Had he seen her? Was she being stalked? Tadpolepaw's ears remained pricked and alert. Her fur was fluffed out, and she was crouching down, ready to defend herself if need be.
Tadpolepaw tasted the air again, and nothing changed. Thornleap's scent was in the air. She had hoped not to deal with him again, but Tadpolepaw had always known that hope was unrealistic at best.
Tadpolepaw, for the moment, remained still, but began to tremble in fear. And although Thornleap's scent remained completely fresh, meaning that he was still around, nothing happened.
He wasn't here for Tadpolepaw. Right?
Curiously, yet cautiously, Tadpolepaw tasted the air another time. This time she realized something which her fear had prevented her from realizing before; the wind, which was blowing in her face, was carrying Thornleap's scent to her.
Confirmation that whatever Thornleap was doing, Tadpolepaw was not part of his plan.
Carefully, Tadpolepaw got up from her defensive crouch and crept over to the side of the thunderpath. She was grateful for her black coat, meaning, as it was night, she would be slightly camouflaged. On the side of the thunderpath, Thornleap's scent was now blowing strongly in her face, but now another scent had joined his. Tadpolepaw did not recognize whose scent it was, only that it was ThunderClan. She could not see or hear Thornleap and his mysterious ThunderClan ally; only her nose told her that they were there. Disappointed that she couldn't find anything more out, Tadpolepaw headed back to camp.
Letting out a yawn, Tadpolepaw stretched and woke up the next day.
"Morning Tadpolepaw," mewed Shadepaw, who was sitting up in his nest. "Didn't see you come in last night."
"Ah, well," responded Tadpolepaw. "I guess I wanted a walk."
Shadepaw looked at her incredulously. "You wanted to keep walking after we trekked all the way to the moonstone and back?"
"Uhhhh... Yes?" Tadpolepaw weakly tried.
Shadepaw let out a sigh and shook his head. "Whatever Tadpolepaw. I've got training to do. I imagine that Weaselfoot wants you as well."
Tadpolepaw watched her brother leave before giving herself a quick wash, and heading out of the apprentices den herself.
"There you are," mewed Weaselfoot, walking up to Tadpolepaw. "Didn't want to wake you up, given your long trek last night."
"Thanks," purred Tadpolepaw. "So, what are we doing today?"
"Nothing too exciting, I'm afraid," responded Weaselfoot. "The elder's den needs clearing out. Fortunately, I managed to convince them all to go for a walk, so you won't have to work around them.
Fox dung! thought Tadpolepaw. A chance missed to unravel the mystery around Tansyfoot's siblings! However, Tadpolepaw did not speak.
"One other thing," finished Weaselfoot. "I thought you might want some help, as well as possibly some company, so Ashenpaw will be helping you."
As Tadpolepaw walked over to the elder's den, thoughts buzzed around her head like bees, and, for the first time today, it wasn't about Thornleap.
Ashenpaw. I haven't spoken with her much since we rescued her from WindClan. I think she feels guilty. Maybe I can use this as a chance to rekindle our friendship.
After what felt like moons, Tadpolepaw arrived at the elder's den. Ashenpaw was already there, and had just beginning to clear out the old nests.
"Hi," mewed Tadpolepaw, feeling very awkward.
Ashenpaw glanced up, and then just stared at her for a moment. A moment of silent passed.
"Hi." Ashenpaw finally responded, several heartbeats too late.
"Where should I help out?" asked Tadpolepaw
"Let's take out all the moss and find a place to dump it," said Ashenpaw, in a voice that sounded very forced.
The two cats walked out of the camp, carrying mouthfuls of moss. Soon they found a sheltered spot behind some ferns, and the two cats spat out the moss. As they started to head back to camp, Tadpolepaw decided she was sick of the icy silence between them.
"Aren't you doing your warrior assessment today?" Tadpolepaw asked
"Honeypaw and I are doing almost all of our assessments together, but she strained her leg yesterday. I've already done most of my solo assessments, so I get stuck doing this."
"How long is Honeypaw out?"
"A day or two." responded Ashenpaw shortly.
Silence filled the space between the two of them.
As they entered the elder's den, Tadpolepaw decided that she could take it no longer.
"What have I done to annoy you, Ashenpaw! What has happened to us?"
