The Apprentice's Curse (A Shrouded Path book 1) {COMPLETE}

Chapter 10

Copperfoot clearly didn't hear the apprentice's remark, for he just said, "One day you'll all respect me." With that, he turned and padded away. Once he was gone, Tawnyclaw left as well, and Minnowpaw felt embarrassed. Her mentor had come to rescue her from the oafish ThunderClan warrior twice now!

Icepaw watched Copperfoot's tail disappear in the crowd of cats. WindClan had arrived at last, and they were joined once again by Yellowpaw and Sparrowpaw. "Who does he think he is?" she scoffed. "What kind of fox-hearted excuse for a warrior picks a fight with an apprentice?" Snapping her head to Minnowpaw, she added, "No offense."

Minnowpaw shrugged. "None taken." She decided that she liked this cat. "How do you think I got this shoulder wound?" She flicked her ears towards it.

Snakepaw's yellow eyes widened. "No!" he gasped. "You don't mean..."

Flamepelt nodded gravely. "She does," he said flatly.

Icepaw was shaking her head, then looked at Rainpaw. The ThunderClan apprentice had been completely silent, his head hung low and his eyes facing the ground. "How can you even stand to be in the same Clan as him?" she scoffed.

Rainpaw didn't meet her eyes as he hesitated, then said, "Well, he's my mentor."

Sorrelstream was only half paying attention as she watched the Clan leaders gather on the Great Rock, but her distracted gaze was confused. "Huh? I thought Sandstripe was your mentor," she said, naming ThunderClan's brave, level-headed deputy.

Just then, Tanglestar yowled to gain everyone's attention and to signal the start of the Gathering. Duskstar immediately stepped forward, not allowing the other three leaders a chance to speak first. "Four sunrises ago," he began, his voice carrying across the cats in the hollow, "one of our patrols was chasing a group of ShadowClan cats off our territory."

Minnowpaw looked sideways at Icepaw and Snakepaw, but the two apprentices were staring straight ahead, looking almost guilty.

Duskstar went on, his voice sounding a little strained. "During the chase, our deputy, Sandstripe, was struck and killed by a monster on the Thunderpath." A collective gasp rose from the gathered cats.

Ashstar's voice spoke up. "RiverClan mourns your loss; Sandstripe was a good and noble cat, and we wish him happy hunting in StarClan." Below, the RiverClan cats nodded in unison. Minnowpaw realized then why Rainpaw was so sad; he'd lost his mentor. And to top it off, his new mentor was Copperfoot. Did that mean...

Minnowpaw's thoughts were cut short as Duskstar continued speaking. "ThunderClan's new deputy is Copperfoot." Mews rippled across the clearing, some shocked, some pleased, and some in protest. Minnowpaw could tell she wasn't the only one who didn't like Copperfoot. The arrogant warrior who'd taunted and attacked her was now ThunderClan's deputy! Looking ahead, Minnowpaw saw the tom staring back, his eyes gleaming. He was looking at her!

Featherstar was the next to speak. Her pelt looked ruffled, and her eyes were tired. "WindClan has suffered as well. A half moon ago, one of our apprentices found a new badger set on the moors, and I led a patrol to drive the badger off. During the fight, Russetclaw and Sandpaw were badly injured, and one of our warriors, Whitefoot, was killed." Murmurs of sadness and shock sounded through the Clans.

Minnowpaw could hardly believe it. "That must have been one fierce badger!" she breathed.

"It was," Yellowpaw muttered in reply, her eyes dark. "Featherstar lost a life fighting it."

Sparrowpaw slapped his tail over his denmate's mouth to silence her, and Minnowpaw knew that that sort of information was unwise to share with enemy Clans.