South Park - Warriors

Chapter 2

      Gingerpaw was summoned in an open forest, where a cat stood before him. He couldn't identify the odd cat by its scent nor appearance. This cat was an ancestor he had never met face-to-face before outside of his dreams—in the real living world.
      "Gingerpaw." The mysterious cat spoke aloud. "Your path does not lie to become a warrior. You are destined to be a medicine cat."
      Gingerpaw felt his heart drop.
      "Do not fret," The red apprentice guessed this ancestor of Starclan could sense his fear. "Becoming a medicine cat still holds great power for your clan."
      Gingerpaw seemed puzzled. "I do not see why I cannot be a warrior, is there something I did wrong?"
      "No, young one, it's that no one else must know what difference there was between you and your clan mates in your past."
      Before Gingerpaw could ask anymore questions, the figure faded like mist.
With no other excuse to stay asleep, Gingerpaw opened his eyes and got to his paws.
Outside of the apprentice's den, the camp was filled with cats sharing tongues and murmuring. A cat padded up to Gingerpaw.
"Do you want to join the hunting patrol?" It was Cleverpaw.
Hunting patrol. Echoed Gingerpaw's thoughts. Was it already sun high? He held his head up to the sky, scanning the sun. It was.
"Sure, who's coming?"
"Tegridyheart is leading it, Shellpaw, Rainpansy, Coralflower, and Bigpaw." Cleverpaw flicked her tail tip.
Bigpaw. The tom's name made his ears burn in rage. His neck fur pricked but he agreed to join. "Ok, I'll come."
"Got it, I'll go inform Tegridyheart." She paused. "Have you eaten yet?" The black Siamese she-cat fretted.
"No." Gingerpaw was surprised at her concern for him, since he knew Reedpaw had feelings for her.
"I was on the dawn patrol earlier today and caught a plump sparrow, I don't think anyone has taken it yet." She swished her tail that grazed the spouting tufts of grass in the crevices of the rocky floor.
      "Thanks." Gingerpaw waved with his tail goodbye and walked off to the fresh-kill pile.
      He dropped down and scanned the heap of prey. The tom spotted the big, well-fed sparrow Cleverpaw caught. He dragged it out from the pile carrying it with his jaws. Scanning the clearing, he spotted a tall rock bathing in the sun light. Gingerpaw trotted over quickly before any cat could claim his find as their own. With a swift leap, he landed steadily on the boulder. Plopping down, Gingerpaw started to feast on the sparrow. It was still warm from the coverage of the other prey being piled on top of it, it was juicy and fulfilling.
When he had finished, licking his chops, the patrol was already gathering around the camp entrance. Gingerpaw hopped down from the rock and raced over to the cats on the patrol.
      "Hey, Gingerpaw, glad of you to join us." Rainpansy welcomed, but the red pelted tom was focused on Bigpaw muttering something into Cleverpaw's ear. Gingerpaw narrowed his eyes, then Tegridyheart spoke.
      "Is this all?" He questioned.
       "Cleverpaw, Bigpaw, Shellpaw, Gingerpaw, and Rainpansy. I think we're good." Answered Tallpride.
      "Is Thrushclaw here?—Gingerpaw's mentor?" Asked Bigpaw.
Gingerpaw's pelt was hot with embarrassment as he noticed the patrol cats glancing at each other uncertainly—not that they didn't know where Thrushclaw was, but if he was really Gingerpaw's mentor.
"He's on the border patrol." Cleverpaw's mew broke the silence.
Tegridyheart nodded. "Then we shall go." The black-striped tom hared out the bramble entrance. After Tegridyheart came Tallpride and Bigpaw, then Shellpaw and Cleverpaw, and lastly Gingerpaw with Rainpansy on his heels.
      Gingerpaw thundered through the entrance and broke out through the brambles into the forest.
Gingerpaw stopped in his tracks to take in a breath of the fresh air. Closing his eyes and parting his jaws, being able to mark out every prey scent, border mark, and herb in the whole land.
"Catch up!" Rainpansy called out behind her back.
The dawn-colored tom broke into a run and bolted through the land, easily dodging trees and leaping over tangled bushes. As though he never stopped earlier, Gingerpaw caught up with the patrol in no time.
      Tegridyheart halted and signaled with his tail left to a thicket. "Rainpansy and Tallpride take your apprentices—Cleverpaw and Shellpaw—that way." He tipped his tail to the right. "Me and Bigpaw will head this way." Tegridyheart looked over his shoulder. "I'm bringing Gingerpaw with us."
Tallpride and Rainpansy nodded, then bounded off into the thicket, their apprentices racing after them by their sides.
      "This way." The clan deputy bulldozed through a wall of ferns, pushing through like it was clear land.
      When Gingerpaw was about to race off after Tegridyheart, Bigpaw blocked his way in front of him.
      Gingerpaw rolled his eyes. "What do you want, Bigpaw."
      "About yesterday, the apprentice ceremony, the one you ruined, remember?"
      "What about it, fox-breathe." The gingery apprentice teased lividly.
      "Woah woah, don't get all fussy with me. I'm not the one who Starclan chose to be angry with." Bigpaw snarled.
      "Just spit it out!" Gingerpaw's neck fur bristled impatiently.
      "Okay, it's that- well, Reedpaw was talking bad about you."
      "And you expect me to believe that?" The red tom scoffed. Bigpaw blinked expectantly. Gingerpaw sighed. After a few moments he asked at last. "Ok, what did he say."
      "Oh you know, just talking behind your back."
      "Yeah I know that—but what did he say exactly." Gingerpaw flicked his tail tip anxiously.
      "How am I supposed to know? I wasn't there." Bigpaw stifled a stocky yawn.
      The dawn-coated tom hissed. "Then how do you know Reedpaw was talking about me!"
      "Butterpaw told me, okay!" Bigpaw hissed back, his back fur rippling.
      The fern barrier quivered, and shot out Tegridyheart. "What are you two toms doing!" He  shrilled crossly. "Do you want the clan to go hungry!"
      "We'll carry this on later." Bigpaw whispered into Gingerpaw's ear.
      Bigpaw's tail and ears dropped, apologizing while passing by his mentor. "Sorry, mentor." All he got in return was a sneer.
      Gingerpaw followed behind Bigpaw. "My apologies, Tegridyheart." He mewed as he entered the ferns.