You people have no idea how hard it is to write sometimes.
I spend more time gaming than I do writing but I think you people have noticed that already a while ago. Halo is just so dang entertaining! I just don't want to write about it because it's really complex and "alien." If any of you have checked over the story archives for Halo you'll understand what I mean. (By the way Halo is rated M. Please be sure you are the correct age and that you have the mental maturity to handle playing it and reading some of the fanfics and main canon stories. Please. Take care of yourselves and follow age restrictions for me.)
I really should update more often but I just can't bring myself to. It's not just about being a gamer either. It's not just about my life and how I want to balance it. It's not about my mate. It's about what I want writing to be to me. I like writing. I like it as much as I do drawing, which is a lot. But I want it to remain that way. I want to keep liking it. I don't do it that often so the interest remains and so it doesn't feel like a chore by doing it every day. So telling me to have more updates isn't going to change the frequency in which I write. Sorry that's just how it goes so that it's best for me and so I don't shut down both of my stories completely. No one wants that outcome. If you're going to review please make it a review. You can also give me suggestions of what you want to see next in upcoming chapters or honest criticism. Just please do not ask for more updates, for StarClan's sake.
Also something I noticed that's important to this story canon wise: Raggedstar is leader in Secrets of the Clans but not in Yellowfang's Secret. Kind of odd. I'm following Secrets of the Clans obviously.
But thanks to everyone who read, fav'd and reviewed throughout this whole journey.
You'll know who Erin Hunter's characters are.
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Raggedstar's gaze burned into Brokenpaw's mind. Frozen, the tabby apprentice stared back. But Raggedstar just frowned and turned away from him. Disappointment filled Brokenpaw's belly and the apprentice found that he couldn't make himself walk.
Pawsteps thrummed behind him as Yellowfang padded up behind him with herbs in her jaws. She plopped them at Brokenpaw's forepaws and gave him a sympathetic glance. Brokenpaw glared furiously at her.
This is my problem mousebrain! Herbs don't make warriors!
Much to his surprise, Yellowfang stepped closer to Brokenpaw and put her flattened, herb-specked muzzle to his ear.
"I can teach you how to hunt. I used to be a warrior before StarClan called me to be a medicine cat." The medicine cat whispered. Brokenpaw twitched irritably.
"I don't need you to teach me. I need to be a warrior!" Brokenpaw hissed back. Yellowfang didn't withdraw.
"At least eat that lavender," the grey she cat said beckoning towards the dried flower tips at Brokenpaw's feet, "they'll calm you down."
Then Yellowfang left through the ferns and brambles that covered her den. Runningpaw pushed passed her with an undignified scramble towards the elder's den. Brokenpaw just looked at him with jealousy.
He'll be getting his medicine cat name soon. Before I'll get my warrior name!
As soon as most of the clan was out of sight, Brokenpaw tore his claws into the lavender petals. His claws dragged moist dirt over them and sliced up the delicate leaves leaving nothing but an herby pulp in the soil. Growling, the tabby tom stomped on ruined herbs till his pads throbbed. Then he bounded out of camp in frustration. Brokenpaw crashed through the brambles and reeds that lined the territory and let his paws carry him. Pines whirred past his whiskers and he leapt over rocks and ditches. The woods thinned and thinned until he reached a clearing with strip of flat, grey and yellow stone.
Panting, the dark tabby skidded to a halt before touching the stone thunderpath.
I'll show Raggedstar! I'll show Yellowfang too! I'll show Dawnstar and all of StarClan! I'll take on all of ThunderClan's warriors and win. Then Raggedstar will have to make me a warrior.
Brokenpaw darted across the thunderpath, his claws scratching to grip the smooth stone. Once he made it to the other side he paused, scenting the border marks and ThunderClan drenched land. Satisfied that he made it across the border safely, Brokenpaw squeezed through the undergrowth and brush further into ThunderClan's territory.
I'll take ThunderClan's freshkill too.
Dodging trees and hopping streams, Brokenpaw ventured further. To him, the trees just got thicker and thicker and the brush and undergrowth grew with more and more brambles. Suddenly, rocks jumped out of thin air and tripped up his paws. Growling in frustration, the tabby got back up to his paws and looked around. Nothing seemed familiar. Trees and flowering plants of all kinds surrounded him in all directions. Sounds and squawks from nearby birds echoed off the ground. Squirrels chattered above the tree tops and around the brambles. Brokenpaw quickly shut his eyes in desperation. Feeling choked and claustrophobic, the apprentice ran forward blindly. His paws and whiskers guided him out of the maze of forest.
Brokenpaw opened his eyes. Sunlight filtered through his blinking, amber eyes. Much to his surprise, the trees thinned and the brambles stopped rubbing at his paws. The ground flattened and grass stubbed out. A river was in view with smooth grey stones littering the banks. Brokenpaw scented the air, but instead of smelling the musky, woody scent of ThunderClan, he smelled running water and fish along with another scent he didn't recognize.
Where am I? This isn't ThunderClan's camp.
The brown tabby jumped atop the stones.
