AN: GAH! I am so so sorry for not updating sooner! I promise with all my heart to update sooner! D: PROMISE!
Crystal: Thank you so much for all the compliments and reviewing every single chapter of my failed writing! Have a Swanfeather plushie!
Sierra: Thank you for the edits! Finally I get some CC! And I know, Star wars dejavu huh? *hands Splashclaw plushie* Yeah, I get the idea that they made up too easily. Guess I forgot to put the part of Graysplash thinking about it? By the way, what is SOPA and PIPA? I found the poll, and I didn't know what it meant.
Exploit
The silver tom ran, blood staining the white streaks on his silver fur and big blue eyes wide with fear. He recalled what happened back then…
"I don't know you anymore! Why did you kill the deputy?" his best friend cried, tears filling her eyes instantly. "I trusted you, Windpaw!" she whispered. There was so much agony and distress in her voice, and Windpaw couldn't help flinching.
"I never did. I never murdered anyone, Leafpaw!" Windpaw roared across the howling wind.
Leafpaw just shook her head and scurried off, her light brown pelt gone almost instantly. Windpaw sighed, and just started walking around to no such place. What's the point, anyway? He thought bitterly. He didn't notice where he was going until he bumped into something golden. He gulped as the leader's hard amber eyes turned on him.
"Why did you do that?" he snarled with such fury.
"I didn't do it, Lionstar! You do believe me, don't you?" Windpaw whimpered, his eyes never containing such fright.
Lionstar's expression didn't change. "From this day on, you are banished from this Clan, TreeClan!" he roared.
"But…" Windpaw stammered, ears flattened and fur bristling with worry.
"Now!" screamed Lionstar.
Windpaw ran. He just ran. Every breath he took caused an amount of tormenting pain to his muscles. He didn't do it. He really did! It was all because of Snakepaw, that mouse-brain. He was the one who did it, and he was the one that blamed Windpaw. He didn't have anything to do with killing the deputy! He thought Snakepaw was his friend! He thought…
So many thoughts churning in his head, he didn't realize that the sky began to darken, causing droplets of cold water to fall right on Windpaw's nose. He shook it off, still traumatized by that moment.
Windpaw snapped back to reality when an owl hooted nearby. It was getting pretty late. Windpaw looked around, his mind racing until he finally found a warm and comfortable spot to sleep in. Sighing, he curled his tail over his nose and wandered what it would be like if he weren't banished from his own Clan.
Windpaw felt a thin sort of branch scratching him. Glancing, he spotted a tabby tom.
Out of bleary eyes, he asked who he was.
"I am here to help you. I have also been exiled from my Clan, and I'm here to help you become the greatest warrior you can ever be," he meowed, voice cool and even.
"What's your name?" Windpaw demanded. He wasn't going to believe the tabby that easily.
"I am Branchpelt, but I'm not a warrior anymore. You can just call me Branch." The trees rustled and a cold breeze blew at Windpaw's face.
"I know how it feels for you to be exiled by the Clan. I felt the pain and rejection too. So, if you join me, maybe we could learn how it feels to relate to each other. Like a bond," Branch continued.
Windpaw hesitated for a second. Was he really going to believe this guy? But his amber eyes showed nothing but concern, and Windpaw considered it. "Okay," he meowed, taking a step forward. "What is it you want me to do?"
"To get revenge," he whispered, eyes blazing.
Windpaw eyed his Clan, his tail flicking and his eyes filled with hatred. He was ready, all moves prepared and taught well by Branch. He was so going to kill Snakepaw and all his other Clanmates. Even…Leafpaw.
Windpaw shook his head. She wasn't his friend anymore. He was going to kill everyone else in the Clan. No mercy.
Windpaw flinched as a cat came out. He let out a low growl as he realized it was Snakepaw. Flexing his claws, Windpaw pounced on Snakepaw.
"What the—" Snakepaw was caught off guard as he felt hard claws pushing down his throat. He made a gurgling sound and went limp, blood gushing from his throat. Windpaw smiled evilly. Now, onto his next target.
…
Windpaw was pleased with his work as another cat fell limp in his paws. He had killed three cats so far, and he was doing great progress.
