Chapter Three
"I'm the hopeless one, Brookepaw? Look at who you're swooning over!" A harsh hiss interrupted Goldpaw's sleep. What in the name of StarClan? He fluttered open his amber eyes to see Brookepaw and Treepaw – Stonepaw's older brother – talking. Neither one looked very happy as they spoke to each other, but he could not help, but feel intrigued to know what they were talking about.
"Mousebrain!" The blue she-cat's snarl was enough to send any kit or apprentice fleeing to their mothers. "Stay away from Icepaw. That is all I'm saying."
Treepaw hissed and charged into the den, seeing Goldpaw's amber eyes in the darkness. The glare he gave he golden tom made Goldpaw unsheathe his claws and dig them into the dirt to keep from shrinking away. It was nothing, but pure, unmasked hatred. What could they have possibly been talking about to get Treepaw so fired up? He was normally one of the mellowest toms in the clan. Brookepaw he could understand, she could get quite fiery, but was she enough to provoke Treepaw to such hate?
Goldpaw scurried out of the den quickly as Treepaw settled down in his nest, slamming into Brookepaw painfully. She jumped back with a yowl of surprise and gave out a laugh as she saw the tom, but Goldpaw was not so amused. His nose hurt! "Goldpaw! Slow down before you hurt somebody!"
The tom could not help, but smile slightly and rub his nose with his paw humorously at her comment. "I think I already did."
"Oh, aye?"
"Yep."
"Oh, sorry."
Goldpaw looked at her curiously for a moment before nodding and padding over to the fresh-kill pile. He gripped a small fish in his claws and flung it a little ways away from the pile before chasing after it and biting into it. Warm blood gushed into his mouth and his body rumbled with a satisfied purr. His amber eyes were kept open for signs of a slim black pelt.
His hope was granted. A black pelt did approach him, but blue eyes did not stare at him. No. Pale green eyes, glinting with anger. He was quite tired of his apprenticeship as of yet, not a day of peace under this cruel gaze. Amber eyes looked up indignantly at the tom before him, a low growling emitting from his small body. "Look all you want, it is quite a nice sight."
Kashpaw snarled furiously and unsheathed his claws, thrusting his head in the golden tom's face. "Yes, the fish is quite nice, but that is not what I'm standing here for. Stay away from Brookepaw or your pelt may be last seen being buried by the elders."
"I see…" Goldpaw hissed quietly. No response came to mind, he believed this threat full-heartedly. He did not really think he needed to be told. His gaze was put back down to the fish which he half-heartedly began to pick at. Kashpaw's presence deteriorated and the young apprentice finished the fish within a few gulps. He heaved himself to his paws and padded to the apprentice's den, laying down outside again. Where was Berrytail?
"Goldpaw, have you eaten?" The apprentice looked up at the sound of Swiftrain's voice and nodded eagerly. "Good. You are to join Bluefire, Burningfire, Stonepaw, and me on a border patrol. Yellowtail said she scented ThunderClan…across the border. There was a stale scent of ShadowClan mixed within it so we are checking it out."
"Will we meet any cats there?" Goldpaw's voice quivered with fear and excitement. My first patrol! And with my best friend! Imagine that. Eagerness to prove himself to the warriors and deputy made his paws prick and his fur bristle.
Swiftrain seemed to sense this and shook her head, putting up a delicate multi-colored paw. "Now don't go getting your hopes up. Yellowtail is young and has been mislead many a time, but it does not seem unlikely that ThunderClan would be here. The day they mind their own will be the day StarClan falls from the sky!"
A purr of amusement rumbled through Goldpaw as he listened. ThunderClan had been sticking their noses into RiverClan's business since before he was kitted, the elders did not often talk about it, his mother saying it was because of their pride. Heck, Goldpaw would be ashamed if he had to take help from such a nosy clan when he was a warrior too! He gave himself a quick bath and streaked toward the assembled patrol.
"Swiftrain did you tell Go- Never mind. Goldpaw, remain close to Bluefire. Stonepaw, stay close to me and watch all that I do. Swiftrain, I want you to keep a scout ahead, report back regularly." Burningfire turned and padded off the island and onto the narrow land bridge quickly. He looked heavy, but yet somehow he managed not to sink into the moist grass. It was no surprise, the deputy had been doing this for countless moons. His shoulders and head were carried proudly, he knew of the respect his position carried. This was what made all cats awe and respect him, but Goldpaw had the feeling he had a little too much respect. How long until it went to his head?
He shrugged and raced after him, keeping a good pace with Bluefire, whom, seemed to be ignoring him, but Goldpaw did not mind. He worked better on his own anyway. Everything interested the young tom. Every rustle in the bush may be an enemy warrior, every sound the unsheathing of claws… A fight would be just the thing to loosen up his joints! When a small flock of birds burst from their cover in the bushes, Goldpaw could not help, but leap into the air and trying to knock one down. Of course, he did not achieve, but he did get a few chuckles out of the cats surrounding him.
