"Hawkpaw, wake up! It's your turn for dawn patrol!" Whitewater hissed in his ear
Hawkpaw jumped up. The golden rays of sunlight were peeking in the woven walls of the apprentice den.
"Alright, I'm coming!"
Skypaw paced around the warriors den. She was FINALLY going on dawn patrol!
"Skypaw! What are you doing here?" Liontail asked
"Oh hey, Liontail! I'm just waiting for the dawn patrol."
"Right... It's your turn today, isn't it?"
"Yes!"
Thornstar came out of his den.
"Alright, let's get going then."
"Wow! I've never been on this side of our territory before!" Skypaw exclaimed
"Shhh! Don't be so loud!" Thornstar hissed
"Sorry!"
"It's alright, go make your scent mark over there."
Skypaw ran over to the dead tree. Just as she was about make her marker, she heard someone scream.
"AHHH!"
She ran over to the river. A RippleClan apprentice was being rushed away by the current!
Hawkpaw knew he was going to die. The river's currents were too fast for anyone to jump in and save him, and that was why he almost didn't believe it when a little white FireClan cat yelled at him.
"HEY! GRAB ON TO THIS STICK! COME ON!"
Waking up from a trace, Hawkpaw fought against the current and grabbed the stick.
"COME ON! YOU CAN DO IT!" She yelled
Hawkpaw paddled quickly and finally reached land. The little white cat helped him up and started licking him.
"What are you doing?" he said
"Getting you warm." She said simply.
"Thanks for saving me... I'm Hawkpaw..."
"Hey Hawkpaw! I'm Skypaw!"
She went right back to licking him. Hawkpaw never felt so tired in his life.
"Skypaw!"
"Yes Thornstar?"
"What are you doing?"
"He fell in the river! I couldn't just watch him die!"
"He is an enemy!"
"Who cares?"
Skypaw helped him up.
"...Thanks."
"Are you ok?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"Here, lean on me."
"Wha ..."
"You'll fall again if you don't!"
"Skypaw, stop it!"
"Thornstar, he's injured!'
Hawkpaw had a huge gash on his back. It was bleeding like there was no tomorrow, blood was gushing out, making his gray pelt red.
The FireClan leader sighed. "Alright, let's get him back to camp." They propped Hawkpaw up and helped him back to the FireClan camp.
"What is a RippleClan apprentice doing here?" Flameheart growled
Skypaw jumped in front of Hawkpaw protectively. "Back off! He's injured!"
"He shouldn't be here!"
"Yes, Flameheart is right! He may be a spy!" Silverfur screeched
"Get him out of here!"
Skypaw growled at them. Just then, Lilyripple came out of her den and raced towards the apprentices.
"Back away!"
"Lilyripple! Thank StarClan you're here! Hawkpaw's got a huge gash on his back!"
Lilyripple inspected his wound. "Skypaw, you can help me move him to my den." They helped Hawkpaw up and slowly went towards the medicine cat's den."
"Thornstar." The cats bowed respectfully.
"I know we have a RippleClan apprentice here, but he is very injured. Skypaw has already agreed to be completely responsible for him, so until he heals, we will not discuss this anymore."
"We should take him hostage!" Flameheart yowled
But Thornstar ignored him and stalked back into his den.
(RippleClan)
"My kit! Oh my kit!" Riverpool wailed
Cinderclaw wrapped his tail around her and buried his nose in her fur. The entire clan was silent.
"Do you think maybe FireClan would have found him? There was a patrol right when that happened." Whitewater meowed
"Maybe, but we can't be sure." Graystar replied.
"What if they took him?"
"Then I'll wipe out the entire clan with my own claws" Cinderclaw growed.
(FIreClan)
Skypaw dragged a rabbit into the medicine den. Hawkpaw was lying there on the ground.
"Hey Hawkpaw!"
"Oh hey, Skypaw."
Skypaw plopped down next to him. "Here you go! I caught it myself!"
"Thanks... you want to share?" He braced himself for rejection.
"I thought you'd never ask!" Skypaw said
She delved into the rabbit. Hawkpaw stared at her. She's so unlike anyone I've ever met! I wish we were in the same clan. Watching her, Hawkpaw shook his head and dipped his head down to eat.
"How's your back?"
"It's fine... getting better."
"Let me see."
She reached over his body. Hawkpaw could feel heat rising to his face. They were too close. Way too close. He could smell her scent.
Stonepaw went towards the medicine cat's den to get Skypaw. It was getting dark, and he wanted to ask her if she wanted to share food with him. Just as he was about to go in he heard some noises.
"Ow... Stop it!"
Then he heard someone laughing. He went in and saw ... Skypaw! He ran right into the RippleClan apprentice that was standing over her.
"You stupid fishface! How dare you! I'm going to kill you!"
"Stonepaw... ?"
Stonepaw turned around. Skypaw stared at him with wide eyes.
"Skypaw! I thought you died!"
"I'm fine... We were just playing around, don't be mad."
Hawkpaw stood rigid in a corner. He had no idea what was happening, one moment him and Skypaw was playing happily, the next Stonepaw barged in and bowled him over.
"Come on Skypaw! Let's go!" Stonepaw said
"Why?"
"Just come!"
"... Okay."
Just as they were leaving, Skypaw rushed over to Hawkpaw and touched noses with him. "Bye! I'll see you tomorrow!"
Hawkpaw caught Stonepaw's gaze as they left. His amber eyes were as cold as ice.
(BreezeClan
"What is with you today, Deadpaw! You're as focused as a dead mouse!" Rockpelt exclaimed.
"Sorry."
"This is it! You're never going to be a warrior!"
"..."
"Go and hunt for the elders. I'm done with you. Maybe you'll be more focused tomorrow."
Rockpelt turned and stalked towards the camp. Deadpaw sighed. It's been days since he first met Skypaw. He couldn't stop thinking about her. She was just so different and captivating. He turned and started hunting, sniffing the air for prey. A rabbit! A fat one too! He quickly ran after it, chasing it for a few minutes, he gave one last pounce and snipped the rabbit's neck. He was about to take it back to camp, when he smelled a familiar scent. Skypaw! He edged near the border. There she is! Skypaw was with another cat. A tom. They were very close together. Skypaw opened her mouth to taste the air. Her ears perked up.
"Deadpaw! Are you here?"