Orange eyes showed themselves as Warmpaw stirred from his nest. He stared up at the cool darkness of the den roof, fur fluffing up slightly. He quickly sat up, yawning as he stared around the den. Sandpaw was still comfortably asleep, a paw draped over her muzzle. Twigpaw and Archpaw were nowhere to be found; their nests were empty. Was it as late as he thought it was?
He padded to the entrance, making his steps light, as to make sure he wouldn't wake his sleeping littermate. He looked outside, and a wet clearing greeted him. Still puddles were scattered around, reflecting the dull gray expanse above. He spotted Frostheart, sharing a vole with Flyingfeather, and Goldenfur, too. He was deep in conversation with Redstep. Warmpaw squinted up at the sky, seeing no sun. Great.
Moondrop walked over to him, white fur slightly grayed by rain. "It's sunhigh, in case you were wondering," she mewed bluntly. "You missed the meeting earlier."
Warmpaw cursed inwardly at himself. He was tired from yesterday's hunt in the storm, but he didn't think he would be so exhausted he would sleep until sunhigh! He flicked his tailtip. "What happened?"
"Nothing much, really. Ivystar just helped Redstep organize a few patrols, then she announced which cats were going to the Gathering tonight. She chose Frostheart, Blazetail, Goldenfur, me, Archpaw, and then you."
Warmpaw's pelt itched at the prospect of going to the Gathering. Did he want a chance to talk things over with Thistlepaw? Maybe it was just his nerves acting up again. He noticed Moondrop's rain-soaked fur again. "You were on the morning patrol?" he queried.
"The second one," she clarified. Her blue eyes flashed as she continued, "Blazetail and Maplebranch hunted with me, and we caught a few pieces of prey. They're sleeping now." She flicked her ears towards her den.
Warmpaw licked his whiskers. "What about Twigpaw and Archpaw?"
"I'm not sure. I know they were on the dawn patrol, though," she said. She tapped his shoulder with a paw. "Get ready. You're on a hunting patrol up next. Make sure to wake Sandpaw too."
"No problem," he mewed, watching her disappear into the beech den.
He re-entered the den with the sleeping Sandpaw, shaking her awake. Her cream pelt ruffled as she got to her paws. "What's here?" she asked, smacking her jaws.
"It's sunhigh, and we're on the next hunting patrol. Twigpaw and Archpaw are gone, and I bet they're already training with their mentors. Moondrop told me that we missed the morning meeting as well. I actually just woke up," he added with a chuckle, "so I guess that makes both of us lazy badgers."
Sandpaw smiled tiredly. "I don't mind being called a lazy badger if I get another sleep like that. It's been a while."
They stepped out to the clearing, finding a spot to wait on the flat rocks by the side of camp. The stones were cold and slightly damp, but they would have to do for now. The other good spots were either puddled or full of mud. In fact, Warmpaw got his paws soiled trying to get into the space under the ferns.
Sandpaw looked around the clearing. "I wonder if this rain's just a one-time thing or not."
"I certainly don't hope so." Warmpaw rubbed a mud-caked paw on the flat surface, watching it leave a mark. "But it seems like this kind of weather's going to last us a half moon, at the least. The air's thick as moss."
Jaws slightly opening, Sandpaw scented the air. "You're right," she sighed, her tail lashing once. "I was hoping it wouldn't."
"You two ready?" A voice called from beside the warrior's den; the blue tabby flicked her ears to the camp entrance. "You're coming along with me."
Warmpaw's mouth curled a little to the left, stepping down. "Hazelheart? You're on our patrol?"
She appeared amused, whiskers twitching. "Do you think Ivystar will organize a patrol with only two apprentices in it? Come on." She led them through the gap in the thorns out of camp. Outside, the forest was as soaked as moss after the rain. Rainwater dripped off the leaves above. One landed on Warmpaw's head, making him flick an ear in discomfort. The long grass around them was also wet, some of the moisture transferring over to their pelts.
Hazelheart signalled a halt. A robin was perched on a low hanging birch branch two rabbit-lengths away. It flapped its wings, trying to get itself dry.
"You think you have it, Warmpaw?" Hazelheart whispered, ears pricked forward.
Warmpaw looked up at the bird, now preening the feathers behind its wing. He licked his whiskers. "Consider it caught."
He stalked forward, paws steadied by moons of training. The robin was practically on top of him now, and it seemed to take no notice of what was underneath it. Warmpaw could feel his Clanmates' eyes on him, feeling pressure to make this catch.
He estimated the height, then leaped. He purred slightly, feeling his claws catching on the robin's feathers. He used his other paw to get a grip on the branch, and he heaved himself up it. He snapped the robin's neck, and the taste filled his mouth. No trouble at all.
"Great job, Warmpaw!" Hazelheart called from below, emerging from a thick bush.
Sandpaw was right behind her; the smile on her face showed her amazement and pride.
Warmpaw jumped down from the birch, feeling his paws squelch on the saturated forest floor. He sheathed his claws. "It's just a robin," he mumbled around the feathery prey.
