumble out and complain about not getting enough sleep. Yet Sparkpaw never padded out of the den.
"Sparkpaw, get out here. Right now," Blackstar ordered, his tail lashing behind him in agitation. Again Sparkpaw exited the den.
"That's it," The ShadowClan leader growled, he marched into the apprentice den, waking several apprentices and causing them to yelp in surprise when they realised who it was, "Sparkpaw, get up for training right now or I'm going have check the elders for ticks for the next five moons!" he yowled.
Blackstar then noticed that his apprentice's nest was barren, "fox dung!" he hissed, storming out of the apprentice den, leaving several startled and confused apprentices in his wake.
He must be out for a hunt, The white tom reasoned with himself. Yet a part of him doubted that was the case, or that he was even on ShadowClan territory. He scanned the camp for Russetfur.
Blackstar soon found the dark ginger she-cat approaching the fresh-kill pile, "Russetfur, organise a patrol to find Sparkpaw," he called.
"Sparkpaw? Where's he went?" Russetfur questioned, for a brief moment she almost protested.
"I don't know, just organise a patrol," The ShadowClan leader ordered.
Among the cats Sparkpaw would argue day in and day out with was Russetfur. The dark ginger tabby could keep apprentices in-line with her sharp tongue and brisk tone. Except for Sparkpaw, who had an equally sharp tongue and an attitude to compliment it.
Anytime the pair argued it was a stalemate. Both cats were too stubborn to give in to the other's demands. Eventually, it devolved into a shouting match. While Blackstar admired the resolve his apprentice had, it would be better if it wasn't aimed against his own clan.
The white tom then realised that Russetfur was taking longer than normal to organise a patrol. He approached the warriors den, where the deputy seemed to be having a mental breakdown while warriors were scrambling about.
"Russetfur, what's the hold up?" Blackstar demanded.
The dark ginger she-cat turned to him, "Tawnypelt's not here," she responded.
The ShadowClan leader's jaw dropped, "are you-" he sighed, "just... get the patrol ready, will you?" and with that they left to find the missing cats. The patrol consisted of eight warriors, Russetfur, and Blackstar.
The patrol split into five groups of two, aiming to cover more ground. Blackstar and Russetfur went together, beginning their search.
"Why do you think they ran off?" The white tom asked. He genuinely had no idea why they would run away; Sparkpaw wasn't the most popular cat, but he had the clan's respect. The brown tabby had the clan leader for a mentor too, meaning he had some air of invincibility even if he didn't realise.
Tawnypelt had been long since accepted by ShadowClan and had their respect, even though she was Tigerstar's daughter. There was no reason for her to desert ShadowClan.
"Maybe they ran off to be mates," Russetfur suggested, "there's been gossip about it,".
Blackstar cocked an eyebrow, "really? I don't think so," he remembered how Sparkpaw had been accused of liking Tawnypelt by Smokepaw, and how he just looked at him like he said Brokenstar was a good leader.
"Have you seen how those two talk with each other?" The deputy responded, "there's something between them,"
"And why, pray tell, would they both run away if they wanted to be mates?" The ShadowClan leader pried, "Tawnypelt's a warrior, and Sparkpaw's old enough for it not to be a problem," he added.
"I don't know why, you're going to have to ask them," The dark ginger tabby shrugged. They continued their search, but returned without finding the missing cats. Russetfur dismissed the patrol as Blackstar stalked off.
He began to feel genuine worry for his apprentice. Tawnypelt could take care of herself, but Sparkpaw still had a lot to learn. Blackstar gave a small sigh, he hoped his apprentice would be fine. Because Sparkpaw was dead the second Blackstar saw him.
...
Leafpaw sat in the medicine den in solitude, organising herbs. She gave herself a mental note to tell Cinderpelt that they needed more marigolds and poppyseeds. The she-cat was waiting for Sunpaw too, who usually came into the medicine den with some prey at this time.
Then Leafpaw remembered that Sunpaw had left to find Midnight alongside her sister and Brambleclaw about a day ago. Her friend received a dream from StarClan, ordering him to find whatever 'Midnight' was.
Even after only a day Leafpaw was realising how dull everything seemed without Sunpaw. His warm smile, his blue eyes, his voice... the she-cat sighed, feeling butterflies in her stomach. He was such a nice and funny cat.
He wasn't just nice to her. Sunpaw was extremely friendly with the other apprentices and respectful to the warriors and elders. He was going to make a great warrior.
When the three cats decided to embark on their journey for Midnight, Leafpaw caught up with them, giving them bundles of leaves full of herbs to ease the burden of their journey. Although she would never tell anyone, she give Sunpaw the most herbs.
