Chapter 9

"Mind if I eat with you both?" Flowerpaw meowed to Mistpaw and Smokepaw, eating happily beside eachother.



"Uh, sure," Mistpaw mewed.



Flowerpaw sat down and ate her plump mouse, still thinking about her brother.



"So what's on your mind?" Smokepaw asked.



"Oh, nothing," Flowerpaw stuttered.



A light-gray tom with black stripes stepped in the den. "Smokepaw, Mistpaw, Fawnstar wants to talk to you."



"Yes, Nightfur. See you, Flowerpaw," Smokepaw said, as the brother and sister both stepped out.



Flowerpaw felt a sad, cold shiver run through her, as she realized how lonely she felt without her brother. She needed him, but with Snowpaw in the way, she could never take him back.



It was nearly sunset when Flowerpaw left the apprentice den, and she could see her brother talking to his mentor. She noticed him peek to his left and see her standing alone. When Thunderclaw dismissed him, Flowerpaw thought he was walking to her. But instead, he ignored her and walked to Snowpaw.



Pain-like fury grew in Flowerpaw as she let out a loud cry, which was not meant to be heard. Nearly the whole Clan froze and turned to stare at her. She could see Stonepaw staring at her with regret in his eyes for leaving her.



Before anyone said anything to her, she dashed out of camp. She ran down the slope and into a grassy field, where she could hide her small self from being seen. She could feel someone nearing her as she hoped it would be her brother or mentor. It was Snowpaw.



Snowpaw looked a bit surprised, as if she hadn't known Flowerpaw would be in the tall grass. "Um, I couldn't help but notice your saddened out-look on your brother and I's feelings for eachother," Snowpaw mewed.



Flowerpaw shook her head, "It's not that. It's how he's treating me. He's acting like I'm not alive, and you're the only cat left in the Clan!"



Snowpaw's eyes widened. "I didn't mean to take him from you!"



"That doesn't matter, now I'm asking you to stay away from him!" Flowerpaw yelled.



"You can't do that! I won't stop seeing him! Nor will he stop seeing me! He loves me, and you can't take that away!"



Flowerpaw knew she was right, she couldn't keep him from loving her. But what could she do? She growled, "He's my brother, you know! I know what's best for him!"



"He knows what's best for himself! You don't decide! He's staying with me, and that's final, got it?" Snowpaw hissed.



Flowerpaw couldn't keep herself from pouncing off the ground. Snowpaw wasn't prepared for a fight. Flowerpaw unsheathed her claws and dug them in to her pelt. She pinned Snowpaw down and bit down into her neck, and felt a cat's warm blood in her mouth for the first time. She never expected it would be a cat from her Clan.



Snowpaw yowled and kicked Flowerpaw off, briefly attempting to lick her neck wound. Before she could, Flowerpaw leaped again, this time, biting her tail and keeping her blood pouring. Snowpaw let out a cry and collapsed. Before Flowerpaw could declare the war over, Stonepaw finally decided to show up.



He couldn't program what had just happened. His sister's fur muffled and ragged, and his mate on the ground in pain, a small pool of blood near her.



Flowerpaw wanted nothing more than to run away and leave the Clan for good. But she still needed her brother.



Stonepaw ran by Snowpaw's side and began licking her, trying to stop the bleeding. He whispered to Snowpaw, "Did she do this to you?"



Snowpaw gave a weak nod and before Flowerpaw had time to explain, Stonepaw stood up yelling furiously at her, "What have you done?! Why would you do this to her! Or to me!? Why, Flowerpaw?"



Stonepaw turned and tried picking up Snowpaw in a manner that wouldn't hurt her. He needed more help to carry her, or else he would be dragging her. "Help me!" Stonepaw hissed to Flowerpaw.



She ran to Snowpaw and helped carry her back to camp.



Flowerpaw couldn't help noticing all the eyes that were watching them carry Snowpaw to Leafwind's den.



Fawnstar was the first to question, "What's happened?"



Stonepaw didn't speak, leaving Flowerpaw to answer. Though she didn't want to tell the leader she broke the warrior code.



Stonepaw could feel his sister's fear and spoke, "Flowerpaw.... she attacked Snowpaw."



Fawnstar stood motionless and looked at Flowerpaw, "You did this?"



Flowerpaw couldn't believe it either, "Please Fawnstar, allow me to explain."



Fawnstar looked bewildered, "You, Flowerpaw? I would never have guessed."



Flowerpaw wondered if she heard her, so she repeated herself, "Allow me to explain!"



"Go to your den, now Flowerpaw! Your mentor and I will speak of this!" Fawnstar rasped. Flowerpaw had never heard her angry before, and it came to her strongly.



Flowerpaw dropped her tail and walked to the exit of the medicine den. She whispered to her brother, "I'm sorry, Stonepaw."



He turned his head and whispered back, "I almost wish I could believe that."