It had been almost a whole quarter moon since the Battle Over Sunning Rocks. Everytime Applepaw passed the large sun-warm stones, ThunderClan cats seemed to be always basking on them. Mocking the patrol as they passed by. It made his fur prickle.
    He hadn't seen Maplepaw yet, sunning herself on the rocks, something deep inside was making him glad he hadn't though he couldn't figure out why. It was just some odd feeling he had.

Applepaw could now fully understand why all of his clanmates detested the mole-faced, mouse-brained warriors on the over side of the river.

Applepaw took a bite of the squirrel, it wasn't his catch it was actually Beepaw's. The dark tabby brought it home proudly. Frostfoot had purred lously, pride swelling through the former queen as she praised her kit.
After it sitting on top of the pile for a little while, Applepaw grabbed it and began to eat. Beepaw noticed and rather shyly asked if they could share it together, so now, he was sharing it with Beepaw.
Applepaw wasn't as used to the warm, furry squirrel as he was with the cool, scaley fish he usually ate, and he didn't like the taste of the squirrel either. But he wouldn't dare tell that to Beepaw. Not after how happy he looked when he had brought it back to camp.

He had woken up at sunrise, his schedule have had changed drastically over the quarter-moon of intense training from Rainwhisker.

His mind wandered to when the first snowfall of the season happened, he remembered how chilling the snow was as he and Spikekit played around in it. It was also the day he and all his denmates, plus Darkshadow and Milkfur, all became very important parts of the clan. He also had his first taste of mouse.
He took another awkward bite of the squirrel, forcing a purr as Beepaw looked at with a happy grin. He returned it halfheartedly, swallowing hard. Trying to get the taste out of his mouth.

It was weird.
He loved the taste of the mouse but squirrel? He nudged the furry prey away, watching as Beepaw ripped into the squirrel hungrily.

He looked away, scanning the clan. The air was still slightly chilly but, Leaf-bare was leaving just as quickly as it came. Which was a bit surprising, as only a few days ago another snowfall had taken place, covering the entire camp in a cold, powdery white blanket of snow. He remembered how a large clump of snow fell right onto the back of Icepaw's neck yesterday morning. Now, the snow was just melting away. Now just slush and puddles that surrounded the camp and territory.

  Icewhisker was padding towards the nursery, tangy leaves clamped in his jaw as he trotted swiftly past Darkshadow and Milkfur; the two young warriors chatting quietly but looking happy.
  Milkfur then suddenly stood up and demonstrated a move, Darkshadow purred and pushed her denmate over with a shove. Milkfur fell over, looking up with a playful hiss before scrambling to her small paws and cuffing the tall black she-cat around the ears. Before long the two molly's trotted out of the camp, laughing and purring together.
    Foxclaw and Harethroat sat in a corner of camp, talking in hushed mews. Foxclaw chuckled at something Harethroat had said while Harethroat rolled his eyes, his whiskers twitching with amusement.
  Rippleheart stood near the exit of camp, preparing to lead a patrol out of camp with Petalfoot, Silverfern, Birdpaw and Dawnpaw. Sloefur flicked her tail in greeting to Applepaw and Beepaw before entering the Warriors' Den.
  Icewhisker padded out of the nursery, speaking over his shoulder before he padded across the sandy camp clearing, and disappeared back into his den.

Ebonystream stumbled slightly out of the nursery, smiling half-heartedly before looking around camp. When she couldn't find whatever she was looking for, she went back into the nursery. Her face falling.

Applepaw dipped his head, looking away from the camp and the things going on in it. The dark tabby pushed the squirrel back towards him, the tan tom stared at the squirrel before politely shaking his head in a silent 'no.'

Applepaw licked his lips, getting off any squirrel blood or fur that clung to his cheeks. Beepaw shrugged and gratefully took a bite of the squirrel, his tail tip quivering in delight.

"It tastes of the oak wood forest..." The dark brown tabby mewed mid-chew, taking a second to swallow.
The tan tom looked over, blinking slowly. "You like the squirrel?"
Beepaw purred, nodding excitedly. "It tastes just as I imagined it would... No, even better than that."
Applepaw twitched his ear, forcing himself to nod. 'I guess he's preparing for when he leaves...' he frowned at the thought.

