Chapter 8

Silverpaw yawned tiredly. Blinking open her eyes she found herself still sitting in the medicine cats den. Sandpaw was sleeping in her nest across the cave. Sealfeather's scent was fresh as was the scent of marigold. He must be taking it to someone, she thought absently mindedly.

"Well looks like another day of nothing," she sighed, longing to continue her training but knowing Sealfeather wouldn't even let her watch the Oceanclan apprentices train. She huffed as she thought of her clan. What if Snowypaw had woken up and she missed it? "I miss you," she whispered.

Sandpaw flicked her ear at her voice. She opened her eyes and glanced at her. "Good morning," she purred, rising to her feet. She smiled sweetly and swished her tail. Silverpaw didn't respond. "Something wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing only now I'll have to wait forever to be a warrior," she growled. Sandpaw flicked her tail in sympathy.

"Maybe Roarpaw can come show you some moves later today," she suggested. Silverpaw pricked her ears. "It would be good practice for when he has an apprentice," she mewed. Silverpaw allowed a small smile.

"That would be great," she purred. Sandpaw smiled.

"I'll go tell him," she grinned. Quickly she rushed out of the den, leaving Silverpaw by herself.

*******************************Page break**************************************

Duskpaw walked through the woods in the early morning air. Twigshade had gone straight to sleep when they returned from the Star Tree and ordered her to fetch borage for Whitefox who had moved into the nursery yesterday. The white queen was expecting Stormstep's kits.

"I should probably gather more tansy and catmint," she mumbled under her breath. Thinking of kits had reminded her of Seakit's prevailing illness. The young tom was still struggling with greencough and was getting even worse. Duskpaw new that if they didn't get him enough medicine soon, she would be dreaming of him at the Star Tree.

A sweet scent drifted to her nose and she spotted the dark green leaves of borage. Settling down next to them she plucked the plants until she had a relatively large pile. The snow was beginning to melt and had brought new plant growth. Picking up her pile she began to search for catmint. She found a small pile by a juniper bush but it still wasn't much. Sighing she collected her herbs and returned to camp.

"Nooooooo," a cat wailed. Duskpaw rushed into camp. Lichenheart and Shardclaw were sitting in the middle of the clearing. Whitefox had her tail wrapped around Heronkit, keeping him from running to his parents. Tears welled in Duskpaw's eyes when she saw the tiny grey body of Seakit. Twigshade marched towards her.

"Where were you?" he growled.

"Fetching herbs like you told me to do," she replied. Twigshade glared at her.

"If you had gotten back sooner you could have helped them," he hissed. Duskpaw glared at him.

"You were here, you could have done something," she said through gritted teeth.

"I was asleep," he answered. Rage burned under her pelt.

"And you blame me for Seakit's death. You were snoring in the medicine cat den and you blame me?" she asked, barely controlling her anger. Twigshade flicked his tail.

"I'm old," he mewed before walking away. Duskpaw picked up her herbs and ran to the medicine cat den. Placing them in storage she hurried back outside. The clan had gathered around Seakit's body and were silently saying good bye.

Duskpaw sat back and watched. Seeing Seakit laying dead and Heronkit trying to get to his brother reminded her of Silverpaw. Silverpaw was still lost and for the most part assumed dead. "Where are you?" she asked quietly.

"Duskpaw," Blackice mewed. Duskpaw raised her head to see the black tom hurrying towards her. "I have to know," he growled. "Will it be my son out there next time?" he asked motioning to where Lichenheart and Shardclaw were still crying over their son.

"I-I don't know," she stammered.

"Don't say that, I need to know," he growled, lashing his tail. Duskpaw could see the desperation in his blue eyes. She took a deep breath.

"No Blackice. I won't let him die," answered firmly. Blackice stared at her thankfulness gleaming in his eyes.

"Thank you Duskpaw," he whispered. "Thank you." Turning away he raced towards Paletree who was helping Whitefox keep back Heronkit. "He'll live," he cried happily. Paletree looked up at him in surprise.

"What?" she called.

"Snowypaw's going to live," he purred. Paletree was quiet, silent tears forming in her eyes. She shuddered then collapsed against Blackice.

"He's going to live," she repeated. Duskpaw watched with an ache in her heart. What if he did die? Had she just lied to them? Shaking her head she rose to her feet and headed towards the entrance.

