--- "Will you fight beside me?" ---

~~~

"Good morning Maplepaw." Blinking her eyes open, Maplepaw saw her fellow apprentice, Ripplepaw, and his grey bristled fur.

"Good morning Ripplepaw, where's Breezepaw?" Maplepaw asked, looking around the apprentices den in search of her best friend.

"She went to train with Dewnose. I was told to come get you so we can do a patrol!" Ripplepaw exclaimed happy as Maplepaw arose from her sleep.

"I got it." Yawning, Maplepaw fallowed Ripplepaw out of the den, and into the cold chill of leaf-bare outside. "I see it's still leaf-bare." Maplepaw meowed as she heard the crunch of snow beneath her paws. Huffing in annoyance.

As they both walked to the center of ThunderClan's camp, Maplepaw could clearly see a group of cats gathered around Bramblestar's dark brown pelt.

"Maplepaw, Ripplepaw, hurry over so we can discuss the cats going on the patrol!" Nodding, Maplepaw and Ripplepaw padded over to the group by Emberpetal's request, the ThunderClan's deputy.

As they both joined the group of cats, Maplepaw looked at each cat, placing each with thier correct name.

Bramblestar, Emberpetal, Molewhisker, Rosepetal, Snowbush, and Dappletear.

"Alright, now that every cat is here, it's time to assign patrols." Looking to the voice of Bramblestar, Maplepaw silently listened to his words. "I want Snowbush to lead joined by; Molewhisker, Rosepetal, Ripplepaw, and Maplepaw to do a quick check of the borders, also, make sure to remark the ShadowClan's border." All of the cats nodded, to show their understanding at their leader's words.

"If I may ask. Why are we remarking ShadowClan's border?" All the cats turn to look at Maplepaw, some angry at the sudden- out of line- question, and some confused.

Pausing for a second to comprehend the sudden question, Bramblestar gave a gentle smile to the small apprentice, answering her question.

"It's good to see we have some fine apprentices." Blinking in shock, Maplepaw tilted her head to the side, confused at her leader's words. "We have caught ShadowClan cats intruding on ThunderClan territory, and we are determined to show them what is rightfully ours. So we will do that by making our scent stronger, more recent, to show our domination over their fox-hearted warriors!" All the warriors nodded in approval at their leader's words, turning to leave.

"I see. Thank you for your time Bramblestar." Maplepaw meowed, before following after the rest of the patrol.

Once Maplepaw had caught up with the other four cats, her mind raced with questions.

"Hey, Maplepaw." Turning to the voice behind her she watched Ripplepaw pad quickly up to her, his face filled with excitement. "Did you see Gingerpaw again? What did she say? Was Firestar there? What did he say? Wh-" The whole patrol came to a sudden stop, forcing Ripplepaw's words to cut off.

Maplepaw felt her throat go dry as all the warriors looked at each other, eyes squinted with confused anger.

"ShadowClan's scent is recent, they were just here." Maplepaw's pelt pickled with a nervous anger, hearing Snowbush's words made her feel on end.

"Should we report back to Bramblestar?" Maplepaw asked as the warriors looked to each other, wondering if they should report to their leader.

"No, we should attack their patrol right now! Who's coming with me!?" Molewhisker hissed, his face filled with anger and hatred for ShadowClan clearly showed through. His time with the Dark Forest cats must have rubbed somehow to his pelt.

"That would be a foolish thing to do at this point Molewhisker. If anyone of us knows what to do, it would be Bramblestar," Snowbush meowed. His wisdom was a breath of fresh air to the shocked and confused apprentice. Her paws slightly shaking with the thought of death.

"I agree with Snowbush," Maplepaw quickly meowed, all cats turning to her. "We need a leader's wisdom for a decision like this. We need to report back. Not attack a whole camp with what- five cats? I don't think so."

Every cat, even Molewhisker's expression changed to suprize, or maybe it was something like suprize that Maplepaw had never seen before. But it was on their faces. Every cat's face.

"I'll lead the way back." Molewhisker meowed, his head lowered slightly- as if Maplepaw had embarrassed him.

-

"We caught the scent of ShadowClan again, and this time it is quite recent." Snowbush meowed to Bramblestar. The wind had grown stronger, and the snow once on the ground was now back in the air.

Maplepaw just wanted to run to the apprentice's den and curl up with the warm nest she had- gently holding onto the last piece of fur left by her mother.

"-be sure to come back quickly." Snapping back into reality, Maplepaw heard Bramblestar say the last of his order. Confused, she stayed next to her mentor- silent as a mouse nibbling on an acorn.

"What seems to be the matter Maplepaw?" Bramblestar asked his small frail apprentice. Looking at her horrific state.

Maplepaw's eyes were almost dull- lifeless - beads of amber. Under her eyes were large black rings of sleepless nights. On her pelt, she was covered in dry mud, though snow had soaked into her muddy paws- making every paw step followed by a brown trail of mud. There on her back- was a large streak of claw marks- as if someone had dragged four long pieces of tree wood up and down her pelt until it dug into he skin, leaving a giant scar.

"No I'm fine." Maplepaw meowed, shifting her paws, re-answering the question, now with more confidence. "On second thought, can I go see Jayfeather?"

With a brisk nod, Bramblestar let the apprentice run off to her favorite cat, the only cat she seemed to completely trust in ThunderClan. Worried about her state he yelled after her.

"After you talk to Jayfeather- get some sleep!"

Though no answer ever came back- except the howl of the wind.