Sorry that this took so long to update, but it's finally here! Thanks again for the reviews. I really appreciate them, and thanks for those that at least read my story. Anyway, here's Chapter Three!
"Come on, Lionpaw! Let's go play!" Rowanpaw yowled. The brown apprentice pranced through the flower-filled, grassy meadows with a bright smile and her tail waving behind her. Thistlepaw paced beside his sister, his dark blue eyes shining happily. With his fixed jaw, he exclaimed, "I'll race you back to camp!" Whitepaw charged in front of them, her eyes determined. "You can try, but everyone knows that I'll win!" she reminded, running farther ahead. Thistlepaw quickened his pace, trying to outrun the big, white she-cat. "Hey! No fair!" he protested once he noticed he was lagging behind. Rowanpaw glanced over her shoulder while she continued to sprint. "Lionpaw, hurry up!" she encouraged as she went to catch up with the other two apprentices. Lionpaw leapt after them, not wanting to be left behind.
"Guys, slow down!" Lionpaw called to them as she began to get tired. "Sorry, can't hear you! You'll have come and get us!" Rowanpaw shouted gleefully over her shoulder. Lionpaw came to a halt, staring longingly after them as their bodies disappeared into the woodlands. She sighed, plumping her hindquarters to the ground and wrapping her tail around her paws. Lionpaw was beginning to enjoy being free from the medicine den and her injuries. She felt like she could get back to her duties and spend a good time of the evening playing with her friends. But since the apprentices had left her behind, Lionpaw wasn't in the mood to go and find them. If they wanted to play that game, then they could go and play it by themselves.
"Some dream." a voice muttered behind her. Lionpaw looked to her left and found Mistfang sitting next to her with narrowed, hazel eyes. "But...how?" the golden-brown apprentice was lost in words. Mistfang hunched his shoulders as he brought his head down, still staring into the woodlands. "Helping you escape meant sacrificing my soul for yours. Now that I'm officially a part of you, beetle-brain, I'm allowed to travel through your mind and dreams." Lionpaw rose a suspicious eye at him. "So that means you can eavesdrop on conversations I'm having with other cats?" Mistfang flicked an irritated ear. "Pretty much." he grumped.
"Just keep your mouth shut about it, alright?" Lionpaw commanded. "Who else am I going to tell? I'm only a part of you." Mistfang scoffed, getting to his paws. With a lash of his tail, the silver tom turned around and stalked in the opposite direction of the woodlands. Lionpaw locked her eyes on him and watched as he began to leave.
"Where do you think you're going?" Lionpaw demanded. Mistfang paused, but didn't look back at her. "Nowhere." he simply replied, and continued to walk.
A screech woke Lionpaw from her rest, and her amber eyes opened wide in panic. Was there another attack? Is everyone okay?! But glancing up, the apprentice made out the walls and ceiling of the medicine den. She let out a sigh, wishing she were back in her dreams with the ability of moving her legs once again. Lionpaw suddenly became concerned when she saw Thistlepaw hunkered down beside Spottedheart with tears running down his cheeks. When she shuffled to get a better look at his condition, Spottedheart turned around and stared at Lionpaw with widened eyes.
"Nothing is wrong, I assure you two," Spottedheart mewed, taking a quick glance at Bearstep, "I just put Thistlepaw's jaw back into place." Lionpaw struggled to take a peek at the brown warrior near her. With the quick look she had, Lionpaw could see that Bearstep was awake as well and looking rather shocked by the disruption of his slumber. Calming herself down, Lionpaw lay her head back and relaxed. It was good to know that Thistlepaw would survive now that his jaw was no longer twisted.
"When can my apprentice go back to training?" Bearstep asked, still concerned. Spottedheart gave him a smile. "In two days. I'll be sure to ask Twistedtail if he can be Thistlepaw's mentor until your wounds have fully healed." Bearstep purred happily, resting his chin against his paws and closing his eyes. Spottedheart finished binding Thistlepaw's jaw and led him to his nest where he would rest. The apprentice mewed his gratitude, but was still trembling from the pain he had experienced. After knowing that Thistlepaw was once again asleep, Spottedheart came to Lionpaw's nest and began to examine her.
"How are you feeling?" the tortoiseshell asked, pressing a paw against Lionpaw's belly. The golden-brown apprentice stiffened as she tried to make an effort to move. "Tight." she replied, growling at the weakness of her body. Spottedheart gave her a look of pity. "I'm still not sure how you will recover, but it will take a good amount of time." Lionpaw began to worry. "What can I do to help?" she demanded. The medicine can closed her eyes and shook her head. "All you can do right now is rest."
"But I feel useless!" Lionpaw protested. "How can I help defend my Clan if I can do nothing but lie here?" Spottedheart swept her tail over the apprentice's mouth, her eyes looking stern. "I promise that I will do my best to help you feel better, but I can't do that if you overwork your body. Now if you want to move your legs again, then I suggest closing your eyes and sleep." Lionpaw was too afraid to argue with the tortoiseshell, so she closed her eyes in hopes that she would travel into her dreams again. This time, she didn't.
Lionpaw couldn't keep track of the days that were passing by. She knew that enough time had passed for Thistlepaw and Bearstep to return to their normal duties. Along with this, Lunarstar had a ceremony for Patchpaw and Whitepaw to become warriors. During the ceremony, Lunarstar also added that Mousenose was free from his punishment and was able to return to the warrior's den. Patchpaw and Whitepaw were now known as Patchfoot and Whitewind, and having them as warriors was a blessing to ShadowClan. There were now more experienced fighters to help defend against the other Clans, but WindClan especially. Lionpaw was jealous of them; she wished that she was out there helping the Clan too. But as much as she pestered Spottedheart for her status, the medicine cat would always say, "Give it time."