Leafpaw knew it was wrong to think it, or even acknowledge it, but she thought Sunpaw was handsome. But she didn't want to be mates, a part of the tabby she-cat him like that, yes, but being mates was overstepping it. The last thing she wanted was to disappoint Cinderpelt.
The brown tabby padded out of the medicine den, looking for Cinderpelt. But her mentor was nowhere in sight. Leafpaw asked Whitepaw, who was passing by, if she knew where the grey she-cat was. The white she-cat said she saw Cinderpelt walk into Firestar's den along with Greystripe and Sandstorm.
Leafpaw slowly crept into the den, almost timidly. She heard the four cats' conversation, the topic being the missing cats.
"I... I just don't know why he would run away," Greystripe mewed, still overcoming the shock of his apprentice going missing.
If anyone had taken Sunpaw's temporary departure badly. It would be Greystripe. He had been convinced that Sunpaw went out hunting without telling anyone and he just got lost. By the time the sun was setting, Greystripe had organised about four patrols and even went out himself.
"He's fine; he's with Squirrelpaw and Brambleclaw," Firestar reassured, placing his tail-tip on his friend's shoulder. The ThunderClan leader was concerned about all three of them, but he had trust Brambleclaw would take care of them.
"I mean, everything seemed fine. He's not being bullied is he?" The deputy asked, not truly paying attention to the ginger tom.
"Calm down Greystripe, he's been getting along fine," Sandstorm deadpanned, "honestly, you sound like his father,"
"But-"
"He's okay, Greystripe," Cinderpelt interrupted, "all of them are,"
"I'm more concerned why they ran off like they did," Firestar stated, a thoughtful glint in his green eyes.
"Leafpaw told me he said he receive a prophecy from StarClan," Cinderpelt chimed in, "I guess Brambleclaw and Squirrelpaw did too,"
"That explains a lot," The ThunderClan leader muttered, "did Leafpaw tell you what is was about?"
The medicine cat shook her head, "Leafpaw said he didn't tell her,"
"But why would StarClan send Sunpaw, of all cats, a prophecy? He's a fine apprentice, but wasn't born into ThunderClan," Sandstorm commented.
The grey she-cat shrugged, "I don't know," she turned to the deputy, "Oh, and Greystripe, can you keep an eye on Sunpaw when he gets back?"
Greystripe shifted, "what for?" he asked defensively.
"I feel that he's getting too friendly with Leafpaw; he's been in the medicine den nearly every day," Cinderpelt warned.
Leafpaw felt hurt course through her. She would never disobey the code, but still she's being accused of having a relationship with Sunpaw? She liked him, but not like that... okay, maybe she did a little bit.
"Sunpaw's a loyal cat; he wouldn't dream about breaking the code," The grey tom argued, "he's just being friendly, Leafpaw's a bit of an introvert and he's trying to get her out of her shell," he defended.
"Just keep watch, please Greystripe," Cinderpelt sighed.
"Maybe you should take your own advice, your apprentice isn't a little kit you know," Greystripe retorted, "she can do wrong too,"
"You know that's my daughter you're talking about, right?" Firestar reminded.
Cinderpelt and Greystripe began to argue, defending their respective apprentices. Firestar and Sandstorm attempted to defuse the situation, yet their words fell on deft ears.
Leafpaw slunk back, deciding that there was a better time to remind Cinderpelt that they needed more herbs. She padded out of Firestar's den and over to the fresh-kill pile, picking a mouse.
She hoped that Sunpaw was okay, same with Squirrelpaw and Brambleclaw. Again, Leafpaw felt butterflies in her stomach thinking about him, please let them be safe, she pleaded to StarClan.
...
Hawkfrost opened his eyes, finding himself in the warriors den rather than the Dark Forest. He had another meeting with Tigerstar and the twoleg. He didn't see what was so important about him.
His father had done nothing but rant and rave about Isaac before Hawkfrost had met him, claiming he was the clan's downfall. Frankly, Isaac was the strangest cat -or twoleg- he had ever met, stranger than Coldpaw.
The black cat asked permission to do everything, from just talking to stopping that stupid stance he did every time Tigerclaw was near him. Coldpaw may talk funny, but at least he didn't inform Hawkfrost on everything he was doing. Isaac was just... off. Everything about him was.
The brown tabby had no idea why Isaac intimidated Tigerstar, even if it was just a tiny bit. Whenever those two talked, it difficult to see but the ex-ShadowClan leader was always on edge. That made Hawkfrost weary too.
