Hey guys! This chappie is super weird. But I hope you enjoy it anyway!
Chapter Twenty
Ivypool led Snowpaw through the forest. He bounded after her. He kept running around and asking stupid questions.
"Is this my warrior assessment?" Ivypool rolled her eyes.
"Um, you've just been made an apprentice." Snowpaw drooped a little bit.
"Oh yeah." Then he perked up again. "So where are we going?" Ivypool kinked her tail to tell him to follow her.
"We're going to the WindClan border. Sandstorm's patrol went there, but they haven't come back yet. If anything happens, I want you to run back to camp and tell Bramblestar what happened. Okay?" Snowpaw nodded solemnly.
"Okay." He followed her to the stream that separated ThunderClan territory from WindClan territory. They reached the border just in time to meet Sandstorm and her patrol running back over the border. Blood was dripping from Amberpaw's face and Toadstep was supporting his sister Rosepetal because there was a deep scratch on one of her hind legs. Ivypool hurried over to Sandstorm, while Snowpaw padded over to Amberpaw and licked his littermate's cheek.
"What happened?" Ivypool gasped to Sandstorm. The ginger she-cat winced.
"WindClan's got a dog problem. You'll hear about it when I report to Bramblestar. All I can say is that I hope cats stop getting injured, Icecloud still can't go on patrol, and I assume Rosepetal won't be able to either. Would you mind helping Rosepetal? Toadstep's been supporting her the whole time." Ivypool nodded and bounded over to Rosepetal and Toadstep. When Rosepetal saw her coming, she pushed off Toadstep and hobbled forward.
"Do you need something Ivypool?" Ivypool's whiskers twitched.
"No, Rosepetal, I only came to help you and Toadstep." Rosepetal let out a purr.
"Thanks Ivypool. I hate being a drag on the Clan, but we could really use your help." Ivypool whisked her tail across Rosepetal affectionately.
"You're not a drag, we've all needed help sometimes, come on, let's go to camp."
Jayfeather deftly began sorting herbs. He stacked a pile of juniper berries and tucked them into the crevice. Then he lay out comfrey leaves to dry. He was just getting started with the dock leaves, when he heard a patrol coming into camp. He wouldn't have thought much of it, except he could smell the sharp tang of blood. He ducked outside the medicine den, and scented the air.
"Sandstorm, Toadstep, Rosepetal, and Amberpaw are in the patrol. Rosepetal and Amberpaw are bleeding. Not deep scratches, but they might get infected." He listed to himself. He heard a surprised mew, and turned to the side. He could scent Thunder standing next to him. He could also smell surprise coming off her pelt.
"You could tell all that just by sniffing the air?" she mewed in shock. Jayfeather's pelt rippled self-consciously. He wasn't used to cats questioning him. He nodded uncomfortably.
"Yes." Then he hurried into his den and picked up the mouthful of dock leaves that he had left scattered. Jayfeather dashed back into the clearing and began cleaning the blood off Rosepetal's hind leg. Amberpaw started to walk towards the apprentice den, only pausing to cough. Satisfied that Rosepetal would be okay, Jayfeather sat under highrock, waiting for Sandstorm to explain what happened. Finally, the ginger she-cat padded forward. She dipped her head respectfully to Bramblestar.
"As you know, we went to patrol the WindClan border since we didn't know why they didn't show up at the Gathering. When we got to the border, we scented dog, and heard barking. Of course, we went to help them. Sadly, Crouchpaw of WindClan was killed. I took the patrol to speak to Onestar. He said that twolegs have been letting the dogs loose there all the time. He said they'd already lost an elder, Webfoot, when he went to get water. It wasn't even safe for them to go to the Gathering. I believe that WindClan is slowly starving. Onestar wouldn't admit it, but it's clear by looking at their warriors that they're going hungry." Bramblestar nodded slowly.
"Thank you Sandstorm. We'll have a regular patrol on that border. If any border patrol scents or sees dogs, they will come to WindClan's aid immediately." Dustpelt padded forward.
"Are you sure that's safe? Do you remember what it was like when there were dogs loose in the old forest?" Bramblestar bowed his head.
"I was young at that time, but I remember as well as anycat the lives that were lost. Do you wish that on WindClan, Dustpelt? We cannot allow one Clan to be wiped out." Spiderleg dipped his head.
"Well spoken Bramblestar. You sounded like Firestar."
Lionblaze was sharing a mouse by the fresh-kill pile with Berrynose when Millie rushed out into the clearing, her eyes shining.
"Lionblaze, your kits are opening their eyes!" Lionblaze scrambled to his paws and pushed his way into the nursery. Daisy and Squirrelflight were crowded around Cinderheart's nest. Lionblaze peered in. Thistlekit, the tom, blinked open his eyes. He had bright green eyes. Next, the bigger golden kit opened her big amber eyes. Cinderheart let out a purr.
"Now she looks exactly like you." Dreamkit blinked open her eyelids to reveal deep blue irises. Hollykit and Honeykit opened their eyes at almost the same time. Both their eyes were green like Thistlekit's. Lionblaze purred.
"They're great." Although Cinderheart nodded, Lionblaze noticed that she looked a little upset; he also noticed that Dovewing was sitting in the corner, watching forlornly. Lionblaze stormed out of the den, hissing in Dovewing's ear as he passed,
"Come with me. Now." Dovewing obeyed, getting to her paws and following him into the forest. He headed far away from camp, towards the ShadowClan border. As he walked, a heavy drizzle began to fall. When he finally stopped, he turned to face Dovewing. Her ears were flattened and water was streaming off her whiskers.
"What did you do to Cinderheart?" he demanded. Dovewing crouched lower to the ground.
"I-I'm sorry." Her voice was a pitiful mew. "I didn't mean to." Lionblaze felt a rage burning inside him.
"WHAT DIDN'T YOU MEAN TO DO?" Dovewing winced.
"I didn't mean to make her mad. I didn't do anything to her. I just didn't tell her something. I can't go giving away all my secrets, can I?" there was a hint of pleading in her mew, as if she was begging him to understand. But Lionblaze didn't understand. It didn't matter as much that she didn't tell Cinderheart something, but what did she mean, 'I can't go giving away all my secrets'? What secrets did she have? Maybe it was because Lionblaze didn't know what was going on, or maybe because he was angry with himself, but for some reason, he found himself lunging at Dovewing. But when his claws connected, it wasn't gray fur, but dark brown tabby. He lurched back in surprise, but he felt the cat attacking him back. In shock, Lionblaze felt himself being slammed into the dirt ground. Lionblaze writhed around, but his attacker held him firm. What? Impossible. He thought. I've never been beaten by another cat before! He managed to flip himself over, and he found himself staring into murderous amber eyes. He knew all at once, that this cat would kill him if he could. Lionblaze fought back harder, and managed to push the cat off him, but before he could attack again, the cat leap nimbly out of reach. As the cat crouched in front of Dovewing, Lionblaze realized the cat was Tigerheart.
"Tigerheart?" he whispered. The tabby tom let out a low growl.
"Nobody hurts Dovewing." He snarled. Lionblaze wasn't sure who was more surprised, himself, or Dovewing.
Like I said, crazy! I hope you enjoyed reading this though. I loved writing it. R&R please! (I know Lionblaze can't be beaten, but I had to make him lose for the story) :)