Chapter 25: Beetlepaw
Beetlepaw crept into the spare den the night before the gathering. He'd like to know a few things beforehand.
The young apprentice prodded the dark shape of the rogue in the ribs. The rogue leapt to his feet and got into an offensive crouch.
"What do you want?" The rogue snarled.
"Uh… Harepaw said your name was Hawk?" The statement came out as a question.
Hawk sat down. "You know Harepaw?" There was still and edge to his voice, but he seemed more ready to listen.
"Yea… you see, we –" Beetlepaw was saying.
"Know more than you should. Yea, obviously if you know Harepaw that well. What happened with Smokey?" Hawk interrupted.
"Well, we were spying, and Smokey came…" Beetlepaw started the tale of what happened with Nightpaw.
"I can't believe she would do that!" Hawk snarled. "By the look she gave you, she has her suspicions of you. Don't worry about your brother. If she sent Eagle and Tree away, then Nightpaw won't be known to the others."
Beetlepaw didn't know why, but he felt better when Hawk said that. "Could you tell me a few things?"
"Like what?" Hawk peered at Beetlepaw.
"Like useful things to know before the gathering tomorrow."
Hawk sighed. "Okay, so Smokey's going to be there?" Hawk continued when he saw Beetlepaw nod. "She just wants just. She wants the Clans to honor the ones who started them – and no, I'm not talking about just Riverstar, Thunderstar, Shadowstar, and Windstar. I'm talking about who they were before, they completely forgot about Skystar, but I guess that is one that Smokey is happy to have forgotten. But there are those that should be greatly remembered. The Clans don't even know where they came from! They don't know Shaded Moss, Storm, Fox, or Jagged Peak. They barely remember Gorsestar, Graystar, and Owlstar. The Clans need to know." Hawk stared into Beetlepaw's black eyes. "It is the only way for them to survive."
Beetlepaw shook his head. "But you know how stubborn the Clans are! They'd pass it up for lies. They'd believe themselves over "some rogues". How are we supposed to prove it?"
Hawk stared Beetlepaw down. "Because you will have help, help from the past."
Beetlepaw gave Hawk a look that said "are you serious?" This caused Hawk to snort in exasperation and roll his eyes.
"Look I have a plan," Hawk stated firmly.
Beetlepaw gazed expectantly at Hawk, who sighed and rolled his eyes again.
"Okay, here's the plan…" Hawk started.
"Are you absolutely sure?"
"Trust me. It has to work."
Beetlepaw nodded and left for the apprentices den. The night was almost up, and the next night was the gathering. Hawk curled up to get what little sleep he could.
It wasn't long before Beetlepaw was awoken to go training. Fernpaw was finally healthy enough to battle train, and the three apprentices went to the training hollow.
"RiverClan has the advantage because we will be on the island, which is surrounded by water. The best thing for you to do is to force your opponent off the shores. Let's start with some basic water tactics. Beetlepaw, you first," Pebblefoot took charge of the training.
Beetlepaw stood across from his mentor. He used what he knew to get Grasspelt into the water, and pin him, quite quickly, actually.
"Excellent job, Beetlepaw," Pebblefoot praised.
Fernpaw snorted.
Pebblefoot glared at Fernpaw. "Is something funny?"
"Well, just that I could do ten times better than that weakling." Fernpaw tried to look intimidating. It didn't work.
"I'm sorry, but who was the one recovering in the medicine cats' den for how many moons?" Beetlepaw rolled his eyes at Fernpaw.
Fernpaw glared at her brother. "It hasn't been that long."
"Alright, alright, you two. Fernpaw? If you're so confident, why don't you go next?" Pebblefoot cut in.
Fernpaw stood across from her mentor. "Okay, I'll show you how real warriors fight," she boasted to Beetlepaw. To her mentor, she said, "Don't go easy on me like Grasspelt did with Beetlepaw."
Grasspelt hissed at Fernpaw's arrogance. Fernpaw rushed her mentor, who easily sidestepped and tripped Fernpaw into the water. Fernpaw's moments were chaotic and sloppy. Eventually, she was the one who was pinned.
"Now, Fernpaw, you let pride get in the way of your –" Pebblefoot was saying.
"Save it!" Fernpaw hissed. "I think I know a little bit more about this than you do." She promptly stalked off with her head and tail held high.
Everyone was shocked. Foxpaw hissed and ran off after Fernpaw, clearly angry.
Pebblefoot turned to the rest of the group. "Well, I guess we should get back to camp." He followed Fernpaw and Foxpaw, who were appearing to be going back to camp.
Okay, yea it's short and I took almost a month to make it, but I couldn't think of something! So I decided to post this to get something out. Next chapter's the gathering! Hopefully I have that out soon; I shouldn't take nearly as long. Sorry, guys.