Chapter Five
"If RiverClan wants a fight, they'll get one!" Maplepaw overheard Beetail yowling.
"For the last time, there's not going to be a fight," Oakstar hissed.
They were nearing camp now. Faint pink light shone on the horizon as the sun crept into the sky. Frost covered the forest, shining in the faint morning light. Although Maplepaw's body ached, her mind was alert after the Gathering. Despite what Oakstar said, she had an inkling that there would be another war sooner or later. She just wasn't sure when.
"Darkstar has made herself clear. She's angry, and she isn't going to back down. We need to do something before she strikes first!" Beetail insisted.
"I'm not going to start a war this close to leafbare," Oakstar argued. "For now, all we can do is keep our borders secure and reinforce the camp. Besides, RiverClan is still hurt. Darkstar isn't going to go waging war when half of her warriors are unable to fight. I kept an eye on them during the Gathering, and most of them were still limping. Spiketail's ear is still wrapped in cobweb."
"I gave him that," Beetail smirked, puffing his chest up proudly as he recanted the last battle.
The cats were climbing down into the ravine now. Once they were through the thorn tunnel, the warriors who had stayed behind began to slip out of their dens. Their eyes sparkled expectantly as they wanted for news.
"RiverClan is madder than a fox in a fit," Beetail exclaimed, earning a glare from Oakstar.
"But it's going to be okay," Oakstar insisted, trying to calm the worried cats. "RiverClan is still injured, so it will be a while before they try anything. For now, all we can do is guard the borders and reinforce the camp," he meowed, repeating his mantra from earlier.
Maplepaw could see the look of relief on some of the cat's faces, but she was not one of them. She was more nervous than she had ever been in her entire life, including the night of the battle. At least then she knew what she was getting herself into. Now her future was unknown. There could be a surprise attack at any moment.
Beside her, Dawnpaw quivered. "Do you think Oakstar is right?"
"Of course," Maplepaw lied. Her voice cracked as she spoke, making her mentally curse. She just hoped Dawnpaw wouldn't notice. Maplepaw wasn't sure why she had lied to her sister, but she supposed it was because she couldn't bear the thought of another battle. Although ThunderClan had made the last battle out alive, who was to say they would the next time?
"I think it's time for bed," Hazelheart interrupted them, nudging them towards their den.
Neither apprentice said anything as they trudged along, although Maplepaw wished she would be able to fall asleep. To her relief, she found herself drifting off as soon as her head hit the moss...
"Wake up," a rough, impatient voice sounded from above, jabbing a paw into Maplepaw's ribs.
Groaning, Maplepaw rolled over and blinked up at the source of the noise. There Ravenwing stood, a bored look on his face.
"What are you doing?" Maplepaw grumbled, closing her eyes once more.
"The two of you are coming herb collecting with me this morning," Ravenwing meowed.
"Herb collecting? You do realize we were both at the Gathering last night, right?" Dawnpaw meowed, sitting up in her nest.
"So was I. Now get up. Marigold isn't going to pick itself," Ravenwing snapped, growing more impatient by the second.
"I don't see why we have to help you," Maplepaw complained as the three of them trekked through the forest. It was now sun high, and a bundle of unfamiliar leaves dangled from her jaws. "Why couldn't you have asked someone who-"
Ravenwing stopped abruptly, the fur along the back of his neck bristling. "Be quiet," he instructed.
After a few heartbeats, Dawnpaw squeaked, "Is something wrong?"
"I'm not sure," Ravenwing whispered. "I thought I heard something coming from the ferns over there." He flicked his tail in the direction he spoke of. Sure enough, the ferns gave another rustle.
Maplepaw tensed, claws unsheathed. She exchanged a look with her sister, before making her way towards the ferns. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, a cat flew from the ferns, landing a few mouse lengths away.
Maplepaw immediately recognized the RiverClan apprentice, Applepaw. "What are you doing here?" she yowled angrily, batting his shoulder with her claws.
Applepaw recoiled at her attack, his eyes wide. He opened his mouth to speak, but his attention turned directly towards Ravenwing and Dawnpaw. As the three ThunderClan cats stared Applepaw down, he turned and fled back through the ferns.
Ignoring Ravenwing's protests, Maplepaw tore after the RiverClan apprentice. They were so far into ThunderClan's territory that she had to make sure Applepaw would leave. Applepaw raced through the forest, bobbing through the undergrowth and around the trees as fast as he could. He was fast. Maplepaw's muscles ached as the chase prolonged, but she couldn't let him get away. She had to protect her Clan!
Up ahead, Maplepaw could barely make out the shape of Sunningrocks. They were nearing the border now. Tearing out of the tree line, Applepaw headed directly for the rocks, just as Maplepaw expected he would. With a final burst of speed, Maplepaw launched herself forward, hooking her claws into Applepaw's hind legs. The two apprentices collided with the stone ground, tussling and yowling. Maplepaw could feel clumps of his fur being torn as her claws dug into his body.
