Okay...I know. An update two days after the last one. Well, I decided I would start updating once I reached a certain amount of reviews. Right now it's at 115 reviews, so I would want around 128-130 before the next chapter goes up. So if it's tomorrow or in a week, it depends. But this works better since I have school and cannot stick to a regular updating schedule.
Okay, I am not going to lie. I loved writing this! I think it's unexpected and hope the reviews are positive for it. I encourage everyone to READ TO THE END.
Also, I would like to put out there that I am thinking of writing a sequel to this story, which is hard to decide now since I haven't written the end. But the way I am thinking it'll end it definitely needs a sequel, so let me know what you think.
Fact: Dapplepaw, Creampaw, and Rainpaw were apprenticed in the fall, so they will get their warrior names in spring. Currently, it's winter.
Rainpaw felt her claws dig into a cat's pelt, yanking them away from Streamskip, who was fighting two cats at once. Rainpaw let out a hiss, drawing the tortoiseshell she-cat's attention. "Over here, flea-brain!"
The DuskClan cat launched at her, but Rainpaw ducked away from her. These cats were weak and hungry, let alone the fact that this cat was half the size of a normal warrior. It wasn't even a fair fight. Rainpaw pounced on her, digging her claws into her back.
"Oof!" Rainpaw yelped as pain shot through her side. She didn't even see what had happened, but realized she was sprawling on the ground. She gasped as she saw Sparrowpaw looming over her.
"Do I need to save you again Thistlefur?" he snapped the the she-cat, who rolled her eyes in response. The two exchanged a glance before turning back to Rainpaw, who tried to plan her escape. With two cats against her, her odds were slim. Still, one was an apprentice and the other was apprentice sized.
Thistlefur struck out, clawing Rainpaw's ears. Rainpaw winced as her ears were torn, but she tried to remain thinking about her escape. "Stop!" she yelped as Sparrowpaw had started to shred at her stomach. "Please! It's my first fight!"
"First fight? Well, in that case, let's just let you go unscathed," Thistlefur meowed sarcastically with a roll of her eyes. "I don't think so."
Rainpaw had got what she needed, which was for them to relax just a touch so she could have a chance to dart away. Her paws shot out and she quickly knocked Sparrowpaw off his paws. The tom gasped, eyes widened with surprise as Rainpaw pinned him to the ground . Thistlefur prepared herself to lunge at Rainpaw, but Rainpaw held her paw threateningly over Sparrowpaw's throat. "Don't," she warned, ears flat. "Or I will kill him."
Thistlefur let out a hiss, her eyes flashing darkly. "No, you won't. You're a weak apprentice." She stared at Rainpaw, her voice challenging.
"His death will be because of you," Rainpaw snarled, grimacing at what she was prepared to do. She pressed her paw down harder on Sparrowpaw's throat. "Last chance to help him."
"You're bluffing," Thistlefur snapped, yet a flicker of fear and uncertainty lit her gaze. "You would never."
Rainpaw took a deep breath, trying to avoid thinking about her future actions. She dug her claws into Sparrowpaw's exposed neck. Blood covered her paws as she looked down, shocked. Thistlefur let out a yowl of rage, flinging herself at Rainpaw.
Rainpaw narrowly missed the attacking she-cat, feeling the enraged warrior's claws scraped her sides. She whirled around, seeing Sparrowpaw laying in a pool of blood and Thistlefur looming over him, grief-stricken.
Rainpaw shook her head to clear her thoughts. I had to! I was protecting myself. She glanced around, searching for another cat to attack. She didn't have to search long, since a tom knocked her off her paws, raking his claws across her flank. Rainpaw let out a yowl of pain, struggling to free herself.
In a flash, a tan colored pelt shot past them, knocking the tom off his paws. Rainpaw scrambled to her feet, seeing Creampaw beat the tom down with Foxstep's help.
"Go! Dapplepaw is in trouble!" Creampaw called, turning to the warrior she and Foxstep had under their paws. "Help her, Rainpaw."
Rainpaw nodded. After all, it was a reflex reaction to help her sister. She shot through the fighting crowd of cats, searching for Dapplepaw. When she paused, at a loss about where she could be, she spotted her in a close fight with a large warrior.
"Flea-brain! Stay out of SunClan's territory!" Dapplepaw shot at the tom, her words venomous. She gave his stomach a final kick before leaping away from him.
The tom let out another hiss before lunging at Dapplepaw, who was clearly tiring out. Still, she clumsily dodged his attack and sprang at him again.
DuskClan was starved and weak, but their anger gave them the strength to attack. It was a fight that every cat knew the end of, even DuskClan. Rainpaw had guessed they wanted to cause damage to SunClan anyway.
