Heyo!

Recap: It's Halfmoon, and Willowfall journeys with the other medicine cats to the Moonpool. She daydreams about the day that Badgerkit died, and she worries that the Clan will find out that she'd killed Emberheart. When she falls asleep, she sees Emberheart in her dreams, in a place that looks a bit different than the StarClan she'd known; yet she's certain it isn't the Dark Forest. Emberheart tells her she's in StarClan because she never did anything wrong in her life; though she'd threatened Willowfall and her kits, she'd never actually harmed them, and in StarClan's eyes, that was okay. She tells Willowfall that even though she's dead, she isn't gone, it it won't be the last that she sees of her. Willowfall wakes up, terrified, and Onespot tells her she looks like she's seen a monster. Back in her own territory, Willowfall looks at her reflection in the stream and thinks about what Onespot said.

Long recap, sorry.

Thanks to everyone who's been reviewing, you are all lovely :)

Chapter 11

Red Snow

[Cedarpaw]

"Are you sure he's alright to be taken out on a hunting patrol?" Briarclaw was asking Willowfall, as if Cedarpaw didn't even exist. "He doesn't need more rest?"

"It's been a week since he woke up," the medicine cat responded, glancing at the warrior as she sorted through herbs. "He's had plenty of time to rest. It's better that he goes out to get some fresh air than stay cooped up in the den all day." She let her gaze fall on the apprentice. "But only if you're up to it, Cedarpaw. You don't have to go, you know. Briarclaw and I just thought it would be a good idea."

The tom nodded slightly before looking away, tail twitching.

Briarclaw frowned as he looked at his apprentice in concern, but he nodded. "Alright, then. Cedarpaw, you wait outside. I have to talk to Willowfall for a minute. Harestep, Weaselfoot and Olivepaw are going, too; go wait with them."

Cedarpaw flicked his ear, knowing that the minute he'd leave, they would start talking about him. But he said nothing as he stepped out of the den and into the snowy clearing.

Every since he'd woken up a week earlier, he hadn't been able to keep things straight. He wouldn't be able to focus on one thing for too long, because the vision he'd had that day kept haunting him, in both dreams and daydreams. He'd be jumpy and frightened and had hardly ever left the medicine den.

But despite how distant he was acting, he noticed. He could tell. Cats were talking about him behind his back, distancing themselves from him. His own mother had hardly talked to him. StarClan, they thought he was crazy, didn't they? Even Olivepaw, who would visit him every day, would look at him with alarm. He knew that she was just worried about him, but it was deeper than just that.

He'd considered telling her, because she was honestly the only cat that seemed to care about him. Maybe Briarclaw did, too, but that was only because he was his mentor and he had to. But he'd always been close to Olivepaw, and for this reason he'd sometimes get a surge of guilt when he thought about how much he'd been hiding from her. It wasn't just the vision he hadn't told her about. That was the least of his worries. He had yet to tell her any of his secrets. In fact, he'd never told anyone his secrets. And they were secrets that tormented him every day and every night.

Maybe that's why he had shut himself away from everyone else, why he hadn't spoken a single word to anyone for weeks. But he couldn't tell anyone about the things that haunted him. Would they even believe him?

Perhaps it would be better if Olivepaw stopped caring for him so much. If she were to forget about him and never speak with him again, if she were to go talk with the other apprentices more, to make more friends with the warriors. He frowned. He didn't like that solution. But he didn't like what he was doing to her, either.

He mused. Maybe he should just tell her. Only her. He would finally get everything off his chest, and then maybe he wouldn't feel so tortured. She would finally understand everything he'd been going through, and... and she could help him through it.

But what if she were to turn against him? Then he really would have no one.

StarClan, thinking like this made him crazy. Even crazier than the rest of the Clan seemed to think he was. He suddenly wished that he had Waterkit there. He'd have been an apprentice, now.

"Hey, Cedarpaw," came a mew, and he flinched, his thoughts jumbling as he raised his head to see Olivepaw walking towards him, pale green eyes flickering. She was smiling just slightly, though it was a somewhat half-hearted smile. He could tell she was still worried about him.

He took a step forward and met her, looking at her with a small frown.

"I'm glad you're coming on the patrol today," she murmured, looking down. "I've missed having you there."

