Jaggedstar's Choice {COMPLETE}

Chapter 21

 Jaggedtail walked close beside Foxpaw, the apprentice was eager as always to be out in the forest. With every passing day he improved, finding new ways to impress Jaggedtail. He hunted with skill and practiced his battle skills with confidence and never stopped until he mastered what he was trying to learn.

Jaggedtail couldn't help but look at his apprentice with pride, he was so strong and would prove to be an incredible warrior when the time came. I love training him, but I can't wait until he is finally a full warrior. He will make me so proud. Jaggedtail kept a close eye on Foxpaw, his amber eyes scanned the forest as the patrol moved through the undergrowth. He was keeping a close eye on everything around him, just as every cat should while on patrol.

"Think MoonClan has been acting up at all?" Sparrowheart questioned Ashstream from the head of the patrol.

"I'm not sure." Ashstream shrugged. "If they're planning something then they haven't been showing it. Though I'm sure they are."

"Why doesn't MoonClan like us?" Applepaw questioned, stepping up to walk beside Sparrowheart. "I was never given a clear answer."

"There was a border skirmish moons ago and the MoonClan warrior Blacksky was killed. They've hated us ever since, Owlstar refused to let it go and now Cloudstar is continuing his fight." Sparrowheart explained, Jaggedtail noticed Mosswing wince slightly. He didn't mention that it was Elmheart who killed Blacksky. Jaggedtail thought. I wonder why. It's not really a secret.

"Will MoonClan ever forgive us for it?" Foxpaw asked.

"Dunno." Ashstream shrugged. "It's hard to say, maybe one day Cloudstar will realize that she's just cause more and more unnecessary bloodshed instead of letting the past go."

"She's so driven by pride." Mosswing chimed in. "Had it been any other leader after Owlstar I'm sure this whole feud would be over. Cloudstar is prideful, and clearly thinks the best course of action is to punish us for as long as she can, but who knows when she will finally give it up. I don't want any LichenClan or MoonClan cats to die because of her pride."

The patrol nodded in agreement. So far, Blacksky had been the only death between the two Clans but with how hard Cloudstar was pushing, Jaggedtail couldn't help but feel that more would eventually follow. If Cloudstar causes the death of one of her own cats, what does that say about her being leader? "Leaders are supposed to guide their Clans into a better future, not drive them into pointless battles because of the past." Jaggedtail added. "Cloudstar will have to realize this, and it may just cost her some warriors if she's not careful."

"I just hope that no LichenClan warriors are killed as well." Sparrowheart sighed. As the warriors spoke, Jaggedtail noticed something off about Applepaw. The she-cat came to a stop in her tracks, causing Mosswing to bump into her.

"Is everything okay, Applepaw?" Mosswing questioned.

"I dunno." Applepaw looked around, sniffing the air. "I smell something weird." Jaggedtail sniffed the air as well as a foul scent began to fill his nose. How did I not notice this before.

He noticed Sparrowheart's fur stand on end. "That's a--"

Before Sparrowheart could finish his sentence a bright, red creature burst out from the trees around them. Applepaw let out a shrill cry of alarm as she came face to face with a snarling fox. "Applepaw move!" Jaggedtail cried out but the apprentice was frozen in place.

The fox moved in a red blur, Applepaw finally responded to the situation but the fox was faster. It sank its teeth deep into Applepaw's hind leg and violently pulled her back. Her claws scraped the earth as she was picked up from the forest floor.