Hi again. I never know what say in these intros. xD
Ripplepaw
"I can't believe you never told me!"
I had my father cornered, the middle of a small open area in the small forest around Riverclan's camp.
"Son-"
"I'm not your son!" I screamed,"Don't ever call me that again! Don't ever talk to me again!"
"Please," He muttered. He was heartless, dead to me.
"I will never forgive you."
Echopaw
"Ever think about the future?" Bluepaw glanced at me.
"Yeah," I replied shortly. I glanced at him and our eyes met. Sure, he was cute. He had handsome blue eyes with a confident look in them, grey fur that shimmered in the sun, his smile had any she-cat feel flattered. But he was nothing against Jaguarpaw.
Speaking of the tom, he hadn't talked to me all day.
"Want to hunt?" Bluepaw continued the small-talk.
"No, I have to do something." I hurried past him.
Lionpaw glanced at me from a shady corner, but I ignored her. She knows.
"Jaguarpaw!" His eyes glared at me angrily before walking off.
Lionpaw glanced in at us, giving me a questioning stare.
Ripplepaw
"My love," My mother's soft voice floated into my ears as I watch her dance around Falconclaw.
"What is it, Mothheart?" He replied.
I growled under my breath. He barely gave her affection.
"My expecting kits." She licked his cheeks.
Starclan, why? I thought.
After he's basically ignored her for moons, she's still in love with him? I just couldn't understand. What was so amazing about him?
"Really?" He said,"When did you find out?"
"Sunrise or two ago!" She chuckled.
"Mothheart, you should have told me." He smiled.
"I was scared of you would respond," She glanced at him nervously,"I didn't know if you wanted more kits."
"Of course I do!" He said. I could hear the regret in his voice. He didn't want more kits. He didn't even want me or Pondpaw!
I watch them snuggle. Annoyance filled me to the point where I couldn't bear to watch them anymore.
"Riverwind, I'm ready," I shouted at my mentor.
"Already?" He glanced questioningly at me.
Echopaw
"All you got to do-" Bearpelt started,"Is this!"
He tackled Wolfheart, playfully bit his ear. Wolfheart slammed his back legs into Bearpelt's stomach, sending him flying.
"That's not winning, that's letting yourself get beat," I stated, tossing my head back laughing.
Bearpelt lt out a chuckle too,"Thanks, Echopaw."
"He can never beat me!" Wolfheart bragged.
"Uh-huh!" Bearpelt said, trying once again to tackle Wolfheart.
Wolfheart simply moved out of the way and carefully licked his paw.
"Better start practicing warrior moves, Bearpelt, before we have an actual battle." Wolfheart laughed.
"Shut up," Bearpelt growled, getting up from the awkward position he was in.
"Can you help me practicing hunting?" Jaguarpaw walked past some bushes into the clearing.
My face turned extremely red. Bearpelt glanced at me.
"Sure." Wolfheart responded,"See ya, guys." He said as he waved his tail goodbye.
"You totally like him."
I glared at Bearpelt as he showed me his smug grin.
Jaguarpaw
I can't believe her! After all the things I did for her, she chooses him!
"Focus on hunting, not your own thoughts," Wolfheart growled as I missed another squirrel.
"Huh?"
"It's Newleaf. There's plenty of mice, rabbits, squirrels, and birds wandering around to get eaten, yet you've missed all of them. You didn't even realize there's rabbit's scent trail up ahead. You just missed a squirrel a tail-length away from you, and you scared away a mouse. A mouse!" He reminded me. I ducked my head in shame,"What's going on, Jaguarpaw? You're one of the best hunters in the Clan! You can do better! What's on your mind?"
"Nothing," I grumbled. I can't tell him that his daughter's having an affair with a Riverclan apprentice!
"You can tell me anything," Wolfheart said comfortingly.
Not this.
"It's Ashpaw." I said the first thing that came to my mind,"He's been so...distant. It's like he hates me or something."
Actually, now that I think about it, Ashpaw has been distant. Is he okay?
Wolfheart's face turned red.
"He's...he's going through something that I can't explain," He sighed,"I can't even help him."
Wolfheart's face light up.
"But you could!" He smiled at me,"Find him and try to help him!"
"Okay." What did I just get myself into?
