LakeStream- Stormmmmmpawwwwwww (idk what that was) Yeah!
ScipioPB- X3 Now I have that stuck in my head!
ChongoDoesTheCongo- XD
xxsnow- Thanks!
Eaglestar of Ionia- Here is da update! X3 MEOW
Goldenflame12- I'll get them up right away! :) Thanks for submitting them!
ZM- Ha ha I get it! Usually it takes me a while to get jokes, but I got this one! YES!
Snowfall16- Thanks! I'm really enjoying your story!
Amberflame805- XD I CAN'T DECIDE EITHER X3
Guest- Eventually I will do a poll to see who wants Rainpaw to be with who, but that will not guarantee how it turns out.
Frostdawn- XD I can't decide if it should be Ash or Storm! But I'll say the same thing I said above, the poll I will eventually post will not guarantee who Rainpaw will be with.
Silverwillow of Freljord- Here is an update! I think most people ship StormxRain (I almost typed StormxRasin what) but there are a few AshxRain shippers out there.
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY 70 REVIEWS! THAT IS THE MOST REVIEWS I HAVE EVER RECEIVED! THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU! YOU ALL GET GIANT COOKIES AND CAKE AND PLUSHIES! *Tosses uncountable prizes in giant gift bags and gives to reviewers* YAY! AND YOU GET WARRIOR CATS PLUSHIES FROM ALL THE CLANS (Including SkyClan and StarClan, and even the Dark Forest) FROM THE LAST HOPE AND SKYCLAN'S DESTINY!
Chapter 9
Rainpaw tossed a pawful of snow on Stormpaw. He purred and dropped in a crouch, then launched himself on Rainpaw's back. "Hey!" She protested, and rolled over, squashing Stormpaw to the ground. She heard his breath go out in a huff, and sprang away. "I win."
Stormpaw shook his head. "You certainly did."
Rainpaw felt a purr rise up in her throat as she faced him. "I haven't seen you in forever." She mewed. "How have you been?"
Stormpaw blinked. "Great... except..."
The purr died. "Except what?"
Stormpaw hesitated before meowing, "Runningpaw. She keeps following me around everywhere! It is getting extremely annoying!"
"She likes you."
His eyes widened the slightest bit. He beckoned her with his tail and began to walk along the border, Rainpaw at his side. "What makes you say that?"
"Well," Rainpaw began, "She obviously likes you a lot if she follows you even on assessments and when you go training."
Stormpaw rolled his eyes. "I didn't mean it like that. I just mean every time I want to go somewhere by myself, she's sticking to me like a burr. And it's not funny." He added as Rainpaw let out a mrrow of amusement. She quickly hushed, conscious that their pelts were brushing.
Suddenly she tripped on a root, falling over in front of Stormpaw. He stopped, surprise clearly lighting his eyes. Rainpaw felt embarrassment scorch her fur as she looked into his eyes. They were a deep green, filled with some unknown emotion. Rainpaw quickly averted her gaze, feeling even more embarrassed than before. "Sorry." She muttered, and quickly scrambled to her paws.
Stormpaw touched his nose to her ear. "It's okay." Rainpaw looked down at her paws and started walking again. "So, how is the prey running?" She asked, changing the subject.
He sighed, then muttered darkly, "Well enough now."
Rainpaw glanced at him, concern running through her paws. "What's wrong?"
He looked around. "Can I trust you with a secret?" He meowed.
Rainpaw nodded. "You can always trust me, Stormpaw."
He licked her ear gratefully. "Something has been picking off the rabbits. We are starting to go hungry."
"So are we. But that always happens in leaf-bare." Rainpaw flicked her tail dismissively. Stormpaw looked like he was about to object, but obviously decided against it. "Come on, enough of this! Let's explore!" They had reached the territory beyond ThunderClan's borders.
"Alright." Stormpaw agreed, and they padded up a rise, side by side, fur brushing.
Sunpaw's POV
"And then he looked at me! I could totally see that he likes me back." Sunpaw excitedly told her siblings. She had kept the thoughts of the Gathering to herself until she could bear them no longer, and told the only cats she trusted- her siblings.
Thrushpaw and Rainpaw exchanged a glance. "Uh... Sunpaw? Are you sure he likes you?"
"Wouldn't he like someone in his own Clan?" Rainpaw added. She began to drink water from a nearby pool.
Sunpaw stared at her, surprised. "Why not?" She asked. "I'm kind, strong, brave, selfless, pretty, and everyone likes me!" Rainpaw choked on the water, snorting with laughter. "What's so funny?!" Sunpaw demanded.
"Oh, uh, nothing... I'm... Just thinking... about something... that happened... yesterday!" Rainpaw spluttered in between laughs.
