Chapter 6

Wow, I'm actually updating within the week for once! Anyways, this story won't be updated again until next Monday at the least because I'm leaving for my aunt's on Tuesday and coming back on Sunday. You gotta love March Break. :P

Qzil - Yeah, I know, that was waaaaay too short. I'll try to make my chapters longer from now on, but there's no guarantees.

Niah-Miyoki - I like Leafpaw, but not Leafpool. Leafpool is just too Mary-Sueish and she moons over Crowfeather way too much. Ugh.

Silverstorm of RiverClan - lol, thanks. I'll update as soon as I can. Hopefully I don't get bored again!

Foxstar24 - Don't worry, Leafpool won't die. She's going to escape from evil little Brambley. I was considering making Firepaw a mute, but I decided against it.

EyeOfTheTiger - o.O, rabid squirrels? XD Don't worry, Leafpool isn't going to die. She's going to run away.

Song of the Wild - Meep! -stares at kunai fearfully- Okay, I'll update! Just don't kill me!

Tawnyleaf - Lol, it took me awhile to figure out why what you said was weird. I can be extremely slow in the head sometimes. But don't worry, Leafpool isn't going to die.

A groan escaped Blackpaw's throat and he opened his eyes a crack to look around. The tangy scent of herbs wafted into his nostrils, and he could see the various plants organized along the rock walls around him. He lay in a warm mossy nest next to a clear blue pool of water. He groaned again as he realized he was in the medicine cat's den.

"How are you feeling, Blackpaw?"

The young apprentice tried see where the quiet voice was coming from, but pain immediately enclosed his insides, and he winced. He could hear the soft thud of paws on rock nearby and the light brown form of Kestrelpaw appeared. At the sight of the medicine cat apprentice, the memory of the night before flashed in Blackpaw's mind. Would Bramblestar really kill Leafpool? And what was the truth that the great tabby leader had spoken of.

"What happened to me?" Blackpaw croaked, pain still churning in his belly. Kestrelpaw's green eyes flickered with worry and confusion, but he answered anyway.

"You ate death berries," he meowed simply. Blackpaw gasped. He could not remember eating the deadly red berry, which could kill a fully-grown warrior in an instant. Maybe it had been the rabbit.

"You're extremely lucky that you're still alive," the senior apprentice continued. "Why in StarClan's name did you eat them, anyways?"

"I didn't," Blackpaw mewed quietly. "I can't remember it if I did.."

Kestrelpaw gave him an appraising look, but instead of replying, he pushed a dark green leaf and a few small black seeds toward him. "Eat these."

Blackpaw nodded and obediently lapped up the herbs. At the bitter taste that seeped on his taste buds, he screwed up his nose and nearly spat the plants out. Kestrelpaw ignored him.

"Blackpaw, you're awake!"

The apprentice immediately recognized the sweet, melodic voice of Leafpool and he raised his head to look at her. At the sight of her well-groomed tabby fur and lithe shape, the memory of the night before flooded into Blackpaw's mind, and he turned away from the medicine cat. Would Bramblestar really kill her?

"Kestrelpaw, we need to restock on marigold. Can you go and fetch some for me?" Leafpool asked the medicine cat apprentice. Kestrelpaw nodded and disappeared through the den entrance.

"How are you feeling, Blackpaw?" she asked, repeating her apprentice's words only a few moments before.

"I'm fine," he lied. He could still feel a terrible churning in his stomach, but he didn't want the medicine cat to know about it. Leafpool eyed him doubtfully before padding past him into the main area of her den.

"Leafpool, what's the truth that Bramblestar doesn't want anyone to know?" Blackpaw blurted out suddenly. Leafpool froze and slowly turned towards him.

"How do you know about the truth?" she asked him steadily, her amber eyes boring into him. Blackpaw turned away so he wouldn't have to meet her gaze.

"I-I heard you and Bramblestar… talking last night," he mewed carefully. The tabby she-cat sighed and settled herself next to him, curling her tail neatly over her paws.

"Blackpaw, do you promise to never tell anyone else what I'm about to say, not even Firepaw or Nightpaw?"

Blackpaw hesitated for a heartbeat before slowly nodding his head. "I promise."

"The truth is, Blackpaw-" She was caught off by an alarmed yowl from somewhere in the hollow, and the many confused wails and screeches that followed it.

"Twolegs!"

Blackpaw's eyes widened and he bounded toward the den entrance, ignoring the pain in his stomach. Cats were racing panic-stricken about the camp, and a sense of terror had enveloped the air. A few of Bramblestar's elite warriors were trying to shout out orders, but Blackpaw could see the fear in their eyes as well.

Through the chaos, the black apprentice could see Kestrelpaw's light brown figure scrambling towards the medicine cat den, his eyes wide, sweat pouring down his sides. Blackpaw marvelled at how he had changed in such a short time.

"Kestrelpaw, what happened?" Leafpool asked from somewhere behind him.

"T-Twolegs in b-b-bright orange pelts and sh-shiny sticks coming t-towards camp," he stuttered anxiously. Leafpool ushered the tom into her den and the two of them moved as far away from the entrance as they could.

Suddenly, the hollow fell deadly silent, as if everything in the world were holding it's breath. Blackpaw peered out into the clearing, only to see three large Twolegs stepping into the camp, yowling at one another in their strange language.

He watched as their beady eyes flitted about the quarry, taking everything in. He froze as one of them looked directly at him. It screeched at the Twoleg next to it and raised a paw to point at him. Blackpaw began to tremble violently, his heart battering relentlessly against his ribcage.

The Twoleg began to walk towards him, creating a loud thudding sound with every step. Once it had reached him, it crouched down and stretched a massive paw towards him. Blackpaw could not move. He felt as if he were paralyzed. As the grubby fingers snatched him by the scruff and lifted him into the air, he suddenly became acutely aware of the pain in his stomach.

The Twoleg that was holding him yowled deafeningly to his companions and he began to walk towards them. Rapidly regaining his senses, Blackpaw began to twist and struggle in the man's hand. When it still didn't go, he sunk his fangs into the pale flesh.

With a screech of pain, the Twoleg let go, and Blackpaw felt himself falling swiftly toward the solid ground. With a bone-wrenching crash, he landed upon the hard-packed dirt, his head throbbing uncontrollably.

Faintly, Blackpaw heard a loud battle cry and the sound of fighting cat as his Clan members flowed out of their dens to meet the Twolegs. The blurry figure of Leafpool appeared in front of him, and he felt teeth sink lightly into his scruff as she dragged him into the medicine cat den.

A/N: I know you're all probably thinking 'WTF? Why are there Twolegs in the forest?' Well, I guess I'll have to explain to you, since the cats certainly can't. It's newleaf, which pretty much means it's hunting season. While out hunting, the Twolegs saw a border patrol and decided to follow them back to camp, and that was why they were there. I didn't put the Twolegs in there randomly, though. They're going to be a big part of the story near the end.