A/N
Either Thornsnag has problems, or he's up to something with Hawkpaw. The next chapter will be theAllegiances.
And Guest(Amberfoot7) is the only one, the first one, to review what Jaypaw said to Hawkpaw by the river. As the prize requested, you receive a Hawkpaw plushie! *fanfare*
EDIT: Well, I felt the need to update the text. You're welcome.
"Hawkpaw," Thornsnag sighed as the black she cat padded up to him. She gave him a sly smirk and lazily dragged her tail over his shoulders and let out leasing growl. He shuddered. She locked her eyes into his blue-green ones. "Thornsnag, I-"
Thornsnag woke up with a frown. His dream always ended like that. He rolled over, but some sort of lump was in the way. He turned his head around to see Hawkpaw, sleeping soundly. He smiled softly.
He silently got up and stretched. Jaypaw entered the den and scowled at Thornsnag already being there. Thornsnag immaturely stuck out his tongue and licked Hawkpaw's ears. "Hmm? Wha," she moaned, half-asleep. Jaypaw drew back his lips in the beginnings of a snarl, his normal friendly eyes glaring ice at Thornsnag.
"Thornsnag, I'm really bored, toss me that moss ball?" Hawkpaw asked, giving a mock sad face and ignoring Jaypaw purposely. Thornsnag rolled his eyes and gently nosed the moss to her. She rolled it back. He rolled it back. Jaypaw faked a gagging noise and stormed out in frustration. They played this game for what seemed like hours.
"I really have to go, Hawkpaw," Thornsnag mewed. She frowned and groaned. Cardinalpaw and her brothers trotted in.
"They'll keep you busy," he assured her and left to hunt, his powerful muscles rippling beneath his chocolate fur. Hawkpaw craned her neck to catch a final glimpse of him.
"You remember me, right?" Pinepaw asked, his green eyes timid.
Hawkpaw looked at him. "Yes! I do!" The siblings' eyes lit up. "You're from last night, Pinepaw, Rainpaw, Cardinalpaw, right?" Hawkpaw asked.
The apprentices' eyes dulled again. "Umm, yeah, totally," Rainpaw chuckled falsely, rolling his pale green eyes and chewed at a claw absentmindedly.
Cardinalpaw dropped a rabbit at Hawkpaw's paws. "Here, your favorite," she offered but Hawkpaw snorted.
"What? I love sparrows, not rabbits," she snapped. Cardinalpaw gave a meek nod and flicked her tail for them to leave. Hawkpaw shrugged. When's Thornsnag gonna be back? She wondered. These cats know nothing of me!
...
Thornsnag stared up at the huge oak tree from the day before. He smiled. This tree made my happiest wishes come true, he thought in joy. The scent of prey wafted to him. Pheasant. A wide grin spread across his face. If I bring this back to camp, everyone will love me! It'll feed the queens and elders of a whole quarter moon! He lowered himself to the soft grass below him and slithered across. The pheasant was pecking at a clump of seeds.
He gave a shaky sigh. He crawled forward. The pheasant looked up in alarm. He froze. It hesitantly went back to eating the seeds.
Thornsnag pounced towards it, missing it by a whisker. He hissed and chased after it. He lunged on an unfolding wing of the pheasant, and bit its neck. He felt triumph wash over him. Then, an odd feeling replaced it. A feeling of being out place. He ignored it. The clan would love me, they'll see. I can be good. Thornsnag convinced himself, but his negative thoughts spoke louder than his cheerful ones. You don't belong in ThunderClan. It's in your blood. It burns your insides and everyone looks at you different because you're like him. Like your father! The voice mocked.
Thornsnag dropped the pheasant and clamped his paws over his ears. "Shut up, shut up, shut up!" He screeched, gritting his teeth. "I'm not like that! I'm nothing like him! ThunderClan is... my home. They will appreciate this catch."
...
Mintpaw raced into the medicine den, a joyful look on her face. "Didn't you hear?" She yipped. Hawkpaw tilted her head. She crawled near the entrance, painfully dragging her leg behind her. She saw a circle of cats, surrounding someone else.