Beepaw and him have been friends since they were kits, he almost counted the dark tabby as a second brother.

He sighed, slowly turning to look at his friend. "Aren't you going to miss us?" He whispered, his eyes scanning Beepaw's face.
Beepaw looked over, his long whiskers twitching. His amber eyes narrowing into a look of sorrow and guilt.

  "Of course I will. But ever since I was a kit, I've never wanted to swim or hunt fish. I've felt..." Beepaw paused, looking down at the scrap of squirrel that lay at his paws. He suddenly looked away, pushing the furry piece of prey away. After a few heartbeats, Beepaw spoke again. This time, his voice shaking.

"...Like I never belonged."

Then his tone changed, this still determined and confident as ever. He looked up, before over at Applepaw.
"But that'll change when I'm in ThunderClan." He puffed out his chest, amber eyes brightening at the thought.
"It'll be so strange because I won't see you, or Spikepaw, or my mom... or Reedpaw. But I-I just know I'll be happier." Beepaw paused, "I hope that wasn't rude. I didn't mean it like that."

Applepaw smiled, dipping his head respectfully. "Not at all. But, you better be prepared to fall victim to my powerful, strong moves." He growled playfully, leaping to his paws and pushing Beepaw over. Just like Darkshadow did to Milkfur, he chuckled at the thought.

Beepaw gasped, blinking surprised before smirking smugly. "Oh yeah?"
"I bet two whole pikes on it." Applepaw growled, his stubby tail flicking behind him. Beepaw slipped sideways, pushing him over and racing away.

'Oh. It's on.' Applepaw thought, getting to his paws and shaking his short fur out.

"I'll get you for that!" He meowed, racing after him. He jumped, aiming for Beepaw's shoulders. Beepaw yelped as he was knocked over and pinned to the ground.
Applepaw playfully growled, Beepaw huffed before kicking upward. Applepaw flew back, catching himself but awkwardly landing on his hind-legs. He took a shaky step back before landing on all four of his well needed paws. In that small few second timespan Beepaw cuffed him around the ears and began batting at his whiskers.

"You'll never escape me! ShadowClan scum!" Applepaw chuckled, rearing up on his hind-legs, knocking Beepaw back and began to rain down heavy but also gentle enough blows to the tabby's heads, making sure to not actually injure the warrior apprentice, his best friend.

Beepaw yelped, clearly surprised. Applepaw froze, Beepaw overpowering and pinning him to the ground when Rainwhisker's voice growled across the clearing, echoing into his ears.

"Applepaw! What in StarClan's name are you doing?!"

Beepaw blinked, scrambling off of him and grooming his chest fur, embarrassed. Applepaw leapt to his paws, twirling mid-air and facing his mentor. Whiskers twitching nervously. Surely he won't get in trouble for playing... Right?

Rainwhisker scoffed as he approach his apprentice, his eyes glaring at him. Icy blue eyes feeling like icy claws that grazed his muzzle.
"Rainwhisker!" He greeted nervously, his voice sounded squeaky. Like a kit. He felt even more embarrassed by that.

"Applepaw." The snow-white warrior sniffed, scanning him. "What were you just doing?"

Applepaw gulped, stuttering before a jumble of words finally fell into a sentence. "I- uh... Was playing with... B-Beepaw." Rainwhisker went to go growl something but he was cut off, the voice came in the direction of the Elders' Den. Applepaw instinctively looked over. It was Sunstorm.

"Rainwhisker, don't be so angry at the little minnow for having fun!" The elderly tabby rasped, purring. "I'm certain you know what fun is. Don't forget that you used to prank your denmate when you were his age."
Rainwhisker looked away, lashing his tail. Applepaw blinked gratefully at the former queen, though she might've not been able to see him do it as her eyesight was growing quite poor, she had to retire a few moons early because of it. He was born after she had retired but the clan treated the cherished elders with as much respect as they would a leader.

  Rainwhisker glared at the elder, Sunstorm smirked knowing she has won the argument. "Rainwhisker, you know much better than to argue with me."

Beepaw trotted over to his side, leaning over to whisper something in his ear. "Rainwhisker could have fun?" Applepaw stifled the laugh that was burning in his throat.

