Another chapter longer han 2000 words! Never thought it would be possible!
So here is Wetpaw POV! It's been... many chapters since it last happened (since chapter 11).
Anyway, thanks for those reviews :) I'm also thinking about adding a new POV! In two chapters I think!
-zoeboo61: Yes, she is. But there is also another one ;) (not hard to find)
Soooo: Wetpaw?
Wetpaw: Finally! ~BrightSun~ does not claim or own Warriors. Erin Hunter does.
Chapter 18
Wetpaw was in a clearing, surrounded by tall grass. He let the gentle breeze ruffle his fur before deciding to hunt. Smelling a vole nearby, he got into a hunter crouch and carefully advanced toward it. When he was just a foxtail away, he leaped on the vole, killing it.
"Good catch."
Wetpaw turned around to see a beautiful pale ginger long-furred she-cat with amber eyes, tainted with sadness. She wasn't from WindClan, which intrigued him.
"Who are you?" he asked. "Where do you come from?"
The she-cat sat and put her bushy tail on her paws. "My name is Dawnfeather. I'm a StarClan warrior."
"StarClan?" Wait… why would a StarClan cat show up in one of my dreams?
"Yes, I come with a message young Wetpaw."
"A message? For me? Why not give it to Whitwhisker or Daisypaw"
Dawnfeather closed her eyes as she mewed: "'The bright light is not alone on the slippery wet path of her future.' This message is for you, not for a medicine cat, not for any other cats."
Dozens of question suddenly came to his mind, but before he could even ask one of them, Wetpaw faded from the dream.
"Stop daydreaming!"
Wetpaw ignored Sedgepaw's comment, though he flicked his ears to show he had heard it. He had been thinking about Dawnfeather and the message she had given him, but mostly about Brightpaw and her revelations. Acornstar betraying the Clans? Wanting to take the territories by the lake? He felt anger gathering in his chest. Never! We won't let him! Yet Brightpaw had seemed so desperate when she had mention it, as if she had already given up. That bastard daring to manipulate her like this! He felt now like bursting with anger. Give me the occasion and I'll rip his fur till there is nothing left!
"Hey! Wetpaw keep your fur on." mewed Sedgepaw "I don't know what you are so upset about, but could you please listen?"
Wetpaw turned to face the gray tom with black stripes. "Yes, sorry. You were saying?"
Sedgepaw shot him a black look. "Stop daydreaming or thinking about whatever you were thinking! I'm as thrilled as you that we are partners on this hunt, but remember: this is my final assessment! If I miss it because of you, I'll skin you like a rabbit!"
Realizing how serious Sedgepaw sounded, Wetpaw decided to listen to him. And even if they were worst enemies, he wouldn't make the older apprentice miss his assessment, that would be too evil.
"Ok, sorry. So what do you want me to do?" he asked.
Sedgepaw muttered something under his breath, then he seemed to calm himself. It seems that he has learned to control some of his temper observed Wetpaw.
"So, since I am quicker than you, I'll be the one running after that hare and you will try to bare its route." Sedgepaw pointed toward the hare that was grazing at the base of the hill, unaware of the two apprentices. "Got it?"
Wetpaw nodded so Sedgepaw carefully walked down the hill, hiding perfectly in the heather. He made a wide half-circle to position himself behind the hare. He approached as close as he could before the wind gave him away. The hare looked up from the grass, smelling the air, then ran. Sedgepaw followed it, constantly making it change direction to make it head toward Wetpaw.
Wetpaw waited, hidden, then sprang on the hare as it passed near him. He killed it with one swift bite at the neck.
"It's a big one." commented Wetpaw as Sedgepaw stopped near him. "Runningwind will be proud."
"I hope." mewed Sedgepaw, anxiety betraying in his voice. "I'll try as hard as I can to pass this assessment. I promised Daisypaw." He looked playfully toward Wetpaw. "I may even do way better than you!"
"We'll see about that!"
Since when do I have friendly teasing with Sedgepaw? Maybe we are really starting to get along. He grinned at the thought.
"Come on! We are wasting too much time. I want to catch as many preys as we can."
In the end, they managed to catch two other rabbits and to their surprise, also a hawk.
"There's no way you are going to miss the assessment!" observed Wetpaw. "We caught so many preys we can't even carry it all back to camp by ourselves!"