Echopaw
Stonestar yowled for the cats to join him at high-ledge.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath Highledge for a Clan Meeting!"
"What do think it's going to be about?" Lionpaw asked.
"Apprentices turning into Warriors," I replied simply.
It was obvious the eldest apprentices were going to be Warriors. Bluepaw and Mistpaw were fighting over how would go first and who would get the best Warrior name. Leafpaw and Crowpaw were laughing about how long this took since they have been apprentices for over six moons.
"Bluepaw, come up," Stonestar said loudly. I heard Mistpaw hiss. "I, Stonestar, leader of Thunderclan, look upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has learned the ways of your noble code, and I commend him as a warrior in his return. Bluepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?
"I do." He said confidently. How was he always so confident? I would have a heart attack if I was up there!
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Bluepaw, you will now be known as Bluestorm. StarClan honors your Determination and strength, and welcomes you as a full warrior of Thunderclan."
This went on till with all the apprentices, Mistpaw becoming Mistfur, Crowpaw becoming Crowstrike, and Leafpaw becoming Leafheart.
"I have the best name," Mistfur argued with Bluestorm.
"No, I do!" He responded.
"Stop acting like kits." Wolfheart said,"You're warriors now."
"Isn't it great, Crowstrike?" Leafheart smiled,"Freedom to do what we want! Freedom to be what we want! I want to be the best hunter. What do you want to be?"
"A great warrior. I don't need to be the best at anything, mostly because I never will. I just want to be known as brave and strong." He replied.
"Well, you are! Anyone could see that." Leafheart blinked rapidly.
"Blah." Lionpaw said, pulling her and me away from the conversation.
"Don't act like you don't do that with Blazepaw," I laughed.
"Where were you?" She said, making the conversation serious instead of funny.
"Huh?" I said, acting clueless.
How does she know?
She's not blind, she knows you left last night. Strike replied.
Starclan, why are you here?
"I'm not mouse-brained." She growled, her face concerned,"Where were you?"
"Your first statement is datable." I tried to change the topic.
"Where were you, Echopaw?"
"Y' know, I was just doing my business," I said nervously.
"Again, I'm not mouse-brained. I know you like I know myself. You're scared to go anywhere in camp at night." She said.
"Ha ha, um-"
"You were seeing him weren't you?" Lionpaw glared at me.
"Uh, who?" I tried to act clueless.
"That stupid Riverclan cat! I saw you talking to him at the gathering!"
"Fine! Okay, so what if I was?" I said, standing up taller.
"You'll never be as big as me." She said, sitting down.
I growled. I hated when cats brought this up. So what if I was small? So what if I wasn't as strong as any of the other cats? So what if I had a sickness? I could still be a great warrior!
"That's why he's ignoring." Lionpaw's eyes darkened.
"What?"
"Jaguarpaw knows. That's why he hasn't been talking to you! He feels betrayed!" Lionpaw glanced at me,"You know he has, like, a huge crush on you right?"
"Hm." I glanced around awkwardly.
"It all makes sense now!" Lionpaw exclaimed,"Hold up. You planned this." Her eyes narrowed.
I gulped.
"You made this happen." Lionpaw hissed,"You wanted to make him jealous.
"Uh-"
"Why though? He already loves you. Just because he has 'wandering eyes' doesn't mean he forgot about you!" Lionpaw growled.
"Keep your voice down!" I whispered.
"Stop. Seeing. Him!" She said frighteningly.
"I will," I said. Eventually, I thought.
Ripplepaw
Where is she? Where is she?
"Chill." Claw's ghostly figure said behind me.
"Who do you do that?" I asked,"You can read my mind, but yet you're still...outside it."
He slapped me with his tail. A chill ran down my spine.
"That doesn't matter. Besides, Echopaw has a lot going on right now. Be nice to her." He narrowed his eyes.
"I've got a lot going on too! You don't give me a break!"
Quick as a wave, we turned and slashed my cheek.
"Don't talk to me like that," He hissed,"I'm going. She's coming."
Echopaw
"Ripplepaw!" I exclaimed, coming into the same clearing.
"Hi." He replied shyly.
His cheek was bleeding.
"What happened?" I rushed over to him and licked the wound. He flinched away. I blushed.
