Badgerbaze and Wolfleap were immediately off in the direction that Yellowpaw had come from with a bark to follow them thrown over Badgerblaze's shoulder. Breezepaw stood, frozen, as she stared at her brother. He was panting as he gathered himself. He was real, not a dream. He'd been in a battle.
"What are you still standing here for?" Hawkpaw snarled at her as he suddenly burst into her field of vision. She stepped back, startled. "Are you all talk and no bite, Breezey? Let's go!" He turned and sprinted after his mentor. She looked at her brother again.
"Gorsepaw is out there," Yellowpaw managed to get out. She and Yellowpaw had hardly spoken, but they shared a love for their brother. That was enough to shake her out of her daze. She couldn't keep letting her dreams interrupt her reality.
"Are you okay?" She checked as she bounded towards him. "Good enough to go back?" He narrowed his eyes.
"FirClan is trying to take the stretch of land between Fallen Trees and the border. We're going to drive them out," he growled. She couldn't help the satisfaction welling in her chest at his strength.
"Let's go then." With that, they both bounded off together. She kept pace with him, making sure he didn't stumble. She had never fought before, not in any real scenario. This would be a true test. The pain of her muzzle and her outburst were quickly forgotten as the sound of screeching and snarling sounded. She could see them through the underbrush. A large battle patrol of FirClan, cats she had never seen before. There was a flash of white and gray and she lost her footing and slammed into a bush. She cried out in alarm.
"Breezepaw!" Yellowpaw cried. She shook her head, dazed. The white and gray shape, an apprentice she could see now, had turned on Yellowpaw.
"I'm going to finish you off. You should have stayed gone!" The apprentice snarled at her brother. Yellowpaw flattened his ears and hissed at her. The apprentice leaped at her brother and the two tumbled. Breezepaw struggled to her paws, pulling herself out of the bush. Yellowpaw was exhausted and already torn to shreds. He'd fall under the apprentice's claws. The gray and white she-cat slammed her brother away and he hit the ground and did not move.
The apprentice lashed her tail and turned to Breezepaw. Breezepaw had gained her feet now. Flashes of tabby pelt instead of an orange one ran across her vision. Sister. Brother. Sister. Brother.
"What a fresh little—" Breezepaw leaped at her, and they rolled over, rolling past Yellowpaw. The satisfaction of feeling her claws rake across her enemy's pelt was almost too much. She had not once used her claws unless it was to hunt. She snarled as she broke apart and stood between the apprentice and her brother who had started to stir.
"Go back to FirClan. This will always be ForestClan territory," she hissed. The gray and white apprentice hissed back and charged. Breezepaw stood her ground and their claws met again. They had to have been the same age, or close to it, but this apprentice was much more vicious than she was, and soon, despite besting Hawkpaw earlier, Breezepaw was starting to feel the exhaustion and fear creeping in. Her body stung and she was losing her footing.
She could faintly hear the snarling of the battle behind her, but it was fading. Over, it sounded. Her distraction costed her. The apprentice lunged forward, knocking Breezepaw to the ground. She saw her brother struggle to his paws, fear and pain tight on his face as he locked eyes with her. Just as the apprentice's jaws closed around her throat.
Breezepaw had recognized the movment. It was one she practiced on her prey when she went for the death blow. She felt the teeth sink in, pain exploded, and she felt her blood coat her fur, and then the apprentice was off her, her throat was free. The terrifying apprentice that had went for the killing blow was bowled over by a sleek gray tabby tom. FirClan.
"Do not," the tom panted over her, "kill anyone. The battle is over, Ivypaw. We have lost. We have to go now before the rest of ForestClan shows up." Ivypaw glared up at the warrior and then they both got to their feet. The tom raced off in the direction of FirClan, but Ivypaw held her gaze.
"Watch yourself, little apprentice. Next time, there won't be anyone to save you." Then she was gray and white streak as she followed her Clanmate.
Yellowpaw was by her side in an instant helping her to her paws.
"I will not lose another sister," Yellowpaw grunted under his breath as they leaned on each other. They padded around the bush Breezepaw had been thrown into and into the flattened clearing that stretched between Fallen Trees, which was a tree length to their right, and the FirClan border, which was two tree lengths to their left. All the apprentices were present, though Gorsepaw looked worse than the other three, though Emberpaw had a large gash down the side of her cheek. Stonefoot, Hailfang, Badgerblaze, and Wolfleap all stood around a cat that lay on the ground, panting.
The other two mentors, plus Mousepool and Jaggedear, sat keeping the four apprentices away. It looked like a battle patrol. Potentially, Gorsepaw's sun high patrol had run into FirClan and found the other patrols along the way.
"You brought them here," Wolfleap snarled at the cat laying on the ground. She couldn't see who it was. Breezepaw broke off from Yellowpaw to move closer, but Jaggedear got to his paws as a warning. She narrowed her eyes at the older tom.
"You lead them here knowing that a small patrol was going to be here," Badgerblaze added. "You set this up. What were you hoping for?" Breezepaw joined the apprentices' side and glanced at Gorsepaw who sat propped up against Hawkpaw.
