-thinking of a (tit)le-

Chapter 2

"From this day on, until you recieve your warrior name, your name will be Sparrowpaw. Your mentor will be Spiderfoot." Lizardstar announced from the tree stump. Sparrowpaw touched noses with his mentor, wagging his tail happily.

"Sparrowpaw! Sparrowpaw!" His clanmates cheered. Foxpaw yowled the loudest, his eyes shining with pride.

Lizardstar leaped off of the tree stump, dismissing the clan. Foxpaw ran over and tackled Sparrowpaw. "I'm so proud!!" He purred. "We finally get to train together!!"

"I know!" Sparrowpaw jumped up and down joyfully. "We get to be denmates!!"

"Sparrowpaw!" His mother snapped from outside the nursery. "Shut your muzzle. I just put the kits to sleep!"

Sparrowpaw immediately scowled. Ever since she gave birth to his two siblings, Haykit and Robinkit, she's been showering them with attention. "Shut your muzzle. I just put the kits to sleep." He mocked quietly. Hurt glittered in his amber eyes.

Foxpaw rested his tail on Sparrowpaw's shoulder. "Don't worry about her. She's probably born with a burr in her pelt."

Sparrowpaw blinked at Foxpaw gratefully.

"Sparrowpaw!" His mentor, Spiderfoot called.

"I gotta go," mewed Sparrowpaw. "Bye, Foxpaw!"
Sparrowpaw scampered over to his mentor.

Spiderfoot stood up. "Do you wanna eat something before we go out to see the territory?"

We get to go outside the camp! Sparrowpaw thought, excitement making his tail twitch. "I'm not hungry," he mewed.

"Then let's go." Spiderfoot turned and squeezed through the camp entrance. Sparrowpaw eagerly followed him outside the camp.

"This is the MossTree." Spiderfoot meowed as they approached the tall, mossy tree.

I know that, Sparrowpaw was about to blurt out, but he stopped himself. He almost snitched on himself about sneaking out of camp with Foxpaw.

"Got it?" Spiderfoot's voice cut into his thoughts.

Sparrowpaw nodded quickly, realizing that Spiderfoot was talking while Sparrowpaw zoned out.

"Yup!"

"I'll show you the river, then." His mentor chirped. "It's beautiful there; you'll love it!

                                     ϟ ϟ ϟ

Sparrowpaw trotted into the camp with Spiderfoot. Foxpaw wasn't here yet, so he walked over to the fresh-kill pile. He took a plump pigeon from the pile and settled down beside the apprentices' den. While he ate the pigeon, a sleek warrior padded over to him. "Good afternoon, Sparrowpaw." He meowed.

"Hey," mewed Sparrowpaw, not taking his eyes off of the pigeon.

"Foxpaw is out on a hunting patrol," the warrior remarked.

You think I don't know that? Sparrowpaw lashed his tail in annoyance, but he didn't say anything. He looked up. "Don't you have a patrol to organize, Seedpelt?" He said through gritted teeth.

"Alright, sheesh." Seedpelt turned and trotted to the warriors' den.

Sparrowpaw pushed away the remains of the pigeon and rolled onto his back. He stared at his clanmates. They were upside down.

He let out a bored sigh. When was Foxpaw going to come back?

Moments later, Foxpaw burst into the camp with his mentor. He panted heavily, then let out a yowl. "IvyClan went onto our side of the river!"

Lizardstar bolted towards the two cats. "What did you see?" He demanded Foxpaw's mentor, Bristlebush.

Bristlebush dug his claws into the ground.
"Those dung-sniffers sprayed every bush beside the river. We also found rabbit fur and blood, too."

Lizardstar frowned. "I'll discuss it with Whitestar at the gathering."

"Discussing it won't stop them from driving us out of our home!"  Bristlebush spat.

"I don't want any blood to be spilt; I want peace." Lizardstar calmly meowed.

Frantic murmurs rang out in the camp. Sparrowpaw bushed up his fur. Will he have to fight these cats soon? He tried to remember the play fights he had with Foxpaw.

"Cats of SwiftClan," Lizardstar yowled, "calm down! There will be no battles. I will talk to Whitestar and discuss the situation with her at the gathering, which will be in a few days."

The gathering! Sparrowpaw had forgotten about the gathering. Now he was old enough to go!

Lizardstar scanned the clearing of warriors. "Now, who's going to be on the hunting and border patrols?" He asked.

While the cats separated into small groups, Foxpaw ran over to him. "I can't wait to see the looks on those IvyClan cats' faces when we expose them at the gathering!" He swiped at the air with his claws outstretched. "That'll show them to never trespass on our territory!"

"Yeah..." Sparrowpaw mumbled, but worry made the fur on his neck bristle.

Foxpaw rested his tail on his friend's shoulder. "I'm a bit nervous, too." He confessed softly. "Hopefully, they'll be too mouse-hearted to actually attack our camp." He collapsed dramatically on the ground and flailed. "Oh no!" He wailed, mimicking the warriors from IvyClan. "There are no trees to hide in and the wind is ruffling my pelt!"

Sparrowpaw giggled. "But there's MossTree-"

"Whatever!" Foxpaw cut Sparrowpaw off. "But do you see what I mean? Even if they do attack, we'll fight them off!"

"I guess you're right!" Sparrowpaw meowed, feeling less afraid.

Foxpaw nudged him. "Let's go get a vole for Cypressfall and Dogtooth! I heard it's their favorite piece of prey." He trotted over to the elder's den. Sparrowpaw grabbed a vole from the fresh-kill pile and scampered after Foxpaw.

Cypressfall's eyes shone with delight when she saw the vole swinging from Sparrowpaw's jaws. "You bought vole!" She purred.

Dogtooth stirred in his nest and pricked his ears. "Who's bought vole?" He turned to Sparrowpaw and Foxpaw and purred. "Thanks, you two. My belly thinks my throat's been clawed out-!" Before he can finish, his whole body trembled as he coughed.

Sparrowpaw leaped back in surprise, while Foxpaw stared at him cautiously. "What's up with him?" He asked Cypressfall.

Cypressfall sighed. "He's been coughing ever since this morning..."

"I'll go fetch Violetswirl." Foxpaw offered.

"No need," Dogtooth rasped. "This is n-nothing compared to the Great Snowstorm from when I was a kit..."

Cypressfall flicked her tail. "You still have to see Violetswirl, though. My ears are gonna fall off if I keep hearing you coughing!"

Foxpaw turned and trotted to the medicine cat's den. Sparrowpaw pushed the shrew towards the two elders "Could you tell me about the Great Snowstorm?" He mewed.

Dogtooth was about to reply, but Cypressfall flicked her bushy tail in front of his mouth, making his words sound muffled. "Let him rest for a bit." She mewed gently.

Sparrowpaw's stubby tail drooped. "O-Okay.. See you later, then.."

"Bye!" Cypressfall called after him as he left. "Thanks for the vole!"

Sparrowpaw looked back and smiled, but he couldn't shake off the anxiety that fluttered in his belly like a bird caught in a spider web. Dogtooth will feel better soon, will he?