Hazelheart sighed casually. "I guess that's what happens when you've been trained by such a sour cat like Goldenfur. I pity you. You should learn to praise yourself, really." She scented the air, and then pointed ahead. "Let's check this way."
"Should we bury the prey?" Sandpaw cocked her head.
"Don't. The ground's wet, so the prey'll just get bad. Defeats the purpose, doesn't it?" Hazelheart looked to Warmpaw. "Carry the prey for now. If your mouth gets tired, you can put it down. Just make sure it doesn't get muddy."
They walked further into the forest, Hazelheart leading the way. Warmpaw could already taste the robin's blood, leaking out of its broken neck. His mouth watered, remembering that he hadn't eaten anything after waking up. His stomach growled a little, and he lashed his tail, trying to keep himself from biting down on the still warm freshkill. When we get back, when we get back, when we get back, I promise.
"Speaking of which, Warmpaw, did you fix things up with Archpaw?" Hazelheart's question came out of nowhere, shocking the apprentice. He hadn't been paying attention to the other two cats' conversation, and it looked like somehow, the topic switched to him. "It seemed like you had a little misunderstanding yesterday."
Warmpaw nodded his head, his sleek pelt fluffing a little in self-conciousness.
Sandpaw's eyes flashed confusion. "Misunderstanding? Archpaw and Warmpaw? I thought that could never happen! I wondered why Archpaw was all out of sorts yesterday, but I wouldn't have guessed it would be you!"
Warmpaw placed down the robin on a clump of wide-leaved plants. "I gifted her to make up for it. It seems like she got annoyed at me for going on a night hunt with this cat over here." He flicked his tail at Hazelheart.
Hazelheart's eyes widened. "Really? Why?" She was confused for a moment, then her eyes lit up in understanding. "Oh."
Sandpaw purred loudly. "There's your problem."
Warmpaw glanced around nervously. "Hey, look where we are," he said, pointing to the side with his nose. It turned out they were close to the grassy training clearing. He could already see Archpaw sparring with Rainstorm, her eyes fiery and focused as she ducked and weaved around her mentor's quick blows. She was turning out to be an amazing fighter, and if she kept showing this kind of skill, she might end up having her ceremony alongside Warmpaw.
Or earlier, Warmpaw thought, as she slid smoothly underneath her mentor and toppled her to the ground.
"Nice moves!" He couldn't resist calling at her. The two training cats turned to the patrol, looking surprised, Archpaw especially. She bounded over to them.
"Hello," she chirped. Rainstorm was right at her tail, her tangled gray fur a blur. She greeted them with a smile.
"I see you're here, the three of you. You came for some extra training, Hazelpaw?"
Hazelheart pretended to ignore the little joke, but her eyes narrowed slightly. "We're hunting. Managed to pass by, that's all." She smiled at Archpaw. "Training's going along just fine, looks like it. How's it going for you two?"
Rainstorm looked proudly at her apprentice. "She's learning quickly. I can't say I'm not impressed with how much progress we've been making lately."
"It's nothing, really," Archpaw mewed, shuffling her paws. "I… I'm just trying to do my best."
Warmpaw shoved her lightly with a paw, eyes twinkling. "Stop being so modest. You're an amazing fighter." Archpaw ducked her head, looking flustered.
Hazelheart rolled her eyes at the scene, cuffing Warmpaw with her tail. "You should listen to yourself sometimes, you know. You know you're great at hunting, but you don't seem to want to admit it."
"Where's Twigpaw?" Sandpaw asked.
Archpaw licked her chest fur before explaining. "He said he wanted to go training with me, back at dawn. But he still isn't here, it seems." She leaned forward. "He isn't at camp?"
"No, he isn't. I think we'd have noticed if he was."
"Then I guess he's out in the forest with Flyingfeather. They might be on hunting practice." Archpaw's voice seemed to fade a little. Her ears perked suddenly. "Will you two be training later?" she queried.
"Maybe," Warmpaw shrugged, tail twitching slightly. "but I'm not sure you'll still be here by then. We just started the patrol, actually.
Hazelheart nodded. "We need to catch a little more before calling it quits. So far we've only caught a robin."
Archpaw's whiskers drooped slightly, and Rainstorm draped her tail on her shoulders. "Hopefully you'll catch a lot," the gray warrior meowed. "The forest isn't as alive as it was a few days ago. I'm not sure if it's the rain or not."
"Wish us luck," Hazelheart dipped her head at her, before she started on her way again, using her ears as a signal for them to follow. Sandpaw smiled at Archpaw before following.
Rainstorm turned to walk back to the clearing, and Archpaw and Warmpaw were left alone for a moment.
"See you later, I guess," Warmpaw mewed with a wink.
"Yeah, see you," she replied.
Warmpaw dipped his head, then ran off to catch up with the rest of his patrol.
. . .
In the end, the hunt wasn't as lucky as they had hoped it would be. Aside from the robin, they only managed to catch a sparrow amongst themselves. Warmpaw sighed after placing the robin down on the freshkill pile, feeling exhausted. He knew that Goldenfur would probably call him soon to squeeze in some training, and he wasn't looking forward to that at all.
I just want some rest!