"What is going on here?" She hissed. Hawkpaw shrugged. "Why haven't we started our way back to camp?"
"Antclaw," murmured Gorsepaw. Breezepaw blinked several times and glanced back to the toms standing a few tail lengths away. "He was on patrol with Emberpaw and Dewpaw, doing their assessments. They joined us when they heard. Some FirClan warrior, Grayclaw, I think, asked why Antclaw was here, fighting for his Clanmates when he told them to come here." Breezepaw stared ahead. It didn't add up. All the evidence, all the dreams, proved that Antclaw was working with a group of rogues. His scent never ventured into FirClan territory. Featherberry had mentioned a group, not a Clan. She didn't understand.
"Badgerblaze pinned him, and we fought them off. Now they're… questioning him." Gorsepaw finished.
"He's not going to speak to us," Hailfang said angrily, tail lashing. "We have to take him back to Birdstar. She has to know!" Breezepaw watched as her mentor and Badgerblaze exchanged glances.
"Fine. We go back."
The trip back was unbearably long. Now that the action had stopped her body ached and each cut and scratch stung. Her throat burned the worst. Ivypaw wanted to kill her, would have been glad to do it. She shivered.
"Leaf bare is over," Gorsepaw grumbled, limping beside her, "stop being cold." She stuck her tongue out at him and he mimicked her.
"Ivypaw wanted to kill me," she muttered. Yellowpaw, on her other side, stiffened.
"She almost killed me too," he returned. "She's vicious."
"Ivypaw is cruel," Hawkpaw cut in from in front of them. They all looked up at the older apprentice. "I've seen her at gatherings, and I hear her stupid tales. She caught a crow, when she was first an apprentice," he explained, tail tip twitching. He glanced over his shoulder at them, amber eyes finding her green ones, before he resumed facing forward, "and ever since then, she has made it her personal goal to be better than every single cat in the forest, going so far as to almost kill those who get in her way to greatness."
"StarClan would never accept a killer in it's ranks," Dewpaw interjected as she slid in next to Hawkpaw's side, brushing her pelt against his. Breezepaw flattened her ears and looked away. "If she doesn't know that now, her mentor needs to get her under control." The pretty gray apprentice effectively ended that line of conversation as she started murmuring to Hawkpaw.
The rest of the walk was done in silence. The warriors flanked them with Antclaw surrounded by Wolfleap and Badgerblaze in the back. Mousepool had gone ahead to warn Birdstar of the incoming injured and her wayward deputy.
It was no surprise when Featherberry and Blackpaw immediately started fussing over them and pulling them in the direction of the medicine den, herbs and cobwebs at the ready. But what did surprise Breezepaw was the gathering of cats seated around Birdstar who sat in the center of camp, waiting for her deputy. Her brother.
Breezepaw paused from the rest of the group as she watched her leader. The russet tabby held her head high, chin raised, anger and disappointment clear as day on her face. But there was a tension in her shoulders that showed the true depth of her anger, her rage. Then Wolfleap and Badgerblaze stepped into camp and Breezepaw caught a glimpse of the true emotions under the mask. Terror, pain, betrayal. Then the mask slipped back on and Birdstar was once again regal.
"Breezepaw, get over here," Blackpaw hissed irritably. She gave her friend a wave of her tail, telling her off. "Breezepaw—"
"Welcome home, Antclaw," Birdstar's voice echoed throughout the camp and every cat paused to listen. "I hear you've been running to our enemies." Antclaw padded forward to stand in front of her.
"It didn't start out that way—" He protested, but Birdstar cut him off with a snarl.
"Don't you dare try to justify your actions! You are a traitor!" She started to stalk around him, pacing back and forth. The gathered cats watched in silence. Breezepaw watched in fascination. She had known. She had seen Antclaw's disloyalty. So had Gorsepaw. Who else had known besides Featherberry? And obviously, she hadn't told Birdstar. That struck her. She glanced over her shoulder at the gray medicine cat. She was distinctly not looking as she patched up Emberpaw, ears flattened to her head. Breezepaw turned her attention back to her leader and deputy.
Antclaw cast a furtive glance at the medicine cat before looking back to his sister.
"Birdstar—"
"You betrayed my Clan. You consort with FirClan, allowing them to attempt to take our territory that we rightfully earned seasons ago. You shirk your duties, making me put all the responsibility on Badgerblaze. I've noted your absences, Antclaw! You are a traitor!" She hissed. "You will bring down my Clan. I will banish you!" Antclaw flattened his ears and shook his head vigorously.
"You can't do that! They won't—sister, please!" He begged.
"Don't you dare call me sister," she spun on him, teeth bared. "We stopped being siblings the moment you stepped onto FirClan territory."
"I won't have anywhere to go, Birdstar," Antclaw tried again, "they will kill me."
"Good." Silence reigned. Antclaw gaped at her.
"You're sentencing me to die?" he cried out in alarm, stumbling back a step. "Birdstar—"
"I'm banishing you. Whatever happens to you is for to StarClan decide," Birdstar spat at his feet and turned her back on him. Breezepaw got to her feet, shocked. She heard Featherberry hold back a gasp. Antclaw shook his head and stepped back again. He took a deep breath. Then he nodded.