Cedarpaw looked at his paws, for some reason the words she was saying making him feel even more terrible. His legs were shaking just faintly, and he wondered if this was a bad idea.

Olivepaw's tail lifted in alarm, and she came closer to him, concerned.

"Hey," she murmured, nudging him softly. He hesitantly lifted his gaze, and his eyes met hers. Hers were shining with worry and sadness as she looked at him. "Cedarpaw, I don't know what's been wrong with you lately," she said softly, almost in a whisper. "But whatever it is, I'm worried about you. And I'm even more worried that you're too afraid to tell me what's wrong."

The tom flinched and pulled away. Olivepaw stared at him, looking hurt.

"I just want to help," she murmured, lowering her gaze. "I hate seeing you like this. And honestly, I just wish that you would talk to me."

Cedarpaw frowned, his mouth opening a little. But by then, the she-cat had turned to pad over to Harestep and Weaselfoot, who were waiting. Her tail was dragging behind her.

The tom sighed, spotting Briarclaw emerge from the medicine den. The warrior looked at his apprentice and flicked his tail, signaling him over to the group.

"Is everyone here?" Harestep mewed once they'd gathered together. "Right. Today we're going to try hunting near the RiverClan border, because prey has been scarce everywhere else. Let's go." With a flick of the tail, he turned and led the cats up the slope.

Harestep led the way through the snowy forest; it wasn't snowing, yet, but dark clouds were covering the afternoon sky. Cedarpaw shivered and let out a sneeze.

In front of him, Olivepaw was walking alongside her mentor, Weaselfoot; her ears were flattened, and she didn't take the time to glance over her shoulder at Cedarpaw.

Briarclaw came up from behind him. "You know," he said quietly to his apprentice, his voice low, "during the two days you were unconscious, Olivepaw spent almost all of her time in the medicine den, watching over you and helping Willowfall care for you." He paused and looked at his apprentice. Cedarpaw frowned and looked at his paws. "You two have been friends since you were kits," he continued quietly. "Just remember that she really cares about you."

Cedarpaw knew that, already; he didn't need Briarclaw telling him. But that wasn't the issue.

The group headed towards the RiverClan border, and on the way there, there wasn't even one sign of prey. Olivepaw had told him a few days ago that it was getting worse, too. She'd overheard Harestep and Minnowstar talking about it, and she said they'd sounded worried.

The trees grew more and more spread apart as they approached the edge of the territory. Before him, Cedarpaw could spot the Thunderpath that separated the two territories about a dozen foxlengths away. He caught a glimpse of the lake, though the air was thick and gray and it was hard to see.

"Right," Harestep muttered. "Let's keep looking for signs of food around here." The cats began to linger away from each other; Cedarpaw pricked his ears, and, with a bit of hesitation, padded over to Olivepaw. She blinked and looked at him, her eyes shining, her lips forming into something that was almost, but not quite, a smile. She said nothing.

Cedarpaw let out a sigh as he pricked his ears and opened his mouth to scent for prey. It had seemed like forever since he'd gone hunting. He supposed that this meant he would also begin his training again, soon. Despite his setback, it wouldn't be long until he'd get his warrior name.

Ears pricked, he turned, hearing a rustle in the undergrowth. He glanced at the others; they were all busy looking themselves. Olivepaw didn't seem to notice him, either, as he crept forward, low to the ground, slipping back into the bushes where the noise got louder.

He blinked, looking around as he drifted further away from the group. Something, or someone, was nearby. He flexed his claws as he took a few more steps forward.

Two seconds later, bushes rustled from behind him, and all of a sudden, he felt a weight ram into him, shoving him roughly to the cold ground, sharp claws piercing his shoulders.

He let out a strained gasp, his face pushed into the snow. He tried to struggle free, but a paw on his back kept him pinned to the ground, another keeping his head pushed down.

"Well, look what we've got here," purred a voice; it was a she-cat, one that Cedarpaw knew wasn't from ShadowClan. He stiffened when he realized that it was the scent of RiverClan that had suddenly wafted around him.

"Looks like a kit ran away from home," another she-cat said. Cedarpaw tried to raise his head to see, but when claws sunk deeper into his skin, he let out a hiss and didn't move.

"I think this one's an apprentice, Whiskerfur," the first one said. "He's a small one, though. Must've gotten separated from a patrol."

