Thanks for the reviews. :)
Dianacutie- Morningsong- Thanks. :) Yea, I tend not to right reviews on other stories unless they are low on reviews. I had trouble with the name, I tried things like Birchpaw, Fernpaw, and Leafpaw but Birchpaw really didn't fit and there is Ferncloud and Leafpool. My freind on my RP site, Leopardspots made her warrior name.
Anna O'Carric- Yea, that happends in my writing sometimes. Thanks for pointing that out, I'll work on it. :)
The next few days Fawnpaw was allowed to stay in camp. Fireheart introduced her to all the cats in the clan and showed her around the camp. She had quickly became friends with Frostfur and Brindleface, and even got to know a little bit about Graystripe, but he seemed to be out of camp a lot.
The only cat she hadn't met was Cinderpaw because the apprentice seemed to always be busy. Fawnpaw was waiting for Fireheart to introduce her to the apprentice, or have Cinderpaw come to her. She didn't want to end up having some awkward conversation with her.
Fawnpaw layed right outside the nursery, searching camp. There were many cats in camp now because it was full moon. She didn't know what was so special about full moons, but from what she heard from the warriors it was pretty important.
Fawnpaw soon spotted Fireheart padding into camp, dropping a peice of prey on the fresh-kill pile. Fawnpaw jumped up and ran over.
"Hi Fireheart." She greeted him, touching noses with him.
"Hi." Fireheart said back. "I was just about to visit Cinderpaw. Have you met her yet?"
"Not yet." Fawnpaw replied.
"Do you want to?" Fireheart offered.
"Sure." Fawnpaw said. She really did want to see Cinderpaw. She had seen the apprentice around the camp but hadn't talked to her yet.
Fireheart turned and led the way into the medicine cat den. Fawnpaw got up and followed.
When they entered the tunnel, Fawnpaw could see her brother wince. Fawnpaw looked ahead and saw two cats. They where both dark gray she-cats, but one was older with a flattened face and many scars.
The youger cat, most likely Cinderpaw, limped heavily toward the split rock with a mouthful of dried leaves.
"Fireheart!" Cinderpaw spat out the herbs and turned to greet him as they both emerged from the tunnel. "I could only just sent you through these disgusting things!"
"Those disgusting things helped cure your leg!" Growled Yellowfang.
Fawnpaw had meet Yellowfang, but was still surprised by how she growled at the young she-cat.
"Well you should have used more!" retorted Cinderpaw, but there was a mischievous glint in her eye. "Look at this!" Cinderpaw twitched her twisted leg. "I can hardly reach my claws to wash them."
Fawnpaw felt bad for the apprentice, but she knew that there was nothing she could do for the injury she had. Fawnpaw wasn't surprised though, she had seen cats get hurt much worse when getting hit by a monster on the Thunderpath.
"Perhaps I should give you more exercises to loosen it up." meowed Yellowfang.
"No thanks!" mewed Cinderpaw quickly. "They hurt!"
"They're meant to hurt! It shows your working." The old medicine cat turned to Fireheart. "Perhaps you'll have more luck persuading her to do them. I'm going ot the forest to dig up some comfrey roots."
"I'll try." Fireheart promised as Yellow fang padded past him.
"You'll know if she is doing them right," The medicine cat called over her shoulder. "because she'll complain!"
Cinderpaw limped over to Fireheart and touched her nose to his. "Thanks for coming to see me." She sat down and grimaced as she tucked her bad leg under her. "So this is your sister." She turned her gaze to Fawnpaw.
"I like coming to see you." Fireheart purred. "And yes, this is her. Fawnpaw, this is Cinderpaw."
"Hello." Fawnpaw greeted. "It's nice to finally meet you. Fireheart has told me a lot about you."
"He has?" Cinderpaw asked.
Fawnpaw nodded while Fireheart suggested, "Perhaps you should try your exercises now."
"Okay," mewed Cinderpaw "but just a few."
