Warriors: The Broken Path (Warriors FanFiction)

Chapter 18

--- 4 moons later ---

"Okay, Stonepaw. Now, I know I'm not an official leader but you and your siblings are all apprentices now. Sandfeather is your mentor, and I'm Bloodpaw's mentor." Brokengaze explained to the adorable young tom as he played the question game again. It had been four moons since they all left ThunderClan, and they hadn't seen anything of Wolfstorm since then. The cats had found a lovely patch of territory for themselves on the other side of horseplace and the thunderpath, putting up scent markers along where ever they wanted the land.

Pain ached in Brokengaze's heart as she mentioned Bloodpaw's name. Of course she meant Stonepaw's sister, but her brother always pooped into her mind whenever the name was spoken. The white tabby tom nodded quickly, bouncing away to his pale ginger mentor. The apprentice was becoming very attached to the black she-cat, along with his sister Bloodpaw.

He's shy, but he'll make a great warrior. All four of them will. Brokengaze purred to herself, then pricked her ears at the sound of Bloodpaw prancing up to her mentor exhuberantly, her tail higher than the sky. Her clear blue eyes shined radiantly with utter happiness as she squealed in front of her best friend.

"What will we learn today, Brokengaze?!" The young black she-cat chimed brightly, unable to keep still for a single heart-beat. Brokengaze chuckled softly, amused by the apprentice's energy.

"Today we shall practice hunting for birds. We must make sure the wind isn't blowing our scent toward the bird; that is most important." Brokengaze taught, remembering how Bramblestar taught her back in ThunderClan. Bloodpaw gazed up at her mentor with huge blue eyes, listening precariously.

"Now, what can you smell?" Brokengaze encouraged, stiffling a small purr. Bloodpaw looked around diligently, parting her jaws to take in the various scents that penetrated the atmosphere.

After a moment she blurted out, "I smell thrush!" She glanced at Brokengaze, waiting for further instructions. Brokengaze held in the laughter that threatened to escape.

"That's a robin, silly!" The black she-cat mrrowed friendily, her red and blue eyes sparkling with entertainment. "I'd think with you having a littermate named 'Robin' you would know the scent!" She joked light-heartedly with her apprentice, nudging the little black she-cat affectionately. Bloodpaw's ears burned hot in embarassment, but she brushed the mistake away and beamed at her best friend.

"Alright, alright! Don't scare the bird away! What do I do now?" She pressed impatiently, persistant to learn. Brokengaze scanned the surrounding trees and spotted the robin pecking among the roots of a mighty oak tree, watching it struggle to pull a worm from the earth.

"Perfect. Bramblestar taught me a neat trick with catching fleeing birds. I'll show you, then I'll have you try it without an actual bird till you get it memorized." The black warrior instructed firmly, dropping into the hunter's crouch. Bloodpaw stared closely as her mentor crept closer to the robin, noting how the wind was blowing the scent of the robin in their direction. Brokengaze wanted to impress and inspire the young cat, so she placed each paw precisely in front of the other.

When she was finally close enough she made a lengthy leap into the air, and Bloodpaw gasped as the warrior completely missed the robin, clearing it by tail-lengths. The robin squawked in alarm and darted upward, but Brokengaze twisted mid-air. Her four paws hit the tree trunk and she propelled herself off of the oak tree, twisting mid-air once more right as the bird fluttered up inches past her face. Reaching out with her fore-claws, Brokengaze hooked the robin and dragged it to the ground, killing it with a swift nip to the neck.

Bloodpaw's jaw dropped to the ground as she gaped at her mentor with fascination. "Great StarClan, Brokengaze! That was outstanding! Bramblestar taught you very well!" The black apprentice praised in admiration. Brokengaze dipped her head, her throat vibrating as she purred in satisfaction.

"He was a brilliant cat. I know I haven't seen the last of him. Now, I want you to tr-"

"Help! Somebody, please! Help!"

The two cats froze at the agonized wail in the near distance, eyes widening. Beckoning for Bloodpaw to follow, Brokengaze bolted toward the caterwaul, determined to save the troubled. Bloodpaw was hard on her heels when they finally came across a small tabby and white she-cat being cornered against a tree by two large toms. Her amber-green eyes were stretched wide in terror at the menacing cats. The two toms whirled around when they heard the black she-cats hurtling toward them.

"Beat it, mange-pelts!" Brokengaze spat crossly, slamming into the bigger black and white tom while Bloodpaw barreled into the smaller brown tom. The toms hissed in annoyance, slithering away from the she-cat's grasps. "C'mon, Ripfang. We'll find other cats to join us." The large black and white tom growled deeply, his amber eyes flashing as the two turned and dissolved into the brittle foliage.

Brokengaze watched them go through narrowed eyes. Ripfang? Join us? That's very odd... She pondered suspiciously, but pushed it into the rear of her brain and turned to the cowering tabby and white she-cat. "You're safe now." She whispered softly, stepping toward the she-cat carefully. Bloodpaw slipped over to the warrior's flank, gazing at the cat with intrigue.

"Thank you so much, stranger!" The tabby mewed greatfully, relief flooding her hazel irises. Her tail was striped silver and black instead of brown and black like the rest of her body. Her lower jaw, neck, chest, belly and paws were snow white. "I'm Meowzie." She introduced herself politely, dipping her head slightly.

Brokengaze was flattered by the she-cat and she bowed her small cranium as well. "I'm Brokengaze, and this is my apprentice Bloodpaw. There are more of us back at camp." The black she-cat meowed. "Who were those two?"

Meowzie grimaced at the question and shook her head in disapproval. "A couple lunatics that keep trying to take me to this 'Wolfstar' cat. They're crazy." The tabby replied irritably with a small shrug, rolling her amber-green oculars. Brokengaze stiffened at 'Wolfstar'.

"W-Wolfstar? Impossible... It has to be someone different. It couldn't be my deranged brother! Great StarClan, what do I do?" The black she-cat began to panic, looking around as if she expect the lethal black and white tom to lunge from the dying undergrowth at any moment. Bloodpaw whimpered quietly and Meowzie looked bewildered.

"He's building a group of his own cats, Brokengaze. Maybe you should do the same." The loner suggested as if it were as plain as blue. Brokengaze snapped her attention to the tabby and white cat, hope spreading across her face.

"You're right! Let's get back to the others! Will you come with us, Meowzie?" Brokengaze asked the she-cat insistently, whiskers twitching. Meowzie stiffled a small purr and nodded briskly.

"Of course I will! This sounds fun!" She gave a small bounce and followed Brokengaze and Bloodpaw as the two sprinted toward camp. Their paws glided over the brittle grass with each stride, panting as they desperately tried to reach their destination.

Brokengaze felt a rush of new determination and resentment. Resentment toward her murderous brother, and determination to take him down.

I won't let him win! This is just the beginning!

--- Heyyy guysss! I'm doing good! My face is almost not puffy! Lol

So the end of the book will be arriving soon.): But no worries, if this book gets 150 reads before I'm done typing it then I'll definitly make another book! Just for you guys! Stick around for the next chapter! Please read, vote, share!! All that stuffz!!

I love ya guyss!!(: <3