"I brought you all some fresh-kill," Scarletberry mewed from the den entrance one day, three mice dangling by their tails from her mouth. Spottedheart blinked in surprise from the poultice she was making. "You didn't have to do that. I would have sent Fernpaw to the pile." the medicine cat reminded. Fernpaw purred at her mentor, giving off a small laugh. "Thank you for the mice," the apprentice added to Scarletberry as she went up to accept them. When the mice were removed from the warrior's grasp, Scarletberry's stomach gave out a loud grumble.
"Somebody's hungry." Spottedheart commented, her eyes looking amused. Scarletberry's ears turned hot with embarrassment, and she lowered her gaze to her paws. "I've been working all morning." she admitted, brushing a paw back and forth against the ground. Spottedheart smiled, looking down at the three mice. "Go ahead and take one of them as a reward. I'm sure Fernpaw wouldn't mind sharing her meal with Lionpaw." Scarletberry's amber eyes widened in fear.
"But Lionpaw must eat what she needs if she is to recover!" the ginger warrior protested, her fur rising. The golden-brown apprentice rose her head from her nest and stared wearily at Scarletberry. "Thanks, but I don't have much of an appetite." she insisted, laying her head back down. Spottedheart narrowed her eyes at Lionpaw. "You're not useless, and you do deserve to eat the prey. I'm tired of hearing this nonsense!"
"It's not that!" Lionpaw exclaimed, clearing her throat. Spottedheart and Scarletberry shared the same, suspicious glance. They both looked back at the apprentice, and Spottedheart took a paw step forward. "Then what is it?" she growled. "My chest hurts." Lionpaw explained, her voice sounding a little bit off. As she finished speaking, the golden-brown apprentice let out a loud cough, bending her head closer to her body to keep it from spreading. Spottedheart came next to the nest and placed a paw against Lionpaw's chest. Her eyes were concerned as she felt the young cat's breathing.
"Oh no," the tortoiseshell breathed, her eyes shaking. Turning back to Fernpaw, Spottedheart urgently mewed, "Get me some honey, juniper berries, and tansy!" The dark gray she-cat gulped nervously as she turned and headed toward the storage. Scarletberry padded to the medicine cat's side, her whiskers quivering. "What's wrong with her? Why is she coughing?"
"Lionpaw has a chest infection because of the lack of movement she has been having. It has happened before, including Briarlight from ThunderClan. After losing the use of her back legs, she had to clear her chest by learning to walk on her forelegs only. Though she survived the illness, it took her much effort to pull through. Lionpaw may have all four legs, but her body has not recovered from the injuries she received. She doesn't even have the strength to stand!"
"Are you saying that Lionpaw could die from this?!" Scarletberry gasped, her ears flattening against her head. Spottedheart bowed her head down with grief. "That is exactly what I'm saying." Fernpaw padded away from the storage with the necessary herbs in her jaws, and dropped them in front of her mentor. The medicine cat sighed as she opened up a folded ivy leaf and revealed a dab of honey. Using a paw, Spottedheart lifted the leaf toward Lionpaw, and ordered, "Lick." Lionpaw lapped up the sweet substance and swallowed with a satisfying gulp. She enjoyed the feeling of honey running down her throat, but it backfired when another cough came over her. Thankfully, the honey did not come back up.
"Now I know that it's going to be hard, but I need you to eat these juniper berries and tansy." Spottedheart continued, gesturing the herbs forward. Lionpaw waited until her cough stopped before she devoured them. She swallowed them quickly, fearing that another cough would bring them back up her throat. After knowing that the herbs had settled in her stomach, Lionpaw felt relieved. In fact, she felt much better than before.
"Can you stand up, Lionpaw?" Spottedheart asked. "Just give it a try." Lionpaw held her breath as she rolled to the side and placed herself above her paws. Her muscles began to scream, but she ignored the pain and begin to rest her weight onto her paws. Lionpaw struggled to bring herself up, but she managed to get several mouse-lengths off of the ground before stumbling. Scarletberry leaned forward and caught the apprentice before she could fall onto her side. All of Lionpaw's legs shook as she pushed herself all the way up. Even if most of her weight was leaning on Scarletberry, her legs still trembled weakly.
"Good, now help her to Darkstone and back." Spottedheart instructed. Lionpaw was grateful for Scarletberry's support as they walked step-by-step to the entrance of the medicine den. She felt as if she were a newborn in her mother's nest with no knowledge on how to walk. With every move she took, her paws threatened to collapse beneath her and send her tumbling to the floor. But in case in did happen, Scarletberry was by her side to catch her fall. They made it all the way to the fresh-kill pile in the clearing and changed their direction toward Darkstone, the large, black crystal.
As they walked, they were cheered on by several members of the Clan. "Go Lionpaw! You can do it!" Rowanpaw yowled, her amber eyes brightening at the sight of her friend. Whitewind looked over when she heard the apprentice, and a smile spread across her face. "Don't give up!" the white warrior encouraged, her voice adding to the supporting calls. Soon, most of the Clan was calling to her. "You're almost there!" Thistlepaw added, his tail waving in excitement. "Lionpaw, Lionpaw!" Bearstep began to chant. The other warriors one-by-one joined in, causing a loud commotion to explode within the camp. From the sound, the rest of the ShadowClan cats came out of their dens, including Lunarstar, Spottedheart, Fernpaw, Coalfur, and Mousenose.