She lay on her side and stretched out her leg until her face twisted with pain. Slowly, her teeth clenched, she began to move it backwards and forwards.
"Your doing really well." Fireheart meowed, but Fawnpaw could tell that he was uncomfortable with seeing her in pain.
Cinderpaw let her leg drop and lay still for a moment; then she pushed herself up. She shook her head. "I'm never going to be a warrior am I?"
"No." Fireheart whispered. "I'm sorry." He stretched his muzzle towards her and licked her head.
"I knew it really." She mewed "It' just that sometimes I dream about being in the forest, hunting with Brackenpaw, and then I wake up and the pain in my leg reminds me I'll never hunt again. It feels too much to bear. I have to pretend, that maybe, one day I will be able to hunt."
Fawnpaw got an idea. Before Fireheart could say anything she spoke, "But you could help your clan in different ways. You don't have to be able to hunt to help your clan. You could become Yellowfang's apprentice, I'm sure she will be looking for one soon."
Cinderpaw seemed to think for a moment. "Yea, maybe." She decided, seeming to be a little happier now. "I would like that."
Before anyone could say anything, Tigerclaw pushed his way into the den.
Fireheart stood up and looked over at the large brown tabby. "Hes Tigerclaw?"
Tigerclaw didn't even look at Fireheart. "Fawnpaw, come with me. We will be practicing hunting before the gathering." He turned and left, not giving Fawnpaw a choice.
Fawnpaw nodded and stood. She turned to Cinderpaw and said, "It was nice to meet you. I hope we actually get to talk next time."
Fawnpaw turned to leave but Fireheart stopped her by putting his tail on her shoulder.
"Be careful around Tigerclaw." Fireheart wispered, looking worried.
"Why?" Fawnpaw asked, confused. What could be so bad about the deputy?
"I'll tell you later." Fireheart turned back to Cinderpaw.
Fawnpaw stood there for a few heartbeats, then turned and left the den. She quickly found Tigerclaw by the camp entrance.
"What took you so long?" Tigerclaw narrowed his eyes.
"I was just saying bye. Anything wrong with that?" Fawnpaw replyed, narrowing her eyes as well.
Tigerclaw growled and left the camp, flicking his tail for Fawnpaw to fallow.
Fawnpaw gasped for air as Tigerclaw started to run through the forest. Her lungs felt like they where going to burst, and she had to stretch her legs farther then usual to keep up. But she wasn't going to slow down, she wanted to prove that she wasn't a Kittypet any more.
Finally Tigerclaw stopped, and Fawnpaw skidded to a stop, almoust crashing into him.
"What can you smell?" Tigerclaw asked, going strait into the training.
Fawnpaw opened her mouth and tasted the air. She looked around at the forest surroundings. The sent of mouse and bird came to her. And something else...
"Mouse and bird. And..." Fawnpaw trailed off. "What is that?"
"Fox. Is it fresh?" Tigerclaw asked.
Fawnpaw focused on that one scent. She frowned. "No."
"That's right." Tigerclaw nodded. "It was here a few days ago. Now, lets hunt. You can go first."
But I don't know how to! Fawnpaw wanted to say, but kept her mouth shut. She picked out the scent trail of the mouse and followed it around a bush. She saw it in a patch of sun light, nibbling on a seed between it's two tiny paws.
Fawnpaw stepped lightly as she walked closer then she heard a loud CRACK! under her paws. She froze. She had stepped on a twig.
The mouse darted into it's hole between two roots of a tree.
Fawnpaw let out a hiss and turned to look at Tigerclaw.
Tigerclaw stared at her for a moment, then flicked his tail. "Come here." Fawnpaw stepped closer.
"Show me your crouch again." Tigerclaw ordered.
Fawnpaw dropped down in her crouch. Tigerclaw looked her over. "Paws closer together."
Fernpaw nodded and pulled them closer.
"Lower to the ground."
Fernpaw lowered herself a little more.
