My entry for WattyClans 's Round Two writing competition! #WATTYCLANSWRITECOMP1!
THIS IS SO LONG ;--; Many apologies if it's a problem..
I'm supposed to write about a cat, falling from a tree and breaking his/her leg.
Minimum words: 600

It's been so long.
Why hasn't she visited yet?
Berryfoot slumped inside the Elder's Den, eyelids flickering.
"Are you waiting for Darkpaw to come over?" A rough-voiced Tom laid down next to her.
"Of course, Eagleflight.. She's the only one that visits us willingly.. The others are just disrespectful.." Berryfoot closed her eyes and yawned. Eagleflight looked at her sympathetically.
"Yesterday, Goldenpaw came in, grumbling about how boring we are. Couldn't she see that we are former Warriors, former spirits of ShadowClan?"
"Ah, that Icepaw as well," another scarred Tom joined them in their huddle, "he said that I was ugly. Claimed that he'd never end up like me," the Tom laughed, which sounded more like a croak. "Is he never going to face a battle? A skirmish?"
"Dusttail," Eagleflight shook his head, "I'm sorry to hear that about Icepaw. One day, they should realize that they'll probably end up here, in the Elder's Den and delicate moss, with creaking bones like us."
But, where's Darkpaw?
She usually visits at this time.
It gets so lonely.
Huffing, Berryfoot stood up.
"I'm going to find Darkpaw. And get some fresh air," she added. I don't want to sound like I'm overprotective of her. Dusttail's her father, after all.
"I'll come with you," Eagleflight added, crouching and shaking his pelt. "Two's better than one."

---

"C'mon, Darkpaw, just try it!" A silver-furred apprentice sighed.
"It's fun!" Added another apprentice.
Darkpaw looked hesitantly at the cats-apprentices around her. Why are they so addicted to something so dangerous?
"Guys, I should be getting back to camp. Berryfoot's probably missing me an-"
"Who cares about them?" The silvery apprentice rolled his eyes. Me!
"I do, Icepaw," Darkpaw hissed. "One of them's my own father!"
"Oh, old Dusttail, poor, poor useless Dusttail. Bones creaking, withered face, must miss his daughter every second!" A sleek-furred apprentice cackled. He's not like that! He has interesting stories and he could fight off a badger if he needed to!
"Not now, Goldenpaw. I'm going to them. I'm not going to do your 'game'!" Darkpaw growled, turning away.
"Really?" Icepaw flicked his ear. "You're so puny and weak as them. I expected better, Darkpaw. What a piece of fox-dung you are!"
Darkpaw lashed her tail agitatedly.
"The only piece of fox-dung here, is you- Icepaw," she mewed, trying to collect her calmness before continuing in her stride.

Two apprentices leapt in front of her.
"Coward!" they taunted, "just try the game!"
"I don't want to be involved in something so dangerous!" Darkpaw gritted her teeth, "to see how long you can staying underground is dangerous! I'm telling!"
"Oh, really?" A snarl rose up behind her. Darkpaw whipped around to see Goldenpaw.
"Yes." She hissed, exposing her annoyance as she forced her way between the two apprentices blocking her path.
"Fox-brain!" The golden-pawed apprentice jeered from behind her, "can they do this?"
Without a warning, one of the golden paws that she was staring at earlier slashed their claws over Darkpaw's ear, nicking it. Darkpaw felt a sensation of shock before feeling warm blood flow down her face. Revenge. Make them pay! A voice in her head wailed. Growling with sudden fury, the dark-pelted she-cat leapt at Goldenpaw, crashing into the apprentice's side, knocking her down.

