Flashback:
"Hey, Sparky!" Dave greeted Sparkpaw when he entered the Carrionplace. "How're you doing today?"
Sparkpaw nodded a greeting. "I'm good, Dave. How about you?"
"Good, good." Dave responded. "How're you?"
"Uh…good." Sparkpaw responded again.
The two stood in an awkward silence for a while.
"I'm…I'm sorry about what happened a few days ago." Sparkpaw began
"It's fine, it's fine." Dave replied. "I'm not much of a fighter. Doubt I would've taught you anything useful at all."
"Why would you think that?" Sparkpaw asked. "You're probably a great fighter! How else did you get those scars?"
Dave's ears flattened back. His yellow eye looked to his right, and his tail spiked up.
"It…it didn't come from a fight. I was ambushed by a fox…and it scarred me." Dave explained.
"Oh…" Sparkpaw immediately felt bad for asking. He lowered his head "I'm so sorry about that. Sorry for asking."
"It's okay," Dave assured him. "Cats have asked before. You haven't said anything I've never heard."
"Okay, sorry about that." Sparkpaw told him
"Though technically, could it be considered a fight? I ran though…but the fox hit first…no, no, it wasn't a fight. It was an accident. Yeah." Dave was mumbling to himself. He nodded, and turned back to Sparkpaw.
"So how was it, anyways? Did you fight any Thundercats?" Dave asked, flicking his tail to indicate to come further inside.
The two cats sat on the comfy twoleg rock as Sparkpaw explained the battle with ThunderClan days prior.
"Who even cares about marking the borders and stuff? The thunderpath marks the borders, not you!" Dave complained as he stretched his claws into the rock's fur.
"In other clans, there aren't thunderpaths that distinct their territory, so marking the borders is really important." Sparkpaw told him.
"Hmm. Guess that makes sense."
"Yeah," Sparkpaw continued as Dave scratched his red ear, "It even says in our code that we must challenge any trespasser in our territory."
"That why you tried to shoo me off that one time?" Dave looked at the apprentice. Sparkpaw nodded.
"Fair I guess," Dave started scratching again. "You're feeling better then, Sparky?"
"Yeah, I guess…" Sparkpaw thought for a moment. Maybe Dave had some information on the new ThunderClan warrior Duskswirl. "Hey, Dave, do you know any other cats?"
"What? Yeah, I know plenty of other cats, why do you ask?" Dave responded in half amusement and confusion.
"Do you know any kittypets who might have left towards the forest?"
"A…kittypet?" Dave asked, the word unknown to his vocabulary. Sparkpaw quickly explained what it meant. "Oh, you mean the housecats! I do know a couple, and some of the cats in the barn used to be one. But I've never seen any of them run off into the forest." Dave explained, "Why would any of them run off into the woods anyways? Especially with all the clan cats and such." Sparkpaw nodded, disappointed that wasn't able to get any information on the cat. "Speaking of knowing cats, there is someone I want you to meet." Dave spoke up.
Sparkpaw cocked his head to the side, "Who do you want me to meet?"
"Just a good friend of mine. Don't worry, he's really nice. I'm sure you'll get along great!" Dave beckoned to follow him. As Sparkpaw followed, he felt a sense of excitement, but also nervousness. He wasn't supposed to befriend cats outside his clan. But he'd befriend Dave..it couldn't be that bad.
They walked towards the entrance of the Carrionplace, where a big, light brown tom was sitting. He was looking around, not interested in anything, although a passing fly got him to try to catch it. He failed.
"Hey! Patrick!" Dave yelled in the other cat's direction. The light brown tom looked up. "Hey, Dave, there you are!" he called back. The two toms pressed noses to each other, 'Patrick' leaning down to reach Dave's shorter height. Dave turned around towards Sparkpaw.
"Patrick, this is Sparky, that new friend I was talking to you about. I'd like you to meet him."
Sparkpaw's ears curled, nervous. Patrick walked up to him. He was big and tall, and looked intimidating compared to Sparkpaw's smaller frame.
"Hi." Patrick simply said, his voice high and crackly.
"H-hello." Sparkpaw responded.
"It's okay, Patrick wouldn't hurt a fly." Dave came up to the apprentice, running his tail along his flank. "He's just nervous." he whispered to Patrick. Patrick nodded.
"So what do you do all day?" Patrick asked.
"I hunt, do stuff for the elders, train. That's it." Sparkpaw replied simply. That's what he does.
"Cool! I do..some of that stuff too." Patrick commentated.
"Okay!" Dave spoke up to ease the awkwardness. "I've called Patrick here to help us clear out the trash from the carrionplace. Are you guys up for it?" Both of the other cats nodded. "Let's do this," Patrick stretched his body out.
