Briar Series: Missing

Prologue
The moon was high over the trees. The only sound happened to be the gusts of wind that rustled the budding branches and vines. The smell of rotting wood was rampant. Everything was dampened by the rain that had previously befallen the forest. All the scents would be washed away.

“I’m glad you could make it.” A voice grumbled through the thicket. All that could be seen was a dark shadow with muted blue eyes.

“Yes,” The other cat replied hesitantly. “What did you wish to talk about that couldn’t wait for the meeting?” This cat didn’t hide. Although the cat was covered by the canopy and the night, it did little to disguise their bright coat.

“We need more.” The dark cat hissed out.

The light cat scoffed. “We don’t have more!” they spat. “We can barely afford the ones that we have already given. Make due for a few more moons, and then I’ll supply.” The bright cat’s ear flicked with annoyance.

The dark cat grumbled, but relented. “I’m just trying to make sure we’ll be ready,” their voice was softer than earlier; they felt regret for lashing out earlier on their partner. “I guess we can handle a few more moons.”

The other cat sighed. Their whiskers twitched and a few drops of rain began to fall. “It’s time to depart,” they meowed. “The rain will wash away our scent. Until next time, goodbye.” Without waiting for the other cats response, the light cat ran off into the brush.

Chapter One
The ground was dappled with the midday sun. If not for the numerous branches of the trees overhead, the sun would light up the entire forest floor, not just spots. The bushes, vines, and leftover leaves from leaf-fall were abundant on the hard ground, and were incredibly hard to bypass with ease. This greenleaf seemed like it was going to be plentiful, and the Clan was sure to be fortunate.

The past leaf-bare had left us with little prey. We lost three elders, which was more than half of what we had started out with in leaf-fall. Due to the extreme snowfall, we had trouble keeping our kits warm. This horribly resulted in the death of two kits. One had been from my litter. It had devastated our mother, the other queen, and even the entire Clan. We were everyone’s new hope in the restoration of our Clan, but now our numbers had dwindled to only three new apprentices this season. At this rate, we’ll never keep up with the other Clans.

My hesitant paws crunched on the leaves ever so softly. Each step I took I came closer to my prey; a small mouse that had felt confident in his journey outside his hole. I lowered myself on my haunches in preparation for the kill. When I was finally within distance, I pounced.

Surprise was on my side and I caught the rascal. I killed it swiftly with a bite to the neck. I mewed with happiness for my first kill without the guidance of my mentor, Mapleclaw. He would always murmur the time I should pounce, the direction I should come from, and what prey I should try for. Without his advice, I would’ve never been one of the most successful apprentices at hunting. The fighting… not so much.

Everytime we trained to fight, I’d always get bested by all the apprentices. No matter what I did, they’d always pin me. I wasn’t really that interested in the fighting part anyways, not when I can provide food for my Clan. Without food, there would be no Clan. So while the others practice being violent, I’m keeping the Clan alive.

The bushes near me rumbled and out popped a broad shouldered, russet-brown tom. My eyes lit up with glee and he looked at the mouse I killed with approval. “Nice catch,” he purred. “Though maybe instead of spending all your time hunting, you could start practicing your attacks.”

My ears twitched with irritation. “Well, Mapleclaw,” I begin. “Maybe you should start spending time teaching me how to kill prey besides mice and voles.” I glanced away from my mentor and picked up my mouse. I avoided his disapproving gaze and kept my head high as I padded by him.

He let out a sigh. “You can’t keep acting like this,” he advised me. “If Palestar were to hear what you say… Well, let's just say you’d likely be spending less time in the forest, and more time in the Elder Den.” I glared ahead at nothing. I knew he was right.

“I know,” I grumbled through the mouse fur. “But I’m just not good at fighting.” He stood next to me now, his green eyes soft with support.

“You’ll get better with time and practice,” he meowed. “For now, let's head back.” I bowed my head and we began our trek back into the heart of our territory.

When we reached camp, we saw everyone gathered around each other. This was quite unusual and my fur pricked. I snuck a glance at Mapleclaw and saw that his gaze had hardened. His jaw was clamped shut and his tail was high in alert. Something awful must have happened.

I was hesitant to leave Mapleclaw’s side to deposit my kill. He didn’t seem to care that much about my situation, though. So I hurried and placed my mouse with the other prey that had been caught throughout the day. I turned and saw that Mapleclaw had joined the other cats, hoping to understand what was happening. I trotted to his side with curious eyes.

