Red Pandas: A Book of Random!

Broken

I meekly obey, and I begin the long path to the forest.

As I leave, I give one last glance around the camp hopefully.

Will anyone help me?

No one meets my gaze.

Yet again, I am alone.

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Part Two

The sun danced in the sky, shining a bit of light in the thick forest.

Carefully, I limped my way along, dreading the thought of what was ahead.

A small clearing came into sight, free of any branches or debris.

I nervously scanned the bushes, my nerves on edge.

A snap of a twig caused me to turn my head, and then I was attacked.

With a yowl, Sunpaw leapt out of the bushes and onto my back.

He dug his claws in, causing me to whimper and cry out for help.

"You aren't worthy to eat the most mangled prey or to find the ticks of the elders in my clan," the tom hissed.

My clan. It's my clan too.

With a sudden burst of energy, I shook myself, trying to buck him off.

I blinked in surprise as he leapt onto the ground and stepped back.

"Time to finish you off for good." he cried, sounding triumphant.

I took a deep breath.

You can fight him. You've been doing your exercises. You can win.

"No." I force the word out.

He cocks his head at me with a sneer. "What did you say, scum?"

"No!" I repeat, more forcefully.

The tom simply nods. "Well, I suppose your death will have to be a bit more drawn out now."

I shiver. He's still a lot stronger than me.

What if I can't do this?

Suddenly, a crackle of bushes diverts my attention.

A flash of black and white fur, along with green eyes.

"Who's there?" Sunpaw demands, sounding the slightest bit unsure.

With a growl, my mentor Blackpetal steps into the clearing. "I am."

I tremble. "B...Blackpetal?"

"Hey, Maplepaw," a friendly voice announces, as Stormpaw moves to stand next to me.

"Stormpaw?" I exclaim, forgetting Sunpaw.

He nods. "It's me." The tom's bright green eyes bore into me as I look down at the smaller tom.

Blackpetal stares at Sunpaw, hissing. "Sunpaw, just what do you think you were doing?"

Sunpaw twitches his whiskers calmly. "In the dark of the forest, I thought Maplepaw was from an enemy clan. I was simply defending our borders."

Blackpetal sighes. "Sunpaw, that's a terrible excuse and you know it. We clearly heard you threatening to kill Maplepaw."

Sunpaw takes a step back. "I would never do that!" he squeaks.

Blackpetal and Stormpaw showed their teeth. "Leave." she tells Sunpaw.

Stormpaw nods. "Don't ever return."

Nodding, the golden tom runs off into the brush.

My mentor turns to me, and meets my eyes.

"Maplepaw, you aren't alone."

Stormpaw chimes in.

"You aren't broken."

I give them a wary smile. "Thanks, guys."

Should I trust them? Blackpetal and Stormpaw have always been nice, but they've never defended me like this before.

Stormpaw presses against me. "Shall we go back to camp?"

I nod, and we walk.

Together.

I feel....

Strong.

Powerful.

Healed.

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Trivia:

Maplepaw is a dark brown cat with hazel eyes.

Her father looked very similar to her, and his name was Ebonywisp.

Ebonywisp died in a fox encounter, that also resulted in Maplepaw losing her tail.

Maplepaw and Stormpaw's warrior names were Maplestream and Stormsoul.

Sunpaw never returned to IvyClan.

Blackpetal became known for her skilled mentoring, even as a young warrior.

Viperstar grew slightly softer towards Maplepaw after the apprentice grew stronger, and turned into a fierce hunter.

Maplepaw and Stormpaw did become mates as warriors, and they had two kits.