New Apprentices

[Redcloud]

Owlfoot grinned at his apprentice, nodding slightly. "Good! Now let me go see how Honeyfrost is doing and I'll come right back!" he said, turning and bounding toward the warrior den, wondering if she wa sin there. He stopped as he passed the apprentice's den, pretty sure he had just heard his name.

[heartnet]

Lightningpaw nodded at Littlepaw's statement. "It doesn't matter who you're parents are, it's who you are and what you do." he said, his words speaking for both him and his siblings along with Maplepaw. They're father was a fair cat, he had never heard anything bad mentioned about their leader. And even though his brother was right, Faunus wasn't a clan cat, his father was very good friends with him. He remembered seeing the tom when they were kits. Their father wouldn't care if these cats were half rogue, they were great warriors. "Well...if Honeyfrost is here...why are Owlspot and Flaxeyes not?"

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

Maplepaw gave Lightningpaw a grateful smile. At least he wasn't judging her because of her mother and even Littlepaw had stood up for her!
"Well, I guess so. Tussockwind is a good warrior and Desertflower was raised in RainClan," Heronpaw meowed, wanting to forgive the older apprentice. "Desertflower was raised in RainClan, right?"
"Yes," Maplepaw sighed," Along with my father. Now can we get back to Honeyfrost? You wanted to hear about her right?"
Littlepaw nodded eagerly. "Tell us why Owlspot and Flaxeyes aren't here. And why is Coppertail deputy of BeachClan if his mother was from AquaClan?"
"All in good time. At one of the Gatherings, four cats turned up and told everybody they would like to join the Clans. Coppertail wanted to join BeachClan for some reason, I'm not sure. Honeyfrost joined RainClan because she has family here and Owlspot joined AquaClan because he had family there too. Flaxeyes decided to join FrostClan because all four cats were to go to different Clans. Turned out it was their father's idea. That's why they are in different Clans."
"Their father?" Heronpaw dared to ask.
"Burntstar."

Her fur was stained with red with the blood from her wounds. No matter how much she scratched or bit, no matter what moves she tried, the rogue cam back for more. He wouldn't leave her alone. And across the Grove, within what must of been a fox-length lay Owlfoot. She wanted to save him, to help him, back she couldn't even save herself. Then the rogues were gone and she was free but Owlfoot wasn't moving. Why wasn't he moving? There was so much blood. He couldn't be alive. He was dead.
Honeyfrost woke with a wail and wildly looked around the den for nothing in particular. Her fur was ruffled from her rough night of sleeping and she could scent her own fear. Get a hold of yourself! He's not dead, he's right here. Her thoughts did nothing to calm her when she saw his nest beside her was empty. "Owlfoot?!" she called.
The other cats beside her stirred restlessly in their sleep.

[Redcloud]

Owlfoot lifted his head, running toward teh warrior's den, eyes wide as he bound almost silently. He skidded to a halt, sticking his head through the entrance, his eye wide. He blinked, striding in and pressing himself up against Honeyfrost, hoping to calm her. "Honeyfrost! It's Ok! I'm here..." he whispered, digging his nose into her shoulder.

[heartnet]

Lightningpaw blinked, hearing the distaste in the name as Maplepaw spoke it. He had heard their parents mention this cat before, but quietly when they thought they couldn't hear. They didn't make it sound like he was a good cat. "Who's Burntstar?" Lightningpaw asked, the questin probably on his siblings minds too.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

"Just a dream," she mumured, burying her face into Owlfoot's fur. "Just a bad dream."
A white she-cat lifted her head from her paws and blinked her green eyes slowly. "What's going on?" Orchidtail yawned. "Has something happened, Honeyfrost?"
"No," Honeyfrost meowed absently. "I just had a bad dream that's all. Probably from the poppy seeds..."
Orchidtail glanced at the young cat, her eyes filled with concern. She wondered if there was anything she could do to help Honeyfrost sleep. At least Owlfoot was looking out for her. The two were becomming almost unseperatable.

"Burntstar was the leader of AquaClan before Jaystar," Maplepaw explained slowly. "He tried to kill his deputy, Jaystar was Jayfeather back then. "
"He tried to kill his deputy?!" Heronpaw meowed, astonished by the cats actions.
She nodded, all the while grimacing. "But even though Burntstar was bigger and stronger, Coppertail looks a bit like him, Jayfeather excaped with his life. The Clan turned out Burntstar and made Jayfeather their leader."
"And where did Burntstar go?" Littlepaw asked softly.
"The rogue nest."