A cream colored she-cat noticed us and her blue eyes flooded with relief. “Oh, thank StarClan,” she breathed out as she made her way to us. “Mapleclaw, Briarpaw, I’m so glad you’re safe.”

Mapleclaw’s eyes widened. “Honeystep, what happened?” his voice full of equal amounts of alarm and concern. My eyes flickered curiously from him to Honeystep and then to all the other cats around.

“Well,” she rushes out. “Thistletail, Applepaw, and Mousefoot went out to go hunting, much like you two. Except, they came back much quicker with a severely wounded Mousefoot and no Applepaw.” Her eyes were wide with fear and sadness. Applepaw was once Honeystep’s kit until she became an apprentice.

My mouth hung open and I glanced at the ground ahead in shock. “No Applepaw…” I murmur to no one in particular. Mapleclaw is stunned into silence and he hadn’t moved. Maybe even his breathing stilled. If Mapleclaw acts like this in regard to this news, how can Honeystep be so in control?

“Since Mousefoot is probably in the Medicine Den,” he says with seriousness. “Where is Thistletail?” Honeystep looked away from us and turned her head and flicked her tail towards Palestar’s den.

“He’s been in there since they returned,” The frightfulness was evident in her voice. “I just… I hope they find out whoever did this and Applepaw.” She let out a shaky breath and with her head down she padded away into the Warriors Den.

I felt Mapleclaw’s heavy gaze on me. I continued to look at the ground while he spoke to me. “This is exactly why you need to learn how to fight,” his tone grave. “I know you don’t like fighting the other cats, but you need to be able to survive. I never want this to happen again, especially with you.”

I nodded. There was so way I was going to get out of training now that this situation had arisen. Mapleclaw let out a sigh and said that he had no work for me for the rest of the day until further notice. With that, he took his leave to go chat up some more cats on the details of what happened.

I looked up and saw a small, black-and-white she-cat with grey eyes prance up to me. It was my sister, Sootpaw. “Briarpaw,” she gasps out. “Did you hear about Applepaw? I wonder who took her!”

I sat down and regarded her. She was such a gossiper. “Yeah, I just heard about it from Honeystep,” I meowed in response. “How do you know anyone even took Applepaw? What would be the point in taking her? She isn’t the best at anything besides mewling in her sleep too much.”

Sootpaw gasps in shock. “How can you say that!” she scolded me. “She’s way better than you at fighting, and she isn’t that bad at hunting! Have you no concern for your Clanmates?” Her eyes are scorching my fur and it pricks.

I avoid her eyes and my tail twitches. “I’m sorry,” I mewed. “It’s just that I’ve had a rough day, first Mapleclaw scolds me, we’re attacked and Applepaw goes missing, and now you.”

Her eyes softened on me before she glances away for a second then returns. “I’m sorry for hurting you, it wasn’t my intention,” she apologized. “But you need to stop thinking that way if you’re to ever became a good warrior.” She brushed up against my side when she left.

I raked my claws through the dirt. I always mess everything up, huh. Why did I even say that about Applepaw in the first place? I knew she was a good apprentice, a good fighter and a not-so-terrible hunter. She’s not mean to anyone either. She could be dead, and you want to know what I’m doing about it? Slandering her to my sister.

I heard a commotion and my ears turned quicker than my head. Palestar and Thistletail had finally concluded their meeting. The Clan was dead silent and the tension could be felt through everyone’s lithe bodies. We watched Thistletail’s dark body slink through the parting crowds toward the Medicine den, where Mousefoot is supposedly located.

Palestar walked with her head held eye, ignoring the captivated stares of the crowd. No matter how long she is here, everyone stares at her. They can’t help it, her beauty is unlike no other. Her silver coat shines and glimmers in the sun, and even sparkles under the moonlight. Her amber eyes as piercing and fierce as a raging flame, you are burnt the moment she makes eye contact with you. A shiver runs up my spine.

She follows Thistletail, though her steps slower and surely placed. They need to talk to Mousefoot before they make a decision or tell the Clan. The anticipation is killing everyone. When she enters the den, and is no longer in distance, everyone lets out a breath that no one even realized they were holding.

