Become a lie - part three

Doepaw blinked open her eyes slowly. It took a moment for her surroundings to settle in along with her pain. Stiffly she stood up leaving the sleeping Coalpaw. The den was empty. ‘Of course they’d let us have the day off.’ Despite her aching muscles and wounds the she cat was itching for something to do so she ventured into the centre of the camp. Every cat bustled about pulling their weight. Doepaw debated paying her mentor a visit wondering if she would even be awake. The apprentice had left her mentor in more than a rough state the night before and she had no idea what she’d be like now. Gulping the fawn coloured she cat turned her back on the medicine den. ‘I’ll visit her later.’ She idly thought time herself. The she cat didn’t get very far until she was stopped by Hawkpaw. “Why are you limping?” He tilted his head to the side puzzled by why the she cat was balancing on three legs. “I uH... it’s a bit stiff is all.” She meowed biting her tongue and hoping he’d buy it. Doepaw knee full well he could help her but she was reluctant to have to eat nasty herbs. Hawkpaw shook his head. “You better (insert med cats name here XD) to check it out. I would but I’m collecting herbs. And no, you cant come.” He meowed sternly before turning his back on her and padded away. Doepaw stood there looking dumbfounded. She sighed and turned towards the medicine den. Reluctantly she headed towards it. (THAT WAS SO LONG)

"Be careful," he warned her, eyes clouding with worry. Mousestar knew it was probably the worst time to tell her about their clanmate, but he didn't keep secrets from his mate. "She was out hunting earlier this morning. We found her near the borderline covered in blood... Dead. I'm sorry."

(We can time skip. I'm thinking about making an open thread with Mousestar making a clan announcement in case anyone wanted to join it. I might turn it into a clan plot going to war with ReedClan)

Hazelpel’s eyes shot open. “Gone?” She croaked sitting up too quickly. She whined and fell back down again. “W-what do you mean?” She gasped, pushing aside her pain and drowsiness. Now fully awake.

Doepaw‘s ear Pricked up at the conversations between the two. Although it sounded muffled despite how close by they were. Doepaw struggled to tell if it was a dream or reality. The she cat decided to shrug it off. Whatever was happening whether she was dreaming or not she didn’t seem to mind. For now she wanted to rest. And hopefully tomorrow would bring no foxes nor intruders.

(time skip? Unless you have Smth planned)

(I laughed at that lol poor Doepaw, so tired)

Coalpaw watched her. She looked finally at peace. He could sense his mentor standing above them. "How is she?" Jumpwing asked quietly. Coalpaw stared at her longer. "She's tired," he answered simply.

Jumpwing nodded. "Get some rest." Coalpaw didn't move. While he could have gone back to his comfortable and warm nest, he just lie there next to his denmate, a feeling of ease finally setting in.

Mousestar wrapped his tail around Hazelpelt. It hurt to see her like this. "That was brave of her... I'm sure you're proud." He murmured in agreement. He was thankful for Doepaw, but he began to wonder if he made a mistake in giving Doepaw a runner for a mentor. He wouldn't say it out loud, though. He knew Hazelpelt wanted an apprentice for a long time. Secretly, he hadn't seen a lot of strength in Doepaw when she was young, so he didn't give her a striker for a mentor. He could see the hopeful glow in Hazelpelt's eyes that day. They weren't getting a lot of kits. In fact, Jaymoon's kits were the last in the nursery, and it has been six moons now. Mousestar buried his nose into her fur. "Appledove is gone," he told her softly. "She was alone."

(poor Appledove. She had so much potential.)

Coalpaw just lay there, and after several moments of comforting darkness around him, he opened his eyes to be met with Doepaw and being surrounded by their other clanmates' concerned whispering. The apprentice breathed heavily. He didn't even want to speak as it seemed like too much energy would be taken from him.

"Doepaw is going to be okay," Jumpwing told the warrior. "I'll check on her. She isn't in as bad condition as you are." The dark-furred tom dipped his head and exited the den, heading back towards Coalpaw and Doepaw. His pelt was stained with blood, but he was more lucky to not have gotten any scratches today.

Mousestar sat, looking down at his mate. It was lucky that Doepaw knew something about healing, or perhaps Hazelpelt would be gone right now and Mousestar would have never had the chance to say goodbye, like Appledove. He feared a lonely death for her. His gaze fell, guilt and anger tore at him.

Doepaw could barely even lift her head. It had taken all Her strength to get back to camp and now she had none left. Doepaw closed Her eyes. She didn’t even remotely mind being close to Coalpaw. In fact it was kind of comforting.

Hazelpelt winced as she touched the ground. They’d tried to lower her gently but it still hurt. “What happened?” She heard Hawkpaw blurt out. Her vision was blurry but she could still make out some of the cats. “They were attacked by a fox.” Meowed Milkwhisper in response. “She has cobwebs on her?“ meowed Hawkpaw again. “Doepaw put them there to stop the bleeding.” Meowed Milkwhisper. Hazelpelt drifted in and out of consciousness as the medicine cats hurried to patch her up before too much more blood was lost.

”Hazelpelt?” A foggy voice called. The she cat blinked open her eyes slowly. “Good you can hear me.” It was Hawkpaw again. He gave the she cat a soft smile. “How are you feeling?” Hazelpelt made an attempt to get up and the Tom put a paw to her shoulder and shook his head. “W-where’s... Doepaw?” she croaked.

