Chapter 6: Revenge of Hawkeye

Beaverpaw buried her prey under the tree. It had been four moons since Horsewing was discovered as a lifeless corpse, murdered by Hawkeye, a Windclan she-cat who killed him for not loving her back. Beaverpaw thought of her mentor who had been devastated at the news that a she-cat from another clan murdered her mate. 'At least Spottedpelt kitted Horsewing's kits two moons ago, which means she has some of him left through her kits,' Beaverpaw thought as she scented more prey. 'Ah, I smell rabbit. That should be good and fat for Spottedpelt,' thought Beaverpaw as she slithered through the fallen leaves towards the scent of rabbit.

She saw a white hare nibbling on some berries. She moved her body to where the scent of the rabbit was blowing towards her and not the other way around. She crept slowly and cautiously so as to not alert the rabbit. She got ready to spring, and suddenly a flash of brown came out of the bushes and killed the rabbit. Beaverpaw's jaw opened wide as she stared at Sparrowpaw holding the dead rabbit in his jaws. Sparrowpaw dropped the rabbit and mewed, "Sorry Beaverpaw, I didn't know you were also stalking the rabbit," Beaverpaw replied, "It's okay, I guess I'll fish in the river and see if any fish are hiding around," Sparrowpaw nodded, then picked up the rabbit and disappeared into the undergrowth. Beaverpaw sighed, 'Why does Sparrowpaw always have to show up during my hunt. Oh well, at least he caught that rabbit, if it escaped I would have lost the fattest piece of prey I've seen all moon.'

Beaverpaw stopped at the river and lapped up a few mouthfuls. She then made her way to a grassy spot on the bank and watched for any fish. She saw a carp, she quickly unsheathed her claws and hooked the fish onto dryland. She bit the carp's neck, and felt it go lifeless. She turned away from the river and went to the spot where she buried her earlier catches. She bit them carefully, trying not to draw blood. She walked back to camp. "Good catch, Beaverpaw. Seems like you and Sparrowpaw have the best of luck when it comes to hunting," mewed Stripepaw as she looked at Beaverpaw's carp, and three squirrels.

"Mfh, I'm sure there's going to be a day when Sparrowpaw dosen't catch anything, I know I've messed up before and only managed to catch one fish, or dryland prey," mewed Beaverpaw as she put her catch on the fresh kill pile. "Yeah, but did you see that huge rabbit that Sparrowpaw caught, he brought it over to Spottedpelt," mewed Stripepaw as Beaverpaw began to wash herself. Beaverpaw looked toward the nursery and saw Sparrowpaw coming out, he looked tired. "Sparrowpaw are you feeling okay?" asked Stripepaw as he walked into the apprentice's den. "Just tired from a long day of hunting and fishing, Spikefur should know better than to take me morning fishing, then have me hunt all afternoon. Though we have a queen, her kits and two elders to take care of, so I suppose that hunting all day isn't bad," mused Sparrowpaw from the apprentices' den. Beaverpaw exchanged a worrying glance with Stripepaw.

The sun wouldn't set for another few fox strides. Stripepaw walked into the den, Beaverpaw snuck her head into the bramble screen and saw Stripepaw give Sparrowpaw licks of comfort. Beaverpaw fumed, 'If anybody should be doing that it should be me!' Beaverpaw walked over to the fresh kill pile and chose her three squirrels for Stripepaw, Sparrowpaw and her to share. 'Stripepaw is his friend just as much as I am, so I shouldn't be upset that Stripepaw is the one comforting him right now, what matters is that he's friends with me.' Beaverpaw thought as she saw the two of them exit out of the apprentice's den. "Here I thought you might be hungry, and tired so I got you both something to eat," mewed Beaverpaw to the two of them. "Thanks Beaverpaw, it's great to have clanmates like you two," mewed Sparrowpaw. Stripepaw's eyes sparkled at that comment. Beaverpaw sat down and the three of them started to eat the squirrels. "Gosh, this squirrel tastes delicious, the best squirrel I've had in moons," meowed Stripepaw. Beaverpaw let a mrow of laughter escape her throat. "What it's not funny, Beaverpaw, cause it's true, it's the best squirrel I've had so far in my life," mewed Stripepaw crossley.

