A/N: Honestly, November is easily the worst month for any high school seniors (which makes me sad because it is also the month of my birthday). College applications and deadlines are slowly killing me with stress. BUT, I'm here now, so I'm not going to let that stop me from writing today's chapter. Back in the ever-so-loved Sootpaw's perspective (as well as a special perspective). Enjoy!
Thanks to Akitsune Lune for following and adding this story as a favorite.
Reviews
Guest- Right? She's the best. Thank you and sorry for keeping you waiting.
Slytherin Buttercat- Ay, I would join you on this cat hunt. Which brings me to this question: what do you think you would look like as a warrior? Emberpaw and Gingerpaw are both complex characters, and I look forward to writing more about them.
ColouredKittens- Can't hate them? Can't love them? Do both then XD. I am always fascinated by the characters who suffer the most, is that wrong?
Shadowdapple of Thunderclan- Hmm, I would have to see where I can add more of Darkpaw. We'll see though.
Flamespirits- Thanks!
Ravenfrost of RiverClan- Well, Darkpaw is the servant of Wildfire, who is Flarepaw's father. I guess you could say they're kind of friends? I don't know, they're relationship is difficult to put into words. Thank you and here is today's chapter.
Thanks to everybody who reviewed, followed, and/or added this story as a favorite!
Let's get started!
…
Suspended in the air was the scent of sickness and starvation. There was no other word to describe it but foul. The three wounded and thin, fragile bodies of the rogues pressed against each other, their ribs poking against the other uncomfortably. Neither moved though, not wanting to move away from the warmth that came from being close to another living, breathing body. Even in the confinement of their den, the bone-chilling and unforgiving wind from outside somehow managed to seep into every crack and crevice of the underground area. The single beam of moonlight in the middle of the den illuminated the dust floating through the atmosphere, giving it an eerie yet mystifyingly beautiful appearance. The largest of them- a blue-grey furred tom and the same one that tore the ear of the grey Commoner- stared with half-lidded yellow eyes at the four new bodies of other rogues.
Those ones seemed well-fed, injured, but healthy nonetheless. All of them were unconscious and laid limply where the clan cats had precariously tossed them against the ground merely moments ago. The prisoner hesitantly lifted his gaze when movement caught his attention off to his side.
It was the clan cat watching over them for the night- something about making sure they didn't kill each other. The blue tom felt relieved as he saw the white fur of their caretaker, the only one that truly took care of them. True to his name, the white tom was nothing more but a shadow in the den, his light blue eyes glowing almost ominously.
The warrior sat- or, more like leaned- against the wall with a bored expression curling his features into a thin-lipped frown. Feeling the gaze of the unfortunate prisoner, the warrior moved his gaze from the wall over to the rogue tom. The blue fur of the tom bristled as a chill found its way down his spine, the fur along it prickling, as if that single gaze alone was colder than any breeze nature could bring. His look was almost forlorn, almost bored and seemingly detached. His eyes were so light, one could mistaken it for being a pale color. The warrior opened his mouth, and the prisoner- thinking the clan cat was about to snap at him for even looking in his direction- flinched and quickly ducked his head against his chin, averting his eyes to the ground. Begging him to look the other way.
"Are you hungry?"
Not expecting that question, the rogue lifted his head in confusion- making sure not to get his hopes up. Maybe the warrior was playing a sick joke? Did he find joy in their suffering like the one known as Tigergaze did? The prisoner felt his mouth flood when a rabbit- seemingly from nowhere- landed in the middle of the ray of light. It was a plump rabbit, something the rogue hadn't seen in the entire time he was kept as a prisoner. The white tom stood beside the prey before shrugging his shoulders, feigning nonchalance as he moved back against the wall. A bored yawn split the jaw of the warrior as he pressed the side of his head against the wall, his eyes bleary and unfocused after. The prisoner stayed where he was, frozen against the side of his companion as she stirred in her sleep- probably due to the scent of the rabbit.
"Are you not hungry?"
"Are you seriously asking a prisoner that?"
The prisoner couldn't help but snarl, a pitch too loud that disturbed the sleep of the others in the den. The white warrior blinked at him, a flicker of surprise crossing his seemingly pale eyes before he blew out a heavy sigh. The tom stood up, his side now stained with brown from the loose dirt in the ground. The prisoner flinched back again, but kept his yellow eyes narrowed in a glare as the tom approached him. The Royal leaned down, gripping the neck of the fresh prey before moving forward once more, tossing it at the paws of the prisoner carelessly.
