Chapter 11
How Long?
"How long will it be until Dovepaw recovers?" demanded Willowtail her eyes filled with worry. "I really want her back in my life. Safe, happy, lively."
"I'm not really sure, Willowtail," mewed Windstorm worridly. "She's broken two of her paws and fractured one. I don't know how long it will take but she will fall far behind Clearpaw, Swishpaw, and Shrewpaw. I'm really not so sure now. I just want her to survive."
Rockpaw appeared and meowed, "I've gotten more marigold, Windstorm. Do you think that this will be enough? Shall I get some more coltsfoot?"
"This will do, Rockpaw, but thanks." Windstorm was busy and he was working quickly to try and heal Dovepaw.
"Do I have to stay here?" asked Swishpaw boringly after a couple of heartbeats. "I really don't like it. Just watching her and waiting for her to wake up isn't actually that much fun when I could be out training with Shrewpaw... or Clearpaw."
"Isn't Dovepaw important to you?" Willowtail hissed. "She is to me even though I didn't give birth to her. She's my foster kit and I"ll love her no matter where she is. That's why I'm here and I would have thought that you would have appreciated Dovepaw more. From what I've heard I quite clearly think that I am wrong. Is that so? Is it? Go off and have fun then and let me be with her and you can miss out on Dovepaw's glorious waking up moments."
Swishpaw wanted to hiss, What is she doesn't wake up? but he knew that Willowtail would have his tail off if he said that.
"Alright," spat Swishpaw. "I'll stay but I'm going to sleep and you can wake me up if you want. I don't care about how long it will be until she wakes up. I have my own life to live and survive. Don't do anything that gets me that way."
"Fine then," growled Willowtail, "but all I can say now is that you will be a harsh and not-so-fine warrior."
Spinning around Swishpaw headed for the corner of Windstorm's den and curled up in a ball and soon he was fast asleep...
-----StarClan-----
"Hello?" Swishpaw called out. "Crowfur! Cherrystem! Whitefrost! Jayfur! Sparrowpelt! Are any of you guys here? I need to talk. Badly!"
"I am here," murmured Cherrystem softly appearing out of the mist. "Hush, Swishpaw and don't feel too bad. I heard you yelling at Willowtail but does that mean anything? It's okay, Swishpaw. She'll love you no matter what."
"Are you the only one here?" asked Swishpaw curiously.
"I am," Cherrystem purred. "Don't fear me. I am only here because I have my own will and life to live. Willowtail will get over it and she will know that Dovepaw is in the paws of StarClan and only we can decide if she will heal, when she will heal, and how she will heal."
"But I want to know how long!" cried Swishpaw. "I really want Dovepaw to wake up. I care about her a lot and I want her to live but I need to know the answer so that I can share it with Willowtail and I can tell her everything."
"Hush, Swishpaw. Wasting your voice is for nothing," Cherrystem told him calmly.
Swishpawwas in a rage of fury now as he gave Cherrystem a hard glare. "I thought that StarClan was supposed to help me! Was I wrong? I guess so. I can't believe you can't tell me. This makes StarClan a piece of fox dung."
"What did you just call me and the rest of StarClan?" demanded Cherrystem her eyes glazed with anger. "Did you just call us a piece of fox dung?"
"I did, but-" Swishpaw cut himself short. His body relaxed but he could see anger still rising in Cherrystem's body. Her eyes were closing and she began to relax. "I'm sorry."
"I am too," purred Cherrystem. "I guess that you're just so busy and with Clearpaw and your secret about her I guess that it must be hard. It is isn't it, Swishpaw? I understand how you feel and I'll give you a chance even though you called StarClan a piece of fox dung. We aren't a piece of fox fung and you know that yourself. Let me show you an image."
Cherrystem led Swishpaw to a pool of water where she sat down and beckoned for Swishpaw to follow. He did and as he sat beside Cherrystem he wondered what she was going to show him. Then, an image slowly began to form and a wave washed over him. He watched as a cat slowly began to appear. No, not one cat, but two cats. They sat in the pool together. Swishpaw didn't recognize them. One of them was dark gray with yellow eyes and was a she-cat. The next was a tom that was light ginger with green eyes.
"What is that?" asked Swishpaw feeling confused. "Does this have to do with how long?"
"Nothing to do with how long it will be until Dovepaw awkens," Cherrystem meowed calmly. "It is something that you won't understand until the right time has come. When the right time has come you will get it. You will be fine and you will understand. Then you will but now you must keep calm and go with it."
"Of course," whispered Swishpaw as Cherrystem tapped him lightly. "I'll remember these two images forever. One that is dark gray with yellow eyes and I will remember the next as a tom with light ginger fur and green eyes. I will never forget."
As he spoke Cherrystem began to fade leaving Swishpaw in wonder and awe as everything seemed to get Swishpaw confused. So many things were unanswered.
If you ever want to find out who the dark gray with yellow eyes cat is and the light ginger with green eyes cat is you'll just have to read on, and on, and on.