Sprintfoot's head poked out of the nursery. "Come on in!" he mewed, spotting Warmpaw. "The kits are awake!"
Warmpaw couldn't turn down the energy in his request. He ducked under the brambles into the space underneath. Feeling the packed earth of the nursery was refreshing, to say the least. It was also very nostalgic. He could almost see it; four little kits, scampering about in the den.
But instead, what he saw was Nightfall, her body curved gently as she lay down, watching her two kits stumble around blindly. They were energetic, Warmpaw could already tell, and would be fine additions to the Clan once they grew up. Leaftail was there too, grooming her fur in a nest close to Nightfall's.
The dark queen turned, and smiled at him. "I was wondering why it got a little more crowded in here."
Warmpaw shrugged light-heartedly, purring. "Sorry for the disturbance. I just came in to see the kits."
Nightfall's gaze looked lovingly down at her kittens. She gave them a few gentle licks before turning back to Warmpaw. "Don't worry, you're always welcome to check in," she purred at him assuringly.
"Did you finish your patrol?" Leaftail asked him, tail tucked in between her paws.
"I did. But we only managed to catch a robin and a sparrow. Looks like all the mice and shrews still think it's raining."
Her whiskers twitched. "Maybe they do. The rain's soaked the forest, and there's a lot of rainwater still dripping off the leaves."
Warmpaw glanced at the kits. "Is it okay to touch them?"
Sprinfoot dipped his head; Warmpaw took it as permission to proceed.
He stepped forward, and gave Olivekit a little tap with his nose. The ginger tabby kit squealed, and it seemed to alert his brother, who peeped in alarm. They quickly huddled to Nightfall's warm belly.
Both Leaftail and Nightfall laughed as Warmpaw drew back, looking petrified. He glanced back nervously at Sprintfoot. He didn't seem to mind, his whiskers twitching with amusement.
"Olivekit and Cedarkit are only a day old, so don't worry. They'll get to know you in time," he purred.
"Thank you." Warmpaw flashed his friend a smile, then turned his gaze back to the kits. They were now clumsily batting at each other, looking like Warmpaw had never scared them. They're such adorable little things, he gushed inwardly.
He stood up. "I might as well make myself useful while I'm here. I'll change the nests, if you don't mind." He dipped his head to Nightfall, and the lithe black she-cat nodded, giving him permission.
"Thanks," she purred.
She rolled over a little to her side, allowing Warmpaw to scoop out the moss nest under her. He wrinkled his nose a little at the bad smell. Better make this quick, he thought, quickly grabbing as much of the nest as he could carry. He took it outside the den; he took a deep breath once he set the moss down. He spat out a feather. StarClan's kits, that smells bad. He found himself finding another reason why he wanted the kits to grow up fast.
He walked in again to grab Leaftail's nest next; it was a lot less smelly than Nightfall's, since she had yet to have kits of her own. He placed it down outside with the other dirty nest.
He poked his head back into the den. "You two can transfer to one of the other unused nests for now, Nightfall, Leaftail. The moss I'll get might be a little damp, so I'll have to air it a little before you can begin to use it. Is that fine?" His gaze shifted to Sprintfoot nervously.
"No problem," the white tom meowed.
"Be back soon," Leaftail waved her tail at him.
Nightfall blinked at him gratefully. Sprintfoot walked over to her and gave her a little nuzzle on her cheek. "I love you." Warmpaw could hear him murmur; Leaftail was purring as she watched them.
Warmpaw began to feel slightly embarrassed. "I'll leave for now. I'll be back to replace your nest once it's ready. Bye!" With that, he quickly withdrew.
"Twigpaw!" He spotted the silver tom sitting down in a corner of the camp; his eyes were half-closed. His wiry fur seemed to raise a little as he approached him.
"What do you need?" His rankled tone made Warmpaw flick his ear in annoyance. Was Twigpaw resting when he called him? He's an apprentice, like me, and duties have to be done.
"Let's head out into the forest. We have to replace Nightfall's nest."
Twigpaw's tailtip gave a little twitch. "Can't you do it yourself? It's just one nest, anyway. Can't handle it?"
Warmpaw bristled slightly. "I won't be able to work fast enough. We have to dispose of this stuff," –he pointed to the soiled remains of the nest—"and we also need to grab some new moss to make a new nest. It'll take too long for one cat to do it."
Twigpaw stuck his muzzle up against Warmpaw's, eyes dark and almost menacing. "If you think you can just order me around, then y—"
I don't have time for this! "It's your duty, you furball, and if you don't want to help, then fine by me. Have fun in your little daydream." Warmpaw turned away with a lash of his tail.
Twigpaw was acting like a complete kit; he didn't seem to want to help out. Meanwhile, he was tired from a patrol, but he was doing his duties anyway. The thought was annoying in itself; it made him want to rip something apart.
A rough shove to his shoulder made him turn around. Twigpaw's eyes didn't lie; he was annoyed by his last comment. "Let's go," he said. "Just because you can't do things on your own doesn't mean you have to drag me down with you."
