Disclaimer: I don't own warriors.
Hawkpath looked to see her guard was today. She recognized the brown and black stripes of Cedarstripe.
"Hey Hawkpath." Cedarstripe greeted her. Hawkpath growled. She knew this cat and that made it all the worse.
* Hawkpath flashback. *
It was Hawkpaw's second gathering and Rainpaw bounced up and down next to her.
"What are you so excited about?" She meowed. Rainpaw twitched his whiskers, "A met a cat here last time, Cedarpaw. I hope he's here again."
Hawkpaw stared at him, "You act like he's a friend."
Rainpaw scratched the ground, "Well…" He sighed, "We are. Like you and Brightpelt."
Hawkpaw sighed. No use trying to tell him that was different.
Shinestar meowed, "Rainpaw, I saw the two of you at the last gathering talking about mentors and which clan had fiercer warriors." She purred, "I remembered my first gathering and I acted like that." She flicked her tail over her apprentice's ear and lead the clan down to the gathering.
Hawkpaw followed Rainpaw towards the SunClan cats.
"Hey Rainpaw!" A striped tom called.
"Cedarpaw!" Rainpaw greeted him, "This is my friend Hawkpaw." Cedarpaw dipped his head.
"Don't get too friendly Cedarpaw." A black and white tom growled.
"Of course not Thorntail." Cedarpaw replied. When the tom left Cedarpaw added, "Oh great newest warrior to the clan." Hawkpaw and Rainpaw twitched their whiskers in amusement.
Cedarpaw continued, "He should know. I heard he at his first gathering he told a SunClan cat that we were going to attack them to move the border." He shook his head, "Most cats think he and his sister Poppyfur will join that clan."
* Different Hawkpath flashback *
Rainfire and Hawkpath stood next to Tanglefur.
"I can't believe we're warriors." Hawkpath meowed. Rainfire shook his head.
"Neither can I." He looked over, "Hey Cedarpaw!"
The tom glanced at him, "Cedarstripe, thank you."
Rainfire purred, "That's great. We're warriors too!"
Cedarstripe sat down, "Great! What are your warrior names?"
"I'm Rainfire and she's Hawkpath." Rainfire answered. Their friend purred.
* End Flashback *
Cedarstripe sat down.
"I'm sorry." He told her, "About everything. DarkClan being driven out and all of that. I couldn't convince anyone to wait and not fight." He sighed, "Believe me I tried. But I'm not the only one. Brightpelt and Toadpaw to name a few. But other cats support Thorntail."
Hawkpath sighed, "I believe you."
Cedarstripe cocked his head, "Are you hungry?" His eyes sparkled in a playful manner, "'Cause if you promise not run I can get you something." He didn't wait for her reply to bound over to the prey-pile.
"Sorry. It was the first thing I grabbed." A small squirrel sat at Hawkpath's paws.
"It's okay." Hawkpath meowed, "I really shouldn't."
Cedarstripe rolled his eyes when Hawkpath dug in.
"Umm… Cedarstripe you may be in trouble." She meowed seeing Thorntail approuching.
"Thorntail can chase his tail." Cedarstripe snarled. He stood up to met the tom.
"Why did you leave the prisoner alone? We need each piece of prey. She just a prisoner." Thorntail growled. Cedarstripe lashed his tail.
"She may be a prisoner but a dead prisoner is no use to us." Cedarstripe cocked his head, "Sort of like you." Thorntail's eyes widened.
Cedarstripe continued, "All you do is sit around and watch her. Why don't you go on patrol or something?" Thorntail looked like he was going to rake his claws down Cedarstripe's face. The tom gave no notice.
"I mean you can be useful can't you?" At that Thorntail leapt on the striped tom. He and Cedarstripe rolled around screeching like a pair of eagles. Every cat stared. Hawkpath felt horrible. She knew what a fighter Thorntail was. Then to everyone's surprise Cedarstripe raked his claws down Thorntail's face. The tom jerked back and Cedarstripe lunged pinning him down.
"What is going on?" Oakstar yowled. Cedarstripe turned.
"This mouse-brain was talking to me when I was supposed to be guarding the prisoner. I told him to go do something useful if he could and he attacked me."
Leapstar growled, "Let him up." Cedarstripe got off of Thorntail.
"Is that true?" Oakstar asked. Thorntail nodded.
"He took prey to the prisoner. I wanted to know why."
At that moment Pebbleshine spoke, "I'll tell you why. He was following my orders." With a sniff she turned to Cedarstripe.
"You'll live." She meowed, "Those aren't even deep. But come to my den I'll give you some herbs."
Thorntail growled. "Who's going to guard the prisoner."
Cedarstripe narrowed his eyes, "Don't be more of a mousebrain then you can help. What's she going to do? In that state I'm sure a kit could beat her." Thorntail spat at him before disappearing into the medicine cats den.
Afterwards Cedarstripe come over again.
"Hey Clearheart I'm supposed to give Hawkpath some water." Cedarstripe meowed. Clearheart moved so he could enter.
"Thank you for everything." Hawkpath whispered. Cedarstripe paused.
"Anything for a friend."