Swift Clan : Anger Burns

“QUICKPAW! ARE YOU THERE?” Tinypaw squealed in distress, peering into the apprentices den where Quickpaw usually slept. All the clan’s cats were searching frantically for Quickpaw. Jaguarpelt peered out of her cozy den and saw the cats franticly searching the camp. She was insanely curious to see if Huntingstar or the cats would find Quickpaw. Huntingstar and three other cats were on a patrol from Fourtrees to Sunningrocks. A screech came from the camp outside. Yawning, she stretched and pulled herself out of her den. “Yow! Ow! Not so hard!” Swiftpaw was squealing. Leafpaw was trying to work out a sharp thorn stuck in Swiftpaw’s soft paw. “Leafpaw! Pull gently, remember, do not bite him!” Jaguarpelt mewed firmly. Swiftpaw’s expression turned from agonized to grateful. “Ok, Jaguarpelt,” Leafpaw mewed in reply. A shout went up through the camp. “The patrol is back!” Searching the patrol cats’ faces, she could see defeat and bewilderment. Opentail staggered forward. “No sign of him, anywhere.” He mewed faintly. He spat, “Useless apprentice!” He was hurt that his apprentice had run away, and was determined to find him and teach him a lesson. His deep brown eyes met Jaguarpelt’s and they locked eyes for a moment. Jaguarpelt could see the fire in his eyes. She was worried for Quickpaw. Opentail’s eyes held no kindness, or sadness that his apprentice had run away. “All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather around the rock!” Huntingstar yowled. All the clan’s cats crept up into their places, and prepared themselves for their leader’s speech. Jaguarpelt was fidgety. She knew it would be about Quickpaw. Why did he go away? Why did she even care? She winced when Huntingstar mewed, “We all know Quickpaw is gone, and he has disobeyed the warrior code.” Yowls of agreement came from the crowd below. “He should be punished!” Scratchedpelt screeched. Jaguarpelt winced. True. According to the warrior code, he should be. But surely he knew the warrior code! He wouldn't dare risk the punishment. Or would he? The crowd was chanting ‘punishment!’. Jaguarpelt was getting more and more worried for Quickpaw. Suddenly Huntingstar roared, “SILENCE!” The crowd of angry cats immediately stopped, although some grumbled and mumbled. “We do not know of certain if he ran away. What if someone forced him? What if he was captured? We can not tell without proof.” Huntingstar mewed. Jaguarpelt let her muscles relax. She chided herself. Why should she care. Then she realized maybe she had cared from the first time she met him, at Sunningrocks, catching prey.