"Hey, hey, whoa," a voice stuttered, a striped tail lashing in the air. Thornsnag's voice. He sounded stressed. Hawkpaw strained to hear what the cats were saying.
"Whoa, did you catch that?!" A cream she cat with grey paws mewed in awe.
"Heh, yes," Thornsnag comfirmed, looking cocky. His blue-green eyes held a different emotion, but Hawkpaw couldn't place it.
A flame colored tom howled in delight. "That's amazing, Thornsnag!" Jaypaw was sitting near the medicine den and he spotted Hawkpaw.
"Hey," he mumbled as she dragged herself over to Jaypaw.
"Shut up and tell me what happened!" She growled.
Wow, she's turned into a mini-Thornsnag. Brilliant. And to think I, I liked her. He thought bitterly. "Thornsnag caught a pheasant." He plainly mewed. Hawkpaw nodded and decided to wait in the medicine den, but Smokestar yowled his call for a ThunderClan meeting. Hawkpaw limped back out.
"Thornsnag caught us a pheasant. The first bites will go to the elders, then-" a loud snort make Smokestar glare at the whole clearing.
"No way." Sniffed Mallowtail, the oldest cat in ThunderClan. "Let the kits munch on it, we're all fine." He assured.
Thornsnag shrugged and made his way to Hawkpaw. "Hello," he enunciated. Jaypaw let a low growl escape.
"I brought food." He picked her up by the scruff and had the ginger tom apprentice carry the bird to the medicine den.
...
"Yum! Pheasant is great!" Hawkpaw mewed, talking through the mouthful of bird. Thornsnag let out a mrrrow of laughter. Jaypaw watched enviously from a distance.
Hawkpaw swallowed. "I wish I could remember more about my past, Jaypaw seems hurt, but I don't know what we were back then." She hung her head in guilt while Thornsnag licked her forehead, trying to sooth her, and working. "You're the best, Thornsnag. In fact, I might just-" Jaypaw suddenly barged in, interrupting whatever Hawkpaw was about to say.
"Hey, just gonna let ya know that two apprentices wanna introduce themselves." He grumbled as a flame colored tom and a cream she cat with grey paws walked in.
"I'm Flamepaw," the tom said, "before you fell, we never met, so you didn't miss anything." He chuckled. He was almost as tall and muscular as Thornsnag, but still retained a younger look.
The she cat dipped her head. "I'm sorry about your accident. I'm Lightpaw. We met once when you'd just become an apprentice, but nothing more." She meowed. Hawkpaw reintroduced herself to them and they left, along with an angry Jaypaw.
"I'll be right back," Thornsnag assured Hawkpaw as he tailed Jaypaw.
Jaypaw was sitting near the entrance to the dirt place, staring at the stars. His jay-blue eyes were closed, but tears stained his face. "Ahem," Thornsnag coughed rudely to get his attention. Jaypaw looked up, a snarl on his face when he saw Thornsnag.
"What're you doing here?" He growled, turning his back on the warrior. Thornsnag padded in front of him. "To talk about Hawkpaw," he mewed simply. Jaypaw's nose twitched, revealing the apprentice meant something.
"I know you like her! You can't deny it! I saw you, by the river on the WindClan border, rapidly tell her you like her! And she did too! Not my fault she fell," he hissed at Jaypaw. For once the white tom didn't look frightened at all, despite normally being jumpy.
Jaypaw bore his fangs at Thornsnag and circled him.
"You're just jealous that Hawkpaw likes me!" Jaypaw taunted, and the warrior was growling at the younger tom.
"Am not, she hated me! How could I have feelings for her? Besides, she treats you like crow food now." Thornsnag retorted and he left the bristling apprentice alone.
Thornsnag stormed out of camp, his swirling thoughts making him want to scream. He looked around to make sure no one had followed him, and wriggled his way through a holly bush, which masked a secret tunnel. He dove in, his claws giving him traction as he entered the large center cave. He sat down, wrapping his tail over his paws, and waited.
