Turtlestar's Destiny: Book 1

~Chapter 20: Rouges~

~Chapter 20: Rouges~

A moon passed, with no activity from Thunderclan. Larkstar had returned from the gathering with the Winfclan cats who had joined her, this time Turtlepaw was not one of them. She bounded eagerly up to Otterpaw and Willowpaw, who are the only two apprentices that had gone. Larkstar felt they needed to show off their warriors to look more powerful, despite how vain that was. "How'se it go?" Turtlepaw whispered, joined Otterpaw's side. Otterpaw shrugged. "Fine. Thunderclan didn't even come." Turtlepaw gasped. They must know about how Honeypaw warned her! "No. That's impossible. They're just plotting." She thought grumpy, glancing at the nursery. Eagleclaw had joined it days ago, plump with Tigerstripe's kits. She wondered excitedly how long it would be until they were born.

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Turtlepaw padded out with Hollowstep, and Cottonpaw. Spottedpelt had been Cottonpaw's mentor, but there were no other warriors who didn't have an apprentice so she would just hang around with the ones who did. Turtlepaw noticed she was sad, but she didn't blame her. Once they reached the moor, Turtlepaw departed from the two and went hinting. She caught a rabbit and a thrush, then returned with them tightly held in her paw.

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Suddenly, a body crashed into her's, knocking the breath out of her and sending her sprawling to the ground. A tom snatched her prey and took off. She got up quickly, darting after him. The running training Hollowstep gave her really payed off. She caught up to him, pouncing on his body, pinning him down. He threw her off, getting up again and scratching her shoulder. He claws dug into her flesh, drawing blood. She swiped at his head, but he ducked. "Hey!" she said, "What are you doing here?!" He just smirked, running off again. Turtlepaw gave up the chase. She sat down. The tom didn't smell like a clan cat. "He must be a rouge." She thought, growling.

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Turtlepaw returned to Hollowstep and Cottonpaw. Hollowstep held a rabbit, and Cottonpaw had caught a vole and a mouse. "Turtlepaw, didn't you-" Hollowstep stopped short when he saw the long scratch on her shoulder. "What happened?" Cottonpaw asked quickly, eyeing her. Turtlepaw explained everything that had happened. Her mentor blinked and his expression hardened. "We must report this back to Larkstar right away."

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"All cats who can catch their own prey, gather under high rock!" Larkstar yelled that night. The cats grumbled a bit and walked over to her. "There has recently been a rouge attack!" The clan pricked their ears as if shooken awake. They whispered to eachother. "Turtlepaw experienced it. I suspect there are more than one rouge in out territory. Tonight we will go and find them, then drive them out." She jumped down after the curt meeting. Beepelt joined her and they started organizing the troops of warriors to go.

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