Shimmerpaw sat outside the apprentices' den, relaxing. It had been a few moons and the first frost had arrived. Prey was starting to become harder to find. Shimmerpaw was supposed to go out hunting with Rippleheart as soon as he got back from his early morning hunting patrol. Shimmerpaw had volunteered the go with him then, but they had a late night the day before doing some battle training. Rippleheart wanted her to get a good nights sleep. Now she was rested and eager to get out and find some prey for her Clanmates.
The camp entrance rustled. Shimmerpaw lifted her head as Nightcloud, Spiderwatcher, and Bronzefrost pushed their way into camp. Each carried a mouse with them. Shimmerpaw waited for her mentor to appear but Rippleheart never showed up. Puzzled, Shimmerpaw got up and ran up to the patrol as they laid their prey on the fresh-kill pile.
"Where's Rippleheart?" she asked.
"He's not here?" Nightcloud meowed, glancing around. "He told us he would meet us here."
Shimmerpaw's eyes widened. "Where did you last see him?"
"Near the border at the edge of the forest," Bronzefrost answered.
"Maybe he decided to stay out longer to search for more prey," Sipderwatcher suggested. "We'll wait to see if he comes back. If he doesn't show up, we'll have to tell Shinestar that he's missing."
Shimmerpaw wanted to argue and go out searching now but she dipped her head respectfully to the warriors and went back over to the apprentices' den. She tried not to glance at the camp entrance too much but she found it hard to focus on anything else.
The sun began to set and there was still no sign of Rippleheart. Shimmerpaw dug her claws into the ground. I know I shouldn't go out by myself, but something just feels wrong. Rippleheart wouldn't stay out this long without telling some one.
Graystep padded over with Fernpaw and Ravenstripe behind him. "Hey, is something wrong? You've been sitting here all day but you look uneasy."
"Rippleheart hasn't come back yet. He told his patrol he would meet them back here but he still hasn't shown up," Shimmerpaw meowed.
"That isn't like him at all," Graystep replied, narrowing his eyes.
"And they haven't sent anybody to find him yet?" Fernpaw asked.
Shimmerpaw shook her head. "Spiderwatcher said that we should wait to see if he comes back first before we make Shinestar and the Clan worry, but I can't help but feel that something's wrong."
Ravenstripe glanced around before looking back at them all. "I think we've waited long enough."
"We can't just leave without telling anybody," Shimmerpaw pointed out, shifting her weight between her front paws. She knew they shouldn't leave without saying anything to any cat, but she wanted to just run out and search for Rippleheart right now.
"You can if you're with me," Ravenstripe countered with a smirk and a wink. "I'm a medicine cat. If some cat asks what we were doing, we say that I asked for your help gathering herbs."
Shimmerpaw smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Ravenstripe."
"Anything for you, gorgeous," Ravenstripe meowed. "Now let's go!" He trotted out of camp with Shimmerpaw, Fernpaw, and Graystep behind him.
"Any idea where to look?" Fernpaw asked. "Do we know where they were hunting?"
"No," Shimmerpaw answered with a sigh, her ears and tail drooping.
Ravenstripe nudged her. "Come on. You're a Jedi. What is the force telling you?"
Shimmerpaw took a deep breath and closed her eyes. For some reason, she felt a strong pull towards the forest's border. She opened her eyes. "Follow me." She dashed off into the undergrowth with the others behind her.
As they neared the border, Shimmerpaw began to hear growls. She slowed and raised her tail, signaling for the others to remain quiet. She carefully set her paws down as she got closer, the other copying her. She stopped when she spotted Rippleheart along with another cat. Rippleheart was pinned underneath a pale brown tom with furious amber eyes. Shimmerpaw tensed when she saw the injuries her mentor had. Rippleheart's right shoulder was bleeding, seemingly from a deep bite mark. There was also a long scratch down his right flank beginning at his shoulder, almost as if someone had hooked their claws in his original wound and swiped their claws through his skin. His left ear was torn, blood dripping onto the ground. Blood was also dripping from his left paw, dripping from another deep bite mark.
"Who is that?" Fernpaw whispered.
"It can't be..." Graystep breathed. "Thistlepaw..."
"That's Thistlepaw? Didn't he disappear?" Ravenstripe questioned.
"Yeah, but nobody ever found a body. We tried to find him but when we couldn't find him we assumed he was dead and had gone to join StarClan," Graystep answered. "But why would he be attacking Rippleheart? He was his mentor! And they were close!"
"Whatever the reason, Rippleheart needs our help now," Shimmerpaw pointed out. She tensed her muscles, preparing to pounce.
"Don't think you can sneak up on me," Thistlepaw growled, making them all freeze. They exchanged glances before they emerged from the bushes, spreading out to surround Thistlepaw.
"Let him go, Thistlepaw. You don't want to hurt your former mentor, do you?" Graystep meowed, keeping his voice even while also remaining tense.
"Shut it! You don't know anything about me!" Thistlepaw snapped.
Shimmerpaw could sense the rage and betrayal burning deep inside him. "What happened to you, Thistlepaw? When you disappeared, no cat could find any sign of you. You must have been doing something during all this time."
"I was attacked by rogues while out on my own. Nobody came for me. I had to save myself. I survived all on my own. You say you couldn't find any sign of me, but you probably didn't even try. Not hard enough anyway. Not even my own mentor," Thistlepaw growled. "You all never cared! Nobody does in LightClan! You all just hold in your emotions, and it makes you weak! My anger has made me stronger! It has shown me how pathetic you all really are!"
