A/N: Hello!!! So, do any of you remember those SERIOUSLY underrated pages in Battles of the Clans? I mean page 40-47: The Rushpaw Splash. It's odd how that section is less than ten pages, yet has what may probably some of the most adorable characters in the whole saga, at least imo. Rushpaw, Tanglepaw, Duckpaw and Pikepaw were absolutely underrated, and since no one seems to really write or know much about them, I'm gonna start this series consisting of their relationship and watching it grow alongside their leader. I hope to also do:
- Four Times Rushpaw Was Actually Right, And One Time She Really Was Wrong
- Four Times Tanglepaw Failed, And One Time He Didn't
- Four Times Pikepaw Lost His Temper, And One Time He Didn't
- Four Times Duckpaw Took Care Of Someone, And One Time They Took Care Of Her
If i'm lucky, I would love to make a long story about the four apprentice's biggest adventure, and it explaining why they're never seen again in the book series. Also, every chapter will have a certain cat's name who's problem will be solved by the titular character. Apart from that, let's get started!!!
She could only watch as they left, and soon, despite trying to prevent it, she could already feel her claws unsheathe from her paw and claw on the underground soil. This is perfectly normal, she told herself. It's part of clan life, and every leader does this. It's foolish enough of my part to even think about it, even the tiniest kit knows it. Yes. That's it. Nothing else.
Nodding her head with satisfaction, the RiverClan leader excused the meeting that had started moments before and headed towards her den. She haven't slept the previous night, and right now was the perfect time to.
Arriving at the thicket that made for the Leader's Den, Mistystar curled up in a ball, closed her eyes, and waited for the blurriness of slumber to take her. Of couse, that was relaxing, or only for a few heartbeats, for her eyes opened.
This cycle repeated for a while.
Now staring at the den's entrance, the leader soon felt her paws rising and leading her beyond it. She hoped nobody was focusing specifically on her, but if she was being honest with herself, wasn't really worrying about that, most of her attention was at the spot where the certain cats disappeared a while ago now. Her gut told her to not move a step more, but her paws said otherwise.
Walking gave her the approval to recap.
Rushkit, Tanglekit, and Duckkit had been a pawful for the clan. The littermates didn't usually get along, it was always wrestling because Rushpaw hunted the firefly first, or stubbornness because Tanglepaw refused to share a piece of his fresh-kill, usually like that, or at least that's how she recalled. Despite that, sometimes Mistystar couldn't help but wish Rushpaw could just accept Tanglepaw's pleas for a hunting tip, or that their other littermate, Duckpaw, could step in to accest the situation. She knew Rushpaw was an excellent hunter despite her small size, that Tanglepaw could be RiverClan's most skilled fighter since Blackclaw if he pays attention, and that Duckpaw is excellent at listening to what others tell her, they could all turn into a skillful team if they would learn to love.
"What can you smell?" Duckpaw's mentor was heard not that far away, and that was enough for Mistystar to crouch and hold still, she didn't want to interrupt the young she-cat's concentration. "Starling, or mouse?"
Mouse. Mistystar knew the scent from heart, she just hoped Duckpaw could too.
"Mouse." The apprentice answered after a few heartbeats.
"What makes you so sure?"
Mistystar innerly scolded at the said question, those kind only make apprentices doupt their confidence.
The next words made her heart sank with sorrowness. "Uh... actually, I think it's a starling."
That's when Mistystar stopped to think, and shortly after that she walked back to camp, this time accompanied with a idea.
"Duckpaw?" It was after sunhigh when the apprentices came back and when Mistystar, hesitantly, called the gray-and-white apprentice. She didn't know if her plan would work, but she would give it a try. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"
"What did you do this time, Minnow-brain?" Unfortunately for Tanglepaw, he got a swipe on his ear from his littermate. "No cat said I'm in trouble, so just shut up, will you?" She retorted before nodding and heading towards her leader, and Mistystar couldn't help but purr at the sight. She and Stonefur would always argue in the same ways.
Stonefur...
The leader quickly shook the thought away. She needed every length of her focus if she was going to do this. "What do you say if we go out of the camp for a bit?" She hoped she sounded as reassuring and gentle as she had planned to. "We could bith use the fresh air." She praised herself as the apprentice's fur began to flatten with relief.
"Of course, Mistystar." She meowed.
-
Soon enough after that, Mistystar and Duckpaw walked through the vegetation of the territory. The RiverClan leader couldn't help but take a deep breath of the freshness. It was a beautiful day, no doubt.
When the apprentice remained silent, she gave her a playful shove. "So, how was your first day of training?"
Instantly, Too instantly, she noted, Duckpaw nodded and answered. "Awesome! They showed us the territory and my favorite place was that stream cleaning, I wasn't worried about nothing."
Mistystar stopped. "Why would you be worried?"
Duckpaw's eyes rounded. "I never said anything about worry."
"You did a heartbeat ago."
The apprentice stayed completely silent after that.
Anxious, Mistystar wrapped her tail around Duckpaw's spine. "Duckpaw...is something bothering you?"
The apprentice finally looked up again, her gaze at the forest's distance. "Is it bad that I think I'm not prepared for apprenticeship?"
There you go, Mistystar silently praised her, that wasn't so bad now, was it? "Of course not, Duckpaw, being and apprentice and training to defend an entire clan is never easy," she recalled her own training days. "it never is."
Duckpaw shook her head. "It feels like everyone is suddenly expecting so much from me today, as if I wasn't just an annoying kit yesterday...it all went so fast and I..." Duckpaw the closed her eyes. "Mistystar, I'm scared."
The leader touched noses with her. "Confessing this to me is a thing a real Warrior would do, I'm proud of you, Duckpaw."
As the apprentice snuggled closer to her, Mistystar made a decision that would be risky for her and her duty in the clan, but she knew it was for the better. However, she would tell the apprentice about it later, her plan was still going around.
"Follow me, I want to take you to a certain place."
Duckpaw obediently followed her, and after a rather successful relaxing walk, both she-cats were staring at a view of thin streams and less trees.
In a heartbeat, Duckpaw gasped, obviously not expecting the place. "The stream clearing! My favorite!"
"Come on!" Mistystar ran ahead of her and pounced into the deepest stream she could find, she turned around, expecting Duckpaw to follow at her tail, the apprentice still stood at the entrance they found to the clearing.
"Am...Am I allowed to?"
Mistystar playfully rolled her eyes. "The real question is: Will ThunderClan ever stop acting as if they own the entire lake?" She purred. "Hope on!" After that, she then added softly. "Never stop having fun, Duckpaw, ever. Just...always trust yourself."
Expression now fully bright, the apprentice did what she was meant to do and yowled gleefully as she reached the water.
They didn't know how long they chased and splashed each other, but they did know it was extraordinary. Once, Mistystar pretended to be a pike and let Duckpaw catch up to her. It was as if there wasn't a single thing to worry about for a long time... it was fantastic.
Eventually, it was getting dark and they knew duty called once again. For the countless time that day, Duckpaw touched noses with her leader. "Thank you. You have no idea how much I needed that...everything."
Mistystar licked her forehead. "Of course, and I shall be your mentor now, Duckpaw."
And if anyone thought they had already seen Duckpaw the cheerfullest today, they were wrong.