Chapter Twenty One

Reedpaw winced at the pain in his shoulders as Scarletpaw applied a poultice to his latest injuries. A thin cut on his shoulder was the telltale sign that he had gotten himself in another scrap with Willowpaw. Days like today made him wish he could shut her up and keep it that way. All she ever did was mock and ridicule him. She along with his three sisters acted as if he was nothing, like he never belonged in RiverClan.

"You've got to start standing up for yourself," Scarletpaw muttered crossly. "Why do you let them get to you?"

"I don't," he grumbled, picturing Willowpaw's smug face as Hollypaw held him down while Larchpaw jumped in. He hardly had enough time to react when they pinned him down. "They're bullies and don't deserve to become warriors."

Scarletpaw just shook her head in annoyance before returning to her den. Once she was gone, Reedpaw's shoulders sagged in exhaustion. If his mentor wasn't so busy formulating patrols with the deputy, this wouldn't have happened. Reedpaw