AshXWhiteWhat Could Have Been1

Whitepaw gazed out at the pale gray speckled tom. His blue eyes were anxious and his claws flexed in and out as he looked around camp. Birchpaw sat beside him, his light tabby tail curled around his paws. Suddenly, Ashfur got to his paws and exited the camp, flicking his tail for Birchpaw to follow. The two toms were overlooked by everyone but the white apprentice. Whitepaw narrowed her eyes and ran after them, keeping low to the ground and downwind of Ashfur so that her scent wouldn't be carried to him. She followed him until he and his apprentice stopped by the ShadowClan border.

Then, Ashfur raised his nose to the air and scented it. His gaze flicked back to Birchpaw. "Birchpaw, I can smell a ShadowClan patrol coming. And Blackstar is among them. I think they are going to come onto our territory." He spoke quickly, gazing around as if cats were listening from everywhere. "Go and get Firestar and tell him to come."

"Okay."Birchpaw nodded. "Should I come back with him or stay at camp?"

"Stay at camp."Ashfur mewed quickly. "Now, go. We don't have much time before Blackstar is here."

Birchpaw scented the air for himself and Whitepaw noticed him frowning. She herself didn't catch any ShadowClan scents. What's Ashfur talking about?

"Are you sure that ShadowClan are coming, Ashfur?"Birchpaw asked, doubt glistening in his amber eyes.

"Do you think I've gone mad?"Ashfur growled and looked like he was about to pounce on his apprentice.

Birchpaw quickly shook his head and raced away to fetch Firestar.

"What's this all about, Ashfur?"Whitepaw asked, stepping out of some bushes.

To her surprise, Ashfur didn't turn to face her and his voice was cool and calm. "You followed me, did you, Whitepaw?"

"Yes."Whitepaw admitted, trying not to let fear shake her voice. "There's no ShadowClan scent around here." Whitepaw scented the air once more and her eyes opened wide. "In fact, there's actually RiverClan scent. What are you going to bring Firestar here for?"

Ashfur flexed his claws as he hid his face by hanging his head. "She's going to pay for the pain she cause me..."He murmured.

"What are you talking about?"Whitepaw frowned, taking a step towards Ashfur. Suddenly, a gust of wind brought in Firestar's scent and Whitepaw dove back inside the bushes.

"Ashfur."The ThunderClan leader called as he came into view. "Where is Blackstar?"

"He is farther down the border. Follow me." Ashfur explained. He fixed his leader in his gleaming, blue gaze before turning to lead the way. The sun's rays reflected on something silver and shiny. Whitepaw gasped as she saw a fox trap and realized that Ashfur was leading Firestar straight into it. He's trying to kill Firestar!

Firestar hesitated before following, obviously unaware of the threat. When he was only a tail length away from the trap, Whitepaw jumped, barraling into Firestar and pushing him out of the way.

"Whitepaw!"The leader exclaimed in surprise when the two stopped. He lay on the ground, the white she-cat collapsed over him. "What in StarClan's name are you doing?"

"Fox-trap!"Whitepaw yelped, jumping to her paws. "There was a fox-trap where you were just about to stand."

Firestar immediently got to his paws and cautiously went over to examine the twoleg contraption. He gasped and faltered as he saw what his faith would have been.

Whitepaw was padding to his side, panting slightly, when she heard a low growl emitted and looked in the direction of some shadows to see angry blue eyes dissapearing. Ashfur? She wondered for a moment before she noticed the speckled tom was standing not too far away, watching his leader and the apprentice with blazing fury in his eyes.

"Thank you, Whitepaw."Firestar whispered, still staring at the trap. "I would be caught in that if it wasn't for you." He seemed to have forgotten about Blackstar. "Let's head back to camp, all of us. Blackstar can wait until the next gathering. We must tell the Clan to watch out for this trap."

"If you like, Firestar, I can close it shut so that it won't cause any trouble." Ashfur offered, his tone cool. However, his blue eyes were furious.

"Of course. Would you like Whitepaw to stay with you, in case any thing goes wrong? That way, she can run back to camp for help." Firestar suggested.

Whitepaw closed her eyes shut, desperatly hoping the warrior would say no.

"Yes, Firestar. Thank you."Ashfur replied, beconing the she-cat over with his tail. Whitepaw gulped before slowly walking towards him. Firestar dipped his head to them both and returned back to camp.

Whitepaw sat down almost two tail-lengths away from the trap, staring at it in an attempt to not make eye-contact with Ashfur.

"So, a little apprentice outsmarted me."Ashfur mewed as he wandered away from the trap to look for a long stick.

Whitepaw stayed quiet and stared more intently at the metal object.

"I could kill you for ruining my plan, you know."Ashfur added casually before he picked up a stick in his jaws.

"What was your plan?"Whitepaw spat, anger taking over her.

"To get back at Squirrelflight." Ashfur growled through the stick in his jaws and his flexed his claws. "For toying with my heart and then leaving it to bleed."

"You're surely blind if you can't see she is meant to be with Brambleclaw."Whitepaw hissed.

"You're no different than everyone else."Ashfur muttered angrily. "I was willing to give everything for her. And she went and chose the son of a killer!"

"Tigerstar's blood may run through Brambleclaw veins, but he is not like his father."Whitepaw spoke in the deputy's defence.

"You wouldn't speak so well of Brambleclaw if his father had been the murderer of your mother..."Ashfur's eyes saddened for a moment before they hardened once more.

"Well, it was because of Tigerstar's dog pack that my mother's face was injured." Whitepaw retorded.

"Then we're not so different." Ashfur whispered. Then, he delivered the stick to the trap and it closed shut, etching its metal teeth into the soft wood. "You won't tell other cats about my attempted plan."

Whitepaw huffed. "And why not? You don't scare me, Ashfur."

Ashfur chuckled. "Maybe I don't. But who would believe you? A young apprentice in comparison to a senior warrior."

"Don't try me."Whitepaw growled. However, something inside her told her she really wouldn't tell. Ashfur met her gaze once more and Whitepaw felt her angry expression melting away. It was replaced by a warm blush across her face before she turned away and began to lead the way back to camp.