"Sorry I'm late," a voice called out. Thornsnag's face grew sorrowful when he saw the cat approach him. He couldn't help but purr sadly.
"Thistlefur, I need to tell you something," Thornsnag's voice cracked. The mysterious tom's face grew concerned.
"Thornsnag, what ever it is, it'll be okay," the dusty grey mottled tom assured him, moving in for a hug but Thornsnag pulled away. Thistlefur flinched back in surprise.
"I-I met someone. A she cat. I've liked her for a while now," Thornsnag swallowed roughly. "I can't met you here anymore."
Thistlefur's face softened. "It's because you've finally let go." He laughed loudly. "That's good. After all, I am dead."
Thornsnag let out a choked sob, struggling not to cry. "I-I think I'm happy. She makes me happy. Like you did. And like Ivypaw did. Before..."
"Before we died," Thistlefur finished, clearly not bothered by the fact. Thornsnag nodded, breaking down completely.
"I don't want to let go!" He sobbed, crumpling down to the cold, stone floor and squeezing his eyes shut. Thistlefur leaned down, embracing Thornsnag in a final hug.
"No worries, Thornsnag," Thistlefur purred. "No ones does. But it's unhealthy. Goodbye, Thornsnag."
Thornsnag opened his eyes, scramling to grab hold of his former mentor, but the starry cat slipped through his claws. He cried until he passed out.
(Apparently past me had a time skip by two moons so here)
Redbreeze guided Hawkpaw outside, the rush and other herbs off her broken leg. She was relearning to walk. Thornsnag watched from a distance. "Ok, you know, don't put too much weight on it, but you're free to go." Redbreeze confirmed.
"Yes! Finally! Did you hear that, Thornsnag?! I can train!" She yowled in joy, and he pelted over to her with a gentle smile and gleaming eyes.
"Yes, I did, let's explore!" He mewed and bumped her nose gently, their pelts brushing against each other and their tails seemed to dance around each other.
Smokestar was peering at his daughter from inside his den with a peculiar look on his face.
...
"Here, we can sit," Hawkpaw's mentor told her as they neared a tall oak tree. She breathed a sigh of relief when she sat down.
"This's the tree you fell from. Maybe it'll bring anything back," he mewed and his apprentice gazed blankly at the oak. She shook her head, then a fallen branch caught her eye. She let out a short gasp.
(Memory flash, of Hawkpaw)
I saw the sparrow, so close, yet, so far. Falling would be scary. That's an understatement, I thought. I carefully placed one paw in front of the other, softly and lightly. I pounced with all my force and chomped the sparrow's neck. I grinned pridefully down at my mentor, and saw that Jaypaw was there too. Oh, cool, he saw me catch it too. I thought, wait, why're their faces look so- I was confused for a heartbeat before the branch under me broke and I fell, my head smacking the ground and sheer, pure pain surging thought my hind right leg.
"I remember falling now," Hawkpaw mewed, her voice trembling, "the look on Jaypaw's face. Like," she gulped, "like he truly cared. Yours too, Thornsnag. You both looked so scared, horrified." She shivered. A pang of something struck Thornsnag right in the heart. What, what's this? Guilt? He questioned himself.
He rasped his tongue over Hawkpaw's chest, ears and neck. She began purring very loudly.
"It's ok, hush, ok," Thornsnag soothed her, pushing the guilt aside. Her feeling for me are true. I have nothing to feel bad about... right? Thistlefur told me to move on. I do love her. I admit it. I love Hawkpaw.
"Let's walk by the river, the ground will be soft, it rained lightly last night." He mewed, standing up and clearing his thoughts as he shook his head. I love her...
...
"Wow, the light reflects off the river and there's all kinds of colors!" Hawkpaw exclaimed in awe. She leaned over closer, trying to get a better look. The soft ground slipped from under her and she fell backwards in the river, seeing the frightened look on Thornsnag's face.
Droplets of water burst from where she fell, spraying the young warrior. "Hawkpaw? Hawkpaw?!" He hissed, his voice breaking.
