Warriors: Brightblossom's destiny

Chapter 5: A Reminder of Misery

(TW: Mention of abuse and harm)

It was now the next day and the gathering was going to happen soon and Ashpaw needed to prepare for when she left camp. "Follow me, and I'll show you the way to the twoleg barn" Brightpaw whispered as she padded to the gorse tunnel. Suddenly she bumps into someone, Brightpaw looks up to see Berrymoon. "So, where are you three off to...?" Berrymoon meowed.

"We're going to go teach Ashpaw some hunting tricks" Brightpaw meowed with a smile on her face. Berrymoon looked at the group of apprentices, then spoke "Okay, you three be careful and don't go near the border.

As they started to leave Berrymoon called Brightpaw back. "Yes Berrymoon?" Brightpaw meowed. "Make sure when you train her well, she is gonna need it when she leaves camp for the last time" Berrymoon whispered in Brightpaw's ear. Brightpaw was left with a shocked expression as Berrymoon padded away to the warrior's den.

Brightpaw then padded her way through the gorse tunnel and climbed the ravine as she caught up with Berrypaw and Ashpaw. "What did Berrymoon want..." Berrypaw meowed as he tilted his head. "Nothing..." Brightpaw meowed as she continued her way to the twoleg barn.

As they drew closer and closer to the barn The scent of a fox grew, leaving everyone on guard except Ashpaw who knew the familiar scent that belonged to Rusty. As the three came to the end of the forest and to the barn, Brightpaw's ears twitched as she got the feeling she was being watched, causing her to turn around and arch her back.

As the others turned around to look at Brightpaw, they were shocked to see a fox leap out of the bushes. Brightpaw leaped at the fox as she began to swipe and claw at the fox, causing the fox to yelp. "Brightpaw stop!" Ashpaw yowled.

Brightpaw now had the fox pinned down and was about to deliver a fatal blow as Ashpaw pulled Brightpaw away by the scruff of her neck, the fox jumped to their paws and they backed away.

"What is wrong with you, why did you just save that fox!" Brightpaw scowled while baring her fangs and claws.

"That's my friend!" Ashpaw hissed. Brightpaw and Berrypaw sat in silence for a second looking at Ashpaw and then the fox cowering not too far away. "They saved me when I fell into the river last night..." Ashpaw meowed looking down at her paws.

Brightpaw sighed and walked over to the fox. "Sorry about attacking you, my name is Brightpaw" Brightpaw mewed as the fox looked at her. "The name's Rusty, nice to meet you".

Brightpaw turns around and pads back to the group. "We should start hunting and stockpiling some fresh-kill for Ashpaw Before we go to the gathering" Brightpaw meowed as the others nodded.

"Can I help!" Rusty exclaimed.

Brightpaw looked at Rusty, they smiled and nodded, Rusty smiled and wagged his tail as he ran over to the group. "Let's split up and hunt separately, catch as much as you can then we'll head to the gathering.

Brightpaw nuzzles Berrypaw before they all run off into the forest. Brightpaw padded through the forest making sure every step was as quiet as the last as she noticed a squirrel prancing across the floor, before pouncing and landing one blow on the mouse as its body lay limp under her paw.

As Brightpaw buried and hid her prey, she heard an upset yowl not far from her. "That sounded like Ashpaw" Brightpaw meowed sprinting in that direction

Ashpaw slammed her paws against the forest floor barely missing a mouse "I can't even catch a mouse" she screamed as Brightpaw caught the mouse with one swipe. Brightpaw stares at Ashpaw with sympathetic eyes as Ashpaw crouches low to the ground trying to hunt.

Brightpaw padded her way beside Ashpaw, "Hey don't worry, you'll catch one... I promise" Brightpaw says nuzzling Ashpaw's pelt. "Thanks, I don't think so, no matter what I do they always run before I can get near," Ashpaw said as her head hung low and her ears drooped.