Warmpaw smirked, ignoring his words; he was glad he was able to make stubborn Twigpaw listen. He picked up the dirty moss and headed for the camp entrance. Twigpaw was close by.
He dropped the dirty moss at the dirtplace, giving a slight shiver. He turned to Twigpaw with a smile, then pushed through the tunnel. Walking through the tunnel, his thoughts wandered for a moment. He wondered if he would find Thistlepaw at the Gathering tonight. Could there possibly still be a chance that… He cut himself off right there. Why are you still thinking about it? It's over, can't you see?
"What's wrong with you? Move faster!" Twigpaw growled. Warmpaw realized he had stopped halfway through the tunnel, feeling his fur grow warmer.
"Sorry," he mewed, walking through the tunnel and out into the forest. Twigpaw appeared beside him, blinking at the forest, but his face was blank.
Warmpaw sighed, nudging his bigger littermate with his tail. "Come on."
They walked in a straight line; Warmpaw had his eyes and mouth open, checking for any scents. Twigpaw was looking too, just not as enthusiastically as his fellow apprentice. Warmpaw was well aware of the deep rift that seemed to stretch its open jaws in between them.
He's just so… cold. Like we were never friends at all. It's almost like… we're complete strangers to each other. Warmpaw swallowed at the thought.
He spotted a large clump of moss growing on a fallen tree, finding himself smiling a little at the sight. All this moist air is perfect for moss to grow in. We should have a good supply, for now at least.
He beckoned Twigpaw closer. Warmpaw used his claws to separate some moss from the trunk, and he placed it down in a pile at his paws.
He turned to Twigpaw. "Help me grab some more. We might need to replace some of the other nests too." Twigpaw shrugged, and harvested his own moss; he had his own pile in a few heartbeats.
"Quick." Warmpaw murmured. They both clutched the fresh moss in their jaws, and together paced back to camp. As they walked, he found himself looking at Twigpaw's hostile eyes, staring straight ahead. A new wave of melancholy washed over him. They couldn't talk, of course with the moss in their jaws, but what bothered him was just how bored Twigpaw looked. He bet that if Archpaw was watching them right now, she would be rather distraught, seeing them like this.
They laid out the damp moss in the center of the camp clearing, where it would be able to soak up as much of the dull sunlight as possible. Warmpaw hoped it wouldn't rain.
He turned to face Twigpaw, but the silver tom was already gone, heading back the way they had come. Warmpaw's ears flattened, thinking about following him out into the forest, but decided against it. If he wanted to be alone, then he should give him that. He didn't want to seem like some kit chasing him around like he was his mother's tail.
Yellowleaf's in the warrior den, most likely. Is she awake? Warmpaw felt like talking to her about Twigpaw, and possibly get some kind of information as to why he was behaving so strangely.
He had already taken a step forward when Goldenfur came out of the beech den. Warmpaw felt his ears flatten involuntarily.
"Sparring," he meowed simply, before exiting the camp. Warmpaw sighed heavily; Goldenfur was expecting him to follow.
He remembered Twigpaw's dark look, and he closed his eyes. Something wasn't quite right about his newfound quietness. I hope it's not him, I hope it isn't, he prayed silently.
He left the camp to find Goldenfur waiting for him just outside. His gaze was stern as he looked him over. "You cleared out the nest in the nursery?"
"Yeah. It—"
"I don't care," he said flatly.
Warmpaw groaned, wanting to stick his muzzle into the ground. "But I'm so tired! I was on a hunting patrol only a while ago, and Twigpaw's being such an annoying kit."
"Let him be one if he wants. It doesn't matter." His flicked his tail dismissively at him, but his eyes kept their bright flame. "For now, you're an apprentice. You're my apprentice, and if I say you're sparring, you're coming along whether you like it or not." He turned away and began walking.
Warmpaw's tail lashed, feeling irked. Goldenfur didn't seem to express any interest in his friendships or how he was feeling at the moment. Right now, Warmpaw felt like his legs might just give way under him from exhaustion. Get over it. He's your mentor, you should have gotten used to him ages ago.
He glared at the ginger warrior, his step looking overly exaggerated. But that doesn't mean I have to like it.
He headed after him, taking wide strides to catch up.
They arrived at the training clearing a while later. Warmpaw was surprised to see Archpaw, with Rainstorm close by. Her blue eyes glittered as she greeted him, and he replied with a hello of his own.
Had they really been out here all this time? I didn't think she'd really wait for me, he thought, observing the cats. Archpaw was panting slightly, and he could feel her pelt radiating warmth as he sat down beside her. He turned to her, silently purring.
"How are you two going along with training, Rainstorm?" Goldenfur asked.
Rainstorm chuckled. The gray warrior looked rather exhausted as well. "Archpaw insisted on training longer. I actually tried convincing her to go back to camp so the both of us could rest, but she didn't want to, so I just gave in." Her eyes glowed with pride for her apprentice.
"Are you feeling okay?" Warmpaw asked Archpaw.
"Never better," meowed the little cat, with a pleased tip back of her head. She looked him over, a smirk forming on her muzzle. "I'm actually thinking whether or not you're feeling okay. You look like a mouse that got rained on."
