Chapter 12

"Wake up, Firestar asked me to take the apprentices out hunting," Jaypaw felt a sharp prod in her stomach and blinked a couple times until Hollyleaf's black face came into view. Stripepaw was already up and trying to rouse Ashpaw, who was curled into a tight ball, her breathing heavier than normal.

Hollyleaf gave Jaypaw another prod and the golden brown apprentice protested, "I'm up, I'm up, okay?" Jaypaw got to her paws and shook any leftover moss off of her pelt, watching them scatter onto the floor of the apprentices' den with half-closed eyes. Outside, the sun was casting it's bright light through the brambles of the apprentices' den, making Jaypaw squint.

"Where are we going hunting today?" Stripepaw bounded over, followed by an exhausted looking Ashpaw. Jaypaw scrutinized Ashpaw with narrowed gray eyes and saw that the white apprentice was looking very sick. Ashpaw's ears were flat against her head and her green eyes were dull looking.

Padding over to Ashpaw, Jaypaw gave the white apprentice a quick sniff and then recoiled, her fur bristling. There was the stench of sickness clinging to Ashpaw's pelt and it made Jaypaw's nose burn. Turning quickly to Hollyleaf, Jaypaw hissed, "Hollyleaf, look at Ashpaw! I don't think she's feeling too good!"

As if though agreeing to her words, Ashpaw quickly darted out of the apprentices' den, not even looking back at Hollyleaf, Jaypaw, and Stripepaw. Hollyleaf and the two apprentices could hear the sound of retching outside.

"Poor Ashpaw," Stripepaw repeated as they padded deeper into ThunderClan territory and Jaypaw agreed silently. After they had taken Ashpaw to Leafpool's den, Applepaw had been seen racing out, saying that his sister was suffering from whitecough and he had to go and collect catmint from the abandoned Twoleg den. Hollyleaf had wanted to stay and make sure Ashpaw was okay, but Leafpool convinced her to take Jaypaw and Stripepaw out hunting.

"Don't be too sad you two," Hollyleaf meowed, pushing through some ferns. Hollyleaf had chased after a mouse and seeing the triumphant look in her green eyes, Jaypaw knew that the black warrior had caught her prey. Even though the leafbare air was slowly warming up, the Clan still needed plently of fresh-kill. "Now, I hear a rabbit over there. Which one of you is going to get it?"

Jaypaw padded forward and dropped into a crouch, stepping lightly on the ground. Jaypaw prepared to spring, but then the wind changed and instead of being downwind, the golden brown apprentice was the opposite. Giving a low snarl, Jaypaw sprang forward and missed the rabbit. Now growling loudly, Jaypaw raced after the rabbit, right on its heels- too determined to give up her chase.

When Jaypaw as close enough, she bunched up her legs and prepared to spring once more. Suddenly a dark brown shape crashed into her and at first Jaypaw thought it was Stripepaw until she recognized the crowfood stench. Rogue!

Jaypaw scrambled to her paws and stared at the dark brown tom, long scars slashed across his muzzle. Lunging forward, Jaypaw bowled the tom over and began raking her claws against his stomach. The tom howled in rage, but that wasn't the only sound that filled the air. Two more rogues had appeared beside the first, their pelts ragged with the signs of hard living. One was another brown tom with long hair that was tangled with brambles and twigs. The other was a black-and-white tom and Jaypaw felt part of her mind go to Blackstar; the only part that wasn't fixed on defeating her opponent.

Hollyleaf and Stripepaw suddenly came crashing through the bushes and leapt forward, both of them attacking one of the rogues. Jaypaw looked down at her own opponent as she did; the tom pushed her off and instantly turned around, sinking his teeth into one of her hind legs. Jaypaw gave a loud screech and turned around, preparing to sink her claws in the tom's neck.

Hollyleaf darted forward and nudged Jaypaw away, snarling, "ThunderClan cats don't kill unless we have too. Just give them something to remember us by and make sure they know not to come again." Hollyleaf gave the tom a vicious bite on the shoulder and he scurried away, heading towards the ShadowClan border.

"Jaypaw, look out!" Jaypaw turned and felt a cat crash into her. Turning around- spitting and snarling- Jaypaw spotted a black-and-white tom. Jaypaw lunged forward, but then stopped when Stripepaw yowled loudly.

Turning, Jaypaw saw Stripepaw dragging herself away from another brown tom. Jaypaw charged forward and knocked the tom away from Stripepaw. The tom turned to face Jaypaw and lunged, but Jaypaw was quicker. Jaypaw got onto the tom's back and raked her claws along his flank.

The tom yowled and threw Jaypaw off, sprinting away. Seeing that he was now alone, the black-and-white tom raced after the tom, leaving Hollyleaf- who had been fighting with him- snarling until his tail disappeared in the ferns. Her hind leg beginning to sting, Jaypaw sank to her paws and began washing her hind leg, blood still trickling from where the brown tom had bit her.

"I think those were the rogues that attacked Briarcloud, Bumblethroat, and Blossomwhisker that day when they received their warrior names." Hollyleaf meowed, padding over to Jaypaw and the golden brown apprentice noticed the warrior had a badly torn ear. Stripepaw was lying away and Jaypaw at first thought her sister was dead until she noticed her tail twitching back and first.

"You fought well today," Hollyleaf turned to look at Stripepaw's body, the brown apprentice's ears now slightly pricked, "Both of you. I'm going to talk to Firestar and your mentors today. I think it's time for you to get your warrior names."

Despite her wounded leg, Jaypaw had never felt happier.