Warriors - The Rising Sun (old draft)

Chapter 9

It had been a moon and a half since Lavaclaw and Thornpelt attacked her. They both had been punished deeply, making sure they were 100% loyal. Blazepaw had gotten a new mentor, Longscar, the deputy.
Blackpaw was still edgy around Lavaclaw and Thornpelt, understanding why her mother disliked her brother so much. When her mother heard the news about him attacking her, she had scooped her up and calmed her. She had shot fierce glares at when he was near, but he didn't talk or look at them anymore.
Rattlesnake had taught her the basic fighting techniques, and she had impressed the mentors of how much of a good fighter she was.
Now Rattlesnake was pushing her harder and teaching her more complicated moves. Every day she woke up with wounds from training, and Maplepatch questioned them, but she just mumbled, remembering Rattlesnake not to tell anyone about her.
She padded to medicine den, stopping outside as she heard her sisters irritable voice.
"I should be an apprentice now. It's not fair that a rogue gets to be an apprentice before me."
"Hush, your time will come." Maplepatch soothed.
Berrykit wasn't an apprentice yet, her injuries were almost healed, but an infection had threatened to spread so they had to heal once again.
Blackpaw didnt mind, though. Berrykit had kept spending more and more time with Saplingpaw and Starlingpaw. She didn't want to think about when Berrykit would become an apprentice and stay the same den with her and Blazepaw. That would probably mean more thorns in her tail. And Blazepaw's.
She padded into the den, Maplepatch turned to her. "Hello Blackpaw. Come to see Berrykit?"
Blackpaw nodded. She was about to call a greeting to Berrykit when she cut her off.
"What do you want, Blackpaw?"
She stiffened, but padded closer.
"Berrykit, how are you?" She mewed, sitting close but not in range of her paws. In the corner of her eye she saw Maplepatch flick her ears and turn to her herbs.
"I'm better, no thanks to you." Berrykit said flatly, her tail twitching. "You never answered me, what do you want?"
Blackpaw felt like her heart was hollowed. "But we're sisters, I will always care." She said desperately.
Berrykit tsked. "You're no sister to me."
Blackpaw gasped in pain, and Maplepatch turned.
"Berrykit, you're being unreasonable!" Maplepatch exclaimed.
"Stay out of this, Mapleleach!" Berrykit hissed.
Blackpaw stared at her sister. "You're no better than a rogue!" She snapped.
Berrykit rolled her eyes. "Of course you know, you're friends with one!"
As if the words summoned her, Blazepaw appeared.
"Oh great." Berrykit growled.
Blazepaw seemed to ignore her. "Our mentors want us, come on Blackpaw."
Blazepaw walked out, and Berrykit mimicked her. "Come on Blackpaw." Berrykit rolled her eyes.
Blackpaw stalked to the edge of the entrance of the den. "Atleast were APPRENTICES and not KITS." She sniffed, her head up as she walked out. She heard a threatening hiss from Berrykit as she walked out.
She passed Starlingpaw and Saplingpaw on her way to the clearing, and she ignored their comments as she walked by.
She paused in front of Mulberrylight, who sat next to Longscar. Blazepaw came from the fresh kill pile, shrew on her breath and a mouse dangling from her jaws. "Here." Her friend said, giving the mouse to her.
Blackpaw purred. "Thanks," and she gulped down the mouse in a few famished bites.
"We will go hunting today, the clan needs to be fed. I hope you apprentices are ready to feed your clan." Longscar said, swiping the mouse bones away with his tail.
Blackpaw licked her lips, nodding. Atleast she didn't have to switch places. Memories of being attacked shot through her, and she shuddered violently, closing her eyes. She startled herself with a quiet whimper.
Mulberrylight curled his tail around her shoulders. "Don't worry. You will travel with your friend." He meowed sympathetically.
She opened her eyes and saw affection in his gaze.
She was surprised, the elders told her that he was disliked by his mother and father, for liking other male cats. She thought he would be hollow with emotions like she was from being hated, though she doubted he got thorns in his tail every morning.
She purred, glad to have a mentor as kind as him. Blazepaw bounced away with Longscar, stopping to beckon Blackpaw and her mentor.
She followed her friend, quickly catching up with Mulberrylight trailing behind them.
"What was happening in the medicine cats den? I heard Berrykit mimic you." Blazepaw asked.
She barely heard Blazepaw, feeling sympathy for Mulberrylight as he trailed behind looking at his paws. Did he not have anyone to talk to?
"Hey Mulberrylight," she said, waiting for him to look up. She saw him jump in surprise. "Yes?" He said, straightening.
"Come up here, and stop looking so miserable." She joked. Mulberrylight's eyes lit up and he quickly padded up beside her.
Blazepaw shot her a questioning glance, and she flicked her ears.
"I'll tell you later." She mouthed silently.
She turned her head back to Mulberrylight. "What's up?"
The mentor looked embarrassed, having to make an apprentice start small talk. "Um.. nothing really." He said quietly.
Blackpaw nudged him. "Tell me! There has to be something in that thick fur that's bothering you." She said.
Mulberrylight sighed. "Well.. I've got no one to talk to. Everyone dislikes me because... because I like other male cats."
Blazepaw gasped. "You like other male cats?!" She exclaimed. Longscar looked back. "Keep quiet or you will send all the prey running!" He snapped.
"You like other male cats?" Blazepaw whispered loudly. She heard a snort of amusement from Longscar.
Blackpaw wasn't surprised, she already knew. "So what? I don't mind at all." She said calmly.
Mulberrylight looked at her. "You don't?" It looked like she saw hope glimmering in his eyes.
"Of course I don't, furball." She said, a smile splayed on her face.
"But what-" Blazepaw let out an "oomph" as she ran into Longscar.
He shot her a glare. "We're here."

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The hunting was great. Blazepaw caught two mice and Blackpaw caught a fat pigeon.
"Good job apprentices." Longscar said.
Blackpaw smiled at Blazepaw