Circle of Life: Book 1: Beginnings
A/N: Okay! Chapter 10. Will Silverpaw find out about Tanglepaw's secret relationship? Who knows…? Don't touch that mouse! Anyway, here's chapter 10!
Oh! Almost forgot! And the winner of the "Who does Tanglepaw fall in love with?" competition is… NO ONE! No one voted. Come on people! Silverpaw or Wishpaw?!
Chapter 10: Keep It Secret
Silverpaw laughed as Smokepaw pulled a face. He was doing an imitation of Foxfur at the last Gathering, when Moonstar had told her off for attacking AmberClan without permission.
Featherpaw laughed too, as did Tanglepaw. Silverpaw's tabby brother was in a better mood today than he had been. She suspected it was because he had found Ravenkit, not Topazfur or anyone else. It had been Tanglepaw, the cat who was disrespected and treated terribly who had found the leader's son, and he was celebrated like a hero.
Well, most cats think he's a hero, Silverpaw amended in her head, glancing around and spotting Jewelfoot and Topazfur sneering as they stared at the apprentices. Silverpaw looked away and joined in the conversation again.
"Hey, Smokepaw," Silverpaw whispered so that Jewelfoot and Topazfur couldn't hear her. "Do an impression of Jewelfoot."
Smokepaw glanced over at Jewelfoot and then pulled the most ridiculous face of them all. Featherpaw, Tanglepaw, and Silverpaw burst out laughing. Smokepaw joined them in a minute.
When they'd finished laughing, Tanglepaw cast an uneasy glance over at Jewelfoot. Silverpaw saw the look and whispered, "Don't worry about it. That's how Jewelfoot always is. You know that. She's just sore 'cause she didn't find Ravenkit."
"Yeah," Smokepaw said, nudging his brother's shoulder with his nose. "Don't worry about it. She's just a sore loser. And you won, so that makes it worse."
"I know," Tanglepaw muttered. "But I can't shake the feeling that there's something Jewelfoot's got against me."
"I'll tell you what it is," Smokepaw said. "It's that your brother is the best fighter in the entire Clan, and hers isn't."
"His brother?" Silverpaw scoffed. "What about his sister?"
"Featherpaw doesn't fight!" Smokepaw said, grinning. "And if you're talking about you, well…" He scoffed.
"Say that to my face!" Silverpaw said. She pounced on her brother, pinning him down from behind. "Now who's the best fighter?"
Smokepaw glared at her and rolled, taking Silverpaw with him. Now he was on top. "Not you!" he said.
Silverpaw hissed in annoyance and batted at his stomach with sheathed claws. "Get off me you lump!" she hissed. She finally managed to roll him off and said, "Take that!" Then she leaped at him.
Smokepaw leaped at the same time, and, not paying attention to where he was going, he and Silverpaw collided headfirst into each other.
"OW!" Silverpaw stumbled away. "That hurt, you idiot!"
"Fox dung," Smokepaw cursed under his breath.
"Watch your mouth," Featherpaw instructed. She scrambled to her paws and hurried over, checking Silverpaw's head for anything dangerous. When she had finished, she checked Smokepaw.
"You're both fine," she said, stepping back. "I'll just go get you some poppy seeds for the pain." She took off toward the medicine den.
Silverpaw lay down. Her head was pounding, and she wished that Featherpaw would hurry up with those poppy seeds. "That really hurt, you mouse-brained idiot."
Smokepaw glared at her. "You're not the only one who got hurt."
"You should've been watching where you were going."
"You should've stopped jumping."
"How was I supposed to do that?"
"I don't know! You're the almighty brilliant fighter!"
"Both of you shut up!" Tanglepaw growled. "You're giving me a headache just listening to you two. Now apologize to each other." When neither said anything, he added, "Do it or I'll tell Moonshadow that you two were fighting."
Smokepaw turned his glare on Tanglepaw, but Silverpaw sighed. "He's right," she said. "I'm sorry Smokepaw. I didn't mean to crash into you."
Smokepaw sighed too. "Me too," he said. "I should've been watching where I was going."
Tanglepaw nodded, satisfied. "Well, I'm tired. I'll see you guys in the morning."
"Night Tanglepaw," Smokepaw said.
"Night," Silverpaw added. Tanglepaw nodded and then he disappeared into the apprentices' den.
Smokepaw yawned. "I'm tired too. Tell Featherpaw that I'll be in the apprentices' den when she gets back with those poppy seeds."
"'Kay," Silverpaw said. "'Night Smokepaw."
"'Night Silverpaw."
As soon as his head hit the moss, Tanglepaw was asleep. His mind drifted into dreamland, and he dreamt that he was chasing a fox with Duskflame, Silverpaw, and Stripefur.
He'd chased a fox before. It had been about two moons previous, and the she-fox had begun terrorizing NorthClan. It had nearly killed Smokepaw. Had it not been for Sunstripe's quick reflexes, Smokepaw might have died.
Back to the dream. Tanglepaw's paws thudded hard on the ground as he chased the russet colored animal through the forest. Suddenly, it stopped and turned around, snapping at Duskflame, who was in front. Stripefur dashed forward, raking his claws across the fox's face. It backed up, hissing and snarling. Then it turned and raced away. But Tanglepaw, Silverpaw, Duskflame, and Stripefur raced after it, determined to see it to the edge of their territory.
Suddenly, there was another fox. It lunged directly at Tanglepaw. He ducked, and the fox flew over him, instead landing on Silverpaw. Without a second thought, it dug its teeth into the back of Silverpaw's neck. She struggled for a moment, and then she fell limp.
"NO!" Tanglepaw' eyes flew open, and he found himself tangled in his bedding.
"Great SkyClan Tanglepaw!" Tanglepaw turned and saw Silverpaw sitting up.
"What's with you?" she demanded. "None of us can get any sleep with you that loud."
"Sorry," Tanglepaw apologized. "Bad dream."
"How can you be having a bad dream?" Silverpaw muttered. "You've only been asleep for a few minutes."
"Sorry," Tanglepaw repeated. He stood up and felt Silverpaw's irritation turn to concern.
"You okay?" she asked.
"I'm fine," Tanglepaw promised. "But I don't think I'm gonna get anymore sleep. I'm just gonna go hunt for a while."
"Want me to come with you?" Silverpaw asked.
"No." Tanglepaw shook his head. "I'll only be out for a little while."
"Okay," Silverpaw said, but she sounded skeptical. "See you in the morning."
"You too." Tanglepaw turned and left.
As soon as he was out of camp, he found that his paws automatically started carrying him toward Four-place. He sighed. He knew that Wishpaw wouldn't be there, but he didn't really care. He just didn't want to be in camp.
However, when he reached Four-place, he was startled to see that Wishpaw was there. She was sitting in the middle of Four-place, facing her territory, staring up at the nearly full moon.
"Wishpaw?" Wishpaw turned.
"Tanglepaw!" she exclaimed. She rushed over, giving his shoulder a friendly lick. "What are you doing here? We met last night!"
"I know," Tanglepaw said. "But I had to get out of camp, and… I just… wanted to be near you. This was the closest I could get." He looked down at his paws, and then glanced up. Wishpaw wasn't looking at him. Her ears were tinged with pink.
"I wanted to see you," Wishpaw admitted. "I was sort of hoping you'd show up."
"Tanglepaw?"
Tanglepaw spun around, and his eyes widened.
Standing there, her silver fur shining in the moonlight, was Silverpaw.
A/N: This chapter's a little short, but oh well. What will Silverpaw have to say about Tanglepaw's meetings with Wishpaw? Who knows… :D R & R!
Off to take over the world,
Crazy Girl