"I… you will regret this, Birdstar," murmured Antclaw. Breezepaw flattened her ears. She recognized that tone of voice. She had not spent a lot of time with him, but that voice, she remembered it. Dangerous. Gorsepaw joined her side, wrapped in cobwebs, but looking vaguely smug.
"I told you something was off," he muttered to her. She nudged him and he grumbled in pain. But they both watched as Antclaw turned and walked out of camp. He shouldered past Badgerblaze and Wolfleap. Birdstar turned towards the group of injured cats, and Breezepaw flinched at the severity of her gaze.
"Patch them up," she ordered her two medicine cats. "After you're done, I want Wolfleap, Badgerblaze, Stonefoot, and Jaggedear, join me in my den." With that, she stalked across the camp and disappeared into her den.
The four warriors padded over to Featherberry.
"Fix us first," Jaggedear said gruffly, tail tip twitching. "I want to sink my claws into FirClan pelts. I want to sink my claws into Antclaw—"
"We won't fix anything tonight," Badgerblaze interjected, flicking his tail.
"We can. Birdstar can send a battle patrol to their camp—" Jaggedear growled.
"We are injured," Badgerblaze retorted, giving him an irritated glance, "we are the strongest warriors, and we are injured." Badgerblaze told him. "We wait for Birdstar's orders." Jaggedear flattened his ears but stayed silent. Breezepaw watched in silence, but curiosty. The deputy was gone. It was obvious that these two warriors were strong contenders for that title.
Blackpaw stepped into her line of sight.
"Let me fix you up," she said softly. Breezepaw did not protest as her friend started to put some herbs on her wounds. She grunted in pain.
"What happened to your muzzle? This one is deep," Blackpaw murmured. She flicked an ear and snorted.
"Your brother. I put his hide in the sand, and he couldn't take it," she chuckled. Blackpaw scowled at her and then at her brother over her shoulder. Hawkpaw scowled back.
"It'll scar," Blackpaw sighed. "I hope you enjoy it."
"I'll wear it with pride," Breezepaw stuck her tongue out and got some herb poultice on her tongue and she spat to get out the taste.
"That's what you get," Blackpaw flicked her nose with her tail and padded over to the other injured cats.
The sun had set when Birdstar called the Clan for a meeting. Breezepaw sat in the place where the apprentices did, on the right side of the warriors, the first time she had ever sat here. Emberpaw and Dewpaw sat on near Birdstar, chins raised, even though they were covered in cobwebs.
"ForestClan, today, FirClan decided that taking territory from ForestClan was a good idea. With that decision, they also decided that they would cause us to fight back, to awaken the beast that is ForestClan. They have learned a valuable lesson." There were murmurs of agreement. Birdstar continued, "but, that doesn't know mean they will learn it the first time. So, with that said, we need a few more warriors in our ranks." She turned her gaze to the two eldest apprentices. Breezepaw felt a thrill down her spine. She had never seen a warrior ceremony before.
"Dewpaw, Emberpaw, please come forward," The two apprentices made their way forward and Birdstar turned to face them with a deep breath. She looked rattled, but she nodded to the two apprentices.
"You are ready to become warriors tonight," Birdstar purred, "Dewpaw," the gray she-cat moved forward, "Do you promise to protect our Clan and defend the warrior code with your life?"
Dewpaw took a deep breath, "I do."
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Dewpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Dewfeather. StarClan honors your swiftness and cleverness. ForestClan welcomes you as warrior of this Clan." Birdstar placed her muzzle on the gray warrior's head and Dewfeather licked her leader's shoulder. Breezepaw watched in excited silence. She would one day be up there with her brothers. But Maplekit wouldn't be joining them. She sagged slightly, the grief and the battle hitting her at once. Maplekit hadn't been there. She hadn't seen the battle. Maplekit was gone.
Dewfeather moved back into the crowd. Emberpaw moved to take her friend's place. Birdstar turned her attention to the other apprentice.
"Emberpaw," Birdstar started, "do you promise to protect our Clan and defend the warrior code with your life?"
"I do," Emberpaw said breathlessly. She had nearly died to a strange disease, but she had fought hard to get to where she needed to be.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Emberpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Embercreek. StarClan honors your dedication and spirit. CloudClan welcomes you as a warrior of this Clan." Birdstar repeated the process and Embercreek licked her leader's shoulder. The Clan chanted their names and then their voices died down as Birdstar raised her head.
"Today, we learned about the betrayal of… Antclaw," she took a deep breath. "We need a new deputy. I have discussed with my warriors and with my medicine cats. And I hope StarClan hears and approves my choice." Her eyes landed on her oldest warriors, and she studied each one of them, but her eyes landed on the handsome black and white tom. "Badgerblaze, I chose you as my deputy." The tom stood.
"Thank you for your confidence, Birdstar. I will do my best to lead the Clan forward along your side," he called.
The Clan chanted his name, Breezepaw right alongside them.
She couldn't help but think of Antclaw. He had tried to stay. Something had scared him. She glanced at her brothers and Hawkpaw. She had feeling it wouldn't be the last she saw of Antclaw.