Sparrowpaw looked like he was trying not to laugh. Then Stripepaw jumped onto Beaverpaw and they started to tussle around the clearing, "I'll show you!" mewed Stripepaw. Beaverpaw hissed playfully, as she pinned Stripepaw to the ground, "Not strong enough to pin me down?" mewed Beaverpaw playfully. Stripepaw went limp and Beaverpaw relaxed her grip. Big mistake. Stripepaw pushed her to the side and jumped onto her. Beaverpaw was shocked, 'How could I let Stripepaw trick me so. I am a better fighter than her, I should win this fight! Wait, she's your friend, you are just play fighting so it doesn't matter who wins, it's not like it's a real battle or anything,' Stripepaw had pinned her to the ground. Beaverpaw thrashed her legs violently at Stripepaw. Stripepaw backed away breathing hard, as if Beaverpaw had kicked hard in the stomach. Stripepaw sat down on the grass and mewed in ragged breaths, "You...win...Beaverpaw," Beaverpaw sat proudly and began to wash herself. Sparrowpaw rushed towards her, but he didn't stop at where she was, instead he ran to Stripepaw.

Beaverpaw burned with rage, 'I won, Sparrowpaw should be fawning over me instead of Stripepaw. The best hunters and fighters survive leaf-bare and the weak perish. Let Sparrowpaw fawn over her, because by next greenleaf she'll probably be dead and then I can have Sparrowpaw all to myself, and we can be mates,' thought Beaverpaw with anger. She stalked off to the den, and curled up into her nest. She let the rage consume her as she drifted off to sleep.

She woke up to the chilly cold dawn air, Beaverpaw blinked, Sparrowpaw wasn't in his nest. "Weird, maybe he's thinking of what he did yesterday and realized that I'm more important than anything else. Or that's at least how I feel about him, somehow I feel like he's more important than any cat in the whole world, even though we're apprentices and I haven't really seen much and done much with him and strangely I feel that if I lose him I'll tear myself apart. Also why do I feel like I'm missing my life, and why do those strange dreams happen? I haven't been to a twoleg place in my whole life, yet in those dreams it feels like I belong,' Beaverpaw thought as she stretched out her tired limbs. She heard rustling going on outside.

She walked out of the den, to see a pale dawn light shine throughout the camp. She saw Sparrowpaw exit the dirt place tunnel. 'So that's where he went, ' thought Beaverpaw. "Good morning, Sparrowpaw, are you ready for a day of training?" mewed Beaverpaw. She thought she saw fear glinting in his eyes, but it was just for a moment. "Sure, I mean we're bound to be made warriors soon, especially you, Beaverpaw. Your fighting skills are valuable, they wouldn't want to keep you an apprentice for very long, that's for sure,'' mewed Sparrowpaw.

Beaverpaw shivered, 'How could Sparrowpaw be thinking that I'll be made a warrior before him? He's better at hunting, and making sure that the elders are taken care of. Though that's an apprentice task, I doubt Mistystar will allow him to take care of the elders when we become warriors, but even if we become warriors, we won't be short of apprentices, Nightpaw, Ravenpaw, and Stormpaw are only two moons behind us, and we've been good older apprentices to them, helping them when they need help when their mentors are being lazy, but,' her thoughts were interrupted from a yowl at the entrance.

Beaverpaw saw a dark gray tabby she-cat with cold blue eyes, a brown tom with amber eyes, a bracken coloured she-cat with green eyes, a white and ginger she-cat with blue eyes, a black tom with amber eyes, a russet furred tom with sun like eyes, a white tom with pine needle eyes, and a golden pelted she-cat attack the camp. Beaverpaw dodged a blow from the black tom and bumped into Sparrowpaw who was dealing with the ginger and white she-cat. She watched as the black tom jumped onto Sparrowpaw's back. She tried to help, but the ginger and white she-cat stopped her. The she-cat's fangs were pure white and pointy looking. Beaverpaw aimed at the she-cat's cheek and hit her effectively leaving claw marks on her cheek. Beaverpaw kept hitting the she-cat with well aimed blows, and tried to dodge the blows coming from the she-cat. Suddenly the she-cat ran away from Beaverpaw.