"Sure, whatever." Sunpaw turned to Thrushpaw. "So what do you think about it?"
Thrushpaw hesitated. "You two are from different Clans, so..." As he spoke, guilt briefly flashed in his eyes, but it was gone so fast Sunpaw dismissed it. "And you have only met twice. How can you tell he likes you?"
Sunpaw heaved a deep, exaggerated sigh. "Because, it's love at first sight! Duh!"
Thrushpaw rolled his eyes and padded away. "Look, it's sundown, and I'm tired. Our first assessment is tomorrow, and I want to be ready." Without another word he padded into the nearby apprentice's den.
"Bye!" She meowed after him. Sunpaw turned back to Rainpaw, only to find her delicately stepping after him. "Where are you going?"
"To sleep." She replied without turning around. I guess I should go in too, now that my siblings have gone.
Sunpaw curled up in her nest and wrapped her tail over her nose. "Don't disturb me; I'm having my beauty sleep." She grunted to no one. The apprentices ignored her. "I'm so tired." Sunpaw complained, trying to get attention from the rest of the den. She succeeded.
"Go to bed then." Coalpaw grunted. Hmph, not the kind of attention I wanted. Sunpaw thought, and closed her eyes.
Rainpaw's POV
"Sunpaw likes you." Rainpaw announced to Stormpaw.
"Oh great, yet another cat who likes me." Stormpaw glared at the ground. "And all I want is to be a normal apprentice, not be swarmed by she-cats! Can't someone see past my looks and like me for who I am?"
He is handsome, Rainpaw admitted to herself. Now that she thought about it, she wasn't surprised that every she-cat Stormpaw happened to pass developed a crush on him. But I won't be like that. She decided. I'll like him for a friend, and I hope he can do the same.
"Don't worry, you'll come by a cat who likes you for you. I do. As a friend, of course." Rainpaw hurriedly added on the last part, embarrassed at how that had come out.
"Thanks, Rain." He purred, all earlier complaints forgotten. He brushed against her, and Rainpaw felt a deep purr rumble her throat.
Suddenly the nearby bushes shook. "Rainpaw!" Fox-dung. Thrushpaw.
"What are you doing here? And who is this?!" He emerged from a bramble bush, shooting furious glare at Stormpaw.
Rainpaw took a step towards her brother. "Oh, uh, hi, Thrushpaw. This is Stormpaw." She mewed awkwardly to her brother.
His glare hadn't moved from the tom. "I see. And what are you doing here at this time of night, hanging out with a member of an enemy Clan?"
"Hey, Stormpaw isn't an enemy!" She snapped. Thrushpaw rolled his eyes and bounded down the rise.
"Sure he isn't."
"Look, we aren't doing any harm." Rainpaw protested. She stepped back again and moved defensively to Stormpaw. Suddenly anxious, she asked, "You won't tell, will you?"
Thrushpaw halted abruptly. "Why shouldn't I?" He demanded. "Give me a good explanation."
Rainpaw bounded up to him and murmured in his ear, "Have you ever had a friend you never want to lose?"
Thrushpaw jerked away, suddenly looking old beyond his years. His eyes glistened sadly at her. "Yes. And that's what I'm afraid will happen to you."
Sympathy welled up inside Rainpaw, and she rested her tail on his shoulder. "Don't worry. I will not leave." Not yet. She added silently. But I would tell you first if I left. "Please, Thrushpaw."
Finally, after a long sigh, he agreed. "Alright, Rainpaw, but don't think I like it."
She nodded and raced back to Stormpaw, "He said he would keep the secret, but I think we should go."
Stormpaw looked crestfallen. "Okay... I'll see you tomorrow, won't I? I'll tell you all about my assessment!"
Rainpaw purred. "I'll be there, and just wait till I announce what I caught in mine." She extended her paw, and Stormpaw did the same. It was a little gesture they had created to say hello or goodbye.
Without a word, she turned around and caught up with her brother, feeling a tug in her paws and regret weigh in her belly. See you tomorrow, Stormpaw.
So, Thrushpaw has found out. The next chapter should be up soon, and I got a great idea for after the assessment! It's where- *mentally whacks self*
No! Eradrin, don't tell them or it will spoil the surprise... I mean, chapter!
Okay, okay, fine. I'll just go tell-
NO!
Fine, I'll stop now.
That was weird. *looks around*
Yes, yes it was. Off to writer land!
NOOOO I HAVE WRITTEN A LONG AUTHORS NOTE AGAIN. Oh well.
I know this chapter was kind of rushed, but oh well. Wow, I say oh well a lot, don't I? *shakes self* Stop talking! The readers need to get on with their lives and stop listening to your blabbering!
Okay. Bye!
