The Rise of Foxstar ( Warrior Cat Fanfiction)

Chapter 16

(Picture is of Rainkit)

After Sunpaw had cleaned up Foxpaw's wounds, the ginger tom had to leave while Sunpaw started to tend to Dewkit.

Foxpaw padded out of the medicine cat den after a short goodbye with Sunpaw and Dewkit, he spotted Hollybreeze by the freshkill pile with Blackfur, who Foxpaw thought was related to Hollybreeze.

He sighed, knowing he had to go do his punishment now, he wrinkled his nose at the thought. At least Icekit and Rainkit would soon be apprentices, so the nursery wouldn't be that full by the time his punishment is finished.

"Hollybreeze, Swiftstar told me to speak with you about my punishment." Foxpaw spoke up, catching the attention of the raven-colored deputy. "Oh yes, I remember him telling me that." Hollybreeze's whiskers twitched," Well, you'll be helping in the nursery for a moon, so, well, get to it." Hollybreeze was always a bit awkward in conversation, a good deputy and quite friendly, but very awkward.

Foxpaw nodded, his tail lashing. "Yes, Hollybreeze, will do." The deputy nodded and Blackfur snorted,"Good luck Foxpaw, the queens are crabby today!" He was probably referring to Birdfeather, who is mean as a snake when she's hungry.

"...Thanks, Blackfur." Foxpaw said after a pause, his whiskers twitching. "No problem!" He responded, completely oblivious to Foxpaw's try mood at the moment. Foxpaw rolled his eyes and nodded a goodbye to Hollybreeze.

He started to head towards the nursery, going to see what the queens and kits needed, when he bumped into a cat. It was Lionpaw. The large, golden tabby glared down at him with cruel, green eyes. "Watch it!" He snapped, angrily. Foxpaw immediately shrank back, frightened of his oldest brother.

"S-sssorry, L-LLiiiionpaaaw..." Foxpaw stuttered out of habit. Great! And just when I thought I was brave... Foxpaw thought, disappointed in himself.

Lionpaw huffed, puffing out his chest,"Well, runt, where you heading to anyway?" He asked rudely, but Foxpaw preferred a little rudeness instead of having Lionpaw nearly ripping his pelt off. But Lionpaw was pretty strange, he was moody. One moment he'd be perfectly fine, calm and all, but the next, he'd be tearing off one's whiskers, one by one.

"Nursery..." Foxpaw spoke carefully, gaining a bit of confidence. He was thinking about Heronshade and how he managed to beat him. That is what gave Foxpaw a bit of spirit.

Lionpaw rolled his eyes,"Because of trying to fight a kittypet, I presume? Heh, the flea-bag probably did more damage to you then you to it." He said matter-of-factly, this ticked Foxpaw off a bit, yet he didn't know why. I didn't mean to hurt Perry, so how come I'm angry that I don't get credit for doing so? Foxpaw thought worriedly.

Foxpaw decided to not reply to Lionpaw's comment, figuring he'd get into trouble. Lionpaw seemed to think this was a sign of cowardice,"What's wrong, fox-dung? Scared?" He taunted, his eyes narrowed.

Foxpaw sniffed,"No. So, if you'll excuse me, I have to go." Lionpaw seemed a little shocked at Foxpaw's reply, but quickly covered it up. "Wimp, too scared to fight." Lionpaw teased, his tail lashing vigorously. Foxpaw ignored him and started to walk away, his head held high.

"Hey! Wait a minute!" Lionpaw yelled, getting frustrated. Foxpaw huffed and kept walking, ignoring Lionpaw's loud cries of protest. With his head held high and a smile playing at his lips, Foxpaw strutted into the nursery.

Inside, there were around three cats. Mistfur, a queen with a silver pelt, and her two kits, Icekit, a white tom, and Rainkit, a gray she cat with darker flecks. Rainkit and Icekit were nearly six-moons, so they'd joing Foxpaw and the other apprentices in their den soon. Mistfur would probably be relieved at this, her kits were known for being troublemakers.

"Hi Mistfur, Icekit, Rainkit." Foxpaw greeted politely as the named cats looked up at him, Icekit blinked, but Rainkit and her mother both replied,"Hello."

"Foxpaw, Silverheart told me about this punishment, so could you clean Birdfeather's nest? It's starting to stink." Mistfur asked, curling her fluffy tail around her kits. Foxpaw nodded, wrinkling his nose slightly. Mistfur, though not that bad of a cat, wasn't pretty sympathetic and definitely wouldn't take it easy on Foxpaw.

Foxpaw dipped his head to the queen and padded out of the den and towards the moss-hold, a flat rock with a hole underneath where the clan kept moss. He quickly grabbed a bundle and hurried back towards the nursery where Mistfur and Icekit had both fallen asleep. Rainkit was still up, probably to watch Foxpaw.

Foxpaw nodded to the younger cat and started to work on changing Birdfeather's nest. Where is she anyway? Foxpaw wondered, I know she was with Honeyflower, but now, I'm not sure.

"Foxpaw? Did you really attack a kittypet?" Rainkit spoke up, that was the first time Foxpaw had ever heard her speak. Her voice had a soft tone, as if she was unsure. The apprentice looked over at the kit thoughtfully, he sighed before admitting,"Yes..." Why he did that? Foxpaw didn't know. Maybe it was because of the look of innocence and curiosity on young Rainkit's face? Or it might've been the guilt that Foxpaw felt about the whole situation? Nobody could be too sure.

"Why?" Rainkit asked, her short tail curling over her paws. Foxpaw thought for a moment, stopping the nest work for a few seconds to think. "Well, Fireclaw told me to and I did..." Foxpaw said, disappointed in himself. "I don't know why I obeyed..."

Rainkit looked at him with sympathy,"I've met Fireclaw before... He seems hard to please..." Foxpaw glanced over at her,"He is." He said in agreement, surprised that she understood. Maybe she does understand? Foxpaw thought for a second, before dismissing it, She doesn't. I mean, she has parents and a brother that love her...

"Thanks Rainkit..." Foxpaw choked out after a pause, Rainkit smiled brightly,"No problem! I just get it, you know? Being overlooked. I mean, it's clear that Mistfur likes Icekit better then me..." She explained, her tail drooping a bit. Foxpaw then got what Rainkit meant! She was like him! Except she wasn't beat up by her littermate.

Foxpaw looked down at the tabby she-kit,"I don't get why she'd like Icekit better. You're smart and you are going to be an amazing warrior." Rainkit seemed a bit taken a back by Foxpaw's compliment. "Woah, thanks..." She breathed, Foxpaw grinned,"No problem, Rainkit."

The two continued to talk as Foxpaw worked. Surprisingly, Mistfur and Icekit had stayed asleep the whole time. Foxpaw enjoyed speaking with Rainkit, she understood how he felt. She had a similar life to his, not an exact life, just very similar.

Foxpaw glanced out the nursery entrance, the sun was starting to set. How long had I been in here? Foxpaw thought, his eyes widening. "Um, Rainkit, I have to go now."He apologized, looking down at his paws. Rainkit frowned as she too noticed the disappearing sun,"Oh, okay."

Foxpaw stood up and started to walk out of the nursery,"See you tomorrow?" He said and Rainkit brightened up,"Yeah!"

The apprentice grinned as he walked towards his den, where Crowpaw, Mousepaw, and Bravepaw were already sleeping.

Heh, maybe this punishment won't be so bad after all. Foxpaw thought, laying down in his nest, drifting off to sleep.