With the newfound help of the bigger cat, they were able to move one of the heavy twoleg rock things across the other side of the thunderpath in quicker time than before.
"So how's the barn doing since I left?" Dave asked Patrick as they loaded up another twoleg rock thing.
"It's been alright," Patrick responded simply, continuing to move the rock. "It's been quieter without you though. I miss you."
"Yep, it's quieter here too, but I get by. Sparky's been a good source of conversation, and not all the prey is total crowfood." Dave replied. With a chuckle he added, "Unlike most of this territory." he waved his red tail around the carrionplace.
"At least you have it all to yourself." Patrick scratched behind his ear.
"Though the rats can cause sickness. You have to be careful," Sparkpaw added.
"Oh…I didn't know that." Dave's face showed concern.
"Yeah," Sparkpaw continued, "Palefoot likes to sniff the rats we catch so that the sickness doesn't spread."
"Who's Palefoot?" Patrick asked, reminding the others of his presence.
"Our-our medicine cat." Sparkpaw felt self conscious.
"Cool!" Patrick responded, smiling. He turned to Dave, "They have a medicine cat. We should get one of those!"
Dave gave a small chuckle. "If you want one so badly, take it up with Ramsey. I'm sure he'll be thrilled."
Patrick flicked his ear. "Oh yeah. Of course!" he responded. Sparkpaw enjoyed bantering with these two other toms, it was different from worrying about training, prey and borders. Just cleaning up the Carrionplace. Speaking of training…
"Ah, I think I have to get back. Frostfang'll want me for training I guess. It's almost sunhigh." he told the loners.
"Who's Frostfang?" Patrick asked
"I'll tell you about it later, Patrick." Dave told his old friend, "You'd better go I suppose." Sparkpaw nodded a thanks, and headed towards the hole in between the border for his clan's territory. Dave and Patrick were still talking though, and the young tom could hear their conversation
"Maybe you should invite him to the barn." Patrick was suggesting.
"How about you invite him then." Dave corrected with a light hearted tone, "I'm the one exiled here."
Patrick laughed. "I think you can still come back. I-I can make sure of it!"
"Alrighty then. Make sure to put in a good word for me and Sparky, agreed?"
"Yeah! Why wouldn't I?" Patrick responded enthusiastically.
Sparkpaw's ears flattened back in embarrassment. Going to the barn sounded scary, but a part of him was bursting with excitement to see somewhere besides clan territory. He was so interested in this idea, in fact, that he didn't realize he tripped on some roots and fell. Quickly, he got up, shook his pelt, and stumbled out of the bracken.
"Hey!" EagleStar yowled, sprinting towards the apprentice. His eyes widened before backing away, ears pinned with fright. The leader, deputy, and medicine cat?! Part of him wanted to turn around and run, but he couldn't do that, unfortunately.
"Sparkpaw? What are you doing here? Where's your mentor?" Flarestripe asked, sounding surprised.
Sparkpaw looked around, thinking of what excuse would be believable, "I was just..hunting, and patrolling. Normal warrior stuff."
"Where's your mentor?" Flarestripe asked again
"A-around," Sparkpaw stuttered, "I-I thought to get a little experience in my spare time, y'know?"
"Get back to camp, and start tending to the elders." EagleStar ordered. "If I don't come back to camp seeing you picking their ticks you'll be in far more trouble."
"Y-yes, EagleStar!" Sparkpaw mewed, and started running in the direction of camp.
:End of Flashback
"And yeah that's why I'm here now." Sparkpaw finished telling his edited version of events, without the rogue..loners part. They were loners; rogues are hostile, Sparkpaw agreed to himself. Shadetail just flicked his tail in contempt.
"Apprentices, can they go one moon without getting into trouble?" he grunted.
Dusteye chuckled, "I remember you getting into plenty of it, even in your old elder age." Shadetail's fur bristled, "Stay out of my business!" he hissed
"Your business is the den's business, now if you'll excuse me I'm off to stretch my joints and see my grandkits." Fleetclaw got up, and walked out of the elder's den.
"So, do you have any ticks that need sorting out?" Sparkpaw interrupted.
"I do. Come over. I have one biting me on the back of my neck, and it's killing me. Get rid of it for me, will you?" Bonechill's deep voice rumbled. Sparkpaw nodded, and skirted out of the den to get some mouse bile.
A quick trip to the medicine den later and Sparkpaw was back to take care of that tick. Bonechill was watching the camp from the entrance of the elder's den in the very back of camp. He passed by Shadetail sharing tongues with Nightwing by the freshkill pile.
"Greetings," Bonechill nodded when Sparkpaw arrived. "It's at the base of my neck. I don't think I have any more, but a check would be good." As Sparkpaw started, Bonechill continued to talk,
"Why did you think it was a good idea to train in Carrionplace?"
