Chapter Five

"Herbs!" Cherrypaw spat the words as if they were poison, "The big surprise was going into the rain, getting my fur wet, and gathering watermint in the freezing pond!"

Gladepaw struggled to hide his amusement. He and Cherrypaw had been friends for a little over a half-moon and it was obvious that the calico classed him as a close friend. Though he would never say it, more often than not he only really spoke with her when bored or alone. He, quite honestly, thought the calico rather dull but thought that even she was better than solitude.

Of course, though, he never used her! Gladepaw liked to imagine that he was the only cat Cherrypaw liked and only asked her to do his tasks when he couldn't be bothered, as to not sully the already single-sided friendship, although he asked her to do things far more often than he would admit. To him, there was nothing wrong with the relationship. Neither were lonely, Cherrypaw had someone to talk to, and he had someone to do things for him. Really, it was a great plan!

His thoughts were cut off as he realised that the calico was awaiting his response. "Perhaps it's meant to be a good thing because it's your first time heading out alone?" He suggested, and the younger apprentice looked doubtful.

"Maybe. Still, I'd rather spend my time in the den than be out there." She shook her fur as the rain grew heavier, her pelt bushed out with the cold, making her look comically fluffy.

"Well, at least you don't have to practise hunting in this weather!" The grey tom pointed out, "I bet we won't even find anything. What animal is mouse-brained enough to head out in this weather!" He tilted his head skyward to glare at the thick, dark clouds, trying not to wince as a fat raindrop splashed into his eye.

"Cherrypaw, are you going to sit there chatting or go gather the watermint!" There was a call from the medicine cat's den, barely audible through the sound of heavy rain hitting the ground.

"I should probably go see if Jaggedshade's ready to go," Gladepaw spoke, as his friend turned and headed off, her ears flattened as the rain-drenched her pelt, leaving the previously fluffy fur flattened and spiky.

I probably look just as amusing to her. The tom thought, somewhat grumpily, as he went up to his mentor. He was a handsome apprentice for his youth and knew it, disliking when his fur got wet or dirty. Cringing at the thought of being both soaked and dirty during hunting, he spoke to the older tom, interrupting his conversation.

"Are you ready?" His tail-tip twitched with irritation as his mentor looked blank and a little confused by the interruption. "To take me hunting." His tone was cool and impatient. It was well known that Jaggedshade had the worst memory in the clan, and why Nettlestar had deemed his mentor a good match for him, he would never know. He deserved a great mentor, not a forgetful, hare-brained tomcat.

The tom looked apologetic as he responded, "Sorry, Gladepaw, it completely slipped my mind."

Just like everything else before this. Biting back an annoyed response, he followed the grey and white tom, gaze scanning around as they left the camp, hoping for a glimpse of Cherrypaw. He saw no sign of her as they stopped below one of the large hills in the territory.

"What can you scent?" The tom assessed the apprentice, who responded quickly.

"Nothing but rain, rain and more rain." He huffed, his displeasure at being out in such weather noticeable, "It's a waste of time being out here."

Irritation briefly flashed across his mentor's gaze as he replied, "If you stop complaining about the weather, you might be aware that there was a mouse nearby who you scared off with your raised voice."

Refusing to feel guilty, Gladepaw faced his mentor with an insolent glare, "Well if you had told me that it was there instead of making me locate it, it would be dead by now."

Muttering something under his breath, Jaggedshade raised a paw, cuffing the apprentice around the ears.

"What was that for!" He cried, shaking his head, making sure that his beautiful, tufted ears had not been damaged. How dare you attack me like that! He glared at his stupid mentor, surprised when sheer hatred crossed his gaze. It was only for a moment, but the thick-furred tabby knew what he saw.

"Stop being so kit-like and try to find something for once!" His mentor snapped, "You need to stop acting like everyone will do everything for you." This had not been the first time prey had been lost due to Jaggedshade's mouse-brained declaration that he, the leader's grandson, had to find it when clearly, getting told its location would be far more beneficial to the clan. And for Gladepaw himself, but he was wise enough to never add that part in one of their many arguments.

"Why should I," Gladepaw muttered, reluctantly backing down as his mentor's hostile gaze overpowered his own. This is unfair! Jaggedshade should've caught it instead of making me try to find it. The clan will go hungry because of his mistake!

"Because otherwise, the clan will starve due to your self-centred attitude!" The grey and white tom's ears were flattened, angry exasperation betrayed in his rounded gaze. "You are part of a clan, and we hunt and care for each other!"

The young tom was startled and offended by his mentor's attitude, his ears pinning back as he glared accusingly at his mentor. It was Jaggedshade who was in the wrong, not him!

"They can hurl themselves off of a hill for all I care!" Refusing to show his hurt, the tom grew angrier, tail lashing, almost forgetting the heavy rain that blew straight in his face. It was impossible to see more than a few mouse-lengths as the misty rain blew down in sheets. "If they're so hungry, then they can hunt for themselves."

The grey tom reeled back as an unsheathed paw raked his cheek, blood, mingling with rain, pouring down his face, staining his handsome, silver fur.

"I don't know what has gotten into you today!" His mentor ranted and Gladepaw feigned a yawn to mask the shred of regret that he felt after his outburst He tried to remind himself that Jaggedshade was in the wrong, but maybe he had gone a little too far. "If you are unwilling to help the clan, then head back to the camp. I'll be talking to Nettlestar about your behaviour."

His pelt prickled with apprehension at the threat. Typically, he would be uncaring about having his behaviour told to a higher-ranking feline, but Nettlestar had fathered his own mother, Lakesun, and treated him and Leafpaw harshly on a daily basis, especially the grey tom, even when he had done nothing wrong. One of the few things that he feared was being told off by the tom who he was desperate to please.

Some said that Nettlestar was 'the cause for Gladepaw's attitude', although the tom had no idea what that meant. Really, he had a perfect attitude, and everyone around him was in the wrong. Even his own sibling, at times.

Satisfied by his apprentice's silence, Jaggedshade spoke again, "Are you ready to resume, like a good apprentice, or go back to the camp?"

"I'd rather eat crowfood than be your apprentice!" Gladepaw hurled a final insult before stalking back to camp, "I'm going back." All of his former conscience was forgotten. Jaggedshade was a stupid, forgetful mentor, and oblivious to his talent! The young tom knew that if he actually had a good mentor, then he would be the best hunter and fighter in the history of the clans.

Nettlestar had to notice his wasted potential! He began hurrying back, hoping to tell his grandfather about his useless mentor before the tom he resented got there first, feeling a prickle of satisfaction at the thought of watching the leader scolding Jaggedshade in the freezing rain. It was him who needed punishment as he had overreacted and attacked Gladepaw's beautiful face, and anyways, it wasn't his fault that the rain blocked out the scents!

Just you wait, Jaggedshade, you'll soon regret this!


First POV of my favourite angry boy!

Gladepaw was added a little impulsively, actually. He almost wasn't in the story, but I only added him because he was a character my brother and I used when we wrote a warriors story together. He was just as self-centered and rude then, maybe even more and I wanted to surprise my brother when he read it.

I'm glad that I did add him in, though, as he'll be more important as this story goes on. Maybe I'll do more Gladepaw POVs, as they're definitely the most fun to write.