Betrayal

Chapter 25

Dawnpaw ram through the swamp, tears streaming down her cheeks and her paws thumping on the ground. She finally stopped beside a fern and sat down, her mind whirling. How could it have been her mother she thought in disbelief. As she thought about it more she remembered the story her mother had always told her about how Applenose had stolen her as a kit, maybe there was more behind it. Her thoughts wandered to Graypaw but she quickly pushed them out of her mind, still to confused and hurt to think about it. Several heartbeats had passed as she sat there in schlock when she heard pawsteps. She flinched away and thought about hiding before she realized it was her sister. Hazelpaw skidded to a stop and began speaking, "I was so worried where have you been and-" Hazelpaw suddenly stopped and peered at her intently. "What's wrong" she asked. She sat silent for a heartbeat, debating whether she should tell her. "Well? Is it Graypaw? Hazelpaw prompted.
"Amberleaf killed the kits" she blurted out. Hazelpaw began speaking hadn't gotten very far when horror took over her face.
"Y- you don't mean the Springclan kits right" Hazelpaw stammered. She could see Hazelpaw was yearning for her to tell her it wasn't true, to forget about it but she couldn't. She nodded solemnly and Hazelpaw started pacing, tearing at the ground. She could hear Hazelpaw murmuring under her breath what do we do what do we do but she didn't know. After a few heartbeats she stood up and shook out her pelt.
"We should get back" she meowed. Hazelpaw nodded glumly and they started walking back.
****
When she arrived in camp Amberleaf hurried over to her, scolding her for running off.
"I was upset about Graypaw" She mumbled. Amberleaf shook her head but she knew that Amberleaf knew she had seen her. I know what you did she thought.
"Come with me you need to see Mapleleaf" Amberleaf ordered. She nodded and followed her mom, Hazelpaw trailing behind her. When they entered the den Mapleleaf was treating Brightpaw. She winced as she saw the long gash across Brightpaws side and various other wounds. Mapleleaf glanced up.
"Yes" she said.
"I need you to treat her" Amberleaf replied curtly. Mapleleaf nodded and gestured for her to follow her, when Mapleleaf began treating her and said,
"Where were you" she asked.
"Um I had to go to the dirt place" she lied, she felt a flash of guilt and Mapleleaf raised her eyebrows. She knew Mapleleaf didn't believe her lie one bit, she supposed she could have just said she was upset and ran off but it was too late now. When Mapleleaf was done she sad thank you and left. She was heading over to the apprentice den when Amberleaf told her to wait. She swung around and looked at her defiantly. "Yes?" She asked irritably.
"Come talk with me" Amberleaf said, her eyes pleading.
"No" she said.
"Please" Amberleaf mewed, stepping forward.
"No!" She snapped. She swung around and walked the rest of the way. When she emerged into the apprentice den she saw Hazelpaw curled up in her nest, flailing around. She felt a flash of sympathy and curled up in her nest a little closer to Hazelpaw im a effort to comfort her. She tried to close her eyes but several heartbeats passed as she tossed and turned, trying to go to sleep. She finally gave up and walked into the forest to go hunting. Beeflight was guarding the entrance and looked at her suspiously.
"Where are you going" he asked.
"Hunting" she replied. She thought Beeflight would stop her but he nodded.
"Be careful Springclan could still be around and call if you need help" he warned her. She nodded and spent the rest of the night hunting and managed to come away with two frogs and one bird. She scowled at her meager catches. She had messed up more then usual and had sometimes missed the easiest catches. The light of dawn was beginning to light the sky when she returned to camp. She decided to go to her nest since she wouldn't start her training for a little bit and walked back to her nest. She actually went to sleep only to be woken up what seemed like a few heartbeats. "Wake up Badgerckaw wants you" Robinpaw told her. She blinked open her eyes and heaved herself out of her nest. She stumbled into the clearing and walked over to Badgerclaw.
"Rough night" he asked sympathetically. She nodded and followed him out of the camp. They went to the training clearing and started battling. Badgerclaw threw himself at her, nad her still blinking sleep from her eyes let out a squeal of astonishment as he knocked her down. Badgerclaw got up and looked at her sternly. "What is wrong with you Dawnpaw you usually do not do this bad" Badgerclaw scolded.
"Sorry" she mumbled, ducking her head in embarrassment. They kept on going but the rest of the training session did not go any better. As they walked back to camp Badgerclaw glanced at her with concern.
"Is something bothering Dawnpaw" Badgerclaw asked. She shook her head and felt guilt scorch her, she didn't like lying to her clanmates but she couldn't tell them the truth. When they arrived into camp she saw Amberleaf come over with Hazelpaw following her. Her first instinct was to run away but she couldn't do that with Badgerclaw right in front of her. When Amberleaf arrived she said,
"I just want to talk with her" Amberleaf explained. Badgerclaw nodded and walked away. She wanted to yowl for Badgerclaw to come back but she couldn't. She grudgingly followed Amberleaf and Hazelpaw through the swamp. "What is this about?" She asked.
"I don't know" Hazelpaw replied. They lapsed into silence as they followed Amberleaf and sat down far away from the camp in the shade of a tree.
"What do you want" Dawnpaw asked.
"I want to explain everything" Amberleaf explained. She sniffed but fell silent as Amberleaf began to speak.

Flashback
The she-cat raced through the swamp, rain drenching her pelt. My kits! I need to find them! She thought frantically. When she saw the cat pelting towards the border she yowled, "stop you fox-heart!" The tom skidded to a stop and spun back around his eyes frantic. A cream she-kit dangled from his mouth and a black and white she-kit hopped beside him.
"They are my kits too" the tom spat.
"They belong to Swampclan Applenose" she argued.
"No they don't I am their father" he snarled.
"I am their mother" she growled. Applenose glared at her for a heartbeat before starting to run off again. "No!" She screamed running forward. Suddenly Dewfall leaped out in front of Applenose and blocked him.
"Give the kits back" she growled slowly. She saw Applenose cast panicked glances between them before he suddenly lunged at Dewfall. Her eyes opened wide and Amberleaf was about to leap forward when suddenly Stonepelt jumped out and pushed Dewfall away, blood spurting from his throat. "No! She screeched. She leaped forward and started pummeling Applenose. He screeched in pain and dropped the cream she-kit, racing away. She rushed over to Stonepelt and felt tears fall down her cheeks as she saw what had happened.
"Please don't leave me" she begged.
"Take care of the kits" Stonepelt choked out.
"I will" she promised. She saw Stonepelts flank stopp falling and felt sobs rack her body as despair and sadness took over. She felt Dewfall nudge her and whisper that they should get going. She nodded mutely and got up, gazing out at the swamp. You will pay for this one day she thought.
End of flashback

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