Seppuku

Chapter 3

Twistedpaw felt a strong feeling of dread wash over him, as he quickly headed to Nettlepaw's nest and shook her awake. "Nettlepaw, wake up!"

His sister blinked open her eyes, before yawning tiredly. "What d'ya want Twistedpaw..?"

"Do you know where Badgerpaw is?" He asked urgently.

Nettlepaw only looked confused. "How would I know?"

Twistedpaw didn't reply before bounding out of the den. The sun was barely starting to rise, though a few cats were getting ready for the dawn patrol. He ran straight for the deputy, Duskpelt, stopping at his feet.

"Sorry to bother you, but have you seen Badgerpaw? I woke up and he was gone and I smelt blood and..." Twistedpaw asked, unable to stop his voice from shaking.

The older black tom's eyes widened the slightest bit. "I know that no one was guarding the camp last night, and that now the entrance smells of GrassClan cats... I'm not sure but your friend might've been taken."

Twistedpaw felt his heart drop onto the floor. "No! He can't have been taken! Why would GrassClan do that?"

Twistedpaw knew that PineClan and GrassClan didn't have the greatest of pasts- they were always fighting or disagreeing over something, even now. Could PineClan have done something so bad that the other clan would resort to kidnapping?

"They think we're stealing their prey- they want 'revenge'. We have no kits as of now, so a scrawny apprentice could've been enough..." Duskpelt suggested.

"Well we gotta find-" Twistedpaw was cut off by the voice of a queen.

"What're you talking about? They took my baby?! We have to go after them!" Motheyes; Badgerpaw's mother, howled. Her black and white pelt was sticking up and she held a gaze of both fear and fury.

"I know Motheyes, we will. I'll speak with Miststar then gather a patrol." Duskpelt smoothly replied before turning to walk to the leader's den.

Twistedpaw could hear more cats stirring in their dens due to all the commotion, though he was frozen in place. Badgerpaw, his best and only friend besides Nettlepaw... was kidnapped?

The pale tabby caught a glimpse of white fur as Nettlepaw padded out of the apprentice's den and headed towards him. His sister then rested her tail across his back in a comforting matter.

"What's wrong Twistedpaw? You look a little shaken up.. have you not found Badgerpaw?" She asked in a soft tone. Twistedpaw was silent.

"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Grandwillow for a clan meeting!" Miststar's voice echoed over the camp, and cats gradually gathered around, most half-asleep.

Miststar cleared her voice, looking over the cats before speaking. "One of our apprentices may have been kidnapped by GrassClan."

Commotion broke out amongst PineClan, and Miststar waited for it to settle, then continued. "We aren't sure yet, so we won't move until tomorrow. I will speak with Sprucestar at the gathering tonight, and if necessary take action tomorrow."

The silver furred leader jumped from the tree to signal the end of the meeting, and sent off the dawn patrol.

Twistedpaw couldn't stop the growing feeling of dread inside of him.

Twistedpaw and Nettlepaw padded side by side into the gathering place. It was a large deep hollow in the ground, with a tall tree growing up from it- The Great Tree.

All at once, the PineClan cats ventured down into the hollow, settling under the tree. CreekClan was already there, yet GrassClan was nowhere to be seen.

The two clans waited for what seemed like forever. "Are those cowards even gonna show?" Nettlepaw inquired, fur bristling.

Twistedpaw could see she was upset as he was about the recent news. "I don't know.." He mumbled.

...

The lean she-cat padded carefully as she could through the grass that was taller than a fox. How could any cat live in this?

No matter, she thought. I have to find their camp.

Just as that thought passed her mind, she caught a thick scent of many cats. Most of them should be gone though, it was gathering night.

She slinked through the tall plant life, until abruptly ending up in a clearing where the grass was flattened. Could this be it?

Before she could go any further, they sprang.