Chapter 10
Firepaw, awoke from his nest, stretched his body out and padded out of the apprentice den. There was a lot more room in the den now that Runningstream, Dovefeather and Lightningstrike had moved out. 'They should be finished with their vigil now.' He thought briefly. He glanced back at Longpaw who was still sleeping peacefully in his nest. Firepaw glanced at the entrance and noticed that there was some light outside. 'I should probably wake him up so that he can be on time for his training' Firepaw thought a little bitterly. He sighed again and padded over to Longpaw gently prodding his side.
"Wake up Longpaw its time for training." He hissed sharply. Longpaw yawned widely and stretched out of his nest and began to lick his paws and washing his face. He gave another yawn and start to pad toward out of the apprentice den. Firepaw followed him out of the den and glanced over toward the center of the clearing, he noticed that the newly named warriors weren't anywhere to be seen. He figured that one of the other warriors had relieved them from their vigil. Firepaw sighed as he glanced over at the elder's den figuring he might as well get the elder's their prey for the morning. Longpaw touched his tail gently to Firepaw's shoulder.
"Don't worry Firepaw, you'll be training again soon, I'm sure." Longpaw mewled comfortingly. "I have to go now Finchflight is taking me hunting." Firepaw meowed a quick goodbye to his friend, then headed for the fresh-kill pile to bring the elder's their fresh-kill. He pulled out a sparrow, a wren, a bat and a chaffinch from the fresh-kill pile and padded toward the elder's den. As he entered he could hear Ivyclaw and Toadleg bickering at each other with Moonwatcher trying to end their quarrelling. Blackbird was the only one to greet him as he came through the entrance.
"Hello Firepaw, is that prey for us?" he rasped softly. Firepaw nodded and padded toward the oldest elder placing the prey in from of him. Blackbird looked at the selection and picked up the bat and began to bite into the fresh-kill. As Firepaw turned to the other elders in the den he saw that Ivyclaw and Toadleg had calmed down and were glaring at each other in their nests. Firepaw came over to Moonwatcher who was watching the other two elders in exasperation. Firepaw put the rest of the prey he brought I front of Moonwatcher and watched as the old tom pulled out the wren. He thanked Firepaw then began to pluck the feathers from his piece of fresh-kill. Firepaw then padded over to the two feuding elders, and he briefly wondered what the two were bickering about now. As he approached Ivyclaw purred at him softly at him. Toadleg snorted and fixed Firepaw with a glare. He placed the last two pieces of prey he had bought in front of the two elders. Toadleg quickly snatched up the sparrow and tore into it. Ivyclaw sniffed in disgust at Toadleg and calmly grabbed the chaffinch and began to pull feathers off it.
"Does anyone need their bedding changed?" Firepaw asked softly.
"No they're fine for now, but could you check my shoulder for ticks?" asked Blackbird looking up from his fresh-kill." Firepaw nodded and looked to the other elders.
"Does anyone else have ticks?" asked Firepaw 'hoping that he wouldn't have mouse bile on him long.
"Yes I have on you can get off the center of my back." Ivyclaw meowed looking up from her chaffinch. Moonwatcher shook his head and Toadleg remained silent. Firepaw fought hard not to growl at Toadleg and waited patiently for the old tom to say anything. Ivyclaw swatted Toadleg on the ear and glared crossly at him from her nest.
"Answer Firepaw you useless lump of fur." She spat. Toadleg growled lowly from his nest and hissed out quickly that he didn't have any ticks. Firepaw nodded slowly and blinked gratefully at Ivyclaw then charged out of the elder's den and bounded off toward Fallowpelt's den. As he approached Fallowpelt's den he saw her emerging from her den, possibly heading for the fresh-kill pile. He called out to her, stopping her in her tracks.
"Yes Firepaw, what is it" she asked stiffly.
"I need mouse bile for the elder's ticks." She nodded slowly and turned back into her den. Firepaw waited outside her den, and in moments she had emerged with the foul smelling moss soaked in bile hanging from a stick.
"Here" she meowed; "I know I shouldn't have to remind you about what to do with your paws." Firepaw picked up the stick and quickly carried it back to the elder's den. He headed over to Blackbird and looked at his shoulder. He found a thick tick cling to his shoulder and dabbed it with bile. He then looked through the rest of the dark fur and found another between the old tom's shoulder blades. After he finished looking through Blackbird's fur for ticks he padded over to Ivyclaw and dabbed the center of her back with the bile making the tick drop off. Then he continued searching through her fur and dabbed a few near the base of her tail. Once he was finished he asked the elder's if there was anything else they needed. When they replied that they didn't he raced out of the den and toward the tunnel that led outside the camp. He raced off toward the creek to wash his paws off.