The she-cat looked ragged, her fur was drenched with her blood that Beaverpaw had drawn. Beaverpaw looked to her side and saw that the black tom was about to give the killing bite to Sparrowpaw. Beaverpaw's rage took over and she bowled the black tom over and let her claws hit him over and over. Sparrowpaw stood over him, "What are you doing, let me finish him," hissed Beaverpaw. Sparrowpaw mewed, " 'A warrior does not need to kill in order to obtain victory.' Killing him is wrong, he knows that he is defeated just like that she-cat that you fought, she knew that she could not beat you so she ran away, before more damage could be done to her," Beaverpaw gazed at the black tom and into his amber eyes. "He invaded our home, we should kill him so that he's not a threat," hissed Beaverpaw.

But Sparrowpaw remained standing over the black tom. "He knows that we will fight for our home, and he's learned that we are not easy to drive away, and he won't come back," mewed Sparrowpaw. Beaverpaw hissed and went back into the raging battle. She saw the russet coloured tom making his way into the nursery. Beaverpaw raced to the nursery and dived in front of the entrance. The russet tom bared his fangs and drew back his lips in a snarl. Beaverpaw dodged his claws and kicked his legs from out underneath him.

He collapsed and Beaverpaw took her chance. She clawed him up, and he just sat there breathing heavily, and maybe too injured to move. She saw Stripepaw battling the gray she-cat. She rushed to help her friend, letting the russet furred tom go without killing him. Together they drove the she-cat out of the camp. Beaverpaw saw the cat's that attacked camp, racing away and into the forest. "We sure showed them," mewed Beaverpaw. Mistystar leapt onto the rock. "My clanmates, how did this happen, Riverclan hasn't made any enemies and those cats didn't seem like those of another clan, they were fewer in number, and yet they tried to take the whole camp, we still have two members from the attacking force, and when they're ready we will question them,'' The gathered cats yowled their approval. "Beaverpaw, Stripepaw come forward," yowled Mistystar. Beaverpaw eagerly walked forward to highrock. Stripepaw walked beside her. "Warriors of Riverclan, have these two fought with the courage of Leopardclan?"

Everycat cheered except for Sparrowpaw who looked displeased. "Then by the power of our warrior ancestors I commend you these two noble and brave apprentices, they have trained to understand your noble code. Do you two want to protect the code with your life and your clanmates," yowled Mistystar. Beaverpaw and Stripepaw mewed, "I do," "Then by the power of Starclan I give you your warrior names. From this moment forward, Stripepaw you will be known as Stripewing. Starclan honors your bravery and skill and we welcome you as a full member of Riverclan. Beaverpaw you will be known as Beaverclaw, Starclan honors your fighting skill and your determination and we welcome you as a full member of Riverclan," yowled Mistystar. "Stripewing!" "Beaverclaw!" "Stripewing!" "Beaverclaw!"

Beaverclaw basked in her clanmates voices calling out her name. She heard Sparrowpaw only mewing Stripewing's name and not her's. 'Why does he not acknowledge my warrior name? Does it have to with the black tom? That tom should've died, he invaded their home and got off scot free, same with the russet tom. Not fair! Why should they heal in our medicine cat's den and not have to deal with the problem they caused. They should be killed, that way we're sure that they won't come back. It'll show that Riverclan is strong and not weak,' thought Beaverclaw angrily. She saw Sparrowpaw duck into the medicine cat den. Stripewing purred beside her, "Looking at Sparrowpaw are we? You like him, admit it and tell him," Beaverclaw snorted, "It's obvious that he likes you more than me, he didn't call my warrior name," "Maybe he was shocked at almost being killed by a group of rogues," Stripewing suggested. Beaverclaw nodded her head.

Beaverclaw saw Mistystar walk up to them. "Would you two like to take a hunting patrol along the Windclan border and one of you can take one to the Shadowclan border. You two can decide who goes where," Stripewing mewed, "I'll take the one to Windclan," Beaverclaw nodded her head in agreement. "Guess I'm going to the Shadowclan border," mewed Beaverclaw. Stripewing padded off to find cat's she could take. Beaverclaw saw Robinfeather and Duskflower talking to each other. "Hey, would you two like to come hunting near the Shadowclan border? We're going to have hungry cats to feed and leaf-bare is coming so we need to fatten up the clan,'' asked Beaverclaw. Robinfeather mewed, "Of course I'll come with you," Duskflower meowed, "I'll come with you as well, it'll do good to be away from the battle scene,"

The group headed off into the forest. "We hunt here, we'll split up, too much noise might scare off the prey," mewed Beaverclaw when they reached a massive oak tree. Robinfeather dived into the undergrowth, and Duskflower walked back towards camp. Beaverclaw went the opposite way to Robinfeather. She opened her jaws to smell anything.

