Darkness In The Clans 1- Frost (warrior cats)

Chapter Four

Berrypaw heard Birchpaw's shriek, "Berrypaw! Come quick!" He bounded over, unaware of the hostile glare he got from Foxtuft.

"What's wrong?"

"Batpaw is hurt! Rogues attacked us!"

Batpaw! His heart hammered in his chest. He couldn't be hurt! "Hold on." He looked through his herb-storage. He grabbed some cobwebs, marigold, dock, horsetail, and goldenrod, wrapping them together with an oak leaf. Berrypaw picked it up in his jaws. Batpaw needed to be okay! He ignored the sick feeling in his chest, following Birchpaw worriedly.

"He's over here." Birchpaw mewed, moving ferns to reveal a hidden Batpaw, covered in blood. Berrypaw ran over to him, his fur bristling.

Please, Starclan, let him be alive. "Batpaw?" He looked at him. Berrypaw rasped his tongue over his head, hiding the fear he felt.

"Hi, Berrypaw." Batpaw croaked, blood dripping from the wound on his neck. He looked at him, his yellow eyes glistening. Berrypaw opened the leaf and began to treat him, licking juices onto his wounds and cleaning them, wrapping them with cobwebs.

"Everything will be okay." He assured him. Batpaw only gave him a small, weak purr. "You can do this. You will live!"

Batpaw's eyes flickered. "I love you so much," He rasped.

"Shh." Berrypaw's heart ached, but he didn't dare repeat his words. Not in front of Birchpaw, who was Snakepaw's littermate. Batpaw leaned in to whisper in his ear.

"This is a trap. Snakepaw hurt me. He wants to lead you to a badger den."

Berrypaw's eyes widened. Something about his tone made him think this was something he shouldn't have said, so he simply nuzzled his neck fur. "Do you think you can head back to camp?"

"I think so."

Berrypaw allowed Batpaw to lean onto his side, ignoring Birchpaw's terrified stare. "Berrypaw, don't you wanna check for the rogues?" He asked shakily.

"That's a warrior's job. I'm a lazy medicine cat." Berrypaw flicked an ear crossly. Not allowing Birchpaw to mew another word, he led Batpaw to camp, entwining his tail with his. His heart thudded in his chest. He was shocked that Snakepaw would try to kill him again. After endangering the life of a kit. And now Batpaw is hurt! Batpaw's breathing was shallow. "Let's head over to Redtuft."

"Okay." Batpaw murmured softly, drifting off to sleep. Berrypaw's fur bristled in fear.

"You must stay awake!" He hesitated before giving him a small nip. Nothing to hurt him seriously, and it wasn't enough to draw blood, of course. Batpaw let out a squeak.

"Berrypaw! What happened?" Redtuft asked with wide eyes. That's not a good sign.

"He was attacked by rogues." He mewed.

"Bring him to my den." Redtuft ordered. Berrypaw nodded shakily. His pelt burned with rage. Snakepaw had used Batpaw in his little plan, hurting him so bad that he could die! His fur was stained with Batpaw's blood. "Was anyone with him?"

"All the other apprentices, I think." Berrypaw shuffled his paws. "Everyone except me."

"Okay. Do you know where they are?"

"I think."

"Go get them." Berrypaw glanced at Batpaw worriedly. Redtuft added, "Don't worry, he'll be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

Berrypaw hesitated before leaving Batpaw alone. He slipped out of camp, his fur bristling in fear of whatever was coming up.

"AntiBerryClan, attack!"

Berrypaw's eyes widened as Snakepaw, Iciclepaw, and the others attacked him. His stubby legs were shaking. They're hurting a medicine cat! Surely that's against the code?

He noticed Birchpaw, Eggpaw, and Cherrypaw weren't fighting as fiercely as they always did. They're too scared to stand up to Snakepaw. He stepped back, ignoring the stinging feeling on his ear. "You're attacking a medicine cat? What's wrong with you? You nearly killed Batpaw, and for what? Because of a pathetic belief that all cats with kittypet blood are lazy?" Berrypaw spat. Snakepaw hissed.

