Chapter 4

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Chapter 4:

Back at camp, with the fresh-kill that was left at the clearing- Icecrystal had made Badgerpaw get the rest of the fresh-kill- and made Badgerpaw wait 'til everyone else was fed; like always, anyway. Darkstar had noticed a change in Badgerpaw. He used to be a really energetic kit, who wouldn't listen, and nothing could bring his happiness down at all, to a non energetic, listening cat who was always sad. So Darkstar decided to find out what was going on. "Right, Crowfur. I have a extra important mission for you. Can you do it?" She asked Crowfur. "Depends on what it is, is it going to spy on other clans or something?" Crowfur grumbled. "No, I need to find out what's going on with Badgerpaw. I'll tell Riverfoot to put you on all patrols with Badgerpaw and Icecrystal, and you report back to me when you get back." "Okay, but is this vital? Is it important though?" Crowfur mumbled, still a little confused."If it comes from your leader, shouldn't it be important anyways?" Darkstar growled. "Now go!" Crowfur nodded his head vigorusly, before racing out. Riverfoot, the next morning, just as Darkstar said, put him on all the patrols with Icecrystal and Badgerpaw. Once they were out in the forest, Crowfur started to notice a pattern. This was a hunting patrol, so when Badgerpaw saw a mouse or vole, he'd tell Icecrystal, but Icecrystal would either ignore him or snarl at him to 'get on with it then!' Then, Badgerpaw, ears drooped, went to go catch the prey. Once he caught it though, instead of compliments or a little help, like a normal new apprentice gets, he got only harsh words. Crowfur, being a mentor to Littlepaw, this was a little... Harsh. They started at the same time, and it's not really fair for Badgerpaw to be put down like this. "Good job, Badgerpaw. Your hunting crouch was great." "Thanks, Crowfur!" Badgerpaw said, his chest swelling with pride. "It wasn't that good." Icecrystal muttered, loud enough for Crowfur and Badgerpaw to hear. Definitly going to tell Darkstar about this, Crowfur thought as Badgerpaw's ears drooped. He leaned down and whispered in Badgerpaw's ear: "Don't listen to her, you did great." Badgerpaw's ears stayed drooped. Crowfur cast a worried look towards the sad tom. Maybe he felt like he wasn't good enough? Crowfur felt like that when he first started out as a 'paw; and Icecrystal wasn't boosting that confidence. When they finally finished catching enough prey for the elders, barely enough, Badgerpaw, ears perked slightly, climbed down the trail of the revine, his three mice and a vole hanging by their tails in his mouth. As he set them on the fresh-kill pile, he saw Crowfur head into the Darkstar's den with a sparrow in his jaws. Her favorite, Badgerpaw thought. Was something going on? He snuck over to the den and tried to hide his scent and himself. "I'm worried about Badgerpaw too, now Darkstar; what I saw out there today was bad." Badgerpaw heard Crowfur talking. Am I not good enough? Badgerpaw thought worriedly. "It's Icecrystal, she offers no motivation whatsoever. And have you noticed how Badgerpaw has been eating only when everyone else has eaten, and is taking the smallest catch left?" Darkstar said. "I thought it was just common decency... But now I think that you should switch Badgerpaw's mentor." Crowfur mumbled. "Change my mentor?" Badgerpaw said under his breath, to quiet for anyone to hear. "That might be a good idea. Any cats you'd say would be a good mentor?" Darkstar mewed. "Yea, I've been thinking about it and, I think Sandclaw would be a good choice. Young and experienced, she'd make a great mentor." Crowfur nodded. "That is an excellent choice. Bring Badgerpaw to me." Darkstar responded, and Badgerpaw heard the crunching of sparrow bones as he stalked away, not want to be seen snooping. He saw that everyone had food, and he took the smallest prey he could find: A baby mouse. "Badgerpaw, Darkstar wants to see you." He heard Crowfur meow from behind him. "Alright, I'll be right there..." Badgerpaw whispered under his breath as he saw Icecrystal stalking towards him. "Oh no... What will she think about this?" "Hey, Badgerpaw, go search the elders for ticks!" She snarled quietly. "That won't be necassary, Icecrystal. I'll get Littlepaw to do it. Darkstar wants to see Badgerpaw at the moment," He started, then he looked over to where Littlepaw was, and yowled at her "Littlepaw! Can you please go search the elders for ticks? Badgerpaw is busy!" "Sure, Crowfur!" Crowfur suspected that she knew what was going on, and knew that Icecrystal wasn't a good mentor. Badgerpaw padded over to Darkstar's den, and said, "I'm here, Darkstar." "Come in, Badgerpaw. I need to speak to you." Badgerpaw slowly padded in, having never seen the leaders' den before. "So, tell me all about your aprenticeship, ever since you went into the forest for the first time. Then I will judge if we should change your mentor or not." Darkstar mewed calmly. "Everything? Even if, we broke the code? You wouldn't be mad at me?" Badgerpaw said, feeling low compared to the leader. "Yes, everything. You have to listen to your mentor, and if you broke the code, that is for your new mentor to decide." Darkstar said and nodded, signaling for him to tell her. "Okay... I'll tell you..." Badgerpaw said, and started to speak. After Badgerpaw had finished, it looked like Darkstar was struggling to conceal her anger. Badly. Badgerpaw slunk to the ground, feeling like he had been run over by a monster. "I don't blame you, I've realized that I made a mistake when I named your mentor." Darkstar growled. "This is banishment levels here. If the patrols had ever caught you stealing prey-" Darkstar was cut off by Riverfoot at the foot of her den. "Darkstar! Icecrystal is dead, someone attacked us on border patrol and killed her!" Badgerpaw's mentor was dead? How could he believe that? "When?" Darkstar didn't feel that sorry for Icecrystal. "Maybe as much time as it takes to eat fifteen mice?" (A/N and the mouse time has begun!)"Okay, have you gotten her body back from where she died?" Darkstar replied. "Yes, it's in the clearing." "Okay, Badgerpaw, go out to Icecrystal, I'll be right there." Darkstar ordered. "Yes, Darkstar!" Badgerpaw mewed, racing out of the den, and Icecrystal's body had been set up, she l0oked like she was sleeping, and herbs masked the scent of death. This was going to be one long vigil... Badgerpaw thought.


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⏰ Last updated: Sep 15, 2015 ⏰

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