Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors, but I do own the characters created for this story. Please don't steal any of my characters intentionally.
Chapter 13
"Is it true, Rowanwind?" Clawstar meowed with acid in his voice. His green eyes were ablaze with anger.
"I think it's best if we discussed this with Oakpelt in private," Rowanwind replied, his voice icy.
Most of the other ThunderClan cats were glaring at Oakpelt and Rowanwind. Rowanwind saw Thunderstripe and Stormypelt looking at him with astonishment. The kits and apprentices all looked very confused.
"We'll speak in Frostflower's den, then." Clawstar stood. He gestured with his tail for all of the other cats, including Frostflower, to stay out of the medicine cat's den. The ThunderClan leader led Rowanwind and Oakpelt into the den without another word.
"Thank you for allowing us to..." Rowanwind began, but Clawstar disrupted him.
"Don't thank me for anything, Rowanwind. I'm very disappointed, and shocked, over what you have done. Twigleaf said that Oakpelt was talking to you about his affair with a RiverClan cat, and you seemed to know exactly what he was talking about. How could you possibly keep a secret like that from your Clan? Oakpelt, how could you even ask him to keep that secret for you?" Clawstar's voice was full of gloom. "I know that you share the same father, and I regret to say that Sprucebark would be very humiliated by the two of you."
"Clawstar, please, let me..." Rowanwind started, but Clawstar interrupted again.
"Explain? Rowanwind, what is there to explain? Oakpelt has had kits with a cat from another Clan! And to think, you actually brought the half-Clan cat here with you! You lied to us and made us think Coldkit was an orphan!" Clawstar shook his head roughly. "There is nothing to explain here, Rowanwind."
"Will you let him speak?" Oakpelt demanded. He cringed, looking just as surprised with himself as Rowanwind and Clawstar were. "I was mouse-brained to think that this secret would remain a secret until I went up to StarClan. I was mouse-brained to ask Rowanwind to not tell anyone. None of this is Rowanwind's fault. He is one of the best deputies that ThunderClan has ever seen. And I'll stop at nothing to make you see that this is all my fault! So, stop yelling at Rowanwind and punish me as you see fit. I will take it, knowing that I deserve it!"
Clawstar stared at Oakpelt. He glanced at Rowanwind. "Speak, Rowanwind."
Rowanwind gave a respectful nod to his leader. "I kept Oakpelt's secret for reasons that not even I understand, Clawstar. But I refuse to allow myself to be associated with his misdeeds any longer. I won't go against whatever punishment you give him. Oakpelt knows that I am no longer here to help him."
"This is tragic news to learn of after something so horrendous as Snowcloud's death," Clawstar meowed. He turned his softened green eyes on Oakpelt once again. "I know that Snowcloud's death has affected you even more than the rest of us, Oakpelt. Her death is punishment enough, in my eyes.
"But know this, Oakpelt. I cannot control the rest of my Clan from treating you differently from now on. They've all learned of your betrayal of not only your Clan, but your mate as well. In their eyes, you are no longer someone to be trusted. It is hard to say whether any of them will ever trust you again. Trust is something gained, and when it is lost, it cannot be gained back as easily as before. I feel sorry for you, Oakpelt. That is the only thing keeping me from exiling you from ThunderClan."
Clawstar paused for a few moments before looking at Rowanwind again. "We all make mistakes, Rowanwind. I've made many in my long life. But this is one of your worst mistakes. I know how loyal you are to your Clan. It's difficult when you are torn between family and your Clan. But you have made the right decision. I'm sorry this had to happen to you, but life can be like that sometimes. I can only hope you make better decisions in the near future."
"I will, Clawstar," Rowanwind whispered.
"Then I will go and speak to the Clan. I can make no guarantees," Clawstar meowed. He stood and padded out of the den.
Rowanwind hung his head between his shoulders and turned his back to Oakpelt. "I'm sorry it had to end up like this, Oakpelt."
"It's okay, Rowanwind. I don't blame you," Oakpelt replied quietly. "I was just hoping that this wouldn't get out so soon. Now, Coldkit is going to grow up shunned by the Clan who took him in. I never wanted that for my son."
"Then you should have thought about that before you had an affair with a cat from another Clan," Rowanwind said. Not wanting to say anything else, he stood and left the den.
"...death is punishment enough. As for Rowanwind, his decision to keep Oakpelt's secret was a big mistake and..."
Rowanwind stopped listening to Clawstar's speech. He simply sat down outside Frostflower's den and stared up at the stars sparkling in the night sky.
"I can't believe you!"