Once he was back in camp he padded toward the fresh-kill pile and pulled out a robin, and padded toward the apprentice den settling in front of the entrance. He started to pluck the feathers off when suddenly Goldenstar padded up to him.
"Firepaw, have you hunted for the elder's yet?"
"Umm, no Goldenstar I haven't." he meowed quietly.
"Then put down that fresh-kill and go hunt." She meowed keeping he gaze fixed on Firepaw. Firepaw glanced longingly at the robin, but stood and head toward the camp entrance again. He glanced back and saw Goldenstar put the robin back in the fresh-kill pile. He sighed irritably and charged out into the forest again.
Firepaw, carried his catch into the fresh-kill pile. He caught a two sparrows, a dove and a starling. It was long after sunhigh and he still hadn't eaten anything so he picked up one of his sparrows and started to over toward the apprentice den to eat some prey, However Goldenstar came over to him before he could do so.
"Have you changed the elder's bedding and given them fresh-kill? "She asked evenly.
"No Goldenstar, the elder's said they didn't need their bedding changed and I brought them fresh-kill this morning I thought they wouldn't need any more fresh-kill until later. " Goldenstar sighed a little.
"Firepaw you have to understand that the elder's sometimes say they don't need something because they don't want to be a burden. Go change their nest and if they try to stop you tell then that I said it was to be done. Then you can eat" She meowed noticing how hungry Firepaw looked. Firepaw dropped his sparrow and hurried over to the elder's den. Blackbird was napping, Ivyclaw and Toadleg were having a staring contest and Moonwatcher was messing with a beetle on the ground. He looked up as Firepaw approached meowing a greeting.
"Hello Firepaw, did you need something?" he asked softly. Firepaw nodded.
"Goldenstar asked me to change your bedding." Moonwatcher nodded in understanding and picked and climbed out of his nest, letting Firepaw roll up the soiled moss. Firepaw glanced over at Ivyclaw and Toadleg wondering what the two elders were bickering about now. Moonwatcher purred at him, probably noticing his confusion.
"This is just how they tolerate each other." Moonwatcher purred. "Sometimes I forget that they are mates." Firepaw dropped the soiled moss in his jaws in shock. He stared incredulously at Moonwatcher.
"But they're always at each other's throats and insulting each other." Moonwatcher nodded in agreement.
"Yes, but their always there for each other, and they do show affection every once and a while. Besides if they really didn't like each other do you think their nest would be right next to each other?" This made Firepaw pause.
"I suppose that's true." Firepaw murmured gently, picking up the moss and padding up to the couple. Once more Ivyclaw looked happy to see him and Toadleg looked disgusted.
"Can I have your old moss so I can clean your nest's?" he asked calmly. Ivyclaw nodded and helped Firepaw roll up the moss and Toadleg climbed out of his nest to allow Frepaw to get his moss. Firepaw turned to look at Blackbird the tom was still sleeping.
"Just go get fresh moss, for all of our nests then you can clean Blackbirds when you get back." Rasped Ivyclaw. Firepaw agreed and ran off to dispose of the soiled moss.
When Firepaw had finished changing the moss for the elder's dens and getting them more fresh-kill he noticed that he was more tired than hungry, as he walked pass the fresh-kill pile, but passed looking back at the fresh-kill pile. He noticed Sunkit pulling out a magpie. He noticed how big she had grown. 'it won't be long till she's apprenticed' he briefly wondered who would mentor her. The young she-cat was still quite shy and barely spoke to any of the warriors. Firepaw watched her a bit longer then headed into the apprentice den to sleep.
Firepaw woke up in his nest. He saw Longpaw curled in his nest next to him. He carefully climbed out of his nest and padded out of the apprentice den as quietly as he could. He glanced slowly around the clearing making sure everyone was in their nests. He had overheard earlier that Grayfeather was on guard duty and kept an eye out for the she-cat as he padded toward the secret exit that Dovefeather had showed him. For a moment he felt a little sadness, the newly named white warrior hadn't spoken to him at all, since yesterday. Firepaw wondered if she was still angry with him. 'He shook away his sadness and padded out of the secret exit. Once he was out in the forest he looked around trying to gather his bearings. He remembered the direction he and Dovefeather went to get to the Sun Rock and went in the opposite direction knowing that will take him toward ThunderClan territory.
