Hey, guys! I decided that I'm going to stop apologizing when I update late, because it looks like every time I write I'll have to apologize. Other than that, I have nothing to say, so this chapter is going to be about Spiderleg, because I felt like it and he's awesome.
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Blast from the Past chapter 24
Spiderleg shook loose scraps of various plants off his head as he woke up the next morning. He licked his paw and drew it over his ear and surveyed the sleeping warriors before him. The dawn patrol had not left yet, but Fireheart's and Cinderpelt's nests were empty. He heard voices coming from outside the den.
"Fireheart, are you going on the dawn patrol?" Cinderpelt's voice was honey-sweet and eager as she tried desperately to get his attention.
"Yes, I was planning to go along the ShadowClan border, and—" Fireheart began, but Cinderpelt's eager voice cut him off.
"I'll go with you! Since we're already up, I mean," Spiderleg could hear the embarrassment in the gray she-cat's voice. "We needn't wake anyone else, let's just go together."
"And how well do you think we'd hold against a ShadowClan patrol?" Fireheart spat back, disgusted.
"You could fight off the whole of ShadowClan by yourself, I know you can," Cinderpelt said so quietly, Spiderleg wasn't sure if he heard it.
Peering out through the branches of the warrior's den, he saw Fireheart give Cinderpelt a frightening glare and stalk back around to the entrance.
"Dawn patrol, anyone?" Fireheart called as he walked back inside, sounding as cheerful as ever, just like that whole conversation hadn't happened.
Spiderleg acted as though he had just woken up. "Oh, okay… I'll go with you. I need something to do," he tried his best to lay a thick coating of sleep over his words, and stretched his mouth into a wide yawn.
"S'pose I'll go too," Brackenfur mumbled, getting up and shaking the ruffles out of his head fur.
Too bad I can't be that believable, Spiderleg thought enviously.
As he left the warriors' den, Spiderleg heard Cinderpelt say, "Well, I'm still coming." Fighting words. He wondered if Fireheart would object.
But he didn't. "Oh, very well, just try not to bother me too much," was Fireheart's only reply. Turning to Spiderleg and Brackenfur, who had come out behind Spiderleg, he asked, "Will one of you get an apprentice to join us?"
"I'm coming, Fireheart!" Fernpaw's voice sounded from the apprentices' den. She shot out of the den, and stood at Spiderleg's side.
"Hey, Fernpaw," Spiderleg greeted casually.
"Hi," was Fernpaw's google-eyed reply.
Quiet laughter came from the apprentice's den, and Fernpaw shot back over there to silence it. Various hissing, clawing, and shrieks were heard.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Spiderleg darted into the apprentices' den to break out the fight that had broken out between Fernpaw and Brightpaw. "What's going on here?"
Brightpaw rolled over onto her back, kicked all four legs up into the air and began laughing again, sounding weaker this time.
Fernpaw laughed nervously. "Nothing… just forget about it. Let's get on with that patrol." She walked swiftly past Spiderleg with her head down out to the clearing. Spiderleg sighed and followed her.
The five cats headed out of the gorse tunnel up the ravine with constant chatter coming from Fernpaw and Cinderpelt. Cinderpelt chatted constantly with Fireheart, trying stubbornly to get his attention, while Fernpaw was having the same luck with Spiderleg. Fireheart shot Spiderleg an understanding glance over the two she-cats' heads.
"Hey, Spiderleg," Fernpaw called his attention when they reached the ShadowClan border. She had one forepaw exactly on the boarder, and the other raised up and stretched forward. Her bright, playful, joking eyes shot to a mouse a few feet over the border. "Dare me to?"
"I wouldn't," a voice came from the other side of the border, and out of the bracken, stepped Cinderfur, the ShadowClan deputy. He was followed by Littlecloud, Wetfoot, and Wetfoot's apprentice Oakpaw. "Unless you want a fight, that is."
"No thank you, Cinderfur. Littlecloud, Wetfoot, Oakpaw," Fireheart said formally, nodding to the ShadowClan patrol calmly. He lashed his tail at Fernpaw, and she came scampering back to Spiderleg's side. "We were just patrolling the border."
"Looks more like you were stealing prey," Cinderfur accused, stepping closer to the border threateningly.
Spiderleg didn't listen to Fireheart's reply. He was too busy looking at the little tabby tom standing in front of him in confusion.
"What do you want?" Littlecloud sneered, noticing Spiderleg's speculation.
"Why are you on patrol, Littlecloud? Shouldn't you be in the medicine den?" Spiderleg asked, cocking his head to the side in confusion.
"I know that's where most ThunderClan cats spend their days, but I have my warrior duties to do," Littlecloud sneered.
That's when Spiderleg realized the true severity of the situation. If Cinderpelt had saved Littlecloud from a sickness when she was just and apprentice. That's what had inspired him to become a medicine cat! If Cinderpelt was never a medicine cat, then neither would Littlecloud! The forest would lose two of its most important medicine cats, and worse, Littlecloud would die at his young age! The past needed to be fixed now more than ever!
"Come on, let's get on with our patrol. I think we need to renew the scent marks," Fireheart commanded, a hint of a snarl as he said the words loud enough for the ShadowClan patrol, which was now leaving, to hear.
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After finishing the scent marks, the group headed back. Fernpaw chattered with Cinderpelt, and Brackenfur walked alone ahead of the group, which left Fireheart and Spiderleg time to talk.
"So, Spiderleg, how's the prey running, in the future, I mean," Fireheart struck up conversation.
"If you're looking for a peek into the future, it's not likely," Spiderleg murmured.
"Sorry. So then, how's the prey running now?" Fireheart asked.
"'S'okay," Spiderleg slurred.
"So… what's the deal with you and Fernpaw? She's been lacking in her training for the time she spends with you," Fireheart sounded concerned, but also curious.
"She's nicer than I thought she would be. She's nice in the future and all, but the authority thing is a little scary," Spiderleg replied, keeping his voice low, as well as his head. "But, I have to admit, I'm getting a little… nervous… around her. You know?" He shot Fireheart a meaningful glance.
Fireheart smiled knowingly. "Yeah, I do… you're Birchfall's father, aren't you?" his voice was as low as Spiderleg's.
Spiderleg's jaw dropped and his eyes grew round with shock.
"It's okay," Fireheart's tone was light, but it kept the low volume, "I won't tell anyone."
Spiderleg struggled to find his voice. "But it's not that, Firest—heart. I'm not Birchfall's father by a long shot," he struggled to keep the scary images out of his head.
"Suuuuuuuure," Fireheart emphasized, walking into the tunnel behind Brackenfur.
As Spiderleg entered behind his future leader, he wondered if he had really made it seem like he was Fernpaw's mate. How was he supposed to exist now?
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Okay, same old. Review or die. It's good to see you again, . And it will be good to cross paths with you again, hopefully in the near future.
-Golden Ice