Rowanwind jumped and looked around. He hadn't realized it, but Oakpelt had come out of the medicine cat's den. Stormpaw was standing in front of his father a few fox lengths away from Rowanwind. The young apprentice's fur was standing up straight and his lips were curled back in a hiss.
"I hate you!" Stormpaw continued to shout. "You betrayed Snowcloud! You betrayed your Clan! You betrayed me!"
"Stormpaw..." Oakpelt said, his voice faltering.
"I hate you! You don't deserve to stay in ThunderClan!" Stormpaw screamed. His shoulders began to shake with sobs.
"Stormpaw..." Oakpelt tried again.
"That's enough, Oakpelt." Quickpelt padded over and put her tail around Stormpaw's shaking shoulders. "He doesn't need this right now."
Oakpelt opened his mouth to say something, but thought better of it. He simply nodded, turned away, and disappeared out of the entrance to the camp.
"Shouldn't someone go after him?" Granitetail said from where he sat with some of the senior warriors.
"No," Rowanwind replied. "Oakpelt will be fine by himself."
Quickpelt gave Rowanwind a sympathetic look before leading Stormpaw over to the apprentices' den.
Rowanwind glanced up at the night sky and sent StarClan a prayer.
Please, keep Oakpelt safe. He may have done some awful things, but Stormpaw doesn't deserve to have both his parents die...
The next morning, Rowanwind walked over to where Thunderstripe was lying in the morning sun. "Thunderstripe, would you like to take Palepaw and go hunting with us? Purepaw and I were going to go out right now," Rowanwind said. "If you don't want to, I can find someone else."
Palepaw looked pleadingly at her mentor.
Thunderstripe chuckled at her. "I couldn't say no to that. The fresh-kill pile was looking awfully low to me."
"Yay!" Palepaw jumped excitedly. "Race you to the exit, Purepaw!"
The two apprentices raced off. Rowanwind watched them scamper toward the winding tunnel entrance.
"Those two are bundles of energy this morning," Lightdew meowed as she passed by. She gave Rowanwind and Thunderstripe a happy nod. "You two are doing wonderful with them."
"Thank you," Rowanwind replied. "We're doing our best."
The two friends waved their tails in good-bye to their apprentices' mother before going off to catch up to Purepaw and Palepaw. The siblings were wrestling just outside the camp. Their tussle caused them to kick up some leaves and dirt at their mentors.
"Whoa," Rowanwind said. "Careful. The dirt here is easy to kick up."
The two apprentices sprang apart at his words.
"Sorry!" Purepaw said immediately.
"Where are we going to hunt?" Palepaw asked.
"I thought we could try near WindClan territory," Rowanwind said. "If we don't find anything there, we can head over to the other side of our territory."
The apprentices leapt to their paws.
"Don't go scurrying off," Thunderstripe said. "Remember what Clawstar said. We have to stay vigilant while we're in the forest."
"Rowanwind!"
The four stopped and turned to see Granitetail pushing his way out through the tunnel entrance.
"What is it, Granitetail? Did you and Sootpaw want to come hunting with us?" Rowanwind asked.
"No, it's not that. Clawstar wants to speak to you," Granitetail said. "Nobody has seen Gingerheart since yesterday. He's worried she's been..."
"I'll take care of it," Rowanwind said. "Thanks, Granitetail."
The older tom nodded before ducking back into camp.
Rowanwind turned to his friend. Thunderstripe's yellow eyes were worried. They hadn't exactly discussed Gingerheart becoming a Twoleg again. Would Clawstar be mad?
"You go on ahead. I'll catch up," Rowanwind told them.
Thunderstripe nodded. "Come on, you furballs. Let's get a move on."
Rowanwind watched Thunderstripe and their apprentices disappear into the forest before heading back through the tunnel entrance. He quickly padded over to Frostflower's den and slipped inside.
"There you are," Clawstar said. He sat up in his nest.
Rowanwind looked around. Frostflower wasn't inside.
"She's gone out to collect some herbs," Clawstar said. "I think she took Sootpaw and Nimblepaw with her."
With a quick nod, Rowanwind sat down. "Granitetail said something about you wanting to speak to me."
"Yes. Granitetail came in this morning saying nobody has seen Gingerheart since yesterday, just before Snowcloud..." Clawstar paused before going on. It didn't matter that he finish his sentence; Rowanwind already knew he meant before Snowcloud was killed. "Do you have any idea what happened to her?"
Rowanwind shuffled his paws. "I hope you won't be angry with me, but I made a decision without consulting you first."
Clawstar's eyes lit up with interest. "What sort of decision?"
