Okay, so this chapter isn't that long, but then I found that I hadn't put up the alleigances!!! Gah!!!!! So, I'm going to put them up after this chapter. Let me know what you think Whitepaw should decide at the end of the chapter, kay? Thanks to XLeafheartX, XxXxSkyheartxXxX, and XStormcloudX for reviewing!
Whitepaw licked her tail, her eyes dull. For a while, she had thought that Leafpaw was actually happy to see her... but....
"Whitepaw! You're coming to the gathering!" Stripedthoughts mewed, bounding up to her daughter.
"Great," Whitepaw said dully. Stripedthoughts blinked.
"Whitepaw, you need to stop worrying about Leafpaw. I'm sure he's fine," Stripedthoughts said.
"What would you know? You acted like you didn't even see him the other day. You don't care. Some mother you are, won't even tell us who our father is. I don't look like any tom in the entire clan!" Whitepaw said dully. She stood and padded into the apprentices den to finish her bath while Stripedthoughts stared at Whitepaw in disbelief.
"Whitepaw, that wasn't very nice," Twigpaw mewed, lifting his head from his nest.
Whitepaw shrugged, "What should I care. She hasn't ever been a great mother. Just telling her in case she wanted to have another litter. Maybe none of those kits will be stolen and forgotten."
"Whitepaw. Stop it!" Twigpaw hissed.
"Why?" Whitepaw asked casually, not really caring what happened.
"Because you are driving yourself to the Place of No Stars!" Twigpaw snapped.
"So? Maybe then people will remember me," Whitepaw hissed. "Leave me alone. I'm trying to finish my bath." Whitepaw turned around and drew a paw over her ear.
"You won't get to," a voice snapped. "Whitepaw, we're going training."
"Fine. But I won't be the disgraced one when you show up with a dirty apprentice," Whitepaw said, padding out of the den. Stonestar hissed and cuffed Whitepaw on the head, claws barely unsheathed.
"Whitepaw, you need to learn respect. If you don't want to train and become a warrior, then don't. But until you decide to be reasonable, you are to clean out the elder's den and check them for ticks. No one is to help you." Stonestar growled, stalking off.
"Fine. But once again, I won't be the one disgraced when you walk to the gathering with a dirty apprentice," Whitepaw muttered, padding to the elders den. She gathered up all the dirty moss and rolled it out into the forest, leaving it in a small ditch. Gathering up new moss with her claws she carried back to the elders den and shaped it into nest shapes.
Padding into the medicine cat den, Rainsight handed her a stick with a piece of moss on it, her eyes cold. Whitepaw shrugged and padded back to the elder's den. She padded up to Onefoot and sat down, searching his fur for ticks. Cracking the tick between her teeth, she pressed it with mouse bile and it fell off.
A while later, Whitepaw emerged from the MoonClan cave, her paws wet. She padded angrily up to a stream and submerged her paws, hissing when it was cold.
"Stupid Leafpaw, stupid Stripedthoughts, stupid father, stupid Stonestar," Whitepaw snarled, leaping from the stream and swiping her claws at a tree. Four large slash marks appeared on the bark. She growled again and padded back into camp, her eyes angry. She could see Stonestar watching her, and Windsong, Tigerstripe, Leopardear, Twigpaw, Stripedthoughts, even Rainsight. Flowerpelt, Moonface, and Fleetfoot watched as well.
Whitepaw bared her teeth and stalked to the apprentice's den. Since when did they ever know I existed? Well, whatever. Whitepaw collapsed in her nest and turned so that she faced the wall. I wish my pelt were a normal color. Then I wouldn't be so noticeable.
It wasn't too long before Stonestar yowled out for the cats going to the gathering to come. Whitepaw stood and padded out of the apprentice's den, as did Twigpaw. Stormflight, Thornclaw, Featherfur, and Windsong stood at the entrance to camp.
