Chapter 2

"Misty Eyes."

1/7/18 - 1/8/18

~ Mistypaw ~

Three days later, in early September, the soil under her paws seem to crack from the pressure. The silvery, white she-cat flattens her ears, scuffing the dry dirt.

"It's been a long time since we've had rain. It would do us some good if the rain comes soon." At least that's what Sageleaf said.

Some of the greenery were shriveling up, drying out. Mistypaw spotted a finch foraging on a ground before seeing her and flying off.

When the nine-moon-old follows the fresh scent of a small animal, Mistypaw finds a dug out hole. The silvery, white she-cat couldn't see in the dark, but she can hear paws scurrying inside.

"What'cha doin'?"

Mistypaw almost leaps out of her fur, hearing Briarpaw so close to her ear. Mistypaw uses her tail to cover Briarpaw's muzzle, and ushers her sister to move toward the burrow.

The solid brown she-cat leans in to listen in the burrow. A few heartbeats pass, and Briarpaw hisses quietly.

"There's a whole nest of mice in there!"

"Really?"

"Probably." Briarpaw admits. "But I can smell 'em in there, we won't know how many unless we dig 'em out."

The prospect of digging up the prey excites Mistypaw. The moment Briarpaw places her claws on the burrow's opening, a thought comes up.

"So… There's probably a family in there."

"We won't know until we dig it."

"But what if their kits?" Mistypaw chokes up when Briarpaw looks at her strangely.

"What are you saying?"

Mistypaw flattens her ears. "I just… If we get the parents, what will happen to the mouse-kits? Will they be okay?"

"..." Briarpaw has high suspicions that Mistypaw is thinking of their parents, Mistpool and Hawkfeather. Daisyleaf told them what happened to them when they all became apprentices.

"Mice grow up faster than us. Whatever happens they'll survive."

"O-Okay." Mistypaw swallows, nodding. "Can you not tell Rainpaw about this?"

Briarpaw nods. "Let's tell our mentors what we found."

The discovery of the mouse nest caught ThunderClan's attention quickly. With Littlestar leading, Finchblaze, Bumblepaw, Windstorm, Rainpaw, Spottedberry, Blizzardpaw, Acornfall, Frostpaw, Sageleaf and Mistypaw herself pad to the location that Briarpaw leads them to.

Mistypaw feels her whiskers shake. Her leader is going to be here, participating in the raid! She could only imagine her luck getting any better, that is… If it weren't for two things.

"Would you stop thwacking your tail in my face?!" Frostpaw hisses at Rainpaw's tail, fanning to and fro below her chin.

Rainpaw scoffs.

"It's your own fault for breathing with your mouth open. What are you, a dog?"

Frostpaw narrows her eyes. "I know a word the loners used for female dogs that describes you perfectly. Would you like to hear it?"

"I don't want to hear it." Acornfall hisses at Frostpaw, her amber eyes burning. "And I certainly doubt Snowpelt or Thistlefang would be happy to hear that word, either."

Mistypaw sticks close to Sageleaf, who is further in front of her sister and Frostpaw. The moment Frostpaw and her sister, Blizzardpaw, became apprentices two days ago, Rainpaw and Frostpaw argued constantly, to which they were punished - on Frostpaw's first day as an apprentice.

Amazingly, they argued about who will pick the elder's ticks!

Just stop. Littlestar will hear you. Mistypaw mentally begs her headstrong sister.

Briarpaw stops by the burrow from before, looking up to Littlestar.

"Here it is." She says.

Littlestar dips his head and makes Briarpaw stand behind. Finchblaze, Bumblepaw, Windstorm and Rainpaw stand on the left side, and Spottedberry, Blizzardpaw, Acornfall, and Frostpaw stand on the right side.

Sageleaf, Mistypaw and Briarpaw wait behind Littlestar. This patrol is prepared to take any mouse that tries to make a getaway.

Littlestar raises his paws, his claws unsheathed. The patrol braces themselves, tensing their muscles in preparation. Littlestar digs his claws inside and scoops up the dirt, two mice shoot out of the burrow, squeaking in terror.