Lunarstar stood perched on the tip of Darkstone and waited patiently for Lionpaw as the she-cat made an effort toward him. Spottedheart had her eyes stretched wide when she noticed that Scarletberry was no longer supporting the apprentice, and her mouth hung down speechlessly. Fernpaw's eyes brightened beside her mentor, grinning in pleasure. Coalfur's eyes narrowed in a look to show that he didn't give a mouse-tail about what the apprentice was doing. His tail flicked irritably and he stubbornly looked away with his bottom lip sticking out. Mousenose's whiskers twitched at the black tom as he stopped to stare at him. Coalfur hissed in annoyance when Mousenose nudged him aside, making his way toward the other warriors and joining in with the crowd.
All Lionpaw could hear was the cheer of her clanmates and her name constantly echoing in her head. She was determined not to fail her friends, especially when they were counting on her to make a full recovery. To be sure that she achieved her goal, Lionpaw focused on keeping her balance steady so she could gradually make it all the way to Darkstone. Her muscles tightened with every step she took, but when the pain became too much to bear, Lionpaw paused to take a breath.
Scarletberry saw the apprentice beginning to slow down, and her first instinct was to go and help her. But when she took her first few movements to Lionpaw, Lunarstar raised his tail ordering her to stand back. The ginger warrior bit her lip as she watched the golden-brown she-cat start to move again, regretting that she followed Lunarstar's orders. However, Scarletberry managed to hold back the temptation.
Lionpaw beamed when she noticed that she was only but a few fox-lengths away from her target. She reassured herself that the pain would soon be over once she had touched the surface of the crystal and that she would be on her way to becoming a warrior. But getting her hopes up only made matters worse, especially when she became reckless and hasty.
A loose shard of Darkstone stuck out of the ground and stood in the way of Lionpaw's path. The she-cat was oblivious to the possibilities of her success being ruined, even tripping over a little stone. When her paw struck the jagged surface, the first thing Lionpaw felt immediately was pain. The tip of the crystal dug into her toes as she leaned forward with the unexpected impact, and the top layer of her skin tore to create a puncture wound. Lionpaw cringed when she finally realized what had happened, and to save herself from disaster, she flung her paw to try to reach Darkstone. The apprentice managed to free her other paw from the stone and give herself a boost forward with her hind legs. Her claws unsheathed, stretching out as far as they could until her muscles burned. Lionpaw landed on her chest, the breath escaping her lungs and paralyzing her for a moment. As her spread-out foreleg hit the ground, the whole camp fell into a shocked silence.
Lionpaw didn't dare to open an eye and stare at where her paw was at. She could feel a jagged bump underneath it, but it was possible that it was the slope where it led up to the tall crystals. The she-cat wriggled her toes and flexed her claws as she tried to guess what she was feeling. Her paws and pads were telling her that underneath was soft soil, the substance found at the base of Darkstone. But when she moved her claws, there was a satisfying scrape to it just like the texture of the crystals. Lionpaw didn't know what part of her to trust, yet she knew that eventually she had to open her eyes and take whatever was waiting for her. She decided that it was better to get it over with.
Carefully raising an eyelid, Lionpaw unveiled the cover of her eye and looked straight ahead of her. She could see dirt aligning the color of her golden-brown fur and causing it to look more brown than gold. Her paw which she had tripped on had a little hole at the start of one of the middle toes. Blood began to fill the hole like a pool, and the droplets that had overflowed were dripping down toward her claw where it soaked in the ground. But farther ahead to her outstretched leg, Lionpaw could see her muscles straining to reach out. The heel of her paw was pressed against the soil that made up the base of Darkstone. From the weight it had pushed in it created an indent. Lionpaw squinted at her claws, trying to regain her vision from the terrific fall. She flexed them again and felt the same texture of stone. As the blurry spots became clear, Lionpaw saw that most of her paw and claws were barely touching the surface of Darkstone.
Scarletberry looked up expectantly at Lunarstar, and when his tail lowered, she quickly rushed to Lionpaw's side. "Well done," the ginger warrior whispered as she bent down to lick the apprentice's ear with comfort. Lionpaw relaxed, enjoying the rhythmic strokes of Scarletberry's tongue against her dirt-filled fur. It was the first time she was able to share tongues with a clanmate, and she enjoyed every second of it. Because of her actions and the warm feelings radiating off of Scarletberry, Lionpaw knew she had finally been accepted as part of the Clan.
"Lionpaw has proved to us that she has the heart of a warrior," Lunarstar rose his voice above the concerned mews in the clearing. The warriors turned up to their leader, and Lionpaw could see that his hazel eyes were prideful as he spoke. "It is in my best interest," Lunarstar continued, "To make Lionpaw my apprentice."
Most of the ShadowClan cats murmured words of approval while others whispered in shock. Only one cat didn't speak anything at all: Coalfur. The black warrior flicked his tail irritably at his clanmates and turned his back against them. His muscles rippled underneath his pelt as Coalfur sunk his head down and made way for his den. Taking one last look at the crowd beneath Darkstone, the tom disappeared head-first into the warrior's den. Lionpaw blinked in surprise as she watched Coalfur vanish into the den's dark depths. From her angle, it looked as if he was being consumed by the shadows, just like a helpless piece of prey to the claws of its predator. Lastly, Coalfur's waving tail faded into the blackness, and Lunarstar began speaking again. Lionpaw rose her head to the ShadowClan leader and continued to listen to his words.
"ShadowClan is falling," the tabby's voice was grim as he spoke, "There are no kits in the nursery, and we have many apprentices yet to complete their training. ShadowClan needs more warriors if it is to survive the threats from the other Clans and leaf-bare." Lionpaw was aware of the status of the Clan, especially while she sat in the medicine den for what seemed like seasons. It was true that the nursery was empty, and because it was for so long, the den was overgrown by wild plants and cobwebs filled with spiders. It gave off such a cold feeling that it seemed abandoned, but the warriors never cleaned it out. Lionpaw guessed that they would get to the job when a queen was ready to move into the den, and StarClan knows when that was going to happen.
