𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑭𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔: 𝑨 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒓 𝒄𝒂𝒕 𝑭𝒂𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒄

Chapter 12

The familiar smell of damp wood, the fresh, light scent of rain, the earthy aroma greeting Maplepaw as dense undergrowth and low-hanging leaves brushing against her pelt. Her green eyes scanned the forest for any signs of her clanmates. She nosed her way through the narrow tunnel, one that only the trained eye could notice or, in other words, MistClan members, and stood atop the MistClan camp, the dark, secluded crater in the ground. It was a second line of defence, she supposed. It was almost impossible to spot cats inside the crater, though, from inside, it was effortless to see any invading cats.

"Coming home, Maplepaw?" a familiar voice sneered to her right.

Maplepaw whipped around and came face to face with the blue eyes of her former brother, Shadepaw. Some darkness lashed around inside her, almost as though a beast was awakening.

"Why, indeed, dear brother. Or perhaps we should take you to Ghostwhisper?" Maplepaw purred, swishing her tail from side to side.

Maplepaw watched as Shadepaw's muzzle twitched in annoyance, a rustle from the bushes behind her snarled,

"I suppose you've forgotten your manners towards the deputy's son, rogue."

Maplepaw kept her mouth shut, knowing it would only bring her to her demise, however, one day, she'd bring them down to their knees. They'd bow down to her and beg for forgiveness.

"Much better," Waspsting smirked, stalking in front of her.

"We were going to celebrate tonight if you didn't return," Shadepaw growled, turning away and stomping towards camp.

Maplepaw stalked towards camp and leaped into the crater, landing deftly beside the apprentice's den. The scents of her denmates were strangely foreign.

"Maplepaw!" an excited purr emerged from behind her and knocked her onto her face.

"Good to see you, Heatherstalk," Maplepaw meowed, straining to keep her own joy contained within her.

Heatherstalk licked the top of her head and curled around her, like a mother would do with her kit.

"I hope you've found a part of yourself during that moon, for only during experience will you be able to find yourself."

Maplepaw didn't reply as she buried her face into Heatherstalk's chest, her soft fur a comforting presence and inhaled the soft, crisp and slightly sweet scent of her foster mother, allowing herself to be doted on like a kit.

It seemed after her moon of exile, she was treated more like a rogue than a clanmate. Not that it bothered her anyway. When Maplepaw finally looked up, she looked around. Something was off. It was only after a couple of minutes when she rasped in a panicked tone,

"Where's Silentpaw?"

Heatherstalk gently placed her nose on Maplepaw's cheek and reassured her,

"Don't worry. She's only been sent on a quest by StarClan to aid some far away souls."

Maplepaw's ears still remained pricked as she settled beside Heatherstalk. A slim white tom with yellow eyes stopped in front of her and purred,

"Welcome home, Maplepaw."

Though Tinycloud was possibly the most worthless of cats, she couldn't help the smile creeping onto her face.

"Thanks, Tinycloud. When will we commence training again?" Maplepaw asked, standing up and facing the tom.

"Soon, Maplepaw. Rest for now. We can begin tomorrow if you wish, but your body is in no state to train today," Tinycloud meowed.

Cinderstar's presence on the High-ledge meant the hubbub of MistClan dullened slightly and the familiar phrase rang out,