Reborn: Chapter Nine - Strange Happenings.

  Geckopaw sighed. He wrapped his bushy tail around his paws and watched the camp, sitting outside the apprentice's den alone. His ears pricked as he saw ToesTalon organizing patrols, and Nightpaw bounding over to him. "Hello Nightpaw," Geckopaw mewed in greeting.
  "Hello Geckopaw," she replied. "I heard ToesTalon say that he wanted to take you on the morning patrol with himself and a few others. I thought you might want to know."
  Geckopaw grinned and nodded. "Thanks for telling me," he purred. The young apprentice brushed past her and went over to the deputy. After Flashingstar had sorted things put, she had ToesTalon train Geckopaw instead of Fallingstar, who had his name changed to Fallenheart. Fallenheart had gratefully accepted, much to Geckopaw's dismay. He always wanted to be the best apprentice ever.
  Geckopaw greeted his mentor with a bowed head. ToesTalon nodded. "We're going on patrol with ShakingLeaves and Eaglepaw. Be ready in a few moments, and wake up Eaglepaw for ShakingLeaves." The apprentice nodded and immediately went over to the apprentice's den.
  Eaglepaw lay inside, his side rising and falling with every breath. The older golden tom was changed after witnessing the death of the previous leader, BrightSun. He hadn't told anyone who killed him.
  "Eaglepaw? Wake up." Geckopaw gently shook Eaglepaw with one white paw. Slowly, he woke up. "We're patrolling with ShakingLeaves and ToesTalon. We have to get moving."
  "I'm up," Eaglepaw grumbled. Geckopaw's friend really had changed for the worse. He was never as energetic and happy, never talking to his younger sister or brother. However, Geckopaw and Ghostpaw were beginning to grow close, considering how Ghostpaw saved Geckopaw's life quite a few times.
  Eaglepaw padded past Geckopaw and went for the fresh-kill pile. There, he grabbed a mouse and took it back to the spot Geckopaw was just at. The younger apprentice sat next to him. "Can we share that, Eaglepaw?" Geckopaw asked. Eaglepaw nodded slowly and pushed it to the middle, taking a hesitant bite.
  "Thanks," Geckopaw mewed as he bit into the side of the mouse. As he chewed, Geckopaw thought of YonderHills. The medicine cat was held prisoner and questioned before being exiled. Geckopaw couldn't imagine what was happening to the rogue. He couldn't help feeling as though it was his fault.
  Eaglepaw stopped eating the half eaten mouse and stared at it. Geckopaw finished it quickly, and looked up as he saw ToesTalon with ShakingLeaves coming over. "Alright you two," ShakingLeaves meowed. "Let's go."
  The two apprentices got up and followed the older toms. They followed the warriors over to the border, a canyon with a river rushing below. ToesTalon turned on the two apprentices. "You two go patrol on your own. I think it's about time you try it on your own.
  Geckopaw nodded and flicked his tail. "Let's go!" Eaglepaw nodded and followed Geckopaw.

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  Geckopaw and Eaglepaw made their way to the very edge of the MountainClan territory; as far east as possible. Geckopaw looked back at the golden-furred apprentice. "Maybe we can take a break," Geckopaw mewed. "Since we`re not on a hunting patrol, we can eat if we like. I don`t know about you, but I`m definitely hunting." Geckopaw left Eaglepaw and searched for any prey to catch.
  The apprentice sniffed. Sweet aromas of juicy prey filled his nostrils, and he could hear the trees and grass whispering their secrets to him. Geckopaw looked up at the sky, his silver and amber eyes shining in the light. He sighed and shook his pelt.
  There was a rustling to his left. Instinctively, he crouched. I think it`s a vole, he thought to himself. Geckopaw went light on his paws and crept forward. He could vaguely make out the vole`s features in the bush. Just as the brown and white tom raised his hackles to pounce, another cat jumped on the vole. Geckopaw looked up and realized that it was Eaglepaw.
  "Eaglepaw," he meowed. "That was mine!" Eaglepaw simply looked back and shrugged. "You should be faster," he mewed with his mouth full of vole meat. Geckopaw flattened his ears.
  "Can we share, at least?" Geckopaw asked as he sat beside Eaglepaw. Eaglepaw nodded and moved over. As Geckopaw took a bite, Eaglepaw gasped and stumbled back. His fur was raised and his back was arched. Geckopaw hesitantly took a step back from the vole. "What is it, Eaglepaw?"
  Eaglepaw shook his head. "It...it reminds me of....Nothing. I`m fine. I thought I saw a maggot, that`s all." The younger apprentice narrowed his eyes, not believing Eaglepaw`s story. "Perhaps we should find ShakingLeaves and ToesTalon then." Eaglepaw nodded, and the two turned, padding off to meet up with their mentors.