She felt herself falling, deeper and deeper. Yet, she wasn't scared. A starry outline of a cat was next to her. She was a pale ginger with white flecks. Fawnkit. Her sister that died during the worst Leaf-bare. "Hawkpaw, c'mon, don't be stupid," she scolded. Am I dead? She frantically assumed, panicking in her mind. "No, just, asleep. Now, first things first. How do you feel about Jaypaw?" She asked.
"Who?" She mewed, then remembered the odd white tom with the blue eyes and black chest. "Oh, him, he's a tad clingy and weird." She grumbled.
Fawnkit frowned. "Thornsnag?" She ventured and Hawkpaw felt her ears grow warm.
"He's my mentor! I, well, he's," she stammered, and Fawnkit had a sly smirk on her face.
"Lemme show you something," she offered and Hawkpaw's vision went black. When it cleared she was floating above her ThunderClan camp. Jaypaw was sitting in his nest. It was clumpy and messy.
Bits of black fur was stuck in half the nest. Jaypaw was sitting on the oppose side of the other nest. "Go on, give the other half a sniff," Fawnkit encouraged. Hawkpaw silently padded down and scented the scraps of fur.
It barely, faintly scented of, well, her. Tears were beginning to stream down his cheeks. He sniffed, "Hawkpaw, I miss you," he murmured.
Hawkpaw covered her muzzle with her paw. "My StarClan," she muttered, and Fawnkit mewed, "now focus on his thoughts," Hawkpaw was puzzled but she touched her nose to his.
(Jaypaw's thoughts/memories)
"Mommy! Where are the new kits? I wanna meet them!" Jaykit squeaked. A pale grey she cat hushed him gently and she twitched her ears in the direction of a sleeping queen, five kits suckling.
Jaykit silently squealed. "Cute!" Jaykit whispered. He tip-toed to the kits. A tiny, silky furred, black she cat caught his attention. She turned around, and he saw her fluffy white chest. But that wasn't all Jaykit saw. She squeezed her eyes, when suddenly they opened. A sharp, heather red. He gasped, but not in fear, or anything. "
Pretty! My eyes are just a simple blue." Jaykit grumbled. My mother padded up to me.
"Hush, you're-" she stopped when she saw the she cat he was looking at.
The ginger queen began to stir. "Oh! Silverfoot, Jaykit, what's the matter?"
She stopped when her kit turned to her with her big, ruby eyes. She gasped. "That. Cannot be my kit! Her, her eyes!" She shrieked. She pushed the kit away with a hind paw.
Silverfoot gaped at the queen. "Gingerroot! That's your kit, you just can't-"
Gingerroot growled, cutting Silverfoot off. "Her eyes are horrid!"
Silverfoot sniffed. "Fine, but at least nurse her. She didn't do anything bad." Jaykit's mother persuaded the ginger queen. Gingerroot hissed under her breath. "Fine, but I will do nothing else," she grumbled.
"Gingerroot?" Jaykit mumbled.
The queen looked at him. "Yes?"
What're their names?" Jaykit asked kindly, yet excitedly.
"Fawnkit, the pale ginger she cat with white flecks, Cardinalkit, the bright ginger she cat, Pinekit, the mottled tabby tom, Rainkit, the dark blue grey tom." Gingerroot responded, leaving out the runt's name. Jaykit frowned. "What about her?" He questioned sadly, nudged the one with red eyes.
"I said I'd just nurse her. She's lucky to have the leader as a father." She retorted. Jaykit's frown widened.
"Then can I? Name her?" He ventured, a smile beginning to form.
"Whatever," groaned the new queen, nuzzling her head under her paws.
"Hmm," Jaykit thought, "I got it! She'll be called Hawkkit. Because hawks have sharp eyes for spotting prey and her eyes are sharp."
(Back to real)
"Hawkpaw, don't you see? About Jaypaw?" Fawnkit urged. Hawkpaw shrugged shakily. "N-no, he's just an old friend apparently." She stuttered. Fawnkit groaned and rolled her hazel eyes. "Again."
