CHAPTER SIX
"Come along, Nightpaw!" His fur bristled with excitement as he bounded after his mentor.
Two days ago he and his sister, Fadepaw, had become apprentices. About half of the Clan was in an uproar over it. Nightpaw had never understood why they were so upset. It's not like they were different from any other kit.
And of course lucky Fadepaw ended up getting the deputy as her mentor. Nightpaw was stuck with Bearclaw. Although Bearclaw was a skilled warrior, he was also a bit of a brute. Nightpaw knew that Bearclaw followed Wolfheart around like a lost kit.
Nightpaw tried not to think about it as he rushed after Bearclaw through the sparse undergrowth. Bearclaw was showing him some fighting moves that Nightpaw had watched the apprentices use.
"We have to be ready if RiverClan decides to attack again," Bearclaw began as they reached the training area. Nightpaw studied the ferns that grew along it. Beyond the training area was a bog that apprentices liked catching frogs in.
"Why not try and make peace with them?" Nightpaw asked thoughtfully.
He knew that Wolfheart was only trying to provoke war. Why Scorchstar was allowing it, he would never know. But nonetheless they needed to be prepared for anything.
"I should have known you would have such a weak mind," Bearclaw scoffed. "Wolfheart always said that you kits should not have been allowed to live." Nightpaw felt his fur bristling with anger as he stared at his mentor.
"Is that you speaking, or Wolfheart?" Nightpaw suddenly spat.
Now it was Bearclaw's fur to bristle, and Nightpaw suddenly regretted what he had said. Without warning, Bearclaw had started charging after him. But Nightpaw easily moved to the side, and the brute slid to the ground beside him, hissing in outrage.
Nightpaw slithered out of the clearing and jumped to avoid Bearclaw's piercing claws. He looked on in horror as he remembered what Streakfur had said about battle training.
Never use your claws! Nightpaw desperately wanted to yowl those words, but Bearclaw didn't give him the chance.
Instead he had to keep jumping in order to avoid the larger tom. Finally Bearclaw was gasping for breath when they reached the other side of the clearing. Nightpaw used the chance to knock Bearclaw off his paws and pinned him to the ground, ignoring the glare that followed.
"I will not be treated like some kit," Nightpaw hissed as Bearclaw struggled to free himself. Despite his larger size and strength, Nightpaw was able to hold him down with ease.
For a moment, Nightpaw saw panic flashing in Bearclaw's eyes. But it had ended so quickly that Nightpaw wasn't even sure it happened. Bearclaw finally shrugged him off and sat further away from him, seething with anger.
"Worthless runt," he muttered under his breath. Nightpaw's ears pricked forward when he noticed the slightest smirk showing. "I suppose I could show you what I've learned."
Triumph flashed through Nightpaw as Bearclaw began teaching him some actual fighting moves. For the rest of the day they had worked together, Bearclaw often telling him what he was doing wrong or right. And Nightpaw could already see that Bearclaw's attitude had made a huge improvement.
Maybe he's realizing that he doesn't need to follow Wolfheart blindly, Nightpaw thought hopefully.
Bearclaw had ended their training when the sun was beginning to set. It was a time when ShadowClan was most active. But Streakfur had ordered that both of his kits be trained during the day. Nightpaw had never fully understood why. But he could always rely on his father for protection.
The two of them headed back to camp, and by than Nightpaw's muscles were heavy with exhaustion. He had never been this active before. True he would often explore the camp and run around until he collapsed. But that was different.
"Has anyone seen Fadepaw?" Nightpaw froze when he heard Featherstorm's voice. Glancing up he saw that his mother was frantically searching the sparse undergrowth. "She disappeared and I haven't seen her since!"
Nightpaw almost laughed at his mother's choice in words. If only she knew what Fadepaw was capable of. His sister could easily sneak into someone's camp without being detected. Fadepaw had a way of scaring everyone out of their fur.
"I'm sure she's somewhere around here," came Wolfheart's irritated growl. Nightpaw rolled his eyes at the deputy's voice. Wolfheart was only concerned about losing an apprentice. Not the fact that Fadepaw might actually be hurt.
"We can help you look for her," Bearclaw offered when the two finally reached them. Featherstorm's eyes fell down on Nightpaw, and he felt his ears flatten instinctively.
"It's getting late; I hope she hasn't been caught by RiverClan," she murmured.
Nightpaw felt his fur bristling. He knew that Fadepaw wouldn't be that foolish. But he had a feeling that his sister was hiding. Whether or not she was hiding from Wolfheart, he would never know. But he knew exactly where to look.
...
Fadepaw found herself crouching next to a tree stump. She had run for most of the day in order to avoid Wolfheart's constant taunting. She wasn't in any hurry to see him again. Not after what he had called her. She couldn't bring herself to face him again.
When she heard the sound of pawsteps approaching, she stood up and started running for the border. No cat would dare follow her across the border, not unless they wanted RiverClan declaring war. Of course Fadepaw had a feeling that was exactly what Wolfheart wanted. So instead she veered to the left, towards the WindClan border.
She didn't stop running until her paws had reached the border. When she turned around she saw Wolfheart and Bearclaw checking the border, growling in frustration when they picked up her scent. Fadepaw breathed out a sigh of relief when they disappeared, yowling to whoever was following them.
The newly named apprentice made her way up the windy slope, towards the open. Fadepaw didn't stop moving until she had reached the edge of the lake. What she saw next made her heart nearly skip a beat.
