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Grizzlepelt and Tigerstripe

Chapter Two

The moon had risen into the sky and came down again five times since the fight between the ShadowClan patrol and the two apprentices. Goldpaw stayed unaware in the medicine cat, Wishfur's, den. It had been too much for such a young apprentice to take on three fully grown warriors even with the help of a slightly more experienced apprentice.

Berrytail blamed herself for Goldpaw's accident, often saying she should have been there. Where she had been was still a mystery, but no cat questioned her, Goldpaw was the main concern. She visited her apprentice every day, watching on helplessly as he slept on without a stir. Lightningpaw was even said to visit in the dead of the night when every cat was supposedly asleep.

The young black she-cat had made it out with only a few scratches and bites in the battle, Berrytail arriving just in time to fight by her side against the two remaining warriors. Moonscar had vowed his vengeance and left along with the other she-cat known as Mosspelt, the ShadowClan deputy.

The young mentor slipped into the den and laid down beside Goldpaw's small body, touching her nose to his pelt gently with a smile. She refused to give up on him and snapped at any cat who dare say all was lost for her apprentice. It had only been five dawns! To some this was enough reason to simply bury him and let him go on his way to StarClan, but as long as a few cats had hope so did they.

"It's cold…" Goldpaw's amber eyes flickered open gently and glowed in the den's darkness. What had happened? Shadyclan! He jumped to his paws and yowled in pain, slowly laying back down on his side. Well, whatever happened it had been settled. "Where's Lightningpaw? Is she okay? ShadyClan…they were hunting…"

"Shhh, I know. She's just fine, but how are you?" Berrytail replied gently, brushing her tail over his shoulder lightly. Her pretty light amber eyes gleamed bright with joy, she looked as though she would jump up and down and squash all the prey in the forest if he moved another muscle.

"I only feel like squirrels threw their whole storage of leaf-bare nuts at me." Goldpaw replied with a sigh and turned his head, licking his belly gingerly where Emberclaw had sunk her teeth into him, tasting the faint hint of a bitter herb. His face screwed up in distaste and he looked at Berrytail with a look of slight teasing horror. "Does Wishfur expect me to eat herbs like these? I'd rather join StarClan!"

Berrytail purred with amusement and shook her head, getting up. "You will if Wishfur tells you to! That's your first order from your mentor. If you follow I can work you to the bone in a few dawns. I'll go ask him now."

There was a teasing glint in her light amber eyes as she padded out of the den quickly, leaving Goldpaw alone to continue his bath. Where did ShadyClan go? The young apprentice wondered as he swiped his pink tongue over his bite wound gingerly, the sour taste of old blood making him screw up his nose distastefully. Those ShadyClan cats were fierce fighters. If they weren't so cold they would probably make good allies.

Goldpaw shrugged it off and turned up his paw to examine it. The pad was rough and slightly torn, but that was no surprise. He sighed and lay straight, putting his paws out in front of him neatly as he waited for his mentor patiently. Where was everyone else? Surely some other cat – especially Raindance - would have stopped to see how he was doing by now?

The light shuffle of paws reach Goldpaw's ears and he turned his head to look at the cat shadow that lingered on the den wall. He grinned when he smelled him and almost jumped to his paws, but earlier experiences reminded him not to. "Hey, Stonepaw, you sneak! Not making off with some of Wishfur's sweet herbs again, are we?"

Goldpaw thought he heard his friend jump in surprise and let a purr of amusement escape his hoarse throat. Within moments dark gray tom burst into the den, reaching Goldpaw's nest quickly and beaming down at him. "Look who's finally decided to take a break from his nap!"

"Mousebrain."

The two apprentices looked up in surprise as they heard the disgruntled voice of their deputy and mentor to Stonepaw, Burningfire. Stonepaw dipped his head in respect, Goldpaw following his lead and mewing quickly in greeting. Burningfire was highly respected, walking around camp with the sun's rays reflecting off his fire coat and his deep voice giving off orders. He had been a popular choice when their deputy, Bearfrost, had fallen to greencough the same moon as Tawnywing.

"Where's Wishfur?" The massive tom turned his head and peered deeper into the cave, he looked back at the two apprentices, his amber eyes almost looking accusing.

"I don't know, Berr-" Goldpaw started his explanation when Stonepaw quickly cut him off with a not-so-well hidden anxious tone. "Brrrr, it's cold!"

Burningfire looked at him with a slightly surprised expression then it hardened as he scolded. "A warrior should be able to withstand such 'horrible' torment."

"Sorry, Burningfire"

The orange tom shook his head and turned, padding out of the sheltered den as quickly as he had came. Goldpaw looked at his friend curiously, but didn't push him for details. Maybe he thought I was going to say something different… But, what?


