OMG! Another update! I'm finally getting good ideas as to where this will go. The ending won't be as sad as Elf, hopefully. But it will still have its anguish and all of that fun stuff, trust me. Anyways, thanks GinnyStar, PinkRhinosAreBest, and applefur for reviewing!
Powers
"May I speak with Jayfeather?" Graypaw knew her question would bring Molepaw off guard. He was Jayfeather's apprentice, and had been for nearly seven moons now. But Graypaw's eyes had startled him the most. He had never seen a cat with silver eyes. Now he understood why she had been called Sliver.
"He's working with Hazeltail's kits," Molepaw replied as he bent over to sniff a pile of leaves. Graypaw wrinkled her nose at the bitter scent.
She backed away and dipped her head respectfully before heading off towards what she thought of as the nursery. Kits and their mothers usually spent the entire day surrounded by sharp, protective brambles. Graypaw herself found it utterly boring, but she knew that she had to speak to the gray tabby. Jayfeather might understand what had happened to her when Briarfern killed the mouse.
They had returned to camp empty pawed, but Briarfern reassured her that tomorrow would be better. Graypaw had the feeling that it would just end like today. She would feel the shock of death, and the terrifying realization that came after.
Most of the warriors had returned by now. It was past sunhigh, and it was warm. Graypaw noticed that many cats had gathered around a shady patch in the clearing, and were grooming each other. Dapplepaw had told her that this was called 'sharing tongues'.
Graypaw let out a yelp of surprise when she nearly blundered into Jayfeather. He had emerged from the bramble den, and was now covered in kit fur. His pale blue eyes narrowed slightly when he stared just a little away from her.
"What do you want, rogue?" he snarled venomously.
She was shocked by the hoarseness in his voice. Most cats had gotten used to her by now, but there were many who disregarded her, or even spat at her as she padded by.
"I was hoping we could...talk," she replied. She began to shift uncomfortably when he didn't respond. Had he been an apprentice, Graypaw wouldn't have cared. But Jayfeather was the Clan's medicine cat, and it was his advice she needed.
"There's a private place behind the warriors' den," he meowed, "Follow me."
Graypaw stared at him in amazement as he led the way across the clearing. Brightheart, who had returned just a couple of moments ago with Dapplepaw, looked at Graypaw kindly. She knew the white warrior only pitied her. Graypaw wondered if Brightheart wouldn't have taken so much pity on any other rogue.
Jayfeather slipped past a small entrance near what Graypaw guessed was the warrior's den. It was covered in thick tendrils of brambles and ivy vines. She noticed that some patches were bare, and a couple of warriors had already fallen asleep.
The medicine cat settled down near the farthest side of the gap. Graypaw stood in front of him, suddenly feeling nervous. What would she say to him? Would he believe her? Would he laugh at her and tell her to leave? She couldn't leave! Not with the Tribe cats around.
"Now, what is so important that you had to stop me from doing my work?" Jayfeather asked.
"Has there ever been a cat who can...have visions?" she stammered.
Jayfeather's ears pricked forward with renewed interest. "What kind of visions?"
"Like, sensing when someone has died...or...when prey is about to be killed..." Graypaw didn't like the way he was looking at her. His eyes had widened in shock, and then what she thought of as joy.
"We are not the only ones than..." Jayfeather murmured.
"What do you mean?" Graypaw asked, chilled to the bones.
"Graypaw!" She flinched when she heard Briarfern's voice ring through the warriors' den.
Jayfeather still hadn't moved from his spot, so she assumed it was safe to leave. She didn't want him to think she disrespected her.
It was a relief to escape from his searching gaze. Graypaw had known from the moment she saw him that he was blind. But it unnerved her to know that he could stare directly at her, almost as if he really could see.
Briarfern was waiting for her near the fresh-kill pile. It had been freshly stocked, with two sparrows and a large rabbit. Prey was plentiful during greenleaf, as Graypaw had observed.
"Tomorrow I will take you out for battle training," Briarfern mewed when Graypaw approached. Her eyes were bright and enthusiastic as her tail flicked from side to side. "Make sure you have plenty of rest."
Graypaw felt a glimmer of hope swell in her chest. Finally, a chance to practice her strength! She wasn't going to let any of the other apprentices best her. She would prove to Briarfern that she was no ordinary rogue or loner.
When Briarfern said no more, Graypaw took that as a cue to grab something from the fresh-kill pile. She decided not to go for the freshest kill. That was better left for older cats or apprentices. Her choice was a scrawny mouse, just enough to fill her belly.
Dapplepaw and Honeypaw were quietly eating their prey, whispering something that Graypaw didn't catch. She settled down near the nettle patch and began to eat.
"I wonder who Firestar will take to the Gathering?" Honeypaw mused when Graypaw moved closer.
Her ears pricked forward with curiosity. She had heard Brightheart mention something called a 'Gathering'. It was considered a time of peace, when all four Clans met under the full moon. Graypaw doubted Firestar would choose her to come. She barely had any training, and she still smelled of the mountains. The Clans would most likely know that she wasn't a formal ThunderClan cat.
"I want to go," Dapplepaw muttered. "I didn't go the last time because of my leg."
Dapplepaw had injured her leg by tripping over an uprooted tree. She had more energy then Cinderheart, the friendly gray tabby whom everyone went to for advice. Graypaw hadn't really spoken to the young warrior, but she had heard many good things about Cinderheart.
"Maybe he will choose you," Honeypaw encouraged. "After all, you deserve it more than anyone else." There was a hint of what Graypaw thought of as sympathy, or recognition.
What was that about? she wondered. She gulped down one last scrap and began to make her way back to her nest. Springpaw and Meadowpaw were already fast asleep, and snoring loudly. Graypaw flattened her ears. She was still not used to sleeping with so many cats. But she forced the uncomfortable feeling away, and curled up beside Dapplepaw's nest, thinking of what Jayfeather had told her the rest of the night.
Wow, a long chapter? What has gotten into me? So...I have decided to try and do a double update, even though I've only been getting like, three reviews each time. But three is better then one, I always say. Oh, and the Gathering will be in someone elses point of view, just to warn you :)
