Warriors #2: Warrior Rising

Chapter 12

Goldenpaw's POV

"Snowpaw, have you got bees in your brain?" I asked my sister as the two of us padded back into camp from our training session of the day.

After Sorreltail and Brackenfur had finished their morning meal, they had taken Snowpaw and I out to teach us how to hunt for the first time. Although I had tried to focus as much as I could, and had even managed to catch my first mouse, I couldn't help but pester Snowpaw about her wanting to be a medicine cat whenever I got the chance.

I mean, the idea was completely mouse-brained, and I knew that! Who would want to be a medicine cat when you could become a hero and save your Clan from danger and trouble? I knew that Snowpaw wasn't thinking straight, so I had tried my hardest to get her to change her mind up until now.

As we were walking over to the apprentices den, she stopped and met my gaze after I had questioned her for the millionth time that day.

"Goldenpaw, for StarClan's sake!" Snowpaw hissed at me. "I can choose whatever path I want. I don't care if anyone disagrees with me!" She stomped her paw, almost as if to show if she was serious, before storming into the apprentices den.

As I watched her go, I couldn't help but sigh as my tail drooped. I didn't mean to make her angry, I thought. But... I suppose I had overreacted just a little bit. Maybe I'm the one not thinking straight.

I then shook my head slowly, looking down at the earth below me. Snowpaw's right, I realized. She can choose whatever path she wants. But... I wanted her to be a warrior beside me. I wanted us to receive our warrior names together. I might have to accept that that might not happen, as much as I don't have to like it.

I began to follow Snowpaw into the medicine den, coming to terms with the tension the two of us were under. But, before I could crawl all the way into the den, I heard a voice come from close behind me.

"Goldenpaw, what's going on with with your sister?"

I whipped my head around to see my father, Thornclaw, looking back at me. He was lashing his tail curiously, and his eyes were filled with concern.

Maybe Thornclaw can help Snowpaw to see sense! I realized. I can't completely lose hope!

I turned to face my father, shrugging and rolling my eyes. "Snowpaw wants to be a medicine cat apprentice," I explained to him.

Thornclaw flicked his ears and nothing more, although I noticed a brief glint of shock in his pale blue eyes. "But why is she so angry about it?" He asked, his eyes narrowing.

I started to shift my paws from side to side as I realized that this conversation might not actually go the way I wanted it to.

I hesitated, not knowing how to justify my anger. Who was I kidding? I thought. Thornclaw is a great father. He wouldn't make Snowpaw do something that she doesn't want to do just because I wanted him to.

I took a deep breath, finally deciding to speak. "Well, I mighta sorta bugged her about it all day..." I trailed off as I saw a gleam of anger in Thornclaw's eyes. I felt my fur begin to bristle as I feared the stern talking to I was about to receive. But to my relief, Thornclaw closed his eyes and took a deep breath. I sighed with relief as I saw that when he opened his eyes again, his gaze was softer.

I couldn't help but feel a small wave of admiration for my father. Thornclaw was pretty well known for being short-tempered, but also by how well that he could handle it. I wasn't too quick of temper myself, but I aspired to have as much self-control and patience as my father did.

"Goldenpaw," Thornclaw began, his voice even, "I can completely understand why this would upset you."

I flicked my ears and tilted my head. "Really? You do?" I asked as I began to lash my tail quickly back and forth.

"Yes, I do," Thornclaw answered. "Lilypetal and I love how close you and Snowpaw are, and we hope that it will always be this way-"

"It definitely will!" I insisted, cutting off Thornclaw, barely even realizing that I had.

But luckily Thornclaw didn't seem to mind, as he simply padded up to me and touched his muzzle to my head. "I have no doubt," he meowed even more softly. "But you must understand that you and Snowpaw can't always be side by side, as close as the two of you are."

As Thornclaw pulled his muzzle away from my head to simply look down at me, I couldn't help but let out a small whimper at his words. "But it's not fair!" I insisted. "Why did Snowpaw have to change her mind? This wasn't what we had planned."

I then felt Thornclaw wrap his tail around my back. "As much as we don't like it, sometimes that happens, Goldenpaw," Thornclaw explained. "Sometimes things don't go as planned. But you know what?"

I lifted my head up to meet my father's gaze. "What?" I asked, tilting my head once again.

"A part of being a warrior is being strong through change, and showing that despite how much some things that happen throw us off, we can get through it!" Thornclaw answered as he lightly poked my shoulder with his tail.

"A warrior," I breathed, my eyes widening. "Warriors do that?"

Thornclaw nodded, a purr rumbling in his throat as he saw how intrigued I looked. "All of the time," he responded, looking warmly down at me. "And I know that you can do the same."

"I definitely can!" I meowed, already feeling more uplifted by Thornclaw's words. Whatever it takes to be the best warrior I can be!

I was then pulled from my thoughts as my father gave me another nudge. "Another thing that warriors do," Thornclaw began once he had my gaze, "Is not make other cats feel badly for the paths that they want to take..."

I sighed, suddenly feeling overwhelmed with shame. Yeah, that's definitely not what warriors do...

"I... I know," I forced out, digging my head into Thornclaw's fur. "I don't know what I was thinking. I really need to apologize to Snowpaw..."

"And you will!" Thornclaw assured me. "But I wouldn't right now. You made it sound like you've been giving Snowpaw quite the hard time."

I shrugged, letting out a huff. "Yeah, I guess I have," I admitted. "I really, really have. What's wrong with me?"

Thornclaw purred with amusement. "Absolutely nothing is wrong with you," he insisted before licking my cheek. "You're stubborn, just like your father."

I stared at Thornclaw in confusion as he pulled his head away. "But... that's you!"

Thornclaw nodded, his eyes glowing with humor. "Precisely." As I let out a mrrow of laughter, Thornclaw stood up and began to pad over to the fresh-kill pile. "Let Snowpaw have some air for just a little while," he suggested. "For now, how about you and I grab something to eat?"

I nodded eagerly, excited to spend some more time with my father, which I had been worried I wouldn't get to do as much now that I was an apprentice. "Yes!" I exclaimed. "The stubborn cats will eat together!"

As I trotted quickly over to join my father at the fresh-kill pile, Thornclaw let out another purr of amusement. "Let all cats stubborn enough to drive their kin crazy, gather at the fresh-kill pile for a meal!"

I fell to the ground and howled with laughter at Thornclaw's words as he picked up a shrew from the fresh-kill pile. I sighed as I was filled with ease, being able to forget all of my worries for just a little while as I sat down and shared a meal with my father.