As Firepaw approached the large Birch tree, he kept a look out for Scorchpaw's black and white pelt. He sat patiently for several minutes, and then decided to climb the tree to see if he could spot Scorchpaw coming. He crawled out onto one branch and looked into ThunderClan territory slowly gazing around the visible area. Suddenly a familiar black and white pelt could be seen making its way toward the birch tree. Firepaw waited on the tree branch for Scorchpaw to reach him.
"Firepaw, are you here?" Scorchpaw mewled softly. Firepaw waited until Scorchpaw to get in the best position then pounced onto his back with his claws sheathed. Scorchpaw nearly yowled in alarm and shook fiercely knocking Firepaw off his back he spun around wide eyed in fright then relaxed when he saw the familiar fiery pelt of his friend. "Don't do that you scared the dirt out of me." Firepaw purred in amusement.
"Sorry but I couldn't help myself." Firepaw meowed amusedly. Scorchpaw shook his pelt to calm himself down.
"What were you doing in a tree anyway?"
"I was looking to see if I could see you coming in the trees." Scorchpaw looked at him in confusion.
"Why didn't you just smell for my scent? Wouldn't that have been easier than nearly scaring the pelt off me?" Firepaw shrugged
"I suppose but it wouldn't have been nearly as fun." Scorchpaw huffed a little then got into a playful fighting stance.
"Come on lets practice battle moves." Firepaw nodded and crouched into a fighting stance. The two began to circle each other slowly looking for weaknesses. Firepaw felt a little unease from doing this, but remembered how he got no training and probably wouldn't for a while. With that in mind he focused on Scorchpaw who had leaped at him with claws sheathed. Firepaw braced himself for impact, and rolled with Scorchpaw as he land on his shoulders , Scorchpaw sprang away before being crushed by the weight and charged for FIrepaw's exposed belly. Firepaw was on his feet in an instant and moved to intercept Scorchpaw.
"Not bad you two, but you could be better." A voice rasped in the darkness. The two apprentices froze in terror. They looked around for the mysterious cat who had spoken. Suddenly a few bushes parted from ThunderClan side of the border and a cat emerged. 'She's that old she-cat from ThunderClan.' Firepaw thought in alarm.
"Y-Yellowfang, w-what are y-you doing here?" Scorchpaw asked nervously. Yellowfang turned her owlish orange gaze at Scorchpaw.
"Don't you think I should be asking you that? I may not have been born to ThunderClan, but I'm still a medicine cat and can go where I need to at night. You are an apprentice and should be resting, instead of playing with an apprentice from a rival Clan." Scorchpaw looked a little guilty and Firepaw felt even more worry. 'This is bad I shouldn't have come.' "However, I think the two of you are doing something useful for yourselves." The two looked at her in surprise.
"Really?" Firepaw asked in shock. Yellowfang nodded.
"Yes I see potential in you both and I want to help the two of you find it." Scorchpaw looked excited but Firepaw was curious.
"But, why would you help us?" Yellowfang turned her bright orange gaze at him.
"Because I know what it's like to live in a Clan that thinks so little of you and doesn't trust you no matter how much you do for them. The three of us have one thing in common and that is that we are all outsiders in our Clans. I want to help you two become great warriors, under a condition of course." Firepaw tensed and Scorchpaw began to look nervous again.
"And what would that be?" Firepaw asked curiously
"That after the two of you become warriors, you won't meet like this again." Yellowfang meowed giving both toms an intense, serious gaze. "We have the warrior code for a reason. Is this understood?" Firepaw and Scorchpaw shared a look before nodding their heads in agreement. "Very well let's begin."
Firepaw stretched his aching muscles as he climbed out of his nest. It had been four nights since Yellowfang made her offer to train Scorchpaw and himself. Firepaw had to admit that they both were getting better than they were before. Yellowfang had shown them a new move that required them to twist in the air like an adder while at swiping an enemy. They both had been able to pull it off, Though Firepaw was faster than Scorchpaw, but Scorchpaw had a stronger swipe. Firepaw rotated his shoulders trying to keep them from getting stiff. He sighed as he made his way out of the apprentice den, ignoring the fresh-kill pile instead heading for the elder's den knowing that the elder's needed fresh bedding. He yawned a little trying to fight the sleepiness he was feeling. He was almost to the elder's den when a voice called out to him. He turned to see Runningstream racing up to him.
"Morning Runningstream, what can I do for you?" he meowed trying to fight down a yawn.
