A Misty Path (A Warrior Cats Fanfiction)

Chapter 10

"Absolute imbecile!" hissed Perchscale, batting Mistpaw over the head again with his paw. She winced as her aching head received another spurt of pain. She straightened up and glared at him defiantly, but when she opened her mouth to protest, he lifted his paw again, and she fell to the ground, her face throbbing. "Don't talk!"

Mistpaw lay on the ground at her enraged mentor's feet, trying to ignore the numb aching of her head, as her mentor spat: "You let a rogue slip between our claws! Who knows what might've happened? What if he stole prey? What if he took territory? What if he hurt someone?"

"If that happened, I would take full responsibility." Mistpaw ignored his hiss of outrage as she rose to her paws, and dodged his next blow. "But it didn't happen. So let it go."

"But it could've!" Perchscale's eyes were wide with fear and their green depths were filled with paranoia.

"So?" Mistpaw snarled. "Cinder and Holly are apprentice-age, what could they even do? They're rogues, do you think they would stand a chance against anyone in RiverClan?"

"Palestar's - "

"They're apprentices, trained fighters, they can defeat one or two rogues." Mistpaw stepped forwards so her nose was inches away from her mentor's. I can defend myself, too, she reassured her nerves as she glared into Perchscale's smouldering eyes.

Perchscale bared his teeth, but said nothing. Mistpaw glowered at her mentor. "They're helping us," she pointed out. "They saved us. We're in their debt." Perchscale opened his mouth to say something, but Mistpaw had had enough. She whipped around and padded away, head held high. Perchscale had taken her into a small dark corner behind one of the Great Oaks to scold her privately, and she stepped back into the light, looking around for Sandpaw and Mudpaw. She spotted Sandpaw's pale pelt, and was heading towards him before she was stopped.

"Wait! Mist!" She turned to see the rogue Cinder bounding towards her.

"Mistpaw," she corrected him. Cinder waved his tail, rolling his eyes.

"Whatever," he meowed. He looked at her, his gold eyes sincere. "I... heard what you said to... that tomcat." Mistpaw's ears flattened to the sides of her head, suddenly uncomfortable. He heard me? "I'm sorry."

Mistpaw blinked, her ears shooting up. Did I hear him right? "What? For... for what?"

Cinder blinked at her as if it was obvious. He plucked at the grass at the paws awkwardly. "Y'know... for getting you in trouble. I - I didn't mean to do that. Holly and I are only trying to help. Promise."

Mistpaw sighed. "I know," she meowed before she realised with a jolt that she was trusting a dirty rogue! I should trust him, she urged herself. He saved my entire Clan, and ThunderClan too.

Cinder nodded. "Thanks for sticking up for us," he mewed. "Holly would be thanking you, too, but she's not here right now."

"W-what? Where is she?" Mistpaw's fur bristled. If Holly was stealing prey or territory, she'd be in serious trouble from Perchscale.

Cinder noticed her alarm, and purred with laughter. "Don't worry, she's back at our home. Trust me." Mistpaw frowned but said nothing. Cinder twitched his ear. "You should get to sleep," he meowed.

Mistpaw rolled her eyes. "It's not that late."

Cinder flicked his ear again. "Yeah, but you've been through a lot. You need some rest."

Mistpaw sighed. "Okay, then." She turned away, but looked over her shoulder to meow, "Thanks, by the way. For saving us all."

Cinder's ears flattened. "You already said thanks," he reminded her. Mistpaw just twitched an ear and returned to Sandpaw and Mudpaw.