"Stop!" he begged as he writhed underneath her. Maplepaw had him pinned now.
"Why were you on ThunderClan territory?" she demanded, her lips barred into a snarl.
"I-I was following you," he gasped out.
"Why?" she shouted, digging her claws in deeper.
Applepaw let out a screech of pain, but Maplepaw refused to loosen her grip. She knew if she showed him any mercy, he would escape. "I wanted to see you," he confessed. "But I didn't know you were with your Clanmates. Please let me go now!"
"Maplepaw," a voice called out, startling both Maplepaw and Applepaw. Glancing over her shoulder, Maplepaw saw Oakstar standing there. The ThunderClan leader had a calm expression on his face as he bounded down the rocks to stand beside her. "Let him go," he told her.
Maplepaw hesitated for a moment and then loosened her grip. Applepaw squirmed out from underneath her, his fur ruffled. Specks of blood dotted his shoulder where Maplepaw's claws had dug into his flesh.
"I don't know why you're on ThunderClan's territory, but since you're only an apprentice I will give you a pass this time. But just know, you are not welcome here, and should any of my warriors ever find you on our land again, there will be consequences. Have I made myself clear?" Oakstar meowed to Applepaw.
The RiverClan apprentice lowered his gaze. "Yes. I promise I won't do it again." Applepaw turned to give Maplepaw a pained expression, before slipping into the river and out of sight.
"I don't know why, but he said he was following me," Maplepaw told Oakstar.
"So I heard," Oakstar meowed. "Perhaps he likes you?"
Maplepaw's eyes widened. "But-"
"I was merely teasing you," Oakstar purred. "Come on, let's go home." As the two of them headed back towards ThunderClan's camp, Oakstar stopped at the base of a birch tree. "Sit," he instructed. "I want to speak with you for a moment."
Maplepaw gulped. "Am I in trouble?"
Oakstar's whiskers twitched. "Not at all. I just wanted to talk with you about some things I've observed about you."
Oakstar had been observing her? Maplepaw's stomach dropped as she waited for him to elaborate. How long had he been watching her? Was he impressed with her skills, or did he think she would make a terrible warrior?
"Don't look so nervous. I observe everyone in ThunderClan. I am the leader after all," Oakstar meowed. "But I find the progress of our apprentices the most important. You, Maplepaw, are the future of ThunderClan. Your training is most vital to our success, and our lives. Without apprentices, our Clan would soon run out of warriors."
Maplepaw let out a sigh of relief. "Do you think I'm going to make a good warrior?"
"With Bloomheart as your mentor, I have no doubts about it," Oakstar said. "But with that in mind, I'm afraid there are some things you must take into account yourself. While I am grateful you tried to protect ThunderClan today, I worry you're far too impulsive at times. I've noticed you tend to dive directly into situations without thinking things through."
Maplepaw dipped her head, feeling embarrassed.
"Don't look so downtrodden," Oakstar meowed, draping his tail across her shoulders. "I'm just telling you, so that hopefully in the future you won't get yourself into a situation you can't get out of. You're a good cat, Maplepaw, and I'm proud to have you in my Clan. Now let's go home."
That evening, Maplepaw sat at the edge of the camp, Dawnpaw at her side. The two sisters were chatting about today's events while sharing a squirrel.
"Do you know how lucky you are?" Dawnpaw exclaimed. "I mean, Oakstar of all cats stopped to talk with you!"
"It's not that big of a deal," Maplepaw muttered. She had wanted to keep her talk with Oakstar a secret, however, Dawnpaw had already been back to camp when Maplepaw and Oakstar had walked in together.
"It is a big deal. He's our leader. He doesn't stop to chitchat with everyone."
"It wasn't 'chitchat' okay? It was a serious conversation," Maplepaw said.
"Still, he stopped to talk to you. And he praised you at that!" Dawnpaw meowed.
"He didn't praise me," Maplepaw corrected her. "He just told me that I'm far too impulsive and that as an apprentice I'm the future of the Clan, so I need to be more thoughtful of my behavior. So if anything, he scolded me..." Sighing, she looked towards Oakstar's den. The ThunderClan leader was perched on top of the High Rock, with Dovesong and Goldenmist at his side. I wonder if he's talking about me right now?
"Okay, fine. But my point still stands. It was an honor that he would take the time to speak with you at all," Dawnpaw meowed.
"What if he's right?" Maplepaw asked, ignoring Dawnpaw. "What if one day I do end up in a situation I can't get out of? What will I do then?"
As always, thank you for reading/reviewing/favoriting/following. It truly means the world to me when people take the time to read my stories. I hope that you all enjoyed this chapter, and I hope that with everything occurring in the world at this time that everyone is doing well. I do not know when I will be able to update next, so until next time!