Reviews

hollyleaf1122 - I'm glad you want to join! More info on the bottom of the chapter :) There's no forum, just PM me when it's posted and I'll check it out!

Embersky - I know they're so adorable! And thank you, if I do write it, it will probably be in December :) There's more info on the bottom of the chapter about the challenge!

Anonymous - thanks for the submission but as stated before, guests can't submit kits because I need to stay in touch with them, sorry.

tr1xx777 - Thanks, I am! It's going pretty well actually :) Gah that means so much, honestly! Like when I adopted this all I wanted to do was attempt to make this into a somewhat readable fic and the fact that you and so many other people like this makes me really happy :)

Birdflame - Lol I love how that's the one thing you take out of the whole chapter XD

Ravenwing - Aw, well as an author that's really flattering that my writing did that but as a human being, all I can say is, I'M SORRY!

Guest - I know, it's about damn time!

Snowfeather - I actually know which one you're talking about... probably XD Like, I know this isn't just a random crackship, it's because one time at a gathering, they were being all cute together and stuff so that's where it came from. I was browsing through some forums and I saw some people talking about MinnowXMouse and I thought it'd be kinda cute to add them in. And yes, that's correct :) It has to be about them.

QLKwriter - Yeah, he's definitely changing and Rosepetal is seeing the good in him again :) That's shown a little in this chapter too!

Stream that Flows Around Rock - Yeah, he isn't going to change like right away so I made him a little cocky on purpose :) And I like writing that part! I didn't want for them to fight for so long!

Aeran - I honestly don't know what to say in this reply since we've already talked so much XD Uh, hi I guess? It's nice to have met you!

Juliet's Shadow - More info at the bottom of the chapter if you're still interested! And thanks :)

Answer of the Day

Yes, I'm doing NaNo! For all those who don't know, NaNo is National Novel Writing Month. It's where you try to write 50, 000 words in a month. It's actually really hard because if you think about it, excluding this chapter, I haven't even reached 50k O.o There was a 14% success rate last year...

Chapter Fourteen

"Rosepetal, it's not what it looks like," Foxleap tried. He didn't know how much she saw - if she even saw anything - and he could at least try to deny it. Maybe she only smelt the WindClan on him?

"Isn't it?" Roseptetal sneered. "I waited up all night for you and when you come back, you're drenched and reek of WindClan. So who is it then? Heathertail? Furzepelt?"

'Heathertail and Furzepelt? If Rosepetal saw us, she would have known who it was. Heathertail and Furzepelt look nothing like Swallowtail!' Foxleap realized. He could still lie his way out of this.

"Rosepetal, just let me explain," Foxleap hissed quietly. He was hoping that no one woke up from their conversation but he could see a few cats stirring. They would have to be quieter. "Look, I knew this would be my last chance out of camp for the next few days with my punishment and all. I saw that everyone was asleep and I just took it. I went for a walk when it started to rain and I was about to turn back."

"So instead of turning back, you decided to meet up with a WindClan cat, is that it?" Rosepetal snorted, narrowing her eyes. "I should tell Bramblestar about this."

"Just listen," Foxleap pleaded. "I saw something in the river between us and WindClan. It was a WindClan cat and they must have fallen and hit their head. I couldn't just leave them there or they would die! So I dragged them near WindClan so someone could find them."

Rosepetal stared at the tom for a few moments, looking him up and down before sighing. "I believe you. I think you did the right thing by helping them back, but next time, don't lie to me about where you're going. I'm your friend, Foxleap. I could have come with you."

"I'll keep that in mind," Foxleap nodded. "But if you don't mind, I really need to sleep. Dragging cats around all night was kind of exhausting and I have a sassy apprentice to follow around all day."

Rosepetal sniggered. "Well you brought that on yourself but I suppose I can let you get some rest. Goodnight Foxleap."

"G'night," Foxleap slurred, stepping over some sleeping bodies as he made his way back to his nest. He plopped down on the moss and let out a sigh of relief; his bones had been aching for this moment all night.

