Chapter Ten

Bramblepaw awoke with the first whispers of dawn, the warmth of Sootypaw beside her offering a small comfort in the face of the chilly morning air. She padded out of the apprentice's den, her eyes still heavy with the weight of her dreams. The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon, casting a gentle light over the camp. Despite the horror of the previous night, she felt an odd sense of calm.

The dew-kissed grass felt cool beneath her paws as she made her way out of the camp, her eyes scanning the grounds for any signs of trouble. The scent of fear lingered, but the air was still, the only movement the gentle sway of the leaves in the breeze. She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the crisp scent of the early morning hunt.

Her paws fell into a steady rhythm as she stalked through the underbrush, the quiet patter of her steps the only sound breaking the silence. The forest was alive with the promise of prey, and she focused on the task at hand, pushing thoughts of the prophecy and the pack to the back of her mind.

Within a short time, she had caught several mice, a sparrow that had been unlucky enough to land too close, and a plump vole that had been foraging near a burrow. She felt a sense of pride swell within her as she picked up her kill and trotted back to camp. As she entered, she noticed the gaping expressions on the faces of Hazelpaw and Brackenpaw, who were clearly impressed by the bounty she had brought back so early.

With a proud flick of her tail, Bramblepaw approached Redfang, who was lying in the sun, his eyes half-closed. She set down her catch, the prey still twitching slightly, and curled up beside him, offering a gentle lick to his forehead. His eyes opened slowly, and a soft smile spread across his face when he saw her.

"Thank you," He mewed, brushing her tail with his as they shared the mouse. As Bramblepaw licked her lips after her last bite, Redfang turned back to her with a sad smile. "I'm sorry I haven't been quite a good mentor." He said softly, his eyes filled with a guilt Bramblepaw hadn't noticed before. "I guess I wasn't ready for any of this to happen so suddenly, and I'm sorry I haven't spent more time with you."

"Oh Redfang," Bramblepaw purred as she gave his shoulder a lick. "You have nothing to be sorry about. I would be just as upset if my sister died. Besides, you're the greatest mentor I could've asked for."

He looked at her with a hint of surprise before his eyes softened. "You truly believe that?"

Bramblepaw nodded firmly. "More than anything. You've taught me so much about bravery and sacrifice. You're a true warrior of CreekClan."

Redfang gave a weak smile, before stretching with a yawn.  “Well,  I suppose we ought to get to training, shall we?” Bramblepaw beamed, bounding alongside him as they made their way down to the creek.

They reached the water's edge, the sun glinting off the surface, casting a warm glow over the rippling water. The fish swam lazily in the shallows, their silvery scales flashing in the light. Redfang looked at Bramblepaw, his eyes gleaming with pride and excitement. “Today, we're going to try something new. Watch me,” he instructed, and with a swift movement, he brought his paw down into the water. The fish scattered, but he had caught one, and he flipped it onto the bank with a flourish.

Bramblepaw's eyes widened. "Wow!" She exclaimed. "Can I try?"

Redfang nodded, his gaze kind and encouraging. "Of course you can, just watch the fish closely, and when you see one that's not paying attention, strike quickly and firmly." He demonstrated again, his paw slicing through the water with surprising grace. This time, he didn't catch anything, but the fish didn't seem to mind, continuing to swim as if nothing had happened.

Bramblepaw watched intently, her tail swishing with excitement. She crouched down, her eyes narrowing as she studied the water, looking for the perfect moment. Redfang's words echoed in her mind as she took a deep breath and swiped her paw into the water. The fish darted away, untouched, and she splashed in the mud, looking up at her mentor with a sheepish grin.

"Don't worry," Redfang chuckled, his eyes shining with amusement. "It takes practice." He demonstrated once more, his paw cutting through the water like a blade, and a second later, a thrashing fish lay on the ground. "Now, you try again."

Bramblepaw took a deep breath, her eyes locked on the fish as they swam in the shallows. She watched for the perfect moment, her muscles tense and ready to pounce. With a swift movement, she brought her paw down into the water, but again, she missed. The fish darted away, and she felt a flash of frustration.