"Whatever," Whiskerfur scoffed. "What're you planning to do with him, anyway, Sunnyheart? This isn't what we came here to do. What if Blacktail gets angry?"

"Why don't we take him back to camp with us?" mewed Sunnyheart casually. "If we have a hostage, then ShadowClan will have to give up some territory."

Cedarpaw gritted his teeth together; so RiverClan wasn't only invading WindClan, but now they were onto ShadowClan, too. He opened his mouth, but before anything came out, he suddenly heard a loud, yet oddly familiar, screech.

Then came the sound of hissing from more than one cat, and a moment later, the weight of the she-cat on him was pushed off. Disoriented, Cedarpaw quickly stumbled to his feet, head spinning as he looked around.

Sunnyheart had been knocked to the ground, and was now lifting herself back up, blue eyes narrowed to slits and ginger pelt now dotted with snow. Whiskerfur was behind her, staring in shock. Across from the two was Olivepaw, who glanced at the tom. He caught her gaze before looking uneasily at the two RiverClan warriors.

"Why are you here?" hissed Olivepaw, fur raised, ears flattened. "You're in ShadowClan territory!"

"Oh, pardon us, we didn't know," Sunnyheart mewed sarcastically, yet she was grinning. Whiskerfur didn't look so amused.

"Our patrol is nearby," growled Olivepaw, pale green eyes narrowed and flashing. "Then, you'll be outnumbered."

Cedarpaw stiffened when he heard another rustle in the bushes nearby. Ears pricked, he glanced over; the others followed his gaze.

Two cats suddenly appeared from the bushes, both toms. One of them was a lean cat with a pelt of orange and black. This was Thornfang. The other one was a large, muscular cat with sleek fur as dark as night. Cedarpaw recognized him immediately; it was Blacktail, the deputy of RiverClan. He stiffened.

"Where have you two been?" Blacktail hissed in a low voice to the two RiverClan she-cats. "I told you we were sticking together!" He blinked softly as he noticed the apprentices, and he lifted his head, looking at them with half-narrowed eyes before he glared back at Sunnyheart and Whiskerfur. "And you got caught, too. This is just great. I'm sure Blossomstar will be just thrilled when she hears about this," he finished with a growl. Whiskerfur shot a glare at Sunnyheart, who flattened her ears.

"What's going on here?" demanded a low voice; heads turned as, on the opposite side, Briarclaw, Weaselfoot, and Harestep appeared through the undergrowth, tails raised. Blacktail lashed his tail, watching as the ShadowClan cats stared at them in shock.

"Blacktail, what is the meaning of this?" snarled Harestep, stepping forward. "Explain to me why you and your warriors are on our side of the border?"

"Calm down, Harestep," the black cat replied smoothly, taking a stride forward to match the ShadowClan deputy. "I'm sure we can work this out without violence..."

"You're right," Harestep growled, claws flexed. "We will if you get out right now."

Blacktail sighed, glancing at his warriors before replying, "You see, Harestep, we can't do that. The fish are all gone from the streams. With our growing Clan, we need more territory, or we'll starve." His eyes flashed. "You understand, right...?"

"You're lying. Why are you taking land from WindClan, too, then?" challenged Harestep, his light brown fur ruffled in the wind.

"Greenstar was generous enough to comply and offer us some of his land," he explained, smiling softly. "However, what he gave us still isn't enough. If you give us just a bit of your territory, then we'll be able to survive through Leafbare. And if not..." His whiskers twitched. "...It'll be the blood of our cats on your paws."

"We hardly have enough food for ShadowClan as it is," Harestep growled. Cedarpaw flinched slightly, glancing at his deputy and wondering why he'd reveal such a weakness.

Blacktail's whiskers twitched, and he glanced at his warriors before looking back at Harestep. "Very well," he said, tail flicking. "We'll leave for now. But I really do hope that you consider being generous enough to help our Clan." He nodded to the three cats and began to lead them away.

But before they were gone, Cedarpaw heard Olivepaw mutter under her breath, "...Pieces of foxdung."

Sunnyheart stopped in her tracks, her ginger fur prickling as she whipped her head around, blue eyes narrowed to slits.

"What did you just say?" she snarled at the apprentice, baring her teeth. Cedarpaw blinked in alarm and held his breath, praying that Olivepaw wouldn't say anything stupid.

"She didn't say anything," Weaselfoot grunted. "Now leave."

