WarriorCats 1: The New Clans

Chapter 13

The Clan gasped in horror, gaping at the limp ginger form spread across the camp Clearing almost three meters away. Brindlepaw reached out his paw as he stumbled to his feet, feeling the glares of Fernpaw and Buzzpaw on his back. Larkfeather hurried forward, rolling Dewpaw over and over, not wanting to lose another kit to StarClan. She sighed in relief once the she-cat saw that her daughters was breathing. "She's okay!" Larkfeather called shakily, resting her dark brown nose on Dewpaw's neck before lifting her carefully and bringing the apprentice to the beckoning Feathernose.

"Larkfeather, it's okay, Robinwing has gone out for herbs, just some Marigold and catmint, he'll be back in a little while. I'll take care of Dewpaw, while you can see what happened with Brindlepaw." Feathernose half smiled warmly, padding back to Dewpaw.

Larkfeather hesitantly followed out to her eldest kit, where Thistleclaw was guarding, telling the others to move away and continue their duties. She could see Moltenstar's confused face from his den, gazing down at the feeble looking apprentice.

Blacktip was sitting in the shadows, ears pricked and eyes narrowed in suspicion. An apprentice simply cannot have that much power. It's impossible. Unless... Unless he's got powers? Strength powers? the white warrior thought, waving his black-tipped tail along the ground, amber eyes trained on Larkfeather. Does she know anything? He snorted and backed out, turning and heading for the ravine.

Brindlepaw, panicking, flattened his ears and backed towards the twined branches of the border in Camp. "P-please-" he began, stuttering as he tried to get out of the exit.

"Please what? You going to kill us, like you did to Dewpaw?" Buzzpaw Darkfur sneered, his ears flattened to his head, putting one paw forward with a ferocious hiss.

"I didn't kill her!" Brindlepaw insisted, stepping back again.

"Oh sure you didn't, cat killer!" Hazelstorm snarled, jumping back when Thistleclaw's teeth were almost at her nose, growling in his kit's defense.

"I said move back, and continue with your CLAN duties not snapping your jaws at my kit." the muscular tabby narrowed his eyes until Hazelstorm and Darkfur slowly and hesitantly walked away, whispering to each other.

"Thistleclaw's right, break it up. I'll speak to Brindlepaw later." Moltenstar yowled, waiting until everyone had gone, before returning to Snownose. "Organize a border patrol and two hunting patrols. We need little cats at camp when I'm speaking to that apprentice; understand?" the gray leader waited until the she-cat nodded and padded away before turning and trotting out behind her, lapping up some of the drenched moss.

Hearing Moltenstar's words, Brindlepaw cowered against the ground, flattening himself in shame and guilt. He hasn't meant to injure his sister, it was an accident! But no one seemed to believe him... Not even Thistleclaw looked impressed in any way. He just shook his head, cast a disappointed look at Brindlepaw and walked away to check on Dewpaw. Larkfeather wasn't saying much either. She padded up behind him and nudged his soft body. "Come on, I think it's time we got some rest."

Brindlepaw was ushered into his den with a swift lick, as if even his own mother was ashamed of his actions. Fernpaw padded in after Larkfeather came out, Buzzpaw right behind her. "You believe me, don't you?" the younger apprentice asked quietly, hopefully.

"What? Believe that you didn't mean to almost kill our friend? Hm. Maybe. Maybe not." Fernpaw replied scornfully, flicking her head around and laying down in her nest right beside Buzzpaw's, who followed and copied her movements. The two were clearly and utterly in love, practically the whole Clan could tell. But they never said a word about it, not even to the other apprentices.

Larkfeather sighed and curled up in the Warriors' Den. It didn't make sense! Brindlepaw was so tiny, yet had so much force behind his claws! "I'll ask Blacktip if he can try to tire Brindlepaw out. Focus on his hunting, not fighting for now." the pretty tortoiseshell decided, standing up and striding out of the cosy den and into the darkening clearing of the DawnClan camp. "Blacktip! Over here!" Larkfeather called. She saw the white warrior prick his ears and turn her way before his eyes softened and he padded over.

"What is it, Larkfeather? Are you okay?" Blacktip asked, letting his eyes run along her coat for any scratches or bruises.

"No, I'm perfectly fine, thanks. But it's Brindlepaw. Do you think you can work more on his hunting and less of his fighting? Maybe more defiance, less attack...?" her voice trailed off, eyes meeting his.

"Of course I can, anything to help him control that temper of his. Take it put on the prey, I guess you were thinking, right?" Blacktip looked at his lifelong dream mate carefully.

"Never! I trust my kits, and neither of them have a single bad bone in their body. Brindlepaw does not have a temper, understand? Forget everything I just said, do what you want with him in training!" Larkfeather snarled suddenly in defense of her two kits. She spun and stormed away, tail lashing the air like a kitchen knife.

"She's changed..." Blacktip thought with a sigh, turning back to finish off his job of fixing the broken patch in the elders' den. Skypelt came out and smiled warmly at the younger cat. "You don't have to Blacktip, we're just fine in here, no need to waste your energy on us, is there Streakfoot?" the light gray-blue she cat called into the den.

"Yeah, Skypelt's right, fix it up good and tight so there won't be another draft coming in an' chilling me to the bone." the old tom replied gruffly, glancing up through the hole to Blacktip.

"Don't worry Streakfoot, it's almost done." Blacktip replied, threading a few more twigs through the remains and leaping down.

"Thanks Blacktip." Skypelt smiled and licked his ear in thanks, before grabbing a sparrow from the fresh kill pile and trotting in to share it with her beloved mate.

Blacktip turned away and padded into the Warriors' Den, spotting Larkfeather in the corner with her tail entwined with Thistleclaw's, both asleep with their heads an noses almost touching. He growled quietly, feeling the rumble of his throat as he decided to sit as far away from the young mates. "I'd do anything for you, Larkfeather." Blacktip whispered before sighing and drifting to sleep.