The warm chattering of Oakclan's camp was a stark difference from the animosity Poppypaw and her clan mates had faced just moments ago. Poppypaw ducked beneath the gnarled brambles of the high, over grown bushes that ringed their camp. Relief bathed her as she caught sight of her mother near the nursery, chatting with Beetlenose. Her paws ached and her legs we're weak from fright. How could any cat stand this?
She separated from the group, breaking into a run and nearly bowling her mother over. Wrenflight meowed with surprise, managing to catch herself before she fell backwards.
Poppypaw's fur was laced with the smell of fear. Her brow creased with worry as her forepaws pulled her daughter closer and rumbled, "What happened, little one?"
"Duneclan's what's wrong," Thistlepaw hissed as she drew closer. Beetlenose had retreated back into the nursery by now, her nose poking from the entrance as she listened to Thistlepaw rant.
"Sandstripe was near the border," Poppypaw added softly as pushed her way out from her mother's paws and padded next to Thistlepaw, "He was very unwelcoming…"
The dusty brown she-cat snorted, her gold eyes flaming once again, "Unwelcoming isn't the right word, Poppypaw. He threatened us! We didn't even do anything. We we're still three fox lengths from the border, maybe even more. Duneclan has it in for us, it's no secret."
"I wouldn't go that far," Wrenflight mewed, though she looked worried, "Did he hurt you?" She began to sniff along Poppypaw's pelt, pulling back when she was satisfied there was no blood spilled, "Where's your brother?"
"He went with Stonestep and Fawnheart to report, don't worry. No one was hurt," Thistlepaw answered for her. In honesty, Poppypaw wasn't sure herself where Briarpaw had gone- she had paid little attention to any cat since she arrived back at camp.
"I'm going to go to lie down," She mewed suddenly. She was tired, sure, but suddenly she didn't feel like being around other cats. Thistlepaw looked as if she was going to protest but Poppypaw was already shuffling towards the apprentices den, her paws feeling heavy as stones. She circled her nest twice before curling up into a tight ball, the tip of her tail draping over her nose.
The guilt of her cowardice crashed down on her. She hadn't even said anything when the deputy of Duneclan had spoken to her! Briarpaw was right- she was a kit. A scared, selfish kit. She didn't feel fit to be a warrior; she was hardly worthy of her apprentice name! She had shamed her mentor and her clan.
She sulked in silence, trying hard to filter out the sounds of camp. Despite her best efforts, the voices of her clan-mates still reached her ears. Right beside the apprentices den was the Elder's. She could hear now Voletooth speaking to Halfear.
"These fleas are eating me alive!" The old she-cat complained to Halfear.
"So visit Sparrowfoot."
"And have Juniperpaw fuss over me? I won't waste their time…"
She pressed her paws over her ears, blocking out the conversation. These were the cats she was sworn to protect. If she couldn't do that, she might as well be a rouge wandering on her own.
"Poppypaw?"
Slowly, Poppypaw lowered her paws. She knew that voice. A few mouse-lengths away, blocking the light from the entrance stood Thistlepaw. The molly had a look of concern on her face. She stepped closer to her den-mate, "Do you feel okay? I could get my brother to have a look at you…"
"Mm fine," came Poppypaw's mumbled response. She didn't want to talk, especially not to Thistlepaw. The she-cat had stood up for her when she had hidden behind her mentor. She wasn't deserving of such a friend- besides, she must think poorly of her now.
"Well, if you're fine, why don't you come and have something to eat with me? I'm starving and you must be too, after all that walking."
At the mention of food, Poppypaw's stomach clenched, but even then she said, "I'm not hungry, thank you. I just want to sleep."
A moment of silence fell over the den. Thistlepaw looked closely at Poppypaw, her frown deepening, "If it's about what happened back there, I'm sorry if I overstepped some sort of boundary or something. I didn't mean to embarrass you!"