Sedgepaw nodded, as he couldn't reply because of the hawk he was holding. Wetpaw picked up the hare.
"I guess we have to help you carrying all the fresh-kill back to camp." mewed Runningwind, appearing from behind a bush, followed by Heatherleaf. They were the one who had watched the assessment, though Wetpaw has been surprised when he had heard that his mother had been chosen to do it.
"Congratulations." said Heatherleaf before picking up one of the rabbits. Runningwing carried the other and they all headed to camp.
"Nice catch!" prized Daisypaw as they arrived. "I knew you would do great!" She had been waiting by the camp entrance for her brother.
"You'll be a great warrior!" purred Amberpaw, who had also been waiting with Daisypaw.
They put the fresh-kill on the pile as Breezestar yowled: "Let all the cats old enough to catch a hare gather here beneath the Tallrock for a Clan meeting."
Soon every cat gathered to assist to Sedgepaw's warrior ceremony. Wetpaw sat beside Rainpaw, who was talking with Flamepaw and ignoring his brother. Come on! Why are you always ignoring me these days? wanted to ask Wetpaw, but he kept quiet and drifted his attention to Sedgepaw. Blueflower –his mother- was grooming him despite his complains, while Strawfur –his father- was watching him proudly. Daisypaw gave him some words of encouragement before he approached the Tallrock, looking up at Breezestar.
"Runningwind, do you believe your apprentice is ready to become a warrior?" she asked.
"He is. I taught him all I know." answered the deputy.
"Heatherleaf, you also watched his assessment. Do you agree with Runningwind?"
His mother looked uncomfortable for a heartbeat as everyone turned to look at her –and some not with friendly glances. "I do. I saw in Sedgepaw all the qualities that a warrior needs."
Breezestar nodded. "I, Breezstar, leader of WindClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn." She looked down warmly at Sedgepaw as she continued: "Sedgepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?
"I do." answered Sedgepaw, letting no emotion in his voice though his excitement was visible to anyone.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Sedgepaw, from this moment you will be known as Sedgeclaw. StarClan honors your bravery and your loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of WindClan."
Breezestar leaped down from the Tallrock and rested her muzzle on his forehead, and Sedgeclaw licked her shoulder, as the Clan cheered for the new warrior, Daisypaw and Amberpaw loudest of all: "Sedgeclaw! Sedgeclaw! Sedgeclaw!"
"Oh and I forgot." added Breezestar. "I'd like to officially welcome two new members. Sunnyberry has given birth to Eaglekit and Hawk-kit about a quarter moon ago! WindClan is as strong as ever!"
Mews of congratulations and agreement rose from the clearing. Wetpaw stiffened. Oh Brightpaw, let's hope it is strong enough. As he lost himself in his thoughts, he felt some claws dig in his back.
"What is it?" he asked turning around. To his surprise it was Rainpaw, who was watching him strangely.
"I want to ask you something." mewed his brother.
"Ask me something? Go ahead."
"Not here, mousebrain. Meet me outside the camp, but don't let any cat suspect that we are meeting, okay?"
Wetpaw nodded and looked at his brother slipping out of camp. He saw Blossomtail and an idea formed into his mind.
"Blossomtail! Can I hunt again now? please!" he pleaded.
"You've just come back from Sedgepaw's assessment, you should rest." she mewed.
"Please! I'll take Rainpaw with me, besides, I'm not exhausted. And I won't be able to have as much training since you'll be moving soon into the nursery."
Blossomtail looked at him, amused. "I may be waiting for kits, but that doesn't mean I won't be able to train you for the next quarter moon! Well… If you are so desperate to hunt, you may go."
Wetpaw rushed out of camp, searching for his brother. What does he want to ask me? He doesn't want any other cat to hear about it. I wonder what it is.
"Here you are!" mewed Wetpaw as he saw his brother.
"Don't be so loud! Do you want every cat to know that we are here?"
"Don't worry, I told Blossomtail we were hunting. So what do you want?"
Rainpaw stood silent for a couple of heartbeats, then mewed: "Where do you go at night?"
Of all the questions his brother could have asked, this was the last one he was expecting. Wait… He noticed?
"It happened a couple of time. I wake up and you are not in your nest. So where do you go?"
