Gaining Height - WARRIOR CATS

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Hawkpaw slunk wearily out of the apprentice's den, wondering uneasily when the battle patrol would return. She saw several other cats pacing up and down the clearing, minds clearly on their fighting clanmates.

It was night now, and Snowpaw and Coalpaw were cuddled together in a tight ball of fur. Hawkpaw wished she could join them, and not think about the battle, but her mind was keeping her awake- and on edge.

After the gathering, CometClan had almost immediately remarked on the new boundaries. Streamstar's warriors had been more hesitant, subtly trying to hide the fact that their scent marks were encroaching on FalconClan land.

It had been a quarter moon of the AquaClan nonsense, and Talonstar's patience had come to an end. His warriors had rebuked him at every pawstep ever since he had decided they weren't going to fight.

"Coward," they grumbled under their breath. "Weak, old, willing to let us die."

Well, Talonstar had had enough of their bickering, and had finally let the battle take place. He had taken all the warriors except for Cloudstorm, although he hadn't let the apprentices in on the battle. That is, except for Icepaw, who was vehement about going. It was evident to every cat that young Russetspark's demise still bore heavily on Talonstar's conscience.

"Psst. Hawkpaw!" Bewildered, Hawkpaw glanced around for who was calling her.

She saw a shadowy figure sitting in the shadows of the Medicine Cat den. Is that Smokepaw? Hawkpaw's heart skipped a beat.

Ever since tensions had escalated, Frostwing had been working her to the bone. She had hardly had a minute's rest before he was nipping at her heels again.

Hawkpaw glanced back at the several small scratches that were hidden only by her thick pelt. She had started using that revolting word, Master, after he had repeatedly attacked her.

Every time she said it, he purred and gave her an extra large piece of fresh-kill. Every time she didn't, he starved her. No cat noticed, or perhaps they were all too scared to say anything. Frostwing had been one of the most vocal cats about Talonstar's waning leadership skills.

"Hawkpaw! Move it!"

That's... not Smokepaw. Hawkpaw narrowed her eyes warily as she saw a flash of amber from inside the Medicine Den. She shivered, although not from the cold.

Feeling oddly unsettled, Hawkpaw picked her way towards the Medicine Den. She let out a relieved sigh when she realised that it was simply Dawnclaw. Though, her suspicions rose once more as she wondered what the cold Medicine Cat wanted with her.

"Hey." Hawkpaw meowed, eyeing the den to see whether or not Smokepaw was around.

Unfortunately, she was not. Dawnclaw's tail flicked across Hawkpaw's spine, immediately making her shift her gaze back to the Medicine Cat.

"How's training been going?" Dawnclaw meowed casually.

Hawkpaw narrowed her eyes. Why are you asking this now? She wondered. Dawnclaw hadn't talked to her very much in the past days, spending most of her time with her littermate and Frostwing.

"There's no need to be nervous with me," Dawnclaw meowed kindly. Her eyes flashed. "After all, I'm the reason you're even in FalconClan, am I not?" She smiled. "It's such a pity that there are clearly cats here who don't want you."

The feathers. Hawkpaw felt rage burn in her blood. She had to figure out who the gang's ring leader was so that Talonstar could exile them. She had a pretty good idea that Master-Frostwing- Hawkpaw snarled internally at the fact she'd automatically called Frostwing by his name- was involved.