Warmpaw huffed. He didn't get much rest himself, he remembered. She actually might be better rested than he watched her twitch her ears playfully at him.
"We might as well get started with it." Goldenfur's voice made him direct his attention to him. His look was stern. "We're wasting time here just talking. Archpaw, you'll be Warmpaw's sparring partner."
Archpaw and Warmpaw shared a look. They were both tired, and both knew it. They nodded towards the ginger tom.
"I'll be supervising from the side. Rainstorm?" Goldenfur turned to face her.
"I'll be there too. Usual rules apply: no claws and no aiming for the throat. The match starts with my signal, and it ends once one of you has the other one pinned down. Positions," she called them to form.
Warmpaw had his ears flattened back against his head, watching as Archpaw sized him up. She had herself crouched low to the ground with one paw up slightly; her eyes flicked around, possibly looking for possible spots of attack later.
She knows I'm bigger, so she's going to try and outspeed me. Warmpaw drew back a paw on the soft grass underpaw, changing his stance. He spread his legs, keeping his weight evenly distributed through each of his four paws.
My size is what I've got, so I'll use it. Archpaw's fast, but her speed won't last long, tired as she probably is. I'll just have to wait until then. He smirked. I'm sorry, Archpaw, but it seems like this match is mine.
"Begin."
The two apprentices held their ground for a moment. Archpaw was unmoving, blue eyes still locked on his. She's smart, Warmpaw thought. She knows that she shouldn't make the first move, being the smaller cat. Looks like it's up to me to kick things off.
Warmpaw lunged forward, paws outstretched to grab Archpaw by the shoulders. She nimbly sidestepped him, and when he was slightly unbalanced, she hooked her paws on his hind legs and pulled. Warmpaw gasped, winded as his chest hit the ground. Archpaw jumped on his back and forced his head down, muzzle digging into the soft earth. Warmpaw willed himself to stand up; his cream opponent was still on him, but her weight wasn't enough to keep him down. He reared up on his hind legs, then falling on his back. Archpaw jumped off just in time to avoid getting crushed. Warmpaw rose to his paws once more, but was too late to see Archpaw's blow aimed at his face. It connected painfully against his jaw, forcing him on his back again.
Archpaw jumped on him, attempting to get a good grip on his scruff. They struggled for a bit; Warmpaw tried hard to dislodge Archpaw from her position on top of him. Finally, Warmpaw found an opening, and his hind legs kicked her stomach hard. Archpaw jumped back; they broke off, both breathing heavily as they observed each other carefully once more.
That was lucky. If she'd held me down for a bit longer, the match would have been over. She's the one who's attacking, I'm just defending against her moves. He looked at Archpaw again, her tail lashing. I need to start to fight back, before Goldenfur calls a stop because of how pathetic this match looks.
He surprised her, feinting to the left, but then firing a hooking swipe to the right. It caught her on the muzzle, sending her staggering; she fell on her side, and Warmpaw wasted no time. He jumped, landing squarely on top of her. He dropped, his heavier build pinning her down. Archpaw blinked hard, trying to wriggle free of him. After a lot of struggling, she then gave a loud exhausted huff, realizing she had been beaten.
"It's finished. Well done, you two." Rainstorm congratulated them both.
Warmpaw stood up, letting Archpaw wriggle free. She shook her head, clearing it of the fuzziness blurring her vision. Once it was gone, she flashed Warmpaw a smile. She didn't seem to mind that she had just lost the sparring match. She chuckled before meowing, "You got me there."
Warmpaw's mouth curled upward a little sheepishly. "I hope I didn't hurt you too much."
"It hurts, but it'll fade. How's your jaw?" She flicked her tail to where her own paw had struck him earlier on the side of his muzzle. Warmpaw raised a paw to rub it a little, wincing.
"Okay, I guess."
Archpaw frowned. Rainstorm stood up, then fixed both apprentices with green eyes. "We'll be heading back to camp for now. Archpaw and Warmpaw are to go to the Gathering tonight, so they'll need their rest."
Goldenfur's ears flicked, and his mouth opened as if he was going to protest, but his Clanmates were already walking away into the forest to head back to camp. Warmpaw looked back, and he saw the warrior slash at the grass with his claws with a yowl. The black and white apprentice blinked, finding himself walking faster. He wanted to get away from the clearing as fast as possible.
. . .
"Catch!" Warmpaw meowed, tossing Archpaw a squirrel. She reared up on her hind legs to snag it in mid-air, pulling it down with her claw. She grinned.
"Share?"
"That would be great, thanks," Warmpaw licked his whiskers as he settled down to eat, crouched in front of her as they passed each other the fresh prey, taking their time in chewing the luscious meat.
Warmpaw glanced around; he could see Thornseed heading into the nursery with a sparrow in his jaws. He assumed it was the sparrow he and Sandpaw had caught earlier, and a feeling of pride made him lift his head a little. It was satisfying to know that their hard work was being enjoyed by their Clanmates.
Archpaw was digging into the squirrel heartily, and she looked pleased with herself.