"Now!" Finchblaze yowls. The burrow springs to life, as mice run out from under Littlestar's underbelly only to be caught by Briarpaw. After four more mice were caught by Mistypaw and Sageleaf, one mouse runs out from the right side and is bitten by Bumblepaw, and two more mice follow suit.

Mice aren't as dumb as we thought. They have different escape routes. Mistypaw sees mice run past the left side as one gets picked off by Frostpaw.

"Mistypaw - look!"

The silvery, white she-cat catches a glimpse of grey fur dart from under her.

Mouse-dung!

Mistypaw gives chase to the escaping mouse. The silvery, white she-cat quickly presses her paw on the mouse, and sees the size of the mouse. This mouse is barely the size of her own paw, squirming from her grasp, it's ears were tiny, as were it's tail and tooth.

Mistypaw's heart sinks, realizing that this mouse was a kit.

"We won!" Rainpaw cheers from behind her back. Mistypaw's reluctance gets the best of her, she removes her paw and the baby mouse hesitates for a few heartbeats before running away, disappearing into the undergrowth.

Mistypaw turns around to return to the group when she stands face to face with a dumbfounded Rainpaw.

"Did you let that mouse go?" Rainpaw exclaims. The patrol approaches them with mice in their jaws as Rainpaw lashes her tail.

"You had it right there! Why did you let it escape?!"

"Rainpaw, stop yowling so loud." Windstorm hisses. Rainpaw whirls around to face Windstorm.

"Mistypaw let a mouse escape!"

The snarl in Rainpaw's tone makes Mistypaw shrink, and being the warriors stare is making it worse.

"Mistypaw, is it true?" Sageleaf asks her apprentice.

The silvery, white she-cat nods. "Y-Yes. It was a kit."

Littlestar sighs. "Compassion is good, but the Clan must be fed, Mistypaw."

Rainpaw snorts. "And if someone dies it's on you!"

"Oh, come off it!" Frostpaw snaps at the pale gray she-cat. "She made a mistake, so what? Look at these mice we caught!"

"And one less more!" Rainpaw throws Mistypaw a heated glare. A blustery gust of wind blows through the trees as Windstorm narrows his eyes on his apprentice.

"Rainpaw." He growls. "Mistypaw already knows what she did is wrong and is guilty enough, but having you constantly shove it down her throat won't bring that mouse back, and singling her out will do more harm to her."

"But-!"

"Rainpaw, just stop." Bumblepaw hisses softly. Mistypaw presses herself against Sageleaf for comfort, and to avoid the stares.

Windstorm points his tail at Littlestar. "You will apologize to Littlestar for your behavior."

Rainpaw frowns, scuffing her paws on the ground. "I'm sorry, Littlestar."

The small, black and white tom flicks his ear.

"Apprentices make mistakes all the time, no cat is perfect. With Leaf-fall approaching, we should thank StarClan for showing Briarpaw and Mistypaw a way to get a head start of the cold weather."

The rest of the patrol murmurs in agreement with Littlestar's words. Rainpaw is still sour, refusing to look at Mistypaw as she follows the patrol back to camp.

Frostpaw glares at the pale grey she-cat. "Stuck up-."

"Frostpaw!" Acornfall barks, cutting off Frostpaw.

Sageleaf brushes her tail on Mistypaw's flank. "It's okay. We know you made a mistake."

"... It doesn't feel like it. It was a baby."

Sageleaf didn't respond, except allow Mistypaw to stick close to her.

~ Lilacpaw ~

The dawn's blissful silence is disrupted by a long, snorting noise inside the apprentices den. Lilacpaw looks over her shoulder to a sleeping Storkpaw. The black tom is snoring so loud, and is completely unaware of Perchpaw and Oakpaw clutching their ears around him.

"This is ridiculous!" Robinpaw hisses, his yellow eyes gleaming in the dark.

Perchpaw glares at the older apprentice. "We had to deal with this everyday. Deal with it!"

"We shouldn't have to." Lilacpaw mutters. Elmpaw, who had left just after Storkpaw's snoring woke them up, returns with a newcomer.

Daisypelt squints in the dark for Storkpaw. "He's loud."

"We're aware of that." Elmpaw said.

Daisypelt looks at Perchpaw. "Would you wake him up? I've been meaning to take him out right now."