He had never knew that Rainwhisker played pranks, he never seemed like the type of cat to do that. His father, maybe, but never Rainwhisker. 'Don't judge a tabby by his stripes, I suppose...'

Rainwhisker just rolled his eyes, his tail lashing with annoyance. "Applepaw, come on. We're going to practice fighting. Sandstripe and Icepaw are already waiting for us in the Training Hollow. Let's hurry."
Applepaw stood up, looking over at Beepaw and whispering a quick farewell as he sped after his mentor. Rainwhisker hadn't even waited up for him at the entrance tunnel.

•••

    "Duck!" Applepaw ducked, obeying Rainwhisker's demanding tone.

Icepaw came running full speed at him. Applepaw hissed, leaping up and wrapping his fore legs around Icepaw's neck and throwing all his weight onto Icepaw. Icepaw staggered sideways, Applepaw flinched away, taking a few paces back as Icepaw's teeth barely nipped thin skin on his ear. The sound of Icepaw's teeth clinking together made the younger apprentice shiver as chill ran down his spine, the hair on his spine bristling.

Icepaw growled as Rainwhisker stood up. Stopping the battle training.
"Icepaw, you should've been able to stop that. You've had more moons of training of my apprentice here. Do better." He growled, then he fixed his gaze on Applepaw. A proud glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes despite his still facial expression.
"Applepaw, you did well." He congratulated.. which was a first.

Icepaw's tail dropped. Looking down at his paws. Applepaw noticed but didn't say anything. He didn't really feel bad for him, he shook his pelt out, lifting his chin. 'If Icepaw had won, he would boasting about his victory.' He smirked, 'and I won.'
He trotted over to Icepaw "I won." He purred, nudging Icepaw. Icepaw shot him a nasty glare, Applepaw just rolled his eyes. 'As if that's gonna shut me up'

"So." He meowed, still looking at Icepaw. "How does it feel to lose to such a young apprentice?"
Icepaw growled, "shut it."
"What? What was that? I'm afraid I couldn't hear you over my amazing victory."
"Your win wasn't even that good!" Icepaw snapped, "you just got lucky you, fish-brained rat!" Icepaw's voice cracked, making him sound a tad squeaky. The tan tom laughed, it was funny. Seeing Icepaw get all messed up.

His laughing didn't last forever, as Icepaw launched himself at him. The two toms rolling around is a blur of hisses, yowls, fur, and unsheathed claws.
Icepaw landed harsh blows to his eyes. Applepaw yelped as he felt his fur being pulled out. This wasn't the type of fighting he was used to. Though, the only fighting he did was play. If he yelped during a game, his opponent would stop and ask of he was alright. Not this time though. Icepaw snickered, hissing under his breath. Calling him a kit.

Applepaw struggled, trying to defend himself as he was flipped. His back hitting the semi-damp sandy floor. Icepaw put a clawed paw to his head and pushing it into the ground.Applepaw yowled, struggling under Icepaw's surprising weight.
"G-get!" He felt his hind-legs scrabble against the earth, his felt his paw make contact with a a small stone and kicked it away.
Applepaw continued to struggle, his heart racing and he could feel it in his throat. Wasn't Rainwhisker or Sandstripe going to help him?

Icepaw bent down, hissing in his ear. "Who's the winner now? Kit?"

  Suddenly an yowl pierced the air, the thumping of paws quickly following. Icepaw screamed and scrambling off, Applepaw felt the pressure of Icepaw's paw disappear. There was warm spot where the older apprentices paw was, he sniffled at the thought.
  Slowly sitting up and shaking his grains of sand from his fur and whiskers, a flash of dark ginger fur flew over head. He followed where the flash disappeared too and was shocked to see Reedpaw, looking fierce but tiny, wrestling around with Icepaw who was twice her size.

She was taking him on well, well aimed blows hitting the pure white toms face and ears. Icepaw let out a startled shriek as he tried to push Reedpaw off but his attempts were fruitless as the dark ginger she-cat wrestled with him.
Applepaw blinked, watching as Reedpaw leapt off the tom. A scarlet drop trickling down her ear, she shook out her fur.