"The clan doesn't need cats like you."

"Just like they needed Cloudwhisper?" He shot back. Cloudwhisper was Snakepaw's father, and had died shortly after he was born. Berrypaw remembers how Monarchwing had told him to stay away from Cloudwhisper's body. A familiar yellowish pelt emerged from the shadows.

"Yes, Snakepaw, what made you think attacking two innocent cats and possibly killing them was a good idea?" Hollyheart asked harshly. Berrypaw remembered how she was once bullied as well, resulting in her scar. I wouldn't want a scar like that! He thought. Hollyheart's tail lashed as Snakepaw didn't answer, "Believe me, Skystar will be hearing about this."

"No!" Snakepaw wailed like a little kit. Berrypaw had to admit he felt a little sympathy. It's not his fault he hates me. I'm an annoying cat. He looked at him. Snakepaw's eyes flashed. "You wouldn't!"

"I would." Hollyheart hissed, wrapping her tail around Berrypaw protectively.

"We were just playing. We didn't mean for him to get hurt." Iciclepaw piped up defensively. "He's just soft."

"Oh, yes, because clawing a poor innocent cat to death is playing." Hollyheart snorted. "All of you, back to camp."

Berrypaw felt a pang of satisfaction as he saw Snakepaw's miserable face. Despite this, he leaned in to give him a comforting lick. "Sorry." He murmured softly.

"Leave me alone." He shot back, whispering quietly enough so Hollyheart wouldn't hear.

"You flea-brain!"
"Mouse-heart!"

They spat insults at each other, and whatever sympathy Berrypaw had for him dissolved. "You're so dumb!"

Snakepaw hissed, but licked his ear fondly. Is he finally showing affection to his denmate? Berrypaw thought happily. But then again, he was being watched by Hollyheart. But, also, it's better than him ignoring Berrypaw. Berrypaw purred happily. He quieted down as he remembered what Snakepaw did to Batpaw. Poor Batpaw!

Iciclepaw wove her way to Snakepaw's other side, whispering angrily about Berrypaw. I don't want him! He glared at her. "Are we almost at the camp?" She mewed to Hollyheart.

"Yes." She lashed her tail, staring at Snakepaw and Iciclepaw with disappointment. Berrypaw almost let out a purr. They have gotten away with hurting him for so long- finally, they were facing the consequences of their terrible actions!

"You go to Redtuft." Hollyheart mewed to him as soon as they came into the camp, "I'll take the apprentices to Skystar." Berrypaw noticed Eggpaw looking particularly ashamed.

"Okay."
Berrypaw ignored the ache in his leg as he padded to Redtuft. "What happened to you?"

"Hollyheart can explain." Berrypaw sighed, tired. He curled up beside Batpaw, the warmth coming from his body comforting him. "Maybe now you'll think twice about helping Snakepaw."

"Believe me, after this, my friendship with Snakepaw is over." Batpaw assured him, rasping his tongue over his head. Berrypaw purred happily, even though Redtuft watched them with surprise and amusement, whiskers twitching. Berrypaw rested his tail along Batpaw's back. He loved Batpaw. He was so sweet and funny... He was just easily swayed. Berrypaw nuzzled his fur.

"I love you." He whispered.

"I love you too..." Batpaw began to drift off to sleep. Berrypaw purred happily.

"Berrypaw, now that you're done, let me see your wounds."

Berrypaw groaned and stood up, leaving his comfortable position. That woke Batpaw up, and he gazed up at him. Redtuft examined his wounds. "Nothing too terrible." He flicked his ear. "Hold your paw out." He licked some herb juices onto the wound on his paw, and Berrypaw winced. He forgot how much it had stung. But the pain was nothing compared to the fury he felt. Snakepaw had to be killed! He almost killed a kit and an apprentice. If he stayed alive, then more cats would be hurt, and even killed. Berrypaw's fur bristled with rage. If Batpaw died, he would never forgive Snakepaw and his little "clan".