Heatherpaw and Lionpaw were a few of the first cats to reach the camp. The first thing that Heatherpaw saw was three lively kits running torwards her and her brother. They almost ran into them because they were so excited.
"What happened at the gathering? Please tell us!" a tom that was called Foxkit after his father asked. He looked up at her with pleading eyes, along with his sisters.
"Well, nothing really that interesting happened... Everyone reported good hunting and Hawkstar said that they had a new medicine cat, Lilynose. Oh, and Goldenstar said that Tigerleap was the new Riverclan deputy..." she trailed off, remembering the look of grief on the she-cats face.
"Nothing interesting ever happens at the gatherings!" Rainkit squeaked and then the group of kits ran off to the nursery. Their mother, who was standing at the entrance of the nursery, gave an appologetic look and then headed into the nursery.
"Well, I'm going to sleep. That was exhausting!" Heatherpaw exclaimed, amused by the kits. Lionpaw nodded in agreement and they walked to the apprentices den. They laid down in their nests that were side by side. Lionpaw let out a huge yawn and then curled up in his nest and quickly fell asleep. Heatherpaw, however, had trouble falling asleep, even though she was fairly tired. She eventually fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.
Heatherpaw was awakened by the harsh sunlight intruding into the apprentices den. She stood up quietly because her brother was still asleep and stretched. Frostpaw is all ready awake, she thought and walked cautiously out of the den. Walking to the fresh-kill pile, she found Frostpaw there, eating a large bird.
"Do you want some?" Frostpaw asked, "I don't think I can eat all of this by myself."
"Yeah, sure! Thanks!" she mewed greatfully and laid down by the white she-cat and took a bite off the bird.
"Did you like going to the gathering last night?" Frostpaw asked and took a small bite.
"Yeah, but I wish I could have talked more to the other apprentices. I only got to say hi to those two Windclan apprentices you showed me before they started gossiping," she rolled her eyes and smiled.
Frostpaw let out a laugh. "Gossiping is the only thing they know how to do! I doubt they even know how to hunt or fight!" she exclaimed.
They talked for awhile while they ate. "Oh, right! I need to go on a border patrol with Dewfall! It was nice talking to you!" Frostpaw exclaimed and jumped up to go join the small group that was already at the camp entrance. Heatherpaw felt amused that Frostpaw could be so forgetful. She took the last bite of the bird and got up, not knowing what to do now.
I could go hunting! The fresh-kill pile looks pretty empty! she thought as she eyed the low pile. Yeah, I'll do that. The patrol that Frostpaw was going on had already left and she decided to go the way that the patrol wasn't headed. She walked quietly through the forest and she was scenting the air all the time.
Finally, she picked up the scent of a mouse. She lowered her body into a hunters crouch as she spotted a mouse eating a nut. Dumb mouse! she thought just before she pounced and killed it with a sloppy bite. She looked around and realized she had crossed onto Shadowclan territory. She panicked when she heared the low whispers of Shadowclan cats that appeared to be on a patrol. She tried to run away, but she froze when a familar growl called, "You prey theif!" It was Darkstar. Her heart sank.
She turned around swiftly and her fur raised. "I didn't mean to! I didn't know I crossed the border! Please, let me go! You can have the mouse!" she pleaded. She hated to sound weak, but she knew she couldn't fight off the leader and the three other warriors that were with him. Darkstar stepped forward and she flinched.
"Liar!" he growled and slashed her chest with his long claws, leaving a deep wound. She cried out loudly in pain and she began to shake. It felt like she was on fire. She had never really been hurt, besides the occasional thorns that got stuck in her paws.
"I'll see what Willowstar thinks about a tiny apprentice lying to a leader! Acornpelt, Littlewhisker, and Snowstorm, you finish the patrol. I'll be back soon," he growled with a small smirk on his face. "And for you, follow me, or you will experience much worse pain than that."
Heatherpaw's eyes widened and she followed him quickly, scared for her life. When Darkstar looked over his shoulder to see that she was still following, Heatherpaw flinched and sped up, which made Darkstar chuckle.
"We're here," he growled and they headed through the camp entrance. Nobody was in the clearing, and barely any cats were in camp right now. Darkstar headed to the leaders den with Heatherpaw following him quickly.
"Willowstar! Look who I found on Shadowclan territory, hunting!" he growled and walked into her den calmly. Willowstar narrowed her eyes and she looked at Heatherpaw. She gasped as she saw that Heatherpaw was bleeding heavily from a deep wound.
"Did Darkstar do that to you?" she asked gently and Heatherpaw nodded. "Okay, go to Ashpool's den and get that checked up," she tried to cover up the rage in her voice, but Heatherpaw could tell that she was very mad.
Heatherpaw walked as fast as she could to the medicine cats den, wanting to feel relief from the constant, horrible pain she was feeling. Ashpool was sorting through the herbs when she walked in.
"Yes?" he asked and he turned to face the young apprentice. "Oh, Starclan! Lay down in that nest. Let me get you some herbs for that," he mewed, trying to keep his voice calm, but failing, just like Willowstar had. He walked to the back of the den and began searching through his herbs.
"Cobwebs, we need cobwebs!" he yowled. Whisperpaw just happened to be walking past his den and she stuck her head in.
"I'll go get some," she mewed. The usually stubborn and mean she-cat had worry clear in her voice. Ashpool nodded greatfully and she rushed out to find cobwebs.
Why are they so frantic! I couldn't die from this, right? Heatherpaw asked herself as fear took over her body. I'm too young to join Starclan! Please Starclan, let me live!