Hazelpelt lifted her head and forced herself to stand. She wobbled and almost collapsed. If it hadn’t have been for the others helping her she would have.

Doepaw hesistated. “This is not the time for you to go off at me. I made a mistake once but how could I predict the fox would attack us?” She hissed annoyance boiling into fury. “I did what I had to. If I left her she would’ve died.” The apprentice turned around attempting to walk away. In her moment of anger and frustration at her clanmate she forgot about her pain. But she was reminded about it all too quickly. The pressure on her back leg made the apprentice crumple to the ground, as she howled in agony.

"And you wouldn't get in the way," he snapped. "You're not supposed to be fighting foxes. That is left up to the strikers, and you could have killed us yesterday." Coalpaw let out a frustrated sigh, shaking his head. He struggled to his paws. "I'm not going to argue with you about it."

Why can't she understand? He thought, feeling annoyance poke at his chest. Why do I care?

"Okay, we're going to get you up," Mousestar told her, pushing against her side. "You need to try to stand. You can put your weight on us." Jumpwing stood on the other side of the warrior, pressing against her and urging her to stand. "We got you."

Doepaw snorted. “What good what that have done? Then you’d have an intruder and a fox on your hands.” She drew away from him a little taken aback by his response. It hurt. She couldn’t understand why it stung so bad but it did.

Hazelpelt looked up at him and weakly gave him a smile. Her head fell back down again unable to keep it up longer.

Coalpaw looked down at his paws. She wanted to come out here? After what happened the day before? He wasn't sure what to think of it. "Things happen," he sighed. "Mousestar should have made you apprentices two days late."

Mousestar watched his clanmate to make sure he was okay, and then began to walk back at a quickened pace. Now he felt a shadow of fear looming over him once more. Two injured apprentices and one warrior in critical shape and blood smearing the field? That was bound to attract more foxes nearby, if they didn't get out fast enough. They finally came into view and Mousestar's ears pricked at the dight of his mate still laying limp on the forest floor. He ran foward until he reached her and put his cheek to hers. "Hazelpelt?" He whispered.

Coalpaw rested his tail on Doepaw's shoulder and looked her in the eyes with his own green orbs. "She will be okay," he meowed softly. "Jumpwing and the others will be back soon. She'll make it." He said this, though wasn't entirety sure of himself. He just wanted to help calm her in that moment, and he was worried about what happened to the rest of the patrol. They seemed to be gone a while.

As much as the tom didn't want to leave his littermate's body lying there with a hungry fox attracted to the scent of death, he knew his friend was right. He closed his eyes tightly and forced himself to pull away. "Okay," he said, clearing his throat. "If you think you can carry her on your own, then do it. But if not, we will need to come back for her later. We need all the strength we can get to haul Doepaw and Hazelpelt back." The tom blinked away tears and they began to stain his cheeks with damp streaks. He would have trouble getting the two back with only the help of Jumpwing. Coalpaw was in bad condition, and Mousestar knew he was too small to bare the weight of his mate.

Doepaw nodded and quickly grabbed the cobwebs from him. She applied them to the worst wounds to prevent anymore bleeding. She sat up satisfied with the result. “All we can do now is wait.” she meowed solemnly. She could still see her mentor’s flank rise and fall but it was slower than before. ‘Come on starclan you can’t take her away yet!’ She begged.

Milkwhipser dropped his head at the sight of Appledove. He knew how horrible it must be to his leader to find his sister dead. But the Tom cat also knew that if they didn’t hurry they’d find Hazelpelt, Mousestar’s mate, also dead. Milkwhisper burried his head into his clanmate. “Rest well.” He meowed before getting to his paws. “Mousesta, I hate to boss you about but we must return to Doepaw and Hazelpelt. If we don’t they could very well die too.” He looked down at his leader sadly. “I can carry her body.”

Blinking, Coalpaw nodded and got to his paws, limping towards the boulder. In all the excitement, his judgement was clouded. He surveyed the rocks and stuck his paws around the bottom, scraping his claws along it until a bundle stuck to his pads. It wasn't a lot, but it was something at least. He limped back to Doepaw with the bundle. "That's good. Can you see the wounds?"

Mousestar pressed his nose to the air and followed the scent. It became stronger and stronger, until they eventually came upon the reason for it. He stopped, feeling his heart drop in his chest. The leader's lip quivered. "Is that..." His voice failed him and he choked on his words. His paws became heavy like stone, but after a few heart-wrenching seconds he was able to push himself forward and he collapsed next to the body. "Appledove?" He whispered. His body shook violently as he pressed his nose to her cold fur.

Doepaw took a deep breath in to calm herself. “I can’t walk.“ she meowed. “Please can you get me some if I don’t try she certainly will die.” She turned her head back to her mentor. ‘Hold on Hazelpelt... please starclan... let her live.’ She crouched down beside her mentor and cleaned her fur. The bitter taste of blood filled her mouth and clogged her other senses but she kept pressing in an attempt to find where the blood actually was. “She’s not as bad as we thought some of this is the foxes blood.” Doepaw meowed, relief washing over Her. They stood a chance if they could get the cobwebs shed survive.