  The four cats were back in camp. ToesTalon let Geckopaw take a short break. which the apprentice appreciated greatly. Patrols were tiring, though they seemed short. He saw Flashingstar walking towards him, and he bowed his head in respect. "Hello Geckopaw," she mewed in greeting, returning a quick nod. Geckopaw mewed a greeting back. "Hi Flashingstar." Flashingstar brushed her tail along Geckopaw`s flank, staring at him. Geckopaw felt his cheeks go warm.
  "Did I do something?" Geckopaw mewed innocently. Flashingstar didn`t answer. "Come to my den, Geckopaw," she meowed as she went to the leader`s den. Geckopaw followed. He`d only been in the leader`s den once before, when he and Ghostpaw got into a fight. That was when BrightSun was alive and well.
  "Go ahead, sit down." Flashingstar sat and pricked her ears. Geckopaw did the same, wrapping his fluffy tail around his paws. They sat in a strange silence for a few moments. Flashingstar broke the silence. "How are you and Dewpaw doing?" she mewed.
  "We`re doing fine, thank you," Geckopaw replied awkwardly. "What did you want to see me for?" Flashingstar closed her eyes for a few moments. She seemed to be stressing and gathering her thoughts. He could understand. They needed a new medicine cat soon.
  "I`ve been thinking about the whole YonderHills thing," Geckopaw mewed quietly. Flashingstar did not move. "Go on," she meowed.
  "Well, um," the nervous apprentice stammered. He had never had a conversation with his grandmother like this before. "When Nightpaw and I went to the BloodClan camp, we were attacked by these two cats. One said that they`d been expecting us. I couldn`t understand why, and I thought I`d known when YonderHills explained everything." Geckopaw cleared his throat.
  "He said that he`d been passing on information to BloodClan. I had a feeling that it was just whenever he`d went to gather herbs, but what about when Nightpaw and I left? It was on short notice and all...." Geckopaw`s words and thoughts began to get jumbled and tangled. He was putting two and two together slowly.
  He would`ve had to leave camp all day in order to travel there, Geckopaw thought to himself. And he would`ve left before us, but he didn`t. This doesn`t make sense. Flashingstar looked up. "Continue," she meowed flatly.
  "I...I just don`t understand so many things. He would`ve had to travel do far just to catch up with us, let alone warn BloodClan before we got there." Geckopaw got up and paced the den. Flashingstar watched him.
  "But...but what if YonderHills had another helper? A faster helper to relay messages?" The apprentice stopped.
  "Flashingstar, I think we have a traitor in our midst."

  "What?" Flashingstar got up. "We`ve already gotten YonderHills, that should`ve been it."

  "No, that`s not it. He would`ve needed help. No cat can accomplish great feats alone."

  "Hm. That does sound right, but I think you may be being a little paranoid, Geckopaw. You`ve been through a lot this past quarter moon, and I think you need a rest."

  "No! I`m perfectly fine. I just think we should be careful. There`s definitely another traitor in the Clan."

  "Geckopaw, be rational! There are no more traitors or spies!"

  "Spies! There`s a spy in camp!"

  "Go get some rest, Geckopaw. I heard you went on the morning patrol, so you must just be tired."

  "Flashingstar, listen to me!"

  "No, listen to me! You must have gotten bees in your brain while you were patrolling! I will tell ToesTalon to let you rest for the rest of the day to clear your mind. Now, leave my presence!" Geckopaw looked at his leader in disbelief. How could she not believe him?
  "Fine then, don`t listen to me! I`ll do this on my own!" Geckopaw stormed out of the den, pushing past Sandpaw and Graypaw as he went.
 
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   "I know I`m right," Geckopaw mewed to Nightpaw. His friend was grooming her fur. "If she doesn`t sort it out soon, some cat will get hurt!"
   "Oh Geckopaw," Nightpaw mewed. "Are you sure you`re not just making this up? You must be really tired." Geckopaw shook his head.
  "You`re starting to sound like Flashingstar. Why won`t you listen to what I`m saying? There`s a traitor in our Clan! A spy!"
 
  "Listen to yourself! You sound ridiculous."

  "I`m sounding ridiculous?! I`m telling you that the Clan is in trouble, and you`re ignoring me!"

  "Calm down, Geckopaw. Don`t raise yo-"

  "Don`t tell me to calm down!"

  Nightpaw stopped grooming her fur. Her blue eyes were bright in anger. "Geckopaw, you`re being a mousebrain! If you want someone to confide to, go to some other cat who cares!" She ran out of the den.
  Breathing heavily in anger, Geckopaw unsheathed his claws and tore up the ground beneath him. He heard a cat behind him, and recognized the scent.
  "Not now, Ghostpaw." Ghostpaw ignored him and sat next to the seething apprentice. "You know Geckopaw," he mewed. "I believe you. But, you were sounding a bit harsh to Nightpaw. She`s scared for you, even if she doesn`t show it."
  "I don`t care. I`ve been through worse."

  "Well, she does. Do you know how my sister feels about you?" Ghostpaw tilted his head. Geckopaw looked up.
  "No."

  "Ha, didn`t think so. She`s very fond of you."

  "S-She is? How do you know?"

  "When you sit alone, Nightpaw watches you with big eyes like you`re a piece of fresh-kill. She adores you, Geckopaw. She told me."

  "I guess I better go apologize then."

  "Yeah, that`d be the right thing to do."

  Geckopaw got up. "Don`t tell Nightpaw I told you," Ghostpaw mewed. The other apprentice nodded and padded out of camp, seeing Nightpaw sitting next to Sandpaw. He took a deep breath and padded over. Nightpaw didn`t acknowledge Geckopaw, but Sandpaw looked at Geckopaw. "Hello Geckopaw," she mewed.
  Geckopaw nodded to her. "Look, Nightpaw, I`m sorry. I was caught up in emotion, and I exploded on you when I shouldn`t have. I`m really sorry." The midnight black she-cat looked up with the sparkle in her eyes that Geckopaw always saw.
  "It`s alright, Geckopaw." She got up and licked his cheek quickly. Geckopaw felt his cheeks go warm.
  "T-That`s good. Say, do you w-want to go hunting later?" He mewed. Nightpaw nodded eagerly. "Of course!" Geckopaw grinned.
  "That`s good."

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