"Eat it, Turbo. It's almost my time to leave and the next warrior won't be as nice as I."
The blue-grey tom blinked, feeling a strange flicker of emotion in his chest at the use of his name. How long had it been since a clan cat used his name? The others refused to use the names of the prisoners, referring to them as nothing but rats or rogues. This warrior, however, treated them differently from any other Royal- as the clan cats referred to them. Turbo blinked, clearing his throat soon after as he hesitantly made a move to take a bite of the plump rabbit. But before he could taste the delicacy, a snarl echoed throughout the den- so loud that Turbo was convinced that the walls shook with the ferociousness of it.
"What do you think you are doing, Whiteshadow?"
An all too familiar pelt of dark grey emerged from the den entrance, his eyes a devastating amber that could be confused as red when he was angry. As he was now. Whiteshadow simply flattened his ears, his gaze remaining on the prisoner- Turbo was his name- as the rogue cowered down, hiding his face against the shoulder of his fellow rogue. The white Royal blew out a short breath before deciding to turn to face the angered warrior, his expression trained to one of passiveness.
"I asked you a question!"
The grey Royal practically roared, causing the sleeping rogues to jump awake in fright. Whiteshadow remained calm as Wildfire charged forward, his face now a whisker-length away from the white Royal. His lips were pulled back in annoyance, revealing his wickedly sharp teeth to all who dared to look. Whiteshadow briefly wondered the reason why he came, but all became clear when the fiery tom turned to face the new rogues. If the white warrior wasn't so close, he never would've seen the faint spark of recognition coming to life in Wildfire's dark amber eyes.
"Ah," Whiteshadow breathed out a sigh and tossed his head to the side, "I see. Word travels fast, even in a camp full of sleeping cats."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Wildfire scowled at the white Royal, facing him once more as his eyes narrowed once more. Behind his anger, Whiteshadow could see the obvious signs of panic shining its light ever so prominent. The tom flicked his tail, moving it around his paws as a bored yawn escaped his lips once more.
"Do not paint me as a fool, Wildfire. You're little trick may work on others, but that is only because they turn a blind eye to your faults."
"Like I said, Whiteshadow," Wildfire spoke through gritted teeth and with flattened ears, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Whiteshadow felt his lips curl up in amusement. Playing the oblivious route… do you really think I have the time for that? With a breath passing through his lips, the white tom spoke a single word that made Wildfire's fur bristle, in what, no one could guess.
"King."
"What?"
"That is what the Grand Royal apprentices reported him saying." With a flick of his tail, Whiteshadow gestured to the rogue that Gingerpaw had been carrying on his back, albeit with great reluctance and disgust. "King... does it sound familiar, Wildfire?"
"I don't know what you're talking about! How dare you accuse me of such things?"
Wildfire snarled, stepping closer once more until they were almost nose-to-nose. Blue met amber in a battle of intimidation, both of their eyes shining like a fire the clan was named for. It was Wildfire who spoke up first after that.
"Do not dare to cross me, Whiteshadow. The only reason I haven't chased you out of the clan yet is because of Redstar. Do not forget that, rogue."
With that, Wildfire stepped to the other tom's side, leaning down to pick up the stray rabbit against the ground. The prisoners were pretending to sleep, all of them huddling closer when the grey Royal stepped towards them and stole the prey. Wildfire moved over to his position on the opposite wall that Whiteshadow had leaned against, now a short distance away from the white tom. As he began to eat, the sound of someone laughing filtered through his ears and caused him to lift his head in disbelief.
It was Whiteshadow.
His head was tilted towards the ceiling, his shoulders moving in rapid succession as a jovial and soft sound flowed from his mouth. The corner of his lips pulled into a wide grin, one that wasn't common on the reserved tom. But there it was, appearing with quicksilver speed, almost as if it was always there in the first place. Wildfire could only glare, but felt an involuntary shiver roll through his body when Whiteshadow turned his icy glare on him. The grey Royal was reminded once more why he always felt uneasy around the battle-skilled tom. It was almost as if his gaze alone could make the enemy surrender.
