Warrior Cats #1: The Battle of Thorns

Chapter Twenty

     "Birdpaw, hurry!" Starpaw called out, her eyes wild with fear. Her silver fur glimmered in the sun as she raced into the forest. Birdpaw, with much surprise, stumbled along beside her, struggling to keep his pace. "Wha- What's going o-on?" He asked, his breath coming in short gasps. Starpaw ignored the question and lead the fellow apprentice to a small ravine. She stopped there and took a breath, lapping up some of the fresh water. Birdpaw looked at the she-cat quizzically, but was grateful for the small break. Unfortunately, she didn't wait very long for him to cool down. She nudged his shoulder and flicked her tail towards a bush nearby. "A fox."

     Birdpaw shuddered and stood, flexing his claws stressfully in and out of the ground. "Why'd you get me?" He asked quietly, perking his ears with interest. The fox was clearly gone now, as the sharp scent was not as fresh. So, why was he brought here? Starpaw sighed. "It's Shadowpaw, I'm worried for him. He came back to camp with many cuts, but the real pain was for..." She trailed off, and Birdpaw found himself in much shock. "It's Nightpaw, isn't it?" He asked solemnly, and shivered as the she-cat nodded. "He, he won't speak to me." She let out a small wail. Birdpaw nodded curtly and turned, flicking his tail towards the path that they had come from. "I'll try to help you."

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        Silverpaw growled as Pinepaw ran his tail along her shoulder, smiling sheepishly. "Silverpaw, you know I love you." He meowed, his gaze attempting to catch hers. Silverpaw turned away and muttered to herself. "Pinepaw, just leave me alone!" She snapped, but the brown tom was too persistent. Streampaw, who had been watching from a distance, padded up to intervene. "Pinepaw, she likes another cat." She said with a glare. Silverpaw flashed her a warning glance. She didn't want Pinepaw to know that she had been meeting secretly with Birdpaw.

     Pinepaw nodded curtly. "Waterpaw, you don't have a say in this." He retorted shortly, his gaze focusing unhappily on the light grey she-cat. Waterpaw licked her paw carelessly and shrugged. "I guess I don't." She admitted with malice. "Unless Silverpaw has a say." She looked over at Silverpaw, who had been slowly inching away. Pinepaw growled and backed up. "Fine, I'll leave. Skyfur's calling for me anyways." He turned quickly and stormed away, leaving Waterpaw and Silverpaw glaring after him.

     Silverpaw sighed. "I don't like Pinepaw. I know he's nice, and can be funny at times...But, Birdpaw..." She trailed off. Waterpaw growled. "Birdpaw hasn't confirmed his feelings for you yet. And Starclan knows if he ever will!" She pointed out, flexing her claws impatiently into the earth. Small drops of rain had begun to fall, catching onto leaves and weighing them down. Silverpaw hung her head in shame. "You don't want this to work out do you?" She asked quietly. Waterpaw erected her gaze from Silverpaw's.

     "He's not in your clan, Silverpaw. It would be best if you stopped dreaming and took a look at reality. Starclan knows it won't work out, and so do I." She said the words meaningfully. Silverpaw sighed. I want it to work out though. If I wasn't in a clan, this would all be easier...