"Morning Firepaw, Goldenstar wanted me to tell you to go to the training grounds today, you don't have to take care of the elder's." Firepaw blinked slowly at her in surprise.
"But, who's going to care for the elder's?" Firepaw did prefer to train, but he felt very attached to the elders after spending so much time around them.
"I will look after them."
"Really? But you're a warrior now." Runningstream purred softly.
"That's what it means to be in a Clan. It's everyone's responsibility to care for the elder's, besides I like taking care of the elder's I love listening to their stories." She purred happily. "You should hurry; you don't want to keep Goldenstar waiting." Firepaw thanked her and raced off to the entrance only to come face to face with Lightningstrike and Dovefeather as they came through the entrance from an early patrol.
"You're not slacking on your duties are you kittypet?"Meowed Lightningstrike. Firepaw felt the fur rise along his spine but ignored Lightningstrike's taunt, weaving around the young warrior to get to the tunnel. He ignored Dovefeather, who hadn't spoken up in his defense and raced through the tunnel to head off for the training grounds.
When he reached the training grounds, he saw Longpaw and Finchflight were there working on Longpaw's battle moves. Goldenstar was waiting near the base of the Oak tree, in the center of the clearing. She rose to her paws as she saw Firepaw approach.
"Morning Firepaw, I thought you've had enough punishment, it's time to focus on your training again; you need to make up for the time lost." 'Not really.' Firepaw thought to himself as he started to circle his mentor, quickly thinking of all the moves that Yellowfang had taught him. He watched Goldenstar wondering briefly if he should make the first move or if she would make the first move instead. The decision was quickly taken from him as Goldenstar leaped for him suddenly and Firepaw sprang into the air twisting his body so he landed onto Goldenstar's shoulders latching his teeth into her scruff as if she was an enemy warrior and raked his paws, with claws sheathed. Goldenstar began to roll quickly onto her back to crush Firepaw beneath her. Firepaw squirmed away before she could and dived for her exposed belly. Goldenstar was on her paws in seconds and swiped at Firepaw with sheathed claws. Firepaw took the blow to the head, to grip Goldenstars foreleg in his teeth using the momentum to twist her onto her back and quickly sprang away to look for a weak point. Goldenstar was one her paws again watching Firepaw with curiosity and a calculating stare. She raised her tail as a signal for Firepaw to stop his attack.
"Firepaw, where did you learn that move?" she asked quietly. Firepaw stared at her unblinkingly.
"It just came to me suddenly; I saw it as an opening." Firepaw meowed, though he felt a little guilty for having to hide the truth from Goldenstar. Goldenstar held his gaze for several more minutes, then turned away from him to look at Finchflight. Finchflight and Goldenstar were quietly discussing something as Longpaw came over to talk to Firepaw.
"Wow those were some great moves Firepaw, you really had Goldenstar thinking. How'd you know to grab her like that?" Longpaw meowed.
"It was just a lucky move; I haven't been training, so it's given me time to think of moves to use in battle." Firepaw meowed with a quick glance at Goldenstar hoping she didn't suspect that he was sneaking out of camp. Goldenstar padded back over to him, and then turned, beckoning with her tail for him to follow her. Firepaw followed her trying not to let Goldestar see just how nervous he was.
"I have decided that I want to have a hunting assessment for you Firepaw. You missed the one we had a few days ago. Longpaw you can join as well since your assessment was interrupted." Goldenstar meowed at both apprentices. Longpaw looked excited to show off his hunting skills. Firepaw was glad that Goldenstar no longer seemed to be focused on his battle skills, and was eager for his hunting assessment. "Firepaw, I want you to hunt near Bat Hollow, Longpaw, you hunt near Sun Rock, bring your prey back here you have until sun high." Once Goldenstar had finished speaking both apprentices took off into the forest heading toward their intended destinations.
Once Firepaw had reached the Bat Hollow he listened around for prey that might be around. He saw a sparrow that was hopping around a bush. Firepaw start to creep toward the sparrow slowly closing the distance between him and the small bird. As he got a bit closer a sudden fluttering of wings startled him and the sparrow took off. He flicked his tail in frustration; he glanced around slowly looking for what had made the fluttering noise. He quickly located what he was looking for and crept forward once more.
Firepaw carried his catch back to the training hollow. He had caught a robin, two sparrows and a quail. It was a decent sized catch and would feed several cats. Once he arrived back at the training grounds, he saw that Longpaw was already there. Longpaw had caught a crow, three robins and a swallow. Goldenstar looked at their catches nodding with approval.
