Chapter Two
Rainpaw streaked along beside the sleek pelts of his fellows, making no noise in the dim half-light of dusk. The swishes and clumsy steps of the others met his ears as they shoved their way artlessly through the grass. Rainpaw matched their pawsteps, feeling satisfaction at his comparatively stealthy steps.
Up ahead, Froststar called a halt. The cats began to stream around, tamping down the tall, waving grass for temporary nests to rest in that night. The scouts had brought back word that the cats who lived among the waving grasses were only another day of travel away. Rainpaw felt a tingle of excitement, knowing that his first battle would be ahead and that the days of endless travel would soon be over, at least for a while. He quickly copied the actions of the older warriors around him.
"Rainpaw," a gentle voice mewed from amidst the waving stalks. Rainpaw looked around, smiling as he saw the lovely face of Swanblossom. Her green eyes were always gentle and kind. She was his half-sibling, related through his father.
"How are you?" Her soft voice held almost motherly concern. He smiled, wondering how to respond. He was exhilarated, but exhausted, and nervous. His blue eyes reflected the moonlight as it shone down on them both. "I'm fine," he finally said, his voice quiet and measured. Never show the full extent of your emotions, he remembered, his father's voice fresh in his mind. Other cats will use the emotion to exploit you. Only show what you must to get what you want. He pushed the voice away. There was no need for that, especially around Swanblossom. He was closer to her than anyone in OneClan, closer to her even than he was to Duskpaw, back at home. Swanblossom cared for him, though he was just an inexperienced apprentice on his first campaign.
"Are your pads okay?" she pressed, her green eyes shining with concern from her pure white face. Rainpaw smiled indulgently and lifted his paw for her to see. She nodded, a smile on her lips. "I'm smothering you again, aren't I?" she asked, chagrin coloring her voice.
"No, but you are mothering me," he joked. "Graycloud did enough of that to last me a lifetime." Swanblossom grinned and shook her head at the apprentice.
"That was terrible," she said, a laugh in her voice.
Rainpaw hung his head, blue eyes dancing. "I know." She rolled her eyes and nudged him. Her white fur mixed with his dark gray, both colors long and thick. We definitely have father's blood, Rainpaw thought.
"You had better find Tigerfrost, little one," she said. "You two need to hunt." Rainpaw sighed at the nickname. He knew he was still young, that he'd grow eventually. He hoped he would, anyways.
He wasn't too pleased with the suggestion, either. But she was the voice of reason, as usual. Rainpaw stood, and with a quick farewell to his half-sister, he padded off into the stalks of grass, his pawsteps making no noise above the rustling of the windblown stalks.
The rest of the warriors in were in a small clearing they had trampled down. The senior warriors clustered in small groups, having quiet discussions that were of vital importance, for all Rainpaw could tell. There was a profound lack of smiling around the makeshift camp, save for feral grins as they reflected on the battles to come. The younger warriors, for all that they were exceptionally strong and fast and skilled to be picked for this mission, were still too self-conscious or nervous to sit in small groups. The lot of them were clustered together in one big clump. Many faces were missing from the gathered cats; Rainpaw suspected that they were out hunting, as he and Tigerfrost were supposed to be doing.
He spied his mentor at the other end of the small clearing. The enormous tabby was talking quietly with Froststar and Blackflash. Stifling his nervousness at approaching them, Rainpaw stalked forward. Never show fear, his father's voice echoed in his head. Nothing is more infectious or more deadly. Fear is the ultimate weakness. His soft steps brought him closer.
"Rainpaw," Froststar's deep voice rang out. Rainpaw raised his eyes to meet the leader's blue gaze. "Tigerfrost was updating me on your training. I believe that you will be ready to face GrassClan in battle if the negotiating party fails. Continue your hard work."
Rainpaw dipped his head respectfully. Froststar's gaze turned back to Tigerfrost. "Try and gather as much prey as you can tonight. Wrenflight told me that she scented border markings up ahead; we won't hunt on GrassClan territory until after negotiations. I don't want them to be hostile tomorrow."
