So, so so so so so so SORRY that I haven't updated. I'm VERY VERY busy... Thank you to reviewers: Gabalot, Maplefrost, Queen Of The Pens, Nightfeather12, Sky Firehear, Dreamheart, Snowlight, emtollyxtanctorsson, I'M A FREAKING TACO, and nobody5. Hope you like this chappie, but it's kinda boring. I PROMISE it'll be less dull soon.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Newleaf felt the irritable tickling in her throat, and she swallowed down the cough. It was her second day in the medicine den, and she was extremely, utterly bored. She was staring at Runningnose sorting herbs, and though she helped him a bit, it was intensely dull. She wanted to get out of here, to race in the forest, to hunt.
Instead, she was recovering from her near-drowning experience, and though Marshypool had visited earlier before she went hunting on WindClan territory- the first time in a half-moon she had left the river to hunt in a different landscape- now Newleaf had absolutely nothing to do. She was just about ready to run out of the den, muttering to herself as if she were mad.
The only thing even remotely entertaining to her was watching her own jet-black tail tapping impatiently on the ground next to her. Her paws twitched, her fur itched, her whiskers trembled, her tail swished around… it was easy to see all the energy she was concealing behind her fur. She needed out.
Littlecloud suddenly burst through the entrance of Runningnose's den, and finally Newleaf had an excuse to jump up. She greeted her brother enthusiastically, touching noses and purring, practically jumping up and down in the joy of having a visitor.
"You have no idea how boring it is in here," she whispered to him, and Littlecloud looked at her with amusement in his amber eyes. "All I've done today was sit here, take medicine, eat, take medicine, sleep, eat, sit here."
Her brother's whiskers twitched. "Well, that sounds like a boring day."
She gave him a fake puzzled look. "Didn't I just say that? Anyway, how are you?"
"Newleaf, the reason I'm here is to worry about how you are and if you're getting better. That's what I'm here in this medicine den for, and what I'm your brother for. Why would I be here to talk about myself?"
"Because your poor little sister Newleaf is having an awful boring day?" she blinked up at Littlecloud, trying to make him feel pity for her. It didn't work, and that was perfectly fine.
"I just made your day a little less boring."
"How?"
"Wait here." With that, Littlecloud exited the den and hurried away, leaving his sister with her mouth half-open, about to ask him what exactly was going to make her day.
Newleaf closed her gaping mouth, and she shook her head, scolding herself. You're too bossy, she told herself, then forced herself to wait patiently. Littlecloud promised to make her day less dull. Let's see what he came up with.
Littlecloud padded in with a frog in his jaws, and Newleaf leaped up, eyes glittering. "My favorite!"
Littlecloud spat out his prey, and mewed, "Yeah… I went hunting in our territory for you."
She snorted in annoyance. "We don't do that enough."
He shook his head, agreeing with Newleaf's statement, and pushed the dead frog to her. "Eat?"
Newleaf scowled down at the frog, huffing in annoyance. "Pretty much all I've done today is eat and sleep today, but sure, why not?" She took a bite, letting the flavor sing on her tastebuds.
While she enjoyed Littlecloud's catch, he told her that Brokenstar planned to apprentice three new kits today, and she glanced up at her brother quizzically. "Really?"
He nodded. "Yes, Whitekit, Sparrowkit, and Shiverkit."
She frowned. "How… interesting."
"Come on, Newleaf, do you really think…" Littlecloud didn't finish and stared at his sister, who was glaring at him like the answer should be obvious. "Yes, you think it."
"Of course! I mean, Flintfang was only sixteen moons old when he was chosen to apprentice Badgerpaw!"
"But that doesn't mean we will apprentice some. Stop panicking, okay?"
"Darkwing would say it's impossible for me to stop panicking." She stated matter-of-factly.
Littlecloud's whiskers twitched mischievously. "Oh, yes, Newleaf. About that, I noticed that you-"
"Shut it!" snapped Newleaf, her fur suddenly hot, and Littlecloud quieted down, not without grinning at her.