"For a walk." answered Wetpaw, avoiding his brother's piercing gaze.
"Really? Then why are you hiding your scent?"
It was a trick Brightpaw had taught him after Moonpaw had discovered them.
"So?" insisted his brother. "If you are not going to tell me now, I'm going to discover it myself anyway."
"All right I'll tell you. But."
"But?" he asked.
"But you are going to have to promise me to shut up and do as if you knew nothing."
"Really? Is it such a big deal?"
"Yes. So promise if you want to hear about it, or don't and I'll make sure you never discover it."
Rainpaw shrugged. "I guess this is my only choice. I promise."
Wetpaw closed his eyes for a couple of heartbeats. He is going to shred me to pieces when he learns I'm breaking the warrior code for the same 'mistake' as our parents. "Well…" He took a deep breath. "Sometimes I'm meeting a cat."
"A cat?" Rainpaw looked at him through suspicious eyes. "What sort of cat?"
"Brightpaw, a ThunderClan apprentice. We are close friends."
"What!?" mewed Rainpaw, outraged. "You are meeting a she-cat from another Clan!? Are you stupid!?"
Wetpaw replied calmly. "Yes, I'm meeting her, but I'm not stupid."
He'd never seen Rainpaw so angry as he replied: "Not stupid? What do you mean not stupid? You are meeting a she-cat from another Clan. You are breaking the warrior code for a stupid reason! You are not even capable of learning from our parents! And you are telling me you are not stupid!?"
"Stop telling me things I already know! But what I'm not stupid! It's called being in love! Do you even know what it is?"
"Do you know what loyalty is?" asked Rainpaw.
"I know. I know what I do is wrong. Yet my heart screams it's right, because I love her so much."
Rainpaw sighed. "You know there can't be anything good coming out of this?"
Wetpaw shrugged. "I know."
His brother seemed to have calmed a little bit, though he still seemed very angry and disappointed. "Luckily for you, I don't break my promises so I'll tell no one about it. But I beg you to stop it, it's not too late."
"I can't." answered Wetpaw. He knew he wouldn't be able, even if he tried.
"Why?" asked Rainpaw, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"Love." He loved Brightpaw so much, it was impossible to imagine a future without her. "But now there is also a new reason, one you should know about." He wondered if it was a good choice, telling his brother about it.
"Go ahead."
"The Clans are in danger, there is a cat planning to take over the territories." mewed Wetpaw, pointing out at all the territories by the lake with his tail. There was a good view since they were on top of a hill.
Rainpaw's jaw dropped. "Wait… What!?"
"Brightpaw told me about it."
"And you trust her?" asked Rainpaw, as if he couldn't believe it.
"Of course! With my life. She knows about it since that cat is trying to use her to help him do it, and she can't stand up against him."
"Is it really true? What you are telling me… It's hard to believe since it's unthinkable a cat would even think of taking over the lake!"
Wetpaw sighed. "I wish it were true… But unfortunately it's not." Brightpaw is a part of it, against her own will. I will do everything I can to protect her.
Rainpaw looked skeptical for a couple of heartbeats. "It's crazy… I mean, I've just learned that you are breaking the warrior code. Then to make things even more insane you tell me that a cat wants to take over the lake." His gaze fixed in Wetpaw as he continued. "But since you are my brother, I guess I believe you."
Wetpaw felt relieved. His brother's trust didn't surprise him, though Rainpaw would still be –very- upset at him for the next moon as he was still going to see Brightpaw.
"Thanks." mewed Wetpaw. "Come on, we should really hunt."
Rainpaw nodded. "Let's avoid hunting by the RiverClan border, there's been some conflicts recently over there."
Wetpaw followed his brother as they headed toward a good hunting spot. He didn't manage to concentrate. His thought kept drifting toward Brightpaw. It was beginning to be more and more difficult to be away from her. He felt like his heart was tearing apart.
PLEASE REVIEW! Don't be afraid to speak your mind! I don't mind bad comments (i will learn from them!)
I just had a question: What should Brightpaw's warrior name be? -she will NOT be a warrior by the end of the story (maybe she dies, maybe not but not telling :P ) anway I was just curious... Since I kind of have no idea!
Brightwing? Brightspirit? Bright-?
~BrightSun~