"Nothing. Just got into a quarrel with a bramble." He replied quietly.
"Well, at least you're okay," I said.
"Hey," He changed the subject,"Want to learn to swim?'
I stared blankly at him.
"Come on," He gestured towards the lake,"You can teach me how to climb trees..."
A smile played upon my lips.
"Fine."
Jaguarpaw
"Wake up, mousebrain!" Lionpaw prodded me awake.
"What?" I replied sleepily. Was it already dawn?
"Come on!" She grabbed the tuff of fur on my neck and dragged me around the sleeping cats. I shook myself free.
"What?" I glanced outside. The sun wasn't even starting to come up! "Lionpaw, what's going?"
"Do you know where Echopaw is?" She questioned.
I glanced at my paws nervously.
"No."
"I can tell when you're lying." She glared at me.
I sniffed the air in an attempt to distract my sister. Maybe she would think I detected danger?
It worked. Lionpaw raised her head and perked her ears up. She stiffened.
"Hey, do you hear those paw-steps from the medicine cat den?" She said, pointing with her tail.
"Uh, no," I replied calmly. She tensed.
Then I heard a rustle.
Lionpaw hissed something in my ear that I could not understand, but I got a good enough idea. WIth both pulled back into the shadows, attempting to hide.
The snow-white figure came out from the den, her fur shining in the moonlight with a bundle of herbs in her mouth. SHe glanced towards us.
I could hear Lionpaw's rapid heartbeats and could smell her fear. She hated getting in trouble, especially with the medicine cat. I started to remember old memories of Lilyflower and a pain tore through my heart as I was reminded of the pale grey she-cat. Then I remembered how she was torn apart by a deadly fox.
Snowstorm brought me back to reality with her soft voice saying,"Mouse-brains, I'm not deaf. I can hear you. Come out, Lionpaw," She raised her nose,"And Jaguarpaw."
Lionpaw let out a sigh as she climbed out of the darkness. I followed shortly.
"So..." Snowstorm decided to break the awkward silence,"What are you two doing up so late?"
"Playing," I said at the same time as Lionpaw said,
"Fighting."
We glanced at each other.
"Fighting," I said what she said.
"Playing." Lionpaw glared at me.
"Um...play fighting." I offered.
Lionpaw groaned-a little too loud.
"Play-fighting," I said as Wolfheart came racing out of the Warriors' den, looking like he was ready to attack. He relaxed once he saw us.
Was he really the only light-sleeper in the clan?
"I've got an idea!" Snowstorm exclaimed,"Why don't you three go do some night training?" She suggested.
"I guess we could do that," Wolfheart said,"Jaguarpw, Lionpaw? You up to it?"
We glanced at each other. This wasn't the way we expected to spend the night.
Echopaw
"No, no! You're doing it wrong!" Ripplepaw cried,"Do it like this!"
"Easy for you to say," I retorted, returning my paws the muddy ground beneath the water."
Ripplepaw was much deeper in the water, floating in with ease. I glared jealously.
"So like this?" I asked him, using my legs to push water behind to propel me forward, and using my paws to give an extra boost.
"Yes! You're doing it!" He meowed. He let out a mrrow as my head went beneath the freezing water only to pop back up again with a shrill screech.
"Starclan, I hate you!" I laughed at my own fails. He winced.
"Now for fishing."
"What?!" I gasped,"No!"
Suddenly a familiar, and fresh, scent hit me. Snowstorm was coming!
"Quick, hid!" I hissed at Ripplepaw who jumped at out of the water with a loud splashing noise and hid in a bush.
"Echopaw?" Snowstorm poked her head out of the darkness, and the rest of her body followed,"You forgot to eat your herbs this morning. I was trying to give them to you later in the afternoon, but I didn't see you all day! So I decided to check the Apprentice Den but you weren't there either. I gathered the herbs and tried to track your scent, and obviously, it worked. And why are you soaking wet?"
"Um...fell into the lake," I said uncertainly. Snowstorm tilted her head.
"I guess you were always a little clumsy," She said with a little amusement twinkling in her eyes. I growled playfully."Anyway," Snowstorm continued,"Eat this now. After, you can either return to camp or go to the mossy clearing to train with your father, Jaguarpaw, and Lionpaw."
I sighed."I'll go meet them."