'Rabbit' Beaverclaw yelled inside her head. She followed the scent trail. She spotted the gray rabbit munching on grass. She crept up on the rabbit. Then she noticed a hawk was circling around the rabbit. 'If I get this right I can get the rabbit and the hawk,' thought Beaverclaw as she watched the hawk. The hawk dived and took the rabbit in its claws, then Beaverclaw leapt on the hawk's back and brought it to the ground and killed it. The claws became limp and let the rabbit go. Beaverclaw chased it. She saw the rabbit dash back towards her, she pinned the rabbit and bit it's neck, she also saw a bit of red in between the bushes. The rabbit went limp, and she carried it back to where she left the hawk. Beaverclaw carried the hawk and rabbit to the river on the side near Shadowclan territory.

Then waited for her companions to return. Duskflower came out of the bushes after what seemed to be lifetimes. "Beaverclaw, those rouges we chased away came back and ambushed me and Robinfeather, your mother was gravely injured. I only made it because they probably wanted me to send backup," mewed Duskflower. "I'll go to where the rogues are, and they will pay for attacking my mother and Riverclan," growled Beaverclaw. "While you're at it, take the rabbit and hawk into camp, and tell Mistystar at once!" mewed Beaverclaw as she turned to leave to help her mother. Duskflower nodded, and ran into the river after getting the hawk and rabbit in her jaws. Beaverclaw raced through the forest, her paws skimming the earth. She wanted to make it in time to help her mother, before they could kill her.

When she arrived she didn't see the ginger white she-cat, instead she saw a white tom with pine needle eyes, a golden pelted she-cat with brown eyes like mud, a dark gray tabby she-cat with blue eyes, a brown tom with amber eyes, and a bracken coloured she-cat with green eyes, the same cat's who attacked camp. "What do we have here, a warrior that thinks she can help this injured she-cat. She shouldn't have attacked us when we were leaving your territory. We were defeated and our wounds have not healed in the few rabbit hops that we have been gone from your camp," mewed the dark gray tabby she-cat. Her ice blue eyes staring hatred at Beaverclaw.

"Hawkeye, she's the same warrior that almost killed Smoke if it hadn't been for that light brown tom," mewed the golden furred she-cat. "I know that, and here I thought that warrior's didn't kill to know that they've won a battle," mewed Hawkeye. "You're the one that killed Horsewing!" growled Beaverclaw as she was about to leap on top of the dark gray she-cat. A flash of brown leaped in front of her and mewed, "Beaverclaw, stop this, Robinfeather isn't dead, just unconscious. Also killing her won't give Horsewing back, neither will it help Robinfeather wake up," Beaverclaw hissed, "She led these rouges to attack our home, for revenge for Windclan kicking her out!" Sparrowpaw didn't flinch. "She's been punished for her crime, and she didn't win against Riverclan, making her look like a fool in front of these rouges who helped her. Isn't that punishment enough for what she went through?" mewed Sparrowpaw. Beaverclaw didn't look convinced. Hawkeye mewed, "We'll take our leave now, and travel back to Twolegplace through Shadowclan territory and if they want these rouges as warriors they're welcome to have them,"

The group turned away and padded into the pine forest. Beaverclaw hissed, "How could you let them go?" Sparrowpaw replied, "They're defeated and won't try to attack Riverclan again, also they didn't majorly hurt any of Riverclan's warriors, apprentices, elders and queen," Beaverclaw growled, "So! They attacked us when we're innocent, and had nothing to do with Horsewing's murder! Hawkeye made the mistake of not disguising her scent and she left the tuft of fur in his claws!" Sparrowpaw didn't wince at her words. Beaverclaw fumed 'How long will it be to make him see that those cats need to die. Well maybe I was right, words are weak and cats won't respect you if you just say words and don't act. So Sparrowpaw will have to die,' Beaverclaw walked close to him, Sparrowpaw never flinched, and stood with confidence. Then she hissed, "Your way of thinking is dangerous, and we can't have other cats thinking like you, so you're going to die, I'll say that one of the rogues killed you and that I got there too late to save you," Sparrowpaw flinched a bit at her harsh words.