(Jaypaw's thoughts/memories)
"Hmm? No! Don't! Keep away!" Hawkkit screamed in her sleep.
Jaypaw darted in and hushed her gently. Hawkkit fluttered her eyes open, her pupils narrowed and wild. She unsheathed her claws.
"No, no, no, it's me, Jaypaw, it's me," he soothed.
She let out a trembling sigh. "Dream, just a dream," she panted. I settled in close to her.
"It's ok, I'll always be here for you. No matter what."
(Back to real)
"Now? Do you see? He's depressed you don't remember him!" Fawnkit hissed. Hawkpaw had tears beginning to sting her eyes. "Toms," Hawkpaw muttered stubbornly. Fawnkit groaned loudly. "Again!"
(Jaypaw's thoughts/memories)
Jaypaw was crying silently near a grey she cat's limp body. The scent of greencough lingered near her. He sniffled. A tail linked with his own.
Jaypaw turned to see Hawkkit, smiling sadly at me. "I understand. Losing someone you love is hard. Fawnkit was the only one who cared to listen. Silverfoot is in StarClan. She was more like my mother than Gingerroot could be." She comforted him. He smiled at her.
If only you knew, Jaypaw thought, while faking a smile to cover up my true feelings.
...
Hawkpaw stared lonelily at her paws.
He gave her ears a few comforting licks. "Don't worry, just cause you can swim and ThunderClan can't, doesn't mean that we'll hate you, you're just, different." Jaypaw meowed softly in her ear.
Hawkpaw pulled away, her red eyes half blazing with anger and and the other half with hurt. "Jaypaw! I don't wanna be different! I just wanna fit in! Be like everyone else. My eyes already prevent me from that, and now I can swim?! Perfect!" She growled, but it seemed like her heart wasn't in it.
Jaypaw flattened my ears. "I-I'm sorry, Hawkpaw. I just meant you're, um, uh, meant you're just," his words got more and more incoherent with every word and the last word was barely above the sound of a cloud passing by.
"What was that, Jaypaw? Didn't quite catch that." Hawkpaw said, tilting her head to one side.
He took a huge breath and mewed at possibly the most fastest way of mewing, "IsaidthatImeantyourereallyspecialandIkindasortamaybelikeyou." His blue eyes widened with surprise. I involuntary said that?! He clamped his tail over his muzzle to prevent more secrets from escaping.
Hawkpaw stared blankly at me for at least three seconds before, "Oh my StarClan! Jaypaw I do to!" She mewed happily, twirling her thin, black tail around his puffy, white one.
A glow of familiar blue-green eyes glinted sadly and jealously from a bush.
(Back to real)
"Now?! Sheesh, you're so stubborn, do you see it?" Fawnkit groaned, getting impatient.
Hawkpaw gave a half-nod. "Y-yes, I do see it. Does that mean I'm supposed to be with Jaypaw?
"Oh, just wait," she mewed slyly. "You'll never expect it."
Hawkpaw's vision blacked again.
She saw the river where she fell. Thornsnag was panting in fear. He was kneading at the ground, as if he was deciding something. Fawnkit's face had a slightly scared look on her face. "Why? What's the matter? Wait, I didn't get it. Why can I remember you?" She asked, but a loud splash interrupted her. Thornsnag jumped in the river!
Fawnkit looked at her sister. "Cause I let you remember." She groaned, "it's simple."
Thornsnag held his breath. He let it out and began kneading the ground. ThunderClan cats don't and can't swim. But you're not ThunderClan. A voice teased him. He pushed it away. I'd do anything for her. Here goes everything I've worked for. He leapt in, the water surrounding him, kinda scaring him with the all to familiarness, but he forced himself on. Hawkpaw's body was sort of hovering.
Not floating up or sinking down. He was confused but he gripped his apprentice's scruff and thrashed his paws in front of him. But he was sinking down, not going up. His heart started beating faster at the thought of dying, he wasn't ready! He was scared. Hawkpaw was on the verge of crying again.