"It's okay," Redfang's calming voice drifted to her, "Try to grab it from underneath." His words hung in the air, filled with the same patience and wisdom she had come to cherish from her mentor.

Bramblepaw took a step back, watching the fish as they grew accustomed to the disturbance. Their scales shimmered in the early light, creating a mesmerizing dance on the water's surface. She knew that she had to be swift and precise. She took a deep breath, focusing on the fish that had been playing in the same spot, seemingly oblivious to their presence. With a burst of speed, she shot her paw under the water, feeling the fish's slippery body beneath her pads.

Her eyes widened with excitement as she felt the creature's struggle. She tightened her grip, her claws digging slightly into the fish's skin. It thrashed in her grasp, but she held firm, lifting it out of the water with a triumphant flourish. It was a small victory, but one that brought a smile to her face, especially when she heard Redfang's approving purr.

"Very good, Bramblepaw," he praised, his voice warm with pride. "You're a natural."

Her chest swelled with joy, the first in what felt like moons. She had never felt so alive, so connected to her clan and her purpose. The grief of the night before seemed to have melted away with the dew, replaced by a fierce determination to protect and serve.

Throughout the day, Bramblepaw and Redfang fished tirelessly. The sun climbed higher in the sky, casting dappled shadows through the trees and warming their fur as they honed her skills. Bramblepaw's paws grew swift and precise, her eyes sharp and focused. Each catch was met with a victory cry and a swell of pride from her mentor.

Finally, as the day grew late and the shadows began to stretch, Redfang called a halt to their training. "You've done well, Bramblepaw," he said, his voice gruff with affection. "I think you've earned a break."

With a final nod to her mentor, Bramblepaw made her way to the medicine den, her thoughts still swirling with the excitement of the day's successes. As she approached the entrance, she heard the soft murmur of voices and recognized Pebblepaw's comforting tones. She poked her head inside to find Pebblepaw and Ivypurr huddled together, their heads bent over a collection of herbs.

Ivypurr looked up at the sound of Bramblepaw's approach, her blind gaze unseeing but filled with the warmth of her presence. "Ah, Bramblepaw," she greeted, a gentle smile curling her whiskers. "How was your training today?"

"Redfang taught me how to catch fish," Bramblepaw said, her voice filled with excitement. "It was amazing!"

"Fish?" Ivypurr's whiskers twitched with interest. "You've learned well, young one. Fish are a good source of food, especially for those of us who cannot hunt on land." Her gaze drifted to the pile of herbs before them. "But we must also focus on the healing of the body and the spirit."

Pebblepaw looked up, her eyes swollen from crying, but a spark of curiosity in her gaze. "What are you working on?" Bramblepaw asked gently.

"Ivypurr is teaching me how to use herbs to treat injuries," Pebblepaw murmured, her voice still raw with sadness. "Since Gingerpelt... Since she's gone, Ivypurr has been training me to become the next medicine cat."

Bramblepaw's tail swished in surprise, but she kept her voice gentle. "That's wonderful, Pebblepaw," she said, approaching the pair. She leaned in to give Pebblepaw's ear a lick. "You'll be amazing."

Pebblepaw let out a small, thankful purr, leaning into the comforting touch. "Do you think so?" She whispered, her voice still shaky. "I just... I don't know if I can do it without Gingerpelt."

Ivypurr's tail swished in a gentle, playful manner. "Nonsense," she hissed, her voice a warm caress despite the sharpness of her words. "You have the heart of a healer, and the wisdom of your ancestors guiding you. Besides," she added with a flick of her ear, "I'm only here to keep an eye on you. You're more than capable of handling it."

Pebblepaw's eyes widened in shock, and she looked up at Ivypurr with a mix of disbelief and hope. "But Gingerpelt was so... so wise," she murmured. "I could never fill her paw steps."

"You're right," Bramblepaw meowed firmly, "You can't fill her paw steps. But you can walk alongside them. You have your own path to make."

Pebblepaw looked up at her, the hope in her eyes growing stronger. "But what if I fail?"

