Spiderpaw collapsed on the ground, the scorching sun burning his back.

He had been working all day long, strengthening and repairing dens, catching prey, talking to Gorgepaw, helping Gingerheart care for Brookstorm, etc.

Now, he was beyond tired and ready to eat something and have a nap.

Glancing up, he sighed as he saw Brookstar padding softly over to him.

She was always so graceful.

Spiderpaw kind of found it annoying.

She's a Clan leader, be nice of her, he scolded himself, sitting up quickly.

"Greetings, Spiderpaw,"Brookstar dipped her head, sitting down and staring around the camp. "I am grateful for your help.You willingly pitched in to help a different Clan."

I wouldn't exactly call it 'willingly'

"You're welcome,"Spiderpaw mewed, scared he would let out an impatient growl, or his stomach would rumble. "It's the least I could do, you're letting us stay here in your camp while we heal."

"Of course,"Brookstar glanced at him, her eyes warm. "That is what HawkClan is all about: caring and sharing."

"Well, FalconClan is more of the, 'your on your own' kind of Clan, although we would probably help wounded cats."

Spiderpaw's gaze snapped up as he heard limping pawsteps and blinked as he saw Brookstorm struggling to make his way over to them.

Spiderpaw winced as Brookstorm tripped over a root, and fell onto his side.

He managed to upright himself, and continued to limp over.

Brookstar stood up, hurrying to him. "You can lean on me, if you'd like."

Brookstorm grunted, doing so.

He soon reached Spiderpaw, and slid onto the ground in relief. "That was easier than it looked, I promise."

"Yeah, right."Spiderpaw scoffed, drawing his paws into a loaf lay.

His gazed rested on the prey pile, and his stomached rumbled loudly.

"Go ahead,"Brookstar flicked her tail toward the prey. "You deserve it."

Then she padded away to her den.

"Get me some, too!"Brookstorm yelled after Spiderpaw.

He sighed, picking up a scrawny crow and dropping it at Brookstorm's feet.

"No, no, I don't want a bird.Too many feathers.Get me the juiciest, fattest mouse you can find."He waved his tail, wrinkling his nose in disgust.

Spiderpaw knew he was about to snap, twitching his eye in irritation.

He had done so much for this cat, and what did he get in return? Rude attitude, pickiness, no gratitude.

Spiderpaw knew he was the one who caused Brookstorm to get hurt, but that didn't give Brookstorm the right to be annoyingly rude to him. Did it?

Before he could snap, "No, get it yourself, fox-dung!"Gorgepaw was by his side, staring at Brookstorm with friendly eyes.

"I can get you something!"She offered brightly, whipping around to race over to the pile.She nosed around for several moments, before choosing a very plump mouse. "Here you go!"She dropped it at his paws, watching closely as he chewed it.

He chewed for a long time, then swallowed. "Not bad."

Gorgepaw grinned, then dragged Spiderpaw behind what seemed to be the elders den. "Want to see something cool I found?"She squeaked, her face full of excitement.

"I guess."Spiderpaw shrugged, following her up a small cliff and through the forest.

He kept pace with her, matching her short steps with his.

"So, where are we going?"

"You'll see."She replied with a giggle.

She led him down a skinny path, that was nearly invisible from how many trees; bushes and flowers were growing everywhere.

"This,"She pointed to a shiny item.

It had a long snout, with a weird looking stick-like 'handle' thing coming out one side.

It had all kinds of designs on it, and looked scary.

"The weirdest thing is, there's blood on the ground over there.I think it's some sort of... weapon? Like one that

Two-legs use."Gorgepaw babbled.

"And I was hoping mabye you knew what it was, or how it worked.Because I thought it was really neat and we should show Brookstar."

"I don't think we should show anyone."Spiderpaw shook his head.

"Why not!?"Gorgepaw gasped, glancing at the item again.Her eyes gleamed.

"I think we should take it away.It looks dangerous, it shouldn't be on your territory."Spiderpaw gazed at the dried red substance on the grass a few feet away.It made him shudder.

Whatever died there, or was wounded, got hurt from this shiny thing here.

"Fine,"Gorgepaw huffed. "But where do we take it? It not like we can put it anywhere safe."