"It's against the Code to attack a Clanmate!" Darkpaw exclaimed. The crimson blood was running down her chin, staining her chest fur a dark scarlet.
"No Clanmate of mine is a coward!" Goldenpaw gasped, winded from Darkpaw's retaliation, before throwing herself at Darkpaw again.
The other apprentices watched intently, Icepaw letting yowls of encouragement to Goldenpaw.
"Teach the coward a lesson!" He shouted. "Fight her!"
Darkpaw watched Goldenpaw, focusing on her spine which was rippling as the apprentice moved about.
'Always watch the spine of your opponent. It signals where they're going to move next.'
Those were the words, the main advice from her mentor. Suddenly Goldenpaw leapt at her and she rolled out of the way. I'm not going to injure her! She panted, as Goldenpaw sized herself up again, I only need to escape, and stall for time. Our mentors should be wondering why are we taking so long already. As Goldenpaw swiped at her face, narrowly missing her eyes, Darkpaw felt her back fur brush a tree's bark.
Great StarClan, I'm cornered. Thanks.
Goldenpaw smirked with satisfaction.
"Cowards shouldn't be in ShadowClan at all! Our Clan is for the brave!" Her opponent raised a dangerously unsheathed paw over her head. Quick! Hurriedly, Darkpaw bounded up the tree, sinking her claws into the soft bark. The tree's old, she realized, before scrambling her way up.

Her mentor never taught her how to climb, but she watched plenty of warriors do it. It was like tearing the bark apart, like how an infuriated rogue would tear moss apart, but gradually moving upwards as well. She moved to the right, where she could see a rather sturdy-looking branch. In one rather reckless and messy bound, she kicked herself onto the branch. It wobbled under her. I'm not going to fall, I'm not going to fall, I'm not going into fall... Darkpaw repeated that in her head, looking under her. To her horror, Goldenpaw was also clambering up as well, gaze full of determination, and that she was at a rather long distance from the ground. The apprentices gaped below, mouths moving in a pattern that she couldn't make out. They seemed to be whispering at a fast speed to eachother.
"Gotcha!" A bounce from the branch made Darkpaw sink her claws in deeper. She whisked her head to see Goldenpaw, on the start of the branch. For once, Darkpaw felt fear. No, please! Just because I didn't want to play your 'game' doesn't mean that you have to kill me! Her eyes widened, as she took a shaky step away.
"Still like that? What a coward!" Goldenpaw hissed. In one swift movement, everything was whirling around her.
I'm falling! I'm FALLING! Darkpaw's mind screeched, as memories flew around her head.
Goldenpaw's unsheathed paw hitting her side.
The bouncing branch.
The leaves and twigs breaking underneath her as she plummeted down.
A deep sounding crack.
Then Goldenpaw's eyes, Goldenpaw's beautiful blue eyes shining with astonishment and regret.
Accept me, StarClan.

---

"There!" Eagleflight exclaimed. He and Berryfoot burst into the clearing, seeing the entire apprentice's den crowded together.
"What's GOING ON?" Berryfoot roared. Needless to say, Eagleflight had always admired Berryfoot for her bravery and her sense to generate peace. The apprentices split apart to show a dark lump of fur in the center of the crowd.
"Darkpaw!" Berryfoot rushed over, sinking her nose into the apprentice's fur. Eagleflight followed behind, then he saw that the apprentice had a nick in the ear and a scratch in the side. Goldenpaw was crouching over as well, weeping unstop. He couldn't make out the words, but he was pretty sure that the golden-footed, arrogant she-cat said 'I'm sorry'.
Is this actually Goldenpaw? The apprentice that called him 'boring'? Eagleflight stared incredulously. Seeing that Berryfoot still had her nose buried in Darkpaw's side, he sat down.

"ALL OF YOU!" The apprentice jolted at the volume of his voice, "BACK TO CAMP AND FETCH COLDJAW AND BADGERSTAR! NOW!"
They dispersed as quick as frogs fleeing back into their marsh, except for Goldenpaw, who was repeating 'I'm sorry' or what it seemed like. Eagleflight tenderly wrapped his tail around Berryfoot, attempting to be comforting. After a while, his companion got up.
"She's a-alive.." Berryfoot croaked.
"But her leg isn't..." Goldenpaw murmured. Eagleflight took one glance, and saw that there was something incredibly wrong with Darkpaw's left leg.
"W-what's D-du-dusttail g-going t-t-to say?" Berryfoot let out a river of tears again, as Eagleflight continued to stare at Goldenpaw.
Why is she so apologetic?
How did Darkpaw end up like this?
Why were there apprentices everywhere?
What happened?

But the answer to his questions laid still, unmoving in a lifeless heap of shadowy fur.