It's hard to believe that this story is almost done!
I wonder if anyone here figured out who Ink is...?
Quailpaw tossed and turned once more in his nest. It wasn't that the moss-lined nest wasn't comfortable; the young tom just missed his family. Let out another sigh, Quailpaw curled up in the nest once more. He was still in Ink's camp (though he had no inkling where said tom was) with two large dogs standing guard not far from Quailpaw's nest. He had heard Ink say that their names were Russet and Tank, but that didn't matter to Quailpaw. On the other side of the clearing, the wounded Moonshine and Tallstalk licked their wounds and tried to get some sleep. Three dogs that Quailpaw heard Ink call them Cherry, Sally, and Marmalade guarded the prisoned WaterfallClan warriors.
Ink himself suddenly appeared with the three other dogs. He meowed something to them in dog speech and the three mutts headed out. Ink glanced at Quailpaw and then to the wounded warriors. Ink picked up a mouse from a small pile near him and padded towards the young apprentice.
Quailpaw quickly closed his eyes and slowed his breathing when Ink approached, trying to fool the black and white tom.
"I know that you're awake, Quailpaw," Ink gently growled as Quailpaw opened his eyes. Ink had dropped the mouse in front of Quailpaw. "I can only assume that you are hungry."
A grumble from Quailpaw's stomach affirmed that.
"Uh…thanks," Quailpaw responded and took a few bites of the mouse.
"Get some rest," Ink mewed. "Tomorrow is a big day."
"Yeah right," Quailpaw growled. "Tomorrow is the day that you plan to demolish WaterfallClan!"
Ink tilted his head to the side. "Why so snappy all of the sudden, Quailpaw? My pack and I will keep you safe."
"Safe? My family will be dying tomorrow!" Quailpaw snapped.
Ink paused for a few heartbeats. "Do you miss them?"
Quailpaw sighed and avoided Ink's gaze. "Of course I do. Don't you miss yours?"
The rogue let out a grunt and looked away. "I never had a family."
Quailpaw starred at the rogue. "What…what do you mean by that?"
"I never met my family," Ink replied. "Or, if I did, I do not remember any of them."
"You've never had a mother?" Quailpaw somberly asked.
Ink shook his head. "Nope."
"Or a father?"
Once again, the rogue shook his head.
"And no siblings?"
The rogue shook his head once again.
"I can't imagine life without my father, or my mother, or even my annoying siblings!" Quailpaw gaped. "How did…how did you survive?"
Ink blinked. "You should really be getting some sleep now."
"If you tell me how you survived, then I'll go asleep," Quailpaw promised. "It's just like the stories my father used to tell me and my littermates."
"What kind of stories?" Ink asked, his golden eyes wide with curiosity.
"He would tell us tales of loyalty and courage," Quailpaw explained. "Like the story of Treebranch!"
Ink tilted his head in confusion. "Who's Treebranch?"
"Treebranch was an ancient cat who taught us all the true meaning of loyalty," Quailpaw began. "How about if I tell you the tale of Treebranch, you'll tell me your history?"
"Sounds like a plan!" Ink purred and settled down not far from the apprentice.
"Well," Quailpaw began, reciting the story his father used to tell him and his littermates. "Treebranch was an ancient she-cat and she had a sister named Hawkglare. A tom named Harvestclaw was madly in love with Treebranch, but Hawkglare was jealous.
"One day, Treebranch was walking in the forest when she came upon Harvestclaw's body. Horrified, Treebranch rushed back to camp to declare the news, but Hawkglare was already there. The she-cat had already told the Clan that Treebranch had killed Harvestclaw when the tom confessed his loyalty to Hawkglare. The Clan believed them and their leader, Turtlestar, banished Treebranch, due to the Clan's persuasion."
"But Treebranch didn't kill Harvestclaw!" Ink pointed out. "It was Hawkglare who tricked her!"
Quailpaw raised a paw for silence. "I know, and you'll see what happens next. Anyways, Treebranch was banished from her Clan and she managed to live as a loner for seven moons. During this time, she never went near the border or hunted on the Clan's grounds. Treebranch did keep in touch with a good friend of hers named Lilypetal. Lilypetal would keep Treebranch updated about Clan life while she was away, though Lilypetal didn't tell any cat that she was secretly meeting her best friend once a moon.
"One day, Treebranch decided to go to the border to meet with Lilypetal at their secret arranged spot. Treebranch waited for Lilypetal from midnight to dawn, but there was no sign of her friend. Curious, Treebranch ventured out into her former territory towards the camp. She heard cries and screeches coming from the camp and Treebranch ran faster. Inside the camp, a war was brewing. Hawkglare had teamed up with a rival Clan to assassinate Turtlestar!"
"Why would Hawkglare do that?" Ink interrupted, his black tail swishing in excitement.
"Hawkglare wanted to lead the Clan now that Treebranch was out of the way. Hawkglare also thought that she was fit to be leader instead of Turtlestar," Quailpaw explained, and then went on with the story. "Treebranch rushed into battle to help her former Clanmates. Her former Clanmates were shocked to see Treebranch helping them, and they were very grateful for her assistance.
"It wasn't long until Treebranch was fighting claw-to-claw with her sister. The two tussled on a large tree until Treebranch accidentally shoved Hawkglare off. Hawkglare fell to her death and the rival Clan retreated.
"Turtlestar was dying from her wounds and she asked to see Treebranch. She told Treebranch that she wanted forgiveness and that she never should've sent her away. Treebranch forgave Turtlestar and the leader was at peace. Knowing that Turtlestar's deputy was dead, the dying leader named Treebranch her deputy before she died.
"Treebranch's Clanmates honored her as their new leader, saying that she proved her rank. Treebranch thanked her Clanmates and went on to become Treestar, with her deputy being Lilypetal.
"Treestar went on to becoming a well-liked and respected leader. After she died, her Clanmates buried her in the forest that she loved so much and planted a young sapling in her honor. That sapling, over time, became the largest tree in the forest, and it was named Treestar's Tree.
"Treestar was a reminder for all cats to never stop being loyal to your Clan, and that loyalty was the only thing that mattered."
"So…the moral of the story is to always have loyalty?" Ink asked.
"Yup," Quailpaw smirked. "A Clan can only be strong and united when they have loyalty."
"Hmm…cool story," Ink purred. "Now, I suppose I must tell you my tale?"
"It's part of the deal," Quailpaw purred.
"Very well," Ink replied and swiftly groomed his chest fur. "It all began twelve moons ago…"