ωåтєɾfåℓℓ ➳ warriors fanfic

| chapter 5 |

"What are you lying to me about?" she tried again, this time more confidently and forcefully. Anger began to replace the fear inside her chest, making her heart pound quietly in her ears. She narrowed her eyes bitterly, waiting for either the medicine cat or elder to answer. The silence seemed to drag on until Sunclaw finally broke it in his slightly croaky voice.

"Cinderpaw, there's something we need to-" But Mossleaf swiftly cut him off.

"Sunclaw, not now," she objected softly. "Cinderpaw, when you're a moon or two older, we'll tell you."

"Tell me now!" Cinderpaw's claws dug into the ground below her, heat radiating from her pelt and along with that, anger and fear and sadness.

"What's going on in here?" 

Brackenstar pushed his way into the den beside the apprentice, his curious gaze scanning the den. Hawkpaw was laying in one of the nests, his wounds wrapped up in cobwebs while he slept as night fell over TideClan camp. Cinderpaw didn't dare meet her leader's gaze as he tilted his head at her, before turning back to Mossleaf.

"Brackenstar, Sunclaw was just about to tell Cinderpaw about you know what," Mossleaf whispered, blinking steadily. Cinderpaw's silent anger seemed to make her quiver on her paws, her fangs clenched together. Brackenstar's eyes widened and he stared at her. Cinderpaw had just the amount of time to notice the panic inside his eyes before he lept onto her, pinning her down with ease. Mossleaf and Sunclaw jumped back, eyes wide in horror.

He stared down at the apprentice, sorrow showing clearly over his face. Cinderpaw struggled beneath him, trying to throw him off with paws that were already weak from the border attack LeafClan had set upon them. She twisted her head and bit one of his paw's that was holding her shoulder down and felt relief surge through her as the leader jumped back, wincing only slightly. Taking the chance, Cinderpaw fled from the medicine den, Brackenstar hot on her heels as Mossleaf and Sunclaw watched, too shocked to do anything.

By now, everyone in camp was staring at the pair of cats. Cinderpaw's tired footwork made her tumble head over paws and land in the sand, her eyes screwed tightly shut. Brackenstar stopped beside her and pinned her down once more, although this time she was laying on her side. The last of her strength began to fade from her limbs as she gasped for air, drawing in deep breaths. She was aware that everyone was peering in her direction.

"Please Brackenstar, tell me why you're doing this," she gasped weakly.

"When you wake up Mossleaf will have treated your wounds," Brackenstar growled lightly, rasing a paw.

"Brackenstar, please-!" But her last attempt to stop him at knocking her out failed and her vision went dark as Brackenstar quickly cuffed her without harming her too badly.

* * *

"Please... no..." Cinderpaw suddenly blinked open her eyes, eyelids feeling heavy. Her vision was slightly blurry for a few moments before it finally cleared up and showed her the image of the medicine den. Mossleaf came into view, ears flicking slightly.

"Cinderpaw, I'm so sorry," the pale brown tabby mewed, rushing to the apprentice's side. "I never meant for this to happen. We should've just told you! But Sunclaw was right, you need to know what we were talking about. But I can't... I have to wait at least a whole moon before I can speak to you about that. Maybe Dovefeather would like to explain..."

"What happened?" the apprentice sniffed, lifting her head from her paws.

"N-nothing... just forget about it for n-"

"Ah, Cinderpaw."

A low growl escaped from Cinderpaw's throat as Brackenstar made his way into the herb-scented den, head held high. Cinderpaw realised that Hawkpaw was in the nest beside her, awake, his head held up as he watched with a smirk plastered over his lips. He seemed to mumble something, although Cinderpaw couldn't pick up exactly what. 

"Mossleaf, could you give us some space? And Hawkpaw, too, if you're well enough to move for a few minutes," Brackenstar ordered softly. Hawkpaw nodded. Mossleaf helped the injured apprentice to his paws and guided him from the den, murmuring a word of luck to Cinderpaw. Cinderpaw's wounds from the border fight with LeafClan had been treated with cobwebs and herbs, a cobweb wrapped around one of her ears.

Brackenstar stepped forwards so he sat in front of the apprentice, gazing down at her. She stayed laying down, not bothering to rise to her paws. He cleared his throat, returning Cinderpaw's confused gaze with an apologetic look. Cinderpaw couldn't wait to hear his explanation of his ruthless actions taken out on her. She didn't understand, why risk an apprentice getting wounded when they already had bleeding cuts and open gashes? 

"Cinderpaw, look, I'm sorry," he whispered, shaking his head. "I panicked and I didn't mean for this to happen. You see, something happened moons ago in the past, but you wouldn't remember it because you were only a moon old. Get some rest, Cinderpaw. All will be explained in a moons time, just as Mossleaf said. But be aware, you'll be stared at but ignore them."

"What happened while I was out cold?"

"Nothing you need to worry about."

"It seems as if everyone's lying to me..."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

His voice suddenly hardened slightly, his gaze heavy on Cinderpaw's neck as she turned away from him. A small wound on her shoulder stung although it seemed to not bother her.  The apprentice felt bad for not showing respect to the leader, although she just couldn't face him. Instantly, she lowered her head and crouched lowly, her tail held down, eyes staring at her paws. Brackenstar watched her curiously, his ears flicking.

"It's just... How can I really trust anyone if a medicine cat lied to me? Why was I even lied to? I'm sorry Brackenstar, I didn't mean to show any disrespect," she winced, blinking.

"It's alright, young one," Brackenstar accepted her apology, sighing. "I'd be exactly like you if I was in your situation. You'll find out soon enough, and when you do, be prepared; it won't be what you expected." He paused for a few moments before turning towards the exit of the den when he peered over his shoulder one last time. "Get some sleep, Cinderpaw. Forget any of this happened until next moon. I promise we'll explain every detail even if we have to sit under the stars at night."

With that, Brackenstar was gone.

Confused, angry and scared, Cinderpaw didn't know what to do.

She padded from the medicine den, leaving a small bunch of blood stained cobwebs. It was night, although the last time she had been out in camp it had been the beginning of moonrise. Now, the moon was about halfway up in the glittering star-lit sky. Amberpaw suddenly joined her, seating herself beside Cinderpaw. Sighing, Cinderpaw lowered her haunches and sat against the ginger tabby's side. 

Amberpaw glanced side-ways at her friend, her gaze curious. Cinderpaw noticed, but didn't return her look. She hoped that deep down, deep in the pit of her stomach, Amberpaw would tell her what happened while she had been out cold - truthfully. But the other apprentice didn't. She said that it was 'for her own good'. Cinderpaw didn't dare get angry at her, for that would just cause problems once more.

"I'm sorry, Cinderpaw," Amberpaw sighed when she saw her friend's disappointed eyes, "I wish I could tell you, I really do. But I have to listen to Brackenstar and the warrior code. His words are the law, too."

"I get it," she replied stiffly, shifting on her paws. "StarClan knows what's in for me when I'm told. Bluemist better keep me busy in training or I'll be asking questions. I don't like to be lied to. I prefer to know the truth even if it kills me."