Hawkfrost stuffed any thoughts of Isaac out of his mind. The twoleg was nothing more than a willing pawn. He couldn't think for himself, so why did Hawkfrost feel threatened by him?
The RiverClan warrior padded out into the camp, seeing a scarce amount of cats outside their dens this early in the morning. He walked to the fresh-kill pile, noting how it was seemingly shrinking.
The brown tabby picked a water vole, sitting outside the warriors den to eat. Afterwards, he would need to wake up Coldpaw for training. He then remembered Coldpaw left to find Midnight along with Feathertail and Stormfur two days ago.
As far as Hawkfrost knew, Midnight was something capable of preventing the destruction of the forest. That's what Tigerstar and StarClan believed anyway. If that was true, then Tigerstar better hope that those five twolegs aren't bright enough to use it for their own gain. Hawkfrost had no doubt that his father was cunning, but he seemed so wrapped up in the fantasy of an easy takeover that the possibility of betrayal never crossed his mind.
But he didn't believe for a second that Coldpaw would ever consider it. The grey tom wanted the same thing they did; unity of the clans. The thought of Coldpaw turning on them stirred an emotion that Hawkfrost believed he would never feel. Hurt.
What started as manipulation soon turned into a friendship between the two as Hawkfrost found himself involuntary respecting and trusting the strange ex-twoleg. Coldpaw was friendly from the moment they met, he didn't even criticise the brown tabby for being kin to Tigerstar.
Hawkfrost sighed, he was starting to feel a tad guilty for manipulating his apprentice. But he pushed the feeling aside, all that mattered was what Tigerstar wanted done. Not what he wanted. The warrior got up, stalking out of camp. He needed to occupy himself.
...
Webfoot sat beside the tall rock, shifting uncomfortably. It has been three days since Smokepaw and Crowpaw went missing. Tallstar said he needed to talk with him, perhaps it was to chew him out for being an incompetent mentor.
Aside from training who ever was your appreciate, you were supposed to be the first cat they would turn to if something was troubling them. Something must have been troubling Smokepaw, and he was too oblivious to it.
It still confused him. It was easy to guess why Crowpaw ran, he was aggressive and had very little social skills. His only real friend was Smokepaw. It was sad really, but Crowpaw only had himself to blame.
Smokepaw was the complete opposite. He was very laid back and mellow, he got along with most of the clan after he became more popular after a rough start. Which is why it was strange for him to run away. He had friends, possibly a future mate in Nightpaw, and his warriorhood didn't seem too distant. So why did he run away?
It wasn't like he would have been a bad warrior; he was very well rounded in his skills, if a bit too defensive during battle training. So it ruled out the possibility of him being teased for his skills or lack thereof.
Any of the times he had actually been insulted, the grey tom always responded with a witty remark. He's made even senior warriors keep their mouths shut with some of his comebacks, which was amusing to watch in all honesty. He could stick up for himself no problem.
So why would he run? Webfoot was scrambling to find a reason. It just didn't make sense. None of it did; Smokepaw wasn't acting strange, he just got up and left.
Tallstar padded out from behind the tall rock, a serious expression on his features. The grey tabby readied himself to be degraded for his incompetence.
"Webfoot, we need to have a chat," The WindClan leader stated, his tone of voice matching his expression.
The warrior said nothing, just nodding his head.
"Smokepaw came to me a few days ago, saying he had a dream," Tallstar stated, "I'm sure Crowpaw did too,"
Webfoot stood with his mouth agape, "What? You mean to tell me I've been beating myself up thinking I failed at being a mentor, but everything's fine?"
"He didn't tell you?" The old cat asked, surprised.
"No, this is the first time I'm hearing it," Webfoot responded. Frankly, he felt a bit hurt and a teeny bit jealous that the ex-loner went to Tallstar first. But he wasn't really surprised, Smokepaw looked up to the black and white cat.
Maybe he was grateful for the chance to join WindClan or maybe it was because Tallstar reminded him of someone he knew. Still it was strange to see Smokepaw, who was laid back and mellow, actively try to impress somebody. Maybe if Tallstar was younger he would have taken him as his final apprentice.
"Well, he told me that StarClan spoke to him in his dreams, telling him to find Midnight, whatever that is," Tallstar continued.
"Did he say what it is?" The warrior asked.
"Not at all," The WindClan leader responded.
"So... is that all you wanted to say?" The grey tabby quizzed.
Tallstar nodded his head, "Yes, you can return to your warrior duties," he dismissed.
Webfoot dipped his head in respect before padding away with the intention to go out for a short hunt. He felt a little better knowing his apprentice was fine. He still felt a bit hurt that he went to Tallstar first. Maybe he should talk to him when he got back.