Oh gosh. I really didn't want to write this. I mean, I never do, but the fact that no one even reads it plus not wanting to write it is just a double whammy. It isn't even good writing practice anymore because I just BS the whole thing to get it done with. No one to please but Shadow, after all, and she's seen worse of my stuff. XD
Timberfur knows.
I know he knows because I catch him watching me with cold, hard eyes every time he thinks I'm not looking. He doesn't even look away when I lock stares with him; in fact, he somehow transfers even more malevolence at these moments, forcing me to break away first as my skin crawls. I have yet to find a way to prove that he's planning to kill Crookedstar, and fear of losing my newfound place keeps me from seeking out my leader. I just have to take my time, or else I'll mess everything up. Patience never killed anyone.
Splashpaw became Splashpelt. The day he got his name, he strutted through the camp proudly, his chest thrust out and chin held so high I thought he'd fall over backwards. He didn't, unfortunately. Just watching him filled Nightpaw with excitement. In another moon or so, we both knew, she would be named a warrior.
The thought made me sad, because then only Grasspaw and I would be left as apprentices, and before long, Grasspaw would leave too. I'd be alone. I couldn't tell Nightpaw this, of course, because the last thing I want is to make the happiest day of her life marred by my selfishness. And it wouldn't be too long before I joined her, after all. We would end up together in a few moons' time.
"Owlpaw, Nightpaw!" Timberfur calls from across the camp, his eyes smoldering. I jump from where I'd been sharing tongues with Nightpaw, and she looks up at me curiously, the unasked question nearly formed on her mouth when I shake my head very slightly. She frowns.
We slowly pad over to where Timberfur is seated with Rapidstrike and Rainstep. The latter of the two looks annoyed, evident in the lashing of her tail back and forth. Her gaze travels restlessly over the cats passing by, and I wonder if she's going through one of her phases.
Sometimes the crazy Rainstep I know truly does become crazy. She won't respond when I talk to her, or any other cat, for that matter, and she doesn't seem to see anything around her. Occasionally she mutters nonsense to herself, but rarely will she ever say anything comprehensible. However, somehow, it is precisely at these times that her eyes spark with the most intelligent, and she appears to see through everything around her with the most ease. I don't know what brings it on, but the other cats say that she has always been like this, and that there's no harm in it. I hope they're right, for Rainstep's sake.
"Is something wrong?" I ask once I'm within hearing distance. For some reason, I have a bad feeling about this little meeting, despite the fact that Rapidstrike, Nightpaw, and Rainstep prevent Timberfur and I from talking alone.
"Wrong?" Timberfur repeats, feigning innocence. "Nonsense. Rainstep and Rapidstrike decided it was about time to assess the hunting abilities of you and your sister. That's all."
"Sounds fun," Nightpaw says, bouncing on the balls of her paws eagerly. Evidently, she sees it as a chance to prove herself as a good warrior.
"Don't forget that it's a test," her mentor reminds her, though not unkindly. "I shall be judging you on your performance."
"Yes, Rapidstrike," Nightpaw replies, and though she lowers her head in respect, she can't keep the pride out of her voice.
"Owlpaw, I want you to take the border by Fourtrees," Timberfur says briskly. "Nightpaw, take ThunderClan's border, near to Sunningrocks. Good luck to you both."
Nightpaw and I nod, but I think she notices my uneasiness, because almost as soon as we've left camp—Rapidstrike and Rainstep are trailing behind so that we can't see them—she asks, "What's the matter?"
"Nothing's the matter," I say, sounding unconvincing even to myself.
"Uh-huh," she says, rolling her eyes. "Nothing's wrong, and that's why you've been so jumpy lately. I can totally see it."
I let out a sigh and she stops me with a light tap of her tail on my side. She stares at me long and hard before shaking her head. "Why don't you take the hunting grounds near Sunningrocks today? Your head isn't in it at all, and it'll be easier for you to catch prey there."
"But Timbferfur said that—"
"Forget that old bag of fur," Nightpaw teases, nudging me in the shoulder with her own. "He won't care for a little switch. The end results will be the same anyways, right?"
"I guess," I answer, still unconvinced. I can't help but think anything I do will make him angry.
"Well why don't we make it a competition then?" Nightpaw suggests, her voice rising with excitement.
"I don't see how that solves the problem."
"No, but it'll be fun."
I laugh quietly. "Alright, Nightpaw. Thank you."
"Don't mention it," she says, pressing her nose against mine. "That's what siblings are for, right?"
"Right," I reply, feeling compelled to add, "If you ever need anything, I'll be there for you. No matter what it is."