It didn't take long for him to drift off to sleep but as he did, something in the back of his mind was nagging him. It was itching to be figured out and finally, just as Foxleap was about to give up and try to forget it, Rosepetal's words came back to him.

I'm your friend, Foxleap.

Friend.

This entire challenge had been meant for a she-cat to genuinely like Foxleap's personality and Rosepetal had just admitted that she enjoyed his personality. Foxleap had won the challenge. He could tell Spiderleg in the morning and win the challenge, winning full bragging rights and another title to add to the list of things he's best at. He could just cash in his win and never have to try to impress anyone again.

But maybe... maybe he didn't want to win. Because if he won, that meant he wouldn't get to meet up with Swallowtail anymore. And he definitely didn't want that.

"Are you ready?" Foxleap asked and the tom nodded.

"Set?" Another nod.

"Go!" Foxleap screamed and he and Snowpaw leapt to their feet bolting towards their target on the far side of camp; the fresh-kill pile. Since Foxleap had longer legs and was just faster overall, he beat the apprentice to the pile, snatching a plump vole off the top and bolting to where a fluffy ginger she-cat was sunning herself. "Cherrypaw!"

Cherrypaw sat up with wide eyes, her jaw dropped and the fur along the back of her neck bristling. She unsheathed her claws and prepared to defeat some Dark Forest scum.

"I brought you a vole," Foxleap grinned and dropped the vole at her paws just as Snowpaw arrived. He was carrying a squirrel.

"Why don't you have my squirrel instead?" Snowpaw offered and nudged the prey closer to her. Foxleap shot the tom a nasty glare before nudging his vole a little closer. Snowpaw did the same and within heartbeats, the two toms were having a stare off while flinging pieces of prey at Cherrypaw who could only watch with a baffled expression on her face.

"Stop!" she suddenly yelled and the two froze, just as Snowpaw's squirrel flew up and hit her on the face. Snowpaw shot her an apologetic smile but her expression remained the same: unamused. "I don't know what's gotten into you two but you're acting like kits. Grow up!"

And then she stomped away. Well, she tried at least but it looked a little silly when she could only use three of her paws.

"Well that went well," Foxleap muttered. "So who won then?"

"I... I don't think either of us did," Snowpaw said, cocking his head to the side. "Maybe throwing my squirrel at her face wasn't the best idea..."

"Yeah, I don't think so either," Foxleap agreed. He sat up straight at turned to the white apprentice. "But the challenge is not over yet - not by a longshot. It's anyone's game."

"Then you better stop making speeches and start playing because it doesn't look like either of us are close to winning," Snowpaw pointed out and Foxleap turned to see Cherrypaw ranting to Amberpaw. The she-cat's both looked annoyed and they shot Foxleap and Snowpaw nasty looks. "Listen, I need to go out hunting so I guess good luck with Cherrypaw. StarClan knows you'll need it."

Foxleap shot him a look as he chuckled and then padded away to go find his mentor.

The reddish brown tom turned away and set his sights on someone who had always been there when he needed advice, or at least someone to bluntly tell him what he did wrong; Hazeltail. He would have gone to Swallowtail because she usually gave pretty good advice but since that was out of the question, Hazeltail was the next best thing.

Foxleap trotted up to the small gray-and-white she-cat who was chewing on a raven. She didn't look very happy with it though because her nose was wrinkled in disgust. "It's stringy and cold..." she muttered and pulled another face. She was picky about her meals.

"Wow, that's too bad. I need advice," Foxleap said ever-so-tactfully. He plopped down in front of the cat and stared expectantly at her, swishing his tail back and forth. It was like he expected her to instantly know what was wrong with him.

"Yeah, I agree, you do have a lot of problems," Hazeltail smirked, taking another bite of her prey. The second it touched her tongue, she gagged and a shiver crossed her spine as she swallowed it. "Nope, I can't do it. Just eat it for me."

"Sure, why not?" Foxleap shrugged and took a big bite of the bird. It was a little stiff and stringy like she had said but it wasn't nearly as bad as she made it out to be. "Okay, so here's my problem: Cherrypaw hates me."

