A Different Path

The First Taste of Blood

Birchface watched lovingly from StarClan as his kits became apprentices. He saw his mate fix their fur and make them presentable with the help of Frecklewish.

Petalpaw was excited to have Mistpelt as her mentor and Doefeather became Larchpaw's mentor. When Birchkit was called to become Birchpaw he was given the mentor Beetail. Patchkit seemed shy and timid when he was called to become an apprentice. As she shot his mother a nervous glance he then turned back to Oakstar.

Mapleshade wasn't shocked that Patchpaw was given Ravenwing as a mentor. The sweet little tom couldn't bring himself to hurt a fly. He would be great at helping the Clan as a Medicine Cat. Mapleshade couldn't be more proud of her kits.

Dawnfeather was sitting next to her son Nettlepaw who was being watched over by his mentor Deerdapple.

Her former mentor Bloomheart went to congratulate her. Pride warmed her pelt and her heart felt lighter than it had been for awhile. She knew her kits would make their father and the clan proud.

The four newly made apprentices excitedly bounced to their mother swarming her with excited murmurs. An onslaught of words all blended into one raging storm wept her as she frantically tried to make out what they were saying.

Frecklewish purred in laughter as she padded toward them. The sunlight made her golden speckled pelt blaze like the sun. Her dark amber eyes shined and blazed with joy. She was proud as she looked upon her kin. It was like Birchface looked through her eyes.

"Thank you so much Frecklewish. I couldn't have raised them without you. Your help gave me and the kits the strength and support we needed."

The she-cat touched noses with Mapleshade, "It was my pleasure. I would do anything for you and the kits." She softly purred.

The apprentices watched the two curiously before their mentors led them away to start their training.

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Patchpaw stayed close to his mentor Ravenwing and his beloved mother Mapleshade. He had just started her apprenticeship a pawful of moons ago and had joined a patrol to Sunning Rocks to collect herbs. The warriors hunted and kept an eye out for danger as Ravenwing showed Patchpaw around and they collected herbs.

The clan was very busy. Kits of various ages were born. The kits that were slightly younger than them were made apprentices. Windflight was helpful and was very close to his mother Squirrelwhisker and had become mates with Rainfur. Rookkit, Larkkit, Flamekit, Harekit, Hollykit, Dapplekit, and Stagkit were handfuls and the clan had to make sure they had enough to feed so many mouths.

A loud screech filled the air causing the ThunderClan warriors to snap into fighting positions. Seedpelt and Thrushtalon flanked Bloomheart as Mapleshade stayed close to the Medicine cat pair.

Mapleshade turned to Ravenwing and Patchpelt, "Get back to camp and get some backup." She ordered.

Ravenwing nodded before leading Patchpaw away. The little apprentice struggled to keep up as his mentor quickly made his way toward camp. He made sure not to lose his young apprentice.

The two saw Sweetbriar's patrol. Her sister Fallowsong and her apprentice Mumblepaw stare at them in with wide concerned eyes. Nettlebreeze noticed them too. The young warrior padded to them, "What's going on?"

"RiverClan's attacking Sunny Rocks!" Ravenwing announced.

Sweetbriar's eyes widened in horror, "Take Mumblepaw and get back to camp we'll go help."

Nettlewish and Fallowsong followed Sweetbriar to Sunny Rocks. Patchpaw's heart pounded as he stood still as Ravenwing led the way back to camp. He couldn't just leave his mother to fight without him. He promised her he would never leave her side when he was a kit and he couldn't break that promise and let her fight a battle without his help. His father had died fighting for Sunning Rocks. He wasn't going to lose his mother too.

Birchpaw sat down as he ate a nice plump mouse he caught. Petalpaw and Larchpaw had came back from battle training. Mistpelt, Doefeather, and Beetail were talking with Frecklewish about their training. Windflight and Rainfur were helping care for the kits along with their kit Dapplekit.

Most queens had to start becoming warriors to feed so many mouths. Dawnfeather and Rabbitfur were often helping Rainfur and Windflight care for all the kits. Deerdapple was getting fresh kill when Ravenwing and Mumblepaw bursted into the camp, "RiverClan's attacking Sunning Rocks!" Ravenwing announced.

"Where's Patchpaw?" Frecklewish's voice was cracking with desperation.

Patchpaw slowly made himself known but he kept his head down, "Please, Mapleshade's all alone."

Frecklewish's tail slashed side to side in fury. She wasn't going to let the kits lose their mother too. Her claws instantly came out ready to claw the enemy RiverClan warriors.

Without hesitation she darted out of camp. Her muscles were tense and with ever single step she propelled herself forward as she used her back legs to push her off. Heart racing and the feeling of blood pumping in her ears distracted her a bit from how deathly silent most of the forest was.

When she got to the Sunning Rocks she saw Mapleshade fending off RiverClan warriors but it was clear she was outmatched. Perchpaw, Appledusk's apprentice dumped onto Mapleshade and went to bit her neck. Frecklewish's heart seemed to pause for a second when she saw crimson blood splash onto the rocks and Mapleshade fall down and struggling.

Fury coursed within Frecklewish, "Now you're teaching your apprentice to be a murderer like you?!" Frecklewish snarled before flinging herself at the RiverClan tom, "You already took the father of her kits and now you want to take part in robbing them of their mother?"

Appledusk pushed her off and went to pin her but a rustling of leaves caught him off guard and he was tackled by Birchpaw. The massive dark brown tabby tom was unusually big for his size and had the same pelt as his father. Frecklewish watched him in astonishment. It was like Birchface was standing right in front of her.

The golden rays made his pelt shine and his blue eyes sparkled but there was a burning fury in his deep blue eyes. Bite down hard on Appledusk's throat. The sickening cries were quickly cut short and Frecklewish watched as Birchpaw avenged his father.

Appledusk laid dead in a pool of blood as Birchpaw stood proud like a hunger gloating over his kill. Perchpaw tried to avenge his mentor but the bigger tom easily pinned him. Like he had down to Appledusk, he sunk his teeth into the neck of the fellow apprentice. All the hatred for RiverClan was at a boiling point.