Thanks Scarclaw!
_________________________________________________________________
Tigerpaw raced through the forest, his lungs threatening to collapse from exhaustion. Patchpelt ran beside him, flanked by Dappletail and Mousefur. They dashed through the forest, toward Sunningrocks. The dark apprentice could already hear the yowls and hisses from the raging battle. He forced his legs faster, desperate to join his clan mates. His unusually long claws dug into the ground with each step, allowing him to lunged forward and go faster.
Finally, the battle came into view. He saw Snowfur sparring with a sleek-furred RiverClan tom. She clawed his face furiously, while her son, Whitepaw sank his teeth into the flank of a RiverClan apprentice.
Suddenly, a blur of blue fur caught his eye. Bluefur was wrestling with a tom that was twice her size. He recognized him immediately as the leader of RiverClan, Crookedstar. Crookedstar pinned Bluefur to the ground and began raking his claws down her belly. Her ear-splitting cry was too much for Tigerpaw. He sprang into the mass of cats and pounced on the large toms back, sinking his teeth into his shoulder.
Crookedstar yowled and flipped onto his back in an attempt to crush the tabby apprentice, but Tigerpaw was too quick for him. As soon as the RiverClan toms body began to turn, Tigerpaw leapt up and landed on top of him. With the leaders soft belly exposed, Tigerpaw took his long claws and began to rake them down the sensitive skin. He snickered in victory as he heard Crookedstars horrific cry and began to rip harder and faster.
Once he saw Bluefur attempting to push to her paws, he released his enemy after a hard nip on the ear. He watched him limp away in agony. Tigerpaw smirked as he saw the rest of RiverClan turn and follow.
He finally noticed Bluefur standing behind him. He spun around and looked into beautiful, blue eyes. His heart skipped a beat as she rested her tail on his shoulder. Thank you, Tigerpaw, she sighed, still attempting to catch her breath. You were magnificent!
Tigerpaw blushed under his fur, and noticed Redpaw glowering at him. He quickly flicked his eyes away from him, not wanting to give his brother another reason to pick on him. Instead, he gazed back into the blue-furred she-cats sparkling eyes.
D-dont mention it, Bluefur, he managed to mew. It was n-nothing.
Bluefur laughed softly and licked Tigerpaw between the ears before she rose to her paws and padded off to talk to her sister, Snowfur. Tigerpaws heart was beating so loud now, he was sure every cat in the forest would be able to hear it.
Excellent job, Tigerpaw! yowled Patchpelt from behind. Tigerpaw flinched in surprise.
Oh, thank you, Patchpelt, he said, smoothing down his ruffled fur with his paw.
Tigerpaw walked back to camp with his tail held high beside Whitepaw who walked beside Snowfur, who walked beside Bluefur. He was so close to her that it made him shiver, but so far, it made his heart ache.
You did very well, Tigerpaw, Whitepaw had complemented on the way. Im sure Snowfurs very grateful. She and Bluefur are very close. I dont know what she would have done if she had lost her.
Tigerpaw smiled crookedly. It was nothing, he mewed, attempting to make his voice sound humble. Im sure anyone else would have done the same thing. That much was true. There wasnt a cat in ThunderClan that would risk losing Bluefur. She was the best hunter, the best fighter, and frankly, the best looking she-cat in the clan. Tigerpaw could stare at her blue fur shining in the moonlight for moons. He would give anything to be able to curl up beside her, and stroke her soft fur with his tongue. She was his life; his entire reason for being. She was his heart and soul, and there wasnt anything that could stop him from protecting her.
Tigerpaw was stuffed from his dinner. He had been honored with first choice from the fresh-kill pile for defeating Crookedstar. Bluefur had even sat along side of him, repeating his heroic battle to save her. As he padded back to the apprentices den, he recalled the sensation of having her fur press against his. He sighed with joy, letting out all the butterflies that were fluttering in his chest.
Well, there he is, a scornful voice hissed. Tigerpaw opened his eyes and saw Redpaw perched on a rock, glaring at him menacingly. Below him sat Lionpaw along with Whitepaw. Whitepaw obviously had no idea what was going on, because he looked at Redpaw questioningly, then shrugged and slid out of the den.
Yes, Redpaw, Tigerpaw hissed lightly. What do you want?
Redpaws eyes narrowed. Why, my dear baby brother, he purred. We only want to congratulate the great and powerful, Tigerkit. Lionpaw s******ed.
The dark tabbys fur bristled. Dont call me that! he hissed, digging his claws into the ground.
Redpaw laughed. Oh, does wittle Tigerkit not like being called names? He puckered his lips tauntingly. Tigerpaw growled, and sunk into a crouch. The tortoiseshell tom threw back his head and chuckled. Oh no, he gasped in faux fear. Tigerkits going to attack us!
Lionpaw laughed baring his teeth menacingly. Come on, Tigerkit, he growled. Why dont you take care of us like you did with that stupid, elder Crookedstar?
Yeah, Tigerkit, Redpaw urged. Teach us a lesson! Or do you only show off for Bluefur? Redpaw narrowed his eyes into tiny slits, piercing straight into Tigerpaws heart. Youre really a fool if you actually think Bluefur would waste her time on you. Every tom in ThunderClan has been padding after her. Why would she care about you when she can have a real tomlike me?
Tigerpaw squeezed his eyes shut painfully. What do you mean? he asked through his clenched teeth.
He felt Redpaws breath in his ear. Bluefur told me that she had grown very fond of me. She said that I would be a wonderful mate, and any she-cat would be lucky to have me. Tigerpaws muscles tensed, and Redpaw snickered in delight. And she shared tongues with me all evening yesterday. Has she ever done that for you, Tigerkit? The dark tom squeezed his eyes tighter. HmmmI thought not. Tigerpaw felt his brothers face move from his and pad around the den.
And you actually think you have a chance with her. Tigerpaw opened his eyes and saw his brother smirking at him. You really are stupid.
Tigerpaws fur stood on end with fury. A ferocious growl erupted from deep within his throat. It was a strange, foreign sound that he had never heard from himself before. He dropped into a crouch and before Redpaw could remark again, he threw himself at the small tom.
He grabbed Redpaw by the scruff and began to shake him furiously. He finally let him go and slammed his front paw down hard on his head. Tigerpaw continued to claw and snap at his brother until the ground with sprinkled with blood. Redpaw lay limp on the floor, his breaths coming in gasps. Tigerpaw stood over him panting.
He was so exhausted from the attack, he didnt realize Lionpaw sneak out of the den, yowling what he had witnessed.
Sunstar came pounding into the den, his eyes furious. Flanking him came the deputy, Tawnyspots. And behind them were Stonepelt, Featherwhisker, Spottedpaw, and finally, Bluefur. Her usually bright, blue eyes, were now clouded with shock and pain. Tigerpaw avoided her hurt stare, instead looking down at his paws.
He glanced back at Redpaws broken body, and he swore, underneath all the gore, he saw him snicker.
