Runaway [Warriors Fanfiction]

T W O

Cinderbrook's calm prowl through the forest was torn to shreds when she caught the nearby sound of a familiar shrill cry. 

Hazelpaw. 

A quarter of a moon had passed since the shrimpy prisoner had been dragged into the camp, and despite her Clanmates' evident frustration, Cinderbrook had largely managed to keep mistreatment at bay. Although Aspenstar's general apathy toward others was widely known among the Clan, it was no secret that he still favored his only kit. The simple thought of doing wrong by him or his daughter was enough to defer even the cruelest of cats. 

That morning, Frostshade had assigned Cinderbrook to a hunting patrol with Dawnpool, Hollypatch, Sedgetuft, and Ryepaw. As usual, Cinderbrook summoned Hazelpaw along with her to "carry back prey". But the truth of the matter was that she wasn't eager to leave the helpless apprentice at the camp without her. She did this every time she left camp and had started noticing her Clanmates' disdain, but she refused to let Hazelpaw out of her sight. 

Unfortunately, this time, patrol leader Sedgetuft had insisted upon the group splitting up to cover more ground. Hazelpaw was to be left with him because he was arrogantly certain that he would catch enough fresh-kill to require two cats to transport. Cinderbrook had tried talking the dark brown tom out of it, but it proved futile. Indignantly, she ambled into the woods alone, praying to the ancient cats of the earth and sky that no harm would come to her new companion. 

The blue-grey tabby spun around, hazel eyes rapidly bouncing around the landscape. Off to the right, something in her peripheral vision flashed. Cinderbrook exploded into a sprint, dodging trees sporadically and paying no mind to the noise she created that was surely scaring away the prey. In a small clearing mostly occupied by a large boulder, she saw it––the glint of Sedgetuft's unsheathed claws.

"What are you doing?" Cinderbrook yowled, lunging recklessly at the tom. 

She pushed him off the smaller she-cat, attempting to throw him against the boulder. Instead, he found his balance and ricocheted off the rock, easily landing a few paces away.

"She needed to be punished," he answered cooly, licking a paw.

Cinderbrook scoffed. "Punished?"

"She stepped on a branch and spooked the sparrow I was stalking."

"I don't care!" She told him, stealing a glance at Hazelpaw. She appeared battered, but relatively unscathed. "I told you not to touch her."

The brown-furred warrior shook his head. "I don't take orders from you. Your warrior ceremony was what, a moon ago? I'm a contender for the next deputy. You should listen to me."

"Oh, you're a contender for the next deputy? Not when I tell Aspenstar that you interrupted your hunt––your duty to feed the Clan––to bat around an innocent apprentice who's here to help!" Cinderbrook's chest was heaving as she gradually lost the ability to control her anger. 

"I wasn't talking about Aspenstar's next deputy," Sedgetuft replied hotly.

"What?" She asked in confusion. "But Frostshade is nearly retired!"

"I––"

"What's going on?" A new voice asked. Cinderbrook spotted the dust-colored pelt of Ryepaw, wide-eyed and curious, followed by calico Hollypatch and cream-furred Dawnpool.

"Forget it," Sedgetuft mewed, regaining his composure.

Cinderbrook huffed. "It doesn't matter. Everyone, keep hunting. Hazelpaw goes with me now."

"I don't think so."

"Excuse me?" She asked Sedgetuft, irritation once more building in her stomach.