And to have a glare from Whiteshadow directed at him only made Wildfire anxious from his next words.
"Oh Wildfire. I am the last cat you want to threaten. Do not play that type of game with me, I will always emerge victorious. The tricks you play only work on a fool. While I may be surrounded by them in this clan, I am not one of them. I know everything you have planned, including the reason why you came here tonight. Go ahead and dirty your paws with the blood of a rogue, but it will not be mine. I shall allow you to play your little game, but know this… if the day comes- and it will- I look forward to slicing my claws through your pelt and watching your life slip away with the flow your blood."
Whiteshadow kept his eyes on the stunned tom before he turned to exit the den. Almost forgot… Glancing behind his shoulder to look at him once more, a smirk appeared on his face as he spoke. Wildfire felt his blood run cold at the sincerity and almost crazed tone of his voice.
"And… the only reason you're even alive is because of my respect and my gratitude to the Grand Royal. You shouldn't forget that."
And true to his name, the white Royal exited the den like the shadows casted from the morning sun. With a flick of his tail, the tom blew out another breath as he made his way to the Grand Royal's den, eager to hold a discussion of the broken promises and the distant heartbreak of their pasts.
…
"Ah! Am I ever glad to step outside of camp and enjoy the fresh air."
"Sootpaw… you were out of camp yesterday."
"You're ruining the moment Hollypaw! Am I right, Sagepaw?"
The distinctive grey-furred Noble said nothing, watching with hidden amusement at the interaction between the Commoner and his Medicine Cat friend. The trio of differing ranks was currently taking a walk through the forest of their territory, much to Hollypaw's dismay and concern for the Commoner's healing wounds. Sootpaw paid no attention to either of them, happy to just be out of camp.
Ever since the announcement made two days ago about the capture of new rogues, and the mysterious death of them as well, most of the warriors have been on edge. The Grand Royal apprentices were currently being worshiped once more, everyone eagerly taking the time to talk to them and enthusiastically asking them to display what they did to so easily fight off the group of rogues they said they encountered. Afterwards, the Grand Royal ordered that nobody leave camp by themselves, and for the injured to have at least two escorts, no matter the rank.
Sootpaw was just happy to have the privilege to be out again. Granted, he was only out of camp for a few moments the day before, so it wasn't enough for him. The Commoner simply hated being cooped up in the Medicine Cat den with nothing to do. He silently thanked Hollypaw and the servant, Darkpaw, for keeping him company.
"How are you feeling, Sootpaw?"
"Tch, I told you I'm fine Hollypaw. Quit stressing over me and let's enjoy the scenery for once."
As he spoke, the tom felt his smile grow as he saw the river in front of him, signaling the border between Blazeclan and Stormclan. It felt like forever since he witnessed the marvelous sparring match between Flarepaw and the Stormclan Grand Royal apprentice, Bluepaw. He could remember how loudly he cheered when the match ended with Flarepaw still standing, and he remembered feeling almost embarrassed at his volume.
Those memories were disrupted with a more recent one; one where he was no longer proud of Flarepaw, but frightened of her. Closing his eyes, the Commoner felt the fur on his shoulders prickle as he recalled how quickly she had flipped him onto his back. She had struck as swift as a snake, had him pinned in the blink of an eye. An image of her furious expression and lips pulled back in a ferocious snarl made his eyes snap open again.
He hadn't faced her since that night.
Even as she- much to his surprise- spent time with Darkpaw while he was in the den, he would always pretend to be asleep or excuse himself entirely. She made no effort in apologizing, but then again, Sootpaw couldn't remember the last time she apologized to someone. And Sootpaw didn't know if he should be the one to apologize for what he said to her.
"Sootpaw, I told you to watch your step. There's a lot of mud around here and you could easily slip."
The Commoner was about to say something to her when he took one step forward, slipping in the mud, even after Hollypaw's warning. If it wasn't for Sagepaw's quick movements, Sootpaw would've had spent the rest of the day cleaning the mud from his pelt. Hollypaw simply let out a mix of a chuckle and a sigh, shaking her head in amusement even as he eyes shone in annoyance.
"Sorry," Sootpaw could only smile cheekily at the tom beside him, blinking in confusion when Sagepaw suddenly stiffened at his side. The grey Noble perked his ears up and turned his head in Hollypaw's direction, a hiss escaping his lips as he made a move towards her.