Not that long after, a dark ginger tom exits the den with a bewildered look on his face. His pale green eyes flick over and spot me and he makes his way toward me. “Briarpaw,” he addressed me. “How are you this fine day? Good? How am I? Well, you could say that I’m a little bit out of it. Have you ever seen so much blood that you can’t even tell what color fur the cat has? Well, I sure can say I have!”

I rolled my eyes at him. “Cherrypaw,” I meow. “It’s so good to see you again. Did you see how I caught yet another mouse? Isn’t that neat!” My response is full of sarcasm, but I would like some praise for my accomplishments once in awhile.

Now it was his turn to roll his eyes at me. “Aren’t you going to start pitying me yet? My sister is missing and I just had to deal with a dying Mousefoot.” Although he looked unphased, the desperate look in his eyes and the tinge in his voice gave to me what he was really feeling. He wanted comfort because he was scared.

My eyes softened on him. “I’m sorry,” I tell him. “I really am. If you need someone to talk to about your feelings, I’ll be here to help you. Even Sootpaw could help you, you know how she is.”

He looked away from me. “What are you talking about,” he denied harshly. “There’s nothing that I can say.” His tail flicked and his whiskers twitched. I let out a hmph. If he wanted to be that way, then he can. I won’t stop him, I was just trying to be nice.

The camp quieted once more. Palestar was done inside the Medicine Den. That meant she was going to address the issue. I gulped in anticipation.

Chapter Two
 Palestar strode into the middle of camp and let out a yowl. Most cats had gathered near her already, the air thick with apprehension. A few queens padded out of their den, and their kits sat before them. The remaining elders slowly made their way outside, and the medicine cat peaked their head out of the den, not willing to leave Mousefoot for long.

I notice Cherrypaw has gone absolutely still. He had been flicking his tail earlier with anxiety, but now a cold quiet radiated off his tensed body. He was terrified of losing his sister, I realized. I never knew how much he cared about her. Would I feel the same if instead of Applepaw, Sootpaw had been taken? I would like to think so, but I honestly don’t want to think about it at all.

“Attention,” Palestar began with a chilling, stern voice. “As most of you know, our apprentice Applepaw has gone missing.” Palestar paused. She must’ve expected murmurs among the crowd, but none came. She began again. “Mousefoot has been severely injured, and Foxstorm is doing all she can to help him.”

Everyone’s gaze turned toward the medicine cat briefly. Her mostly ginger coat shined in the sun, and her blue eyes were aimed toward the ground. She was never one to boast or feel prideful in what she’d done, but her skill as a medicine cat was unmatchable. At least, I thought it was. I have never met any of the other medicine cats yet, but all our warriors agree she is the best.

“From what I gathered from Thistletail and Mousefoot,” Palestar returned to the matter at hand. “Applepaw was taken by a group of cats whose scents were unidentifiable. They were most likely rogues.” A few cats let out hisses of anger and some even let out little yowls of their own.

“Now,” she continued. “We have no idea what they plan to do with Applepaw, but when she was taken no blood was drawn from her. They only seemed to attack Mousefoot by ambush and Thistletail wasn’t in the area when they attacked, but thankfully was there in time to find Mousefoot and help him back to camp.”

The camp began to shift uneasily. Most cast suspicious glances at Thistletail, as if he had been the one to plan all of it. Though it was a bit odd that he wasn’t near during the time of the attack, nor heard it. Thistletail seemed to notice the attention and shifted awkwardly on his paws, his steely eyes never staying in one area for more than a second.

Palestar’s gaze narrowed on Thistletail as well, but then she scanned the entire Clan. She noticed our suspicions. Her eyes then stopped on Mapleclaw, and my breath hitched. “Mapleclaw,” she addressed him. “I am expecting you to create searching parties in hope of finding Applepaw, or at least discover anything on the cats who took her.”

Her gaze went upward toward the sky, and she noticed the clouds slowly rolling in. “It should be sooner rather than later,” she advised. “It would seem rain is on its way.” Mapleclaw bowed his head and Palestar acknowledged him. Without another word, she turned and padded leisurely back into her den.

Cherrypaw’s fur bristled. “That’s all she’s going to do?” he spat with anger. “My sister is missing and all she’s going to do is send out search parties when it’s about to storm?” He stood angrily and his tail lashed furiously. He didn’t even look at me when he left for Foxstorm’s den.

I watched him as he left. I turned to locate Mapleclaw so I could ask if he needed anything from me, although I doubted he wanted me for anything. I padded over to him, and he was surrounded by groups of cats; they wanted to go on the patrols, I bet.

