"NightClan!" A loud yowl woke Oakpaw. He groaned, tired from last night's late battle training. Tigerfur had "insisted" it was good for ambushing, but they had practiced until Oakpaw thought what must have almost been dawn.
But he was far from feeling the exhaustion of their training session. Better then fine, since he was proving to be a good fighter, by managing well when he practiced with Tigerfur, one-on-one.
Two pairs of paws shoved him hard, fully awaking him when they pushed him out of his nest. He rolled out of the soft pile of moss, bracken and feathers that made up his nest. Sitting up, he lashed his tail indigently. "What in the name of StarClan, was that for?"
Two pairs of amber eyes gleamed, staring back at his annoyed green ones. The cats stepped forward, and Oakpaw realized it was just Sparrowpaw and Mudpaw. Three more cats stepped closer, so that they stood shoulder to shoulder: Ravenpaw, Flowerpaw, and Shortpaw.
He let out a long growl as he shook away the leaves that had caught onto his pelt. "What is it?"
The toms were sharing amused glances with each other, but Flowerpaw in the center, was being left out. Oakpaw gave a frustrated growl, seeing that no cat was telling him anything.
Flowerpaw reached up, so that she could touch her nose to his ear, before the she-cat ducked her head away shyly. Oakpaw felt himself grow red with embarrassment, but he lowered his head so the shorter apprentice could talk to him.
She gently whispered so that her mew could only be heard by him. "Nothing. Shadestar called Tigerfur, Stormheart, Nettletail, Lilysnow, Hailclaw, Moonwillow and Riptooth for a senior warrior meeting." She added quickly. "Both of the medicine cats went, so we were waiting for Lakepaw to tell us."
He scowled, his glare scorching the other cats. "You mean that's it!? Why don't you mouse-brains just wait until he gets back?
Ravenpaw shifted his paws, looking a little uncomfortable as though Oakpaw was a cat from another clan instead of his brother. Shortpaw and Mudpaw looked surprised, but Flowerpaw took a step back, hurt noticeable on her face, yet still, no one spoke.
However, Sparrowpaw rushed forward to his sister's side. "Okay! We get it, Oakpaw." He spat. "But some cats do. So don't ruin everything!"
Oakpaw ruffled his brown and red fur in defiance. "What? I just think you guys can wait. If it was really important, Shadestar would call a clan meeting."
A heavy silence drifted into the apprentice den. None of them wanted to speak first. Finally, a small, spotted head popped into the gorse bush breaking the silence.
"Leopardkit?" Ravenpaw sighed as sternly as he could. "Why are you here?"
Leopardkit padded forward, stumbling clumsy on a small stone as she made her way towards the group of bigger cats. "Swiftfoot told me to get you." The kit squeaked. "She said that there was going to be a clan meeting; something about roots and logs?"
All of the apprentices were confused until Flowerpaw spoke. "You mean rouges and loners?" she asked.
The golden-brown kit, shrugged. "Maybe. But she said to tell the apprentices because Shadestar is busy."
The little tabby turned around, heading out of the apprentice den and, this time managing not to trip over the same stone.
"Warriors and apprentices gather at High Rock!" Shadestar's loud yowl could be heard from the apprentice den.
"Well, let's go." Shortpaw mewed, and the others began to trail behind him, Ravenpaw at the rear.
Why doesn't he use the proper words?
As if Oakpaw knew what he was thinking, he glanced at Ravenpaw. "Maybe he's just really busy?" He suggested.
"Wait. So we're literately just going to barge into their camp to tell them off?" Oakpaw asked. He sat up on his haunches. "Aren't we going to fight too?"
Tigerfur's neck fur rose, as he bristled. "Only if we have to, Oakpaw. You know that's not a good thing." The tabby rose, before padding out of the forest with his apprentice following behind.
The apprentice bounded forward, so that he could match his mentor's pace. "I know, but I mean these cats are rouges and loners right?" Oakpaw persisted. "So why don't we get more cats for the patrol? Even though, we are the strongest warriors of our clan…"
One hard glare from Tigerfur was enough for Oakpaw. Lately, the senior warrior had been extra gruff with Oakpaw, challenging him with different assignments all the time. Half of the time, he did them alone.
Tigerfur suddenly froze, a moment before Oakpaw caught scent of other cats that he didn't recognize, but it was too late.