"My point is that we haven't been warriors for even a moon-not even half a moon! Seriously, Newleaf, you have to take those things into consideration."
She let out a deep breath, feeling herself relax slightly and feeling her fur cool down. Not a lot, but slightly. "Yeah, I know. I'm your mouse-brained sister, and-"
"Don't you dare say that! I'm the mouse-brained one, Newleaf. You're the smart one. You always have been. You're just mouse-brained sometimes, and sometimes I have my bright moments. All cats do."
"You're really starting to sound like Squirrelpaw now." muttered Newleaf.
Her brother glanced at her, looking truly perplexed. "What do you mean?"
Embarrassment tingled in her fur. Newleaf! You mouse-brain! Now he's going to think you're mad. As if he'll believe you if you tell him you speak with Squirrelpaw! You'll make yourself known as "ShadowClan's mad cat".
She shook away her thoughts. "Nothing. Forget it." She said with a cool fluidity, flattening her fur.
He stared at her for a moment longer, then he shrugged. "Okay, if you say so."
"I do say so." She teased.
"Fine."
"Good."
A silence followed, broken by Newleaf. "So, they're going to be made apprentices today, huh?"
"Today or tomorrow, yes."
She closed her eyes for a while, thinking.
"Newleaf? Are you asleep?" asked Littlecloud, whispering.
Her eyes flew open. "No!"
"Oh, because you looked like it. Sorry."
Newleaf shook her head, "No, it's okay. I was just thinking. Anyway, I need to get out of this place. Would you come with while I stretch my legs?"
"Where?" asked her brother. "I don't want to get in trouble with Runningnose."
"What would he do? Feed you poppy seeds? I'm sure if we stay inside the camp we'll be fine." She assured him.
"So sarcastic! Okay, Newleaf. Lead the way."
The wave of fresh air buffeted her fur when she first came out of the den, and Newleaf was so content, she could almost feel herself drift away on the breeze. She sniffed the air, and she stretched luxuriously, her legs trembling. "That's it."
She closed her eyes, smiling, padding slowly around the perimeter of the camp. "I'd better be perfectly fine by tomorrow, or I swear to StarClan I'll go completely mad."
"I bet you would." A new voice joined in, and Newleaf opened her eyes to see Darkwing.
"Weren't you supposed to be on border patrol?" she asked.
He shrugged. "I'm done."
"Okay…"
"Okay what?"
She shook her head. "Nothing."
"How're you doing?" he asked, concern in his eyes, but as usual, no deep emotion in his voice. Except when she was about to drown or when Tigerclaw attacked her…
"She's fine," Littlecloud answered for her. "But I think she's tired, right?"
"Not at all- hey!" she said as Littlecloud shoed her back into the medicine den. "Stay in here and don't come out."
"What? I will not! I've been dying to stretch my legs!"
"Tomorrow," he promised, "But I really have to talk with Darkwing- alone- right now."
She growled at him, but curiosity made her stop. "About what?"
"None of your business! I'll tell you later. No time."
And Littlecloud left Newleaf-again- with a puzzled mind.
Again, really sorry. Review? Please? That might get my fingers warm again.
Maplefrost: Yes, it is, isn't it?
Queen Of The Pens: That's really nice of you! Thanks for faving it, too! :)
Dreamheart: Aww... thank you! Really sweet of you to say!
Snowlight: Not yet, but there WILL be new apprentices, as you can read above, right?
I'M A FREAKIN TACO:
Newleaf: Very, very small white slender she-cat with jet-black legs, ears, bushy black tail, muzzle, and black around her bright, vivid blue eyes. Her PAWS are white, like socks.
Darkwing: Small completely black tom with dark blue eyes.
Marshypool: Small pretty dark brown tabby she-cat with soft gray eyes, a white belly and chest, as well as a white tipped-tail. ) That enough discription?
nobody5: Maybe...
Everyone else: THANK YOU!
~Coqui's Song