I caught Mapleclaw’s eyes and he relaxed when he noticed me. He concluded his decisions for the patrols, and the cats all left to fulfill their duties. I stood their patiently waiting for him to address me, flicking my tail to and fro slowly.

“Briarpaw,” Mapleclaw greeted me. “I’m afraid that I have no more work for you…” He trailed off as he caught something in his eye behind me. I turned my head to see what he had seen, but all I saw was a few elders sharing tongues, kits playing, and Foxstorm hastily talking to Cherrypaw. “Maybe not.”

With that he motioned for me to follow him as he padded over to see Foxstorm. The she-cat stopped when she saw that Mapleclaw had come over. Her amber eyes were quizzical and her tail twitched. Cherrypaw looked a bit upset, his eyes were almost in the formation of a glare and his ears flicked with irritation. This did not change as we reached them, instead he just directed his almost-glare at us.

“Mapleclaw,” Foxstorm breathed out. “I’m sorry, but Moosefoot is not quite stable enough to have visitors, but if you need me to relay a message then—”

“No need,” Mapleclaw interjected. “I’m not here to see Mousefoot, yet. I just couldn’t help but overhear you telling Cherrypaw to go get some needed herbs to help him, though.” Foxstorm looked at him and nodded slowly. “Well, it just so happens that Briarpaw here needs work to do, as well! Since it’s dangerous for a cat to be by himself in the woods now, especially an apprentice, might I suggest I send Briarpaw with Cherrypaw?”

I blinked. He was trusting me to go out without him? With a defenseless medicine cat apprentice? Right after Applepaw went missing? Is he in his right mind? I mean, I’m not necessarily complaining, it’s just surprising… I wonder what Foxstorm will say! She always seems to be reasonable, but to go against Mapleclaw’s judgement…

Cherrypaw looked surprised, too. His glaring had stopped and he just waited for Foxstorm’s response. “Okay,” she nodded, more to herself than anyone else. “I’ll send Cherrypaw out with Briarpaw. The herbs we need aren’t that far from camp.” She looked at Cherrypaw when she added: “You know where to find them, right?” When he nodded, she replied. “Good, now, don’t be too long. Otherwise we’ll start to worry.”

I looked at Mapleclaw, and he had a glowing expression. “Don’t worry, Briarpaw,” he meowed to me. “You’ll be fine. Just get the herbs and come back. It will be easy.” He got up and was about to leave when he caught another thought. “Just… don’t get full of yourself. Only focus on the herbs, no hunting, no tracking, just herbs.” He waited until I mewed my agreement and then left.

Foxstorm wished us off, and we left into the woods. It was quiet at first, neither of us had anything to say. It wasn’t until we found the first herb we were looking for when Cherrypaw began to speak; “You know,” he mewed. “Foxstorm wasn’t telling me to go get any herbs when she was scolding me.” I was silent, waiting for him to continue. He didn’t.

“About what?” I said, urging him to continue.

He picked up the herbs with his mouth and started walking to find the other ones we needed. “I told her how I felt about how Palestar was treating my sister’s situation. You know how mad I was,” he explained through the plants. “That’s when Foxstorm went off on me. She told me I was just blinded by grief, and that I was acting like a kit. That I shouldn’t be acting like this after what Palestar did for us…”

“What?” I asked. “What did Palestar do for you?” We stopped and Cherrypaw stood in front of me. His back was toward me and his head was lowered slightly. There was a clash of thunder in the distance, but we ignored it.

“I’m not quite sure,” he meowed. He tried to keep the air optimistic, but his voice had an underlying pessimism. “But I really, really want to know. Can you keep this a secret, please?” He turned his head around so he was looking at me in the eyes. His were pleading, and I just couldn’t say that I wouldn’t. What kind of friend would I be if I did?

“Your secret is safe with me.” I respond. At least he’s confiding in me now.

He stared at me for a moment, and then nodded, the herbs held tightly between his teeth. “Okay, so now all we need is some catmint and that should be right over by this tree…” he began again, and that was the end of our conversation.

It wasn’t to long after we had gathered all the herbs we needed when the storm rolled in. The rain was heavy and didn’t lighten up for the rest of the day, and it went well into the night. The thunder was loud, and the lighting strikes were fierce. No one left their den until well into the new day.