[heartnet]

Lightningpaw was quiet a moment before, frowning as he put two and two together. "It was....Burntstar was the leader of the rogues in the battle where Hawkstar lost his first life...right?" He askes Maplepaw. He knew their father had lost a life in a battle before they were born and it had been a battle that brought all the clans together for a short period of time. "But if the clans...if Burntstar did that...why are his kits here?"

[Redcloud]

Owlfoot nuzzled her, trying to calm her racing heart. "It's Ok...I have bad dreams too...it's Ok..." he whispered, trying to push the memories of thsoe dreams away. They scared him and they gave way to an old fear, one he ahdn't felt since the battle at the gathering; the fear of that insane cat's laugh.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

"Did Burntstar...kill our father?" Heronpaw asked, a harsh demanding tone to his meow.
Maplepaw winced and nodded. "Yes. He also took lives from Jaystar and Icestar."
"Did you do anything to stop him?" demanded Littlepaw.
"Of course!" she cried. "Tussockwind, Tussockpaw and I helped defend Hawkstar. Honeyfrost was injured fighting a rogue who tried to kill Hawkstar as well."
"Is that why Honeyfrost is still here?" Heronpaw asked, referring back to Lightningpaw's question.
"Well. I suspose so," Maplepaw meowed, shrugging. "She fought alongside RainClan in the battle against her father and she defended her Clan mates and the other warriors. She didn't join the others at all. There was a slight problem with Silvercreek though".
"She was the old medicine cat but she ran away to find her family," she added sadly.
"Because of Honeyfrost?" Littlepaw prodded.
"Yeah. Honeyfrost thought that by telling Silverstream where her rogue family was it would help."
"Is everybody in this Clan rogues?" Heronpaw snarled. He had been taught to follow the warrior code yet he was living in the same camp with warriors who were all rogues or traitors.

"I'm fine," Honeyfrost meowed softly. "I'm fine."
She rose to her paws trying to hide the fact that her legs were trembling slightly. She winced at the sharp pains in her shoulders but shook her head to dismiss it. "See. All better," she meowed, trying to reassure Owlfoot. She smiled and flicked her tail across his scarred muzzle. "What are we doing today?"

[Redcloud]

Owlfoot smiled, relief on his face. "Good...good," he said, visibly relieved. "Oh! I'm going hunting with Goldenpaw! I'm going to make such a fool of myself!" He chuckled, grinning at her, his own fear forgotten.

[heartnet]

Lightningpaw frowned. Burntstar didn't sound like a cat he would like to meet. Hawkstar was strong and young when that battle took place. If Burntstar could take a life from him and the other leader's as well...Lightningpaw shook his head to clear away the bad thoughts, looking to Heronpaw. "Well, we're not rogues. And I'm sure there are plenty who aren't. But it doesn't matter does it? There are rogues in other clans, but they're not rogues anymore. They've commited their lives to the clans. You're a true warrior if you just follow the warrior code, right?"

[Redcloud]

Lichenpelt's ears twitched, a large smile on her face. Oh, she really did hate to eavesdrop, but she really wanted to know what they were talking about. She let out a happy purr, swishing her tail. Hawkstar's kits could be so accepting, unlike soem of the other cats around camp. Like her brother, rest his soul. She stood, turning from teh appretice's den and bounded off to teh fresh kill pile, eager to put her catch on it, just now realising it was still in her mouth.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

Heronpaw snorted angrily. "Whatever. In a blink of an eye they'll be off stealing prey from the other Clans. Rogues could never be warriors." With that statement and a flick of his tail he stalked out of the den and into the clearing. His fur was bristling just with the idea that he was sharing prey with cats who had lived in the Rogue Nest, stolen prey and fought just for the sake of fighting. Still, he was curious. Burntstar sounded like a powerful warrior and a great fighter if what Maplepaw had told them was true. In all the stories rogues were wellknown for their fighting skills. He had to just look at Owlfoot and Honeyfrost for a prime example of the damage they could do. I wonder where they learn their skills from...

