CotS #1: The Dark Path (currently being rewritten)

Chapter Twelve

I took something for myself – a thrush – and went to share with Swanpaw.

"Sorry I haven't been very involved," I apologized to her.

She smiled. "It's okay! I like training with Fallowpaw anyway. Anyway ... these Feathermist descendants are creeping me out. Heathermist already trains two of us so she didn't need a third."

"Oh, okay," I nodded reassuringly.

I took a few famished bites of the thrush and then Swanpaw asked, "Can I have the feathers?" She smiled sheepishly.

I gave her a funny look. "For yourself, or the elders?"

She giggled. "Oh, um, both."

It was quite funny how she relaxed around me. I mean, I'd seen how nervous and shy she was around Heathermist. What was it about me? Most people had hated me until a few moons ago, when I'd been made a warrior. People like Minnowpelt. Emuwing.

"Oh, also," said Swanpaw, "Wheatpelt wanted to see you. She told me to pass along the message."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, fine. I told her everything she needs to know already."

Swanpaw shrugged. "I dunno. When d'you think they'll make me a warrior? I've only been an apprentice for a week, and Stonestar seems like a psychopath."

"Shh!" I hissed, as Iceflame walked by. "Don't say that! Just because he is doesn't mean you say that in camp!"

"Wait, what?" asked Swanpaw. "You agree??"

I nodded ever so slightly. Yes, I did agree, and yes, Stonestar was a psychopath. Man.

"Well..." Swanpaw finished up the thrush and scooped up the feathers. "I'll see you tomorrow!" She looked suddenly much more energetic than before as she raced off with the feathers.

"Yep!" I called after her. "At DAWN, don't you forget!"

I heard a groan as she ran into the apprentice den and laughed. So, she wasn't giving them to the elders after all.

Now – for the more unpleasant job. I went to the nursery. Mudwish was still there watching over Frostkit and Sunkit. My mind was instantly brought back to the falseness of CloudClan's lineage.

"Hey! It's Stormdawn! She's back!"

"Stormdawn! Stormdawn!"

I expected to see Fluffykit, Nightkit and Skykit bouncing. But instead, it was Starrynight and Appledawn's kits, Honeykit, Hivekit, Dawnkit, Twilightkit and Chivekit.

"Hello!" I called back to them.

"Can you give us badger rides?" Twilightkit squealed excitedly.

I feigned an almost-faint. "All of you? No way."

I expected some 'me too!'s from Wheatpelt's kits, but the three of them were sitting stiffly away from me. Well, not like I cared anymore.

"Can you be my mentor when I'm ready?" asked Honeykit.

"Isn't that today?" Hivekit asked.

"That," meowed Starrynight, "is in three moons."

"Four moons for you," Appledawn told her kits.

Wheatpelt opened her mouth as if to say four moons for her kits too, then thought better of it and closed her mouth.

"Let's play a game!" Dawnkit suddenly meowed. "Stormdawn! Can you be a rogue? The enemy! Hooray!"