Chapter Text
Onyx'Heart snarled as he swept his claws across the tall fox's nose, protecting his fresh kill. The fox yowled at him, kicking snow back at him as he ran off. "We gotta get out of here, Jerry!" A large ginger cat said, as Onyx'Heart spat at him. "And don't come back!" He hissed as the other brown loner scurried off with a vole in her mouth. It wasn't caught on their territory, but it seemed like a decent meal for the elders. He flexed his claws in the snow, tail swaying as he walked back to camp. His sister Dandelion'Fur had come back earlier, after she had caught enough for the kits and the warriors. Onyx'Heart rolled his eyes as he placed his kill down for Hazel'Nose to eat. "A shrew? Give it to Shard'Sting, He loves shrews." Hazel'Nose insisted as she patted her fur. "I've already eaten." She purred as Onyx'Heart nodded. "Shard'Sting, White'Flower, I brought a shrew!" He called as the two emerged from the dark crevice of the elder's den. "Thank you dear!" White'Flower meowed as Shard'Sting grumbled. Onyx'Heart headed over to the warrior's den. "Where are you going?" Ginger'Paw meowed as she walked beside Onyx'Heart. "Just going to lay down, you?" He said, tired. "I was heading to the swamp, want to come?" Ginger'Paw stared fondly to Onyx'Heart as she spoke. "Sure..." He replied, Ginger'Paw walking fondly onward towards the swamp. "So, I wanted to ask you something lately." Ginger'Paw said as she sat down next to Onyx'Heart, nuzzling his sleek black fur. "What." He coldly mumbled. Ginger'Paw felt intimidated under his hateful gaze, lowering her head as she looked down at the nasty swamp. "I just wanted to ask you to come hunting with me, it wasn't anything important." She muttered as Onyx'Hearts hateful gaze softened into a carefree one. "Sure." He said, Ginger'Paw looking back up at him like he had just killed the entirety of FireClan. "Really?" She excitedly asked. His gaze shifted to her paws. "Of course." He said as his claws flexed in the grass. Ginger'Paws bushy tail wagged as she bounded up the hill. "Let's go then!" She purred. Onyx'Hearts sick grin faded as he followed. He was greeted by some of the warriors on the border patrol. One stuck out, Fire'Wing. She gave him a glare, signaling Ginger'Paw to come next to her. 'Oh, that's her mother.' He thought." Come with me, Sweetheart." Fire'Wing meowed to her daughter as she padded off into the training field. "Come on, Onyx'Heart." Pine'Nose meowed as Onyx'Heart glared at him. Hail'Paw walled back to the patrol, a mouse in his jaws, smiling. "Good job, Hail'Paw." Fidget'Ripple spat. Onyx'Heart and Pine'Nose crept off, going their separate ways to hunt. Onyx'Heart smelled a distant rabbit, creeping up to a small juniper bush to hide. He jumped up, lashing forward and slashing into the rabbit's throat. It died almost instantly, Onyx'Heart carrying it back to the patrol. "Wow, good catch Onyx'Heart." Fidget'Ripple spat again, Onyx'Heart giving him a disgusted glance because of his disfigured muzzle. Fidget'Ripple shrunk back, Hail'Paw clinging onto him. Onyx'Heart walked off, Ginger'Paw going back to joining him. "Hey Onyx'Heart..." She mumbled. He raised his head, looking at her. "My mom says I can't hang out with you anymore." Ginger'Paw continued. Suddenly, Onyx'Heart got defensive. "Why not?!" He angrily stared as Ginger'Paw shrunk back. "She doesn't like you! She said you're a bad warrior!" She yelled back at him. His gaze was filled with hatred as he stared at the small apprentice. She couldn't say that to him. Ginger'Paw covered her muzzle, running off as Onyx'Heart snarled. The patrol had made it back to camp, Moss'Star sitting on the rock with people around him. Onyx'Heart joined his mother and sister, as Moss'Star began. "Red'Paw, you're old enough to become a warrior, and you've trained long and hard to become one. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, at the cost of your life?" He spoke. "I do." He boldly claimed. "Then by the will of Starclan, your name shall be Red'Claw. Named after you strength and bravery in battle." Moss'Star finished, as the clan chanted Red'Claws name. "I wish I was a warrior." Ginger'Paw mumbled to Dandelion'Fur. "Already, you're Moss'Star jumping down from the sharprock. "You're all dismissed to sleep." He meowed, his entire body shaking as he walked into the leader's den. Onyx'Heart stumbled off to the warrior's den, laying down to rest for the night.