Honeyfrost smiled up at Owlfoot and gave a light hearted chuckle. "Surely not. You're a great warrior. I'll come with you and we can show her all the best hunting spots and the training ground."

"

[heartnet]

"Heronpaw!" Lightningpaw snapped at his brother angrily as he got up and stormed away. He glared after him before getting to his feet to follow him. "Ignore him Maplepaw, he doesn't know what he's saying." he said before following after his brother. "Heronpaw!" He called, easily catching up with him. "What's the matter with you?! That was the worst thing to say, and in front of Maplepaw too!" He growled as he padded beside Heronpaw, glancing to him.

[Redcloud]

Owlfoot grinned, nodding. "Yes. We can also show her the borders and where to mark," he said, nuzzling Honeyfrost. "Come on! She's waiting!"

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

Maplepaw frowned but looked up at Lightningpaw with thankful eyes. She could understood what Heronpaw was saying but she was born in RainClan and her father had been one of the senior warriors before he was killed. "It's okay. I understand..."
Out of the corner of her eye she could see Littlepaw watching her with a guarderd expression. She couldn't help but feel a chill under his piercing green gaze.

"Lightningpaw! How you really so thick?!" Heronpaw growled giving his brother a quick shove with his shoulder. "Warriors fight together because a Clan is family. We grow up together. Cats like Honeyfrost haven't so she has no reason to defend us! If it wasn't for Owlfoot she would probably be out of here quicker than a rabbit." He tilted his head and gazed at his brother with light blue eyes. There was a twinkle there and he gave Lightningpaw a sly smile. "I reckon the only reason why we let rogues stay is because of their fighting skills. Goldenpaw is sure to get some interesting training."

Honeyfrost rasped her tongue over Owlfoot's ear before padding out of the den. There was a dull throbbing in her shoulders but nothing she couldn't handle. "Let's go then. We're going to be very busy, aren't we?"

[Redcloud]

Lichenpelt jerked and turned, glaring to Heronpaw with cold blue eyes. She prayed to StarClan she did not just hear him correctly. "Family is not only limited to ties of blood," she hissed, loud enough for him to hear, a dangerous snarl on her face. "You would do well to learn that."

Owlfoot nodded, chuckling and padding out after her. He stopped, turning to look at his mother, her fur ruffled and her face twisted into a snarl. Was she Ok? He couldn't tell. He moved his gaze to Heronpaw, wondering why she was hostile to him.

[Lexie]

Goldenpaw's belly turned to see Owlfoot gazing at his mother. She wanted to go hunting or something to atleast get out of camp and get away from her sibblings. It was bad enough they were all listening to Maplepaw.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

Heronpaw spun around to meet Lichenpelt's gaze full on. The fur on his shoulder's bristled and he curled his lip up and over his teeth. "I already know that. I'm not mousebrained, kittypet."
The last word was a dangerous whisper and he smiled, his whole body relaxing. He flashed his brother a look of happiness before padding away to the warrior's den. It was like nothing had even happened. A complete change in personality and behaviour.

Honeyfrost had frozen and looked on in horror at the stand-off between Heronpaw and Lichenpelt. "What's going on?" she asked, leaning towards Owlfoot. "What did he say?" She frowned with annoyance and watched the young cat padding away. A thought crossed her mind. He didn't look back. Honeyfrost's stomach fluttered with apprehension. In her training she had been taught that cat's who looked back when leaving a fight where potentially goading you for another fight or simply being wary. Cat's who didn't look back had ended it and didn't care what happened. Heronpaw was being reckless. "We should go," she murmured.

[Redcloud]

Lichenpelt couldn't help herself. She padded after the apprentice, increasing speed, her ears flattened. She finally burst into a run, a snarl on her face. She didn't yowl, or give any indication she was after him. She only ran. She finally caught up with him and, making sure she bit as hard as she could, clamped her mouth over his tail.

Owlfoot just shook his head, shocked by Heronpaw's words and his mother's reaction. He had never known his mother to be like this. He just sat there, horrified. What were thos etwo thinking? He yelled something unintelligabe and ran toward the two, eager to split it up.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

Heronpaw heard her approaching pawsteps and his eyes narrowed. When Lichenstep was close he spun around, whipping his tail out from the grasp of his teeth. He glanced at his tail, a little stunned, that he could feel where the queen's teeth had grazed the skin. He whipped his head up and glared at Lichenpelt with disgust. He meowed just one loud word," MOTHER!"