"I thought it was a good area to train in." Sparkpaw replied.
When Bonechill didn't respond, he added, "It's dangerous, I know, but there are rats and twoleg stuff I can practice with. I didn't get hurt at all!"
"Is it now?" Bonechill yawned, "I thought there was a rogue there a few sunrises ago."
"There was, but it was chased out, remember? I was there."
"I know you were there," Bonechill told him, "How was that anyways? What became of them?"
"Good," Sparkpaw replied, continuing to look through the elder's fur. There was a tick at the base of his shoulders, and he dabbed it with some mouse bile. "I dunno, probably somewhere else."
Bonechill clicked his tongue, "I doubt it. They always come back in some way or another. Be careful when you go there, Sparkpaw. The rats carry disease, and the twoleg ice can pierce our skin. I stepped on some when I was younger, and it got infected. A real hassle indeed," Bonechill licked one of his paws. A faint line was barely visible to Sparkpaw. "I know you're young, but don't be stupid. Wounds like these never go away." Sparkpaw wasn't sure what the old elder was talking about, but he found a couple of smaller ticks and fleas in Bonechill's fur. The elder tilted his head up, "Look, there's EagleStar's patrol. You can go now if you want. Thank you for the help."
"Of course," Sparkpaw looked up from the elder's fur. "Anything else that you need?"
Bonechill shaked his head. "I do not, however, Shadetail mentioned wanting to show you something. I suggest asking him." Bonechill then circled around his nest and turned to share tongues with Wrinklepelt.
Shadetail beckoned for Sparkpaw to join him by the nursery.
"Okay Sparkpaw, today we're going to be re-enforcing the brambles in the nursery den." Shadetail told him. "First get the kits outta the nursery we don't need them getting hurt." Half of the kits seemed to be out already, with Sharpkit and Blackkit play-fighting in the clearing while their mothers watched. Inside the nursery though, Snowkit was taking a nap on top of Volekit. He gently took Snowkit off the tiny she-kit and brought him outside. "Noo…" mewed Snowkit tiredly as he was placed down on a mossy rock in the shade. Shadetail took Volekit out and placed her on top of him.
"Bring the rest of them out, we've got work to do!" he called inside of the den. Greyface appeared with Bumblekit in her jaws.
"I appreciate your help, but you don't bark orders at me," Greyface retorted, putting the kit down. Bumblekit stumbled a bit before heading out into the center clearing.
"So you're gonna have to weave in the bracken as so," Shadetail was explaining as Sparkpaw watched the elder take a piece of bracken and tightened it into the den. He followed suit, finding this process quite relaxing to just tie branches together.
"Sometimes I feel I'm not going to be a good warrior." Sparkpaw mumbled as he helped weave the bracken with the brambles. "Like, I'm just here..average."
"You'll do fine," Shadetail replied, slightly annoyed.
"But I can't seem to hunt stealthily, or do battles properly." Sparkpaw argued.
"Who cares?!" Shadetail grumbled. "What, is this because of your mentor or something? Every apprentice is different, and every mentor is different. Not all of them are good. Frostfang might not be the most attentive cat, but in my opinion it's better than a strict one. Dusteye was a real piece of work; don't even get me started on that mess. And Nightwing had Firwhisker. Firwhisker! Can you believe that? I still don't. Arrogant little–" he then got a splinter in his paw and started saying some things Sparkpaw probably shouldn't have heard. Then he continued, "Anyways, you'll honestly be fine. Just don't do anymore stupid dirt like that stunt you pulled earlier. Got it?"
"Uh, yeah," Sparkpaw simply responded, not quite sure what to say after that rant.
"Good." Shadetail patted the finished part of the den. He then looked over at Sparkpaw's. "You're doing a fine job here. Just worry less." With his tail high in the air, Shadetail left.
In his nest at night, Sparkpaw still thought of the day's events. Maybe he was just a good apprentice, and was going to be a good warrior. But, did he want to JUST be a good warrior? The work in the day made his body tired, and his mind numb. He had Dave, and now Patrick; Frostfang too maybe? "I'm going to be a great warrior…!" Sparkpaw muttered as he fell asleep.
"Have fun with that," Adderpaw was heard groggily replying, padding away.
Thunder rumbled, and lightning cracked the clouds as rain poured down from the sky. A cat was waiting on a pole, sitting silently amongst the new-leaf storm. A second cat, fur heavily plastered on its body, walked up against the pole where the first cat sat. It cocked its head,
"Well?"
The second cat on the ground looked up and responded, "It is done."
The first cat looked up to the source of the rain. "Good job, my friend. Let's head inside now; it's too dark out to see clearly." The first cat jumped down and walked off, while the second cat followed with a flick of the tail.
And Palefoot woke up.