"Hail'Paw, wait up!" Ginger'Paw called, chasing the apprentice into the dimly lit forest. "Haha, if you can't keep up don't come along!" He teased, Ginger'Paw giggling. They both came to a halt at the huge pine trees, Ginger'Paw jumping after Hail'Paw, and tackling him. Both of them rolled into the training field, laughing. Hail'Paw nuzzled Ginger'Paws fur, purring as they shook the fluffy dandelions off their pelts. "Hey, I wanted to talk to you about something..." Ginger'Paw quietly asked. " Sure, what is it?" Hail'Paw asked. "Do any warriors try to get you to be their mate?" She said, Hail'Paw darting up. "Of course not! Why are you asking?!" He demanded to know, before seeing that Ginger'Paw was scared, and lowering his voice. "I'm sorry Ginger, but why are you asking me that?" He said, concerned. "It's because Onyx'Heart wanted me to be with him and got mad when I said no.." She said, ears drooping as Hail'Paw stood still. His eyes flamed with anger. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" He asked, wrapping his soft tail around Ginger'Paw as they crawled into a hollowed log to chat, Hail'Paw grabbing a few dandelions and ferns and tossing them down for the two apprentices to lay on. Hail'Paw wanted to talk, but Ginger'Paw seemed too upset by the topic. They both laid on the fluffy nest, cuddling into each other as Ginger'Paw started to drift off to sleep. "Goodnight, Ginger'Paw." Hail'Paw purred. "I love you." Was the last thing Ginger'Paw heard before she went to sleep.
"WHERES MY BABY?!" Fire'Wing yelled, awaking most of the warriors. "Calm down, Fire'Wing, she's probably out on patrol." Rose'Thorn meowed as the other warriors gathered outside. "SHE'S NOT!" She yelled, Moss'Star sighing. "Start searching outside camp. Fidget'Ripple, you check out by the training field, Rose'Thorn and Red'Claw will look down by the swamp, and Pine'Nose will check at the pine trees. Every other warrior can split up and go with whoever you like." Moss'Star said, exhausted. "My apprentice is missing, too." Fidget'Ripple mumbled as he got glared at. Everyone separated for a few minutes, before everyone but Fidget'Ripple met up in camp. "Most of us caught a scent of the two." Rose'Thorn hissed. "But we couldn't find them." He continued. "Hey, where's Fidget'Ripple?" Diamond'Fang meowed as Lily'Kit peeked her head out. "He might be back in a bit." Onyx'Heart snarled.
