[center][fancypost=background:transparent; width: 600px; text-align: justify; font-family: ; color: silver; line-height: 19px]The apprentice had been out that sunrise, doing the thing he did best. His wandering paws would never stop for a moment's rest. He knew that his daydreaming had to stop someday. He had already let down the clan once. He didn't want to do it again. He found himself by the fringes of Skyclan territory. The scent was stale. He noted that he needed to inform Thrushstar that a patrol would be needed later today. For now, he would mark the border by himself as makeshift. As he did, he caught a whiff of a strange scent. It was something outside of what he knew. It belonged to no clan, but the scent of water was fresh. Littlepaw furrowed a brow. "Huh," he mumbled to himself. He decided he would have to see where the scent lead to. It wasn't hard. After all, he had a paw print trail to follow. Reluctantly, he picked himself up and followed. There was gold against the white canvas of snow. The apprentice's brisk pace grew to a hesitant inch. He crouched slightly, his eyes wide. He felt something uneasy stir within him as he continued his dawdle. It was a cat. "H-hello?" Perhaps it was a lost loner? Maybe they needed directions, or even better, they wanted to join! The thought eased the apprentice's worries, but his heart continued to pick up the pace. It won't be bad. His reassuring was weak, but it did the trick. The golden feline didn't seem to notice his greeting. Now that he was a little closer, he heard hurried muttering. With a little more oomph, he called, "Hello there!" The golden cat perked up noticeably, jerking around at once. Her eyes wide a piercing green, fear running rampant in her sharp gaze. Littlepaw shrank a little. Her fur was long, tangled jungle of gold. She was so thin that he could have sworn she was just bone, no muscle. Despite this, she held her self high.
"Have you seen her?" she demanded, her voice cracking broken chords. He was baffled. The apprentice fluffed up his pelt, trying to look at least a bit more intimidating than he was scared. "E-excuse me?" he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. She began to swagger towards him slowly. There was a slight limp in her confident steps. "Have you seen her?" Her words were slower, repeating what she had said desperately. Littlepaw didn't know what to say. He was scared. His wandering paws were shook with fear, his heart racing. "I-I'm sorry, I don't know who 'her' is-" His words were abruptly interrupted as the golden feline hissed, "Her! My daughter! I-I told her to stay here!" Pause. A very long pause. No answer came from Littlepaw. He was dealing with a starving mother who lost his child. Oh Starclan. He tensed, trying to calm himself. His own fur was bristling, but not of anger, but fear. "M-m-maybe she's s-somewhere out on Skyclan-" Once again, his words were cut off.
"Skyclan?" Her words were slow, trickling with venom. The fear in her green gaze were torrents of hatred. She took a stomp towards him. "There's another clan?" His throat was tight with anxiety, and merely nodded. The silence left him uneasy once again. "You took her away, didn't you?" she accused coldly, her fur golden spikes. He opened his mouth in attempt to protest, but she shouted, "You killed her, didn't you! They did, I know they did it!" By surprise, she pounced at the pudgy apprentice. He yelped as he was pinned down by the viscous mother, her claws sinking into soft flesh. He kicked desperately, trying to get the feline off. He managed to scramble out of her grasp, desperate for breath. She managed a couple more scratches on his back and flank. He flailed about, crying out in pain as she dealt blows. She leaped once more. Something inside the apprentice clicked. Though he was scared, he ducked underneath the soaring feline and managed to get a weak scrape of claws against her belly. She hissed, turning around at once to deal another blow. "I didn't kill her! Starclan, I don't even know who she is!" he spat out between breaths. Mentioning another clan seemed to only fuel her rage. "Lies! They're all lies!" She managed to swipe at his face. The apprentice backed off, shutting his eyes closed as his face stung with pain. Littlepaw kept one eye opened, his pant heavy. The apprentice practically flung himself at the golden tabby, claws outstretched and strikes her back. She yowled as he left deep scratches. For a moment, her eyes were pleading before it hardened into jade orbs. She retaliated with deep cut on his side. "Y-you killed her, just like they d-did to my son!" she spat out. Silence held on. They stared each other dead in the eye, both weary and wounded from the scuffle. "I didn't kill her," he repeated softer. He wished he could comfort the stranger, say that she was probably coming back now. The golden feline's soft pants were apparent, her eyes moist with small tears. Her voice was came out weak and broken. "I wish I could believe you, I really do."
A sudden pounce came with a yowl that pierced the silent earth. Slice! A distinct thud was followed. A gush of blood stained the pale snow. Littlepaw's eyes were staring, dazed. Before him was the body of the dying mother. Her throat had a nasty gash, and blood was pouring out at an alarming rate. Her green eyes were a dying fire at night. She was muttering something, looking at Littlepaw with those desperate, dying fires. He inched forward, appalled by the sight. "My sweet Dandelion, I'm sorry," she whispered. Her green eyes turned dull. Littlepaw was aghast, his white paw now covered in thick blood. He was a monster, wasn't he? Would Starclan turn him away? The revelation that he had killed somebody made left guilt fluttering heavy in his stomach. He was sore, his injuries stung like heck. But the pain was nothing compared to the guilt that dropped heavy on his heart.
/ his injuries are scratches on his chest (deep), side, flank, and face!