The cool leaf-bare sun bathed the back of Scorchpaw's spine as he crouched near the edge of the camp, waiting for Thrushwing to exit the rabbit burrow he had been imprisoned in for the past three days. Russetpaw sat next to him, and Scorchpaw could feel her long, bushy tail twitching side to side, landing on his own tail. Mouse lengths away, Gorsepaw sat with Wildpaw, their gazes trained on the same rabbit burrow. Out of the five new apprentices, only Blackpaw was out of sight.
But the apprentices were not alone in studying the burrow. Many other WindClan warriors had their eyes trained on it as if there was a badger in there. Berrysplash and Violetheart sat, side by side, with Violetheart holding a bundle of herbs in her jaws and Berrysplash seeming to guard the exit. Hawkfeather and Grayflight walked over to the burrow, and Hawkfeather stuck his face inside of it, calling out Thrushwing's name.
All the senior warriors stayed near the entrance. Rabbitfur's yellow eyes were narrowed in slits, and Petalspring shifted her small paws back and forth. Oakcloud's face was unreadable, and Sunleaf cast a glance over her shoulder, meeting Scorchpaw's gaze. Scorchpaw saw the dismay on her beautiful face, and he knew that her mother didn't agree with the harsh punishment Thrushwing had received. Scorchpaw wasn't sure if he agreed, either.
His father had been brutal when snapping at Thrushwing and ordering him imprisoned for three days without any food or water. But he had also made a point when he had stated that Thrushwing had broken the warrior code, by stealing prey from an elder before they had eaten. The memory of Scorchpaw's half-brother, Adderpaw, stalking across the clearing and screaming at Swiftstar that he was a rogue made the blood in his body chill. He was sure that Adderpaw would've received the same punishment as Thrushwing, from the way he brazenly insulted his father and the Clan leader in front of everyone, but Swiftstar had only given him a veiled warning. He got off easy, Scorchpaw thought.
The ginger-and-white apprentice was knocked out of his thoughts by Russetpaw stepping on his tail. "He's coming out!" his sister half-hissed, half-whispered. "I wonder what he looks like."
"I hope he's okay," Scorchpaw muttered, looking back at the rabbit burrow. Thrushwing limped out of the burrow, his black pelt ruffled and matted, and he was leaning on Hawkfeather's shoulder, clearly unable to walk. His skin was dry, and his blue eyes were sunken in. Scorchpaw saw Violetheart hitch in a breath at Thrushwing's state as the skinny tom struggled to stay on his paws when he let go of Hawkfeather.
The throng of cats parted, and when Scorchpaw looked over to see why, he spotted his father's powerful figure stepping through the horde of cats to approach Thrushwing. Thrushwing looked up as Swiftstar approached him, his blue eyes flat and callous. Swiftstar flicked his tail from side-to-side, and then finally addressed him.
"I assume you have learned your lesson," Swiftstar rumbled in his throat. "I'd hate to do that again."
"I have learned my lesson," Thrushwing said, his voice dry and cracked. He let out a ragged cough, and when Patchshine walked over to him to help him up, he shoved her away. Gorsepaw walked up to his father, pressing his nose against Thrushwing's dull flank, but Thrushwing didn't react, simply shaking his son away when he looked up to face Swiftstar again. "I will make it up to you, Swiftstar, I swear."
"Oh?" Swiftstar's whiskers twitched. "How will you do that?"
"By bringing you Reedstar." Thrushwing's voice was cold. Gorsepaw's jaw dropped in a gasp, and Scorchpaw shivered at the ominous threat in Thrushwing's voice. What did he mean?
Swiftstar was silent for a few moments. Then he spoke. "Interesting, Thrushwing. We'll have to talk about this later. But for now, perhaps you need a few minutes to reflect on what happened." The ginger-and-white tom turned on his heel, padding towards the tree that made his den. Scorchpaw watched him go, and the sinisterness of their exchange made his stomach twist.
"What do you think he meant?" Scorchpaw asked Russetpaw, keeping his eye on Thrushwing. Patchshine nuzzled Thrushwing again, and Gorsepaw stayed close to his father, his face unreadable. Adderpaw raced up to his mentor, touching noses with him, and Rabbitfur nodded crisply to the black tom.
Russetpaw huffed in frustration. "Honestly, Scorchpaw! That cat is up to no good." She shook her dark ginger head. "He's got a plan, I could see it in his eyes. Especially when he brought up Reedstar. But I don't know what it is."