After I ate my herbs, I glanced at the bush, and because I was feeling pressured by Snowstorm's startling glare, I went straight to the clearing, not even now saying bye to Ripplepaw.
Jaguarpaw
"Jaguarpaw, what are you doing?" Wolfheart's rough voice rang through the clearing,"Yesterday you beat Ashpaw in a fight, and tonight, you can't even land a blow!"
I growled with frustration. Lionpaw muffled a laugh as she flicked her tail, eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Lionpaw, good jo-" He was cut off by his daughter's sweet-no, high-pitched-voice.
"Hi." She said softly, her eyes shining in the moonlight. Lionpaw's eyes light up with excitement.
"Echopaw? What are you doing here?" Wolfheart asked kindly.
"Well, I couldn't sleep and Snowstorm suggested that I went to train with you guys." She shrugged. I snorted quietly. Sure, you were totally not out with the mange-pelt from Riverclan.
I could hear myself hissing insults to the cat who wasn't even here.
Chill, mousebrain. I could hear Strike whisper aggressively to me. Shut up before Wolfheart thinks your more delusional than you actually are.
"I have an idea!" Lionpaw exclaimed,"Since Echopaw is one of the best fighters in the Clan, next to Stormpaw, me and Jaguarpaw can fight and see who wins and then battle Echopaw! It could let Jaguarpaw and I work on battling skills and Echopaw...well, a chance to have fun."
Wolfheart chuckled,"Sure."
I saw Echopaw blush.
"Wait, am I really one of the best fighters in the Clan?" She said, turning scarlet-red.
"Haven't you notice?" Lionpaw tilted her small head."You always win the mock battles and always get first or tie in first in torments."
"Well, sure, I have, but does that make me the best fighter in the Clan?" She gasped.
"You have Echofur's genes." Wolfheart winked.
We all knew about Echofur. She was basically a goddess to the cats of not only Thunderclan but every other Clan. She could never be beaten in a fight, or so we thought.
"I'm sure she's glad too." Lionpaw added,"From what I heard, she was quite the flirt!"
"I guess!" Wolfheart laughed,"Lots of toms were after her. Anyway, let's stop chattering and start working!"
Echopaw
Panic was surging through my body. What if Jaguarpaw won? I tensed at the thought.
"Okay." Wolfheart murmured as he stood aside from the two siblings, who were looking ready to fight,"Go!"
Watching them fight was painful. Every moment of this terrible practice made me feel helpless. I couldn't go and rip Jaguarpaw off Lionpaw, nor could I distract Lionpaw to convince her to fight me instead of Jaguarpaw. But who would I pick?
Lionpaw ducked Jaguarpaw's blow and tried to use her hind legs to regain the upper stance. She failed, however, as Jaguarpaw saw her idea, and swiftly moved out of the way and pounced on his sister again. Jaguarpaw might be strong and well-muscled, but Lionpaw was lean. His heavier weight made it hard for him to balance. Sadly, Lionpaw didn't notice that. Instead, she wiggled under Jaguarpaw and before Jaguarpaw could turn around, she lept from behind and held him in a way he couldn't give up.
"I forfeit!" Jaguarpaw gasped.
"An enemy wouldn't give up so easily. She could have killed you if she wanted to." Wolfheart grumbled. Lionpaw glanced at me.
"Yeah, and a proper clan cat would follow the code and only kill to survive." Jaguarpaw scowled. I never thought of him to be that tom who talks back to his mentor. Maybe he was starting to take advice from Ashpaw.
"We don't always fight clan cats." We all knew he was thinking about Claw and how he killed his mother. Pain tore at my heart as I thought of my grandmother who had been lost before I was even born.
"Anyway," Wolfheart shook his big, furry head,"Lionpaw won despite she missed many opportunities to win before. Echopaw, had you notice anything?"
"Well, yes. Jaguarpaw is stronger than Lionpaw. She has a lean shape and could easily use that to her advantage. Jaguarpaw is well-muscled and he needs to learn how to beat smaller and smart," I smirked at both of them,"And because of his heavier set, he needs to learn how to maintain his balance in battle. Lionpaw could have escaped his first blow easily if she just ducked and rammed into his chest to knock the wind out of him, and then pin him down. Jaguarpaw could have also noticed when Lionpaw made the move to wiggle under his belly and could have turned and pinned her down if he was quick enough."