Milkwhisper looked up in response to his leader. He was anxious to get back to his sister but padded over to see what it was that made the air reek.

Doepaw managed to get onto three legs. Hazelpelt groaned in response to his question. “We can’t move her.” Meowed Doepaw. She turned to look into the tom cat’s eyes. “She’s lost too much blood and will die before we get there.” Her sides huffed heavy. She knew it in the back of her mind but saying it out loud made the situation all too real. The apprentice suddenly remembered that Hawkpaw had taught her some basic herbs. “I might be able to help her...” She began. “But I need cobwebs. If we can patch her up we can wait a little while longer for the others to come back and help her.” ’But we might be too late.’ She added in the back of her mind. However, she wasn’t going to worry Coalpaw although she suspected that he already knew This.

Coalpaw crouched closer to the two cats. The fox scent was still fresh, but they were gone. He could see them in the distance, nipping at the beast's heels. Coalpaw shivered. The blood just got heavier. "We're going to have to get her back ourselves. Hazelpelt, can you stand?"

Doepaw blinked her eyes open. Forcing herself to try and stand up. Once on her paws she whimpered and fell back down again. “Coalpaw?” She croaked lifting her head up to get a better look at the blurry charcoal Tom. She recognised his scent but couldn’t make him out. “Where’d everyone go?” She forced herself To sit up. it was the best she could manage. Her eyes scanned her mentor as she took in her wounds. “Hazelpelt are you alright?!” She croached down beside her.

Hazelpelt‘s eyes shot up as she took in her surroundings. Her sides ached as she took deep breaths. she couldn’t bring herself to talk, she was only able to look the two apprentices before her eyes rolled back and a whine parted from her jaw.

Coalpaw glanced over his shoulder where Doepaw lay beside her mentor. He looked between the fox and the two defeated cats. Hesitantly, he fell back and let the three other warriors close in on the fox. Rushing to Doepaw and Hazelpelt, he prodded his denmate's mentor gently. She was in rough shape. It looked like an injury that she would have trouble surviving. "Hazelpelt? Doepaw? Are you okay?"

Mousestar stepped back. "We need to drive it away." He had no intention to kill. It may have caused them harm, but it wasn't trying to fight back now. Killing a defenceless creature for something other than to feed his clan wasn't anything he stood for. "Once we do that, we will come back for the others. Coalpaw," he looked behind them. "Keep an eye on them."

The apprentice nodded at his leader's order, though he silently prayed that they wouldn't actually leave him there with two injured cats.

Doepaw could barely keep on her legs. She was more than thankful to see the patrol arrive. She stayed where she was protectively over her mentor. Her impulsiveness dying down as her pain clouded her head. Doepaw wobbily stepped aside from her mentor and collapsed. Milkwhsiper had no time to check on his sister and her apprentice he lunged at the fox snarling to back it into a corner. The fox’s ears pinned back. It knew it was trapped. Outnumbered. Defeated.

Doepaw had been grabbed by her scuff and thrown away like an unwanted kit. She shakily got to her legs as the fox returned its attention on her wounded mento. Doepaw held her breath not believing her next move. She ran at the young fox and leaped onto its back. She bit into its scruff hearing a howl of pain part from the cats jaws and dug her claws into its back and raked them along it, copying some of the moves she’d seen Coalpaw do the day before. “An intuder and now a fox?” She growled in her attempt to cling on. The fox threw her to the ground and she yelped as her back leg hit into a rock.

Milkwhsiper nodded as he Parted from his den. “Jumpwing, Coalpaw I need you both on a patrol. Now.” He meowed as he approached the two. “We are going to chase off the fox.”

Doepaw rushed to her paws but whimpered as pressure came onto her back leg. she limped sheepishly over to her mentor. Her wounds from yesterday had reopened and were getting steadily worse. Her own blood splattered her usually silky brown pelt. Doepaw caught a glimpse of her back leg that was twisted in an usual position. The fox lunged at her and she swiped its face. Clawing across its eye. The fox snarled furiously. Big mistake.

Coalpaw shrugged in response to the other tom as he turned to follow him. He figured Deerpaw was excited about what happened earlier, a complete opposite reaction to what Coalpaw did yesterday. Usually, he would have boasted to Deerpaw and Foxkit about things like this. Fighting off an intruder was a big deal, usually. But he wasn't willing to admit it scared him to think of what could have happened to him, and he didn't want to talk about it.

Mousestar exited his den and headed for the territory. Worry tore at him, but he tried not to show it. His mate had left to go hunting alone earlier, and as a runner, she had no fighting experience to defend herself. His heart ached at the idea. He shouldn't have let her go out on her own, especially not after the incident from the day before. "Milkwhisper, gather a patrol and meet me outside quickly."

Doepaw giggled at her mentors impression of her stuck up brother, Deerpaw, and his mentor, Milkwhisper. (Hazelpelt’s brother.) the unsuspecting cats had finally reached the border. Unaware to the fox that lurked behind them as the wind was blowing away from them. it all happened too fast. Suddenly, Hazelpelt was on the ground, blood spewing from her ripped shoulder. Doepaw cried out in terror and in fear as the fox picked up her mentor and through her against a rock. The warrior lay limp, no movement.