"I'm not sure I want to know," Scorchpaw said, furrowing his eye whiskers. "Gorsepaw has been a depressed mess ever since Thrushwing got imprisoned, and whenever I've even tried to talk to Adderpaw these past few days he's tried to bite my head off."
"It makes sense, don't you think?" Russetpaw asked, tilting her head to the side. "Thrushwing is Gorsepaw's father, and he's also Adderpaw's mentor."
Scorchpaw fell silent, watching Thrushwing stalk into a crevice in the rock that made the medicine den. Violetheart watched the black tom, momentarily taken back, before following him into the crevice, and the two cats disappeared into the darkness. Scorchpaw let out a shaky breath, wondering what was to come now.
"Hey." Scorchpaw looked over his shoulder to see where the firm, authoritative voice came from. Berrysplash stood behind him, the tip of her tail twitching in faint irritation. "We have better things to do than stare at Thrushwing all day. You're coming with me and Rabbitfur. We'll be teaching you some hunting techniques."
"Can I come, too?" Russetpaw asked.
Berrysplash nodded. "Rabbitfur planned on taking you, anyway. So get ready."
Russetpaw leaped to her paws, unable to conceal her excitement. Scorchpaw couldn't stop a broad smile from spreading on his face, either. He was glad to have a distraction today. None of the Clan cats would stop talking about Thrushwing, and he wasn't sure he wanted to be in camp to hear it. He glanced across the camp to see Rabbitfur padding towards the three cats, and when he approached Berrysplash, he gave her a curt nod. Berrysplash acknowledged it with a twitch of her ears.
"Everyone ready?" Berrysplash asked, her pale gaze sweeping over Russetpaw and Scorchpaw.
"Ready!" Scorchpaw and Russetpaw exclaimed at the same time. Berrysplash bounded away from them, and Scorchpaw turned on his heels to follow her. Every day he was getting faster, he thought proudly as he kept up with Berrysplash's short but relentless strides. On his first day of an apprentice, he had been falling behind her at every turn. But now, he was able to keep up with her pace. He glanced over at Russetpaw, who raced at Scorchpaw's side, her green eyes focused on the sun in the distance. Rabbitfur was behind them, and Scorchpaw wondered why he was so far away from them. He was one of the fastest runners in the Clans. But when Scorchpaw glanced back to study the gray-and-white tom, the far off look in his amber eyes took the apprentice by surprise. Is he okay?
"Hurry up, slowpoke!" Russetpaw exclaimed at Scorchpaw, and when Scorchpaw looked back at his sister, he realized that she had outrun him and was right at Berrysplash's side. Scorchpaw felt his muscles burn as he pushed himself harder, to catch up to Russetpaw. The leaf-bare breeze brushed against Scorchpaw's pelt, and he enjoyed the feeling very much, so he found himself pushing himself further and further.
Berrysplash's tail flick was the signal that made all three cats skid to a halt. Scorchpaw frowned, wondering what was so important that they had to stop their run. The WindClan deputy lifted her head and tasted the air, the wind streaming through her whiskers. She turned her head and gazed at the patrol. "Rabbit," she hissed through her teeth. "Scorchpaw, ever hunted a rabbit before?"
"Not yet," Scorchpaw replied. Berrysplash had been focusing solely on battle skills lately, and although he had been practicing hunting with her, he had never been able to catch a rabbit, with them being too fast for him to catch. But now it's different.
"Want to give it a shot?" Berrysplash inquired.
"Yes, please!" Scorchpaw nodded his head vigorously. He opened his jaws to taste the air, hoping he could smell what Berrysplash could. The scent of rabbit was thick and fragrant, nearly making Scorchpaw's mouth water. As he walked closer, he could figure out where the scent was coming from. He prowled, closer and closer until he could spot the tall brown ears of the rabbit. It was far away, but it was confirmation that it was there. Scorchpaw dropped his muscles and stretched his legs. He was ready.
The ginger-and-white tom sprang off, initiating the high-speed chase that Berrysplash had taught him. The rabbit darted off immediately, but Scorchpaw wasn't going to let it get away so easily. Scorchpaw trampled on the tall grassland in his path, aiming closer and closer for the rabbit. He could taste the rabbit's fear-stench as he approached it, and finally, Scorchpaw was within range to the point where he could pounce and land on it. As Scorchpaw subdued the rabbit, he sank his teeth into its neck until it stopped moving. The rabbit dropped dead to the ground, and Scorchpaw let out a heaving breath. Thank you, StarClan, for this piece of prey.