"Don't mess with him, you dirty, flea-ridden, minnow-heart!"

'Reedpaw's standing up for me!' he felt warm with embarrassment. He didn't need a- a she-cat to defend him! He could handle himself just fine! He just had a bit of a slip up...

Icepaw sneered, echoing his thoughts. "Look at that, Applepaw needs a she-cat to defend him! How adorable!"
Applepaw bristled, jumping to his paws and whirling mid-air to look straight at Icepaw. "I don't need anyone to defend me!" He turned back towards Reedpaw, "You don't need to help me! I could've taken him on by myself!"

Reedpaw stared at him, her ear flicking. She had a nick in her ear... Though she seemed rather unbothered by it. "He pinned you to the ground, you were struggling."
"It was just a slip up! I would've been fine on my own!"

  Reedpaw narrowed her blue eyes, "so.. you struggling under his paws was just a slip up? Scrabbling your legs desperately was just a slip up? Applepaw, be serious. You should be grateful I helped you before you got your hind handed to you."

Applepaw growled, "just leave! I don't need you criticizing or pointing out everything I do wrong!"
Reedpaw rolled her eyes, clearly not taking anything he said seriously. "Well, that's how a warrior learns, by realizing their mistakes and-"
"StarClan, you're so annoying!" Reedpaw gasped, "You're like a thorn in my side!" Of course, deep inside, he knew he never meant the things he said but he truly didn't need Reedpaw reminding him of every little mistake. Sure, he made a wrong move and had been struggling, but that was in the past. He knew he would learn from it. He just didn't need Reedpaw to remind him.

Reedpaw looked away, "I was just trying to help..." She mumbled, pushing away a stray pebble away with her paw.
"Well I don't need it. If you excuse me, I need to get back to training." Reedpaw stepped back, watching as he whisked past her and towards Rainwhisker.

Rainwhisker nodded approvingly but there was no warmth within his blue eyes. Applepaw shook out his fur, "So... What are we doing next?" Applepaw meowed.

Sandstripe looked over at Reedpaw before at at her apprentice. "Rainwhisker, continue training Icepaw for me. Will you? I'm going to take Reedpaw hunting." Reedpaw looked up her blue eyes clouded, Rainwhisker scanned the sandy gray tabby.

"Are you certain that's a good idea?"
"What, you can't handle watching another apprentice, that again, your own son?"
"Well, I never said that." Rainwhisker gave his chest fur a few licks.

Sandstripe flicked her tail on Icepaw's shoulders, "behave, will you?" She hissed, walking away before her apprentice could speak. Sandstripe nudged Reedpaw towards the exit of the training hollow, the dark ginger she-cat looked excited, though her round blue eyes were still clouded with saddened expression.
"Can we go towards the stepping stones, into the more shallower water?" Reedpaw meowed, her voice fading away as she bounced excitedly beside the much taller and fitter warrior.
"Is that where Shellskip takes you?"
Reedpaw said something in response but the two she-cats had already disappeared. Their conversation heading with them.

"Icepaw, demonstrate a half-turn bellyrake. Applepaw, watch carefully as he performs it on me, I expect you to be able to copy it perfectly."

•••

    Applepaw walked through camp with a proud smile on his face, though his paws ached with each step he took.
Rainwhisker had forced him to copy every move until he had it perfectly.

"Applepaw, good training session. Tomorrow better be just as rewarding after dawn patrol."

Applepaw nodded at his mentor, proud swelling through him that he managed the please his mentor. Walking towards the fresh-kill pile, his stomach growling like a ShadowClan warrior, he turned to see Darkshadow glaring at him from her spot beside Milkfur. The two sharing a plump carp. Applepaw paused, blinking, confused to see such a hostile look from a cat he called his friend.

He cautiously grabbed a small fish from on top the pile and settled down.
"That's Reedpaw's catch." The black she-cat sniffed, her blue-green eyes scanning him.

Applepaw paused, taking another bite. Chewing slowly this time. Had Reedpaw told her older sister about what had happened in the training hollow? Well, she must've based on Darkshadow's tone.
"Cool." He murmured mid-chew.

