WARRIORS: GOING ROGUE

-Chapter Five-

When Sunpaw had gotten word that their resident rogue had gotten loose last night, she immediately felt worry. That cat.. no, that creature was horribly aggressive and obviously willing to draw blood and bone to get what it wanted. It also knew how to hunt, judging by the state of its breath (tragic, if you must know). It could starve her Clan by overfishing the prey they so carefully maintained, switching patrols from one area to the next, always ensuring their prey remained plentiful all year. Or he could race off to MeadowClan and wreak havoc there. 

A shiver went down Sunpaw's spine as she slowly sat up, eyes fluttering as Cloverwing padded over. "Sunpaw?"

"Yeah?" she asked. "Have they found the rogue yet?"

"No," the deputy said solemnly. "But me and Eelstar were talking, and we think you, Silverpaw, Ashpaw and Frogpaw should go searching for its scent."

Sunpaw was sent for a loop. Ashpaw, who had his head on her slender flank, looked up. "What?"

"You three have shown extraordinary passion for involving yourselves in Clan politics and listening in on adults." She chuckled softly. "Why don't you grab the other two and go looking for its trail? Don't engage if you happen to find it, just back off slowly and grab us. Not that we don't think you can't fight; you just can't fight that."

"Of course," Ashpaw said, stepping over Sunpaw in order to keep his balance as he stood. "Thank you, Clan Deputy!"

Cloverwing raised her tail and trotted off, seeming relieved that she didn't have to escort her nearly-adult charge.

They left their shaded spot and collected the other two apprentices. As if they were a hivemind, they unanimously and wordlessly decided to visit Jaypaw in the medicine den.

As soon as they entered the stone den they wrinkled their noses in worried disgust. It smelled like a dead fish was rotting in the corner somewhere. But Jaypaw was in that corner.

"Sorry for the smell," Cindercloud murmured, looking quite solemn as he sat beside Jaypaw. "He's not doing well. The clawmarks got infected."

"Why didn't you keep a hold of it?" Ashpaw asked, though there was almost no aggression in his voice. "The- The rogue, I mean. Why didn't you hold on?"

"I usually can command it to sit still, even if it's angry," Cindercloud sighed heavily. "But that day, I just... I wasn't prepared for it to suddenly come at me like that! It never retaliates against me. Not physically."

Sunpaw sighed. "It's not your fault," the golden molly murmured. "We're gonna go see if we can find it."

"Fair enough," Cindercloud mumbled. He turned and looked over his shoulder at them. "But please, if you find it, tell me, alright?"

"Of course," Frogpaw said gently. 

Together they all padded out of camp, nodding to Clanmates as they did. Larkpelt looked especially nervous about her apprentice going out, raising a paw as if to follow before being ushered away by Crowskip, her mate.

When they were nearly to the entrance, Thistlescar's kits came crowding around them. "Where are you going?" Heavykit asked, his big belly giving him his name. "Is it dangerous?"

"Probably," Ashpaw said, sounding a bit subdued. "And no, you can't go."

"Awww!" Blackkit moaned, the runt of Thistlescar's litter (she was more sensitive about it than he was, though). "But we're only one more moon from becoming apprentices! Why can't we go with you?"

"Because you're only five moons old, and we're all somewhere between ten and twelve," Frogpaw laughed. "You have a lot of really big duties to fulfil here."