Tigerfrost looked at Froststar skeptically. "We're marching an army onto their land and you think they won't be hostile?" he snorted. Froststar leveled a measured gaze at the muscular brown tabby.
"Our victory cannot be a brutal conquest. We are trying to unite the world, to bring peace to cats. We use force if we must, but otherwise, we will not presume hostility." Though his words were just and fair, no one standing there could deny the menace that laced Froststar's voice as he stared at the tabby tom. His cold eyes held a dark promise for Tigerfrost if the tom continued his insubordination.
"Of course, Froststar," he growled, looking away. His yellow eyes lit on his apprentice and narrowed. Rainpaw sighed. His mentor would not be pleasant tonight. Tigerfrost looked back at the leader, his tone more formal and guarded now, as he said, "With your leave, I'd like to take my apprentice out hunting. As you mentioned earlier, we will need to be well supplied for our venture into GrassClan territory tomorrow." Froststar dipped his head, his blue eyes once again calmly unreadable. Rainpaw could feel the tension draining from the air as Tigerfrost whirled away, beckoning to Rainpaw with his tail.
"Do you remember what I taught you about hunting rabbits?" Tigerfrost demanded, his voice nearly a snarl. They were walking though the swishing grass, away from the cats who had made a camp in the middle of nowhere.
Rainpaw nodded, Tigerfrost's words drifting through his head unbidden. They'll hear you before they smell you. Don't make a sound, don't make a visible disturbance, and then spring when you're a few tail lengths away. Tigerfrost grunted. "Then hunt. I'll go in another direction. Meet back here when the moon is halfway between moonhigh and the horizon. We don't need you keeling over tomorrow during our negotiations," he sneered.
Rainpaw chose not to comment, instead dipping his head in a curt nod and slipping quietly into the waving stalks of grass. His keen ears picked up the sounds of the dark tabby crashing through the swishing barrier. He rolled his eyes. The tom may have been a devastating fighter, but he was artless when it came to stalking. Rainpaw lifted his nose to the air, tasting for the scent of prey. There! Rainpaw slipped through the waving grass. It wasn't long before he could see it, a small brown form nibbling at something in the grass. Rainpaw crept forward slowly, careful not to disturb the gently waving grasses any more than necessary. The rabbit paused, and Rainpaw froze, his dark pelt melding with the darkness. It went back to nibbling.
Just a few more steps, he thought. And… he measured, taking stock of the entire setup. It was perfect. Now! he thought, springing. He crossed the distance in two short bounds, his paws barely skimming the ground, and then it was in his paws and his fangs were biting into it, administering the killing blow. Pride surged in him; this was why he trained so long and hard with a loathsome mentor, putting up with Tigerfrost's bad temper and constant insults. He put up with it all because in the end, he got results. He buried the plump rabbit and marked the spot, then stalked off into the waving grass in search of more prey.
~oOo~
Rainpaw returned to Tigerfrost with four rabbits. They had all fallen to his paws quietly, save for the largest one. It had kicked him in the face with a powerful foot, making his eyes water, and for a moment his grip had loosened, allowing it to nearly scramble free. Rainpaw felt frustration coil in his stomach just thinking about the clumsy kill.
Tigerfrost had collected half as many. His yellow eyes were livid as he looked over his apprentice's superior catch. "Come on, let's get back to the others. You need sleep, or your delicate little body might just crack from the strain." Rainpaw listened with a bland expression, knowing that one day Tigerfrost would be made to pay for his words. Waiting for the right moment to strike is more important than the strike itself, his father's words reminded him. Even a weak opponent can take down a stronger one with a well-timed blow.
Rainpaw was exhausted by the time he laid his catch on the freshkill pile. The day of running across the grassy plains and hunting caught up with him, tiredness trying to slam him to the ground. Perhaps Tigerfrost was right about him needing sleep. He padded off without another word to his mentor, seeking his nest on the edge of the clearing. He noticed Swanblossom was curled up near Moonstream, her sister. Their white pelts mixed until it was difficult to tell where one ended and the other began. It was hard not to envy that kind of closeness.