"If we're going to strengthen ShadowClan, then our apprentices will have to complete their training!" Moonshine suddenly exclaimed, stepping out of the crowd of warriors and padding to the front. Lunarstar bowed his head respectively at his deputy as the silver she-cat leaped onto her ledge on Darkstone. Her light eyes looked back at the ShadowClan cats, and she mewed, "We will need to focus less on patrolling and hunting in order to help raise fine warriors into the Clan!"
"But what about WindClan?" Patchfoot demanded, the young warrior's fur bristling from the thought of the enemy Clan. "We need to protect our borders if they prepare to strike again!" Whispers of agreement scattered between the ShadowClan warriors. Moonshine closed her eyes and bowed her head down thoughtfully. "I understand your concern, young warrior, but that won't be happening." she replied calmly. Before Patchfoot could protest again, Lunarstar rose his tail to silence his warriors.
"One cat will be responsible for patrolling the territory during the day, and another warrior during the night. The rest of the warriors will be helping to train the apprentices by teaching them to fight and by hunting with them for the Clan." the tabby reasoned, his eyes turning from one cat to the next below him. Moonshine nodded her head in agreement. "Is there anyone who believes that they can take the task of patrolling?" she asked. The warriors looked at one another, waiting for a cat to jump up and take the position. By the uninterested looks on their faces, Lionpaw could tell that they didn't want to patrol the territory for the next few weeks while their clanmates were hunting and fighting. But when it seemed like no one would stand up, Whitewind padded to the front of the crowd of warriors with her eyes determined. "I will keep watch during the day!"
"And I will the night!" Patchfoot exclaimed as he joined his littermate beneath Darkstone. Lunarstar smiled and Moonshine dipped her head in approval. "Well done you two," the silver she-cat praised them, "You both will be the best for this job." Whitewind gave out a delighted purr, her cheeks rising and her eyes closing into slits as she gave her deputy and leader a smile. Patchfoot had his chest puffed out in pride with a boastful grin spread across his face. The tom's claws unsheathed, and he vowed, "I will shred any WindClan coward that tries to cross the border!"
"Actually, I would advise you to stay out of sight," Lunarstar suggested, causing all of the cats to look up at him. Like most of the warriors, Patchfoot stared at his leader in bewilderment while others, such as Whitewind, looked back at him expectantly. The tabby tom heaved a sigh and closed his eyes. "We just can't let another cat get injured. ShadowClan needs all of its warriors to help it thrive, and Spottedheart will need all the herbs she can get to help us through leaf-bare. If we take the risk and fight an unnecessary battle, then time will come to be the fall of ShadowClan."
"I agree," Moonshine added, "So no warrior must get into a fight." Whitewind dipped her head respectively with her light green eyes shining. "We won't fail ShadowClan." the white she-cat vowed, standing tall and proud. Patchfoot's ears went flat against his head and he gave out a snort of displeasure. "Those lucky flea-pelts," he muttered, flicking his tail crossly. The ShadowClan warriors ignored the white tom's bitter tone and turned back to their leader for more information they needed to know. Lunarstar held his chin high as he continued.
"Apprentices until they get their warrior names will be trained by more than one mentor. Moonshine and Mousenose will help train Rowanpaw, Scarletberry and Coalfur will help train Griffonpaw, Bearstep and Silverstorm will help train Thistlepaw, and Twistedtail and I will help train Lionpaw." Lunarstar listed the groups carefully so that each of his warriors could hear. As the Clan leader spoke to the individual cats in the groups, they nodded their heads to show that they understood. However, Goldenpool did not.
"You didn't assign me to an apprentice." Goldenpool pointed out, looking a bit worried. Lunarstar smiled, giving out a purr of amusement. "I've got a special assignment for you." the dark tabby reassured the golden warrior. Goldenpool's eyes brightened when she heard her leader. "What do you need me to do?" the she-cat asked, determination in her voice. Lunarstar looked toward the medicine den where Spottedheart and Fernpaw were sitting side-by-side. The ShadowClan leader nodded his head in approval at the medicine cat, and the tortoiseshell cleared her throat, mewing, "I would like a warrior to help me with Fernpaw's training."
"Do you think you can handle this task?" Lunarstar asked Goldenpool, tipping his head to one side. Goldenpool looked unsure, but she gave her leader a stern, curt nod of her head. "You can't count on me." she replied.
"These new duties will start tomorrow," Moonshine added, "So everyone must get a good night's rest before then. You are all dismissed." The deputy leaped off of her ledge and began organizing the last patrols of the day. As Lunarstar took one last glance at his warriors, his gaze drifted over toward Lionpaw. The golden-brown apprentice blinked in surprise as she met the hazel eyes of the ShadowClan leader. Lunarstar gave her back a smile.
"Remember to exercise your muscles so that they may get strong again. We begin training tomorrow at dawn." With that said, Lunarstar gave his apprentice a wink, turned, and stalked quietly into the depths of his den. Lionpaw stared after the ShadowClan leader completely lost in words to say. She had never thought of becoming Lunarstar's apprentice or finally get back into training. Lionpaw had only one day of being an apprentice in training, but all she did was patrol. How would she ever learn to hunt and fight if her muscles need the time they need to heal?
A light cuff around Lionpaw's ear drew her attention to Scarletberry next to her. The ginger warrior had a happy, yet concerned expression on her face. Lionpaw didn't know the reason to the she-cat's troubles, but she didn't have the strength to ask. Instead, she listened to Scarletberry as she spoke to her.
"Let's get you back to the medicine den. Spottedheart wants you to work on some new exercises that Goldenpool will help you with everyday. Now get to your paws and lean on me; we need to check your wounds right away."