Deerpaw grinned proudly. “Like I said I’m so stealthy That it didn’t even notice me.” The Tom cat turned around looking for his sister. “Hey did you see where Doepaw went?” he asked curiously before shrugging it off. “Probably to cause more trouble. Cmon I want to tell the other apprentices what happened.” He bossed Coalpaw.

Doepaw leaped over to Her mentor instead of fleeing for her life. The fox she was up against was a young one but still almost twice the size of herself. Course muscles ripples across its body from obvious battles it had been in before. Her second day as an apprentice and she was already in another battle. She quickly analysed her situation and put herself between the fox and her mentor. She snarled ferociously at the fox. “come and get me.” she hissed, sounding braver than she felt despite the adrenaline pumping through her veins.

This was the last thing Mousestar wanted to hear. He let out a sigh and stopped pacing. He simply stared at the ground for a few silent moments before looking at his warrior. "You are one of my most trusted warriors, Milkwhisper," he said with a nod. "I can trust you with this, but I am going with you." He trusted Milkwhisper with his life, but with intruders showing up on their land and a fox almost on the very same day, he had more lives to spare.

"And you got close to it?" Coalpaw blinked, surprised. He didn't even notice the two walk away. He felt his fur bristle at the thought of coming across a fox. He hadn't even seen one himself yet, but the way his clanmates described them, he wasn't sure he wanted to. "I can't believe it didn't smell you!"

Milkwhisper sheepishly entered the den. “A fox was sighted near our borders with Sunclan.” The Tom could tell his leader was troubled but decided not to press him. “I could gather a patrol and chase it off?” He suggested.

Deerpaw grinned. “Yeah crazy isn’t it? It was right there and could’ve attacked me! Of course I’m far too stealthy for it.” Meowed the Tom boastfully.

Doepaw rolled her eyes. She padded on slightly further ahead of Coalpaw and Deerpaw. She spotted her mentor and asked if they could go out now. “Why of course that’s a good idea. It won’t be sundown for awhile yet so I may be able to teach you some tips.” Her mentor winked playfully. “Come on I’ll show you the borders with Sunclan first, all the good prey hangs about there.” She padded ahead of her apprentice and lead the way out. Doepaw’s wounds stung but it was nothing compared to Coalpaw’s she looked back at her brother and Coalpaw before disappearing after her mentor.

Nodding, Coalpaw backed out of the den and made his way through the tunnel to meet the camp that stirred with chatter. He spotted Doepaw and Hawkpaw nearby. The conversation was short, and Hawkpaw didn't look very happy about it. Coalpaw smirked. He was starting to get tired of Hawkpaw begging for her attention. 'Leave her to her hunting, and she will leave you to your herbs.'

Milkwhisper caught his sight, as the tom looked rather troubled and heading towards their leader's den. 'That can't be good.'

Coalpaw shook his head and limped on to catch up to Doepaw and Deerpaw, stopping short behind them. "Fox?" He growled. "First an intruder, and now a fox?"

Mousestar was pacing the limits of his den when he heard his warrior call out to him. The small brown tom shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts about the intruder from yesterday. "Milkwhisper? Yes, come in."

Flowerheart chuckled. “Yes, yes. we have eaten don‘t go worrying yourself.” The other elders smiled and one of the others whispered something in the elders ear. ”How about you go after your friend there, maybe teach her some tricks. Oh and thank you for the new moss.” The elderly warrior curled up and closed her eyes. “My muscles are getting too sore to go anywhere.” she murmured.

Doepaw padded on past Hawkpaw. “I’m busy can’t you see?” She meowed flicking her tail in frustration. The tom cat watched her pad on and said nothing only to turn away and head off into his own den. Doepaw stepped our of camp to dispose of the mouse bile and clean her paws. She saw her brother and smiled padding up to him. “Hey Deerpaw you catch anything?”

Deerpaw sneered at his sister but instead decided to humour her. “No I didn’t but I did see a fox. In fact it almost attacked me. But I was way too quick for it.”

Milkwhisper rolled his Eyes and padded away to find Mousestar. He arrived at his leaders den. “Mousestar? May I enter?”

The touch from Doepaw made Coalpaw's pelt spike up and he could feel himself getting hot under his fur. He followed her with his eyes as she disappeared. "Getting in trouble isn't always so bad," he murmured, half to himself. A few moments of silence passed before he realized he was still in the elders den. "Err, uh," he cleared his throat, embarrassment still crawling under his fur. "Did you eat this morning?"

*

Appledove balanced on the line of BreezeClan's territory. One paw in front of the other. The short gray runner was out hunting early in the morning, and she managed to catch a small hare, but her attention wasn't kept for long. Her whiskers kissed the border as she went. A scent stopped her in her tracks, and she peered over her shoulder, eyes getting wide and heart beating in against rib cage.

(I love his trouble XD)

Doepaw’s eyes lingered on the apprentice a little longer. She turned away and grabbed the mouse bile. she brushed up to Coalpaw’s flank. “If you insist on getting into trouble with me then I guess you ought to teach me.” She brushed her tail teasingly under his chin as she padded on out with a giggle. She was still chuckling went Hawkpaw approached her.

