Okay, another chapter of The Rabbit Trap! This one is less of Rabbitpaw's fault and more he feels like it's his fault.
5. A kit must be at least six moons old to become an apprentice.
"Beepaw! Shadepaw! Amberpaw! Pinepaw!" Rabbitpaw called out the apprentice's names. However, he was not calling out in joy. Worry tainted his voice as he couldn't move his gaze off of the apprentices. They were only five moons old, but they were apprenticed early because of the war with ThunderClan. He thought bitterly back to half a moon ago when Yellowstar, in front of all four Clans, declared war on ShadowClan. The Gathering had gone silent in shock. He remembered how he cringed when Echostar accepted the ThunderClan leader's declaration of war. He knew she did it so ShadowClan didn't look weak. However, it still worried him.
His gaze turned to the apprentices' mentors. Longfur got Beepaw, Doetail got Shadepaw, Kestrelfang got Amberpaw, and Wolfspirit was now mentoring Pinepaw. His eyes followed his mother as the Clan meeting ended. He noticed Mottleface stop her, probably asking to join her and her new apprentice. Rabbitpaw's pelt prickled as he suppressed a hiss. It was obvious to the whole Clan that the handsome tom was mooning over the pale brown warrior. However, Doetail didn't returned the brown tom's affection and Rabbitpaw watched as she politely refused Mottleface's offer.
"What are you thinking about?" Wildpelt's question nearly made Rabbitpaw jump. The cream and brown tom quickly fixed his ruffled pelt before replying.
"I'm just a little worried that's all. Beepaw, Shadepaw, Amberpaw, and Pinepaw should still be in the nursery." He told his friend as he spotted Applestorm watching her kits leave camp. There was a mixture of joy for leaving the nursery and worry for her five moon old kits.
"Echostar is only doing this because it's the right thing to do. She would never put anyone in the Clan at risk." The messy-furred brown tom pointed out. Rabbitpaw nodded as he loved over to the tabby leader.
"I hope you're right..."
Three days passed after that. The kits were taught battle moves all three days to prepare them for any attack. Rabbitpaw came to notice Doetail was really unsure about training Shadepaw. Thankfully Longfur and Wolfspirit gave her some pointers here and there and would give her advice when she asked. The next day Rabbitpaw and Hollowstrike were returning from battle practice when he saw his mother leave with noon patrol. It wasn't long after that when Willowshade, who was with that patrol, ran through the entrance, beaten and bloody.
"We've been ambushed!" She managed to gasp out before collapsing. Before Rabbitpaw knew what was going on, his and Hollowstrike's names had been called out by the deputy for a backup patrol. His mentor shoved him harshly to get him moving. As they neared the ambush sight, he could see what was going on. Doetail and Shadepaw were fighting off a blue-gray she-cat who he recognized as Bluewillow. Behind Shadepaw, Mumbletail was going in for an attack.
"No!" Hissed Rabbitpaw as he leaped at the warrior, but he was late. The black tom went flying after a single powerful swipe of the ginger tom's paw. Rabbitpaw barreled into the ThunderClan deputy and slashed at his muzzle. Mumbletail pulled back, scarlet blood mixed with his ginger fur. The larger tom swiped at Rabbitpaw, but the cream and brown apprentice ducked his head and ran under Mumbletail's belly. When he got to the ginger deputy's hind legs, he quickly slashed at them with quick swipes of his unsheathed claws. The deputy fall down, almost landed on Rabbitpaw's tail. The apprentice turned and leaped at the deputy again. He landed on him right as the ginger tom had tried to get up. He nipped and swiped at the tom until Mumbletail managed to shake him off.
"ThunderClan! Retreat!" He called out before dashing off into the forest and out of the marsh. As the ThunderClan warriors and apprentices fled, Mumbletail stopped and shot Rabbitpaw a dark look before leaving with his Clan. Rabbitpaw quickly ran over to Shadepaw.
"Shadepaw?" He nudged the little apprentice, but there was no reply and no movement. Rabbitpaw was at a loss for words. Applestorm shoved pass him and pressed her muzzle into her son's fur.
"Shadepaw!" She nudged him as well, but the black tom fell limp. He pain turned to anger as she shot a glare towards ThunderClan territory and cried out: "You'll pay for this you foxhearts!"
Rabbitpaw just looked at the small limp body as ShadowClan warrior tried to hold the angered queen back.
This is my fault... If I had moved faster... If I had gotten here on time... I... He... He would be alive...
That night, when he finally forced himself to go to sleep, he opened his eyes to find himself in StarClan again. He looked around, trying to see who had called him here. Was it Duskfoot? Was it Shadepaw? As he thought of the young apprentice, a sob caught in his throat.
"It's not your fault. It was Shadepaw's time." The sob in Rabbitpaw's throat got worse. He knew that voice! The cream and brown tom whipped around to see his former mentor. The almost white she-cat's pelt shone like stars.
"I... I could have-" But she padded over and rested her chin on his head.
"There was nothing that you could have done to save him. It was Shadepaw's time as it was mine moons ago. You can't go through life blaming yourself. StarClan needed to show Echostar that she should have waited and that she will need to wait with Dapplefur's kits." Rabbitpaw found her voice calming and he buried his muzzle into her sleek fur.
"I miss you. I wish you hadn't had to go." He could hear a faint purr coming from the pale silver warrior.
"I miss you, too. But remember, I'm always watching over you." She swiped her tail over his ear as she turned to walk away. "Now you behave yourself. Don't let everything I've taught you be for nothing."
Sadly, this isn't the end. StarClan already put the plan in motion and there's no way Rabbitpaw can get out of this.
On different news, I would love to hear your suggestions for Rabbitpaw's warrior name!