AN: RiverClan's taking a beating in this story, eh? They're actually my favorite Clan of all, so don't worry, I'm not prejudiced against them or anything. WindClan's my least favorite now (Stupid Onestar, Mudclaw, Crowfeather, Nightcloud…the only good cats WindClan ever had were OneWHISKER, CrowPAW, Gorsepaw, and Morningflower) and they'll get their beatings in due time.
Thanks to all my loyal readers, especially Allygirl65 and Cinder11! Love ya!
23
Tigerpaw awoke to the sensation of being gently nuzzled. Whitepaw's golden eyes and Foxpaw's green pair were the first thing he saw.
"Wha...." he murmured, feeling dizzy.
"You're awake!" Whitepaw exclaimed. "Tigerpaw, we were so worried!"
"You hit your head when you fell," Foxpaw said, her green eyes round with worry for her friend. "And then that injury on your back was pretty bad, too."
Tigerpaw was in the medicine cat den. To his right, he could see Badgerstripe lying down. Birchpelt was nowhere to be seen; he had probably been dismissed. Also in the den was Lionpaw, lying still while Gingerpaw tended to him.
"Your warning saved my sister," Foxpaw informed him. "It was brave of you, when you were in so much pain." She licked his cheek. "Thank you."
Tigerpaw felt disoriented. "What happened?"
"You passed out when you fell. Nightpool fled when Brightstar and the others got back; it turns out only a few RiverClan warriors were waiting for them at Sunningrocks. You were right; Nightpool used Sunningrocks to try and take the Clan. We fought them off, though. Everyone's safe…." Her voice caught in her throat as she spoke.
"What?" Tigerpaw asked quickly. "What's wrong?"
"Brightstar lost a life," Foxpaw whispered, "and Petalcloud was killed, by Nightpool. When those warriors all piled up on her…she didn't have a chance."
Tigerpaw felt sorrow well up inside him. Petalcloud hadn't liked him, and for good reason; he was much too reckless, and he had been in her way often. But she had been a kind cat, and had laid down her life for her Clan, for the apprentices, for Silvermist's kits.
"What do we do now?" he asked. "She had no apprentice."
"Silvermist is taking on some of Petalcloud's duties," Whitepaw said. "She had some training when she was young; apparently she started off as a medicine cat apprentice, but decided it wasn't the life for her after she met Stormheart."
Tigerpaw felt shaken. "She can't do it all by herself."
"Yeah," Foxpaw said softly. "I'm not sure what Brightstar will do now."
Tigerpaw closed his eyes, feeling incredibly weary.
"Foxpaw?" Birchpelt asked. "Lionpaw? Brightstar wants to see you both." Foxpaw stood, and Lionpaw did as well, wincing slightly in pain. Whitepaw glanced at Tigerpaw, and seemed about to say something, when Birchpelt said, "you too, Tigerpaw."
Tigerpaw simply nodded, getting to his paws and grimacing at the sourness he felt when he stood. He followed the others. Lionpaw shot him a venomous look, but said nothing.
"Welcome," Brighstar said. She looked weary, moons older than when Tigerpaw had last seen her.
"Where is Petalcloud?" Tigerpaw asked. "I didn't see her in camp. I want to share tongues with her before she's buried."
Brightstar blinked at him sadly. "The battle was yesterday, Tigerpaw," she said gently. "You were out for awhile. Petalcloud has already been buried. She's with StarClan now, at peace."
Tigerpaw blinked in surprise, feeling sorrow squeeze his heart again. I didn't even get to say goodbye….
"What did you want us for, exactly?" Lionpaw asked. Brightstar sighed quietly.
"I acted foolish, and it cost us," she said quietly. "It is thanks to the apprentices of ThunderClan and Petalcloud that our camp was not lost. I praise you for that; tell Whitepaw and Gingerpaw as well. You all fought bravely. Lionpaw, you're going to the Gathering. Gingerpaw tells me you fought like a warrior, and even saved Tigerpaw's life."
"He did," Tigerpaw said quickly. "I was pinned down…he ran off the warrior who had me pinned, and the one that was going to attack me while I was pinned." He nodded to Lionpaw, but the golden apprentice's expression didn't change in the slightest.
"Foxpaw, you're also going," Brighstar continued. Foxpaw's face lit up. "Birchpelt told me you were the first to defend Sunningrocks, and you also fought bravely for the Clan. In light of these events, I'm letting you go." She turned to Tigerpaw. "There is one more apprentice who will be going." Tigerpaw's heart fluttered with anticipation. "Gingerpaw," Brightstar said, and Tigerpaw's hopes fell. "She has been respectful and kind this moon, and fought bravely. She wanted me to let you go in her place, Tigerpaw, because you helped her during the battle. I told her no."
"Why?" Tigerpaw asked, feeling angry. "I deserve to go just as much as Foxpaw or Lionpaw! I fought RiverClan twice!"
"Foxpaw led the offensive, and Lionpaw saved you," Brightstar said calmly. "Not only that, but this is your first moon of training; you're the youngest of all the apprentices in the Clan, remember? And need I remind you of your…exploits the last moon?" Tigerpaw felt his temper flare at her words. Lionpaw had been involved in his first "exploit," and Foxpaw was in the second. Why could they go when he couldn't?
"Whitepaw will keep you company here, though," Brightstar continued. "She volunteered. She wants to spend time with you, she said." Brightstar flicked her tail. "You may go now. Tigerpaw, train hard and maybe you too will go to the next Gathering, during the next moon."
Tigerpaw had to restrain himself from hissing. He turned and left the den, leaving Foxpaw and Lionpaw behind.
"Sorry you can't come too," Foxpaw said from behind him. "If I really was Foxstar, I would have let you come."
Tigerpaw growled, "But you aren't ApprenticeClan isn't even real! It's just some stupid plaything!"
"Don't get mad at me just because I can go and you can't!" Foxpaw retorted hotly. "Don't be stupid!"
"This whole Clan is stupid!" Tigerpaw raged. "I'm going to sleep. I can't train today anyway." He stalked into the apprentice den, leaving a fuming Foxpaw and a smug Lionpaw behind.
AN: Brightstar isn't being strict; I think she's correct in her choice. Tigerpaw caused a lot of trouble during the last moon, and Foxpaw and Lionpaw proved themselves. Not only that, but she could hardly leave poor Whitepaw behind all alone, eh?