Deerpaw found a mouse and immediately dropped into hunting position. Before the young apprentice could even make an attempt at stalking the mouse it scurried away. “What but- WAH!” Deerpaw was snatched away.

Milkwhisper held a paw over the apprentices mouth as a red creature with a bushy tail stalked on by. The tom cat sighed once it was out of sight. “Deerpaw.” He scolded. “You cannot run off I am your mentor and you will follow my orders.” Barked the Tom. Deerpaw’s ears flopped. “We must report to Mousestar about the fox. Come along.” The Tom meowed and the two set off for camp once more.

Deerpaw sheepishly glanced back to watch the red pelted beast creep away into the shadows. A sly smirk crossed his face. “Deerpaw!” Yelled Milkwhisper And with that Deerpaw slipped away too.

(hehe deer always stirs trouble)

Doepaw looked up from her job to see the charcoal tom cat enter. “They’re simply telling me stories of what is used to be like fighting.” The she cat meowed sourly, she turned her head away ignoring his second comment. She had still been half asleep when she set to work this morning so the full pain of her wounds was really only beginning to ache now. The she cat forced the pain down and carried on. “You know...” murmured Flowerheart. “You both were very brave taking on that rogue, very mouse brained indeed. But also brave.” Doepaw sheepishly glanced back at Coalpaw but said nothing else.

Deerpaw was learning hunting tips from his mentor. “... remover when stalking a mouse...” Deerpaw looked around himself rather than actually listening to his mentor. He didn’t care what his mentor had to say he just wanted to catch a lot of prey on his first day and make his sister look even bad than she already did. “Deerpaw? Are you even listening to me?“ The quiet tom, Milkwhisper, meowed sternly. “What yes of course I am! Can we just hunt now?“ Milkewhisper sighed at his response. “yes...” Deerpaw leaped to his paws and ran ahead. “But remember what I taught You! Deerpaw?!” Milkwhisper sighed and scurried after him into the woods.

Blinking his eyes awake, Coalpaw was met by blurred darkness and the muffled tones of cats voices filtered through the cave walls. A bit of relief came to him from not being rudely awoken by his mentor, but at the same time, a reminder of pain from his wounds still trying to heal. It was early, but still a bit later than usual for Jumpwing's arrival. He figured Jumpwing was going to allow him to heal a bit longer. He was half disappointed, and half glad that he wouldn't have to do any battle training. He waited for a while longer, drifting in and out of sleep before stretching in his nest. It was hard to stay asleep with the other apprentices going in and out of the den. He sighed in frustration before climbing to his paws and limping out of the den mouth to meet the tunnels. He was sore today, and he became more thankful that he wouldn't have to train. He couldn't leave on his own, but maybe one of the warriors would take him out just to get some fresh air later.

As he exited, he could hear more voices fluttering in and out from the elder's den. His turned, climbing in that direction. Poking his head inside, he heard the last of Flowerheart's words. He admired the old striker, but he couldn't understand why she would retire to be a queen. Fighting was so exhilarating, he couldn't imagine giving it up to help look after a bunch of obnoxious kits. "Doepaw," he hummed, amusement glowing in his eyes as he fully entered. "Talking about striker business with the elders while you pick bugs out of their pelts?"

Early morning came quickly. Deerpaw and Doepaw were talking to their mentors outside. Doepaw watched as Deerpaw and his mentor trodded away. This was Doepaw’s last day of cleaning off the elders and Hazelpelt had promised her that if she finished up early they could start training. Afterall Doepaw had now missed two days of valuable training. Quickly, the apprentice set to work collecting the mouse bile and saying good morning to the medicine cats she headed into the elders den where they awaited her.

one of the elders, Flowerheart, was telling stories of how when she was a young striker she was always getting into mischief until she found a mate and retired to be a queen. “I must admit...” meowed the elder. “I do miss my fighting days. Ah good morning young Doepaw.” She croaked at the apprentice. Doepaw nodded warmly to the she cat and attended to her ticks, whilst listening to their stories.

Coalpaw blinked at Doepaw when she responded, but he didn't budge or speak between the two. He let out a yawn of agreement to Deerpaw's words. He was wrong, though. Doepaw surprised him. Even if she wasn't a skilled fighter, and a runner to add onto that, she helped a clanmate. But his better judgement was quickly glossed over by remembering that she was the reason they got into the situation.

The apprentice closed his eyes, allowing sleep to wash over him rather quickly.

Deerpaw scoffed. “Doepaw brave? Hah never, my mouse brained sister doesn’t have the guts to stand up to any cat. Especially not some rogue.” His eyes narrowed into slits. “She’s just as stupid as a newborn.”

Doepaw jumped up to her paws and hissed at her brother. “Maybe if you learned to hold your tongue once in awhile you wouldn’t be so disliked.” Doepaw’s icy blue eyes were fired up and her haunches were spiked. One of the other apprentices told them all to shut up. Doepaw glared at her brother once more. Her eyes lingered on Coalpaw but she said nothing to the tom. She curled up in her nest by the exit once more. But she did not fall asleep.

Deerpaw rolled his eyes. “Lets just go to sleep.” He mumbled before curling up in a ball and falling into a deep sleep.