Ashenpaw dropped the moss she was carrying and stared at the ground. Several heartbeats of silence followed. Then, finally, a small, squeaky voice that was not Ashenpaw's came out.
"You've done nothing Tadpolepaw. It's all me. I've done everything wrong."
"How? Ashenpaw, what is the matter?" said Tadpolepaw in disbelief, wanting to shake her friend.
"I stupidly wandered onto WindClan territory. I stupidly disobeyed the warrior code. I stupidly got caught. It's my stupid fault that a brave cat is dead. It's my stupid fault that ShadowClan were forced into a dumb battle that wasn't needed. And you, Tadpolepaw. You didn't get to see yourself when you wandered into WindClan camp to get me out of there. You looked bad, Tadpolepaw. Blood was dripping from your belly, from your chest. Your face and muzzle fur was soaked with blood. What if you had a few more cuts and scratches on you, Tadpolepaw? You could have died, and it would of been, my stupid fault. You're better off without me, Tadpolepaw."
Tadpolepaw stared at her friend in shock. How could she say such things? Everything that had happened, was the fault of Thornleap, not her! But, a small, snide, voice in her head spoke different.
She was stupid, the snide voice went. You wouldn't had spent half a moon in the medicine den. Sparkstone would be alive. You wouldn't have had to go up against Thornleap. Everything that had happened a moon and a half ago would not have happened. The battle, your injuries, everything. In a sense, she's destroying your friendship, not you.
No, No. Tadpolepaw pushed the thoughts of the snide voice away from her. Ashenpaw needed her, and she needed Ashenpaw.
"That's.. That's OK." stammered Tadpolepaw, not knowing how to respond to Ashenpaw's rant. "Every one makes mistakes. You are a valued friend of mine. I am much better off with you. And I miss the bubbly, the happy you. I don't like seeing you like this. I don't want to lose you. Can we repair this friendship, together?"
Ashenpaw didn't answer immediately. Instead, she just stared. Her blue eyes simply bored holes in Tadpolepaw. Tadpolepaw could almost see all of the thoughts racing through her. If only she could touch them, get rid of the ones telling her to not accept her offer of friendship, make sure that Ashenpaw made the right choice. But Tadpolepaw was left shifting her weight from leg to leg, waiting uncomfortably for Ashenpaw to make her choice.
Finally, after what felt like moons, Ashenpaw opened her mouth.
"I-I-I," was all that came out. A small stutter. Tadpolepaw felt like screaming. Why was her friend so reluctant to come back from her self imposed exile!
"Lets finish making the nests," Ashenpaw said, closing down the conversation. Tadpolepaw nodded, before letting out a sad sigh. What was wrong with her friend?
That night, Tadpolepaw relayed her experiences with Ashenpaw to Owlheart. She would have told Shadepaw and Honeypaw as well, but Honeypaw was still in the medicine den, resting, and Shadepaw had ended up being selected for the evening border patrol.
"So," said Tadpolepaw, as she finished up her story. "No commitment. We don't know whether she wants to become friends with us again, or whether, for some reason, wants to isolate herself from us."
"Not good." commented Owlheart.
"You're her brother, Owlheart. Can't you do anything to convince her?" pleaded Tadpolepaw.
"I've tried, Tadpolepaw," said Owlheart sorrowfully. "She won't even listen to me."
Tadpolepaw sighed, and put her head on her paws.
"This sucks." said Owlheart.
Tadpolepaw nodded her head in agreement.
That night, as Tadpolepaw tossed and turned in a vain attempt to get to sleep, another problem resurfaced in her mind. Thornleap's influence in ThunderClan. How on earth was she to counteract this? There was a gathering the next night, where she might be able to tell a ThunderClan cat. But what cat would believe a story in which she had no evidence?
The following night, the full moon gleamed in the sky as the ShadowClan patrol for the gathering left camp.
Neither Shadepaw nor Honeypaw had been picked to go, but Tadpolepaw and Owlheart had.
"I take it Ashenpaw didn't say anything to you today?" asked Owlheart
"Nope," sighed Tadpolepaw. "I don't understand why she won't talk to me. Maybe tommorow."
"Hopefully," mewed Owlheart in a voice that did not sound very hopeful.
A moment of silence passed.
