Chapter 2

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"B-Birdstar!" Ashface exclaimed in disbelief. The ThunderClan leader looked coldly at the new warrior. "Yes," she replied simply, eyes narrowed. StarClan, why? Adderpaw thought desperately.
The ShadowClan apprentices stared in horror at Birdstar, their pelts on end. All except for the Swiftpaw. Adderpaw loathed the dark tabby, even more now that she showed no fear for the leader that stood before her. Quite disrespectful, Adderpaw told herself, but she honestly just wanted an excuse to dislike the proud cat.
"They started the fight." the apprentice stated, casting menacing glares at Ashface and Adderpaw. Though she-reluctantly-admired the young cat's bravery, Adderpaw felt anger churn in her belly.
Opening her mouth to protest, she was cut off by Birdstar. "And it was you who trespassed." Birdstar replied cooly, though rage shone brightly in her eyes.
Swiftpaw kept her jaws shut his time, unable to justify her and her friends. "Good riddance," Adderpaw mumbled under her breath.
"Adderpaw, Ashface, you will accompany me while escorting these three back to ShadowClan," Birdstar announced to her cats. Adderpaw peeked up at this. She had counted on being punished.
I suppose Birdstar has other plans, she thought, cocking her head at her leader. Then a feeling of dread settled itself in the pit of her stomach, and her ears pressed against her head instinctively. Or maybe it'll come in time. she realized with a shudder, her fur spiking.
Ashface's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "Yes, Birdstar." the pretty warrior meowed, looking perfectly calm now. "Y-yes, Birdstar . . ." Adderpaw echoed, trying and failing to keep the quaver out of her voice.
To her annoyance, Swiftpaw gave her a smug expression, as if saying, Scared of your own leader? Ha! What a weakling!
Adderpaw shook out her pelt, glaring at the apprentice, and set off.
Oakpaw, gold cat, and Swiftpaw were pressed together between the ThunderClan cats. Adderpaw on the left side of them, Ashface taking up the right position, with Birdstar bringing up the rear.
The ShadowClan cats didn't look happy in the slightest, judging from their angry scowls and lashing tails.
Good, Adderpaw thought resentfully. Let them suffer.
The group eventually crossed the border, and the deciduous woodland of ThunderClan slowly transformed into the dark conifers of ShadowClan.
Adderpaw noticed that the trees blocked out most of the sunlight, only allowing small shafts of it to dapple the damp forest floor. Mud squelched between her paws, giving the ThunderClan cat the despised feeling of walking in shallow water. The territory was lacking in undergrowth, providing little shelter for a cat to stalk prey. Adderpaw felt exposed, yet confined to the looming pine trees.
The tortoiseshell let out an involuntary shudder, and realized that Oakpaw had seen. Pretending not to notice, the she-cat went on walking, blank-faced. Instead, Adderpaw occupied herself with overseeing the territory, in case she needed the information for future attacks on this Clan.
The absence of foliage was a downside, since ThunderClan cats are used to the familiar leafy, green undergrowth of their territory. But the dark shadows cast by the trees could be used to their advantage. They could slink through the shadows, taking the ShadowClan cats by surprise.
The noise of busy cats distracted the apprentice from her thoughts. In front of her lay a dip in the ground, brambles covering its outer edge. How do you get inside? Adderpaw asked herself, scanning the thickets for an entry.
She had to admit, her enemies sure did well while building their camp.
Out of practice, the three apprentices led the ThunderClan cats to a gap in the bramble wall, slipping through. I'll have to remember that.
The bustle of everyday duties stopped abruptly as the cats entered. Adderpaw turned to meet the hostile stares of an enemy Clan, and realized how small she felt compared to them. She guessed she wasn't ready to battle these skilled warriors just yet.
Adderpaw stopped herself from surveying their muscular, lean bodies, fearing that if she looked any longer she'd race away in terror.
An old, frail white tom padded out of what Adderpaw figured was the leader's den. Though he looked sickly, his chin was raised and his foggy blue eyes shone proudly.
"That's Whitestar," Ashface whispered in her ear. "I hear he has to be at least two hundred moons old, and he still has nine lives left."
Adderpaw looked to her friend in surprise, eyes wide. Ashface's whiskers twitched in amusement. "Only kidding," she assured. "No one can live that long, and I'm pretty sure he's on his last life."
"What brings you here, Birdstar, and why are you with my apprentices?" Whitestar called weakly, limping over to the cat's with a pained expression on his face.
Birdstar's eyes narrowed. "I could ask you why your apprentices were caught on my territory by my warriors." Whitestar's eyes blazed, and his fur bristled.
The tom's smoldering gaze rested on the three apprentices, who were bowing their heads in shame. "But, what about prey?" an annoying voice spoke up. Adderpaw groaned inwardly. "We should take all we can!"
"That is ThunderClan territory, Swiftpaw, and ShadowClan do not steal." Whitestar replied gruffly.