"Gladly." Perchpaw reaches over Storkpaw and covers his nose with his paw. Storkpaw whines and flails around, Perchpaw removes his paw and Storkpaw jumps up from his nest.

"Raise and shine, you big lug!" Daisypelt chirps. "We have a dawn patrol to go to, Olivestar doesn't like cats keeping her waiting."

Daisypelt leaves the den, and Storkpaw shakes his fur.

"I just had a near death experience and she didn't even blink."

"Don't tempt me." Perchpaw comments as the big, black tom exits the den. Wavepaw uncovers her ears, and sighs with obvious relief.

"Thank StarClan!"

Lilacpaw pads out the den with Perchpaw, Oakpaw and Robinpaw following behind more slowly. Brindleclaw approaches her with a pike in her jaw, placing it down for Lilacpaw.

"Have you settled in with your new denmates?"

"Storkpaw snores." Lilacpaw said before biting into the pike. Brindleclaw smiles dryly.

"That's not a nice thing to say about your denmate."

"Neither is keeping me awake at night."

Brindleclaw waits for Lilacpaw to finish eating before telling her the new assignment.

"I had a talk with Curlyfur while we were on patrol. I've arranged for you to have a mock fight with Swanpaw this sunrise."

Lilacpaw stops licking her front paw, swerving her head to face her mentor.

"This sunrise?"

"Exactly." Brindleclaw confirms. "Curlyfur has been meaning to test Swanpaw, and this will help you with fighting against an experienced opponent."

But, I don't want to be around him!

Lilacpaw bites her tongue, bowing her head obediently.

Lilacpaw follows Brindleclaw to the open grassland near the streams. Curlyfur is sitting patiently with Swanpaw staring at the edge of stream. Brindleclaw dips her head, and Curlyfur does the same as she stands up. Lilacpaw immediately takes notice of the light brown, long curly haired tabby she-cat's stomach - a bulge in her soft belly that sways in motion with her paw steps.

Lilacpaw prevents herself from smiling or asking Curlyfur. Swanpaw hadn't moved from his spot, his pale blue eyes were fixated on the stream's edge, his fur coat is standing up.

"Swanpaw! Have you taken root?" Curlyfur calls him.

The white tom looks at Curlyfur, as if he just noticed her. Swanpaw pads to her and looks at Lilacpaw - staring at her piercingly, she wishes she was somewhere else.

Brindleclaw and Curlyfur stand off to the side, Lilacpaw and Swanpaw stand face to face with one another.

"No dirty tricks, and keep your claws sheathed." Brindleclaw said. "Go!"

Swanpaw frowns, turning up his nose and looking away. Lilacpaw's temper flares up.

How dare he brush me off?!

Lilacpaw decides to make the first move. She runs towards Swanpaw. The white tom looks back at her, raising his paw to strike. Lilacpaw stops at the last minute to twist and turn, rearing her back legs to kick Swanpaw in his muzzle.

The white tom coughs, and narrows his eyes on her.

"Really?"

Lilacpaw whips her tail. "Yes, really!"

Swanpaw lunges in retaliation, grabbing Lilacpaw's shoulders and pushing her back. The pale silver tabby she-cat wrestles her way out of his grasp, and strikes Swanpaw's right muzzle.

Swanpaw falls down and rams his head in her stomach, Lilacpaw rolls over on her back. Swanpaw jumps on top of her - Lilacpaw grabs his shoulders and fastens her hind legs in his stomach and rolls them over, pinning Swanpaw down.

The white tom keeps up the momentum and rolls over again, and Lilacpaw ends up beneath the white tom.

"That's enough!"

Lilacpaw huffs in annoyance before looking at Brindleclaw.

"Very good, Lilacpaw. You held your own for a while, but it seems we still need to work on your skills."

Lilacpaw remains on her back even when Swanpaw got off, she didn't want to see his smug face… She sees a paw outstretched for her to see. Swanpaw gazes down on her expectantly.

Lilacpaw wanted to swat his paw and tell him to take a dive in the lake, but with Brindleclaw and Curlyfur watching them, she couldn't get away with it. Lilacpaw grabs his paw and sits on her haunches before standing.

Brindleclaw nods approvingly. "Let's go back."

