Warriors: Burnttail's Regret (Complete)

Chapter 7

 Burntpaw sat by the Thunderpath and stared into ThunderClan's territory, the wind ruffling his fur. It was the next day after the Gathering and he recently woke up. He was excused from training for a few days, so he went out for a walk and now he wanted to do one more thing before going back to camp. Snailstar said he would talk with Jaggedriver when they got back to camp, but I'm sure he didn't. Why would he scold one of his warriors, anyway? I want take matters into my own paws.

 Burntpaw got up and wanted to cross the Thunderpath, but then hesitated and looked behind him in the direction of the camp. Am I sure I want to do this? It's against the warrior code, I think. And it's not right.

 But then Burntpaw shook his head and looked toward the enemy Clan's territory, stepping on the Thunderpath determinedly. No. It wasn't right for Jaggedriver to attack me for no reason, and yet he still did it anyway. If he didn't care, why should I?

 Burntpaw lashed his gray tail as he walked confidently on the Thunderpath, but it soon started vibrating. He spun around and saw a monster rush toward him, screeching and wailing. Burntpaw's eyes widened with shock and he turned around, making a run for ThunderClan's territory. He pounced on the grass and rolled on his back as the monster ran past him. He raised his head and looked after it, panting. That was way too close.

 Burntpaw got up and shook his fur, looking around ThunderClan's territory. He was now surrounded by large oak trees and thick bushes. The grass under his paws felt soft, even softer than it was on ShadowClan's territory. Burntpaw turned his head to look at a squirrel that was climbing a tree slowly. He rolled his eyes.

 Suddenly, a crow landed on a rock in front of him, standing with its back at him as it preened its wings. Burntpaw dropped into a crouch and creeped toward it, unsheathing his claws. He pounced on the crow and swiftly killed it, then he picked it up and walked around with it for a bit before burying it by a tree. I wonder when a ThunderClan patrol will find me. Does this stupid Clan even patrol their borders?

 ''ShadowClan cat!''

 I spoke too soon. Burntpaw growled and turned around to face the ThunderClan patrol that was approaching him. He bared his teeth with hate when he saw that Jaggedriver among them. The gray tabby tom looked shocked to see him, but he ran ahead of the others and stopped right in front of him.

 ''What are you doing here now? You didn't cross the border accidentally, so you have no excuse this time.'' Jaggedriver sneered and raised an unsheathed paw.

 Burntpaw's fur bristled as he unsheathed his paws and was ready to strike back, but before any of them were able to do anything, a ginger she-cat with gray stripes ran between them and pushed her Clanmate away. ''Jaggedriver, stop it!''

 ''Why?'' Jaggedriver looked at the she-cat, his blue eyes blazing with hate. ''Snailstar already gave me apprentice duties for a moon just because I attacked this stupid apprentice, and now he dares to come back. What does he want?''

 ''That's an interesting question.'' A tan-and-silver she-cat murmured, padding toward him. ''What do you want?''

 ''I say we take him back to our camp, Cloverwhisper!'' Jaggedriver suggested. ''I'm sure-''

 ''Quiet, Jaggedriver! I didn't ask for your opinion.'' Cloverwhisper growled, then looked back at Burntpaw. ''So, what do you want?''

 Burntpaw felt his fur hot with embarrassment under the questioning gazes of the ThunderClan cats, but he stood tall. ''I'm just passing through.''

 ''Passing through our territory and hunting?'' The ginger she-cat with gray stripes tilted her head, pointing her tail toward the place where Burntpaw buried the crow.