Chapter 3 – Timberpaw
Nettlefur had given him a day off, saying he deserved it after his hard work for half a moon. Mousepaw said he was lucky, Rockshade hadn't given her a day off in her first half-moon of training. I wonder what Whitepaw has planned He thought. His best friend was currently trying to persuade her mentor that she deserved a day off.
"You know you shouldn't be taking a day off. An apprentice's first moon of training is important"
Timberpaw glanced behind him to see Snowpaw. He wasn't even aware that she had been there.
"Well my mentor gave me permission" Timberpaw mewed in response.
Snowpaw sighed and padded off, towards her mentor. Oakclaw was her mentor and Timberpaw's father. Unfortunately he was a busy cat and didn't really spend much time with his family.
Timberpaw respected Oakclaw. He was strong , brave and one of Lionstar's most trusted warriors. If anything happened to Brightsun, it would be likely he would replace her position as Deputy.
"Timberpaw!"
Timberpaw snapped out of his thoughts and saw Whitepaw bounding towards him "Grryfeather let me off! She said it is fine for me to spend a day here and there with my friends" she announced happily.
"That's great!" Timberpaw replied grinning then lowered his voice "So, what do you have planned for today?"
"We will talk out in the forest so... certain cats... won't overhear" Whitepaw whispered, glancing at Frostpaw who was eating beside Owlpaw while their mentors waited for them to finish when she mentioned 'certain cats'.
Timberpaw nodded and followed her as they left camp and headed to a part of the forest not often used as it was away from the borders and there wasn't much prey.
"So...?" Timberkit asked, curious as to what they would be doing.
"We are going to sneak into Sunclan territory and spy on them" Whitepaw declared, seeming proud of her idea.
Timberpaw was stunned. Sure he had been expecting something dangerous but not... that dangerous. "What if we get caught?" asked Timberpaw, feeling nervous. Would they cause a war if they got caught?
"Relax they would just let us go. Sunclan's pretty laid back unlike Cragclan who are really rough" Whitepaw mewed, trying to reassure him "Besides we are barely apprentices. We could pass at kits. Just say we got into trouble, had our ceremony delayed and snuck out of camp in revenge"
"Sounds like something that could have happened to us" Timberpaw replied "But the Sunclan would take us back and return us as 'lost kits'. I think Lionstar might go along with that to avoid bigger trouble, but once they leave we will be in trouble."
"Sure, but a little punishment is worth spying on them!" Whitepaw mewed, trying to persuade him.
"Fine, fine" Timberpaw couldn't help feeling slightly exited to spy on Sunclan though "Let's just be really careful, okay?"
"Of course!" Whitepaw replied, grinning "I bet no other apprentice has dared to do this!"
Timberpaw rolled his eyes I bet she thinks if she doesn't get caught that she's the best apprentice he thought and that she will end up as leader one day.
"Come on then" Whitepaw mewed cheerfully and they set off towards the Sunclan border.
They masked their scent by rolling in ferns, so it would make it easier for them to spy on Sunclan and not get caught, then hid in a bush by the border. Once they were sure no Sunclan cats were near the border they ran across to Sunclan territory. Sunclan owned part of the forest and a moor.
"I think their camp might be somewhere in the forest. After all I'd hate to sleep on a moor" Whitepaw mewed thoughtfully.
Timberpaw nodded "Probably"
Carefully they navigated the forest, so far lucky as they hadn't encountered any patrols. Unfortunately they had no idea where the camp was and where their training area was. So if they found either place, before running into any patrols, they would be very lucky.
In front of him Whitepaw suddenly froze.
"What's wrong?" he whispered.
His best friend turned around quickly "I think a patrol is nearby" she whispered quickly then glanced up at a tree "We should climb that and hide behind the leaves"
Timberpaw nodded. He was glad Nettlefur had given him a few tree climbing lessons, or he'd probably make a fool of himself and get them both caught.
Quickly, both apprentices got to the large tree and dug their claws in it. Timberpaw managed to climb up to a large branch and Whitepaw found a nearby one that was also a good size.
I hope they don't look up Timberpaw thought, as there was a chance they would see him. But there was a bigger chance they would see Whitepaw, because of her white fur that stood out against the green leaves and brown tree bark.
Below him was 3 Sunclan cats. Timberpaw focused on trying to hear their conversation.
"...and I doubt Cragclan will keep quiet about it" he heard the pale ginger tom say
"You're right, Flamegaze" he heard another say
"Well, it's understandable really... after all we did attack them" said the 3rd cat.
"They were planning an attack anyway. With the help of our medicine-cat we just got an early warning and attacked first. Saving many Sunclan lives probably" the pale ginger tom said.
"True" the third agreed "It worries me though, tensions are so high between the clans now. I fear that there may be a giant war coming... I wish we could just settle our differences peacefully..."
He glanced at Whitepaw who had an odd look on her face, but it disappeared.
Timberpaw noticed the patrol had passed and let out a sigh of relief. He and Whitepaw waited a little while before they left the safety of the tree and began searching again. Whitepaw, again, took the lead as they continued
Timberpaw wasn't really focusing but then he heard Whitepaw yowl in shock. He raced foward to grab her but it was too late.
Whitepaw had fallen into a hollow.
That hollow was obviously Sunclan's camp.
He watched as Whitepaw stood up, her fur bristling, as Sunclan cats approached her. Some looked suprised, some hostile.
Timberpaw knew he should help her, but for some reason he didn't.
Perhaps it was fear. It had to be fear. Only that could make him leave her.
And he left her.
Timberpaw raced through the forest full speed, guilt gnawing in his belly at what he was doing.
Abandoning his best friend. What a coward.
Timberpaw didn't stop running even after he crossed the border.
He ran on and on until he tripped over a tree root and collapsed on the ground.
Timberpaw guessed he was a fair distance from camp but didn't want to get up and return to it.
So he just lay there, drowning in guilt.
AN : Ooh look another chapter! I really am spoiling you all with updates xD
Timberpaw is quite nervous and isn't the bravest as you can see. He does, of course, want to be braver (and Whitepaw has helped him a lot with courage. When he was really young I can see him as really shy and easily scared)
Thank you for your new reviews SageandSky , I really appreciate that you are reading Eaglestar's Reign too.
I'm not sure when I will reveal who Eaglestar chose, but it shouldn't be too long.