"It's nothing serious," Spottedheart replied calmly, "Just a puncture wound. We'll get that sealed up right away." Lionpaw was sitting in her nest in the medicine den with her paw held out to the tortoiseshell medicine cat. It had been reported that there were several wrenched claws, a small puncture wound in one of her forepaws, scratches, and reopened wounds. Scarletberry was needed for patrol, so Goldenpool was at Lionpaw's side licking the blood off of her pelt and grooming her. Fernpaw stood next to her mentor's side with leaves in her jaws, ready for the next order. Spottedheart gave the puncture wound a good lick and wrapped the injured paw in cobwebs to soak up the remaining blood.
"I bet Scarletberry's happy with Lunarstar's choice as second mentor," Goldenpool reminded sarcastically, raising her head from Lionpaw's pelt. Spottedheart gave out a snort of agreement. "I bet he's only doing it just to have the two of them get along. Everyone knows that they wouldn't do it even if StarClan tells them to!" Lionpaw knew that the two cats were talking about Coalfur, the second cat to help with Griffonpaw's training. Suddenly, the golden-brown apprentice remembered being carried back to the ShadowClan camp and seeing Scarletberry and Coalfur together. Scarletberry's eyes were narrowed, Coalfur's eyes were blazing, and pure anger was driven between the two. Lionpaw thought of them training Griffonpaw and immediately a knot tightened in her stomach. She could not imagine the training ending well.
"Coalfur has ambition, and that's what makes him a good warrior." Goldenpool rambled on with the gossip. Spottedheart spat out chewed-up dock leaves onto Lionpaw's scratches and met the golden warrior's amber gaze. "It's true that he is valuable to ShadowClan, but at least Scarletberry knows when to sheathe her claws." Fernpaw dropped the leaves, wiping away fragments of herbs off her lips with her tongue. "Scarletberry is also very persuasive. If it weren't for her, I don't think Lionpaw would be in ShadowClan."
"ShadowClan has never allowed outsiders into the Clan." Spottedheart murmured in agreement, rubbing the ointment along Lionpaw's flank with her paw. Goldenpool gave out a sigh. "I just hope that Griffonpaw will be able to get the training she needs." Fernpaw rested her tail along the golden warrior's spine. "I'm sure she will be fine. Others don't see it, but Griffonpaw is very strong and persevered." Goldenpool closed her eyes and gave out a happy purr. "Just like her father." Sadness suddenly filled her gaze as she looked down at her paws. Fernpaw blinked back at the she-cat in confusion.
"Curse WindClan!" Goldenpool hissed, water glistening at the edge of her eyes. Fernpaw and Spottedheart shared a worried glance while Lionpaw tipped her head to one side. The apprentice didn't understand the she-cat's grief though she was well aware that WindClan and ShadowClan were at war with each other. They put me in this position, Lionpaw reminded herself, They shouldn't have crossed the border. By being angry at the enemy Clan for what they did, Lionpaw was curious to know what else they had done to satisfy the dark feelings she had for them. With open ears, the apprentice waited patiently until Goldenpool had the energy to speak again.
"They think they can control us." Goldenpool's eyelids closed to release tears from her eyes. They streaked down the fur along her cheeks and turned the original golden color to a darker shade. At her chin, the tears weighed down together and dripped to the floor. Fernpaw had her eyes closed and was muttering a silent prayer to StarClan while Spottedheart searched for the right words to say. The medicine cat's green eyes softened on the golden warrior and they tried to look confident, but even Lionpaw could see the doubt flickering in her gaze.
"StarClan did not approve of WindClan's actions, but that's the price ShadowClan had to pay for having agency." Spottedheart pointed out, resting her paw on Goldenpool's. The teary-eyed she-cat flung her head to face the tortoiseshell. Fire blazed in her eyes as she spat, "ShadowClan didn't deserved to be punished! I didn't deserved to be punished!" Spottedheart opened her mouth to speak, but Fernpaw cut her off. "No one deserved to be punished. Things like this happen, and we must overcome our trials by following the warrior code StarClan has sent to us."
"What can StarClan do to help?" Goldenpool challenged, unsheathing her claws. "We couldn't save a kit, so how can our ancestors be any different?" Spottedheart looked away from the enraged warrior. "We did the best we could to save the kit, but it wasn't StarClan's will to start a fire either. Our clanmates had failed to retrieve the kit and ShadowClan had to abandon it. Still, I have a feeling that your kit is still alive."
"If my kit is alive, then where is she? How could a defenseless little scrap manage to escape the choking ashes and falling trees?" Goldenpool's tail lashed, scattering the leaves Fernpaw had retrieve all across the medicine floor. Spottedheart closed her eyes thoughtfully as if she were pondering. Fernpaw stared at her mentor, waiting for the medicine cat's wise words to spill out. Lionpaw leaned forward in interest wanting to know the possibilities of a lost ShadowClan kit managing to survive such harsh conditions. After a few, long moments, Spottedheart's green eyes opened and she gave out a small shake of her head. "I don't know though I have faith that it is true."
She's lying. Lionpaw could tell from Fernpaw's suspicious expression that she knew her mentor's words were false. Spottedheart did know how the kit could have survived. Through the time the medicine cat was "thinking" of an answer, she was actually wondering wether she should tell the truth or keep a secret a little longer. Though Spottedheart couldn't fool the apprentices, Goldenpool was easily tricked by the lie. "Believe what you want to believe," the golden she-cat growled, "But I have no hope that my second child lives." Standing up, Goldenpool stalked out of the den with her tail swinging behind her. On a silent command, Fernpaw immediately began to gather the scattered leaves.
