A/N: Sorry it took so long to update!!! D: I've been busy... But here it is!
Stormpaw paced back and forth. Redstar had announced an attack on WindClan... And his sister was there! He couldn't go... No, he couldn't risk seeing her! His leader was listing off the names that would be going to battle.
"Whitetooth, Jaypaw, Viperpaw, Maplenose, Darkfoot, Rosefawn, Scarrednose, Nightshade, Sharpclaw, and Stormpaw," Redpaw meowed, while those entering the fight cheered.
Stormpaw clenched his teeth, and flattened his ears. Then he'd just have to stay away from Nova... This day just kept getting better and better.
He only just found her, and now had to fight the clan she was a part of! Oh StarClan, keep her safe!
Seedpaw looked sullen, so pushing away his own worries and problems, he went to go see her.
"What's wrong?" he asked, sitting beside her.
Seedpaw shook her head, and replied quietly, "Redstar never lets me go to any battles... I know she's my mother, but still. I'm a part of this clan, and should participate as well!"
"Yeah... I could talk to her," Stormpaw offered kindly.
She looked up, and asked, "You would?"
The gray tom nodded, and she gave him an appreciative smile. He stood, rested his tail for a moment on her shoulder, then padded over to Redstar. He waited patiently while she exchanged a battle strategy with Whitetooth, before she turned to speak with Stormpaw.
"What is it, young one?" she asked, eyes bright.
Stormpaw cleared his throat, and meowed, "Seedpaw is upset. She feels you don't let her take part of any battles, and that she should be able to participate, being a part of RiverClan. I mean no disrespect Redstar."
He added the last part, dipping his head.
Redstar said, "She shouldn't want to always battle!"
"But she-"
"Stormpaw, enough," Redstar said, glancing at her daughter.
Stormpaw frowned, and said, "Look, I know you're my leader, but you can't baby her like a kit! She's an apprentice, older than me, been here longer than me, and you have her stay and me go? I think that's a little fish-brained, Redstar!"
In a softer, less disrespectful tone, he continued, "You need to let her shine. Let her have her moment to prove her loyalty and strength."
Redstar seemed shocked at his sudden outburst, and took his words into consideration.
She looked up, and called to her daughter, "Seedpaw, you may join as well."
The white she cat's head snapped up, her eyes wide with happiness. Stormpaw's heart swelled at the joy in her face, and he looked back at Redstar, who seemed guilty.
"I guess I was excluding her... Thank you, Stormpaw," she said, then added, "Oh, and I think that she likes you."
With that, his leader walked away, this time leaving Stormpaw shocked into silence. Seedpaw... Likes him? What did Redstar mean by that?
He didn't have much more time to think about it as Whitetooth yowled, "RiverClan, let's go! Remember, we sneak to surprise!"
Stormpaw swallowed his fear, and ran after his clanmates. Sharpclaw joined him, excitement practically making his eyes glow in the dark.
"Your first battle, Stormpaw! Remember what I've taught you," his mentor breathed, matching Stormpaw's pace.
The little gray tabby nodded, and said, "I'm a bit nervous... But I'll do my best!"
But what if he runs into Nova...? Unlikely. There were plenty of WindClan cats! Besides, how likely is it that when they get themselves together and fight back, will Nova end up as his defender? Maybe Birdstar will have her do something else, because she's young...
But I'm young too, and Redstar still had me fight...
He swallowed, and RiverClan slowed to a quiet pace as they crossed the border. Tension filled the air, each cat alert. All ears were pricked, and eyes wide, looking and listening for any sign of WindClan. But nothing disturbed the silent night other than the quiet patter of their pads and the slight crunch of heather beneath their paws.
To our surprise, an angry female yowl called out, "WindClan! Attack!"
RiverClan reared up as WindClan streamed in, and in a matter of seconds, WindClan had an advantage and quickly pushed them back. But in that same time, RiverClan regained their minds, and fought back. Claws and teeth lashed out at each other. Stormpaw stared in a daze, before spotting a tom that had Jaypaw locked in battle. Stormpaw rushed over, and began to throw out a few blows Sharpclaw taught him, then a few random jabs in his side.
The warrior snarled at him, "Dumb apprentices! RiverClan must be weak to send such little furballs!"
He pinned Stormpaw down, knocking the breath out of the tom. Jaypaw hissed, and swatted at the WindClan cat's ears. The enemy tom's grip loosened, and Stormpaw leaped to his paws. Together, the two apprentices drove him backward, before he ran off.
When Stormpaw turned, his stomach did a flip. The moment he had dreaded, yet here it was. Nova leaped onto him, pummeling his belly. When his gaze met, though, her attack faltered when she recognized him. For a moment, neither did anything.
But Stormpaw was dragged back to the battle, and kicked her off.
"You may be my sister, but I fight for my clan," he hissed, attacking her.
His head hurt, and he raised his paw to leave a claw mark across her face. But when he looked her in the eyes, he couldn't. Instead, he gave her a hard shove and looked for a new opponent. Looking over his shoulder, he lost his sibling in the crowd.
"RiverClan, retreat," Redstar yowled into the air.
WindClan cheered as RiverClan ran off. When Stormpaw looked back, he caught a glimpse of Nova looking back at him.
I need to talk to her...