"If I can change the subject," said Tadpolepaw. "I was wondering whether you know any ThunderClan apprentices. If so, do you think you might be able to introduce me to them?"
Owlheart stared at his feet before answering.
"I was hoping we could have some together time at the gathering," he mumbled quietly.
"Uhhhhh," said Tadpolepaw, not quite knowing how to respond. "Isn't the gathering the set time where we meet cats from other clans?"
"True, True." mewed Owlheart quickly. "I don't really know many of the apprentices from ThunderClan, but I have talked with their medicine cat, Hazelheart from time to time. She has an apprentice, called Lichenpaw, I think. I should be able to introduce you to him."
"Thanks," purred Tadpolepaw
A short while later, the ShadowClan patrol arrived at Fourtrees. Thankfully, a whiff of the scent in the clearing told Tadpolepaw that ThunderClan were the only ones here.
"There's Hazelheart," mewed Owlheart, pointing out a brown she-cat with darker tabby swirls on her pelt. Tadpolepaw followed Owlheart over to her.
"Hello Hazelheart." mewed Owlheart, as he wandered over, tail up in the air.
"Hello Owlheart," came the warm voice of Hazelheart, before giving Owlheart's shoulder a quick lick. "How runs the prey in ShadowClan?"
"Fast," purred Owlheart. "But not fast enough to get away from us. Anyway, this is my friend, Tadpolepaw. She was hoping to meet some ThunderClan apprentices, and I couldn't help but think of Lichenpaw."
"Who said my name?" came a new voice. Tadpolepaw turned to see a light brown tabby apprentice walking up to her. Immediately, for no rational reason, Tadpolepaw felt unnerved.
"Hello," Tadpolepaw mewed. "I'm Tadpolepaw. I've been hoping to meet you."
"Greetings." Lichenpaw responded. "As I am sure you know, my name is Lichenpaw."
Something about this cat just didn't sit right with Tadpolepaw. What was it about him? She had barely spoken to him, yet she already didn't feel comfortable around him?
"Would you like to wander around Fourtrees?" Tadpolepaw asked
Lichenpaw nodded, and the pair left Owlheart and Hazelheart.
As soon as Tadpolepaw felt comfortable that no cat would hear their conversation, she turned to Lichenpaw.
"You have a problem in ThunderClan," she hissed
Lichenpaw sat down on the grass.
"Go on," he mewed.
"You have a problem in ThunderClan," she hissed. "WindClan's deputy, Thornleap is meeting with at least one of your cats."
Lichenpaw stared for a moment before commenting. "Now that is an accusation and a half." His voice sounded just as calm, and Tadpolepaw remained unnerved.
"Doesn't make it false." responded Tadpolepaw's"
"Oh?" mewed Lichenpaw. "Then tell me, what reason do I have to trust you?"
Tadpolepaw found herself caught off guard. She quickly racked her brain. What reason could she offer for him to trust her? Her story sounded ridiculous, and she could offer no evidence? How could she get him to trust her?"
After a long moment without Tadpolepaw saying anything, Lichenpaw spoke again.
"Tell me, ShadowClan," he said, his voice now having a hard edge to it, and Tadpolepaw could now see his claws beginning to extend as fear raced through her veins. "What reason do I have to trust you?"
Welcome Lichenpaw to Tadpolefur's struggle. He will be appearing a lot more from now on.
Reviews!
A Sky of Blazing Stars: Yes, having Acaciastar be as harsh as possible aim. Really kills me to throw more trouble at Tadpolepaw, but I hate the overused cliche of "StarClan supports the protagonist, but only gives a vague prophecy." Tadpolepaw and Shadepaw are nearly three moons through their training at this point. Crystalstar's kits are apprentices, although I'm not sure when exactly we will see them.
SomeoneI'mSure: As I said, I am so sick and tired of the "Distant yet still supporting StarClan" cliche. And you were right about Thornleap! Well done!
ExplodingQuasar: And it sure is a good thing that I am alive! Glad you enjoyed the chapter. Really? In the books, while the clans were still in the old forest, they apprentices always visited the moonstone, although that tradition was abandoned when they moved to the lake. Anyway, I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint either.
Mothstar of CloudClan: Thank you! I'm glad that you are enjoying it. Can neither confirm nor deny your theories.
That's it! Thank you to everyone who reviewed!
- Willowstorm