"Tell me about it," Coalpaw huffed, setting his chin on his paws. He wasn't considering the fact that Doepaw was in earshot of the conversation, but he didn't think it would matter if she heard anyways. "I had to save her tail. Harebrained she-cat. She could have gotten us killed today. I would have tore into her if your mother wasn't there." He let out a deep breath. "But it's a good thing... She fought beside me. I didn't think anyone in her position would be brave enough to do that." He glanced back at Deerpaw. "You should have seen it."

Deerpaw opened one eye at his new den mate. He looked over at his sister. “Ugh, don’t even get me started in her. She’s just so infuriating.” He whispered through a hiss. Whilst rolling his eyes. “Why’s it matter anyways, I thought she got you in trouble?” The tom tilted his head curious to see what Coalpaw had to say regarding his sister.

Doepaw’s ears were pricked up as she listened to the nasty things her brother had to say about her. Her ears flopped sadly. She stifled a wimper at her brother’s harshness.

Doepaw entered the camp once again. She peered into the apprentice den, most of the apprentices were asleep. Including her brother. Doepaw made a nest near her brother and curled up beside him.

Deerpaw batted his sister with one of his big paws. “Find somewhere else to sleep.” He hissed. He watched as his sister aimlessly go in search for another nest. The tom cat felt satisfied when his sister found a place by the exit of the den. ‘Just what you deserve.’ The Tom cat thought spitefully to himself as he curled up in his nest more and settled in for the night.

Every once in a while, Coalpaw would glance up from his slowly growing pile of dead moss. Maybe it was just curiosity, but he couldn't resist the urge to look up and see how far Doepaw was in her work. Maybe it was the need to finish before her, but despite not having as tough a job as her, he was left behind. Perhaps he wasn't working hard enough.

He quickened his pace and finally finished a while later. His back ached a bit, and by this time he was ready to say hello to his nest after such a traumatic day. Coalpaw clumped the moss together and rolled it outside with a paw. He batted it, watched it roll, caught up with it, and did that several times before letting it meet the camp exit.

Doepaw returned with a stick holding mouse bile on the end. The she cat held her nose and attempted not to gag at the atrocious smell that clogged her nostrils. She set to work quickly in hopes of getting the horrible job over and done with. Doepaw pulled a face as she went from one elder to the next.

* * * the Sun was setting and the elders den was dimly lit. Doepaw has managed to clean three out of seven elders. She only had four more to do. Once thrown away the mousebile the she cat asked to go and clean her paws off. Hazelpelt insisted she came along to prevent anymore trouble. Reluctantly Doepaw agreed even though there was a puddle a few tail lengths outside the camp.

Coalpaw glanced up to see Doepaw enter, and watched her as she left again. The tom frowned. She took a while longer to come here after he did. What was she doing before the came in the first time? Coalpaw let out a snort. /Probably pining after Hawkpaw./

Doepaw smiles at the medicine cat as she walked away. “Wait!” Hawkpaw called running after Doepaw. Doepaw turned around, she was heading to the elders den to clean out their ticks and was willing to procrastinate as long as possible. “What’s wrong?” she meowed. “Well, since uh you’re an apprentice and all now mayeb you could help me collect some herbs later?” Doepaw’s brows shot up. “I’m sorry I can’t I have to he-“

“it’s fine.” Hawkpaw cut her off walking away sulkily. Doepaw stares after him with a puzzled expression.

* * * Doepaw entered the elders her nose scrunched up at the sour smell of old moss. She watched Coalpaw clean away at their nests. She ignored him and walked over to the elders asking if they had any ticks. She slipped out to fetch mouse bile.

Coalpaw's gaze turned to Hawkpaw. The apprentice simply rolled his eyes. He really never could understand that cat, or his fondness towards Doepaw. He looked back at the medicine cat, who gave him a nod. "Both of you, get out," he said with a flick of his tail. There was a hint of warmth in his tone, though. "You'd both better take it easy. That unfortunately means no battle training for you, Coalpaw."

Although he wanted to protest, the tom clenched his teeth together and bit his tongue. "Okay," he sighed, scrambling to his paws. "Thanks." He turned and sauntered out of the den, making his way through the tunnels. He was ordered by Jumpwing to get a head start on the cleaning, although he would have preferred to climb into his nest and sleep the day away. Luckily, he wouldn't have to work too long today. The sun would be calling everyone back to their nests soon enough.

Entering the elders den, he glanced around and scrunched his nose at the smell. "Ugh." The tom sat and began to pick away at the first nest. The moss was dried and clung to its last few days of life with discoloration.

Doepaw jumped at his tone. “Nothing I... uh... sorry.” She mumbled looking away. ‘fox dung.’ She thought to herself. She didn’t see why /she/ ought to apologise to him, he got himself involved. she thought huffily to herself.

Hawkpaw looked between the two and snickered. “What’s so funny?” Huffed Doepaw. Hawkpaw shook his head. “It doesn’t matter, you’re all fixed up. Just be careful you don’t reopen it.”

The apprentice winced. It stung deep. He would almost have been glad to get out of battle training with a mark like that, if it didn't mean he had to clean out spoiled moss. He wasn't looking forward to being in a den with Doepaw if it meant that they were doing anything more than sleeping in nests several foxlenghts away from one another. No, they would be in the same den, cleaning. Coalpaw let out a grunt as the medicine cat pulled away. He looked up, followed by catching Doepaw looking in his direction. He gave her a dismissive twitch of his whisker, though his eyes were hardened with slits.