"No, she said something," Sunnyheart spat, taking a step towards the apprentice. Olivepaw held her ground, looking at her with narrowed eyes but not saying anything.

Whiskerfur let out a sigh; "Sunnyheart, let's just go..." Beside her, Thornfang lashed his tail impatiently.

"Not until that kit tells me what she just said."

"Enough," Harestep growled. "I don't want blood to be shed today over something so trivial."

Olivepaw looked at her deputy, eyes narrowed before she grunted, "It already has been. Look at Cedarpaw."

The tom flinched a bit as eyes turned to him; blood had welled up from where Sunnyheart had struck him on his shoulders and red was now dripping down his light brown pelt.

Briarclaw's eyes widened as he stared at his apprentice; "Cedarpaw, what happened?"

"Sunnyheart and Whiskerfur ambushed him," Olivepaw muttered, looking away. "I found them and they were talking about bringing him back to their camp as a hostage."

It was dead silent for a moment; Thornfang and Blacktail were staring at Sunnyheart, whose lips were pulled back. Whiskerfur shifted uncomfortably as Weaselfoot narrowed his eyes and glared at the RiverClanners. Harestep took a step forward, ears flattened against his skull as he looked right at Blacktail.

"And what is the meaning of this, Blacktail?"

"I gave them no such order," the black tom growled back, shooting a glance at Sunnyheart, who said nothing.

"See?" Olivepaw growled, her voice louder as she glanced at her Clanmates before turning back to Sunnyheart. "They're pieces of foxdung."

A second later, Sunnyheart let out a loud, shrill yowl as she launched herself into the air, knocking the apprentice to the ground. Snarls pierced the afternoon air, and the next few moments happened so quickly to Cedarpaw. Weaselfoot was running forward, trying to defend his apprentice, and lunging at the RiverClan she-cat, shoving her away. Thornfang and Whiskerfur darted forward, and when Briarclaw and Harestep saw the danger their Clanmates were in, they joined in as well. The ShadowClan deputy snarled and lunged for Blacktail as they began to wrestle in the snow.

Cedarpaw just stood there, a bit dazed for a second as he watched cats hiss and fight. In the distance, cardinals were chirping with slurred voices. He thought he could scent a mouse. What was he doing? His Clanmates were in danger.

And yet, he just stood there, watching. Why wasn't he doing anything? He blinked softly in wonder, faintly aware of the scrapes on his shoulders that were now stinging. He supposed he'd be back in Willowfall's den. He hadn't slept in his own nest in the apprentices' den in days. He'd probably have to remake it when he returned. If he ever returned. His own mentor seemed to be too concerned about him to continue training, lately. At this rate, even Ratpaw and Olivepaw would be warriors before him.

A loud screech made him jump and draw him from his thoughts; he blinked as he looked through the blurry mass of cats for the source of the voice. His eyes widened when he saw that Sunnyheart had pinned Olivepaw to the ground; the apprentice now had splotches of blood on her pelt. The RiverClan warrior had her paw raised, ready to strike.

That was when Cedarpaw finally bolted forward, eyes narrowing, lips pulling back as a growl escaped his throat. He leaped for the warrior from behind, knocking her off of Olivepaw. The two of them landed awkwardly in the snow, but Cedarpaw quickly got to his paws and stood beside Olivepaw, ears flattened as he watched Sunnyheart get up.

"So," the she-cat rasped, eyes narrowed, yet a small smirk on her face. Her fur had a bit of blood on it as it welled from a few fresh wounds. "She saved you, and now you're saving her." She laughed quietly. "Let me guess- young love?" When she took another step forward, Cedarpaw- before he could really even think- leaped forward and raised a paw, striking it across Sunnyheart's face. It hit her cheek and muzzle, and the warrior screeched as blood dripped into the snow.

Furiously, she lashed out a paw, but the apprentice dodged to the side, striking at her feet to trip her up. She caught herself before she fell to the ground, but Cedarpaw quickly rammed into her side, knocking her into the snow.

A second later, he drew his claws along her side and bit down into her shoulder; hissing, Sunnyheart managed to lash out a paw, striking him across the forhead. Blood dripped into Cedarpaw's eyes, blinding him for a moment; he blinked it away and let out a low growl, suddenly putting a paw to her throat.

