Chapter 7
The next day, Firepaw walked into the forest. It was his first solo assignment, Bluestar figured it was time since he can control his powers and can hunt and fight well. So far, Firepaw had caught a vole and a mouse and he buried them into the dirt to get them later. When he was near the Shadowclan border, Firepaw sniffed the air and smelled a Shadowclan scent. Firepaw was alarmed and perked his ears. He followed the scent and reached the Shadowclan border, he got behind a bush and peaked through to see a old, dark grey she-cat with amber eyes taking herbs from one of the bushes. Without thinking, Firepaw leaped at her and yowled enraged. The old she-cat turned around and was surprised by the sudden attack. Firepaw pinned her down and looked at her enraged.
"What are you doing in Thunderclan territory?!" he yowled.
The she-cat didn't answer. Instead, she became enraged and scratched Firepaw's cheek. He yowled in pain and the she-cat kicked him off of her. Firepaw landed on the ground hard, but got up quickly and dodged the she-cat's pounce. Firepaw leaped back at the she-cat, but he missed and the she-cat managed to leap at him and pin him down. Firepaw looked up and saw the she-cat's barred teeth. He could see that one of her fangs was yellow and he was confused. The old she-cat kept trying to bite into Firepaw's throat, but he kept dodging her attempts. Firepaw was enraged and his paws ignited in flames. The she-cat yowled in surprise and Firepaw scratched her side. The old, she-cat yowled in pain and Firepaw kicked her off of him. He continued attacking the she-cat and not once did she try to fight back. She suffered a few blows, but managed to dodge most of them. The she-cat suffered major burns on her sides and on her left ear and lost much of her fur. Firepaw managed to calm down and the flames started to die down and disappear. Firepaw pinned the she-cat again and both cats were enraged and barred teeth at each other.
"For the last time, what are you doing in Thunderclan territory?!" Firepaw hissed.
"I'M THE SHADOWCLAN MEDICINE CAT, YOU MOUSEBRAINED APPRENTICE!" the she-cat yowled.
"Wait…what?" Firepaw meowed.
He got off the she-cat and allowed her to catch her breath. The old, she-cat looked at the herbs she was gathering, they weren't burned, but they were shredded and completely useless. Firepaw thought about what she said and if what she said was true, then…what had he done?
"Firepaw, what's going on here?" a voice asked.
Firepaw and the old, she-cat looked behind them and saw Bluestar, Greypaw, Tigerclaw, Darkstripe, Ravenpaw, Willowpelt, and Cherrybreeze coming out of the bushes. They stood in front of Firepaw and the old, she-cat and they either had their claws unsheathed or looked tense.
"Ravenpaw saw you were fighting an intruder." Bluestar meowed.
"I..I caught her stealing herbs from our territory." Firepaw explained.
"I WASN'T STEALING HERBS! I have every right to be here as much as you do!" the she-cat yowled.
"You're a Shadowclan cat, not a Thunderclan cat! What makes you think you have the right to be here at all?!" Firepaw snapped.
"Firepaw, this is the Shadowclan medicine cat. The medicine cat code states that clan borders mean nothing to them, they're allowed on our territory." Bluestar explained.
"Bet you didn't know that, did you?" Darkstripe smirked.
"Still, not bad…for a kittypet." Tigerclaw grunted.
Firepaw was horrified and he looked at the old, she-cat. She grunted at him and Firepaw flattened his ears in embarrassment. Firepaw knew he had screwed up, he should've asked before he attacked her; now, he may have caused a war between Shadowclan and Thunderclan. Bluestar and Willowpelt approached the Shadowclan medicine cat. Both cats were equally surprised by the amount of damage Firepaw did and helped the old, she-cat on her paws. It was clear she was in a lot of pain, so Bluestar and Willowpelt helped the old she-cat keep her balance and Bluestar looked at Cherrybreeze.
"Cherrybreeze, go back to Thunderclan and tell Spottedleaf that there's a cat with severe burns on her pelt and ear." Bluestar ordered.
"Of course, Bluestar." She nodded.
Cherrybreeze ran back to camp, Bluestar and Willowpelt walked slowly with the Shadowclan medicine cat between them, and with Tigerclaw, Darkstripe, Ravenpaw, and Greypaw behind them. Greypaw and Ravenpaw looked at Firepaw; concerned, while Bluestar just looked at Firepaw.
"Gather your prey, then head back to camp." She ordered.
"Y-Yes Bluestar." Firepaw meowed.
The group walked back to camp and placed the Shadowclan medicine cat in Spottedleaf's den. Once word got around on what Firepaw did, cats were worried and concerned about what Shadowclan would say, but some were impressed by Firepaw's strength and agility, since the Shadowclan medicine cat used to be a warrior, many moons ago. Once Firepaw gathered his prey, he headed back to camp and when he got there, he saw crowds of cats chatting and looked at Firepaw worried or impressed. Bluestar came out of her den and approached him. Firepaw was scared and dropped his prey.
"I-If you don't mind, I caught a rabbit; it was near where I buried the vole." He meowed.
"That's fine, is the rabbit for Yellowfang?" Bluestar asked.
"Yellowfang?" Firepaw meowed confused.
"She's the Shadowclan medicine cat, she's the one you attacked." Bluestar explained.
"Then, yes." Firepaw gulped nervously.
