Cloverpaw sat in silence as she again processed what had happened in her mind. She tried to ignore the young cat's sobbing as she choked on her own tears. She wasn't crying for him, even though it seemed right at the time, she was crying for her own strength. Cloverpaw's belly tightened in as she looked over at her shoulder wound, the wound that probably would leave a permanent scar. She sighed. I'm not strong enough to be a warrior...
Behind her, a sound of scampering paws rushed up to her. Cloverpaw turned around, and the two images of Sedgekit and Bristlekit came to her.
"Cloverpaw! Are you okay?" Sedgekit breathed, panting as he was out of breath from running. A kit can only run so much anyways.
"Yes I-"
"Of course she's okay, mouse-brain! Antstar isn't THAT strong!" Bristlekit laughed, but suddenly turned over to Cloverpaw, and surprisingly smiled. "You were pretty brave out there! I wish I could do that," he glared over at Sedgekit, "but Sedgey here would probably stop me before I could do anything!"
Cloverpaw mrrowed softly. "Well, I was only trying to protect my father. Any cat would do it." She paused, looking at the entrance where the WindClan warriors left. "Most cats, anyways..."
Sedgekit nudged Bristlekit's shoulder. "We'll be apprentices by tommorow. Maybe we can take revenge on those WindClan prey stealers!" He laughed, then looked at Cloudstorm. He was being treated by Greywhisker, and Berrystar watched on.
"I'm no warrior - at least yet - but I think you better speak to them..." Sedgekit flicked his tail, then his ears went up as a realization drew upon him. "Oh, right! Do you know where Petalpaw is? I wanted to congratulate her, but then all this happened."
Cloverpaw's eyes widened. She had left Petalpaw by the camp's bush wall, and the guilt started to seep in. "Uh, I'll go get her. See you guys uh, later!" Cloverpaw dashed off before they could say anything. She didn't want to hear why she was so nervous, but the pain inside her told her that Petalpaw would not be happy after what she had said and done.
She approached the tattered bush line, and spotted a shaken Petalpaw with a scar on her right eye. "Petalpaw!" Cloverpaw exclaimed, "What in StarClan's name happened?" She paused for a moment, and looked at her gash on her shoulder. Cloverpaw snarled in rage. "Those flea-ridden maggots did that to you, didn't they? I'll break their bones!"
"No, you won't." Petalpaw replied simply, as her state of shock went away. "That's a job for me to do. You have another job, remember?" She nodded toward Cloudstorm, who was still talking to Berrystar and Greywhisker.
Cloverpaw sighed, "At least tell me who did that to you. I'd like to know for a future reference." She licked her sister's scar, grimacing at the taste of blood.
"It was Hawkeye." She mewed, a hint of anger in her tone. "Frognose was here next to me, protecting me if those stupid rabbit-dung cats came by. And when Hawkeye spotted us as they were leaving, he leapt at Frognose and well....killed him." Petalpaw nodded toward a bloody trail leading into the forest. "They took his body with them as a "reward"."
Cloverpaw's eyes widened to huge moons, and she stifled a cry. "We have to tell Berrystar, this is serious." Petalpaw nodded, and the two cats ran over to Berrystar, skidding to a halt. Cloverpaw's shoulder screamed in pain, but she ignored it, wincing only a little.
Berrystar looked down at the two, her eyes narrowed. "What is-" She noticed the bloody scar on Petalpaw's eye. "Who did THAT?"
Cloverpaw stepped back, and let Petalpaw explain. Once the explanation was done, Berrystar looked at Petalpaw with widened, shocked blue eyes. "WHAT?!" She yowled in rage, then quickly turned to Greywhisker. "Do you know if Daisypaw and Honeywhisker agree with Antstar's terms? Can't they do ANYTHING about his reckless behavior?! We need this to stop."
Greywhisker shook his head. "They do not agree, but Antstar had told them that he will not stop unless StarClan orders him to." He snarled, "I don't know why that rat wants StarClan to order him. He's no where near holy StarClan material!"
A sudden gasp of pain took all four cats attention away and they looked over at Gorseleap, who's back was bleeding a large gash. Gorseleap looked over at the cats. "I can tell you one thing." He mewed curtly. "Antstar won't rest until WindClan is "healthy". Frostleap is his loyal servant as you may know, and he would be just as diabolical as Antstar once he is leader." Gorseleap looked at the ground. "I-I should probably go. I'm a rogue now... you wouldn't want me here." He used his last bits of strength to get up, only to slump back down. "Stupid wounds..."
Berrystar stepped up to Gorseleap and nudged him. "That is where you are wrong. We need strong warriors as this threat of WindClan keeps rising. You are welcome to join ThunderClan er, Gorseleap, is it? We need cats like you: cats with hearts."
Gorseleap smiled. "My father and mother hate me now anyways. What have I got to lose, eh?" He joked, then grunted in pain.
Berrystar nodded. "Greywhisker, can you tend to Gorseleap and Cloverpaw's wounds. I have a deputy ceremony to make, and I don't want anyone to miss it." Without another word, Berrystar leapt up to her den, disappearing inside.
"Well, that's orders." Greywhisker meowed, "C'mon you two, in my den."