She couldn't let her mentor die! He chomped his scruff and whispered, "Swim," his eyes shot open, but he threw his paws in front of him and kicked his back legs. Hawkpaw was actually swimming for him. Or so she thought.
He gasped for air when Hawkpaw pulled him up.
He licked Hawkpaw's chest to get her to cough up the water. How's he know that? She wondered, but her vision started to flicker.
Fawnkit gazed sorrowfully at her sister. "He's waking you up. His sister is the medicine cat. Of course she'd blab something medical to him." Thornsnag licked her neck and then her muzzle. He groaned.
Fawnkit fixed her eyes on Hawkpaw. "Go, but remember what I showed you." She urged Hawkpaw.
Hawkpaw sputtered the water, choking. A smile lit up on his face. "You're okay! I'm so glad! I thought you drowned cause I heard your voice guide me back to the surface." His voice mumbled on the last few words, his super rare shyness showing.
Thornsnag began rasping his tongue all over her to dry her off. As they made it back to camp, Hawkpaw was thinking about what Fawnkit said. Ok, fine Fawnkit. If Jaypaw's nest has my fur in it, I'll believe what you showed me. She taunted in her mind. She still was confused about knowing how Fawnkit was her sister that died during a horrible Leaf-bare. She limped over to the apprentice den. Jaypaw was sulkily sitting in his nest.
Hawkpaw hobbled over to him. "J-Jaypaw?" She stammered as he looked up and shook a black scrap of fur from his white paw. "Yes?" He asked monotonically. His bright blue eyes, weren't so bright. They were duller than a stormy sky on a Leaf-bare day. "Tell me about when we were kits. I'd like to know." She mewed, sitting down next to him.
They talked nearly all day. He told her about the time he took her outside the camp when she was a kit and he was an apprentice just that day. They were cleaning ticks off elders for a whole quarter moon. "Seriously?!" Hawkpaw giggled in disbelief. Jaypaw was cracking up but he nodded.
"As all of you know, tonight is the Gathering." Smokestar announced to his clan. Excited mummers flew around the cats. "The cats attending are, myself, Cloudclaw, Shadefur, Blackpelt, Flarestorm, Mouseclaw, Snowwing, Thornsnag, Pinepaw, Lightpaw, Hawkpaw, Mallowtail, and Hailfall." He called and the chosen cats grabbed prey from the pile.
Lightpaw dashed over to Hawkpaw. "First time, huh?" She asked, excitement bursting from her. Hawkpaw gave an eager nod. Thornsnag pelted over to Hawkpaw. "I'll be with you every pawstep of the way." He eagerly meowed and he gave her a thrush and the chosen ones set off.
A muscular black tom with pale ginger paws and a white muzzle looked at Hawkpaw curiously. He blinked but left, and leapt on the branch for RiverClan. So, he's the RiverClan leader. Pinepaw nudged Hawkpaw. "I'm your brother, just so you know. I'm gonna meet some cats." And then, like a bird being stalked, he was gone. Hawkpaw shrugged. A pale grey tom with darker grey stripes and ambery eyes was staring at Hawkpaw. She flashed him a smile, but he looked in the opposite direction. Again, she shrugged. Toms were weird.
Jaypaw sighed. I can't be like this forever, Shadefur gave me a quarter moon off cause he knew about Hawkpaw. He convinced himself. I'll confess to Hawkpaw when she gets back. I'll- a screech stopped his thoughts and the stench of ShadowClan hit him. ShadowClan was attacking! He left the den and saw basically everyone fighting. Rainpaw and Cardinalpaw were fighting a big tom together, Flamepaw was beating a ShadowClan apprentice, Squirrelnose was defending the nursery, Nightbreeze was fighting another warrior, and Mintpaw and Redbreeze were treating Leaftail.
Jaypaw tackled another apprentice, small, probably new. She spun, trying to get a hit on Jaypaw, but he was faster. He slashed the apprentice's sides, yanked her tail then bit hard on her ear, ripping it. That'll teach you to mess with ThunderClan, and that'll defiantly scar. The apprentice shrieked and fled her tail tucked between her legs and blood streaming down her face from her ear.
