Chapter flipping twenty I'm yelling thank everyone for sticking with my wierd story also sorry for the short chapter
Smokepaw groaned, feeling oddly tired for having just slept. "Smokepaw, would you pass me those juniper berries?" He sighed, staring at Tangleflower. She didn't seem to hear him. He sighed slightly louder. She flicked her ear, but still said nothing. "LOUD SIGHING NOISE." He said, feeling as if just speaking made him more exhausted.
She turned around. "What?"
"I feel super tired and I don't know why." He shifted his head onto his paws. "Just stand up and stretch, you'll feel awake." She told him, then turned back to her herbs. He groaned and stood up, then took a few steps. He immidiately felt weakened and collapsed back into the nest. He held up a shaking paw in front of his face. "Tangleflower... Something's wrong..."
She turned calmly, then almost shrieked. She darted out of the den and returned with a carp. "Eat." She commanded. He leaned forward and took a few bites, then wolfed down the entire fish. His mentor watched and was not satisfied until he was done.
"Smokepaw, you just can't go so long without eating!" She cried. He muttered something under his breath, but she didn't catch exactly what he'd said. He shuddered and buried his nose in between his snowy-white paws. Tangleflower bent down and licked him on the forehead comfortingly.
Swiftpaw brought her claws down onto the fish and flicked it out of the water, watching as it landed on the shore and thrashed around. She bent down and delivered a bite to its neck and it grew still.
"Good catch!" Said Finchpaw from downstream. "Thanks!" She replied, sliding into the water.
Once she was fully submerged, she felt free. Her paws guided her along and her long pelt streamed out behind her. A group of fish darted away from her, but she gripped one by the tail and pulled it back, then flung it onto the shore in Finchpaw's direction. "Catch!" She cried, breaking the surface with her head.
Finchpaw leapt up ang gripped the fish, then sank his teeth into its neck. He landed back on the ground, smiling. She almost didn't see Coalpaw glaring at him.
"Good job today! Everyone can head back to camp with thier catches. Finchpaw and Swiftpaw, you work very well together, we'll remember that." Called Stonepelt, flicking his tail at Oaktail. Oaktail nodded.
That night, Swiftpaw floated on her back in the river, gently waving her paws to keep herself in place. She gazed up at the stars happily, feeling free. Out here, there was no dawn patrol, no training, just herself, and maybe another cat. The stars glimmered in the sky and reflected in her blue eyes.
She smiled joyously as she felt the river lap at her fur softly. Fireflies were swirling around her as she purred. She heard something slide into the river. She flicked up her ears, instantly alert. Swiftpaw twisted so that she was swimming in place before she felt something bump into her. "Pretty out here, isn't it?" Coalpaw said.
"Coalpaw!" Swiftpaw cried, kicking backwards and flipping back into the water with a quiet splash. "Honestly, do you have to follow me everywhere I go? I swear, I get about five minutes out of one day without you tracking me!"
"That is completely accurate." He replied seriously. "I know it is." Came another voice, pushing Coalpaw upwards. He almost shrieked as he was lifted out of the water and promtly dunked back in. He heard Smokepaw laughing.
"Hey!" He called. "Whatever! It's your fault for being a stalker." Smokepaw replied. "I'm not a stalker!"
And so they went on until Swiftpaw broke them up.
"I'm going back to camp." Stated Swiftpaw. Smokepaw nodded and trailed after her, and so did Coalpaw. They shook off thier pelts, scattering clear droplets across the bank.
Swiftpaw curled into her nest. "Idiot." She muttered as Coalpaw passed. She heard the faint sound of Finchpaw holding back laughter.
Just some clarification, Smokepaw (and Swiftpaw, but she doesn't know it yet) Both cannot go too long without eating or else they become very weak and shaky. This causes them to be in more danger than other cats when leaf-bare comes around. Smokepaw had not eaten since when he got back to camp the previous morning.