"Great job!" Berrysplash's voice made Scorchpaw turn around as the pale ginger she-cat approached him. Warmth filled Scorchpaw's heart at the genuine praise Berrysplash gave him, and when he looked at the rabbit, he realized that this was something that would fill the bellies of his Clanmates, making the hunt all the more worthwhile.
"Thank you!" Scorchpaw got to his paws, grabbing the rabbit's ears in his mouth.
Rabbitfur nodded curtly. "Yes, good job, Scorchpaw. Berrysplash, if you don't mind, I'd like to take Russetpaw elsewhere to hunt."
"Hm?" Berrysplash frowned. "Well, I don't see why not, but I thought we were doing just fine together."
Russetpaw's dark ginger ears twitched as she stared questioningly at her mentor. Rabbitfur shrugged his slight shoulders and nodded to Russetpaw. Russetpaw flashed Scorchpaw a confused glance but ended up following Rabbitfur into the moorland. Scorchpaw watched her go, wondering why Rabbitfur was so eager to leave them, despite hanging with them all this time.
"How are you feeling?" Berrysplash asked Scorchpaw when the three cats were gone.
"Tired," Scorchpaw confessed, feeling the back of his legs ache. "We were running a lot."
"You think that's a lot?" Berrysplash chuckled. "Just wait until you're further on into your training. You'll be running twice this amount. And when you're a warrior? You'll think that your legs will fall off!"
"Very funny," Scorchpaw muttered under his breath, but he couldn't find himself angry with Berrysplash. After all, she was just telling him what to expect. The ginger-and-white tom got to all four paws and gripped the rabbit's ears tight in his mouth.
Berrysplash's blue eyes glowed. "All right, all right. Since you made such a good catch, we'll go to camp early. You can chat with your denmates and eat."
"What about Russetpaw?" Scorchpaw asked between a mouthful of rabbit ear. There was a pang of worry for his sister in his chest. Ever since Swiftstar had announced a competition between her and Wildpaw, Russetpaw seemed to be working non-stop when it came to training. How was Rabbitfur taking it? Was he helping Russetpaw, or was he hindering her progress? I wish I knew more about him.
"I'm not sure," Berrysplash replied. "I'm sure Rabbitfur will bring her back soon."
Scorchpaw nodded, and when Berrysplash turned on her heel to head towards camp, he was right behind her. He was thankful that she wasn't running at the speed she had been when they left, but still, her paws swiftly skimmed the lush moorland, reminding Scorchpaw of the cats of LeopardClan from the old nursery tales. Scorchpaw took a moment to examine his surroundings, watching the bright orange sun slowly beginning to make its descent down the pale blue sky. Dozens of flowers littered the moorland that stretched out for miles all around him, and the stench of hares and rabbits came in all different directions.
Just as the two cats approached the dip in the moorland that made WindClan's camp, a howl split the air, making mentor and apprentice stop sharply in their tracks. Scorchpaw felt his eyes widen, and he dropped the rabbit onto the moorland ground. "What was that?" he asked Berrysplash.
"I have no idea," Berrysplash hissed through her teeth. "But we need to find out."
Scorchpaw grabbed the rabbit again and followed Berrysplash down the hollow, pushing through a throng of WindClan cats until they reached the center of the clearing. Scorchpaw gasped as he saw the strong, muscular back of the RiverClan leader, Reedstar, standing face-to-face with his father. Troutleap, the cat who had challenged Swiftstar to a duel in the previous battle, stood right at Reedstar's shoulder, his green eyes blazing.
"Get back!" Berrysplash sank her teeth in Scorchpaw's scruff and hauled him into the crowd of cats. Scorchpaw grunted at Berrysplash's force but didn't bother to argue with her. What was going on? Why were Reedstar and Troutleap in the heart of RiverClan territory, and alone? Was this a suicidal attack they were plotting? What was his father saying?
"So, you came," Swiftstar meowed, his green eyes flat as he took stock of Reedstar and Troutleap. "I honestly thought you wouldn't have the heart to."
"I'd like to organize a peace treaty between our Clans, Swiftstar," Reedstar meowed, his pale brown tabby fur fluffing up. "It's not ideal for us to always be at each other's throats. If we ally with each other, we can work together in focusing on our bigger rivals, like ShadowClan for us and ThunderClan for you."
