Warriors: A New Beginning #1: The Beginning

Chapter 20

"What are you doing here?" Bushpaw demanded as Waterfall joined them. "You're with the rogues, aren't you?" Sadness and hurt glowed in his eyes. Wavepelt knew that Waterfall was his mentor, and they had forged a lasting friendship.

"I was." Waterfall lowered his head. "And I regret it."

"Why?" Bushpaw meowed. "You seemed to fight with them willingly." He narrowed his eyes.

"I fought with them until I saw Wavepelt die..." Waterfall suddenly noticed Wavepelt. "But—you died! I saw Sand kill you. How come you're here—and you look fine?"

"I did die," Wavepelt mewed. "But StarClan revived me."

"Okay..." Waterfall looked confused and deep in thought. He took a deep breath, then looked at the two cats.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "For running away from ThunderClan."

"Why did you run away?" Wavepelt asked.

"I felt like no one wanted me there," Waterfall said quietly. "Wheatpaw didn't love me, and I got...just depressed."

"Everyone at camp was worried about you!" Wavepelt exclaimed. Especially Dapplecloud, she added silently.

"Really?" Waterfall seemed to brighten up. He turned to Bushpaw. "I have to say, I'm impressed, Bushpaw. Did you go with Wavepelt? I didn't see you..."

"No." Bushpaw shook his head. "I sneaked into the rogue camp at night and freed Wavepelt."

"I was pretty weak," Wavepelt admitted. "I had to lean on him to get everywhere."

"ThunderClan doesn't know that I'm here," Bushpaw confessed.

"To rescue a Clanmate, it's okay," Wavepelt assured him. "Waterfall, why did you come back?"

"I...I want to rejoin ThunderClan," Waterfall stammered. "I was blinded by sadness when I joined the rogues. Then I saw you die, Wavepelt...and I couldn't imagine my Clanmates dying without me helping them. Then I realized that ThunderClan needed me." Then he added, "I was worried that you wouldn't accept me because of...what I did."

Wavepelt and Bushpaw exchanged glances.

"Of course!" Wavepelt exclaimed.

"Thank you!" Waterfall sounded relieved. "Let's get out of here."

They padded out of the camp.

"Wavepelt, can I ask you something?" Waterfall asked as they walked.

"Sure," Wavepelt meowed.

"Can you not tell the others that I left ThunderClan?"

"Okay," Wavepelt replied. "I'll make up something similar." She didn't like lying to her Clanmates, but it was for Waterfall's safety.

When they crossed the gorse tunnel, cats ran up to greet them.

"Waterfall!" Curlyfur cried. "Where have you been? And Wavepelt! Look at all those scratches! Do you need Mintleaf?"

Wavepelt shook her head. "They're healed."

"And Bushpaw!" Curlyfur continued. "What have you been doing out of camp?"

"I wanted to help Wavepelt find Waterfall," Bushpaw explained.

"Waterfall!" Dapplecloud ran up to Waterfall and nuzzled him.

Waterfall widened his eyes. "You were looking for me, Dapplecloud?"

"Of course!" Dapplecloud exclaimed. "I like you...no, I love you and I want you to love me."