"You won't," Bramblepaw assured her, her voice steady and confident. "Gingerpelt would be proud of you, and she'd be here to help you if she could. But she's with StarClan now, watching over us, and she'd want you to do your best."

Pebblepaw's eyes searched Bramblepaw's for a moment before she nodded, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "You're right," she murmured, straightening her shoulders. "I'll do my best to make her proud."

Bramblepaw purred, giving Pebblepaw another lick on the forehead. "Let's get something to eat," she said gently, and the two apprentices headed out of the den and towards the fresh-kill pile. The scent of the prey was strong in the air, and Bramblepaw felt her stomach rumble. Despite the day's events, hunger had not forgotten them.

As they approached, they saw that the pile had been well-managed, with the elders and queens already having picked out their share. Bramblepaw chose a plump shrew, her mouth watering at the thought of the meal. Pebblepaw selected a sparrow, its feathers still slightly warm from the sun. They carried their kills back to the apprentice's den, where they began to eat in companionable silence.

But as they finished their meal, Pebblepaw spoke up, her voice tinged with worry. "Sootypaw and Foxpelt haven't returned yet," she pointed out, glancing towards the camp entrance. It was almost nightfall, and the shadows grew longer and more menacing.

Bramblepaw's fur bristled. The peacefulness of their day had been a balm to their spirits, but now the harsh reality of their clan's plight was setting back in. "Maybe they found more tracks or had to go further than expected," she suggested, trying to keep the fear out of her voice.

Pebblepaw nodded, but her eyes remained fixed on the darkening forest. "I just hope they're okay," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the distant rustling of leaves.

The two friends exchanged a solemn look before returning to their meal. They knew the importance of keeping their strength up in these troubled times, and food was one comfort that could not be neglected. As they ate, the camp grew quieter, the cats retreating to their dens to rest before the night patrols would begin.

The sun had dipped low in the sky when Bramblepaw heard the rustle of footsteps approaching the apprentice's den. She looked up to see Brackenpaw and Hazelpaw, their fur ruffled and eyes wide with concern. "Bramblepaw, Pebblepaw," Hazelpaw called out as they entered. "Have you seen Sootypaw today?"

Pebblepaw's ears perked up, her own concern mirrored in their faces. "No," Bramblepaw replied, setting down her half-eaten shrew. "I haven't seen Sootypaw since before I went fishing with Redfang."

The two apprentices exchanged glances, and the tension in the air grew palpable. "We haven't either," Brackenpaw admitted, his tail flicking nervously. "The patrol should have been back by now."

Hazelpaw nodded in agreement, her eyes darting to the entrance of the camp. "We've been looking everywhere for them," she mewed, her voice tight with anxiety. "Rustypaw and Sootypaw were supposed to come hunting with us before sunset, but it's already dark."

Bramblepaw's stomach twisted with a knot of dread. The thought of their missing clanmates, especially after the events of the last night, was almost too much to bear. She pushed the uneaten food aside and stood up. "Let's go find out if anyone knows where they are," she suggested, her voice firm despite the fear that threatened to overwhelm her.

The four of them padded out of the apprentice's den and made their way towards the warrior's den. The camp was eerily quiet, the only sounds the occasional sigh of the wind and the rustle of leaves. As they approached, they saw Fernclaw pacing back and forth in front of the entrance, his tail lashing angrily.

"Fernclaw," Bramblepaw called out, her voice echoing through the camp. "Do you know where the afternoon patrol is?"

The warrior's ears twitched as he turned to face them, his eyes reflecting the same concern that mirrored in their own. "No," he mewed gravely. "They haven't returned yet. Palestar sent a search party out a while ago, but they haven't found anything."

Bramblepaw felt a chill run down her spine. The prophecy of fire and division seemed to be closing in around them, and she couldn't shake the feeling that the pack of dogs was somehow connected. "We have to do something," she said urgently. "We can't just wait here."

Fernclaw opened his mouth to speak, before a scream commenced from the forest as a voice shouted, " Get to the trees!"