Stonestar spun around and raced off through MoonClan territory. Whitepaw began to run as well, her pawsteps steady. She didn't really care about this gathering, though it was her first. If Leafpaw is here, I'm going to shred his throat, warrior code or not. Whitepaw was set and determined.
She felt betrayed. Unwanted. She knew that SkyClan didn't care about her or MoonClan. There hadn't been any messages from SkyClan in moons. The patrol stopped as they reached the edge of the trees and Whitepaw heard water crashing. Stonestar flicked her tail and the MoonClan cats padded out into the clearing, heads held high. Whitepaw stared straight ahead, emotionless and Stonestar went off to join the three leaders already perched on the Water-ledge.
Whitepaw sat, close enough to the trees, but far enough from the other MoonClan cats. A tawny-brown cat came and sat next to her.
"What do you want, Leafpaw?" Whitepaw mewed, no emotion.
"Nothing! Am I not allowed to sit here?" Leafpaw asked, his eyes wide.
"No. I am sitting by no cat," Whitepaw hissed, standing and stalking off. Leafpaw followed.
"Why not? I'm your brother!" Leafpaw mewed angrily and Whitepaw spun around, anger flashing dangerously in her eyes.
"Well, then where was that brotherly attitude the other day when you were on patrol?! You didn't even act like I was there!" Whitepaw snarled.
"I had to be good in front of Darkstar! He is my mentor as well as my leader, you know. I only got to come to this gathering because of that!" Leafpaw hissed, his long tail twitching back and forth.
"Fine, then, be a good little kitty for your leader. Family doesn't matter at all!" Whitepaw hissed, turning to stare once more at the leaders. The SunClan leader, Reedstar, yowled for the gathering to begin and all the cats grew silent.
"I will go first," Darkstar mewed. Stonestar nodded, as did Clawedstar. Reedstar growled, but made no move to stop him.
"DuskClan is doing well. Prey is running for us, and we have a new apprentice. Leafpaw." Leafpaw stood, and Whitepaw bared her teeth again. "Other than that, our clan is prospering." Darkstar stepped back. Clawedstar stood, but Reedstar shoved past him.
"SunClan has made a full recovery since Redstar's reign. We will now take full part in the territories, and we are stronger than ever. We give a warning to all who would try to steal prey," Reedstar glared at Stonestar and Clawedstar. "If you do, you will wake up with thorn throats." He sat down.
Clawedstar padded forward, "DawnClan does not have much to report. Our prey is running well, and our clan is prospering."
"MoonClan is doing well. We have a new apprentice, Whitepaw. Other than that, MoonClan has nothing to report." Stonestar leaped to the series of stones that led down from the Water-ledge. The other leaders followed.
"Whitepaw, seriously!" Leafpaw begged. "I'm still your brother! I just had to make Darkstar believe I cared nothing for MoonClan! Please, I'll be at the DuskClan border by that tree, at the half-moon. You can tell me what you think then!"
"Fine. But don't be expecting much," Whitepaw hissed and padded off to head back to camp. Stonestar gave her a meaningful glance and shook her head.
"Alright, let's go!" Stonestar called and the MoonClan patrol began to race back to the camp. Whitepaw kept up easily with the patrol, but she stayed at the back of the group. Surely no one will notice if I just drop off. Whitepaw slowed her pace and began walking.
Leafpaw. Ugh!! He thinks he can just pad in and out of my life at will?! Well, he'd better not do that again. I want to know once and for all whether or not he is loyal to his family, or his new clan. He'd better choose correctly.
The small white apprentice hissed to herself and raced onwards, entering the cave just as the patrol was settling down.
Stonestar padded over to Whitepaw. "Get something to eat."
Whitepaw glared after her leader but grabbed a scrawny mouse anyways. She picked at it, sitting in a small corner of the cave.
He'd better choose, quickly, too. I don't want to be connected to a traitor.
So, is Leafpaw a traitor, or was he doing the right thing? Let me know!!!