"Well, in that case, go give the rabbit to Yellowfang, then place the rest of your prey in the fresh-kill pile, okay?" Bluestar meowed.
"Yes, Bluestar." Firepaw meowed.
He picked up his prey and headed towards the fresh-kill pile. Once he dropped the vole and mouse into it, he went towards the medicine cat's den. He peaked his head through and saw Spottedleaf applying honey to Yellowfang's wounds. Yellowfang flinched as Spottedleaf applied it to her burns; she had to admit, she had forgotten what it felt like to have burns on her pelt or battle wounds, to be more specific.
"I have to admit, it's been awhile since I last fought a fire cat. I've forgot what getting battle wounds feels like." Yellowfang meowed.
"Well, you have to give credit to Firepaw, this is the first time he's ever used his powers properly." Spottedleaf meowed.
"Firepaw eh, I can see where his power came from. I've got to say, I thought he was just some mouse-brained rouge that thought he owned a part of your territory. Is he a former rouge or loner?" Yellowfang asked.
"No, he's actually a former kittypet." Spottedleaf meowed.
"A kittypet, I don't believe it! It's rare, but it's not impossible." Yellowfang meowed surprised.
"Well, it is. He's only been an apprentice for a few days now, so you have to forgive him for not knowing you were a medicine cat." Spottedleaf meowed.
"I suppose so." Yellowfang meowed reluctantly.
"Oh hello Firepaw, what brings you here?" Spottedleaf greeted.
Yellowfang looked over and saw Firepaw entering the medicine cat den with a rabbit in his mouth, his ears down and looked at Yellowfang with guilt. Just seeing Firepaw like that brought back memories for Yellowfang, for when her son was an apprentice, he brought back the biggest frog he had ever caught. Yellowfang was so proud of him and her son was full of pride just seeing his mom smile. Those were the days, but now Yellowfang was in the Thunderclan camp and while they weren't at war or nothing, this was still considered enemy territory. Firepaw dropped the rabbit in front of Yellowfang and sat in front of her.
"Here, here's a rabbit for you. I…I'm sorry I attacked you, I should've asked first before I jumped to conclusions. I…I'm so sorry." He meowed.
Yellowfang looked at the rabbit, then smiled at Firepaw.
"It's alright, thanks for the rabbit." She meowed.
Firepaw was surprised, he expected a verbal tongue lash from Yellowfang; it's what he deserved after all, but hearing that made Firepaw think that maybe Shadowclan cats are not all that bed. He turned around and started to leave the den.
"Not bad, for a kittypet." Yellowfang teased.
Firepaw flinched and his ears were down when he heard that, but he knew he deserved it and didn't dare confront Yellowfang about it. When he left the den, Firepaw looked around and saw cats sitting in groups and chatting about the incident between him and Yellowfang and some looked at Firepaw angry, concerned, or impressed. Firepaw saw Greypaw, Sandpaw, Dustpaw, Ravenpaw, and Chestnutpaw chatting with each other and decided to approach them. The apprentices saw Firepaw approach them and Greypaw and Sandpaw gave a welcoming smile, Ravenpaw and Chestnutpaw gave concerned looks, and Dustpaw gave a smirk.
"You screwed up big time." Dustpaw snickered.
"Dustpaw, don't be so rude." Sandpaw snapped.
"What?! It's the truth!" he retorted.
"I can't believe you attacked Yellowfang, she's the Shadowclan medicine cat you know." Ravenpaw meowed surprised.
"I know, I know. I didn't know she was the Shadowclan medicine cat, I thought she was a warrior." Firepaw explained; remorsefully.
"If it makes you feel better, Yellowfang used to be a warrior" Greypaw pointed out.
"Really? Warriors can become medicine cats?" Firepaw meowed surprised.
"Yeah. It's rare, but it's possible." Sandpaw meowed.
"In fact, my aunt Spottedleaf used to a warrior apprentice before she became a medicine cat." Greypaw added.
"Really. So, why did Yellowfang become a medicine cat?" Firepaw asked.
"If I remember right, she changed because of some condition she has." Greypaw meowed; thinking.
"Condition? She seems normal to me." Firepaw meowed.
"Perhaps, but maybe this condition prevents her from doing her warrior duties." Sandpaw pointed out.
"Look, all things aside, you messed up big time, Firepaw." Chestnutpaw scolded.
"I know, I know." Firepaw meowed sadly.
"Did you apologize?" Chestnutpaw asked.
"Of course." Firepaw meowed sincerely.
"What is Shadowclan going to say? Better yet, what is Raggedstar and Brokentail going to say?" Ravenpaw asked worried.
"Raggedstar? Brokentail?" Firepaw meowed confused.
"Raggedstar is the leader of Shadowclan and Brokentail is the deputy. It just so happens that Raggedstar is Yellowfang's mate and Brokentail is Raggedstar and Yellowfang's son." Greypaw explained
Firepaw gulped, his eyes were wide with terror and his ears were flattened. Now he knew he messed up, once Raggedstar and Brokentail hear about what happened, they would never believe it was an accident; war would break out. Hopefully, if Firepaw apologized to Raggedstar and Brokentail, war could be avoided. Suddenly, Firepaw scented a familiar scent.
"Speaking of Shadowclan." Chestnutpaw meowed.