He smirked. He was- "oof!" He exclaimed as someone barreled into him. A tortoiseshell she cat, warrior by the looks.
A black she cat pulled the tortoiseshell off Jaypaw. Nightbreeze. "Well, well, why don't you pick on some one ya own size?" Nightbreeze pounced on the she cat and they fought with tooth and claw. He panted.
He had scratches everywhere, but he kept pouncing on the enemy. Cardinalpaw was hardly hurt as Rainpaw was protecting her. He was dripping with blood from nearly everywhere.
He had a deep nick in his right ear, a deeper wound on his underbelly and many more. "Cardinalpaw, go warn the rest of the clan, we're losing!" He hissed to the ginger she cat. She didn't move, and Jaypaw growled, "now!" She half nodded and sped off.
Rainpaw's paws nearly crumbled beneath him. Jaypaw rushed over and steadied him. "C'mon, let's get you to Redbreeze," he murmured, helping a nearly unconscious Rainpaw. Redbreeze gaped at the blue grey tom. "My!" Mintpaw exclaimed, darting over to him. "Get him here, now!" Redbreeze ordered.
"I'm going to fight, tell me if he's alright, I have to-" an arrival yowl stopped him from continuing.
Reinforcements had arrived! Jaypaw dashed out and saw Cloudclaw battling the WindClan deputy, Stagstrike. Pinepaw lunged in to fight alongside his sister. Thornsnag fought beside Hawkpaw and Jaypaw leaped in to join them. Hawkpaw stared at Jaypaw in surprise with her heather red eyes. She shook her head and slashed a tom's muzzle.
Smokestar was fiercely battling with the leader of WindClan, Fallenstar. She gave an evil grin and Smokestar was about to slice her underbelly when she ripped his throat. He hoarsely gasped, gave a choking sound, and went limp. Hawkpaw screamed. "Dad, Smokestar?! No!" She hissed, but before she could attack, a flash of striped blue grey fur flew at Fallenstar.
Rainpaw.
He rolled her over on her back and sliced her underbelly, blood pouring from it. She lifted her head, howling in pain, then Rainpaw took his chance. He bit her neck and snapped it. He hissed his victory. A large gash was visible on his left side, near his belly, one on his flank, and one near his neck. The others were small. Smokestar gasped loudly and saw his son on top of Fallenstar.
Fallenstar silently breathed in through her nose and a smile formed on her face. Smokestar leapt towards the leader, but Fallenstar unsheathed a huge paw and raked her long claws across Rainpaw's face.
He hissed loudly in pain, and collapsed next to the leader, limp. His eyes widened. A growing blood pool formed around Rainpaw. Hawkpaw cried out in terror. Just as she was about to lunge, Jaypaw held her back. "You can't, she'll kill you," he mewed, his voice wavering.
Smokestar pounced at Fallenstar, but she flung him off and howled a retreat. Rainpaw was still on the ground, the grass around him stained red with blood. "Redbreeze?! It's Rainpaw, he's in trouble," called Pinepaw, and the red she cat ran out of the den, the grey apprentice behind her.
Rainpaw was coughing blood. "I'm, I'm, I'm f-fine," he choked.
"Oh, oh, no you're not!" Hissed the older she cat. "Get his hind legs I got his scruff," Redbreeze ordered sternly. Mintpaw gripped Rainpaw's back legs and got them in her jaws. Redbreeze got his scruff and carried him into her den.
...
"We couldn't-" Redbreeze began, but Hawkpaw suddendly started bawling.
"He's dead?! He can't be!" She protested. Redbreeze rolled her eyes.
"That's," she gave an exhausted sigh. "Let me finish," she sighed again. "His face, you may not like what you see, it's-" Mintpaw dashed out.
"I'm losing him Redbreeze!" She gasped. Smokestar burst in, screaming to see his son. Rainpaw was hacking and coughing.
"He's not even a warrior yet!" Pinepaw hissed softly.
"He will." Smokestar assured his other son.