"I know I can count on you, Owlpaw," she says. And then we part ways, her heading north, and me east. I wonder if Rainstep or Rapidstrike would object to our switching hunting grounds, but Rainstep is out of it right now, and Rapidstrike has been close to depressed ever since the last Gathering. It came on right around the time that ShadowClan announced the death of one of their cats. I wonder if the two of them were close.
Nightpaw was right; it is easier to catch prey closer to Sunningrocks. Something about it makes the mice come out of their little burrows, making them easy targets. The fish are in abundance as well, though both of these might just be because it's newleaf and prey is naturally more plentiful.
A strong smell of pines and undergrowth suddenly overcomes me and I open my jaws to breathe in the scent more deeply. A moment later, four cats appear on the other side of the river. ThunderClan.
The lead, a black she-cat with green eyes, steps forward with fur bristling. "What are you doing out on your own, apprentice? I hope you aren't thinking of trying to get across the border."
"Leopardfoot," one of her Clanmates whispers, but she ignores him.
"Well? What is your business here?" she demands.
I wait for Rainstep to come out of hiding and explain that we're in the middle of a test, but she doesn't appear. Maybe this is part of the assessment, too; to see how well I stand up by myself in the face of another Clan. But my throat is dry, and the words won't come. I'm just about to back away and leave before the brambles rustle behind me and I hear Reedtail's familiar voice. "I don't believe it's any of your business to be interrogating our Clan when we've done nothing to you. Yet."
I turn to see Reedtail, Skyheart, and Grasspaw coming towards me. A weight dissipates in my chest, and I quietly pick up my fresh-kill and sidle over to their side.
"Don't try to fool us," Leopardfoot sneers. "You must be plotting to try and take back Sunningrocks. Well, too bad for you, but it's ours."
"Nothing remains unchanged forever, Leopardfoot," Reedtail says coolly, but his hackles are raised, and I can tell it takes a persistent effort not to crouch down into an offensive position. "It would not take long for RiverClan to take back what is rightfully ours."
"Ha!" one of the other ThunderClan cats scoffs. "I'd like to see you try."
Reedtail narrows his eyes, but flicks his tail out when Skyheart takes a step forward, ears flat against her head and her and lips drawn back in the beginning of a snarl. "Unfortunately, this is neither the time nor the place to settle our dispute. However, you can rest assured that this will not pass unheeded."
"Like it makes a difference," Leopardfoot says scornfully. She watches until the patrol and I have disappeared into the loosely scattered foliage. I don't know if she leaves or remains with the rest of her group to make sure we don't come back, because I don't glance back to check.
"Sorry you had to come and bail me out," I say, the mice in my mouth muffling my words.
"Don't be ridiculous," Skyhearts says with a grumpy hmph. "Arrogant ThunderClan thinks they can get away with whatever they want. Pushing around our apprentices, stealing our territory. Crookedstar will be sure to hear about this."
"What about my assessment?" I ask. I still don't understand why Rainstep hasn't come out yet. Even if she didn't show herself when ThunderClan came, she should at least come to tell me whether the assessment is going to continue or not. But there's nothing, not even a trace of her scent.
"Come with us for now," Reedtail says. "You should report with us to Crookedstar. I'm sure Rainstep won't mind, or else she would've said something by now."
All the way back to camp, a dark feeling clings to my chest, growing heavier with foreboding with every step. When we're in sight of the low island surrounded in reeds, it takes me a moment to realize that there's no sound. No cats calling to each other, no one entering or leaving camp. Even the waters seem still.
"Something's not right," Reedtail says quietly, confirming my thoughts. We cut through the water, though with some difficulty for me with two mice and a small fish in my mouth, until we slide onto the shore without pause. The reeds part before our weight, and the first thing I notice is the number of cats gathered in the center of camp.
They all look up as soon as they recognize my scent, and a sense of déjà vu overcomes me as their whispered murmurings go around. I can't make out the words, but I don't need to. I understand as soon as I see Rainstep and Rapidstrike crouching over a bundle of wet night-black fur, twice as small as when I last saw her, and not nearly so still.
Nightpaw is dead.
Ahaha, I hope you don't mind the short, deplorable state this chapter's in. No? No complaints? Well that's just dandy. All I really want is for it to be done already. Nearly there. –crosses fingers–
This chapter is also full of foreshadowing (the fourth paragraph especially) that I cackled evilly as I wrote it. None of you will understand until the final chapter, but for now, you don't need to.
Two more chapters. Then I'm done with Warriors forever, no matter how much Shadow tries to persuade me otherwise.