"Some of the leaves have torn. Should I throw them out?" the dark gray apprentice asked the tortoiseshell. Spottedheart gave Fernpaw a curt nod of her head. "Put away the ones of good use back in storage; I'm all finished with Lionpaw." Fernpaw flicked an ear to show that she understood, and got right to work with her duties. Spottedheart gave Lionpaw a comforting lick on the ear before standing up.
"Get some rest," the medicine cat instructed the golden-brown apprentice, "You will need your strength later today to work on your new exercises." Lionpaw didn't feel like arguing so she obediently rested her chin on her paws and wrapped her tail over her belly. Heaving out a breath, the apprentice fell into a deep slumber.
"You have to be quicker than that!" Lunarstar growled as he unbalanced his apprentice and threw her off her paws. Lionpaw landed on her back yet again, but she rolled onto her stomach and stood up for another try. "How can someone my size push over a cat as big as you?" she demanded crossly, shaking her pelt to get the dirt off of her fur. Lunarstar muttered something under his breath, then padded away from his position to Lionpaw's side. Slowly, he demonstrated the move again and went back to his place. "Try it again," he encouraged, "And this time, do it faster!"
Lionpaw charged, ignoring her throbbing muscles and ran straight toward Lunarstar's muzzle. The large, muscular tabby reared up onto his hind legs and raised a paw to swipe. This is the part where I keep failing, Lionpaw thought miserably as she tried to run faster. Lunarstar watched her moves carefully then swiped his paw down to throw her off balance. Lionpaw, instead of running faster to get underneath her mentor, stopped before she met the attack. Lunarstar gave out a frustrated snarl. "You didn't do it right! I said faster!"
"We've been doing battle training all day! Why can't we go hunt like Rowanpaw and Moonshine?" Lionpaw protested, bending her head down to catch her breath. "You're behind on your training and the other apprentices can get the prey the Clan needs. If we're to prepare ourselves from our enemy's threats, you will need to know how to fight and defend yourself." Lunarstar answered, his tail tip twitching irritably. Lionpaw glared at her mentor as she went back into her position. She hated how the technique was so difficult, not to mention her condition. The apprentice's muscles were growing stronger with each exercise Spottedheart told her to do, but the afternoon training with Lunarstar only made them burn from being used too much. Lionpaw didn't want to admit that her mentor was right when he said she was behind in her training, especially when he was being so hard with her. She didn't want to give him any satisfaction by cooperating, but since Lionpaw couldn't skip battle training she could do nothing but obey.
"This time, try to dodge my attack," Lunarstar suggested, bending down into a battle crouch. Lionpaw copied her mentor, waiting until he signaled when to start. When the dark tabby's tail lashed down, Lionpaw charged again.
"Pretend I'm a WindClan warrior trying to break into the nursery!" Lunarstar spat at her, his fur beginning to rise. Lionpaw's eyes stretched wide in horror as she suddenly remembered the WindClan warriors that had cornered and attacked her on her first day as an apprentice. Lunarstar's hazel eyes darkened into the shade of amber and his muscular body thinned into a scrawny size. Lionpaw could see Ratwhisker's twisted whiskers and smell his reeking breath as he advanced on her with unsheathed claws. Lionpaw heard her heart beat in her chest while she felt time stop all around. Ratwhisker's lips drew back revealing sharp, bloodstained teeth. His amber eyes blazed gleefully as he snickered, "A small cat with such a weak body will never become a true warrior!"
"You're wrong!" Lionpaw hissed, animosity overwhelming her. Her muscles were at sudden ease as she golden-brown apprentice sprinted toward the WindClan warrior. Ratwhisker looked uncertain while he watched Lionpaw run closer and closer toward him. Through narrowed eyes, the light brown warrior reared back onto his hind legs and raised a threatening paw reinforced with curved claws. Patiently, Ratwhisker waited for the right moment before swiping his paw downwards. Lionpaw nimbly dodged the slicing claws and ducked underneath the scrawny warrior. With a powerful swat of her leg paw, Ratwhisker's legs were swept from underneath him and he came tumbling to the ground. Lionpaw leaped out of the way, her fur still bristling as she stared at her opponent.
"That was perfect," Ratwhisker purred, standing back up. Lionpaw blinked and the image of the WindClan warrior faded. Lunarstar stood in the scrawny warrior's place with his forelegs trembling from the blow and his whole pelt covered in dust. Lionpaw forgot she had been fighting her mentor all along, but she distinctively remembered the sudden energy bursting through her body as she pictured herself getting her revenge on the cat that had ruined her life. A shiver ran down the apprentice's spine when she realized that she enjoyed the feeling of reprisal, and Lionpaw immediately began to fear. What if it happens again and I can't control myself? The she-cat shook her head, driving the thought away. No, I will definitely make sure it doesn't happen again.
"We'll try that move again tomorrow." Lunarstar interrupted Lionpaw's thoughts. The golden-brown apprentice looked up to see the dark tabby waiting for her by the entrance to the training hollow. There was a proud look in his hazel eyes that made Lionpaw feel warm inside. "Come on," the Clan leader flicked his tail at the apprentice, "You deserve a rest." Lionpaw felt relieved to finally get out of battle training. She began looking forward to eating some fresh-kill that the other apprentices caught and lying underneath the sun's warming rays. But a haunting feeling still remained as the apprentice followed her mentor out of the clearing.
"She has great talent and determination," Lunarstar had explained to Moonshine once they had returned to camp. The deputy sat and listened in interest with pricked ears as the dark tabby reported Lionpaw's progress. Rowanpaw was by the silver she-cat's side waiting impatiently for her mentor to boast about her. Lionpaw watched them from the apprentice's den with a half-eaten mouse in between her two forepaws. She was happy that the Clan was pleased with her work and she hoped to serve them well in the future. Ever since she had joined ShadowClan, Lionpaw was eager to impress her clanmates and do whatever she could to make her Clan stronger. Lunarstar had told her because of this, she had a warrior's heart. Even though Lionpaw believed every word he said, she still felt that something was missing in her heart that made her a true warrior of the Clan. But what was it?