Beaverclaw raked his cheek with her claws. Sparrowpaw didn't lift a claw to retaliate, as Beaverclaw kept raking him with her claws. Sparrowpaw's blue eyes only looked at her in shock as she kept beating him up. Suddenly a ginger she-cat came out of the bushes and stood over the collapsed Sparrowpaw. "What do you think you're doing! Hurting a clanmate of yours! Especially one who is your friend!" hissed the ginger she-cat her green eyes blazing with fury and familiarity. "You must be Sunpaw of Shadowclan, Sparrowpaw told me about you, and if you wouldn't mind this is Riverclan business," mewed Beaverclaw cooly to Sunpaw. "You have no right to hurt your clanmate!" hissed Sunpaw. A light gray tom with a scar that looked like a moon on the fur near his eye came padding out of the bushes. "Sunpaw is right, no matter the reason, you don't hurt your fellow clanmate," mewed the light gray tom. Another light gray cat came beside the light gray tom and Sunpaw. "Moonscar, we should take this cat to our camp and get him treated, and far away from this she-cat," mewed the light gray she-cat to the tom. "I agree Sliverwing. Sunpaw, Sliverwing carry this cat to our camp, I'll make sure this she-cat doesn't hurt you while you go to camp," mewed Moonscar to Sunpaw and the light gray she-cat.

They picked up Sparrowpaw carefully and carried him on Sliverwing's back. Beaverclaw hissed, "You're taking my clanmate away, you can't keep him forever, soon Riverclan will come looking for him, and they have my word on what happened to Sparrowpaw," Moonscar didn't flinch and raised his menacing green eyes to meet her. "They also have our word for it, we saw the confrontation with the rogues and how you were going to kill Sparrowpaw because he let them go. So I'd advise you to keep your mouth shut," snarled Moonscar. Beaverclaw backed away from him frightened. Robinfeather moaned as Beaverclaw accidentally stepped on her tail with her paw. Moonscar mewed, "I'll be on my way. You should take care of this warrior before worrying about the cat you failed to silence," The tom padded away into the pine forest and Beaverclaw was left with her mother. She inspected Robinfeather, there were no scratches on her, there was a bruise on her head, but no other injury. Expect for that old scar on her flank. Beaverclaw heard the bushes rustling behind her. She turned around and saw Duskflower and Tigerstripe standing near the border. "I smell Shadowclan," mewed Tigerstripe. "Well of course you would, it's the border where Riverclan and Shadowclan scent's mingle. I tried to keep the rogues from leaving, but I was out numbered and Robinfeather is unconscious, so what could I do?" mewed Beaverclaw, the weight of the lie she had just told made her stomach tighten. "Sorry we arrived so late, Mistystar didn't believe me when I said the rogues were still on our territory," replied Duskflower. "It's fine, Robinfeather doesn't have any injuries except for a bruise on her head, I think she'll be awake soon," mewed Beaverclaw to the couple.

Robinfeather suddenly stood up and her eyes were blazing, but then relaxed as she saw Beaverclaw, Duskflower and Tigerstripe. "How are you feeling Robinfeather?" asked Beaverclaw. "I'm fine, I was hunting when I saw the rogues, I didn't notice that one of them was behind me with a stick, he bonked my head with it and made me lose consciousness," replied Robinfeather. "Well, let's head back to camp, and tell Mistystar what we witnessed," mewed Beaverclaw. The group padded their way through the forest with silence. When they reached camp Ravenpaw rushed up to them and mewed, "Have you seen Sparrowpaw, he was sent to get new moss for the elder's and hasn't come back yet," The she-cat's sky blue eyes shimmered with worry, as she waited to hear from the group. "No," mewed all of them at the same time. Beaverclaw's belly tightened more when she lied about seeing Sparrowpaw.