The water rushed against the bank quietly, it was higher than usual since the thaw, but it had not flooded. The river had not flooded for quite some time now. Seasons time, but this was welcomed by all the cats in the forest – except perhaps ShadowClan.

Goldpaw sat beside the water, his golden pelt gleaming in the bright sun and bathing his slightly scarred shoulders. Just last dawn Wishfur had given him the all-clear sign and permission to resume training. The young apprentice's injuries had been rather easy to heal after he had woken up, but the scars would remain. At least his face had not been clawed, that would have been a disappointment.

He was meeting Berrytail for a fishing lesson today. My first training session with my mentor. A purr of excitement rippled through his small body and he instinctively kneaded the wet ground in apprehension. The golden tom had almost thought he could not come when Burningfire had questioned Berrytail's decision to take the just-recovered apprentice in the higher-than-usual river; but Wishfur had overheard and proved him wrong. He could not help, but let the gleam of triumph in his amber eyes show, but Burningfire thought otherwise. The deputy had given him quite a disgusted look when he left camp, his amber eyes burning through his pelt with every step he took.

"Killed you."

Goldpaw pricked his ears at the familiar voice and stood up. He took a good whiff of the air around him and nodded respectfully toward a small set of bushes. A rustling could be heard and Goldpaw turned to see Berrytail looking at him with amusement.

"Actually, I was southwind. You'll get better; don't worry."

"Will I really?"

"For sure." Berrytail seemed to have had enough of his wondering and padded to the river beside him. "The key to catching fish is: 'Be quick and never let those mousebrains know you're there.' Example."

Golden apprentice watched his apprentice with wide eyes, comprehending every movement she made. The red warrior stood near the water just enough to see, but not to be seen. This could take hours…or dawns! Just then Berrytail's paw, quick as lightning, shot into the water for a split second and came back up with a wildly struggling fish. She flung it against the ground and bit into it, putting the creature out of its misery quickly. "Now, I want you to try."

"I don't know…"

"Shut up and do it!"

"Okay, okay…" Goldpaw shrank back from his mentor for a moment then crept to the water's edge. He tried not to let his shadow fall on the water, but it was so hard to see from such a distance!

"No, no! You're doing it all wrong! Get away from the water, Goldpaw. Away for StarClan's sake! Stand high so you can see…get your paw ready! Now!" Berrytail's coaching was getting a little annoying, but Goldpaw tried to listen – only succeeding in blocking her out until she said 'Now!' His paw shot forth into the water, feeling a fish. He unsheathed his claw and tried to hook it, but it was too late.

"Okay, first off: Why weren't your claws unsheathed? Second: You hesitated; it is a fish, just kill it!" Goldpaw just about snapped at his own mentor for saying he was afraid to kill a fish, but managed the willpower to restrain himself. It was not easy. He could not help, but think Berrytail was not cut out to be a mentor.

"Try again."

Goldpaw used the same technique as before. He blocked out Berrytail and waited, his claws unsheathed and his paw ready. Every time he saw a fish it darted away quickly before he could even make a move. How could he catch something that did not stay still long enough for him to do so? Berrytail's orders were getting louder, and louder, until he was sure the whole of ThunderClan and RiverClan combined could hear her racket. When he was about to turn and give up a fish swam into view. Worth a shot.

Golden paw darted in and out of he water, Goldpaw giving out a loud purr of delight as a fish came with it. He dropped it on the muddy ground and watched it flop around until its struggles became weaker. It looked like it was in pain… The apprentice stepped forward and poked it with a tiny claw, only causing the fish to flop around even more wildly now. His paw came down on its side and the creature's struggles stopped all together. Goldpaw had killed his first prey.

"It took you long enough to kill it." Burningfire stepped forward, followed by Firedance – a flame coated tom with white paws, Kashpaw, and Swiftrain – a beautiful tortoiseshell she-cat. Goldpaw looked around, bewildered that they could sneak up on him so easily. He glanced at Berrytail to see her looking as if she had known they were coming for a whole moon.

"Oh, yes! Maybe next time you can catch a fish without it nearly dying at your paws first!" Kashpaw's usual sneer didn't take Goldpaw by surprise. Firedance – Kashpaw's mentor – said nothing, just remained quietly looking down at his white paws. Swiftrain's pale blue eyes burned with amusement, but she said nothing, just waited to see what Goldpaw would do next.

Why does it always end up like this? Everyone waiting on me to say something in response to Kashpaw? Goldpaw nodded tartly and flattened his ears, unable to meet his mentor's eyes. Would she think him weak for not standing up to the black devil, Kashclaw's sneer interrupted his thoughts yet again.