Rainpaw settled into the nest and closed his eyes. It wasn't hard to let the darkness take him, and he drifted off into a deep sleep.
~oOo~
"Wake up, Rainpaw."
The gentle voice roused Rainpaw. His breathing quickened as he slowly became aware of the flattened stalks and cats that littered his surroundings. A pure white head hovered over him.
"Is it time to go?" he asked Swanblossom. She nodded.
"Froststar asked that you accompany the first group," she said. Her eyes were troubled. Rainpaw rubbed her cheek on an impulse. She smiled shakily.
"I'll be fine. Tigerfrost is the best fighter here and he's been teaching me everything he knows." Swanblossom still looked troubled, but he could see his mentor's impatient yellow eyes glaring from across the clearing. "And if I do get in trouble, I know I can always count on you to get me out." He gave her one last reassuring smile. He trotted across the clearing to the waiting party.
Froststar and Blackflash were there—That's a given, Rainpaw thought—as well as Tigerfrost. Wavestorm and Yellowpelt were assembled as well. He smiled in satisfaction. Screechpaw, that stuck up little furball, wasn't coming, but he was. Being Froststar's son had some benefits to it, that was for sure. Rainpaw could feel his fellow apprentice's yellow eyes scorching his pelt. Moonstream padded up, identical to Swanblossom except for the gray stripe that ran down her back. Froststar flicked his tail and ran out, following Wrenflight.
Rainpaw was proud of the stamina he had built up during the long run from the forests where he was born to these rolling plains. It had been a moon of constant travel and training, but he was finally at the moment where the true adventure began. He felt exhilaration bubble in his veins as the group slipped through the tall grasses, towards the next Clan to fall under their control.
They traveled for long, hot hours under the unforgiving sun. The wind danced around them while they ran. Sometimes, when the wind shifted to blow from behind, he caught the scent of the attack force following them, ready to come to their aid.
Froststar barked a halt. Rainpaw was confused, his mind still wandering, but then the scent wafted to his nose on the ever-present breeze. A musky scent, somehow smelling of a sharp breeze whisking through grass and the soft loamy dirt that gave the grasses the strength to grow strong, assaulted his scent glands. GrassClan. Froststar looked around, giving each of them a glance of warning.
He led the way forward slowly. Rainpaw noticed Wrenflight melting into the grass, slipping back to the other scouts who stayed behind the attack force. Their job was done. The thought sent shivers of anticipation coursing through Rainpaw.
Another scent reached Rainpaw's nose and he hissed a quick warning. Froststar tasted the air and nodded at the gray apprentice. Rainpaw allowed a tight smile to slip onto his face. A group of cats melted from the grasses in front of them. Froststar gazed at them with perfect calm.
"Intruders," one of the strange cats hissed. Rainpaw noticed that his eyes were amber, and that he was thin and small. His back legs were built for springing. Getting kicked by one of those would hurt.
Froststar dipped his head respectfully. "My name is Froststar. I must see your leader." His ice blue eyes bored into the amber eyes of the lead cat. His rippling muscles and size did as much to intimidate the smallish tom as his uncompromising eyes. The cat glanced around at his fellows, who surrounded OneClan's envoy in a distinctly unfriendly circle. Froststar narrowed his eyes. "It is of great importance," he said, and his tone brooked no arguments.
Finally, cowed by the powerful leader, the tom nodded. "Come with me. Your other group of cats must stay behind, though." Rainpaw started. How had he known that the army had been following behind?
"On one condition," Froststar said, his deep voice ringing out above the rustling stalks. "I must bring one more cat with me." The amber eyed tom leveled an angry stare at the pure white leader. "I place my lives at your paws. All I ask is this one cat, that I may feel more secure while conversing with your leader." The tom sighed angrily. He finally gave a curt nod. Froststar flicked his tail at Rainpaw. He sprinted off, barely bending the stalks as he passed. Wrenflight was still with the main body of the army.
