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

Chapter Sixteen

"Stormdawn! Stormdawn!"

I dipped my head in acceptance.

I hopped off the stump where I'd been standing and went back to the medicine den for some touch-up of my treatment.

"Stormdawn..." Emuwing whispered. "Congratulations. Also ... what I said on the day you left ... I didn't mean it!"

I looked up at her and purred. "You're forgiven, Emuwing."

Emuwing beamed. "Great! Now we can be besties again!" She looked so bright, so happy, I didn't dare say no. I would not let those words she said, that we could never be friends again, infect me.

Instead, I laughed delightedly. I had missed Emuwing in my week at CountryClan, although, let's say, New Zealand – wait, no, Zealheart – had been a decent substitute. Although, obviously, he was a tom, and not the same as my best, well, she-cat friend.

"Alright, you're discharged, my patient!" Emuwing said in a over-dramatic way. "But come back if you feel so much as an itch! Or you can come chat whenever you like," she added as an afterthought.

I rolled my eyes in mock concern, but really, I was going to turn up at the medicine den every now and then, even if it was for nothing more than to talk with Emuwing.

"I wanted to ask you something," I said carefully. "How come you suddenly warmed up to me? You know, when Minnowpelt and Littlecloud were around, you completely ignored me. Does this have something to do with them?"

Emuwing paused. Then she sighed wryly. "Well, kind of. Let's say Minnowpelt absolutely hated you. She told me to stay away. Did you even notice Littlecloud was in love with you? He was so shy to tell you, he ended up accidentally ignoring you all the time, because every time you were around, he shied away, not sure of what to say. He did spend time with you, only briefly, maybe, during training, during which he admired you. I'm not sure if he still loves you. Maybe he does. But he's with Hazelshade now, isn't he?"

"Hazelshade," I mumbled. "Oh, right. She's my friend." Littlecloud loved me? Well, those feelings were obviously gone. Maybe if he hadn't ignored me so much, I might've loved him too.

Emuwing stiffened. "Then – who's her mother?"

"Icestar fostered her," I said, "because Amberfire faked everything."

"But why? She and Woodfur are obviously mates." There was just a slight twinge of sadness as Emuwing described Amberfire as the mate of her beloved. Still, I'd never thought Woodfur was right for Emuwing anyway. He was too ancient and boring. Like, so, so old, even though he was going to father his first litter of kits.

"Not that," I told her. "Hazelshade is Amberfire's daughter with Birdcry. She thinks Amberfire's cheating on Woodfur, too."

Emuwing's gaze hardened. "Well, if that's so."

I frowned at her. I could see red-hot anger blazing in Emuwing's eyes. Didn't know where it'd come from.

"You can go now, Stormdawn," Emuwing meowed softly. "I need some time to myself. I'm sorry." Probably thinking about Woodfur, and how she loved him.

"It's fine, I completely understand," I whispered back, and stepped out of her den to feel the soft grassy ground of camp. I smiled wistfully. I'd always wanted to be here, and suddenly, I was here, and I was deputy. I was stepping on this ground, leaving footprints as a deputy. But still, I need to organize patrols. Something that wasn't ever going to be fun. I sighed.