"What are you looking at?" He sneered.

Hawkpaw smiled as Doepaw entered the medicine den. It was away in a flash once he realised she was wounded. He allowed his mentor to attend to Coalpaw as he fixed up Doepaw.

Doepaw’s sky blue eyes followed the medicine apprentice about as he quickly treated her. Doepaw said nothing more from her earlier conversation with her mother. She knew she was to blame and therefore had no excuse. The she cat could only imagine how furious Coalpaw was with her. ‘But he didn’t have to follow me out. Then he wouldn’t be in trouble.’ She huffed silently to herself. Not even daring to go near the other thought that if he hadn’t have followed her out what could have become of the apprentice. Hazelpelt, Doepaw’s mentor, was incredibly chilled about the situation. Doepaw suspected if Coalpaw hadn’t have got a punishment neither would she because Hazelpelt didn’t seem all that fussed on the matter. A week of cleaning the elders ticks revolted the she cat. Doepaw idly looked up from the spot to meet Coalpaw’s cool green eyes.

Deerpaw watched the apprentices enter the medicine den. “They deserve the punishments.” He scoffed, although he couldn’t help but feel a little jealous that his sister got to take part in such a cool event before he did.

Doepaw stood up shaky. Her strength has been drained from a fight she had no intended to take part in. She kept her head low, avoiding eyecontact with coalpaw. ‘Great, first day as an apprentice and I’m already in trouble. Plus I got coalpaw in trouble... he already hates me enough’ she thought angrily to herself. Yet, the she cat couldn’t shake how coalpaw jumped to her rescue. After all if he really hated her that much would he attempt to save her?

Jaymoon leaped to her paws at the sight of the two apprentices. “Where on Earth have you been?” She growled furiously at Doepaw. “Your first day as an apprentice and you’re already messing up!” she scolded The youngling. Doepaw mumbled an apology. “I won’t hear of it, go on off with you.”

Doepaw glanced over her shoulder at Coalpaw before padding away with her scolding mother.

The intruder came to realize soon that two different cats were attacking him at once. But these two cats were smaller. The black spotted tom was almost half his size, and the she-cat was even smaller. He could easily take them as one cat, surely? If he only played the game correctly. The tom rolled over, feeling his weight crush the apprentice beneath him. While he had the chance, he gained his balance and brought himself to his paws. His fur prickled. Blood was draining him from multiple wounds. As Coalpaw approached him with a warning hiss, he backed away. The adrenaline was slowly fading away, and the wounds began to sting.

There was another scent that met them. Twigleg appeared from the brush, anger slitting her eyes as she saw the sight of the two apprentices, and then the strange cat. She stepped forward. "You're outnumbered," she reminded him. "Leave now, or we will make sure this mistake was your last to make." Twigleg looked intimidating, but she knew that she was nothing more than a digger. She had little to no fighting experience. Luckily, this feline didn't know that. All he could see when he looked at the brown tabby was muscle from moons of endless digging, and mistakes it as fighting strength.

"Now," she hissed. Her words were enough. He may have been hare-brained to come here, but not enough to see himself die. He whipped around and left for the borders. Coalpaw, tired and chest heaving with heavy breaths, looked at his mother. Half of him wanted to tell her she should have tore into his tail, but the other half was grateful for her to help them.

The queen's eyes turned back to them once again, and the anger didn't leave them. "Both of you, get back to the camp. Inform your mentors about what you've done. I need to talk to Mousestar about this." Her voice had a hint of rage beneath concern. She was disappointed in them, she was scared for their safety. And yet at the same time, she was almost impressed...

It wasn't difficult to track the apprentice. For new apprentices in the territory for the first time, they would easily become discouraged by all the scents hitting their nose at once. Though being out many times, he had developed this well. The spotted black tom put his nose to the air and began to follow her scent. As he reached the path she had first diverged, it wasn't really that hard putting two and two together as he came across the scent of fear, rabbit, and the apprentice. There was a hint of annoyance in his eyes as he realized Doepaw was stupid enough to try putting her lack of hunting to the test, considering she had just become an apprentice minutes before. He would surely get the chance to discourage her from scaring away all the clan's prey with her clumsy paws later, but the quietness of air broke away.

It first startled him, as it would any cat. He dropped into the heather and approached the cry, learning that a cat had somehow made it onto their territory. He sniffed, but it was difficult to decide if this cat had just come from ReedClan's borders or if they had been hiding in these purple flowers for a few days.

The striker bunched his muscles, picking out his target. He raced from the heather and leaped, offering the element of surprise. He used enough force with his push off that he managed to make the cat stagger backwards. At the blunt force, he dug his claws into their shoulder and bit down on their ear, providing a furious shake of his head. Once they landed with a thud, the cat was able to pry him off with a kick of his paws. He could feel the claws scrape against his belly, but it wasn't enough to draw a massive amount of blood.

Twigleg didn't say a word. She just sat, her ears twitching. It seemed that every word the other cats said didn't reach her. Whatever the sound was coming from, it had a tone of fear. That was enough for her to turn and exit as soon as the second one echoed in the air.