Suddenly, he heard a noise. Turning around, he spotted the pretty light brown she-cat he had once loved. Now all he wanted to do was rip her precious little throat out. She didn't believe him, and she never will.
He pounced on Leafpaw, pinning her down with his sharp claws. She tried to squirm, but Windpaw was much too big and muscular to let her go.
"What are you doing?" she yelled. Looking into his eyes, she whispered, "Windpaw…"
"I'm not Windpaw anymore!" he snarled, unable to see the hurt in Leafpaw's eyes like he once did. "I've changed…"
Leafpaw's eyes widened in horror as he was about to slam his claws down her throat. Opening his eyes, for just a split second, he found Leafpaw's green eyes staring at him. He lost all of control and stopped in midair. How could I do this, he thought. I can't kill her…
Windpaw let his muscles loosen, still staring at Leafpaw. "I…I…" For once, he was lost for words.
"I'll take you to where Branch is," he finally meowed, still trembling. Leafpaw nodded, too scared to say anything at all.
Picking her by the scruff gently, he led her to his usual meeting place with Branch. As he padded cautiously, he recognized all the scents, all the trees. They seemed like home to him.
He released her scruff, sniffing scents of Branch. Suddenly, a strong scent came so sudden that Windpaw fell, exposing his belly.
"What is this? I thought you were going to kill her!" Branch snarled, his normal yellow eyes glowing a blood red.
"I…I couldn't…" Windpaw stammered like the usual kit he was.
"I can't believe you!" he roared.
"I'm sorry!" Windpaw cried.
Branch shook his head. "I'm afraid I will have to kill you and your precious little girlfriend," he sneered. With that, he lunged.
"NO!" Leafpaw screamed. She sunk her teeth into Windpaw's tail, dragging him away from Branch's open claws. He hissed and tried to pounce again.
Windpaw dodged the blow, which might have been a fatal attack. Windpaw checked on Leafpaw, whose eyes were wide. She was shaking everywhere, ears flattened and neck fur bristling furiously.
Before he knew it, Branch's teeth fastened around his ear, making him yowl. Branch didn't let go, new fresh blood gushing out from Windpaw's ear. Moving his head furiously, Windpaw tried to take away the pain. In one loud snap, Branch let go of his ear, sending Windpaw flying backwards and yowling as loud as he could. Branch smirked, content with his work, moving on to the shivering brown she-cat.
The moon shone brightly, casting light directly at Leafpaw's scared face. Branch, taking a step forward, began to claw at her belly. Leafpaw dodged, a half inch from getting hit. Windpaw raced to her side, hoping for Branch to stop. Branch hissed, pushed Windpaw easily, and dug both claws directly on Leafpaw's stomach. She yowled and squirmed, wriggling as hard as she can. Windpaw, still dazed from the attack, saw her squirming. He immediately panicked and sent a blow on Branch's cheek. That gave him time for him and Leafpaw to run.
Hurriedly grabbing Leafpaw's scruff, he made it to the exit, a bunch of nasty-looking sharp thorns, since he knew it so well.
Ignoring Branch's roar, Windpaw burst out of the thorn tunnel, not even glancing back as his paws pattered on the uneven ground.
The slope eventually went down, making Windpaw run even faster. "Let go off me!" Leafpaw screamed out of fright. Immediately Windpaw put her down, scampering like a mad mouse. Finally they reached an old cave, big for around two or three cats. Windpaw quickly shoved Leafpaw into it and hid.
It was damp, and soon it started raining. It smelled of fresh moss and moist rocks. Windpaw wrinkled his nose at the scent since he wasn't used to those icky RiverClan scents. Leafpaw did the same too, ears flattened.
Suddenly Windpaw heard a sound. He stood still as a rock, aware of Branch's pawsteps. "Are they in there?" He heard Branch mutter. But all Branch smelled was icky bits of moss and goo, so they obviously wouldn't hide in such a cave. Shrugging, Branch headed towards another cave. Sighing with relief, Windpaw padded to Leafpaw's side.
Suddenly, a red ball of fur pinned Windpaw to the ground. A fox! Windpaw gasped. Foxes were very deadly, especially when you were wandering in uncommon territory with your friend as scared as a mouse being hunted.