"Okay, Echopaw that's enough." My father chuckled,"You made enough points. Now it's your turn to prove what you know."
He waited till me and Lionpaw were in positions ready enough to fight. Lionpaw grinned at me. I grinned back.
"Go!"
Lionpaw took fist attack. She leaped towards me, attempting to surprise me. She didn't surprise me one bit. Actually, I was expected her to do that. I moved out of the way. But what surprised me was how fast she regained her breath after she fell face-first to the ground. She took another leap, and this time, I ducked and scored her belly with sheathed claws. She glanced at me with humor in her eyes. She smiled, knowing what I was going to do. I circled around her and I saw her smile grow wider. I leaped at her and landing square on her shoulders. She didn't even try to dodge the blow, knowing I would hit her anyway. Since I was about half the size of her, it was hard for her to shake me off. Finally, when she did, I flew into a tree.
Pain flooded my whole head as I blinked up at my surroundings. My father had rushed towards me, his eyes wide. Jaguarpaw had come to, faster than the other two, his eyes full of concern. Lionpaw came too, her eyes small with guilt and fear.
I tried my best to not laugh. I may be small and sometimes weak, but that doesn't mean I give up so easily. I waited for the perfect moment, Lionpaw was leaning over me, and Wolfheart was commanding Jaguarpaw to rush back to camp and get Snowstorm. Before he could, though, I leaped up from my side and tackled Lionpaw. Her eyes changed from fear to amusement and a span of seconds. I burst out laughing.
"I win!" I exclaimed.
"Echopaw, don't scare me like that!" Jaguarpaw growled, apparently offended.
Wolfheart let out a long sigh,"Thank Starclan! I thought you were actually hurt."
"What do I win?" I asked, giving him my huge eyes, trying to look cute.
"A fat dove." He said. Jaguarpaw laughed.
"You haven't forgotten!" I gasped,"And what about patrols?"
"You three excused from all of them tomorrow."
Jaguarpaw
"Honestly, I don't think your little tactic would work with warriors from other clans." I laughed as Echopaw recalled her win.
"Well, I wouldn't need it to work. If it was a real fight I would get right back on my paws!" She replied, a grin playing on her lips.
"Really?' I questioned,"Even if it was someone who you liked?"
Yep. I said that. Why am I so mouse-brained?
She turned red and flashed me a look of fear, uncertainty, and anger.
"I'm loyal to my Clan." She hissed,"No matter what."
"Whatever you say," I shrugged.
She halted.
"Jaguarpaw, why have you been ignoring me?" She asked.
I shuffled uncomfortably.
"Um...no reason in particular," I meowed.
"You know, don't you?" She glared at me with her piercing blue eyes. Oh, how beautiful they were.
"Ah. Um." How was I going to answer this?
"Hurry up you two!" Wolfheart yowled with Lionpaw at his side.
Echopaw and I started walking in silence.
"Okay, fine!" I whispered finally,"I do know."
"How?" She asked,"I know Lionpaw wouldn't have told you, and you never walked into our 'meetings'. So how did you find out?"
"Um..."
Who was I going to tell her that I had a vision in Starclan about her life if Ripplepaw joined Thunderclan and a dead cat came to me and told me?
Just tell her Ripplepaw was bragging about during a gathering or something. Strike said.
"He was bragging about during a gathering," I repeated.
"Jaguarpaw, at the last gathering is when we planned to meet. And we left before you could even have a chance to talk to him." She exclaimed angerly.
"Well, why did you say yes?" I retorted.
"It was stressful for me in Thunderclan, and I needed to escape. Waking up early so I can take my herbs, being pity by everyone in the clan because of my sickness. No one thought I was even capable to hunt when I was kit. No one thought I would ever I would win a fight. Do you know how annoying it is? Being underestimated by everyone around you? Having to get special treatment? It was so refreshing to feel normal again. That's how I feel with Ripplepaw." She rambled.
"Again?" I asked, recalling how she felt normal 'again'.
"No one besides Lionpaw knew about my sickness in Tom's camp. And I survived without herbs for three moons." She said.
I had almost forgotten her kidnapping. Oops.