"Are you going to finish the mouse?" Thistlepaw asked. Lionpaw looked up to see the silver tom looking down at her unfinished meal with hungry, blue eyes. She took a peek at the fresh-kill pile to find it completely empty. Lionpaw pushed the mouse toward him, and Thistlepaw began to devour it with famished bites.
"I've been hunting all morning and I haven't had anything decent to eat yet!" the apprentice mumbled through a mouth-full of food. Lionpaw couldn't help but to smile when she stared at his face. "You look like a chipmunk with your cheeks puffed up like that!" the she-cat laughed. Thistlepaw swallowed and gave Lionpaw a friendly glare. "Hey, you wouldn't be laughing if you were this hungry!"
"Nope, but I'm as full as a tick!" Lionpaw exclaimed, leaping back before Thistlepaw could gently cuff her ear. With a growl, Thistlepaw continued to lash blows at Lionpaw, but the she-cat nimbly dodged each of them without trouble. In between defense, Lionpaw had managed to deliver several attacks back at Thistlepaw and in the end caused him to trip and fall onto his side.
"I don't know what you're complaining about," the silver tom panted beneath Lionpaw, "You're really good at fighting!" Lionpaw's ears began to burn from the compliment. She looked down at her paws as they began to shuffle with embarrassment. "I—I still haven't mastered all of the moves yet." the golden-brown apprentice reminded shyly. Thistlepaw rolled back onto his paws and faced her with a bright smile. "I don't know all of the battle strategies either!" he exclaimed. With his tail waving excitingly, he added, "Because of Lunarstar, you're an even better fighter than me!"
"She won't be able to survive long if she can't catch anything for herself." a snarl sounded from behind Lionpaw. Thistlepaw glanced behind she-cat and his blue eyes stretched wide as he gasped, "Griffonpaw!" Lionpaw turned her head around and found herself face-to-face with Griffonpaw's white muzzle. Her narrowed, green eyes had a fire burning within their depths as she stared straight at Lionpaw. Griffonpaw never took her gaze off of the golden-brown apprentice when she flicked her tail and mewed briskly at Thistlepaw, "Bearstep wants you for a border patrol."
"Is it alright if Lionpaw comes too?" Thistlepaw asked, tilting his head to one side. "No," Griffonpaw answered quickly, "Lunarstar has his own plans for her." Thistlepaw's tail drooped as he looked back at Lionpaw. He gave a longing look to show that he didn't want to follow orders, but he reluctantly obeyed and sadly padded away. Once the silver tom was gone, Griffonpaw began pushing Lionpaw toward a group of bushes.
"Hey, what're you—" Griffonpaw interrupted Lionpaw's protest by covering her mouth with a paw. The white-muzzled apprentice gave the frightened Lionpaw a warning look before continuing to lead her away from the clearing. With a final shove, Lionpaw crashed into the bushes and landed heavily on her side, driving the breath out of her chest. While winded, Griffonpaw had enough time to pin her and prevent her from moving. She leaned close to Lionpaw's face, her mouse-scented breath blowing into the apprentice's nostrils.
"Listen closely, because this is the only warning I'm giving you!" Griffonpaw hissed in a whisper. Lionpaw's amber eyes were as wide as two full moons. She struggled underneath her clanmates' grasp, but that only caused Griffonpaw to push her down harder. Lionpaw's muscles screamed for the pressure to cease.
"What do you want from me?" Lionpaw whimpered, forcing herself to relax. Griffonpaw's tail swept across the sandy floor and she gave out a scowl. "All I'm asking for," the apprentice tried to sound calm, "Is that you stay away from Thistlepaw." She glanced warily over her shoulder to make sure no one else was near to hear. Slowly, Griffonpaw bent her head down close to Lionpaw's ear and whispered in a cold voice, "If you don't, I'll make sure you never become a warrior." With that said, Griffonpaw released Lionpaw, turned, and fled.
"Lionpaw, are you in there?" a voice outside the bushes mewed in a soft voice. Scarletberry! Lionpaw heaved herself to her paws and walked out to greet the ginger warrior. As usual, Scarletberry was looking worried.
"I heard Griffonpaw talking with someone back there. Was that you?" Scarletberry asked. Lionpaw wearily nodded her head. "We were just gossiping." the apprentice lied. She was worried that if she told the warrior of Griffonpaw's threat, then Griffonpaw would make sure that Lionpaw wouldn't become a warrior of the Clan. Lionpaw didn't want to risk it.
"You could have shared tongues in the clearing." Scarletberry pointed out, raising a suspicious eye. Suddenly, her eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't lie to me, would you?" The words were caught in Lionpaw's throat, but she managed to reply, "We didn't want to hurt anybody's feelings." Lionpaw winced when Scarletberry roughly cuffed her ear. "You shouldn't have spoken such harmful things anyway!" the ginger warrior scolded.
"I'm sorry," Lionpaw murmured, apologizing not for gossiping, but for lying. Scarletberry didn't know the difference in the apprentice's words. Either way, she was still angry. "Tell me what the two of you talked about." Scarletberry ordered. Lionpaw felt a knot tight into her stomach and she began to panic. How could she tell another lie? More importantly, what was she going to lie about?