The height will give me a better view of the area.
He drove his gaze around the flattened earth. Nothing stirred. No cats thrummed through the undergrowth or beneath the rocks by the river and trees studded the forested ground away from the banks. Brokenpaw jumped down from the stone he stood on. His paws hit the earth with a satisfying thud. Then, a yowl tore through his ears as he was barreled over and shoved to the ground!
Brokenpaw shoved back with his claws unsheathed and gave his attacker a swipe across the chest. Fur fell from the apprentice's blow. Brokenpaw looked up to see a tortoise shell she cat stagger away from him.
An apprentice.
Brokenpaw crouched, readying himself to lunge at the she cat and claw her belly, but before he knew it he was pinned to the ground again. The tabby tom looked up to see a heavily muscled grey and white tom. Snarling, the grey and white cat gave Brokenpaw a vicious bite to the neck. Yowling, Brokenpaw kicked at the tom with his hind legs, desperately trying to scratch his belly with his hind claws. But the grey cat didn't release the tabby. Brokenpaw swiped at his enemy's muzzle. With a hiss the grey tom let up on Brokenpaw. Blood dripped painfully from Brokenpaw's neck when he lifted his head up to look at the grey cat. The tabby apprentice rushed forward and ducked low to cut his opponent's belly and flanks. But the tom dodged and grabbed Brokenpaw's fur! Stunned, Brokenpaw thrashed around to free himself, but to no avail. The grey cat flung the apprentice across the earth into the hard, dusty ground. Then he turned and growled to the tortoise shell cat.
"Spottedpaw, tell Sunstar that ShadowClan is in our territory."
With that, Spottedpaw streaked through the trees and was soon unseen.
Horrified, Brokenpaw scrambled up to his paws and ran. With a battle yowl the grey and white tom hurried after him. The tabby could feel his pursuer take swipes and nips at his heels and tail as he struggled to get to the border. But suddenly the grey cat drew back. Brokenpaw stopped and looked behind him but the tom was nowhere to be seen. The only things around Brokenpaw were trees and plant growth. Birds and squirrels continued to chatter and squawk above him. The territory went on as if the grey cat had never set paw on it. But in all the calmness, Brokenpaw's fur rippled on his spine.
Something's not right here.
Multiple yowls sounded out of the brush cover when Brokenpaw finally understood what was happening! Cats from all directions pounced on him and squashed the breath out of the dark tabby. Claws raked at his pelt and teeth sunk into his tail and ears. Brokenpaw struggled to fight back and swiped at a nearby cat's muzzle. Blue-grey fur tore off with his claws as the cat hissed at him and bit his shoulder. Then a spikey furred black cat rammed into his flank and sent him flying into a bramble bush! Quickly untangling his limbs from the vines Brokenpaw broke into a sprint. He ran faster to get ahead of the paw steps thrumming behind him.
Then a paw tripped the tabby apprentice and he fell forward with an undignified thud against the hard ground. He looked up to see the grey and white cat again! The tom's spiky fur bristled and his fangs showed, giving a menacing appearance. But the cat withdrew when a voice sounded.
"Thistleclaw, look for more ShadowClan warriors! Bluefur will take care of the apprentice!"
"It looks like you'll have to wait for your first scars, kit." Thistleclaw snarled. Brokenpaw bared his teeth back in weak defiance when Thistleclaw stalked away. But the grey cat was quickly replaced by a blue-grey she cat! She exploded from the undergrowth hissing and slashing. Brokenpaw soon found himself pinned down by the haunches! The blue cat cut his flanks and back legs as she let Brokenpaw escape. The tabby apprentice pushed and shoved through thick weeds in a vain attempt to escape from the blue she cat. Effortlessly, the she cat was bounding by his side, nipping his flanks and wounded shoulder. Brokenpaw let out a cry as pain swept through all corners of his body and even more so when he tried to speed up.
Unnoticed, the area began to thin and the trees widened in spacing. A clearing was in view and the Thunderpath roared in the distance. The blue cat continued to pummel Brokenpaw up towards the smooth stone path. Feeling his energy drain, Brokenpaw desperately trudged forward but then stopped with his back facing the Thunderpath and its roaring monsters. The blue cat stared at him straight in the eyes, her blue eyes sparking with adrenaline from the chase.
"My name's Bluefur, you ShadowClan mouseheart. Now get off ThunderClan land!" The blue cat snarled as she shoved Brokenpaw across the Thunderpath with her body and claws. Brokenpaw skidded across the smooth stone and onto the rough grass of the ShadowClan border. He hit his head on nearby earth with a sickening thack when he tumbled across! The tabby struggled to stand and keep his eyes opened. He collapsed into the grass, but could see Bluefur staring across the Thunderpath in satisfaction. Soon a bright orange cat padded up beside her.
"Well done defending the territory, Bluefur. When we get back you need to organize a patrol for the RiverClan border in case they decided to invade while we were gone."
Brokenpaw's eyes drooped and the last thing he saw was the orange cat lead away Bluefur back further into ThunderClan territory.