"Wrenflight, we need a scout. Froststar sent me, just in case." She nodded and flicked her tail.
"I'm afraid I won't be fresh enough, but take Pinewind. She's the quickest we've got right now, since Longfoot got injured." The gray and white scout appeared. Rainpaw nodded and sprinted back. Froststar looked her over and turned, his eyes inscrutable. Rainpaw hoped he hadn't upset him. My first campaign, honored with being on the negotiations party, and now I've gone and messed up, Rainpaw thought, his heart sinking. Froststar nodded to the amber eyed tom and they set off at a quick pace through the grasses.
Rainpaw could tell that they were getting nearer. The musky yet sharp scent of GrassClan grew ever stronger in his nose.
The dark gray apprentice glanced around at the group of OneClan cats. He could see that Moonstream was ill at ease.
"Are you alright?" he asked softly, matching her strides. She glanced at him with wide green eyes.
"Nervous," she said tightly. Rainpaw ran his tail down her spine reassuringly.
"Don't worry too much, okay? They wouldn't harm a medicine cat, and I'll protect you even if they do," he promised gently. She smiled at him, though he could see her nerves were still there. Rainpaw himself only felt excitement and a desire to prove himself.
They slowed after a time. Rainpaw squinted, straining to see what lay ahead. The barest rise gave the flat plains some dimension here, and Rainpaw could smell an almost overpowering GrassClan scent coming from the knoll. This must be their camp, he realized. The amber eyed tom led them straight to it, weaving through the grass. A yelp from one of the warriors behind him made Rainpaw look down. Clever, he thought, and watched carefully to avoid the thorny vines that had been arranged on the ground.
"Nettlesting, what is going on here?" a deep voice rang out. The amber eyed tom, Nettlesting, paused.
"These cats say they have some business with Rustlestar," he said to a black and brown mottled tom. The tom had a similar build to Nettlesting, with well-muscled legs and a generally small frame. Froststar continued watching calmly as the exchange passed between the GrassClan cats.
"This way," Nettlesting growled. His patrol continued to surround the OneClan group. Rainpaw stayed near Moonstream. He wanted to make sure nothing happened to her, just in case. Swanblossom would never forgive him if she got hurt.
A golden brown tom stood on a small knoll in the middle of the clearing. The wind whipped his long fur. His eyes were a shade of light grayish-blue.
"Please state your business, stranger. We are not accustomed to welcoming foreign cats onto our lands, and would like you to vacate our territory as soon as possible." The words dropped formally and coldly between the tom and the group of OneClan cats. Froststar took a step forward.
"I am Froststar, of OneClan," he began. The golden brown tom's eyes narrowed and a small smile spread across his face.
"Ah," he said, his voice smug. "Froststar. We have heard of you here in GrassClan. Froststar, the noble conqueror. Sweeping over the world to unite and free us poor, ignorant cats." Froststar's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
"Your gaze must reach far indeed, for you to know so much of my mission. I have brought my medicine cat and a few of my trusted warriors with me so that we may discuss certain matters. I suppose that, since you are so informed, you have surmised my hopes for our conversation today, Rustlestar?" His voice was equally cold, though it held none of the arrogant bravado of the leader standing before him. Froststar's icy blue eyes held a knowing glint. Rainpaw flicked his gaze back to the arrogant GrassClan leader.
"Oh no, Froststar, I'm afraid that you have come with a misconception. There will be no conversation. GrassClan will not fall to your greed. You and your cats are not and will never be welcome on these plains." Rainpaw wanted to hiss at the self-importance that dripped from his tone. Froststar tilted his head, a small, dark smile on his lips.
"Very well then, Rustlestar. So be it." His cold voice suddenly filled with quiet menace. He flicked his white tail at his warriors, the eight cats seeming like an island in the middle of a hungry sea, and hissed one word.
"Attack."
Please review!