StarClan isn't real..

Chapter 11

Logpaw's claws twitched. He glanced towards the heather tunnel, watching as Specklebird emerged into camp with a mouse in his jaws. He quickly placed it on the fresh-kill pile then ducked into the warriors' den. Where is Yellowpaw? Logpaw had seen the deputy exit camp with the annoying she-cat, but he hadn't returned with her.

He felt a flash of hatred as the image of his foster sister exploded in his mind. She had come in and stole his mother's love. She was annoying and always acted like she was an edgy, sarcastic apprentice, when in reality, she was just obnoxious.

But where is she? No answer appeared.

Logpaw sighed and headed across the clearing, his black and gray pelt marked by moonlight. Beside the apprentices' den, his littermate's, Finchpaw and Fallowpaw, were heading inside. He padded after them, feeling the familiar flash of annoyance at his brother. Fallowpaw was nearly as bad as Yellowpaw, who always acted secretive and scared for no reason. Finchpaw was better, but she was a bit violent.

He squeezed into the apprentices' den and headed over to his nest. His mentor, Aspenwing, had worn him out with hunting training. He had caught two voles and a rabbit, and his mentor had found two more bunnies to add. He felt a flash of pride when he remembered how Vixentalon, a brown tabby warrior, had shared the rabbit Logpaw caught with Fallenthroat, a torbie she-cat who was the mentor of Yellowpaw.

"And then I tackled her," Finchpaw was telling Fallowpaw. "Stupid cat! Yellowpaw just fell over like a newborn kit trying to stand."

Logpaw settled down in his nest. "Say, where is she?"

He tried to sound casual, but Finchpaw still looked at him suspiciously. "Why should I care?" She scoffed. "Specklebird came over and said something, then they left camp, maybe? I don't remember things that aren't important."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Logpaw muttered. He had to admit he was a bit worry, but shook it away. Why worry about a cat who stole my mother?

***

The next morning, Logpaw was awoken to the familiar voice of Fallenthroat. "Yellowpaw? Where is Yellowpaw?"

Lifting his head, Logpaw blinked the sleep out of his eyes. He had hoped Yellowpaw would be back in the apprentices' den the next morning, but it seemed he had been proven wrong. Her nest was empty, and so was Finchpaw's. Larkpaw and Fallowpaw were still asleep, and Fallowpaw was fidgeting as he dreamt.

"She went out with Specklebird last night, I thought," Logpaw rasped.

Fallenthroat turned to look at Logpaw, her eyes worried. "Specklebird?" She echoed. "No, that can't be right. He was back in the warriors' den before moonhigh. When did Yellowpaw leave? Did you see her?"

"Finchpaw did, and I don't know when she left." Logpaw replied. He wondered why Fallenthroat was so worried... Yellowpaw was always sneaking off to be alone.

Maybe she went back to her rogue life. The thought encouraged Logpaw. It would be better if Yellowpaw got out of Clan life. She didn't belong there, and had caused nothing but trouble and annoyance. He remembered her annoying squeal at his apprentice ceremony, and then her glare when he brought prey to Blacktooth. She thinks she's so great, He told himself. But she's wrong! I'll prove that one day.

Fallenthroat whipped around and tore out of the apprentices' den. Still puzzled, Logpaw rose to his feet and stretched. He turned and prodded his littermate's with a forepaw, not wanting them to get yelled at for not waking up earlier.

Once the two apprentices began to stir, Logpaw turned and exited the apprentices' den. Dawn light greeted him, and he drew in a breath of fresh air. I'm sure Yellowpaw will turn up, He told himself. Maybe she just went hunting, especially in good weather like this. She could've woken up early.

He wondered why he was thinking so much about the apprentice. She was just his adoptive sister, and besides, she had taken his mother!

Remembering Blacktooth, Logpaw turned and headed towards the spot where his mother slept. He hoped Finchpaw didn't notice, since she enjoyed calling him a "Mama's tom'. He felt offended by his sister, especially since it was completely normal for him to be close with his kin.

When he reached the edge of the clearing, Blacktooth wasn't there. She slept under a gorse bush with Beetleshine, Logpaw's father and her mate. Beetleshine and Blacktooth both weren't there, which was odd. Maybe they're on dawn patrol?

Then he heard pawsteps, and turned to see his mentor, Aspenwing.

The smoky black tom tipped his head. "Are you looking for Blacktooth?" When Logpaw nodded, the warrior said, "She went out to look for Yellowpaw."

Annoyance coursed through Logpaw, all his concern for the ginger apprentice forgotten. Trust Blacktooth to care more about that sorry excuse for a Clan cat than me! He unsheathed his claws and sank them into the ground, not wanting Aspenwing to think he was being petty. "Alright," He mumbled, trying to force the annoyance and anger out of his tone. "Are we going to train today?"

***

Finchpaw followed her mentor, Vixentalon, as the pale brown tabby headed through the camp exit. She wondered whether they would run into Yellowpaw; the ginger apprentice had gone missing, not that she scared.

Fallowpaw might, The gray she-cat thought. Maybe Logpaw, but that mentor's pet of a cat hates Yellowpaw with all of his blood.

She entered the moor, wondering what she and Vixentalon would do today. Battle training would be nice, although she was a bit too bruised at the moment for that. But hunting was boring, and she would much rather tear out fur than kill prey. Especially since it was greenleaf; she hardly needed to hunt.

As Finchpaw followed Vixentalon, she couldn't help but notice that the grass was trampled in some spots, near the thunderpath that created the ShadowClan border. She could smell something else, too; blood.

"Vixentalon," She hissed.

"Hm?" The brown tabby followed her gaze as she inspected the grass. Her suspicions were correct; dried blood stuck to the grass, old yet fresh. She saw a tuft of ginger fur, and to her horror, a piece of flesh that looked like the tip of an ear. Even weirder, she could smell a horrible musty stench, and there was also a drag mark in the grass. It led to a gorse bush, which Finchpaw didn't take time to inspect.

Vixentalon's claws flexed in the ground. "Strange," He murmered. "I wonder if the wolves have attacked again."

Finchpaw shuddered, remembering how the patrol Specklebird had led had found Larchpaw, the deputy's own daughter. She had been mauled and apparently eaten, from what Yellowpaw had said. Larkpaw was suffering from deep trauma, and Finchpaw found the nightly whimpering quite annoying.

Yellowpaw. The name stuck in her mind.

"Do you think the wolves got her?" She whispered.

Vixentalon blinked. "Who?"

"Yellowpaw."

The warrior stiffened, his eyes widening and his ears flattening until they brushed his head. "That's... grotesque," He murmered. "It would make no sense. It could've been a ShadowClan patrol... maybe they kidnapped her?"

"I don't know," Finchpaw growled. "The drag marks don't lead to the thunderpath." Her claws sank into the earth. "Someone, or something, is the reason Yellowpaw is missing."