Brokenpaw sniffed at the ground, nothing… nothing at all. The forest was quiet today, and nothing was out for him to hunt. But his fur kept flat, and he continued to taste the air for any scent. But the air was stale, and there wasn't anything but the normal forest scents. He still searched though, through bush and fern.
The rest of the hunting patrol was out, while Brokenpaw was still having troubles.
Then his nose picked up a strange scent, tasting the air he knew it wasn't an animal he encountered before. proceeding with caution he searched the area.
"Gah!"
He perked up his ears at the cry, and he rushed through the territory. Arriving at a clearing where Blueheart was pressed against the floor, his blue gray pelt buried in the dirt. While a large creature loomed over him, the red fur and black legs and paws caught Brokenpaw's attention
Acting on instinct, Brokenpaw raced towards the attacker. Slamming into him with all his might head on, he shoved the animal off while tussling with it on the ground.
Brokenpaw could feel his fur and flesh being torn in its jaws as it viciously tried to destroy him. Brokenpaw shoved upwards with his large paws, struggling as the weight was too much.
"Brokenpaw!" Brownoak's cry turned Brokenpaw's attention to the sturdy dark brown tom. He slammed into the creature, but instead of continuing fighting it he grabbed Brokenpaw by the scruff and hauled him off; Blueheart limping behind him, while a patrol of cats engaged the creature.
Brokenpaw was set down as Brownoak took a breather. "What in StarClan were you two thinking!" he spat.
Brokenpaw hung his head, while Blueheart stared over his shoulder. "Attacking a fox, just like that!" Brownoak slowly caught his breath, "Blueheart I would have expected better from a warrior of your age, Brokenpaw you shouldn't have rushed in just like that!" he stopped in his scolding. "Both of you could've been killed, think of what everyone else would've thought!" he meowed more calm headily.
Brokenpaw avoided his mentor's eyes. "I'm sorry Brownoak, I- I didn't know what else to do; he was in trouble." He apologized.
Blueheart remained silent, and Brokenpaw could feel the blue gray tom's eyes burning into his pelt.
"Let's get you both back to camp, Featherfern's going to have a fit about you Brokenpaw." The dark brown tom meowed, while turning tail.
Brokenpaw turned, expecting Blueheart to meow "Half Face" but the tom remained silent.
…
"Starclan dear, oh look at this one!"
Brokenpaw flinched at Featherfern's touch on his side, the silvery pale gray she-cat was being as delicate as she could at the moment. But the stinging of the wounds always hurt each time she applied pressure to them.
Brokenpaw raised his head as a shadow descended into the den, expecting Twisted to be there worried sick.
But, instead it was Lightpaw who looked distraught. She sat down and dropped her gaze. "Wh-what happened?" she asked, her blind eye wavering from side to side.
"i- OW! I saved Blueheart from- OW! A fox." Brokenpaw answered.
Lightpaw's eyes lightened, and a smile spread. "I bet Blueheart was surprised about that, huh?" she purred.
Brokenpaw laughed, his side hurting but he ignored it. "Yeah, he actually didn't say anything about it afterwards, not even a remark." He answered.
Lightpaw raised an eyebrow. "Really, that's odd for the tom."
Brokenpaw nodded, looking out behind her. "What's Twisted up to."
Lightpaw turned her one sighted gaze to the entrance behind her. "I don't know, she didn't even seem to care when you limped into camp," she answered, "Brokenpaw, have you stopped and thought of how you really feel… if you truly love her and if she truly loves you?"
"Of course she loves me!" Brokenpaw protested. 'Right?'
Lightpaw shrugged. "Just a thought, she doesn't seem all that concerned about how you feel." She meowed.
Brokenpaw looked at his paws. "I'm sure she has her own funny way of showing it." he meowed.
"Oh Brokenpaw dear, you look terrible." The fretting meow of Twisted piped up.
Brokenpaw looked at his paws. "Sorry about that Twisted, I just had to save a clanmate."
Twisted pushed past Lightpaw, the two she-cats shared a hateful glance. Before Twisted sat on one side of Brokenpaw as Featherfern patched up the other side. "About time." Lightpaw grumbled, before turning and leaving the den.
Featherfern looked up from her work, her eyes dark and grim as she met eyes with Twisted. "I'd listen to your friends." She whispered into Brokenpaw's ears.