"In what world are you not my biggest rival?" Swiftstar snorted.
"Pardon me?" Reedstar's amber eyes were round. "I was told you wanted the same end goal as I do, Swiftstar."
"Oh, were you really told that?" Swiftstar's hackles started to rise, and Reedstar took a step back.
Troutleap's green eyes narrowed in confusion. "That's what you told me, Thrushwing."
Thrushwing? Scorchpaw peered his head to see the black tom, sitting next to Swiftstar, his thick tail wrapped around his paws as he eyed Troutleap. Thrushwing's amber eyes were cold when he spoke. "Oh, Troutleap, don't tell me you thought I was serious."
"What is the meaning of this?" Troutleap's dark tortoiseshell fur bristled, and his thorn-sharp claws unsheathed. "Thrushwing, I swear to the—"
"Swear what?" Thrushwing taunted the tortoiseshell tom. Then, in seconds, the black warrior pounced on Troutleap and pinned him on the sandy ground, his claws piercing his throat. "Swiftstar, now!"
"What—" Reedstar's words were cut off by Swiftstar's claws, slicing across his throat expeditiously. Reedstar forced his head to stare at Swiftstar, and Swiftstar's yellow eyes narrowed into slits.
"I've had enough of you RiverClan cats," Swiftstar hissed. "You put my warriors, my family in danger, and you continue to threaten my borders. No cat will miss you." As Swiftstar stepped back, the RiverClan leader collapsed to the ground, blood trickling from the grievous wounds on his throat. Troutleap flailed in Thrushwing's grip, but a particularly tough blow from the RiverClan tom finally loosened Thrushwing's hold and sent the still weak tom flying across the clearing.
Troutleap bounded over to Reedstar, pressing his paws against the wound to stop the bleeding. Swiftstar curled his lip at Troutleap's intervention and hissed, "Attack!"
"No!" Troutleap barked. Fury seemed to make his battle moves twice as strong than ever, he lashed out at every cat who dared to come near him. Swiftstar lunged for the tortoiseshell tom, but Troutleap slashed his claws across his nose and sent the WindClan leader to the ground. Hawkfeather aimed for the RiverClan warrior, but Troutleap kicked him in his stomach and watched as he landed on the moorland floor. Grayflight crouched and pounced on the RiverClan warrior, but Troutleap ducked and Grayflight landed on nothing but the moorland ground.
Troutleap sank his teeth into Reedstar's scruff and hauled the bleeding leader on his back. Just as the tom raced through the hollow, fending off attacks from WindClan cats at every turn, he looked over his shoulder and hissed at Thrushwing, "You'll pay for this! I swear on my grave that you will pay for this betrayal!"
Thrushwing dragged himself to his paws, heaving. "Sorry, but I had to prove myself to my Clan leader. I'm sure you know how it is, considering the number of times you've tried and failed."
Troutleap curled his lip but said nothing in regard to the jab, instead climbing out of the hollow and racing through the twilight laden grassland. Scorchpaw watched him go, amber eyes wide with confusion as the blood from Reedstar's throat left a sickling trail of crimson behind him. Swiftstar's triumphant howl made Scorchpaw drag his gaze back towards his father.
"Victory!" Swiftstar yowled. "We have slain Reedstar and have brought glory to WindClan's name! None of the other Clans will dare mess with us now!"
Yowls of victory echoed through the Clan cats, with Hawkfeather and Thrushwing's being one of the loudest ones. Scorchpaw joined in half-heartedly. He was glad that RiverClan was defeated, but something about killing a Clan leader unsupervised in the middle of camp under the guise of a peace treaty felt… wrong. Scorchpaw glanced over at Thrushwing, and a sickening feeling fell in his gut. Thrushwing had planned this, the entire time. The exchange from the morning replayed through Scorchpaw's mind.
"I will make it up to you, Swiftstar, I swear."
"Oh? How will you do that?"
"By bringing you Reedstar."
"That was his goal the entire time," Scorchpaw muttered. "That's how he planned to gain Swiftstar's trust. By having Reedstar killed." He recalled the anger on Troutleap's face when he had challenged Thrushwing about a lie. Thrushwing must have brought Troutleap here by saying that he wanted to bring peace to the Clans. Was that really the right way to go about defeating RiverClan?