Chapter 12 time! Hmm...I suppose my postings are sort of infrequent now. I really just needed to get this chapter out, because the next chapter I am really excited to post. It's all written and it's back on track for the plot. This chapter contains keys to the plot, obviously, but it was supposed to be in Rainpaw's perspective before I changed it to Creampaw's. I mean, there hasn't been a Creampaw chapter in a while.
Anyway, if you're like "Ugh, Rainpaw. I don't want to have to stomach her anymore", then I really believe you want to read the next chapter. She doesn't die, if that's what you think. She has huge character development in that chapter that I personally would really want to read.
Also, I would like to apologize because this chapter is on the shorter side. But the next two are long.
Fact: I am debating about the three sisters' mother. I can't decide if she will be in StarClan or alive. I can't decide...hmmm...
"I'm covered in dirt!" Creamkit complained, shaking out her fur. "So gross!" She couldn't help but let out a laugh, kicking dirt at Dapplekit.
"Excuse me?" Dapplekit meowed, letting out a sneeze. She shook off whatever she could before pouncing on Creamkit, who let out a yelp of surprise. "You made a mistake by getting me filthy!"
Creamkit rolled on to her back and batted Dapplekit's stomach lightly with her paws. Dapplekit put both paws on Creamkit's shoulders and pushed her down. "Hey!" Creamkit meowed, scrambling away from the mock fight. "Alright! You can be the leader!" She rolled her eyes, her paws tingling with excitement.
Dapplekit let out a mrrw of laughter. "Of course I do!" She sat upright. "Creamkit, come forth to receive your warrior name." She glanced around, searching for a rock. Dapplekit bounded up on it swiftly, her paw slipping out from under her once.
Creamkit felt a thrill of excitement run through her, imagining getting her real warrior name. She padded underneath Dapplekit, who cleared her throat.
"From this moment forward you will be known as...um...Creamfrost!" Dapplekit bent over to touch Creamkit's forehead, but slipped and tumbled off the rock, landing with a cloud of dust blowing up around her and a loud squeak.
Creamkit giggled as Dapplekit appeared moments later. "Such a good landing!" Rainkit meowed from the side, sarcasm tainting her tone. "My turn?" she asked timidly, glancing between the two she-cats.
"Yep!" Dapplepaw rearranged herself on her perch. "From this moment forward you will be called Rainheart!" She was more careful as she reached over to touch her nose to Rainkit's forehead.
Creamkit flared her ears. "Who's your deputy, Dapplestar?" she asked eagerly, eyes bright. It has to be me. There is no way in StarClan she would choose Rainkit she thought smugly. She waited while the leader kit took her time to think.
"Hmm...," she opened her mouth, but then her green eyes flickered to Rainkit, who was looking at the ground and shuffling her paws. "Rainheart. She's loyal and kind. She would never do anything to hurt me and always puts everyone's needs first!"
Creamkit deflated, blinking. "And me? Am I a valuable warrior?"
"Of course!" Dapplekit purred, jumping, falling really, from the stone. "Creamfrost, you are strong and brave, and never let anything cloud your judgement. Not prey, family, a tom."
"A tom cat?" Rainkit meowed, wrinkling her nose. "No way! I would never betray you guys for anything! Though, I want to find love one day."
Creamkit nodded her head. "Me either. In fact, I don't want to ever fall in love! Like you said, Dapplestar, you and Rainheart my best friends." She fluffed up her fur and unconsciously looked at Dapplekit for her approval.
Dapplekit shrugged. "I want to find love one day. A cat who can tolerate me. Not many cats can, so it'll be a challenge." She shook her head from the thought. "Well, most important our us being sisters. We should vow to never ever let love come between us? Do we all agree?"
"Of course," Creamkit meowed, laughing. "Do you ever think I would ever betray you?"
Rainkit let out a small laugh. "It would never happen, not from me."
Creampaw blinked her eyes open to see light shining through the apprentice's den. She glanced around, searching the den to see if she was the last one in there. Rainpaw, Dapplepaw, Blackpaw, and Flowerpaw had all left. "And no cat bothered to wake me up?" she muttered out loud.
Getting to her paws, Creampaw for once didn't feel so tired. She shook the feather from her pelt and poked her head out of the apprentice's den.
Dapplepaw was crouched near the entrance with a sparrow at her feet, which she kept constantly pawing. She was focused on the cats in the camp, her ears perking up when she saw Brackenstar enter.
"What's happening?" Creampaw asked her, padding over and sitting down. "Why is every cat gathered?"
"I think there has been troubles between SunClan and DuskClan over those Snake Rocks, or whatever they're called. It seems that LeafClan has sided with SunClan." Dapplepaw pushed the sparrow away from her. "Do you want this?" she asked, glancing at Creampaw.
Creampaw nodded her head. "Is something bothering you?"
"Yes," Dapplepaw admitted after some hesitation. "Rainpaw is giving me the silent treatment. And it's bugging me. I don't feel like I did anything wrong, but she's making me second guess myself."
