Path Of A Warrior

Curious, Redpaw moved closer, approaching Sparrowpelt. “Um, how was the hunt?” he asked his mentor, feeling awkward. “Did you have to sneak up on those starlings, or did you jump—”

“Not now, Redpaw,” Sparrowpelt interrupted, turning away. “We have to report to Sunstar.” He hurried toward the leader’s den, Speckletail and Tigerclaw following close behind.

“We’d better get back to work,” Willowpaw mewed, glancing nervously across the clearing at Poppydawn. “I don’t want to get in trouble.”

Redpaw hesitated, watching Tigerclaw disappear into Sunstar’s den at the bottom of the Highrock. After a few moments, Sunstar’s long-furred ginger face pushed through the lichen that covered the entrance. “Tawnyspots!” he called, and the Clan’s deputy hurried to join the others in the leader’s den.

Something bad must have happened, Redpaw thought, the fur rising along his spine. He glanced around. Maybe they’d seen something scary in the forest, like badgers or foxes. Or maybe Twolegs and their dogs were nearby. Redpaw shivered.

From opposite sides of the clearing, Bluefur and Thistleclaw had raised their heads to gaze thoughtfully toward Sunstar’s den. Every cat thought that Sunstar would pick one of them to be his next deputy when Tawnyspots retired to the elders’ den, and they each paid close attention to what happened between ThunderClan and the other Clans, as if they were preparing themselves.

While a few other faces were also turned with interest toward the Highrock, no cat was watching Redpaw. Willowpaw was dutifully heading back toward the warriors’ den, while Frostpaw and Brindlepaw were busily grooming the elders. Poppydawn was sharing a vole with Rosetail, their heads close together in conversation. She won’t notice if I don’t go straight back to changing bedding, he decided.

Trying to look like he wasn’t eavesdropping, Redpaw strolled closer to Sunstar’s den, his ears pricked up.

“This is the third time, Sunstar!” Sparrowpelt was yowling.

“You actually caught the RiverClan patrol marking Sunningrocks?” Sunstar demanded, his voice a deep growl.

“It was Owlfur, Softwing, and Ottersplash,” Speckletail confirmed. “We tried to chase them off, but we didn’t want to leave the prey we were carrying.”

“We should have taught them a lesson they wouldn’t forget,” Tigerclaw hissed angrily. “It would be worth it to lose a little prey.”

“We thought that Hailstar listened when we warned him away from Sunningrocks,” Tawnyspots meowed. His mew sounded tired, and Redpaw shifted uncomfortably. The deputy looked sicker every day, ribs showing through his thin, dry coat. “Maybe we should talk to him again. His warriors might be acting without his approval.”

“Enough is enough,” Tigerclaw growled. “We need to stop just talking and show RiverClan that they can’t get away with this.”

“What are you suggesting, Tigerclaw?” Sunstar asked calmly. Redpaw could almost see his leader’s level gaze as he carefully considered each cat’s words.

“We need to fight,” Tigerclaw hissed. There was a scraping sound inside the den, and Redpaw pictured Tigerclaw’s paws flexing, his long, sharp front claws extending and retracting with the big tabby’s anger. “We should attack RiverClan’s camp. Teach them what happens when they mess with ThunderClan.”

“I’m not sure fighting is the best choice,” Tawnyspots argued. “RiverClan has more warriors than we do right now. Do we want to start something on their own territory, knowing we’ll be outnumbered?”

“We’ll bring the apprentices, then,” Tigerclaw replied coolly. “They should have the experience of being in a real battle anyway.”

Redpaw’s whiskers stiffened in surprise. The apprentices? Tigerclaw thinks we should fight RiverClan?

His head spun, and for a moment he lost track of the conversation in Sunstar’s den. He snapped back to attention at the sound of his mentor’s angry voice.

“We can’t take the apprentices into battle!” Sparrowpelt yowled. “They don’t have any real fighting experience!”

“They’re not ready,” Speckletail agreed.

“And they never will be, if they never get to fight,” Tigerclaw mewed. “They need to be properly trained, and facing a battle with another Clan is the only way to learn.”

There was a long silence, and Redpaw pictured the warriors looking to Sunstar for his decision. He might take Frostpaw and Brindlepaw, but Sunstar won’t let Willowpaw and me go, Redpaw thought. He thinks we’re too young to fight. He swallowed hard. Do I even want to fight?

When he dreamed of being a full warrior, Redpaw never imagined a battle. He wanted to hunt and patrol for his Clan. He knew he’d have to fight someday. But not yet.