Struggling, Windpaw tried to kick the fox's belly with his powerful hind legs, but the fox remained still, eyes gleaming hungrily for prey.
It first bit into Windpaw's shoulder, making him cry out. Leafpaw, rushing to Windpaw's side, batted the fox away feebly with her small brown paws. The fox mildly pushed her, sending her towering.
Come on Leafpaw. You have to save your friend. Aiming for its throat, Leafpaw let out another battle cry, running as fast as she could, adrenaline running in her veins. Then, she pounced.
For a split second, Windpaw took a look at Leafpaw's expression. Her leaf green eyes were filled with determination, stress, fatigue, and hate. Windpaw stared admiringly at her. This wasn't the shy, timid Leafpaw anymore. This was fast, athletic Leafpaw. That kind of Leafpaw he was looking for in her was here.
Leafpaw landed on the fox's back, clawing like she never did, showing no mercy as the fox roared. Sinking her teeth into its throat, she never let go until its struggles grew weaker and weaker. Finally, it stopped, and Leafpaw gazed at the limp body.
Panting for breath, she collapsed out of fatigue. Windpaw stared at Leafpaw. She had lost so much blood at that time. Whimpering, he pushed his nose into her fur.
"I'm…fine. I'm gonna be fine, Windpaw," she breathed.
"Yes you are," Windpaw meowed determinedly.
Scrambling out, he looked for any traces of cat scent. His ears pricked and his eyes grew wide when he smelled a cat scent—a familiar scent. L-Lionstar?
"Windpaw?" Lionstar murmured. "Could it….be?"
Windpaw gulped, ready for his consequence. Looking up, he was prepared to see Lionstar with claws unsheathed, tail lashing and eyes glaring.
But instead, Lionstar's eyes were filled with joy. "Windpaw, I…I'm sorry. I knew you wouldn't kill Echoflight, I knew you wouldn't."
Windpaw stared at Lionstar, confused.
"When we found Echoflight's body, we also found a tuft of fur that was in between her claws. It was a tuft of dark brown fur—Snakepaw's. He denied it all he did, but it carried his scent—so he was exiled," Lionstar explained. "I apologize for accusing you. You just seemed to be the one to murder her after you went to the lake. It was Snakepaw who murdered her, and, for what reason? He told us something about his dad being the better deputy, but…he's gone now. So, I ask this: Will you be part of my Clan again?"
Windpaw found himself nodding madly. "And….take Leafpaw with you too."
Lionstar gasped. "Leafpaw? She's with you? She's alive?"
"Yes," Windpaw meowed. "But about to die. Hurry and get her back to the Clans!"
Lionstar beckoned with his tail for other warriors to carry Leafpaw's body. Windpaw hoped that she would live. His last hope…
. . .line break
"Is she gonna live?" Windpaw asked Lightbreeze, the medicine cat apprentice.
"Hmm…she lost a lot of blood, and collapsed from fatigue because of her wounds, but…" Lightbreeze paused before looking at Leafpaw, sleeping soundly. "She's going ot live."
WIndpaw's eyes widened with joy, and couldn't resist purring. Lightbreeze glanced at him happily. She's gonna make it! She's gonna be a warrior! Windpaw purred to himself, happily warming himself in the sunshine. I knew you could do it, Leafpaw.
Line break~
"I, Lionstar, leader of TreeClan, call my ancestors to look upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in turn. Windpaw, Leafpaw, do you promise to uphold the Clans, even at the cost of your lives?"
"I do," Leafpaw and Windpaw meowed in unison.
"Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give each of you your warrior names. Windpaw, from this moment you shall be known as Windfrost. Leafpaw, form this moment you shall be known as Leafheart. StarClan honors your courage and bravery, and we accept you as full warriors."
Overjoyed, Windfrost and Leafheart vowed in respwct, licked the leader's shoulder, and went down the hill as the Clan cheered their names.
Windfrost looked up to nothing in particular, smiled, and thought of two words: Thank you.
AN" BAH! Stupid ending. I promise there will be no bittersweet stupid endings like this. It's going to be tons more fun without these stupid one-shots! barfs at stupid work Anyways, same as always, review and you guys will get plushies! ;)