Blazing Darkness

Chapter 12

Dawn light filtered into the warriors den. Squirrelleap opened her eyes sleepily. The sun had just risen and cats started to stir. The russet ginger she-cat stood up and grunted as she stretched her stiff muscles.

She was tired and sore from the walk to the gathering island last night. Cold wind swept into the den, making her shiver.

Squirrelleap stepped out of the den into the cold air. Orange and yellow leaves were scattered around the camp. She purred as she saw Hollypaw jump onto a escaping leaf.

The dark tortoiseshell apprentice smiled as she saw her. Squirrelleap was about to go say hi when Nightpelt padded up to his apprentice.

The two cats then walked out of camp to go train leaving Squirrelleap alone in camp.

She decided she was going to go hunt. Even though she wasn't on any patrols. Squirrelleap trotted out of camp past Thorntail who was guarding camp.

The smells of pines filled her nose. She purred at the wonderful sights of her territory. Pine needles crunched underneath her paws as she walked through the forest.

She opened her mouth to the scent of squirrel. She dropped into a crouch as she saw the animal she was named after nibbling on an acorn. Squirrelleap crept forward slowly, making sure she didn't step on anything to alert the prey.

Suddenly the squirrel lifted its small head and darted away. "Mouse-dung!" Squirrelleap hissed. Then she heard a loud voice close by. The she-cat pricked her ears. She heard the loud, annoying voice of Redpaw.

Squirrelleap followed his voice until she was close to the border with Sunclan. She peered over a bush to see the red-ish brown tom growling at two other cats.

She recognized them as Lionpaw and Briarpaw. "I already told you, we were not even close to tresspassing," Lionpaw growled. "Then what are you doing out here all alone without your mentors," Redpaw hissed.

"Because we can be trusted to not betray our clan to go join some other clan on the orders of another cat," Briarpaw spat. Redpaw's fur began to bristle.

Suddenly the tom leaped over the border onto the Sunclan she-cat. Squirrelleap rushed out from behind the bush. Lionpaw stared at Redpaw in shock as he tore into Briarpaw.

Squirrelleap dug her claws into Redpaw as he lunged for Brairpaw's throat. She dragged the fiery apprentice from the she-cat. Briarpaw had a long bloody scratch along her face but nothing too serious.

Squirrelleap dropped Redpaw on the ground near a nearby tree on Cloudclan's side. Then, out of now where a Sunclan patrol crashed through the undergrowth to the scene.

Mistyberry, who was the lead cat, rushed over to Briarpaw while the other two cats, Smokefur and Berrypaw, were giving the Cloudclan cats hostile glares.

"What happened?" Smokefur hissed. Squirrelleap gave Redpaw a furious glare, "This dumb apprentice attacked Briarpaw." Mistyberry turned her gaze to the tom and snarled.

"Cloudclan needs to discipline their apprentices," Smokefur hissed. Squirrelleap wanted to slap the gray tom but she simply dipped her head, "Redpaw is not my apprentice but I will make sure he gets a proper punishment." Smokefur nodded approvingly and guided his clanmates back to camp.

Squirrelleap shoved Redpaw harshly. "What were you thinking?" she growled as they padded back to camp.

Redpaw shrugged, "Those apprentices are weak. They needed to be shown how strong a warrior should be. So I decided to show them." Squirrelleap cuffed him around the ear, "You stupid fur-ball. They are older and stronger than you so I wouldn't be talking."

The tom growled but didn't say a word.

When they padded into camp every cat turned to look at them. Squirrelleap heard murmurs as they saw Redpaw's scratches but she just kept on walking. She pushed through the lichen covering the leaders den.

Whitestar sat in his nest staring at his paws. He looked up as she entered with Redpaw at her side. "What is it that you need?" he meowed.

Squirrelleap pushed Redpaw in front of her, "This mouse-brain decided to attack a Sunclan apprentice when she wasn't doing anything wrong."

Whitestar looked down at Redpaw. "Is this true?" he meowed. Redpaw nodded, "Yes." The Cloudclan leader looked thoughtful before answering, "You will get a quarter moon of cleaning my nest since we have no elders."

Squirrelleap widened her eyes in shock, "He attacked an innocent cat! He needs more than just a quarter moon." Whitestar gave her an icy glare, "Are you giving your leader orders?"

The she-cat shook her head, "No Whitestar." "That's what I thought," he meowed. Squirrelleap followed Redpaw out of the den.

The apprentice gave her a triumphant look before passing away towards his den. Squirrelleap prickled with anger. She absolutely hated Whitestar.