"Well done, you two your hunting is going well." She meowed with pride.
"It won't be long before the two of you are warriors." Finchflight meowed. Longpaw puffed up his chest, Firepaw purred happily pleased that Goldenstar had praised them both. Goldenstar picked up Firepaw's two sparrows and Firepaw picked up the quail tucking the robin under his chin. Finchflight picked up Longpaw's crow and a robin. Longpaw picked up the two other robins and swallow carefully and the four headed back to camp. Once they had reach camp, they placed the prey into the fresh-kill pile. Goldenstar and Finchflight headed toward Goldenstar's den telling Longpaw and Firepaw that they could eat and rest. Runningstream emerged from the elder's den and approached Firepaw and Longpaw.
"Hello Firepaw, Longpaw how was your training" she meowed softly.
"It was great, you should have seen Firepaw, he used some pretty great moves on Goldenstar." Longpaw meowed. Firepaw looked down licking his chest a little in embarrassment. He felt the guilt surging in him again, knowing he couldn't tell the two of them about his visits with Yellowfang and Scorchpaw. He yawned a little and began to pad off toward the apprentice den to have a quick rest before it was time for him to meet Yellowfang and Scorchpaw. Longpaw called after him.
"Hey Firepaw aren't you hungry? Why don't we share your quail?" called Longpaw. Firepaw sighed a little knowing he wasn't that hungry, but he knew if he didn't eat then they might start to get suspicious since he didn't eat much while in camp.
"Okay, that's fine." Firepaw meowed as he padded over to Longpaw lying down beside him helping Longpaw pluck the feathers off the quail. He ate a few bites of the bird eating enough of the quail to keep Longpaw from getting suspicious, then Firepaw headed off toward the apprentices den; he went inside crawling into his nest, deciding to get some rest before he left.
Firepaw reached the meeting ground, and looked around waiting patiently for Yellowfang and Scorchpaw to show up so they could practice their skills. It wasn't long before he caught the scent of Scorchpaw but surprisingly he didn't catch Yellowfang's scent. Firepaw looked at his friend in confusion as Scorchpaw approached.
"Where's Yellowfang?" he asked quietly. Scorchpaw looked at him a moment looking shaken. "What's wrong?"
"ThunderClan was attacked by ShadowClan today while Bluestar, Whitestorm, Graypaw and I were away from camp." Firepaw looked at him in shock and confusion.
"When? What happened? Why were you away from camp.?"
"We weren't in camp because Bluestar wanted to go to the Highstones again. She had tried to share tongues with her warrior ancestors the first time we went but she didn't have any luck. When we got back it was to the whole camp in chaos. We were able to run them off, but t-they k-killed L-Lionheart." Scorchpaw shivered. Firepaw brushed his pelt against his friend's knowing that this must have been the first fight that Scorchpaw had to fear for his life.
"Where's Yellowfang, is she hurt?" Firepaw asked with a little concern.
"Not badly, but she stayed behind to help Spottedleaf treat the other injured cats. She said that I shouldn't come out here but I had to tell you and ask you something. You are the only one that I can trust with this."
"What is it?"
"I need your help with something, this is a dangerous situation a life hangs in the balance." Firepaw began to feel nervous. Not sure he wanted to deal with something so serious, but knowing that he was the only one Scorchpaw felt comfortable enough to ask, he decided to hear him out.
"Okay what do you need me to do?"
Firepaw yawned quietly as he padded beside Goldenstar, with Runningstream and Mapletail bringing up the rear. They were on a border patrol checking the ThunderClan border. Firepaw felt nervous that they would notice his scent near the border, but figured that they wouldn't notice with the surprise Firepaw knew would be waiting at border. As the patrol neared the Birch tree Runningstream yowled an alert and Firepaw spotted the cat sitting on the ThunderClan side close to the border. It was the unmistakable black pelt that kept his attention. Goldenstar approached the border but didn't cross it, calling out to the skinny tom sitting on the other side.
"Who are you and why are you so close to the border?" The tom nervously rose to his paws and padded closer to the border and looked Goldenstar in the eyes.
"My name is Ravenpaw and I wish to join SkyClan."
Okay I know that in the summary I said that I would have cats from skyclan that both did and didn't have skyclan blood but that was before SkyClan's Destiny came out, as a result I don't think I will add the day-light warriors into the story. I have been think for a long time whether I wanted to add them or not and decided I wasn't going to.
So a lot of things have happened in this chapter. Let me know what you think of it.