Orchidtail, already awake from Honeyfrost's wail in her sleep, had jolted up at the sound of her son's voice. "Heronpaw?!" she called out, panic in her voice. She leapt out of the warrior's den to see a stand off between her largest son and Lichenpelt. The latter had the clear intent of harming her kit. "What is going on?!" she yowled, shoving the she-cat back. Owlfoot had already joined the group, looking to break them apart. Honeyfrost was bounding up behind him, shock clear on her face.

"Oh my," Maplepaw murmured, watching from outside the apprentice den. Littleplaw slipped up beside her, his face carefully blank. "Lichenpelt is upset. Heronpaw has said something to her."
The ginger cat's face fell and she dug her claws into the ground. "I shouldn't have said anything!" she meowed, panic clear in her voice.

[Redcloud]

"This useless scrap of fur insulted me, my son, and Honeyfrost," Lichenpelt hissed, turning to glare at Orchidtail. "As far as I'm concerned, he deserved it." She turned and stalked off, tail lashing angrily. She made her way to one of the sahdier sides of camp, intending to cool off tehre.

Owlfoot just stood there, shocked. "Oh StarClan, Orchidtail, I'm sorry! She's usually not like this..." he stopped there, highly doubting his words would do anything. He bowed his head, tail drooping and ears flattened. He didn't know what to do. His mother had changed since she's been gone. Maybe the twolegs had done something to her or maybe something on her way home had changed her, but, whatever the case, she had changed so much. "I'm really sorry..."

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

"Useless! You were talking to be like I was mousbrained or something!" Heronpaw meowed, his voice crying out indignation and utter disbelief. He was putting on quite a show. He glanced up at his mother with tembling blue eyes.

Orchidtail looked wildly from her son, to Lichenpelt and finally to Owlfoot. "Lichenpelt!" she called, anger in her usually soft voice. "He's just an apprentice. I'm sure he didn't mean anything." She glanced down at Heronpaw, hoping she was telling the truth.

"I don't know what happened, Orchidtail. Everything was fine until Heronpaw left the apprentice den and Lichenpelt told him off about something," Honeyfrost meowed, shaking her head. The young tom was up to something and she didn't like it.
"Oh dear," Orchidtail murmured. "Owlfoot, could you go see if she is okay? I better take Heronpaw to see his father."
"Yeah! She bit me. She should be punished," Heronpaw meowed in a quavering voice.

[Redcloud]

"You called her a kittypet," Owlfoot whispered, lifting his head to stare hurtfully at Heronpaw. He sighed, hurt in his now trembling voice. He turned to stare to Goldenpaw for a minute, hoping she'd catchhe apology in his voice. He then went off to console his mother.

"You are mousebrained you ignorant little--" Lichenpelt whispered, stopping herself short. She sighed and shook her head, placng her head on teh ground and rubbing back and forth. What was she thinking? She was being irrational, much like Leech had been....she sighed mournfully at that thought, remembering her mate for the first time since she's been back. It hurt to lose him almost as much as losing Robinclaw.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

"Heronpaw!" Orchidtail cried, staring down angrily at her son. "You didn't did you? Lichenpelt is a friend of yours and has been through a rough time. You'll be seeing your father and you better apologise to her!" She couldn't believe he son could do such a thing. She knew he was the most argumentive of her kits but plainly insulting a fellow Clan member was just rude. Plus the look on Owlfoot's face just made her want to cruel up and die. How embrassing..

Honeyfrost gave Heronpaw one last look before padding after Owlfoot. As she walked, she pondered over what had just happened. Heronpaw knew about Lichenpelt's capture and she couldn't pretend that she hadn't heard the queen mentioning that he had insulted both her and Owlfoot as well. In that last look at Heronpaw she had seen knowledge in his light blue eyes. And deep down, Honeyfrost knew that he knew. He knew what she had been and she knew in that moment that Burntstar's memory still lived on. It was haunting her.

[Redcloud]

Owlfoot stopped near his mother, watching her sadly. "Mother...?" he whispered, causing the she-cat to raise her head. Lichenpelt just stared at her son, her eyes hard. "I'm sorry Owlfoot, but eh deserved it," she whispered, going back to rubbing her head. Owlfoot just blinked, wondering why she was even doing that.

