Starpaw yawned from her place, the sunning making her warm and drowsy. She wanted to train, and could by tomorrow, at least by what Ravenfur said. She could go on simple patrols, but Blazestar had yet to send her on one. She looked across the camp, seeing the kits playing, getting closer and closer to apprentice hood, some warriors sharing tongues, the elders complaining. she felt warm, being here in her home.
Wolfkit came up to her, not saying anything, but carrying a small ball of moss. It was dripping slightly. Starpaw looked at him as he sat down and placed the ball of moss on his front paws to keep it from touching the dirt.
"Thirsty?" He asked. Now Starpaw understood what the moss was for. He must have gotten it from a source in the camp, as no kits could leave the camp anymore. Maybe a warrior brought some water-filled moss for the queens, and he took some from that. Starpaw shook her head.
"No thank you." she responded. Wolfkit stared at her for a moment, seemingly a little sad, but took the moss back to the other kits, who began playing with it.
Starpaw yawned again. She felt restless, and wanted an adventure, excitement, training! Her leg felt fine, so she didn't understand why she couldn't train. She shook her head, and looked at the entrance of the camp as Shadepaw and Bluepaw came in, followed by their mentors. Stretching as she got up, Starpaw went and got a mouse from the fresh kill pile, and settled back down to eat.
Bluepaw and Shadepaw soon joined her, and told her about their patrols and training.
"I wanna go out to!" Starpaw groaned. The two looked at her sympathetically.
"You'll be able to resume training tomorrow" Shadepaw said, trying to be supportive, though Starpaw wasn't in the mood for it.
"I wanna go out TODAY though!" She said, her voice sounding similar to a whine. She looked around a bit, to make sure the other cats of the clan couldn't hear her, before speaking in a low voice, "I'm gonna leave the camp tonight."
"What?!" Shadepaw hissed in a low tone, so as not to be over heard.
"Starpaw and I all ready agreed on it, Shadepaw. I saw some rogues in Riverclan territory, and Whitemist was helping them! We wanna find out what is going on." Bluepaw said. Shadepaw's fur bristled in shock, and a little bit of fear.
"Bluepaw also said she saw Sun-Drownclan warriors stealing from Moonclan at night. I wanna go see if it is true, so that we have two witnesses, and then Blazestar can bring it up at the next Gathering." Starpaw said. Shadepaw shook his head.
"Do you two have bees in your brains? Do you know how much trouble you could get in?" He hissed in a low tone. Starpaw and Bluepaw nodded, unfazed.
"We know, we just don't care. And if you squeal on us, you are gonna need a new hide." Bluepaw said, unsheathing her claws. Shadepaw made a low keening noise, but nodded.
-
It was late, well after the time most cats were asleep when Bluepaw and Starpaw sneaked out. They didn't have much difficulty, since they had a back way out, a thin area in the bramble and fern bushes that would let a cat of their sizes through easily.
They headed straight for Small Land, intending to first see if it was a recurring thing for Sun-Drownclan to be stealing from Moonclan, and then they were going to go into Riverclan territory, to see if they could find the rogue cats Bluepaw had mentioned. If they had to, they would head back to camp without checking Riverclan, but they at least wanted to make sure if Sun-Drownclan was stealing from Moonclan or not.
They finally reached Small Land, and crossed the twoleg bridge, just to the area where they could see the territory between Moonclan and Sun-drownclan. They settled down, and waited.
It was incredibly boring, sitting there doing nothing but watching, when something caught Starpaw's eye. A movement on Moonclan's territory. She stared intently, using her paw to motion to Bluepaw where the movement had come from.
They stared as a small figure came out, obviously an apprentice. It was to dark to make out any coloration, or fur patterns, so they couldn't tell who it was.
The apprentice-sized cat started heading for Small Land, causing Starpaw and Bluepaw to get up and move, so as to not be seen. They hide in some near by bushes, and watched as the cat stepped on the twoleg bridge.
Finally in the moon's light, Bluepaw and Starpaw could see that the apprentice-sized cat was Darkpaw, the apprentice of Moonclan. She looked around a bit, then looked back in her territory, nodding for something to follow. From the shadows, Nightpaw appeared.
Bluepaw nudged Starpaw further into the bush as the two Moonclan apprentices crossed the twoleg bridge onto Small Land. Nightpaw lifted his head, and sniffed the air.