"About that, how did you find Stormpaw?" I asked, glad we moved on from her question about how I knew about it.
"Well, the cats in his camp knew about Bearpelt, Dusk at the time, and wanted to ask him about us. Stormpaw had arrived there and decided to stay for some reason. I don't think Bearpelt know about his heritage and how he was a Clan cat. Anyway, back in camp there were two cats and they brought us to Stormpaw. ON the way, Blazepaw decided to join us and we ran into Bearpelt's two daughters and Siverpaw chose to come. The two cats became kittypets."
By the time she finished, we arrived at camp. Lionpaw and Wolfheart had already made it to their nest. Lionpaw acted as Wofheart's second daughter.
"So...we cool?" I asked.
"We are." She said as she smiled, resting her head down to sleep.
I slipped into a peaceful sleep knowing she was happy.
Echopaw
I yawned and stepped out of my nest. The sun was shining brightly as I walked into the center of camp. I glanced around. Bearpelt was talking excitedly with Wolfheart, who looked extremely bored. Graylily was complaining to Snowstorm about being nauseous, while Cinderpw sorted herbs and listened from behind. Cloudpelt and Stonestar were discussing how the other clans are laid back at the moment and if they were going to make a move to take more territory. Mistfur was chatting with Jaguarpaw. I felt jealousy fill my belly once again. Bluestorm was walking towards me but decided to move around him to Lionpaw, Silverpaw, and Blazepaw.
"Aren't kits great?" Silverpaw exclaimed happily,"I love kitsitting Redkit when Fawnheart isn't around!"
"Yeah, they are," Lionpaw said, glancing back at the tabby kit rolling around Stonestar's paws. His father didn't seem to even notice.
"Have you guys notice how Stonestar doesn't pay attention to him anymore?" Blazepaw asked uncomfortably.
"Yeah." I said,"He doesn't even talk to Fawnheart. Did they get into a fight?"
"I wouldn't be surprised," Lionpaw muttered,"Stonestar's going crazy."
Silverpaw whacked her with her tail.
"What?" Lionpaw yowled with annoyance.
"Sh! Don't speak about our leader like that!" She hissed.
Even though she was born a rogue, she followed the code better than any clan-born cat. I don't think she's ever broken a rule.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Graylily jump up excitedly as Snowstorm whispered something in her ear, and run over to her mate. Cloudpelt's eyes lit up and Stonestar's ears perked. He moved away from the group and jumped up to the Highledge.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath Highledge for a Clan Meeting!" He yowled.
All of the cats moved towards Highledge and Redkit bounced excitedly around his mother's paws.
"Graylily and Cloudpelt have great news." He shouted.
"We're expected kits!" Graylily meowed excitedly.
"Even more kit!" Silverpaw laughed happily.
"Echopaw, are you going to have kits too?"
I turned to see Redkit staring at me with his wide amber eyes.
"Of course not! I'm just an apprentice. What makes you think I would?" I laughed, choking back the embarrassment.
"Well, I see the way you act around Jaguarpaw and how Bluestorm acts around you just like Cloudpelt and Graylily do!"
"That's enough, Redkit." Fawnheart growled,"Why don't you go try and catch some butterflies in the nursery?" She stared at me with guilt and embarrassment gleaming in her eyes."Sorry about him."
"No problem!" I laughed. Bluestorm stared at me with pleading eyes, telling me to go to him.
"I have no clue what Redkit was talking about, Echopaw. I'm really sorry you had to hear that." He muttered.
I could hear Silverpaw's and Lionpaw's muffled laughs. They could hear every word.
"Don't worry about it, Bluestorm," I said, with a smile shining on my face. He returned it.
I walked over to my two giggling best friends.
"You could at least hidden your laughs." I hissed to them.
"But we had to laugh at you!" Lionpaw retorted playfully,"If you didn't hear us, you wouldn't feel as embarrassed as you do now!"
"Um...you want to make me embarrassed?" I asked, slightly surprised by her reason for her actions.
"I like seeing you flustered. It makes me happy." Lionpaw replied.
"I feel flattered," I responded.
Sorry for the long delay! I've been having some personal issues, but I finally had time to finish this. Now to finish my homework.
Question of the Day
What do you like most about Echopaw and what do you like least?
~Silvermist