The cats quickly surrounded them. Oakpaw immediately noticed the most intimidating cat. A black tom stood baring his teeth at Tigerfur. His fur stood up, his claws unsheathed and his yellow-stripped tail whipped around.
Just like a warrior.
A ginger tabby tom that was twice Tigerfur's size, moved around to stand by the smaller black tom. A sleek silver she-cat flanked his other side, her claws digging into the earth. Unlike her rouge mates, she was far plumper out of all of them.
"Who are you?" The black tom narrowed his eyes. "I could ask you the same." Tigerfur stared back, holding his gaze with a stare. "We are of NightClan. Your cats have been trespassing on our territory, though we've marked them well enough for your group of rouges to scent."
A grey tabby tom stood facing off with Oakpaw as he snarled. "You think we care about your precious borders?"
Oakpaw could tell his mentor was trying hard to keep his neck fur flat. "No, but you'd better learn." He gave a growl, but they were well outnumbered.
The rouges hissed back, but the black tom thrashed his tail, silencing all of the cats.
"What is it, Lightning?" The silver she-cat asked, turning towards the black tom.
So that cat is lightning. Oakpaw thought. The tom was…usual; different compared to his denmates.
Suddenly, a few scents drifted towards them, and Tigerfur sprang onto Lightning. With a shocked yowl, he was bowled over by Oakpaw's mentor; the other rouges surprise gave Oakpaw enough time to leap onto a rouge. This one was a beautiful light brown she-cat that reminded Oakpaw of Fallowflight. Still, he didn't hold back when he struck several quick blows before nimbly leaping back.
"Tigerfur! Why are we attacking now? We're still going to be outnumbered!" he hissed, lashing out at the heavy looking ginger tom while ducking under the she-cat's weak blow.
She was bigger than Oakpaw, but still; she was rouge. Oakpaw thought. His confidence increased as he kept the two busy while Tigerfur was wrestling with all of the other rouges.
He gave a silent wish. StarClan, send me the strength I need for this battle!
A flash of black fur caught Oakpaw's eye but he realized it wasn't Lightning. It was Ravenpaw! Four other cats charged with him.
Rabbitheart skidded towards the group of rouges that had clumsily managed to pin Tigerfur down. Stormheart ran along Rabbitheart's side, before they flung their selves into the fight.
A familiar screech came from a she-cat.
Redfeather! Oakpaw turned towards her; Redfeather was facing three other rouges. As he ran towards her, he had to swallow hard, wishing he'd be in time to help her. Once again, he bunched his muscles and pushed of the ground, scaling an amazing amount of distance; Oakpaw flew through air before pounding his front paws hard onto the shoulders of the closet rouge. The tom collapsed, his legs bent as he sank down.
The furious apprentice sank his claws deep into a grey tabby's fur. He yowled, "Get off!" before rolling onto the ground, nearly squishing Oakpaw. Frustratingly, he forced himself to let go, a heartbeat before the tom did flatten him.
"Rowrrrrrrr!" An angry growl, sounded behind Ravenpaw. For a moment, he would have lunged right at the cat. Instead he stiffened, recognizing the tom's smell.
"Shadestar!" Redfeather screeched.
Ravenpaw and his brother turned, in time to see Lightning digging his fangs into Shadestar's neck. Releasing him, Lightning backed away with horror in his eyes, as he realized what he had done.
The rouges stared in silence, but the NightClan cats rushed forward to their leader.
Redfeather watched his body, with a sad light, that made her eyes seem like the softest of fern leaves glowing. Oakpaw looked at her again; she had her eyes on Shadestar's unmoving body-
Oh. So Redfeather didn't like him. Well at least now, Ravenpaw will stop teasing me. He thought, bitterly.
He wanted to yowl his pain to StarClan. He wanted to be mourning Shadestar and comforting Redfeather. But it looked like she didn't need him. Or even want him. What he felt that was wrong was the fact that Swiftfoot was Shadestar's mate so why was Redfeather going after him?
He stared,his green eyes wide as Shadestar's lifeless pelt convulsed once; the leader weakly took in a gulp of air. His breathing decreased slowly, and he finally staggered to his paws. He limped forward;Tigerfur rushed to support one flank, Stormheart helping with the other.