"Get behind me Hollypaw!"
No other words were said as Sagepaw leapt over the confused she-cat's head, and Sootpaw's eyes widened when he quickly turned around to see what was going on. His fur bristled at the sight and his blood ran cold.
A rogue.
Correction… multiple rogues.
Already, Sagepaw was outnumbered two-to-one as he effectively made a barrier with his own body, protecting the she-cat and the injured tom behind him. Hollypaw moved over to Sootpaw's side, quickly sparing a glance in his direction and pulling him back when he seemed to take a step forward. Sootpaw growled at her in a small warning, but she simply looked back at him with an even stare.
"There is no time to be concerning over my wounds. Sagepaw is in trouble and I want to help. Stay back and let me protect you."
"You think I am unable to defend myself?" Hollypaw hissed at him before standing up from her spot, a stern glare appearing in her normally peaceful eyes. Wordlessly, she gently pushed Sootpaw closer to the river- as close to it as possible without the risk of him falling in- and looked at him. "It's my job to protect you, Sootpaw. So, let me."
Sootpaw had never seen the she-cat fight before, had never seen her train before. But deep in his mind, he knew that it was common knowledge that the Medicine Cat's were trained to primarily defend themselves if they ever needed to. They had the power and skill to fight, but they chose to heal instead. But how skilled exactly is she if she doesn't train that much?
Sootpaw couldn't ponder his thoughts any longer, couldn't change her mind when she decided to join the battle alongside the Noble, who had been struggling with a rogue on his back and one attacking his front. The Commoner blinked in shock when Hollypaw swiftly dispatched the rogue on Sagepaw's back, sending the smaller cat running back into the forest after a few swipes of her claws. Each attack she did seemed delicate, well-timed, and in-sync with the Noble beside her. Sagepaw merely glanced at her before nodding, the two of them working together.
Of course… How can I forget?
She has trained with the Nobles. And they work best in pairs.
Sootpaw felt his body urging him to run forward and join the fight, but her warnings and even glare made him re-think it. With his back facing the raging river behind him, Sootpaw could only watch in amazement as Hollypaw and Sagepaw managed to fight off the small group of rogues. The Commoner had counted eight at least, but he knew many others had run off before they even joined the fight. As soon as the last rogue- a long-limbed tom that had brown fur that resembled the mud they were fighting on- Sootpaw couldn't hide the smile that appeared on his face.
Hollypaw's pelt flattened slowly as the last rogue ran off, her black fur making it difficult to spot any obvious wounds that she might have received. The back of Sagepaw's shoulders were slick as a thin trail of blood ran down from the few cuts that appeared after being attacked from behind. Still, neither of them seemed to have any serious wounds, just minor cuts and scratches.
"Good job you guys!"
Sootpaw was about to happily skip towards them, to congratulate them and praise Hollypaw for her fighting skills, but before he could do either of those, Sagepaw stiffly turned to him with panic settling into his green eyes.
"Sootpaw, get away from there!"
All the grey furred Commoner could hear was the sound of something erupting from the river behind him, all he could feel was something pulling him back harshly before slamming him against the mud-slicked earth. His face was pressed against the mud, and he could feel sharp claws threatening to prick the skin on his back- directly over the cobwebs Hollypaw had so carefully placed. The weight against him rendered him motionless, and he could hardly move himself into a more comfortable position. He tried turning his head to glance at whoever was pinning him, but all he could see was the shoulder of cat and their blue-grey fur. Glancing over at his companions, he felt a snarl rumbling in his chest when he saw them struggling to get to him. Somehow, he knew these weren't ordinary rogues.
These aren't rogues at all.
"Stormclan! What is the meaning of this?"
"Shut it Noble, who gave you permission to speak?"
Sagepaw let out a yelp of pain as he was suddenly tossed to the ground by a larger tom. Similarly to Sootpaw, the Blazeclan Noble was rendered useless and immobile against the ground. Struggle as he liked, Sagepaw would never find the strength to push off his opponent. This a Stormclan patrol. They are invading Blazeclan's territory and not threatening to kill me or Sagepaw, and they're not touching Hollypaw. Which only means one thing…
They're going to take us as prisoners.
"Streamrunner… let them go."