'I almost killed my best friend over a silly thing about murder. Why do I feel that I lost the most cherished cat in my life? I don't know what I feel anymore! Do I hate him or love him?" Beaverclaw wailed inside herself. Beaverclaw looked at Ravenpaw, her blue eyes showing worry in her gaze. "Look, Ravenpaw I'm sure he'll be back soon," lied Beaverclaw steadily. She knew that wasn't true, but she had to keep Ravenpaw's hope up. During the last four moons Stripewing, Beaverclaw and Sparrowpaw helped Ravenpaw and littermates with training, since their mentors only showed everything once and never reshowed it to them, except for Robinfeather and maybe Softfeather. Sparrowpaw formed a strong bond with Nightpaw, Stripewing did with Stormpaw and Beaverclaw formed it with Ravenpaw. She had noticed that the apprentice had admiration for the light brown tom.

Beaverclaw sighed and headed toward the medicine cat den. She saw Mothwing and her apprentice Willowshine healing the two toms she injured. The black one must be Smoke, and the red one? She couldn't recall Hawkeye's group of cat's giving any names away except for Smoke and Hawkeye. "Are they alright, I shouldn't have tried to seriously injure them. I was blinded in my rage," muttered Beaverclaw to herself. Mothwing heard her and mewed, "They're alright, thanks to us treating these injuries right away, they should be able to be on their way in a moon or two," Beaverclaw sighed, she wanted these cat's gone. They reminded her of her blind rage attacking Sparrowpaw, just because he didn't want to kill these cat's for what they did.

She turned to leave but stopped when she heard Willowshine mew, "Your path is a troubled one, you can either choose the path of destruction, or the path of peace and freedom," Beaverclaw shivered and padded out of the den. 'Willowshine, what are you getting at? How can I choose which path to take, when the future seems muddled and confusing? Especially since I have such confusing feelings.' Sighed Beaverclaw as she headed to the entrance. Mistystar walked up to her, "You and Stripewing are sitting vigil tonight. I bet you wish Sparrowpaw was here with you, but sadly he did not do much during the battle. He has always struggled with the battle training, I had hoped that he would show us his skills, but he only did so when someone attacked him. He never attacked first and he always would not bring harm to them unless he really had to. I wonder why?" Mistystar then padded away, looking lost in her thoughts.

Beaverclaw's appetite left her, after she had processed what she did to her clanmate. So she started her vigil early. The sun was just below the treetops signaling the oncoming night. She didn't notice Stripewing had joined her after the sunset, leaving the forest shrouded in darkness. Beaverclaw jumped out of her fur when Stripewing brushed her tail against her fur. Stripewing tried not to let her giggles escape her mouth. Beaverclaw glared at her, not that Stripewing could see her glare anyways. 'This night is going to be a long one,' Beaverclaw sighed. The night dragged one. Beaverclaw thought and thought but couldn't make any sense of her feelings and her strange dreams of a big twoleg place and the group of twolegs she often sees. Beaverclaw hissed under her breath. 'Nothing makes any sense! Why do I feel like I lost my love and also my best friend and littermate and how can I hate him at the same time!' Beaverclaw shook her head. She wasn't getting any answers by trying to solve her feelings on her own. 'I have to go to the moonpool tomorrow night'.

Suddenly the sky lightened a bit and the darkness disappeared. Beaverclaw heard some cat's paw steps come towards them. Mistystar mewed, "Your vigil is over, go and rest," Beaverclaw nodded, feeling more tired than ever. Stripewing yawned and headed over towards the warriors den. "Wait, Beaverclaw. Sparrowpaw hasn't come back, and you two would have noticed if he came through the entrance and I checked the apprentices' den, but he wasn't there. So he didn't come through the dirtplace tunnel. Do you know where he is?" asked Mistystar. Beaverclaw replied, "No. I'm worried about him, though." Mistystar sighed. Beaverclaw tensed, did Mistystar know that I had something to do with Sparrowpaw's disappearance. Mistystar purred, "Why are you so tense? Are you just worried about Sparrowpaw?" Beaverclaw mewed, "Yea," Guilt clawed at her belly, making her feel worse. She swallowed the bile that rose in her throat. "Well, I'll go to the warriors den and catch some sleep," Beaverclaw mewed. She padded into the warriors den. Three orange shells are weaved into the den. Weird, it seems like Riverclan likes celebrating how far a cat has come in their life, I just hope that I didn't kill Sparrowpaw. He's my friend. And he deserves to live with cats who understand him. Like Stripewing did and what I did not,' thought Beaverclaw as she curled up to sleep.