This proves I have absolutely nothing to do with my life, because here is Chapter 14! Um, Mintflight, you need help... Anways...
"Alright! What do we get to do now that we're full warriors?" Breezestrike padded out of the warrior's den.
It had been a half moon since they had become warriors, and the young warriors weren't exactly sure what to do, with everyone out on patrol.
"Hunt." Ebonyfrost called over to them. "I haven't sent a second patrol out, so you guys can go. You'll probably scare off all of the prey, but at least TRY to catch something."
Mistshade snorted. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
The six of them padded through the caves until they reached a larger cave.
"How about we split up?" Skyblaze asked. "We go in pairs. We'd cover more ground that way."
"Good idea, brother." Breezestrike mewed. "How about… I'll go with Swiftpuddle, and then Skyblaze and Curlflight can go together, and then-" she gave Mistshade a knowing glance.
"Mistshade and Rockstorm can go together."
She didn't wait for an answer. "Alright, let's go, Swiftpuddle. We have to get more prey than Mistshade and my brother Rockstorm, and Curlflight and my OTHER brother Skyblaze. Why do we have so many brothers?"
"You only have two, mouse-brain." Rockstorm called after her. "And are you challenging us? Because CHALLENGE ACCEPTED."
"Yes." Breezestrike glanced back at them. "I am."
"Come on, Skyblaze!" Curlflight exclaimed. Skyblaze ran after her, their excited voices bouncing off of the cave walls.
"They're adorable." Breezestrike sighed. She turned to face them. "And so are you two."
"We're not together." Rockstorm and Mistshade said at the same time.
They glanced at each other, surprised. That was weird…
"Whatever you say." Breezestrike said with a wink, disappearing into a cave with Swiftpuddle behind her.
"Um, let's go." Rockstorm turned and headed into a cave, Mistshade behind him.
They hunted in uncomfortable silence for a while, Rockstorm too embarrassed to say anything and Mistshade focused on hunting. I can't let a tom distract me. I have to just work on being the best warrior I can be, and figure more out about Applestar's plan. She caught another mouse.
"I think that we have enough, Rockstorm. We should go back."
Rockstorm hesitated. "Wait."
"What?" Mistshade turned to face him.
"I want to show you something." Rockstorm gave a small smile. "I found it the other day when I was out, and I thought that you might like it."
He led the way through the network of caves and tunnels until they reached a small hole. Mistshade could feel a small breeze whistling out of it. Does this lead outside?
Rockstorm padded through the hole and gestured Mistshade to follow. "Don't worry."
Mistshade padded out to see a beautiful clearing, framed by trees, and heard the gentle bubble of a river nearby. Her breath hitched.
"How did you find this?"
Rockstorm grinned. "Isn't it beautiful?"
He sat beside her.
"It is." Mistshade admitted, gazing around. The sun shone through the trees, casting a dappled pattern onto the earth below, and even though it was leaf-fall, almost leaf-bare, a warm breeze still blew through the trees. Rockstorm intertwined his tail with hers gently. "I wanted to tell you something, Mistshade."
Oh. I know what this is.
Mistshade didn't want to admit it, but she had grown close to Rockstorm, and she was taken aback by the fact that he cared for her so much.
"I love you, Mistshade." Rockstorm admitted. "I've known this for a while. And I-" his voice cracked. "I know that you have been worried about Applestar, and I know that life has been stressful for all of us. I know this, and I just want you to know that even if you don't return my feelings, I'll be there for you."
Mistshade gazed up at him.
"Of course I love you, mouse-brain."
The words sounded strange to her, but she knew that it was true when she said it. She might've not noticed it at first, but she knew what her feelings were now. Rockstorm glanced at her happily.
"Well then." He mewed awkwardly.
Mistshade burst out laughing, something that she hadn't done for a while. It felt good to laugh, to just forget about Applestar and expectations and all the stress that had been put on her. She rested her head on his shoulder, gazing up at the sky.
My crush for Copperpaw is long gone. She let out a little mrowwww of amusement when she thought about her little apprentice self at her first Gathering talking to Copperpaw and Blackpaw.
They sat there in silence for a little bit, but it wasn't like the silence before. There just wasn't a need for words. A rustling from behind them made Mistshade spin around. Breezestrike popped out of the hole, grinning triumphantly.
"AHA! There you two are!"
Rockstorm blushed again. "We were just-"
"I'm not judging." Breezestrike laughed. "You two are SO cute! Ok? Now come on, we have to get back to camp."
Mistshade shrugged, back to her normal attitude. "Fine. What about Curlflight and Skyblaze?"
"They headed back a while ago." Breezestrike explained. "I guess both of my brothers are in relationships now. I really need to find someone."
"Don't rush it." Rockstorm advised. "It might take time. You'll just have to be patient."
"Ah, so now I'm receiving relationship advice! Do you need any advice? Because I have a tip for you."