"I knew it was going to be hard the moment Rainstorm announced the rules," she mewed between bites, glancing at him from time to time. "She expected me to pin you down, and no offense, but you're way heavier than I am."
Warmpaw chuckled, glancing a little off to the side. "Yeah, I'll admit, it was a bit unfair. I think Goldenfur just wanted me to demonstrate what I learned, but I don't think he was really impressed."
"Is he ever?" Archpaw tweaked her whiskers.
"Still, I think you'll beat me in a real fight; you're faster, and you know how to move yourself around." Warmpaw boxed her ear with a paw. "You landed a lot of really good ones on me. If you weren't holding back, I think my muzzle would do a bit more than sting." He laughed.
"Doesn't matter. You won the match."
"Oh, speaking of which, you aren't really hurt, are you?" Warmpaw asked anxiously, looking her over for any sign of pain, but she didn't seem to be holding any limb up, or moving gingerly.
"We're apprentices, Warmpaw." Archpaw flicked her tail against his flank, her eyes glittering amusedly. "We're training because we've got to get used to this kind of stuff in case we really have to fight in a battle. It's a huge problem if a warrior runs from a battle just because he got a few scratches on his pelt."
Warmpaw nodded, knowing that his friend was right. He couldn't imagine warriors abandoning the battlefield, just because of superficial injuries. "I see. So it didn't hurt when I pinned you down?"
She shook her head. "No, not really, I'm fine. The ground's all loamy from the rain; it didn't hurt as much as it did in leafbare, when it was still all frozen up. You yourself didn't hurt too; your pelt's soft."
Warmpaw looked away self-consciously, flushing a little under his fur.
"You know," Archpaw started, voice chipper, "I think I want to mix in a little more. With the other cats, I mean. It's not that I think Storkpaw and Gingerpaw aren't good company. I really like them, but don't you think I should start talking to other cats?"
"Maybe," Warmpaw mewed. "I have a couple of other friends you haven't really met yet. If you want, I can introduce them to you."
She grinned. "I'd love to. Who are they?"
"Wrenpaw and… Thistlepaw." He hesitated a little saying her name. "They're both from WindClan, and I think they're great cats. You should talk with them; they know a lot, and they're fun to converse with."
"Sounds good," she meowed, then her eyes locked on Sandpaw, who was just sitting in one corner of camp, looking a little lost as her gaze flicked around. "Sandpaw? Why's she over there?"
Warmpaw huffed. "She knows she can just come over here if she wants."
"Yeah, but maybe she doesn't see us. I'll go talk to her, if you don't mind." Archpaw pushed the half-eaten squirrel towards him. "You can have the rest."
Warmpaw watched her go, then looked back down on the prey she left him with a sigh.
. . .
Warmpaw stepped carefully across the log, making sure that he had his claws unsheathed to grip down on the surface. The recent rains had wet it, it seemed, and now it felt precariously slippery and mossy under him. He safely crossed, then he allowed himself to get lost in the throng of gathered cats.
I always spend my Gatherings with them, he recalled. I couldn't come the last time, since I wasn't picked, but still. We're all friends, right? Nothing will change… He forced himself not to dip his head in fear.
Now that he had stopped racing Thistlepaw, he was afraid that she might have told Wrenpaw about their secret runs. The light brown tom seemed calm enough, but there was no telling what he would do once he found out.
I'll tackle that when I get there, he flicked his tail at the thought, then weaved around the clearing on the island.
He suddenly felt Archpaw's pelt press against his; she gazed around, blue eyes eager. "I think we ought to see Storkpaw and Gingerpaw first."
He nodded. "You're right. It's no rush, anyway. Take as much time as you'd like."
Archpaw blinked. "Well, I'd still like to have enough time to speak with the WindClan apprentices. My friends are fine, but I think I want to make some new ones. Don't you want to see them yourself?" She looked into his eyes intently; Warmpaw knew that look, that inquisitive glint he had seen when she had nearly caught him sneaking out to meet Thistlepaw. He swallowed.
"Of course I do. I just don't want you to feel like I'm pressuring you or anything." It was only a half-truth, but Archpaw seemed to drop the prying gaze.
"I see. Let's speed up then!" She bumped his shoulder playfully and raced off. Warmpaw lost sight of her in the tangle of cats, and he gave a sigh of mock exasperation.
When he had finally found her again, she was next to two other cats, already wildly chattering away. Archpaw's friends were no strangers to him; she had told him about them.
There was Storkpaw, the brown she-cat with a dark patch around her eye. It was just fur, Storkpaw told her, but Archpaw had still found it a little funny. Warmpaw narrowed his eyes a little; he had a black patch over his left eye too, stretching all the way to his ear. Does she find my patch funny?
Then there was Gingerpaw. She was a sleek-furred orange tabby she-cat. She didn't talk a lot, Archpaw explained, but that was only because she only spoke when she needed to.
They were both RiverClan cats, he could tell from the scent and their sleek fur. They were also rather plump, but then again, that was typical. There are a lot of fat fish in the river for them to stuff themselves with.
Warmpaw approached them, and their conversation came into earshot.
"—out! It practically jumped into my claws. I didn't mind. Even mousebrained fish taste the same as smarter ones, I supposed."