"We should just bury it,"Spiderpaw shrugged. "That way no one can find it."

"We could,"Gorgepaw raised a brow. "Not last time I checked, we weren't dogs."

"Why can't we dig just as well as they can? We've got paws."Spiderpaw dug his paw into the ground, watching in amazement as it made a small hole.

"I guess.Sometimes we bury the dead cats of our Clan.But those who dig the holes are bigger cats.We're only small!"

"Just try!"Spiderpaw nudged Gorgepaw over to his started hole. "Dig!"

Gorgepaw sighed, placing a paw on the ground and dragging it down.It created a small hole. "Oh my StarClan, I'm doing it!"She continued, excitement pouring off her in huge waves. "I've never felt so....alive!"

Spiderpaw's whiskers twitched in amusement.He found it funny how she got so excited over such little things.

He decided he should probably be helping, and joined it.

Soon enough, the hole was big enough for the shiny, Two-leg weapon to fit in.

"Now we have to move it from there, to over here."Spiderpaw walked over and looked at it.

Gorgepaw stood in front of a little hole on the end, peering in it. "Mabye we could fit our paw in here and pull it over that way?"

"No, that would just hurt your paw."Spiderpaw shook his head, glancing all around it. "What if I pulled from here and you pulled from over there?"

He reached down and grasped the 'handle' part with his teeth, clamping down.He heard a small click sound and an ear-splitting sound burst from the weapon.

Gorgepaw let out a scream of pure agony, and collapsed forward, shrieking. "What-is....that!"

She wriggled, fear bright in her eyes.

"I don't- want... to die-"

Blood gushed from a small hole in her chest, and her beautiful sandy fur was stained red.Her eyes glazed over in pain, and she let out a whimper.

"No!"Spiderpaw crouched down beside her, placing his paw on the wound.He pressed down gently, but jumped back as she winced.

She suddenly went still, her breathing slowing. "Spiderpaw,"She whispered.

He leaned forward, closing his eyes in grief. "What?"

"I-"

Her breathing stopped, and she slumped, dead, on the ground.

"W-what!? I, what? Gorgepaw! What did you want to tell me? Did you have something for me? No!"He wailed.

He couldn't look at her any longer.Turning quickly, he tore across the clearing, crashing through bushes and breaking twigs.Thorns and branches attacked his fur, but he ignored them, hurrying as fast as he possibly could toward the HawkClan camp.

He needed to help some, warn cats of this deadly thing.

"Brookstar!"He hollered, racing into the middle of the camp.

He blinked in confusion to see Wonderstar, Ripplestrike and Spiritflight all standing in the clearing, facing Brookstar.

"Welcome back, Spiderpaw,"Brookstar turned to face the black apprentice. "Wonderstar has come to retrieve you and Brookstorm."

"Okay, but-"Spiderpaw gasped, trying to tell them about Gorgepaw.

"Where is Brookstorm? In the med-den?"Wonderstar interrupted him, unintentionally.

Spiderpaw groaned in annoyance, nudging Brookstar's side.

"Yes,"She replied, flicking Spiderpaw with her tail. "He will be right out.I sent Gingerheart to get him."

Sure enough, the ginger tom padded out, Brookstorm leaning on his side.

"Wonderstar! Ripplestrike! Spiritflight! Short time no see!"Brookstorm mewed cheerily, his mood immediately brightening as he gazed at his Clanmates.

"I hope you've been treated well."Wonderstar mewed, eyeing Brookstorm's skinny body.

His crippled leg was raised slightly off the ground.

"Yes, we have,"He dipped his head to Brookstar. "But I'm ready to go home now."He limped over to Ripplestrike, asking the she-cat to let him lean on her.

"Brookstar!"Spiderpaw whined, annoyed that no one was paying attention to him.

"Hush, Spiderpaw.You may go now.

Thank you for coming, Wonderstar."Brookstar mewed turning and speaking with Gingerheart.

"Come, then."Wonderstar gathered their cats, licking Spiderpaw on the head.

"Welcome back to FalconClan."

They won't listen, to me,

so I guess I won't tell them.

(Word count: 1,425)