Chapter 4: The Island
Orangepaw sighed in annoyance. Her paws felt like they were about to fall off, Foxmist had been harassing Orangepaw in her dreams, and Falconpaw still hasn't apologized. The last thing she wanted to do is deal with four territorial clans. Sunpaw trotted up to Orangepaw. "Why do you look annoyed? RiverClan and ThunderClan both have your kin, shouldn't you be excited?" Sunpaw asked, cocking his head to the side in confusion. "I wish we never left the mountains," Orangepaw grumbled, walking away from the flame-pelted apprentice. Orangepaw saw Sunpaw's tail droop as she stomped away. That's his problem not mine. Orangepaw thought to herself before following her father into ThunderClan territory. Wildstar quickly took notice of Orangepaw's presence. "To cause less drama I've decided to have us live on the island in the middle of the lake and wait until the gathering to formally introduce ourselves. The last thing StormClan needs is four angry clans on its tail, after all, we barely have any warriors." Wildstar meowed, determination glittering in his amber eyes. "Let's make Stormstar proud." Wildstar breathed, quickening his pace from a trot to a full sprint. Orangepaw quickly sped up, desperate to prove herself to her father. The rest of the clan quickly picked up the pace.
"Now we don't want any clan to find our scent on their typical path to this island, so we're swimming." Wildstar announced, slipping into the water before the clan could object. Orangepaw growled. She had never taken to the water like her father and her brother had. Orangepaw winced before emerging herself in the dark lake water. Orangepaw struggled to keep her head above the wave-line of the lake as her legs urgently kicking through the chilled water.
Orangepaw's sodden fur weighed her down when she made it to the shore, her teeth chattering as droplets of water casually dripped down her pelt. "You ok?" Sunpaw mewed, his fur plastered to his body, revealing his still boney frame. Orangepaw nodded, her gaze full of bitterness. "I just hate the water that's all." Orangepaw growled, licking herself dry. Moonshine clambered onto the island's shore, her mouth full of herbs that she'd collected along the way. "Can you help me with these?" Moonshine mumbled, leaves falling from her silver jaw. Orangepaw nodded and took the small stash of marigold from Moonshine's jaws. Moonshine blinked her thanks and began to search for a make-shift medicine den. She chose a shallow scoop near the huge oak tree and spat the herbs out. "Thanks for helping me out Orangepaw." Moonshine thanked, instructing the apprentice to drop the marigold in the scoop. Orangepaw spat the bitter herbs in with the other herbs. "It was no big deal." Orangepaw shrugged. Moonshine's gaze gleamed with guilt. "I shouldn't have left the others without a medicine cat." Moonshine wailed quietly to Orangepaw. "I should've stayed." "Don't worry Moonshine," Orangepaw consoled the beautiful she-cat. "Don't forget, Redstar knew a little bit about herbs." Orangepaw reminded her, giving a comforting lick on her ear. Moonshine sighed. "I guess you're right." Moonshine admitted. "I just thought that... everyone would choose to go. I never thought they'd say no." Moonshine mewed. "Um, Moonshine, I think it would be best if I left. I need to help the rest set up shop." Orangepaw mewed, desperate to leave the medicine area. Moonshine nodded. "Oh of course." Moonshine dismissed the light-brown tabby. "Ha ha, nice try Foxmist, but it won't work." Orangepaw muttered under her breath. "I'll never be a medicine cat."
By moon-rise the temporary camp was set up: Wildstar slept at the base of the massive oak, the warriors slept to the right of the oak, sheltered by holly bushes, Moonshine slept to the left of the oak, the apprentices nested closer to the shore in which they arrived, and Pearlpelt and her kits slept beside Moonshine's den. Sunpaw and Falconpaw snored in content, while Orangepaw fidgeted, unable to get a wink of sleep. What if a hostile clan ambushed us in the night? What if twolegs come ashore and capture us all? What if we left our former clanmates to die? There was so much to worry about. A cold gust of wind ruffled Orangepaw's pelt. Orangepaw shot a longing glance at Falconpaw and Sunpaw curled together, sharing warmth. But Orangepaw was stubborn. She refused to sleep near Falconpaw, and Sunpaw's been acting weird around her lately. Both of the toms rubbed her the wrong way at the moment.
The sun rose over the open moor, Orangepaw's eyes fluttered awake. That had been the longest, coldest, most suspenseful night of her young life. Orangepaw scrambled to her paws and looked up at the trees in hopes of finding birds. Mouse dung! No prey was in sight. Orangepaw's tail flicked in frustration. The lake perhaps? Orangepaw padded over to the lake, peering into the shallow water. A school of minnows quickly scattered under Orangepaw's shadow. "You know, you ought to not let your shadow fall on the water. It's basic stuff." Orangepaw jumped in surprise and whipped around to see a sleek warrior staring right at her. "W-what are you doing on the island?" Orangepaw stammered, desperate not to let the warrior tell his clan about StormClan taking residence to the island. The tom let out a meow of amusement. "What are YOU doing on the island?" The black and brown tabby tom challenged, with a good natured glint in his electric-blue eyes. Orangepaw forced her fur down. "I'm here because I want to." Orangepaw hissed. "Geez don't get your fur in a knot." The tom shot back, the good natured glint fading. "Who are you?" The tom glared. "Who are you?" Orangepaw shot back, her ears flattened in defense. "I asked first." The tabby growled. Orangepaw narrowed her eyes. "I'm Orangepaw. Now tell me your name." Orangepaw snarled. The tom's fur flattened, the good natured glint quickly returned to his gaze. "Now was that so hard?" The tom mocked. "I'm Stormeye." Stormeye quickly meowed before Orangepaw could speak. Orangepaw hissed before replying. "What clan do you belong to?" Orangepaw asked the bold tom. "Only the best of the best," Stormeye boasted. "ThunderClan." Orangepaw narrowed her eyes. "Then how do you know so much about fishing?" Orangepaw challenged, staring into Stormeye's gaze. Stormeye shrugged. "Just do. Now, do you belong to a clan?" Stormeye asked. "Yes." Orangepaw mewed. "Which one? I don't recall ever hearing your name at a gathering." Stormeye retorted. Orangepaw thought hard on what Wildstar had described to be a gathering. "How would you know? You can't have been to every last gathering." Orangepaw smirked. "Actually I can. Well obviously you're not from here are you? Otherwise, you would know that I am Rosestar's deputy, and her brother. Stormeye continued to boast. Great, now the deputy of ThunderClan knows we're here. How worse can it get?