Warriors: The Power of One: Chapter Three
(Pondsplash- Thank you so much for your review! This is my first story ever and it helps so much to know that someone enjoys my writing and ideas!
Please read and let me know what you think or how you think I can improve! I plan on this being a long story…Probably right at thirty six or thirty seven chapters so if you like it feel free to follow. Thanks for reading!)
Sunpaw bounded excitedly over toward the ThunderClan camp entrance, followed shortly after by her brothers. Brackenfur, Stormfur, and Ashfur followed from behind, discussing what they would do with their apprentices on their first day.
"Calm down, Sunpaw," Brackenfur commented humorously. "Someone might think wasps have gotten under your fur." Ashfur and Stormfur chuckled softly as Brackenfur continued. "We've decided that for today all three of you will get to explore the entirety of the territory together. Of course we'll be going along as well." He said.
Sunpaw looked at her paws in embarrassment, but quickly recovered when she began to think of exploring the territory. "Will we see cats from other clans?" she asked.
"If we're unlucky." Ashfur huffed. "Come on, let's get started." He started out of the entrance, followed by the rest of the cats.
"What if we see a fox?" asked Toadpaw.
"Or a badger?" added Runningpaw, clearly thinking of the horrible stories that Mousefur and Longtail had told the kits when they were younger.
Before they were born, badgers had attacked the ThunderClan camp and murdered Cinderpelt, the clan's last medicine cat, and Sootfur and Rainwhisker, Sorreltail's brothers.
"Foxes haven't been scented for a while in our territory." Ashfur said. "But as for badgers, we must always be on the watch."
Sunpaw had never seen a badger but she thought it must be a fearsome enemy to behold. Larger than cats, Sunpaw had been told, badgers were ferocious fighters with long claws and sharp teeth. She couldn't imagine even attempting to fight one.
"Where are we going first?" asked her brother Runningpaw.
"We will reach the WindClan border soon," promised Stormfur.
They had started descending a gradual hillside when they left the camp. Sunpaw could smell a strange, although not unpleasant smell. It smelled of strong winds and different kinds of grasses. Before she could ask if what she smelled was WindClan scent, the group of apprentices and mentors arrived at the edge of the forest.
"This is our border with WindClan," explained Stormfur, looking out over a sizeable area covered with few trees. As Sunpaw looked closer, she could see a calm stream that cut through the hills that WindClan so famously lived in. "Hopefully we won't meet a patrol, but just in case, let's move along now," Stormfur added.
Sunpaw and her brothers took deep breaths to take in and recognize the scent of the rival clan before they moved on, following their mentors downstream.
They broke away from the forest and continued to walk alongside the stream. Sunpaw could now see the lake for the very first time in her life. "It's so big," she said lamely, not knowing how else to describe it.
"Yes indeed," Brackenfur meowed, "And you can barely see RiverClan's territory across the lake from where we are now."
Sunpaw felt a relieved affection for her mentor. She could tell that he would be patient with her training, and would help her not to feel embarrassed when she said something mouse-brained.
They continued to walk along the stream until it ended where they followed the shore of the lake. The three apprentices were shown the Ancient Oak, a place where they were told they would learn battle moves and strategies. The cats moved on until they reached another stream. Sunpaw began to smell a foul scent, and knew it must be ShadowClan.
The cats continued on along the stream, this time walking upstream. Suddenly, Sunpaw heard a rustling in the trees across the stream.
"ShadowClan," Brackenfur said, cautiously but calmly. "Let's see what they want."
Three ShadowClan cats approached the stream and eyed the ThunderClan cats with curiosity.
"What can we do for you, Oakfur?" Brackenfur asked.
A small brown tom cleared his throat. "Nothing. Our clan is patrolling the border. Are we no longer allowed to do this without ThunderClan raising a complaint?"
His companions, a white she-cat with long fur and only one scary eye and a dark brown tom grunted in agreement.
"Come now, Oakfur, you know I was only asking if we could help you. We were just showing our new apprentices the territory," Brackenfur explained. "I had hoped you would be somewhat friendly after such a short time since the Great Journey."
"ShadowClan needs no help," the dark brown tom spat, ignoring half of Brackenfur's comment. "Especially from a clan of kittypets and lost cats," he added, pointedly glaring at Stormfur.
"Be silent, Toadfoot," Oakfur said. "We will continue on our way if you continue on yours," he suggested.
Sunpaw could hardly breathe, and she could feel her brothers almost shrinking next to her. Why did ShadowClan have to be so harsh?
Brackenfur agreed with Oakfur, and as the two clan patrols walked away Sunpaw heard Whitewater say, "Kittypets, the whole lot. Did you see the apprentices? Shaking in their fur."
That did it. No cat would accuse her of being a coward. ShadowClan were bullies and not worth getting upset over. From now on, Sunpaw would work to be the best warrior that ThunderClan had ever seen.
The ThunderClan cats finished their patrolling and the three apprentices were told to rest and be ready to train more tomorrow. Once they laid down in their nests, Mousepaw, one of the older apprentices, came over to tell them the news.
"The gathering is tonight," Mousepaw said excitedly. "Firestar has asked me to go, and he wanted me to tell Runningpaw that he will be attending as well."
Her brother's eyes widened in excitement. "Wow, that's great news!"
Sunpaw couldn't help but feel a little jealous. She had hoped that she would get to go to her first gathering as an apprentice. Still, there would be many more to come, and at least she would get some extra rest.
Sunpaw stayed awake until her brother left with Mousepaw, Hazelpaw, and Honeypaw for the gathering, and then she slipped off into the dreamland.