Great Starclan above, Poppypaw thought, now she's going to blame herself! Poppypaw leapt on to her paws, "It's not you!" Her tail lashed in anxiety, "I was afraid, Thistlepaw…"
Thistlepaw stared blankly at her, then one brow cocked quizzically.
Poppypaw continued, "I was afraid and I hid. Now all of Duneclan is going to think Oakclan is full of weaklings and cowards!" Her voice cracked with emotion, "I don't know what happened. I just froze up. I wouldn't be surprised if Lithestar took away my apprenticeship, in fact, I deserve it-!"
Her rant was cut short as Thistlepaw stuffed her mouth with her tail. Poppypaw blinked in confusion, spitting it out and swiping her tongue around her mouth.
A second later, Thistlepaw's muzzle was close to her own, the cold of her nose pressing against her own. Poppypaw felt her heart flutter from the contact and she squeaked aloud.
Thistlepaw ignored this, laying into her friend. Her voice was firm as she said, "I didn't take you as a cat to pity herself! You're going stop sulking right now and come with to get some food, alright?"
"But-!"
"No buts." Thistlepaw drew back, all severity gone from her voice, her eyes warm and full of sympathy, "We all get frightened, Poppypaw. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Sure, you may have reacted poorly, but it was your first time out on the territory. No cat is going to blame you. I don't," She touched her paw to Poppypaw's chest, "You have a good heart, Poppypaw. Love breeds bravery."
"You weren't frightened though," Poppypaw whispered, though now she was arguing for arguing sake. Thistlepaw's words had done their job. She felt her anxieties melt away slowly but surely.
"Yes I was," Thistlepaw stated simply, "I may put on a brave front but it doesn't mean I never get scared. I was terrified, actually."
"You were? Of what?" Poppypaw asked, genuinely curious.
Thistlepaw brushed her tail along her spine as she stood, murmuring softly, "Of seeing you hurt, of not being able to protect you…" She paused awkwardly then quickly added, "Now, c'mon! I'm starving."
Poppypaw watched disappear from the den, the fur along her back tingling from Thistlepaw's gentle caress. Was she imagining the note of longing in Thistlepaw's mew? She shook her head, suddenly feeling dizzy. She trotted out after her, feeling much better than she had.
She joined Thistlepaw at the fresh-kill pile. The dusky she-cat had pulled free a plump looking black bird from the pile and gestured to the carcass, "Wanna share?"
Poppypaw nodded, sitting close. She allowed Thistlepaw the first bite, but after the other cat had torn into the still warm meat, Poppypaw's stomach gurgled in hunger. She pulled a sliver of flesh from the bird, chewing quickly.
"I knew you were hungry," Thistlepaw purred, pushing the rest of the bird toward her friend, "Eat. I'll have a mouse instead."
"Feeling better?"
Poppypaw paused mid-chew, glancing up to her brother. He wore a smug expression, his whiskers quivering. He was biting at the bit to tell her something. She gulped down her mouthful, "Yes…"
Briarpaw sat, snatching away the remains of her meal and digging in, "Well, while you were off crying-"
"I wasn't crying!"
"Whatever you were doing then. Anyway, while you were off in the apprentices den, I was with Stonestep and Fawnheart. I got to talk to Lithestar. She told me I had shown bravery worthy of a warrior!"
Thistlepaw rolled her eyes. Briarpaw was a born braggart, apparently. She licked her whiskers clean and asked, "And?"
"And nothing…" He deflated a little when he saw the two she-cats were unimpressed, "She made me leave after that. She's going to talk to the clan, I think."
"Of course she is," Thistlepaw said, "Duneclan is treating us as if we've been stealing their prey or something. Maybe she'll declare a battle?"
"I hope not!" Poppypaw interjected, looking horrified. She quickly stifled herself, seeing Briarpaw's eyes gleam with amusement.
"Don't worry, sister. They don't take scaredy-kits into battle. You'll probably be left at camp to defend the elders," He quipped, grinning at her.
