Soulpaw
I paced eagerly far from the RiverClan camp. I snickered to myself. Lightpaw will never keep up, especially after eating rotten meat! Suddenly, there was rustling in some nearby bushes.
"I'm here."
Lightpaw's voice sounded icy cold, but Soulpaw wasn't fooled. Her sister was scared. And she should be.
"Why do we have to fight?" her sister mewed. "Why do you think I'm better than you?"
"It's all because of that day," I hissed. "You said that I was the one that brought us out there, and they believed it."
I closed my eyes, not wanting to see Lightpaw's expression. Instead, I found myself in the memories of that day...
...
It was their first day as apprentices.
"Lightpaw!" I whispered. My sister looked at me.
"What?" Lightpaw asked.
"I'm going out to explore, stay here, - and if someone asks - say I'm gone to the dirtplace." I meowed.
Lightpaw frowned. "Can't I come with you?" she pleaded.
I smirked. "Are you sure that you can handle it?"
"If you can, then I can!"
...
We crept out of camp that night.
"Wow, our territory is beautiful!" Lightpaw exclaimed. Then she scowled. "What's that smell?"
I sniffed. "We're close to the ShadowClan border, so it's probably just ShadowClan scent."
Lightpaw pawed at the ground as they walked. "You're so lucky that your mentor took you out today," she complained. "Splashflight said that I should rest until tomorrow."
I laughed. "Be glad - I'd rather be resting than checking the elders for ticks!"
Lightpaw twitched her whiskers in amusement.
I skidded to a halt about a fox-length from the border. Lightpaw's tail drooped in disappointment.
"We're already at the border?" she cried. "Not fair!"
I put my tail over her mouth. "Shh, remember, we're not supposed to be out here."
"Oh, right." She agreed under my tail.
We were about to walk home when a strange smell hit my nose. Was that... no, couldn't be. Wasn't a fox, since Rosedapple showed me what that smell was like when we came across some dung. Wasn't the scent of prey - knew what that smelled like. So what was it?
To be honest, I didn't want to find out.
"Hey, what's that smell?" Lightpaw inquired, mouth gaping open.
I didn't want to worry her, so I replied, "Just some fox dung."
"Really? I never knew that fox dung smelled like that!"
I was starting to panic as the scent got a bit stronger. This wasn't a good idea.
"Let's race back to camp," I suggested and started running. I heard rapid paws thumping on the ground behind me. Suddenly, they faded and a piercing wail of terror hit my ears.
I turned back to see a massive badger cornering Lightpaw. It let out a loud, menacing growl.
"Soulpaw, help!"
I was frozen to the ground. Two newly made apprentices were no match for a badger. Especially ones that go exploring at night and have no idea what they're doing.
I was aware of a battle cry in the distance. Four cats raced towards the badger, Redwhisker, Splashflight, Fluffheart, and Toothjaw.
Three cats attacked the badger while Toothjaw helped Lightpaw to safety. He narrowed his eyes angrily.
"Who's idea was this?" he hissed.
I stepped forward. "Mine." I meowed.
"You're lucky that we heard that badger and your plea for help," Toothjaw growled. "I'm just being nice. The others won't be as easy on you."
I didn't reply. Instead, I watched as the badger was driven away, never to return. Hopefully.
Toothjaw shook his head and padded in the direction of the camp. The warriors that drove the badger away were coming towards Lightpaw and me.
I glanced at my sister: she looked absolutely terrified. I would've felt the same way.
"Lightpaw!" Splashflight yowled as she rushed up to her apprentice. "Are you okay?"
Lightpaw, still shaking, nodded.
Splashflight sent me a glare that not even Waterstar could snap to.
"What were you thinking, sending my apprentice out here!"
"She chose to come!" I protested.
"So? I thought you could've been more responsible than this, Soulpaw. Were you trying to get me in trouble with Waterstar? Do you want him to punish me and abuse me? Do you?" Splashflight snarled. Her voice was icily slow.
Before I could reply, Fluffheart entered the conversation.
"Splashflight, how about you come with me and calm down a bit?" he mewed.
Splashflight nodded and headed away with her brother. Then she stopped and called for Lightpaw to come with them.
Lightpaw shot me an icy glance and padded away.
Did she really think this was my fault?
As I looked after Lightpaw, the first light of dawn hit me.
...
I had made my decision: Lightpaw wasn't the bad one: I was. And I was going to pay for it.
I slowly turned toward the stream in our territory. I needed to do this. I deserved it.