"What did you do?" Creampaw meowed casually. Rainpaw could find a way to stir up drama, sure, but Rainpaw had worshipped Dapplepaw, especially when they were kits. Dapplepaw was confident and brave, and to a shy and timid cat like Rainpaw that was pretty impressive.
Dapplepaw fell silent, turning to her paws. "Well...I didn't do anything, really. She may have this...idea...that I may like Ashpaw." Her green eyes fluttered up to see Creampaw's reaction.
Neither shock nor disbelief were displayed in Creampaw's reaction. She was pleased about it. "Is it true?" Creampaw asked her, hope gleaming in her heart.
"I mean...I guess so."
This is great! I mean, for her, not myself. Obviously. Creampaw tried to nod calmly. "It's okay, I'll talk to her. You aren't at fault here. You have done the same thing she has, and she has no right to stop your happiness. She'll come around."
"Really?" Dapplepaw sprang to her paws, eyes bright. "You'd do that for me? Thanks Creampaw." She hurried toward to get a new piece of prey. Creampaw guessed the absence of grief had given her an appetite.
"Well, I have to do what I said I would," Creampaw meowed to herself with a sigh. She scanned the camp for her other sister, spotting her in the corner of camp under a small maple.
Rainpaw didn't seem overly excited to see Creampaw. Her eyes were cold and pierced right into Creampaw as she walked up. "You don't have anything to say to me," she growled. "You're siding with our traitor of a sister. She's taken my love."
"Your love? Rainpaw, you can't say that you didn't see this coming. Let her be happy." Creampaw sat down beside her. "Just...forget about him. You'll find love, trust me."
"Oh, yeah?" Rainpaw snapped, whipping to face Creampaw. "You're telling me to be happy for her, right? Are you truly happy for her? Truly? Because I think you're just relieved that she isn't pursuing Foxstep! You know he would run back to her if she wanted him!"
Creampaw's eyes widened with shock. The nerve of that cat! Still, she felt a tiny bit of truth in her words. "No, that's a lie! I am happy for her as her sister. Am I happy that my sister isn't chasing my love? Of course, but I wouldn't act like a crazy cat if she was! Grow up, Rainpaw! The world doesn't revolve around you! I wish you were still that meek kit that cared for other cats as well!"
She let out a final hiss before scrambling to her paws, angry. She could feel Rainpaw's surprised stare burning into her pelt, but ignored it. She didn't have time to focus on it because a foreign cat burst into camp.
"They've done it!" the cat yowled loudly. "DuskClan has attacked us!"
Brackenstar immediately let out a call. "I need every cat to get into groups and head out to SunClan territory!"
"Our first battle," Creampaw meowed to no cat in particular. Neither of her sisters were in her group that raced toward the SunClan territory. She felt chills run down her spine at the thought.
"It's one of my first," a voice meowed beside her. Creampaw glanced over to see Foxstep running in smooth, even strides. He radiated with eagerness as well, his eyes gleaming. She was surprised at how she didn't notice his assignment to her patrol.
"Really? You seem like some tough cat," Creampaw joked with a giggle. As she ran she flung herself off the ground to leap over the Fallen Pine.
The patrol crossed the border marking without hesitation. The SunClan cat who had entered LeafClan camp led them, easily guiding them to where the fight was.
Screeches rose up into the ears and smacked Creampaw's ears. The patrol didn't falter in it's step, but rather just quickened their pace.
There was a mass of cats tangled up in each other, clawing and biting each other. How am I supposed to tell the SunClan cats from the DuskClan ones?
Creampaw must've been the only one thinking, because the rest of the patrol darted forward, leaping into battle. She scrambled after them. Once she was in the midst of it all, she froze. What was she supposed to do?
She didn't have time to think. Another cat tackled her, easily pinning her to the ground. "That was easy," the tom sneered, raking his claws over her stomach. Creampaw squirmed in his grasp, trying to ignore the searing pain in her stomach that demanded to be felt.
Remember your training! Creampaw's best ability was to stay on her feet, so she had learned quickly how to get back on them. She quickly flipped and slid out from under the DuskClan warrior, now facing him. His eyes flashed with surprise at her sudden escape, but he quickly lunged at her. Creampaw darted aside, trying to duck under him to knock him off his paws. She missed, resulting in her losing her balance once again.
The tom snickered again. "Like I said, too easy." He raised his paw, unsheathing his claws. Creampaw gasped, flinching away and feeling powerless.
A flash of ginger caught her attention. She was free from the grasp of the tom, only to see Foxstep clawing at his ears. She raced to his side to help pin the DuskClan tom to the ground.
With a final yowl the tom cat went running for DuskClan territory. Creampaw breathed a sigh of relief and triumph. "We did it!" she squealed, excitement washing over her.
Foxstep's whiskers twitched in amusement. "We did, but let's celebrate later. We have work to do. Fight beside me?"
Whew! There's chapter 12 for you! Well, you know what I would like: REVIEWS!
Next chapter: With the battle finally started, Rainpaw must make a difficult decision that may change her future and determines her loyalty to her family, even the ones who have wronged her.
Question: Are you happy with where Creampaw and Foxstep are at? Do you think she deserves him or not? Let me know!