Rainpaw started for her sister's side, but was beat to it by Rosepaw, who knocked the tom off his paws. "I can help," Rosepaw meowed, turning to Rainpaw. "You go."
Rainpaw nodded and agreed without thinking, turning around. She scanned the cats. It didn't take long before her eyes landed on Ashpaw, who easily pinned another apprentice to the ground. His gaze flickered with triumph, until the apprentice flipped him to the ground.
Rainpaw shot in their direction, her heart racing. Not Ashpaw! As she neared, she heard the apprentice say, "Sparrowpaw is dead because of you!" As the DuskClan cat prepared to deliver a killing blow, Rainpaw smacked against her, freeing Ashpaw.
The apprentice let out a yelp as she slammed against the ground. Rainpaw felt claws dig into her side, but ignored the feeling. She pressed her paw against the she-cat's throat, slightly digging her claw in. "You never will hurt him again, understand?" She pressed her paw down harder, causing the she-cat to gasp for air. "You won't be able to after I'm through with you."
"Rainpaw, let her go!" Ashpaw was instantly at her side, swatting away her paw. "It's not her fault. Let her go!" He stared at her, his amber eyes serious.
Rainpaw gingerly released the apprentice, who turned tail and fled toward her territory. "Why?" she asked, slowly turning to face Ashpaw. "She was going to kill you!"
"And you were about to kill her," Ashpaw countered, tilting his head to the side. "However, you saved me, so I suppose I owe you a thanks."
"I don't want that. I think you owe me a favor, actually. Stop meeting Dapplepaw."
"I won't do that."
"Then meet me. Just once." Rainpaw went with her second option, giving Ashpaw a nod. "In two nights from now. At the apple tree where you and Dapplepaw meet."
Ashpaw paused at first, but gave a small nod. "Okay. I owe you that much." He turned and leapt at another cat that was fighting some other SunClan cat that Rainpaw thought was called Sagewhisker, the deputy.
Rainpaw turned away, ready to fight. Excitement pumped through her, though her heart sank when she caught a familiar white pelt tangled with a fluffy one. "Dapplepaw!" she yowled, racing to her sister's aid. She paused tail-lengths away from her, her pace slowing to a sudden halt.
Rosepaw had Dapplepaw pinned to the ground, her claws unsheathed. "What are you doing?" Dapplepaw gasped, squirming under Rosepaw's weight. "We're on the same side! Let me go!"
"No, SunClan and DuskClan are on the same side. You and I? We're not. You stole Ashpaw from me. Don't even bother denying it. You are the reason he won't love me. So, seeing as we're in the midst of a fight and no cat will care, I'm going to...let's say, remove you." Rosepaw's voice was full of malice and enjoyment.
Rainpaw flattened her ears, ready to launch at the SunClan cat and tear her apart with Dapplepaw at her side. Something held her back. She finally had Ashpaw to herself. Dapplepaw could ruin that with a flick of her tail.
Rainpaw took a step back, whirling around. She glanced over her shoulder one last time, seeing Rosepaw's paw raised and ready to strike. She turned away, hearing a few last words called from Dapplepaw. "Rainpaw! Help me!"
Most of the DuskClan cats were fleeing back to their territory, beaten. Rainpaw felt her paws dragging and her muscles exhausted. She had never worked so hard in her life. Now that the adrenaline rush that the battle gave her was gone, she could fully feel the pain and exhaustion from the fight.
Creampaw seemed tired as well, but her eyes sparkled as sat beside Foxstep, who sat so close their pelts brushed up against each other. She was happy.
But Dapplepaw's gone. How could I do that? Rainpaw felt the first hint of guilt, which suddenly gnawed at her mercilessly. I didn't just do it for me, I did it for Creampaw. She's happy too, and now I can be. Dapplepaw would have wanted the sacrifice.
"Rainpaw," Hawkfeather called, padding over to her apprentice. "You fought well today." She dipped her head. "You should go and see Rushwater." Her gaze raked Rainpaw's blood matted pelt.
"Oh, it's not too bad," Rainpaw meowed, thinking of the mild sting on her ears and sides. Her stomach hurt the worst, but the guilt was the most painful. How could I? I let Dapplepaw die! Who am I anymore? I let Ashpaw cloud my reasoning.
It was suddenly a crystal clear picture in her head. She had been lovestruck by Ashpaw and couldn't think of anything but him. There were obstacles that she needed to conquer, and she could only see herself pushing them aside.
But there was no happy ending for Ashpaw and her. There was no ending at all. They shouldn't have known each other, really. Rainpaw shuddered as every memory of her apprenticeship rushed back to her, but she could see herself for the vengeful she-cat she had been.