Birdstar fluffed out her long pelt, ruffling he fur around her chest. "Well, then," she interrupted quickly in a brisk, professional manner. "We best be going." The she-cat turned, flicking her tail at Adderpaw and Ashface. The pair followed, and Adderpaw felt the burning stares of the rival Clan scorch her pelt.
She was glad to finally cross the border again, and a weight that was suffocating her lifted off her chest. She could finally breathe again! But not for long.
Birdstar had rounded on them, her face twisted into that of anger and annoyance. "What were you two thinking?" she scolded. Ashface shrank back, her whiskers quivering. Adderpaw did the same, bowing her head in respect. "I, uh. . . We figured we should've chased them off . . ." the tortoiseshell murmured, eyes on her paws.
The ThunderClan leader sighed, letting her eyelids fall. Her enormously fluffy tail lashed, rustling the leaves on the forest floor, creating a tiny leaf storm.
Adderpaw watched this, deciding she'd rather look at anything than meet her leader's disappointed gaze.
"What you two did was very brave . . ." Birdstar meowed slowly, as if choosing her words carefully. "But it was also quite foolish." Her eyes opened, observing both of her cats. "Ashface, you were just made a warrior today; don't let that go to your head. Adderpaw, you aren't even a fully-fledged warrior yet! What made you think you could handle this?"
Ashface had quietly uttered a yes, Birdstar and looked away. Adderpaw wished she had gotten off so easily. "I-I just wanted to prove that I was a valuable and fierce member of ThunderClan . . ." the apprentice mewed.
"And you are." Birdstar assured, licking her on the head affectionately. A motherly look had come into her eye. When Adderpaw had been left in ThunderClna territory by her unloving parents, Birdstar had found her and instantly taken a liking to her. She acted as a mother figure to young Adderkit, and still did when she grew into an apprentice.
Birdstar continued, "But you haven't fought one battle yet. This was your first border skirmish. I just don't think your ready yet,"
Adderpaw felt the familiar anger pulse through her blood. "In already ten moons old, Birdstar!" she protested hotly, ears burning with embarrassment. "I can do it!"
Birdstar looked hurt for a moment, then righted herself and her formal look returned. "As your leader, I order you to never take part in a battle unless a warrior or myself tells you otherwise."
Adderpaw let out an irritated huff, and stomped her paw.
"Ashface," Birdstar turned to the gray cat, who sat up straight as a stick as she was addressed. "You will clean out old bedding for every cat in the Clan, and bring in new bedding just for tomorrow. It's almost time for your vigil, so you may go back to camp and sit with your brother."
Ashface nodded dutifully. Birdstar dismissed her with a flick of her tail, and the she-cat hurried off.
"As for you," Birdstar meowed, turning back to Adderpaw. She stared at her for a long while through narrowed eyes, no doubt contemplated her punishment.
"I will let your mentor decide," Birdstar said, her tone full of finality. A mischievous twinkle shone in her amber eyes. "B-Brambleleaf?" Adderpaw spluttered, but by then, Birdstar had already turned away, her tail held high with a hook at the end.
Brambleleaf, ThunderClan's strict deputy, was very creative when it came to punishing Adderpaw. Though the she-cat was very fond of her apprentice, she took great joy in coming up with new ways to torture her.
Defeated, Adderpaw slumped back to camp, and to her dismay, Beambleleaf was waiting for her at the entrance, silver eyes narrowed.
"Birdstar told me everything." she meowed coldly.
Adderpaw didn't bother to reply. "Well," Brambleleaf started cheerfully. "I suppose that means I should think of a task for you, shouldn't I?" she purred with a wicked grin.
Again, no reply.
"Very well," Brambleleaf meowed starkly, stalking away with a wave of her tail. "Today, I'll have you rid he elders of ticks."
Adderpaw perked up in surprise. Just did the elders of ticks? What kind of punishment was that? She hadn't been assigned to that since she was first made an apprentice when she snuck mouse-bile into Robinpaw's mouse. She had never liked Robinpaw, anyway. Still, she couldn't believe Brambleleaf let her off this lightly.
Adderpaw's voice must have been evident on her face, because Brambleleaf let out a snicker. "You really thought I'd go this easy on you?" she barked.
Adderpaw's face fell-as well as her mood. "Instead," Brambleleaf went on in her irritatingly joyful voice, "you'll spend three nights sleeping in the nursery. You will be temporarily relieved of your apprentice duties, and will instead be dedicated to tending to the kits and elders needs-that includes cleaning away kitten dirt." Adderpaw's mentor mewed with a wink.
Adderpaw collapsed on the ground with a groan, feeling completely awful. "Come on, you stupid furball!" Brambleleaf meowed encouragingly, dipping down and digging her broad shoulder under Adderpaw, hauling her to her paws and leading her to the nursery. "It's only three days! I'm being quite generous."

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