Chapter 5: Rejection
Orangepaw looked around tensely. "Wait... Stormeye, how big is this island?" Orangepaw mewed, her pelt prickling with sudden anxiety. Stormeye grinned. "Bigger than an outsider like you would think. Why, you LOST?" Stormeye was clearly enjoying every moment of this. Orangepaw froze as the ferns behind her ruffled. Wildstar stepped out of the ferns, his gaze turned from Orangepaw to Stormeye. His eyes narrowed before breathing in his scent. "You're from ThunderClan, arn't you?" Wildstar meowed confidently. Stormeye nodded, "the deputy to be exact." Stormeye bragged, staring at the storm-gray tom. "Who is currently the leader of your clan?" Wildstar boldly asked. Stormeye stiffened with defense, the good natured glimmer that Orangepaw had seen was gone, replaced by cold anger. "Who are you? This island doesn't belong to you." Stormeye growled, his tail flicking back in forth in aggression. Orangepaw quickly stepped in front of Wildstar and answered swiftly. "We're only here until the gathering." Orangepaw growled, her fur bristling. Stormeye hesitated before replying. "Well this is our gathering place, you can't just stay here and make it your camp." Stormeye meowed, glaring at Wildstar. Wildstar gritted his teeth. "You didn't answer my question. Who's your leader?" Wildstar snarled, shoving Orangepaw aside. Stormeye snarled and lunged at Wildstar, grappling with the large tom. "STOP!" Orangepaw shrieked. The toms quickly broke apart. "Wildstar, you claim you don't want to get into trouble with the other clans and then you go and attack ThunderClan's deputy? Just because we have kinship with them dosen't mean you can go pick fights with them!" Orangepaw snarled, glaring at her father. "Orangepaw..." Wildstar growled, staring his daughter down. "No Wildstar! Just no." Orangepaw snapped. "What am I supposed to take orders from an apprentice about on how to deal with hostile, ignorant, stupid," "Wildstar!" Orangepaw growled. Stormeye stepped in between the bickering cats and turned his gaze to Wildstar. "I was going to ask if you'd come to ThunderClan camp and introduce yourself, but it seems as if you can't handle it." Stormeye turned his head to Orangepaw. "You on the other paw, seem much more civil. Will you come to ThunderClan camp and explain what you're doing here?" Stormeye requested, looking hopeful at Orangepaw. Wildstar growled, but Orangepaw beat him to it. "Sure. Do you want to go now?" Orangepaw answered, ignoring her father's burning gaze. "Now would be great." Stormeye answered swiftly, quickly leading the she-cat away before Wildstar could interfere. "I'll be back by-" Orangepaw was cut off. "Don't even bother coming back." Wildstar growled coldly. "Enjoy life in ThunderClan, because your place in StormClan is gone." Wildstar snarled before stalking back to the rest of the clan. Orangepaw stiffened in horror. "Wildstar! Wildstar wait!" Orangepaw wailed like a lost kit. "No." Orangepaw whispered. Stormeye's expression softened. "Don't worry, I'm sure he'll let you come back by sunrise. If not then Rosestar will let you stay, she is a very reasonable cat." Stormeye consoled, leading Orangepaw across the log bridge.
Orangepaw winced as thorns and burs snagged her pelt as she followed Stormeye through the dense undergrowth. "How much further?" Orangepaw complained, plucking a bur out of her paw-pad. "Camp is only a couple of fox-tails away." Stormeye assured, weaving through the forest. Orangepaw tried to copy his pattern, but she stumbled and fell. Stormeye stopped briefly to allow her to get back up. "Thanks." Orangepaw breathed, determined to show no weakness. "I don't get it. Ever since Rapidstream died back in the mountains Wildstar's been different, it's like he died with her." Orangepaw miserably thought out loud. "Was Rapidstream his mate?" Stormeye asked. "No, she was his sister. She died of famine in the mountains." Stormeye fell silent. "We're here." The tom meowed curtly. As Orangepaw stumbled down the path that led to the camp, cat's watched her curiously. They whispered to each other. Orangepaw's pelt prickled with nerves. "Don't worry, they're just nervous. ShadowClan's been up to no good lately so they may think you're a ShadowClan cat." Stormeye meowed. "Come on, Rosestar's den is right over here." Stormeye led her towards a hole in the stone cut out. A dark cream colored she cat emerged. "Now who's this?" The she-cat asked, her blue eyes focused on Orangepaw. "A group of cats settled on the island." Stormeye informed. The cream she cat's eyes widened in surprise. Orangepaw nodded, not meeting her gaze. "We came from the mountains. We lost four cats to famine last leaf-bare, so we left the mountains to see if there was any left over territory. And then Wildstar got in a fight with Stormeye, and I got kicked out of StormClan." Orangepaw explained, eyes brimming with sorrow at the memory. Rosestar's eyes softened. "Well you can stay here, but your friends on the other paw can't stay here." Rosestar meowed coldly. "And I'm sure Shimmerstar, Hawkstar, and Heatherstar will agree with me. We already have enough boarder skirmishes with the four of us here. We can't afford to have another clan here in the forest." Rosestar finished. Orangepaw dipped her head. "It's fine, the only cats that I actually cared about either stayed behind, betrayed me, or well, Sunpaw's here but I'm problebly never going to see him again." Orangepaw mewed.
Hi guys, I know I usually don't leave messages but I would appreciate some feedback (If it's a complaint then please use CONSTRUCTIVE CRITISISM I have feelings too!) I really like to hear from you guys even though I don't show it :)