[heartnet]

Lightningpaw was a little taken back by his brother's words. He didn't reply, frowning at his brother's sly smile and dropping his gaze from his. He didn't know what to say. Maplepaw, Tussockwind....they were their friends and they had rogue heritage. Surely their Father accepted them just for them, but.....was what Heronpaw was saying...did it have any truth. His ears twitched as he heard a cat behind them, turning in time to see Lichenpelt sink her teeth in his brother. He took a step back, watching the incident unfold before him. "Heronpaw..." he murmured, shaking his head. He was causing so much trouble. At the end, when Heronpaw was putting all the blame on Lichenpelt, something in Lightningpaw snapped. That was enough. It was his brother's fault and he always tried to weasle out of things with mother. Not this time. Snarling, Lightningpaw barreled into his brother, pinning him in surprise. "You are such a mousebrain! And you called me thick. You had no right to talk about them like that, and then call Mother in here like a helpless kit. You always try to get the blame off you! You should apologize to Lichenpelt, and Maplepaw too!" he said angrily, his dark green eyes meeting his brother's lighter ones as he finished.

[Lexie]

Goldenpaw looked scared and ran toward her brother. "Heronpaw! Are you okay?" she meowed, rubbing up against him. "You shouldn't mess with her, she's usually crabby anyway," she whispered into his ear. "You should stay out of her sight for a few days." Looking at Heronpaw with a worried look and ran over to her mentor. "May we leave?" she asked.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

Heronpaw was thrown back the Lightinpaw's sudden attack. "Get off! You know nothing!" he snarled, thrusting his hind paws up into his brother's stomach. "I'm not apologising to Lichenpelt. She bit me," he spat. He glared up at his brother with cold blue eyes. He managed to turn his end and as he heard Goldenpaw's cry. Here he was getting attacked and she just wanted to comfort him. Mousebrain.
"Do something. Don't just stand there."

"STOP IT NOW!" Orchidtail screeched, thrusting her head into the middle of their fight. She gripped Heronpaw's scruff in her teeth and firmly yanked out from Lightningpaw's grasp. The tom was spitting furiously and writhing like a snake. "Let me go!" he yowled.
Orchidtail flicked her tail at her daughter and gestured to the leader's den. Somebody would need to tell Hawkstar about this incident.

Honeyfrost dashed back to Orchidtail's side, hearing the queen's screech. "Break it up!" she snapped, shoving Lightninpaw aside and pinning him done fimrly with one paw. "Owlfoot!" she called, turning to look over her shoulder. She grimaced at the pain but let her anger cover it. She had thought that Lightningpaw had the most restraint of the litter but obviousily she was wrong.

"Lighningpaw!"
Maplepaw rushed over to the fight hoping desperately that wouldn't try and kill each other. Heronpaw looked furious and she guessed it was taking Orchidtail alot of strength to keep her grip on his scruff. She knew why this had all started. It was because her and her mouth had told them about the rogues in their Clan and Heronpaw had the stupidity to call Lichenpelt a kittypet and her a rogue. She didn't mind though as the grey apprentice hadn't seemed to care about her heritage but Lightningpaw had jumped to her defence. "Stop it!" she begged. "I don't care about what he said, Lightningpaw. I know I'm a warrior! Just stop the fighting."

"Wow."
Littlepaw hadn't seen his brothers fight like this before. Each had the intent of ripping each other apart. Fortunately for them, Honeyfrost and Orchidtail had moved quickly and had now pulled them apart. From the looks of their faces, Heronpaw and Lightningpaw wouldn't be doing much hunting. More like, apprentice duties for the rest of their lives. Littlepaw couldn't help but smile. Know who would be the better warrior? "Mousebrains," he whispered.
Shaking his head, he crossed the clearing. "Come on, Goldenpaw. Let's get Hawkstar," he called.

[Redcloud]

Owlfoot dashed toward the scuffled, arriving soon after Honeyfrost. "What do you two think you're doing!?" he screeched, flattening his ears. This had gone way too far. "If you keep this up, neither of you will become warriors, do you hear me!?" There was obvious anger in his voice, something that didn't happen often.