Doepaw moved silently and swiftly through the forest, it was her first time outside of the camp. She tasted the air for prey hoping to catch some and prove her brother wrong that she was just as useful as him. Doepaw smelt so many new scents he picked up the scent of rabbit easily, having eaten it for moons. She tilted her head upwards to taste the air again. The rabbit was not too far away, but her scents where clouded by so many other new things. Purple flowers grew all around her, she tried to ignore their scent but they were so overpowering. Doepaw spotted the rabbit nibbling on a blade of grass, she instinctively dropped into a hunters crouch. She placed one paw infront of the other. This'll show them. She thought to herself. A twig snapped and the rabbit hopped away. "Mouse dung." Doepaw whispered under her breath. She sat up and looked around. No one was there, shrugging she padded on not checking the air scent. She tasted the air a few fox tail lengths away from her previous postion the rabbit's scent was clouded by the purple flowers. Doepaw sniffed at them but immediately pulled away. Her nose tickled with the pollen and she sneezed. Suddenly without warning a cat leaped at her, its teeth digging into her neck. Doepaw yelped, a cry of terror and pain. She broke free of their grap and stumbled. She looked up at this cat. They were certainly bigger and stronger than her and with no training what so ever Doepaw stood no chance.

Deerpaw watched Coalpaw pad off. He shrugged and sat down to groom his coat. Another apprentice was near by but he took no notice of her. The she cat came over to him. "Hi." She purred with delight. He nodded a greeting to her. "I'm Thisltepaw, you're deerpaw right? The new apprentice." Deerpaw turned to face the she cat. Her fur was thin and dark grey, her belly was a lighter shade of grey and her brown eye danced in delight. "Yeah that's me." Deerpaw answered her quickly, Deerpaw was not the friendliest of cat and certainly had no hopes of becoming friend with this one, o he got up and started to pad off. But the she cat was persistent. "Your sister seems cool too, I was thinking maybe we could all be-" Deerpaw spun round to face the she cat. Despite being younger than her he seemed to be much bigger than her. "My sister in't "cool" She's nothing but a fox-dunged piece of crowfood!" He spat. "And I don't want to be your friend!" The she cat coward away at his hurtful words. Satisfied Deerpaw sat down and continued to groom his fur. Suddenly an ear splitting screech disturbed the peaceful silence among the cats.

Jaymoon had been talking excitedly to twig leg when she heard the cry. she looked at each twigleg in concern and in confusion. Deerpaw ran over to his mum to see what was happening. "What' going on?" He cried. "I have no idea." Jaymoon hesitated before noticing Coalpaw and Doepaw weren't with him. "Where's your sister and Coalpaw?" Deerpaw looking up at the two cats simply replied with, "No idea but I think Coalpaw went to fetch some bedding, and maybe Doepaw went with him? Who cares where she went anway." Jaymoon glanced over at twigleg with a worried look, deerpaw noticed this but before he could ask why another cry came again, only this one sounded more painful.

The harsh words had almost been enough to make Coalpaw flinch with his furious tone. The tall tom smoothed his fur and simply nodded, passing a glance to Doepaw as her eyes wandered over the crowds before she left her brother's side. His gaze switched back to Deerpaw. The older apprentice wasn't completely there with his mind. His ears stretched and shifted atop his skull to pin different sounds, like the chattering of his mother and Jaymoon's, or paws scuffling against the earth as they all began sharing tongues and gushing about having two new future warriors to train. He dropped into crouches, giving the tom an example of his best techniques, something he would need to learn with his mentor. It was always nice getting a head start.

As the crowd cleared like smoke in wind, he caught a glimpse of Doepaw's light fur disappearing into the heather and boulders. His eyes narrowed as he straightened himself, squinting after her. Apprentices weren't allowed to go outside without their mentor., or at the very least a warrior giving permission. If she were caught out there, she would be cleaning the elders den for an entire moon. But really, what did Coalpaw care? Mostly, he didn't. He was just mildly interested.

"I'll teach you more about it later," he told Deerpaw. "I'm going to ask Jumpwing if I can get new bedding for the den." Without waiting for a word, he slipped past the warriors, crouching into the heathers to avoid being seen and made his way out into the open fields. Once he reached the free air, he stopped to taste it on his tongue. Doepaw's scent still lingered in that spot, but was almost overtaken by the sweet purple flowers all around him.

The striker watched as the two went forth, his eyes mostly on Deerkit. Once Mousestar said the words, he chanted with the crowd. His voice was drowned out by Twigleg's louder howls. He glanced over. Her eyes shone with pride for her friend's kits, and he couldn't help but be slightly shocked at the she-cat's attitude towards them. He hadn't been around her as much, but he knew Twigleg had requested to stay in the nursery with Jaymoon after her mate's passing. It had stricken both queens with grief, and he could see that his mother was trying to help pull her through it. Of course Coalpaw shed some sympathy for the two younger cats, but he grew up without a father completely. He figured it was just something you get over after a while.

Coalpaw gathered himself to his paws and padded forward, splitting the crowd. He reached the front where the two mentors stood, and met the new apprentices' gazes. He gave a nod to them. "Welcome to apprenticeship," he purred, amused.

He nudged Deerpaw with his shoulder. "I thought Doepaw was going to be a digger instead of a runner, but I guess she's still full of surprises."