"Do you know how to do anything other than say, Yes or No, and nod or shake your head? You'll make a fine warrior! ThunderClan can walk on over and demand the right to take some prey and all you'll do is say 'Yes, ThunderClan.'"

"Enough, Kashpaw." Burningfire interrupted the cocky apprentice by putting his tail to his lips. The small party of cats seemed to look a little crestfallen that a fight didn't break out, causing Goldpaw to almost snort out loud with disgust. When Goldpaw turned to glance at Berrytail he was not very surprised to see she was gone. She always disappeared when all other cats got caught up in their own conversation. "It seems your mentor has left. Come on, grab your fish and follow. We're done patrolling the gorge and heading back to camp."

With that said the three warriors turned with unspoken agreement and launched into speed toward camp. Their muscles rippled under their lean pelts as they showed no mercy for the two apprentices that were left to try and keep up. Kashpaw was keeping a good distance ahead of Goldpaw, as if it were his rightful place to be. Not for long. Goldpaw retightened his grip on the fish and kicked up his speed, hurtling past Kashpaw easily and catching up to the warriors.

Kashpaw wasn't amused by this in the least bit. His own seed heightened and he was soon in pace with the three warriors, slowly passing with Goldpaw right on his heels. The black apprentice was rather fast, but he was big too…while Goldpaw was small and could fly past many others of his clan.

The golden apprentice drew in his breath deeply and took off at top speed, passing up all the cats quickly and nearing camp. His lungs felt like they were about to burst. Almost there… As the small island came into view a black figure hurtled past him. At first glance Goldpaw thought it was Kashpaw, but then he noticed the size difference. Lightningpaw!

Filled with a new type of energy Goldpaw took a deep breath and tried his best to keep up with the young she-cat, but she was already slowing down and wading to the island. The golden apprentice slowed down as well, splashing after her, his legs pumping high so half of his gold legs left the water with each step.

Lightningpaw was painfully aware of her follower it seemed for she headed straight to the nursery when Goldpaw caught up to her in camp. Slightly crestfallen, Goldpaw lay down in the small clearing with his head on his paws and closed his eyes, sleep almost overcoming him.

"Goldpaw!" The tom groaned and pushed his paws over his ears as his friend's voice sounded. "How was training? Tired? Hungry? We could go see if the elders would care to share!"

"Fine." Goldpaw grumbled and forced himself onto his paws, padding slowly after his friend to the slight ditch that served as the elders eating-place. When they neared Goldpaw saw the three elders – Redfur, Birchclaw, and Maplefur come into focus. Cuddled up close to them were Lightstorm's two kits – Eaglekit and Cherrykit.

"Te' us a stoy', Re'ur." Eaglekit begged the old queen, prodding her flame colored belly with two tiny orange paws. There was no doubt who fathered this kit: Burningfire. He was an exact duplicate of the large tom. Cherrykit was quite a lot like her father as well, her pelt a brilliant shade of bright orange. Rainstar would probably mentor one of the two, she did only mentor deputy's kits after all.

"In a moment." The gentle she-cat purred, curling her large, fluffy tail around the tiny kit. She looked up at the two apprentices with a warm smile. The elderly she-cat was probably remembering just like Goldpaw, when Stonepaw and himself were only kits – begging for a story just like Eaglekit. "Goldpaw, Stonepaw! It's been ages since you have visited us old cats! I'm glad to see you out of the den especially, Goldpaw."

"Yeah, we're sorry about that Redfur. Training's keeping us in shape." Stonepaw spoke before Goldpaw, watching Cherrykit pounce on Birchclaw's tail as it lashed back and forth. "Quite a bundle of kits this moon!"

"Oh yes, I remember a moon, many seasons ago when we had so many kits that some of the warriors had to take on two apprentices. Why I myself had to take both Tawnywing and Bearfrost." Goldpaw's spine tingled at the mention of his mother and the former deputy's name. This bit of information had been unknown to him.

"You-you mentored my mother?" Goldpaw asked quietly, creeping closer and sitting down close to the respected she-cat as if he were a kit again.

"Oh yes. She was always getting into trouble, but she was a brave and noble warrior which was what made her one of the best warriors RiverClan has ever seen." Redfur's yellow eyes shone with pride for a moment then it died. "It just comes to show you that even the strongest of warriors can be taken by something as simple as a sickness."

Goldpaw quickly slunk off while she was lost in memories. He suddenly wasn't hungry anymore. The apprentice's den and his nest looked more inviting than ever before as he snuggled up in his warm bedding. He could just make out Lightningpaw's pale blue eyes staring at him in the darkness.