Stars Without Borders

11

Fear engulfed Softpaw as claws dug themselves into her pelt. What had she done wrong? She had made sure to not cross the border and to back away when she was too close. The cat's weight wasn't too crushing for Softpaw, but then again she was small for a shecat her age. Softpaw let herself drop instinctively as her tail lashed behind her and she let herself roll to the side causing her opponent to struggle to keep a grip. Once she was on her back, she let her claws rake into the cats underbelly before kicking him off as he spit in both fury and pain.

"Fox-heart!" She growled lunging at the WindClan cat. It was obvious he was an apprentice from his size, but it didn't matter to Softpaw. She wasn't going to run. Turning herself in midair, she landed squarely on his shoulder's, making sure to dig her claws into his pelt as she bit into his scruff harshly and shook with all she had. The apprentice tried to drop and roll over, but Softpaw was quit to jump back and swiped at his side, claws meeting fur once more.

"Kittypet! Rabbits belong to WindClan!" He growled, but winced in pain, backing away from the ThunderClan apprentice.

"It was on my territory, therefore it was ThunderClan prey!" The shecat's tail lashed angrily behind her as she listened to pawsteps sound from either side of the border.

"Breezepaw!"

"Softpaw!" Softpaw didn't turn to look at her mentor just yet, she didn't trust this cat enough to turn her back on him, and rightfully so. Another cat joined the apprentice in front of the ThunderClan cats and Softpaw knew who it was immediately and dropped her gaze.

"Greetings Crowfeather." The WindClan warrior who escorted her and her blind clanmate not too long before dipped his head in greetings, eyeing Softpaw almost guiltily before glaring down at Breezepaw.

"What do you think you're doing on this side of the border?" He hissed and the apprentice flinched.

"She killed a rabbit near the border! Rabbits are for WindClan!" Crowfeather growled at the apprentice's response before prodding him with his paw.

"You should be lucky I don't let her turn you to crowfood!" The warrior turned to Firestar. "I am sorry on behalf of WindClan for Breezepaw's behavior. He will surely be punished for this." And with that they left.

"You fought brilliantly!" Firestar meowed and Softpaw's fur felt hot with embarrassment and said nothing.

"Here let's get this back and I'll send someone to fetch your other catches, for now I think it's best you see Leafpool." Firestar began walking off, rabbit in his jaws while Softpaw limped slightly behind him keeping her head down. It was her first fight, as well as her first victory, but the nagging thought of how Breezepaw could've easily been her brother instead worried her. When will she have to fight him?