"There's no dishonor in protecting the elders," Thistlepaw snapped in response, glowering at the young tom, "You'd better remember that."
Briarpaw shrugged, the reprimand meant nothing coming from a fellow apprentice, "Whatever."
Thistlepaw looked as if she wanted to argue more, but she was silenced as Lithestar appeared from her den with Hawkclaw and Stonestep by her side. Fawnheart joined her apprentice, looking grim.
Lithestar leapt high, her claws digging deep into the mossy wood of the fallen tree in the middle of camp as she hoisted herself up. She let out a yowl that echoed throughout the camp, "Let all cats gather before me for a clan meeting!"
A few cats looked up in surprise. Poppypaw knew what they were thinking: there were no new kits to apprentice and none of the current apprentices were old enough to receiver their warrior names just yet. The Elder's shuffled out from their den, Voletooth looking anxiously at Halfear who merely shrugged back.
As soon as the majority of the clan stood around the base of the log, Lithestar began to speak, "Cats of Oakclan, Stonestep and Fawnheart have brought me news of Duneclan."
Whispers and speculation flew throughout the gathering cats and Lithestar waited patiently for the hushed noise to subside. When all was quiet she continued, "No cat was injured or attacked, but the deputy of Duneclan has made some serious threats towards out apprentices. From now on, I want extra patrols near the border but until the animosity dies down, no apprentice shall train or hunt there. Unless you are marking the border or on patrol, I would prefer if all cats would keep their distance from the scent line."
A pale she-cat, Owlface, called from the crowd, "Won't they think us weak if we suddenly start avoiding the borders?"
A few shouts of agreements rippled through the crowd but Lithestar raised a paw for silence, "Not if we have extra patrols. I don't want any single cat being caught in a battle. Duneclan can be ruthless, especially under Viperstar's rule. I do not want a war over what could be empty threats. I value your opinions, clan mates, but it is wise to see things out first."
Poppypaw found herself nodding along in agreement. While the tom had scared her at the border, it was no reason to launch an attack. She was relieved that Lithestar saw it that way- not only for her sake, but for the rest of her clans. Bloodshed was only needed as a last resort.
"If that's all..?" Lithestar trailed off, leaving a pause for any cat to voice their concerns. None answered. She gave a nod to the crowd and said, "I thank Stonestep and Fawnheart for acting wisely in their encounter, and to their apprentices as well."
Stonestep and Fawnheart both dipped their heads at their leader's praise. Briarpaw's pelt fluffed out in the excitement of being mentioned but Poppypaw felt her ears burn. She didn't deserve praise, not with how she had acted. Still, she felt a surge of joy at being mentioned.
With that, the meeting concluded. Lithestar abandoned her perch, gesturing with her tail for Hawkclaw to follow her back to her den. The clan dispersed, save a few cats who still sat around talking amongst themselves. Beetlenose still looked concerned, but Silverstripe was talking animatedly with the to-be queen. Poppypaw could understand her anxiety. She had unborn kits to worry about, her first litter.
She heard a snippet of the conversation:
"Don't worry," soothed Silverstripe, "Badgerclaw will protect you. And you have the rest of the clan to look out for you too! Duneclan wouldn't dare attack the camp anyway…"
"I know, I just can't help but worry," mewed the black and white queen, "Maybe we should reinforce the nursery just in case?"
"I'm sure the apprentices would be happy to help," Silverstripe said, nodding to Poppypaw who flicked her ear in response. She had been caught eavesdropping but the two she-cats didn't seem to mind. She padded closer.
"Would you take Thistlepaw and go fetch some nice, thorny branches to weave into the nursery?" Silverstripe asked.
"Of course," Poppypaw responded at once, "I'd be glad to help out."
"Oh, thank you so much, dear," Beetlenose purred, gently butting her head against the younger younger she-cat, "I'll feel much better knowing it's done."
Poppypaw gave a friendly wave of her tail before dashing off. She called out behind her shoulder, "We'll have it done by tonight! Don't worry, Beetlenose!"