Chapter Two:

Owlwing

Midnightstar has been making me stay within the clearing for a couple days. Yes, that means Dovekit torture. I couldn't even go to the dirt place without him waiting outside the opening. Luckily Ravenpaw has taken me aside (without the gawking eyes of Dovekit) to show her a leap-and-hold fighting teghnique. Since I was the smaller of us, I was the one he jumped on.

"Ca...Can't.. breathe!" I attempted and failed to hiss meaningly. Granted Ravenpaw wan't much older than me, he still weighs a lot more than he looks! "Back leg is injured! Mouse-brain."I touched my nose to his ear reassuringly, even though he was squashing me. He seemed to realize it a second later...

"At least your doing better on your leg. I had dawn patrol this morning and asked Brightbreath if you'd be able to leave the clearing today." His eyes were searching for mine, I looked everywhere but him. "She said. 'She has to come see me with her mother first! Then if I approve and Midnightstar says she can, you can take her to the outskirts of the training area.' " My eyes were locked with his now.

I can't believe she's letting, or at least thinking about letting, me run today in something other than the clearing! Worry seemed to leap from his eyes as I didn't say anything. He wouldn't be expecting this! I leaped, landing square on his shoulders. The black tom fell underneath me. Moving out of pawing distance I looked back, green amusement filled eyes stared back.

"Mousekit!" A gentle but authoritive voice called, "Meet me in Brightbreath's den. Now!"

Saying bye to the young apprentice I trotted up to the bushy fern enterance to the medicine cat's den.

"Do you think it could've been coindense, that she was there?" Worry filled my mother's meow. Worry seems to be going around a lot today!

"I can only say what I think. And I am not supposed to take sides on whom ever is in a fight within the Clan. I have no opinion on this particular matter anyways."

"Brightbreath, have you had a message from StarClan?"

"You would know if I had a message. Besides if I did I wouldn't repeat it with little ears around. Mousekit come join Midnightstar and I."

A sliver and bramble cat was laying in a nest just outside the cleft where the cailco cat slept. They were closer than I expected; I almost ran into Midnightstar. Trying to show how good my leg was doing I tried not to let them know that the staggering backwards had a small searing pain shoot through my leg.

"Your walking well on it. Seems to have gone away... I just want u to come back and get a poppy seed before the moon rises. Okay?" Brightbreath had a twinkle in her eyes that said 'Don't worry. It's still our little secret'. For that I thank her. Then she turned her head toward the cream and white she cat, "If you are willing to let her out of camp, she's all set to go. Just make sure she gets the poppy seed."

"Thank you, Brightbreath. Since you've been longing to go, go with Ravenpaw." Midnightstar tucked in her legs and resumed talking with the young medicine cat, signaling my que to leave.

I wonder what they were talking about.. could this be why Leafpool came to Ravenpaw and I? Knowing where Ravenpaw had wanted to take me to, I left a message with Pepsiheart to let him know I'd be waiting for him. I took the long way around, which lead to the clearing and followed a stream.

There was another small rustle ahead of me. Panic rippled off my pelt like the waves in the lake. I crept back to the beech tree and half hid under it. A small creature with a bushy tail popped out. It's scent was very mouth watering. Now I felt very stupid. I was hiding from a squirrel.

No sense in letting good prey go to waste, I crouched as if I was attacking an intruder, I crept up close enough to pounce on it. With a killing bit to the back of the neck, it lay limp in my mouth. I'll go and show Ravenpaw! He'll be so proud! I started to walk away with it when I fell from a new weight on my back.

Now fear filled me and almost seized control over what the black apprentice had taught me earlier that day, I went completely limp. The weight seemed to lift and when it did I rolled over and batted at their underbelly. Then I bunched up my hind legs and let them spring so that the cat stumbled backwards.

A silver-gray she cat layed on her side, her breath making her sides fall rapidly.

"Owlwing?" her ears swivled to listen to me better. "Why did you attack me?" Slowly she sat up since my claws were unsheathed blood trickled and dripped on the ground under her.

"I was testing you. I know about your little training sessions with that.. with that no good apprentice, Ravenpaw." There was a snear in her meow.

"Don't talk about him like that! You have NO idea what he is like! Stay out of our business!" Although I was a kit, I was challenging the Clan deputy. As you can tell she doesn't like my good friend much. "Your only saying that because he's the kit of the cat you wanted to be your mate. You shouldn't dislike him for his father's actions."

She hurled herself at me and I ran. Knowing Ravenpaw should be at the bank near the river I ran towards that place. I couldn't possiblely fight Owlwing off when she's in a rage like this. A tree root was ahead of me. Maybe if she far behind me enough I could hide under there until she runs passed.

Without pausing to look I quickly ducked under the root. Sure enough, Owlwing jumped over head and kept running. I quickly got out, the bark snagging some small tufts of fur from my back. Waiting a few moments to make sure she had left, I started going back to my squirrel when her yowl rang close enough to the tree line that I looked around for a place to hide. Soft paw steps came from behind me, the paw steps of a skilled hunter.

With little enegry I had I ran. When I felt like I couldn't run any farther I hid in a bush to catch my breath. I can't keep running like this! I thought. The camp is too far away for me to make it on my own. Even if I could I'm sure Owlwing would make up some mouse-brained explaination of why she was chasing me. She thundered past me. If I'm going to defend myself now is the time to do it. I made sure I was loud enough for her to hear me. And hear me, she did. She swivled around the moment I stepped out.

The silver she cat lurched herself forward. Just what I was waiting for. As she neared me, I stood my ground. It wasn't until she was right in front of me that I jump behind her, and catching her off guard landed on her shoulders. Not the exact spot I wanted, but this is a good spot as any. An yowl drift through her fur, into my ears, then it felt like I was being crushed by a mountain. I clung on with all I had left in me and dropped off of her back like a dead flea in water after the weight was gone.

Owlwing crouched again. Is this ever going to end? As she went to pounced I fell to the ground, raking my claws into her soft, exposed belly. Blood had trickled on me when I moved. Then all of the air seemed to rush out of me. She must have been really exhausted if she can't or couldn't've finished a fight with a kit! And here I was looking forward to go to a gathering!

Other than the blood she seemed ok. So, in excusing myself, I went and got my squirrel. I, of course having run in different directions, couldn't find my way to camp. Over the scent of my kill I thought I smelled a scent like illiness. I looked up and saw a faded dark red tabby with black legs, tail, and one black ear. The cat was outlined in a stary glow.

sorry for the wait... Chapter three is still in the beginning of writing process. So it'll be a few days or so before I get it up. ~Midnightflash22