Warriors: Beetlestar's Path

Chapter Ten

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     Beetlewing paced alongside the river. His tail lashed and ears flattened against his skull. The sun had barely risen when it began drizzling. The chatter of anxious cats only made his own fears worse as they huddled together for comfort and warmth. He paused only to scan over DarkClan, to eye their singed fur and startled faces as they groomed one another and looked over burns.  

     Dustfoot had arrived not long after Beetlewing returned to the bank, a patrol made up of Sorrelclaw, Heronswoop, and Shatteredstone following with moss and herb bundles in tow. A few WaterClan cats lingered on the other side of the river and watched with wide eyes. Beetlewing counted Berryfrost among them, her eyes trained on him and her paws kneading anxiously. Another cat caught his gaze: Badgerpelt, who slipped into the water and swam effortlessly across. 

     Not yet. He knew she would be worried. Troutpaw was her kin, the last thing she had from her daughter. And he was still missing, still out in the forest. Just wait a little longer. We just have to wait a little bit longer. 

     Badgerpelt emerged, water streaming from her pelt, eyes narrowed at him. "Where is he? I haven't seen him." She looked around, swinging her head both ways. 

     Beetlewing's mouth went dry. "I- We haven't seen him." Badgerpelt tensed. Her fur rose and bristled along her shoulders and spine.  

     "You lost him?!" 

     Thunder rumbled and the light rain turned into a downpour. Beetlewing stared at his paws in shame. "I tried to find him." 

     "Why did you let him come in the first place?!" Badgerpelt snapped. "He's an apprentice! Of two and a half moons! And you let him run right into danger!" 

     "Badgerpelt!" Littlestep bounded over. "Badgerpelt, please. It's not his fault. I was the one who lost Troutpaw."  

     Badgerpelt turned on the small warrior and Beetlewing pushed between them as she bared her teeth. "Badger-" 

     "Excuse me." 

     The three WaterClan cats turned to face Blackear. "I heard the commotion," he mewed. "I can send some warriors to look for him once the fire dies down a little more if you'd like. We're missing Tidefoot, so we have some scouring to do anyways." 

     Badgerpelt inhaled deeply. "Okay. Alright, okay," she muttered. "I want to go with them though." 

     Blackear nodded and stalked off, Badgerpelt following close behind, and Beetlewing felt a rush of appreciation for the other deputy. He had always been level headed, and Fallenstar was right to trust him.  

     "I'm sorry," Littlestep muttered. Beetlewing shook his head.  

     "It's not your fault. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have blamed you earlier." 

     Littlestep's guilty expression lightened, though only just a bit, and she settled down and yawned. Beetlewing took to watching his sister as she smeared herbs onto Patchback's shoulder. Tinypetal and Rosepetal sat with Scorchkit and Echokit, cleaning them while Goldstreak crouched nearby with that same haunted look in her eyes as Stormstripe gently licked her ear. All of DarkClan looked rough, nervous and tired. I can't imagine facing this in my own home. 

     His thoughts wandered to the white and black cat he had found under a tree. Had they been a DarkClan cat? He couldn't see their face, or recognize their tail. But they had been in DarkClan territory all the same, not far from where Clearwhisker, Goldstreak, and Miststep had taken shelter. The memory of the stench made him cringe. It made him think of Troutpaw.