▪️ FLAMEPAW ▪️

The spotted apprentice watched as the rouge disappeared into the brambles and bushes. After a moment, his fur pricked up in alarm. Why did I just have a conversation with a rouge?! I should have chased her out of the territory! He began to scold himself, before he padded back towards the direction he believed the camp to be in.

Fortunately, he was able to follow his scent back to the Dirtplace tunnel and he quietly padded out into the clearing. He began to quickly make his way towards the Apprentices Den when he heard someone clear their throat behind him.

He stiffened and stopped, before slowly turning to look back. He half-expected it to be Burnpelt, before he remembered he wasn't in WindClan anymore. Instead of the wiry brown tom, the warrior Hazelfur stood behind him. She watched him with slightly narrowed eyes.

"Are you okay? You were out there for a while..." The ThunderClan warrior stepped slowly towards him. She became clearer to him as she padded closer, the darkness still hiding most of her features. Flamepaw nodded.

"Y-Yeah... I got lost..." He lied, hoping that Hazelfur wouldn't question him further. She continued walking up to him until her face was a whiskers width away from his. She watching him for a moment before giving him a small smile and sitting back.

"Okay. If you ever need help getting anywhere, feel free to ask me or one of the warriors okay?" She told him and he nodded again. She gave him a brisk nod before yawning and turning to pad back into the warriors den.

Flamepaw relaxed and watched her go. After a moment, he padded over to the Apprentices Den and, careful not step on any cats tails, made his way back to his nest by Lightningpaw. The grey apprentice was still fast asleep, and her side rose and fell at a steady pace.

The ginger tom sighed and lay down, resting his head on his paws to sleep, though he found himself unable. He thought back to the rouge by the lake. Stripe...

------

Not much occurred the next day. Juniperclaw showed him around the territory, and Lightningpaw had attempted to explain hunting, though she wasn't very good at it yet herself. The sun was beginning to fall, and Flamepaw found himself thinking of Stripe again.

Should I go to Twoleg Place? What if she was lying? He shook his head to clear it. Going would be against the Warrior Code. But so is leaving your clan.

Once again, Flamepaw shook his head and Lightningpaw padded over.

"What's wrong?" She asked, her meow muffled by the squirrel she carried. She sat down next to him and dropped it in front of him. "Here. You should eat. Have you ever had squirrel?" Flamepaw shook his head. "You haven't /lived/ until you've had squirrel." She told him and Flamepaw looked down at it uneasily. He leaned down to take a bite and after a moments hesitation bit down. It wasn't as good as rabbit, but it was okay.

"Well?" Lightningpaw watched his every movement as he sat back up. "How is it? Good right?" Flamepaw nodded, but pushed the squirrel back towards Lightningpaw. She tilted her head in confusion. "Aren't you going to finish it?" He shook his head.

"I ate earlier." He lied again.

Lightningpaw gave him a look before she shrugged. "More for me I guess." She leaned down and happily took a bite. Flamepaw stood up.

"See you tomorrow during training." He told her, before he padded towards the Dirtplace Tunnel, wanting to head back towards the lake. He continued walking for longer than he had expected, and only realized where he was headed when he saw the bright lights of Twolegplace.

He stopped and stiffened when he heard a bark behind him. He slowly glanced behind him to see a dog standing a few fox lengths away. It gave an excited bark and rushed at him.

Flamepaw screeched and bolted towards the Twolegplace. He leapt up a tree and clung to the branches, watching the dog bark and claw at the tree below him as it attempted to reach the cat it was intent on catching. Flamepaw closed his eyes, not wanting to watch as the dog below him tried to get to him.

A paw tapped on his shoulder and he almost fell off the branch in surprise. He let out a yelp and looked at the cat who had poked him, eyes wide.

"S-Stripe?"