In The Dark - Warriors.

Chapter Six

"Really? And what might that be?" Pinepaw demanded, snarling. Lostpaw took a deep breath as she awaited Rockpaw's reply - it wasn't hard to tell that it would be one that would sting from the way he kept glaring at the two cats.

All of the softening that Lostpaw had suspected she had seen in Rockpaw's eyes had disappeared, and instead it was replaced by bloodthirstiness ... Lostpaw gulped, actually scared now, and taking a step behind Pinepaw. Rockpaw didn't answer Pinepaw, and instead swerved his head around to look at Lostpaw. "Well, well. You're actually scared? I'm not surprised. Everyone is scared of me." Rockpaw hissed. Lostpaw doubted that - the warriors were way stronger than him, and she knew as a matter of fact that the Clan leader, Froststar, wouldn't be scared of an apprentice who looked scrawny compared to his massive bulk.

Lostpaw didn't say anything. Rockpaw walked closer. "Well? You going to say anything, she-cat?"he demanded, glaring even harder at Lostpaw. Milkpaw and Fernpaw backed him up, getting on either side of him so that he was in the middle and growling.

"Yeah, ya goin' to say anythin' or what?" Milkpaw asked. Rockpaw glanced back at the two rookies that were practically his sidekicks and spat at them.

"Let me handle this," the stronger apprentice demanded. Milkpaw quickly nodded, and, without hesitation, backed off away from the three cats so that they could handle the situation by themselves. Fernpaw followed, backing off also.

"Good," Rockpaw said. "I'll call for you if I need anything. Which I won't, so don't get your hopes up." He said in a bit too much of a cocky tone for him. Even cockier than it usually was, surprisingly. "Now then," Rockpaw stomped forward so that he was towering over Pinepaw. The measly apprentice didn't flinch, and the she-cat cowered down.

"I see. One scaredy-cat and one false hero. What a pair of siblings." He said. Pinepaw didn't say anything, and neither did Lostpaw. Pinepaw wasn't speaking because he was being defiant, and Lostpaw wasn't speaking because she was too scared to actually say anything to him, fear that he would hurt her or maybe even kill her. It was allowed, and you didn't need an excuse as to why ... not in MapleClan.

"What's the matter?" Rockpaw hissed, clearly annoyed by the lack of conversation. "Cat got your tongue? Speak!" He snarled, then, slowly, he seemed to process the information into his brain. "Oh. Well then, I see. You're being defiant, huh? Fine. Just give me the she-cat." He smiled wickedly.

"No way," Pinepaw growled. Rockpaw rolled his eyes, then, darkly, he knocked Pinepaw out of the way with his massive set of paws and walked over to Lostpaw, who was cowering down even harder.

Lostpaw didn't know what to do. She wasn't exactly the strongest cat in the Clan, and she couldn't run because he could easily catch up with her and hurt her ... the she-cat apprentice cowered down as much as she could, hiding her face with her paws.

"P-please ... don't hurt me." She managed to squeak. This was so unlike her - she was ashamed of herself right now by being so submissive, but she couldn't help it. The fear instinct had come over her. She didn't want to get hurt.

Rockpaw unsheathed his claws and bared his fangs. He was about to lunge, then suddenly stopped and collected himself. "Hmm ... what may I ... what may I do to you?" He questioned himself as he then began circling the she-cat apprentice. Then his eyes twinkled. "Ah! I have an idea. Let's see ... you become mates with me when I am a warrior, which won't be long now, then I won't hurt you or Pinepaw. Deal." He said. It was clear to Lostpaw that it wasn't a question. It was an order.

Lostpaw quickly nodded as to not get him angry. "Okay, okay! I'll do it. That's fine with me! I'll do anything as long as you don't hurt me ... " she mewed out. Rockpaw smiled as if complimenting and congratulating himself for getting a she-cat, then turned, walking away with Milkpaw and Fernpaw then following,

Lostpaw quickly got to her paws and scrambled over to her brother in order to make sure that he was safe. She knew for a fact that what the bully had did to him must have hurt him perhaps really badly and so she knew that she might have to either help him or possibly even take him to the medicine cat. When she reached him, apparently her guess had been true - blood was leaking from Pinepaw's mouth.

Lostpaw sighed. "Don't worry. The evil bully won't harm you, or me, ever again. I swear." Lostpaw mewed. Pinepaw reached up so that he was succumbing into a sitting position, and nodded, though concerned.

"Are you okay?" He asked his sister, worried as he began searching the she-cat for any possibly wounds, which he found none.

"You should be asking yourself the same question." Lostpaw mewed softly.

"Well, don't worry about me. I was just trying to protect you, Lostpaw." Pinepaw said. "Anyway, what'd you do to convince him not to hurt us?" He asked with morbid curiosity as he flicked his ear.

"Nothing." Lostpaw responded. "He said that if I became his mate once he was a warrior, then he wouldn't hurt me or you ever again." Lostpaw said.

Pinepaw was shocked. "Really? If he had a crush on you then why would he've tried to hurt you and bully you in the first place ... I mean, I know this is MapleClan though still. Where is the logic in that?" he asked. "Anyway, did you agree?"

Lostpaw then recalled how she had thought she saw Rockpaw's eyes twinkling and softening earlier ... that must've been it! He loved her since he first met her, she supposed. A strange tom he was ... though very interesting. Lostpaw could tell that he wasn't all that he seemed to be. "Yes, I obliged. I agreed. As long as it meant to have you never be hurt again." The words halfway choked in her throat, but she swallowed it down.

"You ... you agreed?" Pinepaw mewed, confused. This clearly was not the answer that he had expected. "What? For me? You didn't want me to get hurt? I mean, that's brave and all, but really? Am I really worth it?" He asked.

"Yes, you are worth it. Don't ever think you're not, Pinepaw." Lostpaw mewed, standing up. "Sunkit is dead. You are the only sibling I have left. Cherryflower has a new litter of kits and little to no time for us. You are practically the only thing that I have left in this world. The only one who would ever dare to stand up for me. Trust me, you are worth it." She said, nuzzling her brother gently.

Pinepaw sighed. "You're great, Lostpaw." He said. "You really are."