Hazelatil looked at him like he was an idiot. "Well, yeah, you got her stuck in camp for a moon and almost destroyed her chances of ever being a warrior. I'd hate you too."

"It wasn't my fault!" he whined out.

"Yes it is!" Hazeltail yelled. A few cats looked over to see what all the commotion was about but when they saw Foxleap, they went back to their normal conversation. Foxleap was always making someone angry, it was no surprise now. "The sooner you accept that, the sooner she'll forgive you!"

Hazeltail stomped away, leaving Foxleap alone with his raven. He sighed and took another bite of the bird but suddenly, it tasted like dirt and he could barely manage to swallow it. Taking it to the Dirtplace, he dug a little hole for it and dropped the raven is, pushing the dirt over it again and walking back into camp. When he entered camp, he instantly spotted Cherrypaw sitting alone.

Her face was dropped and her chin was resting on her paws, looking sullen. Foxleap watched as she lifted her head so she could tenderly lick her front paw. She clambered to her feet and softly started pressing her paw on the ground but once she put too much pressure on it, she whimpered and pulled away, plopping back down on the ground again and looking even more miserable than before.

No wonder she hate Foxleap for that... he would hate himself too.

If she blames you, then you should apologize whether you fully believe it's your fault or not.

Swallowtail's words rang in Foxleap's ears as he watched the ginger she-cat. Sure, he still didn't believe Cherrypaw's accident was his fault but she did, so didn't he deserve to take a little bit of the blame? He did for Mousewhisker so why couldn't he do the same for his own apprentice?

Foxleap tentatively padded up to Cherrypaw and when she looked up, a scowl fell on her face. "Why do you keep trying to talk to me? Haven't you done enough?"

"Can you just listen to me?" Foxleap pleaded and Cherrypaw sighed, slowly nodding. She was still his apprentice and still had to do what he said. "Okay, look, I know you don't want to I'll try to make this short. I understand why you hate me, I do, and until lately, I didn't really get it. I didn't take the blame for something that was clearly my fault and I thought you'd eventually get over it if I tried being nice enough. But then I realized something else."

"What?" Cherrypaw asked. Her tone was softer and it was obvious that she was starting to forgive her mentor. He just needed to say those two words that he rarely said to anyone.

"I haven't apologized to you yet. So Cherrypaw, I'm sorry for hurting you. Do you forgive me?" Foxleap asked and waited expectantly for his apprentice to answer.

Finally, she nodded. "Thank you for apologizing, Foxleap. I forgive you."

Foxleap let out a breath of air that he hadn't realized he had been holding in. It felt like a mountain had been lifted off his breath and he couldn't have been more relieved that Cherrypaw didn't despise him anymore. Now, if he could only get the rest of his Clanmates to do the same... but that might take some more work after everyone heard about his 'spat' with Owlclaw.

Speaking of which, Mousewhisker exited the elders den, a stick covered in mousebile in his jaws. When he saw Foxleap looking, he nodded at him. His eyes didn't seem as heavy as they had for the past few days, even though he did look a little distressed. He was slowly starting to heal though; he realized after Foxleap took part of the blame for his mistake that he wasn't alone.

Minnowtail might not love him anymore, but that didn't mean that he was completely alone. He had his Clanmates who loved him and maybe that was enough.

"Hey Foxleap?" The reddish-brown tom turned back to his apprentice to see her looking thoughtful. "Uh, I just wanted to say that you've changed. In a good way, of course, but I was just wondering what changed?"

"I guess I grew up," Foxleap shrugged. 'With the help of a certain WindCLan cat.'

"Well, I like the change," Cherrypaw nodded. "It makes you much more respectable."

Foxleap frowned slightly. Respectable? How could they not have respected him before? He constantly reminded them of how much there was about him to respect! How could they forget?

"Anyway, I have to go check in with Jayfeather so I'll see you later then," Cherrypaw dipped her head.

"Alright, I'll see you," Foxleap bid his farewell and watched the ginger she-cat hop away.