He needed to think of an excuse to get away, he didn't feel like having this conversation right now- if ever. So him and Reedpaw had a bit of an argument, what about it?
"So, I heard you and Reedpaw had a bit of a situation earlier." Darkshadow meowed, lashing her tail as she licked her lips, free from fish blood.
"I just remembered I promised to see my dad." Applepaw said, standing to his paws and abandoning his food as he crossed the medicine cat clearing and into the den.

Darkshadow called after him in a hiss, "you can't hide forever!"

Pushing though the ivy tendrils that hung limply from the outside of the medicine cat den, he was greeted by the smell of herbs and hushed whispering.
As his eyes got used to the darkness he noticed how wider the den seemed. Maybe he just didn't look around enough when he spent time here when he was a kit?

The den stretched far back, In a small room that was blocked by a small rock wall, he could smell her mother's fresh scent past the way which he guessed. A ledge, made out of clay and supported by reeds, was the places where many herbs were scattered along the top. Hanging from the ceiling of the den was low hanging roots, on the roots hung leaves and such.

Applepaw blinked, remembering briefly his stay in the medicine cat den and how he would watched Icewhisker put the herbs there and then wait for them to dry as he sorted others herbs.

He wanted to see his father.

Applepaw walked towards the rock wall that somewhat blocked his view, he peeked into it. Heartbroken at the sight.

Russetstorm was curled on top his father's barely moving shape. Her long, feathery tail resting on his scarred, herb smeared flank. He took a hesitant step forward, his paws trembling at every step he took. He was becoming even more scared by his paws shaking. He hated it.
Russetstorm licked Creeknose's check before turning towards Applepaw, eyes dull and tired looking. She look a but skinner, her fur matted and knotted. Hadn't she been caring for herself?

"Applepaw." Her voice sounded dry as she greeted him. Applepaw felt his pelt prick with confusion and fear.
"How is he?" He blurted out, whiskers twitching.
Russetstorm slowly blinked, "he could be doing so much better." She confessed. "I've been praying to StarClan, night and day, to heal his wounds." Applepaw approached, rather hesitantly.
"Icewhisker says give it time but I'm not sure if it will work. It's been almost a half moon and he's still in this state."
Applepaw watched his mother curl closer to her mate, his father, and nuzzled into his neck. Her body trembling.

"He's the only one I have left."

Applepaw felt like a burden, he felt helpless. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't just watch, he mother needed comforting but, how do you do that? It would be awkward if he tried to sympathized, he hasn't lost anybody close... Yet. But he couldn't reveal Beepaw's secret, every cat would know soon.

Instead of staying to watch, Applepaw told his mother he'd be back with food and walked out of the medicine cat den.
He trotted towards the fresh-kill pile, still faced he grabbed a pike from the fresh-kill pile. He remembered how she mentioned it to Creeknose before he went on a hunting patrol to get her a pike, as that was her favorite.
Darkshadow and Milkfur weren't by the fresh-kill pile and he silently was glad they both weren't. He didn't want to spark another argument with Darkshadow.

Sniffing through the fresh-kill pile he grabbed the silvery-yellow scaled fish. It looked big and so Applepaw grabbed it, knowing that this would make his mother feel better.

Pushing back through the vines, he walked towards the rock wall and without a word, placed the pike down and nudged it towards his mother. Russetstorm looked over, licking her lips. She looked even worse up close.
"Thank you, Applepaw."
He only nodded his head and walked back out again and made a b-line towards the Apprentices' Den. Everything was happening so fast, he couldn't properly focus.

Curling into his nest, grateful to not see any cat beside Birdpaw who was curled in her nest, sleeping peacefully.

'StarClan,' he began, thinking to himself, 'Please, don't let my father die. If this is for something I've done, punish me, not him.' he sniffled, burying his face deeper into his paws.

'Please.'

•••

Edit - 3832 Words.
(03/17/23)

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Heyyyy so I'm currently at a hotel (again) and so I have wifi! Fun!!

I hope you guys like this chapter! The next one is going to be a bit longer than 3,000 words soooo-

Anywho, until next time my peeps 🐣, creeps 🐜, and sickly sweets 🍬 and hopefully we'll meet again, in the next chapter! 💜💜