"There are fresh Sunclan scents." He muttered to Darkpaw. Darkpaw gave an annoyed sound, and used her tail to motion for him to follow her.
When they neared the bridge leading to Sunclan territory, Bluepaw dashed out from the bushes, giving a high-pitched snarl.
"Where do you think you two are going?" She hissed. Starpaw came out as well, and walked beside her. She felt unusually happy about seeing Nightpaw again.
"I could ask you the same thing!" Darkpaw hissed back.
"Yeah, right! We weren't trying to go on another clan's territory, while you guys are!" Bluepaw hissed at Darkpaw. Starpaw decided against mentioning they were planning to go to Riverclan territory next.
"We wanted to find out if it was true that Riverclan was stealing prey from Sunclan to give to loners and rogues." Darkpaw said. Bluepaw and Starpaw were caught off guard.
"Riverclan, stealing from us? We though Sun-Drownclan were stealing from Moonclan!" Bluepaw exclaimed.
"Huh?" Darkpaw and Nightpaw both responded, in unison.
The four sat, and took turns explaining what they had seen up to that point.
"I see, so, we may have a bigger problem than what we can deal with on our own." Nightpaw murmured, only to have Darkpaw bat him with her paw.
"We can handle it!" She said, but Starpaw shook her head.
"No, Nightpaw is right. If the problem is this big, we really cant do much of anything on our own. We'd need more warriors to deal with it." She said. Bluepaw nodded in agreement, along with Nightpaw, but Darkpaw hissed in annoyance.
"You're just scared!" She accused. Starpaw's fur bristled.
"Scared? We could be going up against Starclan knows how many cats, and we aren't even full warriors yet! Of course it pays to at least be cautious!" She hissed out.
"Darkpaw, it is getting to late, we need to get back, before someone notices we are gone." Nightpaw said, nudging Darkpaw with his paw.
"Tch, fine! We'll have to settle this later." Darkpaw said, glaring at Starpaw as she got up and raced away. Nightpaw paused as he walked away, turning to look at Bluepaw and Starpaw, before nodding and taking off.
"Well, what now? We need to get back soon as well." Bluepaw said, her voice had a hint of annoyance to it, but Starpaw shook her head.
"I wanna see if it is true about Riverclan stealing from us." Starpaw replied. Bluepaw nodded, and followed as Starpaw lead the way into Sunclan territory.
-
Starpaw stayed low to the ground, stifling a yawn as she and Bluepaw waited. The water of the river that separated the two territories of Sunclan and Riverclan was just ahead of them. They smelled fresh scents, some of cats they didn't know, and one Riverclan cat scent, and decided to wait here.
It was difficult to stay awake, but it paid off as a few cats finally came out of some bushes, on the Sunclan side of the river, crossing over to the Riverclan side.
Starpaw could feel Bluepaw tense beside her. The one leading the cats was definitely a Riverclan warrior they had met before. It was Whitemist.
He was followed by a few cats, four total. One was Addertalon. With him were some cats she couldn't identify. A she-cat and two toms. The she-cat was a black and gray tabby, with blue eyes. There was a slightly smaller tom, apprentice age, by the looks of it. He was deep black, with a blood red marking on his face, and almost glowing gold eyes. There was a larger tom next to him, a dark gray tom with yellow eyes.
They all seemed to be talking, about what, though, Starpaw couldn't hear. After a while, they dispersed.
"We should get back." Starpaw heard Bluepaw whisper to her. They creeped away, but as they did, Starpaw noticed the small black tom looking over at where they were. He didn't say anything to his companion, the large dark gray tom, but to Starpaw, it seemed like he was peering into her very soul.
-
As it turns out, Starpaw and Bluepaw got caught trying to sneak back into the camp by Sandtail, who then went directly to Blazestar. Because of that, the two were now sent to tend to the every need of the elders, for the entire day, as punishment.
Starpaw and Bluepaw didn't tell Blazestar what they had seen though, only that they had heard a rumor of Riverclan stealing from them, and wanted to confirm it.
"Let the warriors deal with it. You two need to concentrate more on your training." Was the response they got from Blazestar.
"I hate this!" Bluepaw grumbled as they were fetching new moss for the elder's bedding.
"Guess this means we cant get caught next time." Starpaw said, scratching at some moss to ball it up. From the corner of her eye, she saw Bluepaw nod in agreement.