"I, Smokestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has fought hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. By the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Rainpaw, from this moment you will be known as Scarface."
Smokestar padded out. Hawkpaw and her siblings glared at their father.
"He's your son! How could you name him that?" Hawkpaw snapped. He dully gazed at Hawkpaw.
"StarClan had taken him from me. He shall have that name so StarClan may feel guilt." He growled and stalked off. Hawkpaw didn't even know why he named him that, then she knew. Scarface had scars nearly everywhere. Four down his right side, three down his left, under his muzzle and over his eyes. His left eyes was scratched out, open and the scar went over the eye and the rest of the scar given by Fallenstar barely missed his right eye, and that eye was closed.
(The next day...)
Hawkpaw was watching Scarface for the whole day. "Wha..." He groaned.
"Rainpaw!" She exclaimed happily, almost crying. She buried her face into his fur.
"Hm?" He muttered. He blinked both eyes.
"StarClan! Starclan, help me! I can't see!" He screamed, "well, I can, but I can't. Only in my right eye I can see! What's wrong with me, Hawkpaw?!" He cried, tears falling the droplets of rain from his eyes. "I'm still Rainpaw!" He protested to no one.
Hawkpaw hung her head. "Only, you're not." She guided him to the puddle in the back of the medicine den. He moaned lightly when he saw himself. He drew his tail over his face. Anger lit up in his good eye.
The soft green turning to a raging green. "If I'm not Rainpaw, then who am I?" He growled. Hawkpaw decided to explain. "Then, when father thought you would die, he made you a warrior." She paused.
He stopped looking hurt about his looks. "I'm a warrior?! What am I? Rainclaw? Fang? Cloud?" He eagerly asked.
Hawkpaw was silent. "You're called Scarface," she murmured to her brother. The hurt on his face returned, but worse.
"Scarface? Why, why would father call me that?" He grumbled softly.
Hawkpaw lied her tail on his scarred shoulder. "He said, and I quote, 'StarClan had taken him from me. He shall have that name so StarClan may feel guilt.' He thought you were going to die, so he named you rudely so-" Scarface finished her sentence, "StarClan may feel guilt. I know," he groaned.
"Where's Lightpaw?" He asked, turning his half-blind gaze on his sister.
"She's going to be made a warrior today." Hawkpaw replied. His face lit up. "Really? That's great!" He darted outside. Smokestar and Lightpaw had already begun.
Smokestar was booming loudly, "I, Smokestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn."
Lightpaw gave a sheepish grin.
"Lightpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" He demanded.
"I do." She said proudly, her gaze fixed on Scarface.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Lightpaw from this moment you will be known as Lightfeather. StarClan honors you kindness and generosity, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." He announced and Lightfeather beamed with pride.
"Lightfeather! Lightfeather, Lightfeather!" Chanted Scarface loudly, attracting attention but Lightfeather was smiling. The rest of the clan began cheering too. She climbed down from the TallRock. She purred at Scarface. "Thank you, Rainpaw." She mewed and he sniffed. "I'm, apparently called Scarface." He corrected. She shook her head. "No, you're Rainpaw," she assured him. He chuckled, a hint of sadness in his voice. "How can you like me when I look like, like this?" He laughed sarcastically.
Lightfeather touched her nose against his forehead. "Because, you're special." She muttered, "do you think I care that you're left eye has a scar in it? No. Think I care about the idiotic name your father gave you? No. You're my Rainpaw. Until you gain your warrior name!" She growled. "I like you, you big idiot!" She flicked her ears repeatedly.
"I do too," he replied softly.
A/N
Oooooh! Once again though, Guest(Amberfoot7) reviewed what Jaypaw said to Hawkpaw at the river and requested a Hawkpaw plushie! Here! :p By the way, Rainpaw/Scarface's blind eye looks like Nick Fury's when he removed his eye patch. If you don't know who or what that is, look it up. Rainpaw/Scarface's good eye has a scar right over it, barely missing it.
EDIT: I added in the interaction between Thornsnag and his mentor. Thought he needed a little insight to his bitterness.