For the rest of the day, nothing really happened. He brought Cherrypaw her some food a few times and they talked a bit. He demonstrated a few battle moves that they would practice once she was able to walk on her foot and she said she was studying with the other apprentices about what she needed to do to improve her stances.

The only real surprise came when Snowpaw came back to camp. The tom dropped his prey in the pile before approaching Cherrypaw and greeting her as if nothing had happened. They talked for a bit while Foxleap watched on, completely baffled. The tom had been out of camp the whole day! How did he manage to get Cherrypaw to forgive him?

Once Cherrypaw left to go do whatever she did, Foxleap walked straight up to Snowpaw and demanded the answers. "How did she forgive you? You haven't talked to her all day!"

"Hm?" Snowpaw glanced up and then realization flashed in his minds. "Oh that! Yeah, she was never really angry at me."

"What?" Foxleap cocked his head, looking confused. What was Snowpaw talking about?

"Cherrypaw wasn't even angry at me. I just made that part up, figuring you'd take it as some sort of challenge and just apologize to her already," Snowpaw explained. "All I had to do was tell her the squirrel thing was an accident and we're fine again."

"Y-you..." Foxleap could only stare at him in shock. Snowpaw had... tricked him?

"Someone had to take matters into their own paws. You were making Cherrpaw miserable and I had to do something. Sorry about that." And with that, Snowpaw bounded off, probably to go talk with Cherrypaw.

Foxleap had been beaten at his own game. By an apprentice.

Other than that small event of humiliation, nothing happened. A few more patrols came back and some more went out but there wasn't a lot for Foxleap to do other than visit and sleep. But at least it gave him plenty of energy for him to stay up to meet with Swallowtail.

Foxleap stayed in shock for nearly the entire day. He could barely answer Birchfall's questions because he was too busy thinking about the mischievous white tom. As he thought it over, he realized he had never actually seen Cherrypaw say anything to Snowpaw that would make anyone think she was angry at him. They never fought and the only time she glared at him was after he flung a squirrel at her - and he probably did that on purpose too.

Foxleap was still in shock as he snuck out of camp, running through the forest to go meet up with Swallowtail. He easily snuck past Poppyfrost and Toadstep since they were both literally falling asleep on their paws. Once he was past them, the rest of the trip went flawlessly with him only tripping over a root once.

He sat in his regular spot in the shadows as he waited for her. He waited there, thinking the day over before finally deciding that it was a successful day. Even if he got tricked by Snowpaw, he still worked things out with Cherrypaw and he didn't upset anyone else.

Foxleap tuned back in to reality and realized something that had never happened before: Swallowtail hadn't showed up. Foxleap looked up to the moon to see if he was just exaggerating how long he had been waiting. He had left when the moon was just starting to rise and it was well in the sky now.

'She probably just had trouble getting out of camp... I can wait a little longer,' Foxleap thought as he settled down. 'It's no big deal.'

But as he waited, his hope slowly started to diminish. He waited until eyelids felt like rocks and the moon was starting to set. He waited the entire night for Swallowtail to show up, only she never did. Was she hurt? Was she confined to camp because of her head injury from the night before? Or maybe it was as simple as she had fallen asleep... yeah, that was probably it.

Foxleap was always exhausted whenever night came so Swallowtail probably just thought she'd close her eyes for a bit and she lost track of time. But even as Foxleap thought it, he couldn't help but think of another option:

She had stood him up.

Tad bit of drama there! Okay so a bit more on the challenge:

The point of the challenge is to write a 3 chapter fic (or more, but it has to be at LEAST three chapters, all about the same character). The character has to have 10 or less stories about them. 3000 words by the time it's complete (Authors Notes don't count). I've had a lot of questions about the deadline and I finally came up with a deadline... December 25th. If there are a bunch of people who aren't done by then then I can postpone it a bit but I'm not going to hold up for one person.

Any more questions? Leave 'em in a review!

Kit of the Day

Spiderkit by Stunna13

Question of the Day

Which cat from the warriors series would you save from death?