CHAPTER SIX
Rosy, now named Rosypaw, stood proud and tall next to Tiny, now named Tinypaw, in the clearing. Tinypaw started to lick the fresh blood off of his claws that were glinting in the morning sun, he made sure his attacker, Darkstripe, saw it. The warrior’s ear was bleeding, he sulked to the medicine den, hissing something under his breath. Rosypaw thought it was quite disappointing that they didn't have mentors, but they'll make do, if anyone could, it'll be her! Right?
She pushed her thoughts away, and started looking around the camp. Cats were crowded around the clearing, golden cats, black and white cats, silver cats, brown cats, all speckled around. She only saw white cats around the twoleg places, most of them had spiked colours. What weird owners had them? Bluestar jumped down from the rock, cats scattered. One by one, they clumped up into small groups, murmuring and whispering to each other excitingly.
“Hey Rosypaw!” A trill of pride surged through her, she was an official apprentice of ThunderClan! She turned around, greeting him with a welcoming sniff.
“Hello, Graypaw,” Tinypaw meowed, dipping his head slightly.
“Great fight Tinypaw!” He complimented, “especially for a kittypet! Darkstripe has been a warrior for awhile now! The scar you left on his ear won't let him forget you in a hurry. You've spoiled his good looks, that's for sure!” Tinypaw let out a mroww of agreement, thanking him for the comment. He started to lick the wound above his eye that stung it, as he washed he heard the chants of the cats around him.
“Tinypaw! Rosypaw!”
“Hey Tinypaw!”
“Welcome young Rosypaw!”
Rosypaw let the voices wash over her as she closed her eyes and soaked herself in pride. It felt like moons since the voices stopped and Graypaw’s voice jolted her out of her trance.
“Nice names too!” he meowed approvingly.
“where did Darkstripe go?” She asked, looking around, as Tinypaw murmured something to Graypaw.
“I saw him had towards the Spottedleaf’s den,” the older apprentice answered, gesturing to a stone entrance with ferns outside near the high rock, “she's our medicine cat. Not bad-looking either, younger and a lot prettier than most-” a loud audible huff interrupted them, they all twisted towards the noise, a pale tom with black stripes sat disappointed not too far away from them.
“Longtail,” Graypaw meowed, dipping his head respectivly.
The sleek tom looked at the three of them, his eyes spotted Tinypaw with the most rage Rosypaw had ever seen.
“Nice fight back there, I've never seen a kittypet - or loner - beat Darkstripe before,” Longtail meowed, looking back down at the ground, “he's a good warrior, don't get me wrong, but, sometimes, I think that Tigerclaw teached him only how to stuff his ears full of thistle fluff, and nothing else.” Tinypaw snickered, then went silent when Longtail looked up at him, curiosity shining in his eyes.
“You've got a nice soul, huh? I hope they give you a good mentor, not Darkstripe,” he added, before walking away from them. Graypaw watched as the young warrior left into the warriors’ den, and settled into a den near the back, then back at the two other apprentices.
“Now, Darkstripe is neither young, nor pretty,” Graypaw murmured under his breath so quietly only the two could hear him. Tinypaw was nodding along, agreeing silently, Rosypaw was about to openly agree with her friend before a loud warning yowl filled the air.
“Smallear smells trouble!” He meowed, immediately alert. Rosypaw barely had time to look around before a small cat crashed out of the bushes and into the camp. He was skinny - apart from the white tip of his long, thin tail, and the flecks of white on his chest - he was jet black from head to toe. Graypaw left out a gasp beside Rosypaw.
“That's Ravenpaw! Where's his mentor, Tigerclaw?”
“Who are Ravenpaw and Tigerclaw?”
“Ravenpaw is an apprentice, Tigerclaw is his mentor, Ravenpaw went out with Tigerclaw and Redtail at sunrise on a mission against RiverClan, lucky furball!”
“Redtail?”
“Bluestar’s deputy!“ Graypaw finished before adding, “but why on earth has Ravenpaw come back alone?!”
They raised their heads to listen as Bluestar stepped forwards. "Ravenpaw?” The blue she-cat spoke calmly, but her eyes were clouded with worry. The other cats drew back, curling their lips with anxiety. She jumped up onto the rock. “What has happened? Speak, Ravenpaw!” The apprentice in question, had jumped up onto the rock, struggling to get air, his sides heaved fitfully, while the dust around him turned red from blood, but he managed to scramble up and stand tall yet wobbly beside the noble leader. He turned to the clan of a crowd of eager faces that surrounded him, and summoned enough breath to declare.
“Redtail is dead!”