Birchpaw let out a hiss of pain as she limped through the tree trying to ignore the pain in her front right paw. Everything had been going well until she'd accidentally stepped on a sharp thorn which was making her assignment even more challenging.

She'd decided against going back to her mentor since she desperately wanted to attend the gathering and she didn't want to seem weak. So she continued limping through the forest as she followed the faint scent of a mouse.

Her limping had already caused her to accidentally slip a few times on the forest floor and it had scared her prey a few times. This time her prey would not get away, no matter what.

Suddenly, her ears' pricked as a loud rustling sound came from behind her. All thoughts of the mouse escaped her mind as Birchpaw swiftly turned around, her fur bristling with fear.

"Who's there?" she mewed in the direction of the sound's source.

As soon as the words left her mouth, everything went silent. Birchpaw cautiously took a step towards where the noise had come from ignoring the pain as she accidentally placed her right paw on the ground. She quickly sniffed the air and caught an unusual scent.

A Riverclan cat!

What was a cat from a rival clan doing in Thunderclan territory? Were they trying to attack Thunderclan camp? She had to protect them!

She let out a low threatening growl and started padding towards the Riverclan cat who still wasn't visible. Then from behind the trees emerged a dark Riverclan warrior, way bigger and stronger than her. 

"Well, well, if it isn't a Thunderclan apprentice," the tom-cat purred in amusement.

Birchpaw hissed at him trying to hide the fear and worry that was starting to build up inside of her. How was she going to take down a warrior?  She could turn around and run but her pride wasn't going to allow her to do that. After all, Eagleclaw had trained her to fight not because he'd wanted her to run with her tail between her legs. She would fight like a true cat of Thunderclan!

"You're in Thunderclan territory! You have no right to be here!" she growled.

"I go where I please, now if you don't mind I'll go back to hunting..."

Birchpaw quickly blocked the tom-cat as he started heading off in the opposite direction, "Don't even think of stealing our prey!" 

The tom-cat hissed angrily, "Get out of my way you weak apprentice!"

Birchpaw's fur bristled with equal anger and determination to defend her clan. Then suddenly the tom cat pounced before Birchpaw could react, trapping her underneath his large body. 

She let out a hiss of pain as the tom-cat clawed Birchpaw's soft belly. She reached up with her a paw and clawed his face with her free paw causing the tom to back away while licking his wounds.

Birchpaw quickly sprang up to her paws and hissed at her opponent and she quickly sprang at him but he dodged it by rolling onto his side.

"I am going to put an end to your measly life, little apprentice!"

"Not if I can help it," she replied lowering herself into a defensive crouch.

Suddenly a loud hiss made both of the turn around to find Darkpaw padding slowly towards them, his eyes focused on the Riverclan cat.

"You're a Riverclan cat, what is your purpose on our territory?" he asked, unsheathing his claws.

"That is none of your business, now unless you want to make an early trip to Starclan, I suggest you let me continue my hunting." he replied, "Unless you want me to do that again," he added pointing to Birchpaw's bleeding belly.

She winced as she remembered the wound and gave it a quick lick to ease the pain, it didn't help. Thankfully it was only a surface wound so it wouldn't affect her movement badly but it did cause a lot of pain which made her slightly less focused.

"Birchpaw are you okay?"

She looked up and met Darkpaw's concerned eyes, "Yeah I'm fine."

They turned back to the tom-cat who looked he was about to attack. Birchpaw quickly put up her defenses right as the cat launched himself forwards and tackled Darkpaw to the ground. Birchpaw quickly rushed over and sank her teeth into his manky fur trying to ignore the horrible taste in her mouth.

The tom let out a yowl of pain but didn't let go of Darkpaw. Then Darkpaw stopped fighting and lay limp on the ground covered with red claw marks. For a second Birchpaw thought he had given up and tom must have thought so too because his strong grip on Darkpaw relaxed.

Then Darkpaw leapt up pushing the unsuspecting tom who immediately started struggling against Darkpaw. Birchpaw started to move towards them to help but Darkpaw stopped her.

"Birchpaw! Go get Eagleclaw, or Shadeclaw, I'll hold him!"

"But I want-," Birchpaw started to protest. 

"Birchpaw just go hurry!"

Birchpaw let out a sigh and reluctantly headed back in the direction she'd come in. Her paws lightly touching the ground as she moved as fast as she could before she was able to spot her mentors, they seemed to be hunting. 

They both turned around in surprise and Birchpaw hoped they weren't mad at her for scaring off their prey.

"Birchpaw! What's going on! Wait... are you bleeding?" said Eagleclaw moving towards her in confusion.

"Riverclan cat," she panted, "In our territory - Darkpaw's holding him down - over there," she added flicking her tail in the direction she'd come from.

Eagleclaw and Shadeclaw shared a look, they seemed to want to ask more questions but they didn't thankfully. Shadeclaw gave Eagleclaw a quick nod and rushed off in the direction she'd come from, probably tracking Darkpaw with his nose. 

Birchpaw turned around to follow him but Eagleclaw blocked her, "You are not going back there with those wounds, come on, we're going to get you treated at the medicine den."

For the second time that day she tried to protest but Eagleclaw cut her short, "I won't change my mind so come on!"

Birchpaw dipped her head and reluctantly followed him back to the camp, her limp beginning to return.

"Oh and I don't think you'll be going to the gathering tonight," he added adding another statement to her pile of misery.