"Keep your tail still."
Fernpaw hadn't noticed that her tail tip was flicking back and forth. She stopped it.
"Thats better." Tigerclaw sat back. "Now lets see if you can track and catch that bird."
Fernpaw nodded and opened her mouth. Almoust immediately she caught the scent.
"This time watch out for twigs and rocks. Step lightly." Tigerclaw told her.
Fernpaw followed the scent of the bird. She soon spotted it and drew herself closer. She carefully stepped over a twig and stopped a fox length away from the prey.
She wiggled her haunches for a moment, then jumped. She landed with the bird between her paws. She swiftly killed it with a clean bite to the neck.
She picked it up and looked at Tigerclaw with bright eyes. She was expecting praise, but all Tigerclaw did was nod.
"Lets go back to camp now. It is almoust time for the gathering." Tigerclaw glanced up at the darkening sky.
Fernpaw nodded and followed her mentor back to camp. As they padded through the entrance the brown tabby said, "Bring the bird to the elders, then get something for yourself and get some rest. Training starts early tomorrow."
Fernpaw nodded and padded over to the elders den. She spotted a dark brown tabby tom with half his tail missing. He was the onky elder still out side of the den.
The elder shifted his gaze from the darkening sky to Fernpaw as she came closer.
"Hello." He greeted as she set the prey down. "Did you catch that?" He bent down and sniffed at it.
"Yes, I did." Fernpaw smiled, feeling a little proud of her first catch.
"A little skinny." Halftail shrugged. "But good for your first catch."
"Thank you." Fernpaw dipped her head. When he didn't say anything back, she turned and padded for the fresh-kill pile.
Fernpaw picked up a squirrel and headed for the nursery.
As she stepped into the dark den, she had to stop to let her eyes adjust. Inside she saw Cloudkit curled up next to Brindleface.
Goldenflower looked up, eyes worried. "I have just sent for Yellowfang."
"Why? Is everything okay?" Fernpaw padded forward and sniffed at her kit. He felt a little warm as he squirmed uncomfortably.
Fernpaw gently picked him up and layed down in her nest. She carefully sent him by her belly.
"Cloudkit has been a little feverish today." Brindleface said, looking at the white tom kit. "It's probably nothing but I thought I'd see what Yellowfang thought. I... I don't want to take any chances."
Fernpaw remembered that Brindleface had lost a kit from greencough. Hopefully this wouldn't turn out the same way.
Fernpaw licked Cloudkit, trying to get him to fall asleep. Soon the den opened and two cats padded in. Yellowfang and Fireheart.
Yellowfang padded over to the nest Fernpaw was laying in and set down some feverfew. Fireheart gave a vole to Brindleface then walked over to Fernpaw as well.
Yellowfang nosed Cloudkit and listened to his breathing. "He should be fine after he has some of this. It is just a fever." Yellowfang meowed.
"How was training?" Fireheart asked as Yellowfang chewed up the leaves.
"Fine." Fernpaw shrugged. "I caught a bird though!"
"Thats great." Fireheart licked Fernpaw's ear.
"Tigerclaw isn't really friendly is he?" Fernpaw asked as she watched Yellowfang put the chewed her into Cloudkit's mouth and helped him swallow.
"No, he is not." Fireheart said. "He didn't do anything... weird did he?"
"Weird? No." Fernpaw shook her head, then said a quick tahnks to Yellowfang as she left the nursery. Fernpaw turned back to her brother. "No, he was just helped me with hunting, though he did seem a little stiff."
Fireheart sighed.
"Is something wrong?" Fernpaw asked.
"Don't worry about it." Fireheart touched noses with her. "I have to go to the gathering now. See you tomorrow."
"Bye Fireheart." Fernpaw called as he left the den. She settled down deeper into the warm moss and curled her tail around the now sleeping Cloudkit. Only then did she remember that she was going to ask Fireheart why she should be careful around Tigerclaw.
Done! :)