When the two she-cats turn their back, Swanpaw's flank brushes against her own. Lilacpaw recoils with a glare. "Don't pretend to be nice."

Swanpaw's pale blue eyes widen with hurt, before hardening over.

"I wasn't. But I guess that's all I am to you."

The white tom stalks past the bewildered Lilacpaw and stops next to Curlyfur, Lilacpaw stays with Brindleclaw. Swanpaw refuses to look at her for the whole trip back.

~ Swanpaw ~

Fish-brain, fish-brain - you friggin fish-brain! Look what you did!

Swanpaw sulks by the fresh-kill pile as he sees Lilacpaw talking quietly with Heronpaw, every so often their tail tips would touch and send Swanpaw in a furious mood.

His tantrum is cut short by the sound of clicking teeth. Cinderfall settles in beside Swanpaw, pulling out a trout.

"Tough luck in the crush department?"

"Department?" Swanpaw echoes. He shakes his head, scoffing. "I'm doing just fine."

"Then why are you sitting around like an angry frog, while Lilacpaw is with another tom?"

"I'm not sitting around… I'm biding my time."

Cinderfall rolls his eyes. "Curlyfur said you were a good sport in your practice fight with her. So, why the long face?"

Swanpaw growls. "She accused me of 'pretending' to be nice."

"And were you?"

"No!" Swanpaw protests. "But that's all I am to her! How am I supposed to get it through her thick head if that's all she sees from me?"

Cinderfall tilts his head. "Being nice is a good start."

"That drowned in the lake when I shredded her brother."

"Ever heard of second chances?" Cinderfall chirps.

Swanpaw flattens his ears. "Alright then, Master of She-Cats. What do you suggest I do?"

"Like I said, be nice." Cinderfall said.

"To whom?"

Cinderfall pauses before replying. "Heronpaw should be your first try."

"I-I'm sorry, I think I have a clump of grass in my ear. You want me to be nice to him?"

"I didn't stutter."

Swanpaw fluffs up his fur. "But you're completely daft if you think I'd be civil with Heronpaw! He's-!"

"Your brother." Cinderfall reminds him, ignoring Swanpaw's hiss. "Whether you like it or not, you and Heronpaw will always be brothers, as will Shellpaw. Lucky for you, Heronpaw is the more forgiving cat. Once you get to know him, you can start off fresh, and then Lilacpaw can see you in a different perspective."

Cinderfall pushes the untouched trout toward Swanpaw, winking. "Think about it."

Swanpaw catches the glimpse of Frecklespots stalking behind Cinderfall before making herself known by coughing. Swanpaw tenses up when Cinderfall gazes at her coolly.

Cinderfall and Frecklespots seem to be sizing each other up, Swanpaw's eyes flicker back and forth between the two, uncomfortable with the silent duel.

I don't want these two together, it's way too… dangerous.

Cinderfall is very polite when dipping his head and brushing past Frecklespots. The yellow and white splotched she-cat glares at her former mate before looking at Swanpaw - her honey sweet smile and warm, yellow eyes look fake to him now.

"Was he bothering you, honey?"

"No. We were just talking."

Frecklespots tilts her head. "Oh? About what?"

Swanpaw looks at his trout. "… She-cats."

"What about she-cats? What did he want you to do?"

"To talk to them? I… I don't know!" Swanpaw shifts uncomfortably from that specific question. What else could there be?!

Frecklespots sighs. "You're still nine moons old, you shouldn't be mooning over she-cats so early in life. Especially when it's Daisypelt's daughter we're talking about."

Swanpaw's heart thumps against his chest. "Shadepaw?"

"You know who I'm referring to." Frecklespots said in a low tone. "I'm your mother, I know the little things you do to show off to her, but she still insists on choosing Fallenbird's son over you."

The mention of Fallenbird leaves a fresh sense of horror in Swanpaw as he keeps his head low. Frecklespots licks his head.

"You can do so much better than her. Trust me, you don't want to pine after a cat who won't appreciate you in the end."

With the ominous warning planting its seed in his heart, Frecklespots pads away from Swanpaw. His eyes never left the trout, given by his father. Swanpaw takes a big bite of the trout, defiant.

I'm not as hopeless as you, I refuse to be like you.