"Where are you going?" Orcafin called racing up beside her. Duskpaw turned to face him.

"I'm going to save your brother," she mewed. Orcafin looked surprised at first then he smiled.

"Then let me help you," he said strongly. Duskpaw smiled.

"I'll need all the help I can get," she purred. Together the two headed out of camp.

"Perhaps," a voice growled, "she wouldn't be so optimistic if I had finished the job on her sister."

******************************Page break***************************************

Roarpaw leapt in the air, scraped the cave ceiling and landed on his feet in front of Silverpaw. She gasped at him, amazed he could perform such an advanced move in such a small space. Sandpaw, who was watching from across the room, clapped her paws together loudly.

"Well done," she purred.

"Yes well done," Silverpaw agreed. Roarpaw smiled at them. He dipped his head to Silverpaw.

"I wish you were better so you could show me some moves," he mewed.

"If I was better I wouldn't be here," she pointed out.

"Oh yeah," he sighed. "Oh well I guess that means you just can't get better," he mewed. Silverpaw flicked him with her tail.

"Ha ha ha," she laughed. "Now show me something else," she begged. He purred in amusement.

"Okay," he mewed. Leaping in the air he twisted up and brought his back feet down but left his front legs in the air. Without waiting a second he swiped at the air in front of him like it was an enemy. Panting he dropped back down. Silverpaw watched in amazement.

"That was amazing," she breathed. Roarpaw smiled at her complement.

"It's not that big," he mewed. "Everyone here knows how to do it, well except Sandpaw," he nudged his sister playfully. Sandpaw hit him with her paw.

"I know how to do some things," she pointed out. Roarpaw rolled his eyes.

"Like what?" he asked.

"This," Sandpaw growled jumping on him. The two tussled together as Silverpaw watched. She purred in amusement. Then her voice caught in her throat as she remembered how she and Duskpaw would do that when they were kits. Feeling homesick she snuggled deeper in her nest and closed her eyes.

"What's wrong?"Sandpaw asked. Silverpaw opened her eyes to see Roarpaw and Sandpaw staring at her with worried eyes.

"Nothing," she sighed. "I just miss Duskpaw," she said lamely. Sandpaw and Roarpaw looked at each other. "What did she say when you told her I was here?" Silverpaw asked. Sandpaw gulped.

"She said she hoped we were taking care of you," she mumbled. "and that she hoped we had enough freshkill," she added. Silverpaw purred in amusement.

"She always thinks I eat too much," she laughed. Roarpaw laughed too.

"Well you'll always have enough freshkill in Oceanclan," he purred. Silverpaw stopped purring.

"But I won't always be here," she corrected him. "I'll go back to Frostclan when I'm better," she mewed.

"Yes we know," Sandpaw mewed. "The whole clan knows." Sandpaw sounded rather aggravated. Silverpaw glared at her.

"Don't forget it," she growled. Roarpaw stepped in between the two she-cats.

"I think Sealfeather might want your help gathering herbs," he mewed looking at Sandpaw. She nodded and walked outside. Roarpaw turned to Silverpaw. "I know you're bored and you miss your family but try and be nice to Sandpaw and Sealfeather. They are going to help you get better," he pointed out. Silverpaw sighed.

"I just want to get out of this den and see my sister and my mom and Snowypaw," she huffed. Roarpaw pricked his ears.

"Snowypaw?" he echoed.

"Yes Snowypaw. He's my bestfriend and I don't know if he's alive right now because the last time I saw him he was unconscious and close to death," she hissed in annoyance. Then she slapped her mouth shut. She had just given away something important to an enemy clan!

"What happened to him?" Roarpaw asked.

"Um," Silverpaw stammered. "Well you see," she continued.

"Roarpaw," a voice called. Roarpaw glanced at the entrance.

"Yes Whaletooth," he called.

"Time for training," Whaletooth mewed from outside. Roarpaw sighed.

"Got to go," he mewed. Walking to the entrance he waved his tail in good bye. Silverpaw watched him leave with relief. Closing her eyes she settled back down into her nest.

"Starclan help me get better soon," she whispered before falling asleep.

A/N:

Sorry that was a short chapter and boring. The next one will be better, believe me. Anyways I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed, it really helps so please keep it up. So what do you think? Have you decided who you like better yet? Silverpaw or Duskpaw. Well thanks for reading please review. Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.