"Gingerheart had Duskpaw make her a Twoleg again," Rowanwind explained. "It was her idea. She knows what has been killing cats and other animals in the forest. She called them poachers. They are Twolegs with things called guns, which they use to kill animals. Our territories around the lake are supposed to be protected from such Twolegs, as Gingerheart told me. The only way to get rid of them, like Gingerheart said, was to have her become a Twoleg again."
Clawstar didn't say anything for a few minutes. When he finally spoke, his voice was full of question. "Is Gingerheart going to come back?"
"She promised Thunderstripe that she would," Rowanwind replied. "She came back to us once before, and that was when she didn't have to."
Clawstar nodded. "Very well. I will tell the Clan that Gingerheart has gone to speak to an old friend from her rogue days who may know how to rid of us the Twolegs killing off our Clanmates."
"I think that is a very good idea," Rowanwind said. "May I go now? I was just about to go hunting with Thunderstripe and our apprentices."
"Yes, you may go."
Rowanwind gave a quick nod before leaving. He raced out of the camp and began to follow the trail of his friend and their apprentices. It was an easy trail to follow. Just as he felt he was getting close to his Clanmates, he heard a frightened yowl. Putting on a burst of speed, Rowanwind crashed through a bramble bush to find Thunderstripe, Purepaw, and Palepaw fighting a badger.
"Palepaw, go back to camp and fetch more warriors!" Rowanwind shouted.
The young she-cat turned and disappeared into the undergrowth, leaving her Clanmates behind to fight the badger alone.
Rowanwind stared at the badger, trying to figure out if it was a DarkClan cat in disguise. He quickly looked around to see if there were other badgers, crows, or even cats around. The single badger was their only opponent. Rowanwind guessed it was just a normal badger.
"A em e fux!" Rowanwind said.
He felt the changes happening to his body. The badger squinted at him with beady eyes as it reared up onto its hind paws. Thunderstripe and Purepaw were hissing at the beast.
"Betgoh spooch!" Rowanwind said, saying some words Duskpaw had taught him. The words allowed him to understand and speak in the language of a badger.
"Me not like this," the badger grunted.
"You won't like it any more when more of us come!" Rowanwind said in badger.
Purepaw stared at his mentor in surprise.
"Betgoh spooch!" Thunderstripe whispered. He hissed at the badger. "This is our territory! Go away!"
Rowanwind felt a surge of pride for Thunderstripe. This was the first time his friend had been able to get the magick words to work for him!
"Betgoh spooch?" Purepaw said curiously.
"You no attack!" the badger grumbled.
Purepaw's eyes went wide. "The badger talked!"
"Purepaw!" Rowanwaind gaped. His apprentice had used magick without even meaning to! "Purepaw, get back. We don't know if he's going to attack or not!" Rowanwind said in cat.
Purepaw ignored his mentor. "Stupid badger! You've got a brain the side of a walnut!"
Rowanwind gave a shout as the badger suddenly lunged forward. It's right forepaw came slashing downward before connecting with the left side of Purepaw's face. Blood splattered from Purepaw's face just as there was a yowl from the patrol Palepaw had fetched.
Granitetail, Reedclaw, Cedarspirit, and Stormypelt advanced on the badger. With a frustrated grunt, the badger turned and lumbered away.
"Somebody fetch Frostflower!" Rowanwind screamed, standing over his injured apprentice. "Purepaw's injured!"
Rowanwind barely noticed Stormypelt and Cedarspirit turn back around and face off toward camp again. Thunderstripe stood beside him, looking down at Purepaw with wide eyes.
"What happened?" Granitetail asked.
"The badger slashed him," Rowanwind replied. "He's bleeding all over."
"What's going on here?" a muffled voice said.
"Frostflower!" Rowanwind glanced up. "Purepaw got attacked by a badger!"
The medicine cat dropped the herbs in her mouth and came streaming over. Rowanwind briefly saw Sootpaw and Nimblepaw put down their own bundles of herbs to worriedly watch.
"Get him to my den immediately," Frostflower said. "The sooner I can tend to that wound, the better his chances of keeping that eye."
Rowanwind felt his insides drop to his paws. If Purepaw lost his eye, he wouldn't be able to become a warrior!
Granitetail, noticing Rowanwind freeze, grabbed Purepaw's scruff and began to drag him back to camp. Reedclaw gently grabbed hold of one of Purepaw's back legs to help. Rowanwind heard Purepaw moan in pain. A streak of blood was left behind in Purepaw's path.
Rowanwind went after them, his mind filled with a sound like the buzzing of a hive of bees.
Would they get Purepaw back to camp in time for Frostflower to save the apprentice's eye?
Or was Purepaw never going to become a warrior?
End of Chapter Thirteen