The Prophecy Foretold: Testing Alliances

Chapter Ten

Puddlepaw was returning from a hunting patrol when she heard the commotion, slipping through the bracken tunnel with Heavytail behind her. In the middle of camp was a stranger, the clan straggled around them, Redstar sat in front of them. The new tom smelled like Windclan, and Puddlepaw realized that they must have noticed Beepaw missing. She looked around and saw him peering from the medicine cats den, Hayfeather and Dusktail guarding him.

"We want our apprentice back." The Windclan cat spoke calmly, and Puddlepaw noticed his fur was shiny, muscles thick and stomach full. Remembering Beepaw's words, she realized this tom was probably hunting for himself. It made her stomach turn, giving a soft huff.

"I'm sure you do. But this apprentice was caught hunting on Thunderclan territory. In exchange for him, we want access to the Moonstone, for all the clans." The Windclan tom shuffled his paws, ears laid back.

"Whitestar won't like that."

"I don't care what Whitestar likes." Redstar hissed, the fur on his neck rising. "Go and relay my message, before my clan tears you apart." Some of the warriors hissed at the tom, and while he looked ready for a fight, the Windclan warrior decided not to be mauled today. He turned on his paws and stalked out of camp. Redstar nodded to Jaymask and a few other warriors. "Follow him, and make sure he doesn't make any stops he doesn't have to." The warriors nodded, and quietly slid out after the Windclan cat.

"Windclan is getting out of hand." Heavytail commented. Puddlepaw nodded, looking up at her mentor.

"Can I be excused? I want to check on Beepaw." Heavytail looked surprised, but nodded. Puddlepaw hurried over to the medicine cat den, slipping past Dusktail and Hayfeather. Beepaw was back in his nest, turning his head quick and relaxing when he saw Puddlepaw.

"Who was that cat?" Puddlepaw asked as she settled down, and Beepaw turned awkwardly towards her.

"That was Stormgrass. He's a mean cat. He believes everything Whitestar says, and says that Starclan is ignoring us and we don't need them." Puddlepaw was surprised that any cats were believing Whitestar. They'd gone their whole lives believing in Starclan, how can one cat influence them so much?

"I can't imagine how awful that is." Beepaw shrugged some, looking unperturbed.

"Goldensky does her best to make sure the kits and elders are fed. WIth leafbare it makes it harder to find the rabbits, especially with dogs roaming around. And Windclan can't fish, and we have no woods to hunt in."

Puddlepaw was grateful she lived in the forest, where prey was usually plentiful and they had options.

"Puddlepaw!" A snappy voice startled the apprentices, and Puddlepaw turned to see Barkfeather, standing halfway in the entrance of the den. "Leave the prisoner alone. Go help Blazingpaw add dried moss to the nursery, so it stays warm." Puddlepaw was surprised at how angry Barkfeather seemed, and nodded, standing up and looking at Beepaw.

"I'll try and see you later." Beepaw nodded, and reached his paw out to hers.

"Thank you for being nice to me." Beepaw said softly, and she could feel her fur grow hot and chest go warm. She pranced out of the den, slipping carefully past Barkfeather. The deputy lagged behind, and she was relieved when he stepped away from the medicine cat den without bothering Beepaw.

Puddlepaw found Blazingpaw dragging a bundle of dry moss to the nursery, stepping carefully over the kits as they played. Briarkit and Larkkit ran around, while little Sunkit tried to chase after them. His sisters were huddled together, gossiping just like Firenettle and Mothpool.

"Blazingpaw!" The tom jerked his head up, ears perking when he saw Puddlepaw. He dropped the moss, turning to her. "Barkfeather told me to help you with the nursery."

"Thanks. I was going to try and weave it into the bracken." Puddlepaw nodded, going and sitting by him as she grabbed a pawful of the dried moss, and began pushing it into the bracken wall of the nursery.

"How have you been feeling?" Blazingpaw asked after a beat of silence, glancing at Puddlepaw. She knew she'd been acting off, her mood going back and forth ever since Nightflower's death. She took a deep breath, and shrugged.

"I don't know. One second everything feels fine, and then I'm angry at everyone. It's weird." Puddlepaw looked over to Blazingpaw. "I'm sorry I've been snapping at you. I don't feel like myself anymore." Blazingpaw reached a paw out, and shoved her shoulder lightly.

"I don't know what would happen if Firenettle or Dappledflame died. You don't have to apologize." Puddlepaw felt better, shuffling closer to him as they worked on the nursery.

"Barkfeather's been acting weird, too." Puddlepaw noted, and Blazingpaw nodded.

"Yeah, he lost his mate in front of his eyes. That would mess any cat up." Puddlepaw shook her head, sighing.

"No, he's acting.. Different than that. He's not grieving. He doesn't seem to be paying attention to anything real, and when he is he's snappy and vicious." Puddlepaw looked around, then lowered her voice. "He looked ready to kill Beepaw when he ran onto our territory. He almost snapped his front leg in half. I know hunting and trespassing is against the warrior code, but it's also against the warrior code to kill another cat." Blazingpaw looked surprised, though he'd heard most of this from Stonepaw already.

"Barkfeather is a good deputy, he would never break the warrior code. Beepaw is a Windclan cat, apprentice or not. Barkfeather has every reason to hate Windclan." Blazingpaw was right, but it didn't sit right with Puddlepaw.

I should have reason to hate Beepaw, but I don't. Why?

"Don't you?" She looked up when Blazingpaw questioned her, and after a moment she shook her head.

"I can't. He's just an apprentice, a moon younger than me. Beepaw didn't kill Nightflower, so I can't hate him." Blazingpaw nodded thoughtfully.

"You're a lot nicer than I would be, Puddlepaw." Puddlepaw purred, nudging him in his side as they continued weaving moss into the nursery walls.