He knew to settle down as they neared the fishing gorge, it was quite obvious they were close as the roaring of waters pounded in his ears. His heart skipped a beat as he stealthily peered out of the bracken with his clanmates. The river always perked his interest. It was like a symbol of freedom, allowed to run wherever it pleased for miles and miles. But, the fresh water scent was indeed mixed with the horrid stench of ShadowClan and ThunderClan cats. He tried to tell himself they did not always smell this way, that he was used to his own clan's scent, but it was quite hard to convince himself of.
It felt like seasons were passing to Goldpaw before Burningfire finally nodded and meowed quietly. "Seems safe. Let's go. Keep your ears pricked."
Goldpaw followed Bluefire, trying to be as stealthy as possible. The tom made it look so easy as his long legs stretched forth long with his belly so close to the ground. Goldpaw wondered if he would ever manage to learn this with Berrytail always disappearing after short training sessions. It was quite annoying, really. The fresh and close scent of ThunderClan brought Goldpaw from his thinking and he perked his ears as Swiftrain gave an alarming hiss. He edged closer to Stonepaw and the two apprentices exchanged excited glances as they waited for their foe to show their face or faces.
"We come in peace." A low voice called from the bracken before a black tom walked forth out of it confidently with two cats following him – one a tortoiseshell she-cat and the other a blue she-cat apprentice. Goldpaw flicked back his ear as he heard Burningfire spit on the ground in disbelief and stalk forward determinedly.
"You come across our borders! Give us a reason why we should not attack you on the spot!" Goldpaw half expected the tom to cringe at Burningfire's snarl, but somehow he managed not to. A sense of admiration filled Goldpaw momentarily before he caught himself. This was a enemy warrior! He decided he should copy the other cats of his clan, lowering himself and giving a low, approving hiss. It was quite hoarse and ragged, making Bluefire glance back and say quietly. "Don't get a hairball on us now, Goldpaw."
"I wasn't-!"
"Silence!" Burningfire's hiss interrupted Goldpaw though he did not turn to look at him. The black tom and the RiverClan deputy were staring intensely into each other's eyes as the cats waited for the tom's reply.
"I come to speak with Rainstar!" The tom insisted urgently, refusing to tell the cats any more information. His claws protruded from their sheaths and dug into the biosphere, ready for a fight. It must be urgent if he's that desperate…
"Moonstar cannot do such acts on her own?" Goldpaw's ears perked at his deputy's sneer. He heard both patrol's fur bristle uneasily and all claws were easily seen as unsheathed. "Leave our territory. If Moonstar wishes to speak with Rainstar she may come herself!"
The black tom narrowed his eyes challengingly for a moment before nodding his head with a quiet sigh. Before he turned and padded away with his patrol he promised solemly. "Very well. I will return – with Moonstar."
The large orange deputy's head seemed to raise in triumph as he watched the ThunderClan cats easily surrender, nodding slightly, his eyes narrowed. "I hoped you would be smart in your choice."
Goldpaw and his fellows looked at each other, bewildered with curiosity and all hungry for the same knowledge: Why did ThunderClan wish to speak with their leader? None of them dared to speak to Burningfire on the way back to the camp, waiting until he was well out of hearing distance before they began whispering the happenings of the patrol with their fellow clanmates.
Goldpaw, on the other hand, was not quite so keen to gossip with the other apprentices about the events and it seemed Stonepaw had decided to follow his friend's lead. It was fun to torture Treepaw, Brookepaw, Icepaw, and even Kashclaw and Lightningpaw. Though neither of them said anything it was obvious they were not going to rest until they heard the latest clan gossip. The black she-cat apprentice was the first to break the silence. "Keep your secrets! I'll just ask Lizzardtail."
With that said Kashpaw and Lightningpaw stalked out of the den together, shoulders hunched coldly as they went to seek out their answers. Goldpaw hoped Lizzardtail would be as silent as he normally was and refuse to tell them anything. The former rogue never did much feel like he fit in and reserved to himself, even when Lightningpaw was made his apprentice, but whenever she did something wrong he was the first to find out.
"They'll get nothing out of that fleabag!" Stonepaw laughed, Treepaw batting a paw out at him.
"Stonepaw, mind youself! He's a respectable warrior." He responded with a firm nod.
"But what did happen out there? Please, we're dying to know!" Brookepaw's small voice begged the two toms, Icepaw looking at them with her big midnight eyes, silently agreeing.
"Alright… There we were, strolling carefully through the forest when three, horrible ThunderClan cats that smelled of crowfood came out of nowhere…" And so the 'dramatic' tale went on, all cats listening excitedly as each 'strictly truthful' detail was spoken.