Archpaw was laughing, looking a little ruffled. Gingerpaw was too, albeit a little less energetically. She noticed Warmpaw, flashing him a smile.
"Hey, you there! Come over," she meowed, patting the ground beside her, inviting him to sit. Warmpaw settled next to the gray apprentice.
Storkpaw had a wide smile on as she shoved Warmpaw's side roughly with a paw, startling him. "It's a new cat! What's your name?"
"I-I… my name…" Warmpaw stammered; his fur was slightly spiked.
"Don't be rough," Archpaw chided Storkpaw. She turned to Warmpaw embarrassedly. "Forgive her. She can be a little… excited sometimes."
She turned to the two RiverClan she-cats with a grin. "This is Warmpaw," she meowed.
"Yeah," he said, sitting up a little straighter. "I'm Archpaw's friend. Best friend, I meant." he added, when Archpaw shot him a hard look.
"Pleased to meet you, Warmpaw." Gingerpaw waved her tail affably at him. "Archpaw's told us a lot about you."
"You're a very handsome tom," mewed Storkpaw.
Warmpaw ducked his head at the compliment. "Thank you."
Archpaw coughed once, tail flicking slightly. "Why don't we try getting to know each other a little more?" she suggested.
"Agreed." Gingerpaw said, and all of a sudden, they were spouting questions as fast as water from a waterfall. Warmpaw tried to answer them the best he could, while at the same time looking for any sign of either Wrenpaw's light brown pelt or Thistlepaw's dark one, but he had no luck so far.
"Interesting." Storkpaw curled her tail around her paws. "Are you looking for some other cats? Your eyes are a little shifty."
"I'm looking for my friends in WindClan. They must be around here somewhere."
"Warmpaw wanted me to get to know them tonight," Archpaw said. "I've never met them yet, so this is a great opportunity to make some new friends."
Just then, he spotted them. Wrenpaw was sitting somewhere nearby. Warmpaw took it to himself to invite him over.
"Hey, Wrenpaw!"
Wrenpaw turned, eyes widening once he saw him. "Warmpaw!" he purred, padding closer.
"Where's Thistlepaw?" Warmpaw immediately searched around.
"She's close by. I'll call her."
Wrenpaw quickly left. He returned soon after, with Thistlepaw's dark pelt trailing behind him.
Thistlepaw turned to glance at him, and suddenly he knew how different it was now between them. Her gaze wasn't unfriendly, for sure, but her amber eyes lacked the warmth it once held, back when they were still racing. She was the same cat on the outside, but Warmpaw knew that wasn't the case.
Warmpaw swallowed the lump in his throat painfully. "This is Wrenpaw," he mewed, "and this is Thistlepaw. They're both from WindClan."
"Nice to meet you all." Wrenpaw dipped his head at the two RiverClan apprentices, and Thistlepaw followed suit.
Storkpaw and Gingerpaw introduced themselves, and in a short while, they were already happily chatting away about hunting techniques. Storkpaw was bragging about catching the biggest trout ever, and Wrenpaw chuckled; the calm tom knew that it was a lie. Archpaw joined in with a few boasts of her own, and even Gingerpaw had a few things to say. Only Warmpaw and Thistlepaw refused to speak.
Warmpaw noticed the noise die down, and figured that the Gathering was being called to attention. Everyone was silent as the first leader spoke.
"Greetings," she meowed loudly. "I am Larkstar, the new leader of WindClan."
A few surprised murmurs rang through the crowd; many cats knew that the new leader had a limp. Unwittingly, Warmpaw found his eyes straying towards her left leg; it was bent slightly. He began to understand some of the other cats' concerns.
How can a cat with a limp protect herself in an all-out battle, if it happens? If she can't help herself, how can she help an entire Clan?
"Gorsestar was a mighty leader, and a strong warrior for his Clan. He has led WindClan brilliantly to where we are now, and I know he's watching over us in Silverpelt." She dipped her head along with all the cats in the island, giving a moment of silence for the former WindClan leader.
She raised her head proudly. "I'm glad he trusted me enough to be his deputy. So here I stand before you all, representing WindClan as its new leader."
"Larkstar! Larkstar! Larkstar!"
The WindClan cats yowled loudly, and many of the other Clan cats joined in to cheer the new leader of WindClan.
She blinked gratefully at the gathered cats. "Thank you all. In other news, we are recovering well this newleaf. I'm glad to announce that WindClan is now well-fed and sickness-free. Despite the heavy rains recently, we have managed to catch more than enough for ourselves."
She turned to Ivystar, and the ThunderClan leader gave a briefing of the last moon. ShadowClan had three new warriors, while RiverClan had a new litter of kits.
"Larkstar's smart, which was probably why she was picked as deputy," said Wrenpaw once the Gathering ended.
Thistlepaw's ears perked in an expression of pride. "She's my mentor, you know."
Storkpaw widened her eyes. "Wow!"
"I'm happy for WindClan," came Archpaw's mew. "I'm sure she'll be a great leader."