"W—Word has spread around the camp that y—you and Lunarstar were becoming m—mates." Lionpaw stammered, unable to look into Scarletberry's eyes. The golden-brown apprentice waited for Scarletberry to burst into rage and cuff her ear again. She closed her eyes and braced herself, expecting the worst punishment. Surprisingly, the ginger warrior was silent. Lionpaw slowly looked up at Scarletberry to find her completely paralyzed with shock. Her amber eyes were round, her face was frozen in a dismay expression, and her whole body stood as still as a boulder; the ginger warrior didn't even blink.
"How did you find out?" Scarletberry's face went into a grimace as she glared down at the apprentice. Lionpaw forced down a swallow and stared back at the warrior in surprise. "You mean it's true?" she gasped, trying not to gape. Scarletberry leaned closer to Lionpaw's face. Her amber eyes held a serious look. "How did you find out?" she repeated.
"I couldn't help but to see a loving look in Lunarstar's eyes whenever he looked at you!" Lionpaw exclaimed, wishing she hadn't lied in the beginning. Scarletberry's eyes narrowed into slits. "So you went to tell Griffonpaw even though you weren't positive?" the ginger warrior sounded hurt when she spoke. Lionpaw began praying to StarClan that she could just disappear and have the conversation end, but the apprentice knew that was the price she had to pay in order to make sure she became a warrior. However, Lionpaw couldn't help but to wonder if all the lies were really worth it. To make sure Scarletberry wasn't left hanging, Lionpaw quickly replied, "Griffonpaw was just telling me how she's been noticing the looks too."
"I'm very ashamed, Lionpaw." Scarletberry bellowed, unsheathing a pair of claws. The warrior raised her paw into the air, preparing to strike. There was no pity in the ginger warrior's gaze as she began to lash the claws down toward Lionpaw's face. The golden-brown apprentice tensed and ducked her head down.
"What in the name of StarClan are you doing?" Lunarstar snarled. Scarletberry's claws stopped mid-way in the air when the ginger warrior heard the tabby's voice. Lionpaw cautiously glanced up just in time to see Scarletberry's claws sheathe and her paw slam down to the ground. The apprentice flinched from the force of the stomp and began to back away slowly as Scarletberry turned her head to face her leader.
"The apprentices need more discipline if they are to become proper warriors of ShadowClan." Scarletberry insisted, trying to keep her neck fur from rising. Lunarstar glimpsed at Lionpaw for a moment and then looked back at his warrior. "I can handle the actions of my apprentice," the tomcat calmly advised, "It would have been better if you reported her behavior rather than taking matters into your own paws."
"I know what I'm doing!" Scarletberry argued, taking a threatening step toward her leader. Lunarstar stiffened, but his hazel eyes didn't lower from the she-cat's amber gaze as he continued to speak. "I have no doubt in your skills and I have my complete trust you in. But, I'm afraid that punishing my apprentice is not the best decision." Scarletberry's eyes widened in shock.
"Are you calling yourself weak?" the ginger warrior challenged, tail lashing. Lunarstar closed his eyes and turned away. "No," he murmured, "It only means I have compassion."
"Come and speak with me in my den." Lunarstar instructed Scarletberry, flicking his tail in dismissal. The dark tabby's gaze shifted over to Lionpaw and they narrowed. "I will deal with you later. For now, go and get some sleep; we have an early day tomorrow." Lionpaw opened her mouth to defend herself, but Lunarstar was already padding away with Scarletberry at his side. Scarletberry's fur was still bristling from the tension between her and her leader, but she never left Lunarstar's side when they entered his den. Lionpaw watched them go a moment longer before dragging herself to the entrance of the apprentice's den. Because she was so tired from everything that happened, she didn't hesitate to drop into her nest, close her eyes, and fall asleep.
"You let me down, Lionpaw." Lunarstar mewed in a dark tone early the next morning. Lionpaw was sitting in front of the tabby leader with her paws tucked in front of her and her head bowed down in dismay. Lunarstar had told her that they wouldn't be training and for the rest of the day it was Lionpaw's duty to renew every warrior's bedding and search them for ticks or fleas. For now, the two of them were discussing what had happened the previous day and how Scarletberry told her part of the story. After finishing telling Scarletberry's point of view, Lunarstar gave his apprentice permission to speak with a bow of his head.
"I lied to her!" Lionpaw admitted, her eyes stretched wide in grief. "But I wished I hadn't!" Lunarstar's eyes darkened. "Then why did you lie?" he demanded, the tip of his tail twitching crossly. Lionpaw looked away from her mentor in guilt. She wished she could spill all of her feelings out to the tabby, but she knew that she couldn't if she still wanted to become a warrior of ShadowClan. "Griffonpaw told me something that I was afraid to share with anyone else, so I had to find an excuse." the golden-brown she-cat added to her defense.
"So you came up with the whole gossiping story." Lunarstar ended her sentence, his hazel eyes holding no expression as he looked at the apprentice. Lionpaw nodded her head, not knowing what else to do. "I swear to StarClan that I wasn't talking behind anyone's back. I just made up the rumor and I didn't mean for it to be true." she promised, looking up cautiously at the tabby. To the she-cat's relief, Lunarstar looked satisfied and relieved.
"Thank you for telling me the truth," the ShadowClan leader bowed his head respectively. Lionpaw wished for the warm feeling Lunarstar always gave her, but all her guilt prevented her from enjoying the moment of being free.
"Does this mean I can go now and get to my duties?" Lionpaw asked, her pelt itching to leave. Lunarstar raised his tail before the apprentice could dart out of the den. He closed his eyes thoughtfully. "I want one more thing." he replied. Lionpaw felt her heart drop into her paws; she was afraid that there was something else she did wrong that she had to be punished for.
"What do you need?" Lionpaw dared to demand. Lunarstar's eyelids opened and stared right at Lionpaw. With a smile on his face, he whispered, "Would you like to go to the Gathering with your clanmates tonight?"