Fidget'Ripple sniffed around, sneezing as the patches of dandelions tickled his nose. He had finally caught a scent, as he ran over to a small log. When he peeked inside, he saw the two fluffy cats cuddled up, asleep, and gently nudged them. Hail'Paw blinked his eyes open, looking at his mentor. "Hey Fidget'Ripple.." He meowed, tired. "The clans looking for you..." He spat calmly. "Wake up, Ginger'Paw." Hail'Paw whispered, nudging her. She fluttered her eyes open, shaking the bits of ferns off her pelt. They stumbled out of the log, following Fidget'Ripple. "I bet you two are soulmates." He whispered over to his apprentice, Hail'Paw. Hail'Paw smiled as they continued on back to camp."I found them!" Fidget'Ripple meowed. "You two." Moss'Star stared. "WHY did you leave camp?" He snarled. "We just went out exploring." Ginger'Paw hissed. "No excuse. You both will be cleaning the ticks off the elders." Moss'Star said, glaring as Fidget'Ripple began. "But they were safe, and on camp boundaries." He stated.. "They were asleep inside a hollow tree trunk, beside the training field." Fidget'Ripple meowed, Ginger'Paw and Hail'Paw smiling greatfully at him. "WE DON'T CARE, FIDGET'RIPPLE!" Diamond'Fang hissed. "NOW GET OVER IT!" She snarled. "Everyone, be quiet." Moss'Star meowed. Onyx'Heart ran over to Ginger'Paw, embracing her with his huge paws. Hail'Paw hissed. Hail'Paw shoved Onyx'Heart off of her, wrapping his tail around Ginger'Paw. "What are you doing, you bumbling idiot!?" Onyx'Heart snarled, everybody watching. Onyx'Heart jumped at Hail'Paw, the white tom shrieking as Onyx'Hearts claws dug into his fur. Ginger'Paw wailed, running over to her mother and sobbing. Fire'Wing comforted her daughter. "BOTH OF YOU, STOP IT. I WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS!" Hazel'Nose yowled. Ice'Dagger hissed at Hazel'Nose, realizing Mint'Whiskers kits were getting upset. Tears streamed down Ginger'Paws muzzle as she ran, far out of camp.
Ginger'Paw skidded through the forest like a squirrel, slamming her sore paws against the leaf-covered ground. She slammed into a furry figure, a slight hiss coming out of her as she tumbled off into a ditch with this fluffy animal. "What the he- Ginger'Paw?" The familiar voice asked. The golden cat got up, it was Dandelion'Fur. "Dear Starclan, whats wrong?" The beautiful cat bent over to clean the apprentices tears. "I.." Ginger'Paw stammered through tears, "I made everyone mad. I think Hail'Paw and Onyx'Heart are angry at eachother. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Ginger'Paw began to wail, Dandelion'Furs eyes widening. "What do you mean Onyx'Heart is fighting Hail'Paw?!" Dandelion'Fur asked, trying her hardest to comfort the emotional cat. "Both of them really like me.." Ginger'Paw sniffled, Dandelion'Fur unsheathing her claws. "But you're just a child!" She quickly sheathed her claws again, giving Ginger'Paw a hug. "They- He shouldn't be pursuing you at all!" Worry seeped into her mind like water into fur. "Stay here as long as you need. I need to mediate a clan." Dandelion'Fur meowed softly, drawing her tongue across the apprentice she saw as her own kit. The golden furred cat bounded off, leaving a calm Ginger'Paw behind.
"Will you follow the warrior code at the cost or your lives?"
"We will."
"Than by Starclans will, I will give you the warrior name of Ginger'Whisker, for your ability to track things and your whisker-point precision. You shall have the name of Hail'Storm, for your ability to use your emotions in an effective way during battles. You shall sit vigil to guard the camp tonight."
It felt like the time had flew by, but after 2 or 3 moons, Hail'Storm and Ginger'Whisker were finally confident enough to be seen together again. They had frequently visited Hazel'Noses new litter together, Cedar'Kit and Oak'Kit. After a mostly uneventful day of hunting, the two young warriors both returned carrying two frog and a rabbit. After tossing the two frogs off into the heap of prey standing mostly untouched in the middle of camp, they both made their way to the nursery. Hazel'Nose and Diamond'Fang greeted the two happily. "Hey hun, good to see you!" Diamond'Fang purred, touching her tail to Hail'Storms ear. The squeaks from the new kittens were loud and surprisingly comforting. Ginger'Whisker walked over, the excited happy eyes of the queen gazing over at the two kits. "Hey, Hazel'Nose. Has Perch'Peak visited the kits yet?" Ginger'Whisker questioned, watching as the pleased queens gaze shifted to her paws. Ginger'Whisker got the hint quickly. "Fire'Wing is very worried about you, hun. You should go talk to her." Hazel'Nose changed the subject, gaze sinking to the ground.