I wonder how many lives Shadestar still has. Once he dies, Tigerfur will become leader, but since I haven't had an apprentice yet, I can't become a deputy. His whiskers twitched as the clan cats began to leave. I'm still an apprentice myself!
Ravenpaw staggered his way behind the fallen leader. He tripped over the ginger tabby's tail, and the tom let out an angry yelp. "What was that for? You think that just because we're letting you go today, that you guys are okay?! Just wait, I'll-"
Lightning stomped his paw hard onto the same place Ravenpaw had accidentally stepped on. "You'll be quiet, Crook." He snapped. "You don't make the decisions; I do. Now let them pass."
Crook gave a grudging nod as he parted so Ravenpaw could go.
Ravenpaw felt anger get the better of him. "Why do you make the decisions? Who died and made you leader?"
Lightning's jaw gaped wide enough so that Ravenpaw could see little bits of mouse stuck between his yellowed teeth. Drying blood coated his fangs and claws that had multicolor fur stuck in them.
To everyone's surprise, the silver she-cat stepped forward. "You are right. Lightning has authority, but not the nobleness to earn its right. Although he was our leader, I don't agree he should still have that position." She tipped her head. "Maybe we should change."
Oakpaw froze, and slowly sat down, with Ravenpaw by his side. He could sense the anger stirring up between the cats.
Gasps came from different cats, except for Tigerfur and Stormheart who were ignoring the rouges and discussing something along with Redfeather.
"Silver, you traitor!" The screech came from the light furred she-cat, Oakpaw had fought with earlier.
Silver shook her head. "I never promised my loyalty to anyone. What I'm saying now is that we could be treated better; all I ask is to be the leader."
Slowly and one by one, all of the rouges nodded except for the light brown she-cat and Lightning. Oakpaw guessed that she was Lightning's mate, from the way she stood by his side.
Again, the thought of having a mate flashed into his mind.
He shoved it aside and watched the heated argument. Silver shook her head over and over, but Lightning was yowling his opinion.
Finally Lightning backed away, his tail in between his legs, dipping his head with submission. "All right, He growled. What about Aria?"
Silver raised her head; "She can stay as long as you don't cause trouble." With a slow nod, he turned around, blending in with the other rouges.
Ravenpaw whispered to his brother. "I bet you they were going to fight, but Lightning chickened out." Oakpaw absentmindedly nodded but he kept his gaze on the rouges. When nothing else happened, he let out a breath and followed the patrol.
Silver called out. "This is still not over, but we don't need to fight. Can you promise that you won't attack us if we find you for a different purpose?"
With Shadestar hurt, Tigerfur was the most held his breath as he wondered what the deputy was thinking.
Tigerfur couldn't have given a more obvious message. He glowered, his fierce yellow eyes, suddenly looked as cold as ice. His tone matched his face. "I think you can answer that by yourselves." He turned, head high as he shouldered the weight of Shadestar along with Stormheart.
A bit of shock from the other cats, a pinch of fear, respective nods here and there, and plenty of kind-worded praise. That was what Oakpaw had earned in the last two nights, since the battle with the rouges.
It was great to be asked questions like, "Was it scaring, did you have to fight for your life?" And Oakpaw always loved hearing comments of his skills.
Flowerpaw always seemed to be asking him these things. Ever since she had helped get Lakepaw and Springcloud to treat his wounds, she was always trying to go on a patrol with him, or share tongues after eating. Once, she had even offered to share her nest with Oakpaw after he had complained to no one about the snow cold moss.
The next night, Oakpaw discovered that his nest had been lined with lichen. He could feel the soft plant tickling his nose whenever he turned and tossed, but he enjoyed the feeling.
It must have been Flowerpaw. Oakpaw thought. She had been the only cat who had heard him.
Tonight, he was restless, his mind drifting off to the battle. It was his first one, but he hadn't felt fear. Instead, he liked the way he could take on two full grown cats on at the same time. Although they were rouges, he wasn't ready to admit how much his wounds had actually hurt. * Cough*
The point was that he would be ready for what ever would happen next.
Hey guys!
Thanks for the 50 Reviews! (Don't have to just yet, but aiming for a number that starts with 7 and ends with 0.
Um, so I hope you'll answer my poll, if you haven't yet, send me an oc!
Uh, I welcome any ideas and I might slow down my writing.
Q:If you were an apprentice how might you get your warrior name?
-Catqstar :) Bye Bye!