Hollypaw was now standing farther away from them, having been pushed back by two Stormclan warriors. That's all they did though. Nobody wants to attack a Medicine Cat. The tom on top of him shifted, applying more pressure to the back of Sootpaw's head and eliciting a hiss from the Commoner. Hollypaw's eyes flashed dangerously as she let out a hiss of anger, but was blocked off by the two cats in front of her. Similarly to the day of the sparring match, the Stormclan warriors were covered in mud that looked like armor.
"This is only payback for what your clan did to Shadeleaf. See this as a warning, Medicine Cat. These are the Grand Royal's orders. We've been in uneventful silence for too long, now it is time to liven things up. Tell your Grand Royal that if he wants them back… well, he's just gonna have to come and get them."
Hollypaw could only look on in desperation, knowing full well that there was nothing she could do. She could fight, yes, but not against a patrol of Royals and Nobles, all of whom were enemies that wouldn't hesitate to kill her if she attacked. The warriors in front of her held their stance, daring her to step forward with an almost wild look in their eyes. Looking through the crowd in front of her, Hollypaw managed to meet Sootpaw's gaze. She clenched her teeth, trying to send a message to him without using her words.
Please, promise me you'll stay safe…
Sootpaw blinked, his lips pulled back in mild pain and obvious annoyance- all of which was directed to the cat on top of him. As soon as he saw the concern and powerlessness in her dark amber eyes, he blew out a short breath. Putting on a brave face, the tom's pain-filled snarl shifted to a wide and somewhat goofy grin. His eyes squeezed shut, and despite the situation he was in, he gave off the impression that this was the happiest he has ever been. Speaking to her without using his words.
Don't worry, Hollypaw… everything is going to be fine. I promise.
Only when Hollypaw let out a huff and growl of pain did he open his eyes again, his smile immediately disappearing, replaced with his snarl once more. Someone from the crowd had moved forward, and with their claws unsheathed, had struck the Medicine Cat against her cheek and sent her stumbling backwards. Marring her right cheek was a long cut that trickled with blood, something Sootpaw wasn't used to seeing- and definitely didn't like seeing- on Hollypaw's face. His eyes narrowed dangerously as he tried struggling against Streamrunner, but was only pushed further against the ground with a hiss that called for silence.
The cat standing mere tail-lengths in front of Hollypaw didn't have mud on their pelt. Faintly, Sootpaw could scent that it was a she-cat. With grey fur that bristled with the cold wind, white claws that protruded from a set of black paws, and a slender tail that whipped against the wind, something inside the Commoner told him to be careful of this she-cat. Maybe it's also because all the other Stormclan warriors are looking at anything but her. Even Streamrunner averted his gaze, his head lowering in what seemed like a small bow.
"Grand Royal Windpaw… the Grand Royal didn't want her injured. And it's time for us to go anyways before a patrol comes."
"Aww… I just wanted to have some fun. How come you guys get all the fun?"
"Grand Royal Windpaw. There's really no time for this."
"Oh well, if you insist." The she-cat turned her back to Hollypaw, her copper colored eyes shining as they gazed over the Blazeclan Noble and Commoner. "These two would have to do."
Sootpaw felt his eyes widen and his body go stiff. This is another Grand Royal apprentice from Stormclan. Somehow, she looks more intimidating than Bluepaw did. Still, Sootpaw thought he was more scared of Flarepaw than he was of this Grand Royal apprentice.
Windpaw moved on light paws, seemingly floating as the moved closer to the river, but not before tossing a few sarcastic words in Hollypaw's direction.
"Don't worry dear, I'll take such great care of these two. You just make sure your clan gets the message that we aren't returning them without a fight. Well… take care!"
The Grand Royal apprentice stepped into the river, moving fluidly through the water and calling for her clan to follow. The pressure on his body was loosened, and Sootpaw could only glance up before he was suddenly grabbed by the scruff. Streamrunner dragged him through the mud, avoiding the Commoner's claws as he tried to dispatch himself.
"Stop it. The river is angry today, and you'll easily be swept away and killed before you even have a chance of escaping."
The Stormclan Royal kept a firm hold on Sootpaw's scruff as he swam through the water, not caring if Sootpaw was practically drowning as water rushed around him up to his chin. The Commoner sent a final glance in Hollypaw's direction, feeling a frown form on his face when she seemed like she was about to follow them and jump into the river. He met her gaze once more, shaking his head and hoping she could see it. At least they left her alone. The wound on her cheek was still bleeding, but she didn't seem to care before she stiffly turned away from the river, beginning to sprint back in the direction of camp to warn the clan.