A cat around her age was staring into the water. And looked like she was ready to jump. Fadepaw charged after them without any warning. She couldn't let the cat drown, even if she didn't know them. They stank of WindClan, telling her that the cat was an apprentice.
Suddenly Fadepaw had collided with the other cat, and rolled into the sand with a hiss. The silver tabby cat shuffled to her paws in an instant, spitting at whoever attacked her. But then her eyes widened when she couldn't see anything.
"Who's there?" she demanded, pelt standing on end with anger. "Why would you stop me from jumping?"
"I'm sorry," Fadepaw meowed, trying to keep her voice from wavering. The silver tabby didn't seem fazed by the fact that she had shown herself. "I-I couldn't just leave you there to die."
"Well you should have!" the tabby spat. "My life isn't worth saving." The bitterness in her voice made Fadepaw flinch. How could anyone wish death upon themselves? Fadepaw actually felt sorry for this poor cat.
"Every life is worth saving," Fadepaw murmured under her breath. The silver tabby looked at her in surprise, then her eyes suddenly widened.
"Who are you?" she asked in a softer voice.
"Fadepaw," the young apprentice replied. "I really shouldn't be here, but…." Fadepaw paused and tried looking for the right thing to say. She had to wonder why fate decided to bring her here of all places. "Do you have a name?" she suddenly asked, trying to change the subject.
The silver tabby tilted her head curiously before answering, "Hazelpaw. I was just made an apprentice the other day. But my Clan doesn't like it." Fadepaw looked at her in surprise, but she went on, "Breezepaw keeps telling me there's nothing to worry about but…. I just don't know. I feel like the Clan doesn't even want me here."
Fadepaw suddenly felt the urge to comfort this young cat. She wasn't even sure what had compelled her to do so, but she stepped forward and touched Hazelpaw's shoulder with her tail. Hazelpaw flinched at the contact, but she didn't run.
"I know how you feel," she whispered. She thought back to the way Wolfheart had treated her earlier this morning. "It's like they think I'm some kind of freak, because I can do this." Hazelpaw watched with interest as Fadepaw suddenly disappeared right in front of her.
"Amazing!" Hazelpaw breathed when Fadepaw appeared once again. "You know, I can do something… similar to that," she admitted.
Before Fadepaw could ask what she meant by that, Hazelpaw suddenly blinked her eyes and disappeared from where she had been sitting. Heartbeats later and she reappeared right next to Fadepaw, making the young cat jump in surprise.
"How did you do that?" Fadepaw asked in awe.
It looked similar to her own ability. But Hazelpaw hadn't vanished. Instead it was like she had jumped from one place to the other without moving. Fadepaw realized how handy that ability would be during a situation like hers earlier this morning. Wolfheart would be out of his mind if he saw her do that.
"I don't know," Hazelpaw replied with a shrug. "I've been practicing how far I can go. And so far it's been getting stronger. Breezepaw was getting worried I might disappear forever if I keep trying." Hazelpaw looked down at her paws shamefully. "But I could never leave him. He's like a brother to me."
Fadepaw nodded in understanding. She knew all too well what that was like. She could never leave Nightpaw, even if she wanted to. He was kin. And kin was more important to her than she would ever admit.
"I should probably get going," Fadepaw suddenly meowed when she heard yowling in the distance. "My Clan's going to rip me to shreds if I don't get back."
Hazelpaw smirked at her in amusement as she faded once again. She actually liked this cat. Hazelpaw was different from her Clanmates, and in a good way. She hoped that one day they could see each other again.
She found herself returning to the ShadowClan border shortly after their encounter. Fadepaw glanced up to see how late it was getting. By now the moon had started to rise. Soon more and more ShadowClan cats would be out patrolling the borders.
When Fadepaw looked over her shoulder, she noticed that Hazelpaw was gone. She frowned before heading for the nearest patrol. To her relief Streakfur was leading it. He looked around anxiously until she made herself visible again.
"Where in StarClan have you been?" he demanded when she bounded over to them.
"I'm sorry," she apologized to him and the waiting patrol. It consisted of Flamestrike, Dapplepelt and Jayheart. All three cats looked annoyed when they saw her. Fadepaw tried not to roll her eyes at the sight. "I needed some time alone," she added carefully.
Streakfur only sighed and nuzzled her affectionately. "Just remember that it's dangerous out here at night," he warned her. "Flamestrike, do you mind bringing her back to camp? Featherstorm's been worried sick all day."
Flamestrike nodded in agreement before leading Fadepaw away. Guilt suddenly stabbed at her heart when she realized what that meant. She couldn't just let her mother worry like that. Featherstorm already had enough on her paws right now.
AN: So, sorry for the long wait. Life kind of got in the way and I've been facing major writer's block. But I've found inspiration again! And Fadepaw finally meets another cat like her :) I'm not even sure what to call them yet... maybe some of my fellow readers can help with that? :P
Silverbird22 - XD You're more than welcome to kill off Wolfheart :P He's definitely got more than one enemy right now.
Blue12720000 - Wow, thanks for reviewing! And I'm glad you like them. Fadepaw is definitely my favorite right now, although Hazelpaw is a close second. And yeah, Hailkit is a bit like Elsa :P I kind of may have done that on purpose.
tawnyclaw - Thank you for reviewing! And updates on this might be rather slow. But I will keep trying! And yes, eight POVs are hard to keep track of. Which is why I have a list of what has happened already :)
Frostdawn - You'll find out soon enough ;) I've got big plans for them all!
boscyboo - ... erm, what? Oo *Is very confused right now*