With his other paw, he lashed at her stomach, and somewhere in the corner of his mind he knew that this was a move that could sometimes be fatal. The she-cat cried out, blue eyes huge as she gasped in pain. Half a second later, Cedarpaw struck her again, harder this time; blood splattered not only on her, but on the apprentice, too, his claws digging blindly into her flesh. Sunnyheart wheezed and tried to kick her back legs out in a feeble attempt to escape, but he kept her held down.

As he dealt another blow across her face, he noticed that she had stopped fighting back. After another blow, he could hear her wheeze, "Stop..."

He didn't. He lashed out at her shoulder, dangerously close to her neck. She let out another yowl of pain, blue eyes shining with what almost seemed like fear.

She spoke again, her voice pained. "Please, stop... You win..."

Cedarpaw didn't even seem to hear her. His eyes averted to her throat; his heart beating against his chest, and not even able to see straight, he raised his paw, prepared to strike, feeling as if he were in something like a dream.

Suddenly, a voice called out, "Stop!" And a second later, a force rammed into the apprentice, pushing him off of the RiverClan she-cat. Dazed, he got to his paws, looking up to see Briarclaw staring at him, a look of horror on his face.

"What're you doing?" he said in a low hiss, though he looked more scared than he was angry. "You almost killed her!"

Cedarpaw blinked softly. Was he right? He flicked an ear and glanced around, seeing that the fighting had finished and that everyone was now staring at him. He locked gazes with Olivepaw, who looked back at him, a frown on her face, saying nothing.

Whiskerfur ran over to Sunnyheart, alarm in her eyes.

"Sunnyheart! Sunnyheart, are you okay?"

When Cedarpaw looked closer, he realized how badly she was bleeding all over her body. She had a look of shock on her face, but she was alive.

"Look what you did," snarled Blacktail, stepping forward, nothing more than a few light scrapes on his pelt. But he was looking at Harestep, not Cedarpaw. "Because of you, one of our warriors is half-dead!"

"We should take her back to camp, Blacktail," Thornfang said, tail flicking. "She needs to see Bluebird."

The RiverClan deputy narrowed his eyes as he glared at Harestep, but he nodded.

"Right. Thornfang, Whiskerfur, carry Sunnyheart on your backs. She can't walk in this condition."

The two warriors nodded, lifting the wounded cat up. Without another word, they began to carry her back towards their territory. Blacktail waited for a moment, turning to the ShadowClan warriors, eyes narrowed to slits.

"We won't forget this," he growled before turning and stalking away, leaving the five ShadowClan cats alone in the blood-stained snow.

It was deathly quiet for a moment. Cedarpaw held his breath and slowly turned to see that everyone was staring at him. No one spoke until Harestep took a step forward, amber eyes narrowed.

"You went too far," he growled at the apprentice, tail lashing. "A she-cat was almost murdered because of you. We cannot have the blood of RiverClan cats on our paws!"

Cedarpaw flattened his ears, glancing at the others. Briarclaw was looking at him with a look of pure concern. Weaselfoot was quietly watching Harestep. Olivepaw was looking away.

"Briarclaw, take him back to camp," the deputy growled. "He wasn't ready for this."

The apprentice flinched a bit and stared at the light brown tom, but he had already turned away and was gathering up Weaselfoot and Olivepaw. The she-cat looked at him soundlessly, green eyes shining before Briarclaw lay his tail on the apprentice's back and led him back to camp.

And soon enough, he was back in the medicine den, in his nest that seemed to be permanent. He had curled up wordlessly, his back away from Willowfall and Briarclaw as they talked. He listened to them, pretending to be asleep. They were whispering, so he could only hear bits and pieces of their conversation.

"...Wasn't ready," Briarclaw muttered. "Fought... Almost killed her..."

"...His father," Willowfall murmured softly. "...Stress... Depression... Showing it in the form of hostility... Needs help..."

They're wrong, he thought to himself, clenching his eyes shut. His stomach growled with hunger, but he tried to ignore it. No, they were wrong. They were talking about him as if he were crazy.

...Was he?

Curling up into a tighter ball, he desperately tried to sleep, but every time he almost succeeded, an image of Olivepaw would go flashing through his mind. It took him hours before he was finally lulled into a dream.

Well that's that. I should really be doing homework. Oops.

Review and get a Briarclaw plushie I guess? :3

TNT,

Pearl