Sootpaw squeezed his eyes shut, taking in a deep breath each time he was about to be submerged in the river. Streamrunner let out a grunt of effort, struggling to carry the extra weight of the Commoner through the unforgiving river. Sootpaw could only hear the roar of the river all around him, not paying attention to the words tossed around the Stormclan patrol.
The river is angry today…
And so am I.
…
"Did we tell you to stop Blazeclanner?"
Sootpaw let out a hiss as he was shoved forward, his pelt still dripping from the passage across the river. Sagepaw was at his side, offering his support by letting the Commoner lean against his shoulder. The Commoner's body ached, and he was convinced that his wounds were about to re-open. The effort to walk through the muddy and damp terrain of the Stormclan territory was tiring. All the tom wanted to do now was close his eyes and go to sleep.
His excitement for being in a new environment was outmatched by the bitter reminder of why he was here in the first place. Hmm… I never thought that I would be a prisoner. He could only hope that Stormclan treated their prisoners better than Blazeclan did. Sagepaw remained quiet, not daring to utter a word in case they weren't allowed to talk at all. The mud-cladded warriors walked in a semi-circle, all either behind or at the sides of their prisoners. Only one cat was leading them.
The Grand Royal apprentice… Windpaw.
The she-cat was undisturbed by the lush vegetation and slick mud, ducking underneath any overhangs of leaves and vines effortlessly and stepping over thin tendrils that made up the dark roots of the thick trees. The patrol was almost awkwardly silent, all of them casting nervous glances at the Grand Royal apprentice. When she stopped so suddenly, Sootpaw nearly slipped in the mud to try and avoid hitting her. Sagepaw stood directly behind her, his head near her shoulders.
"Tell me, do you hear that Blazeclanners?"
Sootpaw was about to snap at her, but Sagepaw quickly shot him a look that simply told him to be quiet. He would do all the talking.
"I am assuming we are approaching your camp."
"And what gives that away?"
"Stormclan's camp is special."
"Oh, how so?"
Sagepaw let out a brief and humorless chuckle, meeting the copper eyes of Windpaw with his own green ones. The she-cat eyed him momentarily before moving her gaze back up to hise face. His lips pulled back to reveal his teeth in a mixture of what seemed like distaste and awe. Windpaw tilted her head, her tail flicking behind her as she stood up tall.
"It's in the middle of a lake… so, it is completely surrounded by water. This is what makes it so difficult for your camp to be attacked."
"Aren't you so smart? I heard so much about you, Noble Sagepaw of Blazeclan."
"As I have of you, Grand Royal Windpaw of Stormclan. It is an honor to be in your presence"
The Stormclan Grand Royal apprentice stepped closer to the grey furred tom, sending him an almost coy smile as her tail gently pushed his chin up, making him raise his head higher. She held his gaze, as if she was searching his eyes for something. Letting out a short and pleased hum, she spoke with a purr dancing in her throat.
"Such a shame you are from Blazeclan instead of Stormclan."
With those words, the she-cat turned once more and continued forward. Sagepaw only narrowed his eyes slightly before he continued following her, Sootpaw following close by his side. As soon as they walked through a set of thin-leaved bushes, the Commoner only let out a gasp.
Just like Sagepaw had said, Sootpaw and the rest of the patrol was met with a wide expanse of water. The lake branched off in multiple places, feeding and creating rivers with water. Even from a distance, the Commoner felt his body trembling in reserved fear at the currents closest to an island in the middle of the lake. The structure itself was very large, with only one land-bridge at its side. I doubt we'll be going through there though.
Sure enough, his unasked question was answered when the grey furred Grand Royal apprentice slipped into the water, undisturbed by the currents that pulled her pelt to and fro. Streamrunner let out a huff before he suddenly grabbed Sootpaw's scruff once more, diving into the water without a moment's hesitation. The Commoner's yowl was cut short as he was suddenly plummeted into the water, the only thing keeping him from sinking was the tight grip of the Stormclan Royal. He squeezed his eyes shut as water rushed into his mouth, sending him into a coughing fit as he tried to catch his breath. Streamrunner, gratefully, lifted his head as high as he could to make the travel a bit easier on the Commoner.