Shimmerpaw felt his rage growing stronger, but deep down she felt his doubt. The old Thistlepaw was screaming as he tried to get out. We can still reach him. He can still be saved. "You're wrong, Thistlepaw. We are strong because of the code we follow. Everyone tried so hard to find you, especially Rippleheart. You were our Clanmate, and we all care for each other, and we always will. You can still be part of that, Thistlepaw. I know that deep down, you know that I'm right."
Thistlepaw turned his glare to Shimmerpaw. "Lies! It's all lies!"
Shimmerpaw sensed his inner turmoil grow, and she took a step towards him. "Thistlepaw, let Rippleheart go. You don't want to hurt him. Come home. Let us help you."
Thistlepaw shook his head. "I don't need your help!" He suddenly lunged at Shimmerpaw, claws outstretched. Shimmerpaw reared up to meet him, sinking her claws into his shoulders. She pushed him away and hooked her claws in his ear. Thistlepaw yowled in pain before lunging towards Shimmerpaw again, his eyes fixed on her throat. Shimmerpaw quickly ducked under him, rolling onto her back and pushing up with paws to push Thistlepaw onto his back. She then quickly spun and leaped on top of Thistlepaw, pinning him to the ground. The tom struggled but Shimmerpaw's hold was strong.
"Well? What are you waiting for? Do it!" Thistlepaw snapped, glaring daggers at Shimmerpaw.
Shimmerpaw shook her head. "No Thistlepaw. Let go of your hate. Come back to LightClan. You deserve a second chance. I know things haven't gone your way for a while, but let us help you."
Thistlepaw stared at her in surprise. "How is it possible that a cat like you could defeat me? I'm stronger and older!"
"None of that matters, Thistlepaw. I let the force guide me and trust my instincts and training," Shimmerpaw meowed calmly.
Thistlepaw stared at her for a moment longer before his eyes widened. "I see now! I am to help make you stronger, so you can face the challenge ahead! I forged you into a warrior worthy of the title! I forged you into the Jedi you were supposed to be!"
Shimmerpaw let out a sigh. "No, Thistlepaw. You need help." She quickly knocked him unconscious, making sure he was really out before turning towards Rippleheart, who was now sitting up getting checked over by Ravenstripe. His eyes were all for her, though, gazing at her with pride. "Are you ok, Rippleheart?"
"I'm fine, thanks to you," Rippleheart replied.
"I'll be the judge of that," Ravenstripe snapped, giving the deputy a stern look. "You're going straight to my den once we get back to camp."
Rippleheart sighed but dipped his head. "Alright, but first we must bring Thistlepaw home."
Ravenstripe narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Seriously? He just tried to kill you," he reminded him.
"He's been through a lot. He needs help. There's still good in him," Shimmerpaw insisted. She padded over and lifted Thistlepaw onto her back. Graystep and Ravenstripe supported Rippleheart as Fernpaw led the way back to camp.
"Shimmerpaw, take them both to my den. I'll get Shinestar," Ravenstripe meowed once they entered camp. Shimmerpaw dipped her head and headed to the medicine den with her mentor. She gently laid Thistlepaw into one of the nests while Rippleheart settled down not far off.
"You've done well today, Shimmerpaw," he praised. "Not many warriors would've given Thistlepaw that second chance, but you've shown that you're a true jedi. A true warrior. There is nothing more I can teach you."
Shimmerpaw stared at him in surprise. "But there's always more to learn, isn't there?"
"Just because your training ends doesn't mean you stop learning. You will constantly be learning new things as you grow and progress on your own," Rippleheart explained. He smiled and nudged her with his muzzle. "I'm proud of you."
Shimmerpaw couldn't help but smile. "Thank you, Rippleheart. You've taught me so much. I promise that I'll do my best to be a good jedi and warrior for LightClan."
"You already are," Rippleheart replied.
"Rippleheart?" Shinestar and Ravenstripe came into the den. Their leader immediately went to her deputy's side. "Ravenstripe told me everything. Are you sure you're alright?"
"I'm fine, Shinestar," Rippleheart assured her.
"I told you. I'm the one that decides that," Ravenstripe retorted, setting to work looking over Rippleheart's wounds.
Shimmerpaw watched for a moment before dipping her head and ducking out of the den. She joined Fernpaw and Graystep over by the apprentices' den. "How's Rippleheart and Thistlepaw?" Graystep asked.
"Rippleheart seems fine, but Ravenstripe is looking over him just in case. Thistlepaw is still out. Shinestar is talking things over with them," Shimmerpaw answered.
"That's good. I don't know who our deputy would be if we lost Rippleheart," Fernpaw meowed. "But I'm not so sure about giving Thistlepaw another chance. How do we know he's not going to just turn on us again?"
"There's still good in him. I felt it. We have to try and help him at least," Shimmerpaw pointed out. She glanced back at the medicine den. He's been through a lot. I don't know what exactly happened while he was gone, but he's still one of us. We can't just abandon him. He deserves a chance to be the warrior he was going to be before everything happened.
So sorry for the long wait on this chapter! Hopefully I'm going to have more time to write in the future but with school starting up soon I'm not sure. I'll do my best though!
Anyway, hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Please R&R!