Wrenpaw glanced away for a moment; the Clans were beginning to group themselves once more in preparation for leaving. "You know, it was nice meeting you all," he meowed, smiling, "Let's meet again next time."
"You can count on that!" Storkpaw piped. "I bet I could sleep for a moon after this. I'm exhausted!"
Wrenpaw yawned. "Yeah," he chuckled.
Storkpaw said something else, but a tap to his side made Warmpaw turn. Thistlepaw's amber eyes blinked at him. "We have to talk," she whispered.
Warmpaw glanced at the rest of the apprentices; their conversation had turned into a debate about the best tasting prey, and it didn't seem like it was going to end soon.
He nodded curtly. "Let's go."
They both crept away, hiding behind a clump of bracken nearby.
The others still haven't noticed us, Warmpaw realized, sighing in relief.
Thistlepaw took a deep breath, and exhaled it before looking into his eyes. Her eyes swirled with mixed emotions. "First of all, I'd just like to say thank you for keeping me company for all this time. It really means a lot to me."
Warmpaw felt a burning in his chest, but he still couldn't find the words to say. He was forced to listen as she continued.
"I was lonely back then, you see. I wasn't the best of apprentices. I wasn't good at hunting, and I'd always fail at my early sparring matches. No one bothered speaking with me, except Wrenpaw, my only friend left over from my kithood. But even then, he wouldn't run with me, even when I asked him to. He probably thinks it's a big waste of time, but he just can't bring himself to say it to my face. Everyone else thought I was out of my mind."
"That was when you met me, and offered to race me. No one else has done that before, and I had never expected it to come from a ThunderClan cat. I went back to my nest that night, and wondered for a moment if things were finally changing for the better. I made a plan, to make sure we'd meet. The next night, I rolled in some grass to disguise my scent, then jumped the stream. We met up on ThunderClan's side, but you didn't seem to notice. I guess back then we were still both practically kits, too excited for our own good." She chuckled lightly after before her eyes flashed seriousness again.
"In time, we just met over there. We didn't ask any questions, even as we got older. I'll admit, I didn't want to stop forever. But things change, Warmpaw. They change, and I realized that although racing you was fun, at some point, things will turn out worse for us in the end. So I decided to stop. For both of our wellbeings. I'm glad you agreed to that, no matter how painful it was for both of us."
Thistlepaw looked up, a mixture of warmth and sadness swirling in her eyes. "At least we made some great memories," she purred. "I don't regret meeting you. We can still be friends! Just think about it this way; we don't have to keep our friendship secret anymore!"
A few loud calls resonated around the clearing, and Thistlepaw's ears perked.
"I've got to go. You should too," she murmured, shooting him a nervous glance. "Our Clans are calling us." She rose to her paws, shaking out her dark fur.
Warmpaw's head buzzed; his throat felt like it was on fire, and his ears were slicked back. He tapped Thistlepaw's flank with his tail, calling her attention just as she was turning to leave.
"I… really liked you, you know," he blurted out.
Warmpaw turned away, then chanced a look at Thistlepaw. Her eyes glowed with a dull light, but the fur on her back was slightly raised.
She swallowed before mewing, "I know. I kind of did too."
She walked away, black tail streaming away behind her. Warmpaw got up and chased after her; he had a slight cramp on one of his legs but ignored it, wanting to talk with Thistlepaw some more.
He stopped once he saw that WindClan was already on their way out, and Thistlepaw's dark fur was visible among them. He gazed longingly after her as she and her Clanmates disappeared into the dark night.
This was exactly how he had expected their talk to go. He had expected this. Why did he feel so drained and exhausted?
A light voice called him from behind. Archpaw trotted to his side. "Storkpaw and Gingerpaw left a while ago," she meowed perkily. "I was looking for you, since ThunderClan's leaving in a little while, along with ShadowClan." She looked up at Warmpaw, and her brow furrowed with worry. "Hey, talk. You're okay, right?" She prodded him with a paw.
"Yeah," he mewed, realizing too late that he had just set a chain reaction of emotions within himself. His voice seemed to catch in his throat; every breath was a struggle. "I… I need to go. Please, don't…"
"Warmpaw, what's wrong with you?" Archpaw's eyes widened; she attempted to press her pelt against his, but he pulled away, a wild look in his orange eyes. His fur was spiked, mouth open as if in a silent yowl.
Then, he ran.
"Warmpaw!" He could hear Archpaw screech behind him, and he was sure both ThunderClan and ShadowClan heard as well, almost feeling all their eyes on his pelt. But he didn't turn. He wanted to get back to camp, and curl up in his nest like nothing ever happened.
The ground was but a dark blur beneath his feet. He kept on his pace, not wanting to look around, lest he see the moors around him. However, no matter how much he tried, he still couldn't keep the image of her out of his mind. The night sky above was her fur, and the feeling of the ground striking against his paws only served as a reminder of many nights ago together with her.
I guess… I must have really loved her, if it hurts this much.
The thought burned in his chest, and he closed his eyes tight shut.
AN: This turned out to be the longest chapter of anything I've ever written. Sorry for the wait! It's this fic's 1 year anniversary!
Things will start picking up soon, I promise. :D