It's official… I hate water.
The claws that came from the water sunk into his pelt, piercing his skin easily and threatening to take him victim in their depths. I can't believe the only thing keeping me from drowning here is a Stormclan Royal, the one who is also the reason why I am here in the first place. It seemed like forever until they finally reached dry land, Streamrunner tossing him against the ground carelessly. Sootpaw coughed, grateful that air was going through him rather than water.
As soon as he lifted his gaze, he let out a yelp and scrambled backwards when he was met with a pair of light blue eyes. He nearly fell back into the water with his attempt to create distance between himself and whoever was crouched in front of him. It was another she-cat, this one with blue-grey fur and a white underbelly, ears, and tail tip.
The rest of the Stormclan patrol began emerging from the river, most of the mud on them now breaking off in pieces as they shook out their pelts. The blue-grey she-cat stood up, matching Windpaw's stance and nodding to the other she-cat. The look in Windpaw's copper colored eyes- which were staring at the Commoner- was dangerous to say the least. It made him uneasy as he hesitantly looked away, remembering to show respect and submissiveness when around a High Rank.
"What is your name?"
Sootpaw cautiously glanced back at the two she-cats, meeting Windpaw's gaze once more and causing him to flinch away. It made him both uneasy and angry knowing that he couldn't fight back, not when he was this outnumbered and this outskilled. To fight a Grand Royal is easily suicide. She wouldn't hesitate to kill me.
"S-Sootpaw. I'm a Commoner."
"A Commoner?"
"Sootpaw…"
The blue-grey she-cat murmured his name, her eyes going blank, like she was lost in thought and went immediately silent. Windpaw glanced at her, a strange emotion entering her eyes, before looking at the Commoner, flicking her tail thoughtfully. The patrol was sitting around the two apprentices, awaiting orders from the Grand Royal apprentice.
"Does his name sound familiar, Grand Royal Rainpaw?"
"Hmm… no. I must be mistaken. I'm sorry. Let's keep going Windpaw."
"No, wait." Windpaw's smirk appeared on her face, her copper eyes shining both maliciously and mischievously. "I want to have a little fun."
"Grand Royal Windpaw, we really must be on our way. Besides, he's just a Commoner. There's nothing he can do against you."
"Who said I can't?"
Sagepaw's eyes widened and his body went stiff when Sootpaw growled at them. Damn it, he doesn't know when to be quiet. The tom glanced at the Commoner, who was now fuming with anger. Windpaw blinked in surprise before her smirk grew, a light chuckle escaping her lips. Rainpaw glanced at her before idly moving off to the side, studying the water of the lake.
"Then, entertain me, Commoner."
Sootpaw gritted his teeth, hearing the condescending tone of her voice when she said his rank. Despite his better judgement, despite Hollypaw's and Sagepaw's voices whispering in his head to stand down, the tom lunged forward with a growl. He didn't know what he was going to do, didn't even know if he was going to reach her, but before he knew it, he was flying backwards through the air and landed directly at the edge of the island. He could feel the currents hungrily reach for him, dragging his tail into the water.
Sootpaw blinked into the light blue eyes of Rainpaw. The quiet Grand Royal apprentice stared back at him, not moving. For a fleeting moment, for a second- just a second- he thought she was going to pull him to dryer land. All his thoughts escaped with his sharp inhale when she suddenly pushed him backwards, almost as if it was an impulsive reaction, into the water. A panicked scream tore through Sagepaw's throat as he tried to react quick enough, but was held back by the Stormclan warriors.
The Commoner could do nothing more but take in a deep breath of air, his last before he was suddenly submerged into the angry water. With nobody there to hold onto him and with his body weakened from his sore wounds, he couldn't fight against the current as it dragged him downwards. The icy claws of the water returned, slicing his pelt and hooking against his skin, tugging him into their hollow depths.
His eyes remained shut as he desperately wished he could find the strength inside of him to fight back. The freezing temperature of the water seeped into his pelt, through his skin, and into his bones. In a few seconds, he only felt numb. In the next second, he couldn't breathe. The air he had taken in was extinguished, like a fire in the rain. Sootpaw couldn't swim upwards, couldn't even feel himself kicking anymore.
I promised… I promised Hollypaw everything was going to be fine.