Breezestrike leaned in close. "Don't blush every time someone makes a remark about you and Mistshade. You two are ADORABLE."
Rockstorm was obviously struggling to not blush AGAIN, and Mistshade snorted with laughter, elbowing his side lightly. They padded back into camp, where they were greeted by Swiftpuddle.
"Hey! I went to the Poppyclan border to chat with my friend Witheredclaw, and he said that they have a Streamclan prisoner who's an apprentice!"
"Huh?" Mistshade tilted her head. "Oh!" She nearly shot up in the air with alarm. "The battle! Of course!"
She immediately felt guilty. "How did I forget? Did they say the name of the apprentice?"
"Blackpaw, I think it was." Swiftpuddle looked confused. "And he said that she had powers too. I wonder what they are."
Mistshade exchanged an alarmed glance with Rockstorm. No… Applestar's won. She has Blackpaw. I have to find a way to get her back. I have to find a way to rescue her, somehow. I-
"Mistshade." Rockstorm whispered urgently. "Just still and think for a minute. Don't just rush into things."
"I wasn't going to." Mistshade muttered.
Rockstorm gave her a disbelieving stare. "Really?"
Mistshade sighed.
"What's wrong?" Swiftpuddle asked her.
"Nothing." Mistshade shook her off, beginning to pace back and forth.
"Uh oh, she's thinking." Breezestrike commented. "I don't know what it's about, but still, she's dangerous in this stage."
"Shut up." Mistshade snapped.
"Told you." Breezestrike padded away, Swiftpuddle behind her. "We'll let you think, Mistshade, whatever you're thinking about."
"Thanks." Mistshade replied. "How can we rescue Blackpaw if she's in the middle of Poppyclan's camp? We have to find someone who's in Poppyclan's camp… Swiftpuddle! Her friend!"
Rockstorm looked surprised. "Are we sure we could trust him, though? We haven't even met him."
"I'll ask Swiftpuddle if we can meet him sometime soon." Mistshade glanced towards the warrior's den.
"We have to try."
—
(Frostlight's POV)
Frostlight sat up in his nest, listening to the low murmuring coming from the leader's den.
Applestar and Honeyhawk are up to it again.
He crept out of the den, sitting by the entrance. I have to find out what it is. I know that Cavernclan is next. Who could I warn? Cedareyes, possibly. That would work. I guess any warrior would be fine, though they might not believe me as easily. Wait. His ears pricked in alarm.
The spy. There's a spy, I forgot. That Starclan-cursed spy who attacked Dustwing.
"Have you heard what she's told us?" Applestar hissed to Honeyhawk. "An apprentice, well, now a warrior, named Mistshade. She knows at least part of the plan."
Honeyhawk let out a disbelieving snort. "No way. Has she told anyone else?"
"One other cat, if I heard correctly."
Mistshade? Who is she? Frostlight paced nervously. Whoever she is, she's in danger.
"She told a Clanmate, Rockstorm."
"So can we kill both of them?" Honeyhawk asked eagerly.
"We will, don't worry." Applestar reassured her. "We just have to wait until the battle."
"Have you warned Frostlight of the battle yet?" Honeyhawk growled. "As much as I despise him, he does deserve to know."
Yeah. I know about the battle. His mind flashed back to the previous night in his den.
"We're attacking Cavernclan in a half moon. There are cats there who need to die."
Frostlight had scoffed and told her it was a stupid idea, a stupid plan, and that she was better off letting Blackpaw go and just getting the heck out of Poppyclan.
Yeah, I might have lost my temper there.
He winced as he gingerly touched the wound on his face. And then she goes and practically attacks me. Thanks.
He thought back to Crystalstep, his mentor, talking to him the day that Applestar had become leader.
"Frostpaw, you know I'm not going to be around much longer. You must have courage, as you may be the only cat listening to Starclan's message soon. Be brave, Frostpaw. Be brave.
Frostlight repeated it to himself.
Whoever Mistshade and Rockstorm are, they need to find a way to hide. If I could get to Cedareyes, then I could warn him of the battle. They might have more time. Less lives could be taken.
He remembered what Dustwing had said at the last half-moon meeting. Rockwind, Thistlefrost, Slatewhisker, Mintsong, and Stormstar died. Well, Stormstar lost a life, and Blackpaw is gone too. The point is, Frostlight, you can't just let things like this happen.
Frostlight glanced up at the stars. Starclan, why did you give her nine lives? How can you let her do this to the Clans?
The stars only glinted coldly back.
Fine then, Starclan. Frostlight tore his gaze away from the stars.
If you won't change anything, then I will. And I know that I'm not the only cat prepared to.
He glanced towards the den where Blackpaw was being kept.
I'm sorry, Blackpaw. I'll try to change what I didn't try to change before.
Why do I write from so many medicine cat perspectives? Yes, I love Mistshade and Rockstorm, but we'll see if I keep them both alive long enough...
Anyways, have a great day (or night), everyone, and keep writing!
-Mintflight