When they returned to camp, and replaced the elder's bedding, they got themselves something to eat.
"Some of the kits will be apprenticed soon." Buepaw said, as they sat down. Starpaw nodded. Within the next two moons, Bramblekit, Hawk-kit, and Moonkit would be apprenticed. Starpaw wondered idly if she would still be an apprentice at that time.
As Bluepaw and Starpaw ate, Lionclaw and his patrol, consisting of Duststorm, and Smallclaw returned. Ravenfur followed behind them, herbs clamped in her jaws, as she headed to her den. Lionclaw nodded to Starpaw and Bluepaw as he took a mouse for himself, Duststorm heading to report to Blazestar.
Looking at Lionclaw, Starpaw couldn't help but notice he was getting on in his years. He would most likely move to the Elder's den, with his mate Willowpelt, who was also getting on in her years, probably within the next couple of moons.
Starpaw shook her head, and finished eating as Shadepaw returned, and sat next to them, telling them about his day of training.
-
"Starpaw." A voice said. Starpaw instantly knew she was dreaming, when she heard it. She opened her eyes, and was greeted by a sight she found strange. She was at the border between Riverclan and Sunclan, the water of the river lapping lazily along.
Starpaw looked around, trying to find the sound of the voice, but finding no one but herself. She heard movement across the river, and out of habit, she ducked and hid, peering out to see the source of the noise.
A cat emerged, shrouded in a white mist, making it impossible for her to see who it was, but the scent of a Riverclan warrior came to her.
"Starpaw." She heard again, but couldn't identify the source of the noise.
Suddenly, leaves, spotted darkly in color, started to fall, and the mist shrouded cat started to strike at them, tearing them apart. Only nine leaves fell.
-
Starpaw shook her head as she woke up, yawning. She looked around the apprentice's den, seeing Bluepaw and Shadepaw still sleeping. The sun was barely rising, so it wasn't a surprise to her. She thought back on the dream, but couldn't make heads or tails of it, so she let it go as she left the den and stretched.
Before the day had ended yesterday, the kits had all been returned to the nursery with a clean bill of health, so the clan was relieved that all was going well.
Looking in the clearing, everything was quiet. She saw Whitestorm leaving with Braveheart and Sandtail, probably on a patrol or for hunting.
Shaking her head to keep her awake, she padded over to the fresh-kill pile, and took a mouse from the left overs to eat for breakfast.
Just as she settled down to eat, Blazestar emerged from his den, stretching, before padding over to her.
"We'll be going on patrol, and then some combat training in a bit." He said to her. Starpaw nodded, and as he left, she hurriedly ate the rest of her mouse, finishing as Shadepaw and Bluepaw groggily emerged from the apprentice's den.
She had just enough time to tell them she was leaving, before she and Blazestar left.
-
It had been a while, since she had been on patrol, or training, so Starpaw was very eager as they went along. They were near Small Land, now,and rounding to the Riverclan boarder.
"Starpaw! Stop running ahead so far!" Blazestar called to her, though is tone was playful, so Starpaw knew she wasn't actually in trouble yet. Running ahead a little farther, her ears perked at a strange sound. She bolted forward, ignoring Blazestar's calls for her to rejoin him, and stopped once she reached the boarder between Riverclan and Sunclan.
Before thinking, she dashed ahead and slashed at some rats. The moment she arrived, she was horrified at the sight of a Riverclan patrol fighting, and losing, a battle with a rather large group of rats. Slashing again, she saw a flash of orange-gold as Blazestar leaped into the battle.
Starpaw gave a loud hiss when a rat bit into her tail, but she ignored it when she pulled some off of a large gray she-cat. Without taking the time to check if the she-cat was all right, she turned and slashed a the oncoming rats, defending the she-cat behind her, even thought she didn't hear any breathing. Her tail ached horribly, and seeing it in the very edge of her vision, she knew it was bitten badly, but she ignored it and continued fending off the rats.
It seemed forever, when another Riverclan patrol saw and came to help. It wasn't long after that, that finally the rats were all killed, and Starpaw took the chance to look at the she-cat she defended.
To her horror, it was Mistystar.
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Dum Dum DUMMMM!
Next chapter will probably be longer, and better.
As to wether or not Mistystar is FULLY dead... Well...
You'll have to wait and see :3
And PLEASE review!! I like Feedback!