She saw herself, innocent, seeing Ashpaw for the first time at the Gathering. How she had fallen in love with him right then and there. How she had dreamed a life with him. Imagined their kits' names, even. But then Rainpaw saw her loving mind turn to hatred when she saw Dapplepaw as competition.
The truth shocked her. It frightened her. Was Rainpaw really that cat who plotted against her own sister all for one tom? Was she a cat who bided her time for the right moment to get Dapplepaw out of the picture. And tonight, she had done just that.
"No," Rainpaw whispered, horrified. She scrambled backwards, turning and searching the crowd of mingled SunClan and LeafClan cats. A grey pelt caught her eye. She darted toward it, shoving through scratched up cats to get there. "Ashpaw!" she called.
Ashpaw's head turned in her direction. "Yes?" he asked her. With a clear head, Rainpaw could see that he looked at her with kindness. Almost brotherly, even. Not the way he looked at Dapplepaw.
Rainpaw scanned his appearance. Not grieved. He didn't know about Dapplepaw yet. "We can't meet," she meowed softly, ducking her head.
"Really? You really wanted to," Ashpaw meowed, a flash of shock crossing his face. "I owe you, remember? We are friends, aren't we?"
Rainpaw fumbled, unable to form words. She stared at her paws, another stab of guilt hitting her.
"Have you seen Dapplepaw? I want to check to make sure she's okay."
Rainpaw shut her eyes, the words harder to say than ever. "Dead."
"What?" Ashpaw turned to her, eyes still curious. He must have not heard her, which wasn't surprising. She had practically mumbled the word out.
"She's dead."
Ashpaw's eyes widened. He seemed to be in shock, but then started shaking. "No. No, she can't be." He turned away. "You're lying! You lie, Rainpaw. That's what you do!"
"No! I'm not!" Rainpaw leapt to her paws. To her, it sounded like a large scene. However, they were just a couple of apprentices talking at the outskirts of the battle territory.
"Ashpaw! Are you okay? I was so worried. And that battle was so scary!"
A voice that made Rainpaw flinch touched her ears. She turned around to find the source of the sweet, kit-like voice. Standing there, barely a scratch visible on her was Rosepaw, her green eyes shining with happiness. It could be taken as happiness that SunClan won, but Rainpaw knew otherwise.
Ashpaw turned to face Rosepaw, trying to compose himself. He shook off his sadness to act casual. "Hey," he meowed, his tone still sounding gloomy. "I'm fine. You seem fine, too."
Rainpaw immediately shot at Rosepaw, placing her paws on the white she-cat's throat. "She did it, Ashpaw! I watched her kill Dapplepaw!"
"What?" Ashpaw snarled, his composure breaking. His amber eyes flared with anger. "What did she say, Rosepaw? Is it true?"
Rosepaw shoved Rainpaw off. She got to her paws, dusting off her fur. "No. Who's Dapplepaw, anyway?"
"But you saw me meet her in the apple tree that one night," Ashpaw countered, his tail beginning to flick. He stared at Rosepaw, who didn't flinch under his gaze. "I saw white. I knew it was you, but I shrugged it off."
"Fine. Okay. She's from a different clan, mouse-brain. Who cares? You'll get over it," Rosepaw snapped, irritated. Rainpaw's eyes narrowed, anger filling her. Rosepaw's cocky appearance faltered when Ashpaw didn't laugh it off. "Don't just blame me. She saw me do it without trying to help your precious Dapplepaw." Rosepaw shot a pointed glare at Rainpaw.
Ashpaw whirled to face Rainpaw, who recoiled from Rosepaw's words. "Is that true?"
"I was dragged into battle. How was I to know Rosepaw would hurt her? We're on the same team!" Rainpaw tried to buy into her lie, but paused. It was just another string to add to her web of lies. She needed to stop lying. "I was angry at her. I thought she stole you from me, and I was so furious I left her there."
Ashpaw glanced between both of them. "Get out of my life," he snapped, tail lashing. He started forward but stopped in his tracks when a cat crossed his path.
"Um...what's happening here?" The voice made Rainpaw jump, turning to see the source of the sound. There, fluffy fur still intact, was Dapplepaw.
Okay, I really want to know what you thought! REVIEWS!
Also, for those thinking this is nearing the climax...WRONG!
Next Chapter: Dapplepaw deals with the recent changes in her life, while Rainpaw tries to make all her bad choices right.
Question: Are you happy that Rainpaw's personality changed? Yes? No? What are your thoughts on the sequel idea?
Looking for to get to 128-130 reviews for the next chapter!