Clenching his teeth together, the tom inwardly growled as he used the last of his energy to kick harder. The water wasn't going to take him so easily, not without a fight from him.
I don't break my promises, not to her or anyone else!
Just when it seemed as though the tom was about to fall unconscious, a sharp tug upwards made him gasp inwardly. Something was moving over him, something grabbed his scruff and began dragging him against the current. Without having the ability to open his eyes, he could only guess who it was.
As soon as he felt his head resurface, the grey Commoner took in a deep inhale of fresh air, coughing soon afterwards and his eyes peeking open. He felt land below him and he allowed himself to curl up deeper against it. Sootpaw had never felt so happy to feel the mud of the ground. A tail was draped over his side, and suddenly, Sagepaw was at his side.
"Sootpaw…"
The tom said nothing more as he provided warmth from his own body to his fellow Blazeclan apprentice. Sootpaw could only offer a weak smile to the Noble. The Commoner could see someone standing off to his side, and he lifted his head seconds after to see who it was.
The Grand Royal Bluepaw!
The Stormclan apprentice was standing up straight, taller than both Windpaw and Rainpaw. His dark green eyes reflected his anger and disappointment to the two she-cat's before he glanced down at Sootpaw. The Commoner offered a grateful smile to him, and Bluepaw simply nodded in return.
"I expected more from you Windpaw, and I am disappointed in you, Rainpaw."
Windpaw only scoffed, rolling her eyes before narrowing them at the Grand Royal apprentice. Rainpaw seemed disappointed in herself, her ears flattening against her head as she lowered it slightly. From what Sootpaw could see, she was definitely a timid Grand Royal. Rainpaw spoke in a soft voice, turning away from them.
"I'm sorry, brother…"
"You don't have to apologize to him, Rainpaw." Windpaw's copper colored eyes flashed in annoyance, her lips pulling back in a snarl. "He has no right to say that."
"Was this you having fun, Windpaw? Were you ever going to stop? Or were you readying yourself to deal with the lost of someone's life?"
Windpaw remained quiet before she let out a low snarl, suddenly moving forward with her tail lashing menacingly behind her. A deadly glint appeared in her eyes as she stood nearly nose-to-nose with the blue-grey tom. She leaned forward, her mouth against his ear as she spoke with a soft hiss of warning.
"Why does it matter how I have fun? As long as I get the job done, the Grand Royal doesn't care. Unlike you, Bluepaw… I'm not trying to disappoint him. Do not forget what happened to you when you lost to that filthy Blazeclan apprentice."
It was Bluepaw's turn to flinch back, his eyes widening ever-so-slightly before he turned his head away, narrowing them slightly. Only now could Sootpaw see what Windpaw was talking about. There's a fresh scar stretching down the side of his face… it's ragged…
Did Cloudstar do this to him? Just because he lost to Flarepaw?
Bluepaw glanced up to meet Sootpaw's golden-yellow eyes before he suddenly turned away, moving towards the forest that greeted them with open arms. Windpaw let out a soft chuckle, sweeping her gaze over the Blazeclan apprentice's before turning to follow after Bluepaw.
"Let's go!"
Sootpaw struggled to his paws, leaning against Sagepaw's shoulder as he stumbled along. His body ached and screamed in protest, but the last thing he wanted was to disobey them again. Rainpaw swiftly ran over to Windpaw's side, still mumbling a soft "sorry" under her breath. Windpaw merely glanced at her, looking in the opposite direction of the smaller she-cat before gently placing her tail alongside Rainpaw's, twining them near the tips in reassurance.
"Hmm… looks like she does care about someone after all."
Sagepaw whispered in Sootpaw's ear, seeing the interaction between the two she-cats. Still, that doesn't make me think any differently. They nearly killed me with the lake.
Regardless, it was a reminder that even his enemy had emotions, even they could care for others.
And that was something he could never forget.
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A/N: I was going to add a bit more, but I figured this was a good spot to end this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it!
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Question of the Day
Shout out to Slytherin Buttercat for giving me this idea;
If you could be a warrior in this world, what would you look like, what clan would you be from, and what rank (Servant, Commoner, Artisan, Noble, Medicine Cat, Royal, Grand Royal, and even Prisoner if you want) would you be?
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Thank you and peace out!
~Wolfcreations17