Hey guys! Do me a favor: look up "Ted Cruz Bad Lip Reading." It's on YouTube. Tell me what you think.
And sorry I didn't update sooner, but I've been doing some major plot editing for future chapters, and I can't even tell you how excited I am :,D
So I've been writing this chapter every week, with my favorite writing snacks: bagels with cream cheese and cherry tomatoes on the side.
And HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!
Review Replies:
Snowfall16: Hey! I missed you! Anyways, thank you for reviewing, and I'm glad last chapter was a surprise. I'm so happy it's summer though! No homework, finally. Sorry all of these took so long :,( As for the mishap with the POVs, I was trying a new writing method that didn't work out so well, so thank you for the input :D
Darude Dogestorm: You are literally amazing. Thank you for the lovely review! I actually laughed out loud and confused some people.
Zoe Muktha: Well dang, I love it! I was enthralled!
Hailstrike: Thanks for reviewing! Yeah, I also am starting to understand her more. I was tired of seeing her as a shallow character when she popped up and was like, "Hey, I have a side too!"
jimbalaya: Well no kidding jImBaLaYa
Dawnlight25: HEY! I've missed you 3 Thanks for the advice on talking without awkwardness... I actually talked to him a few weeks ago without too much awkwardness, so hopefully that's some improvement! And let me say, I teared up reading your wonderful review because you are absolutely amazing, and all your words mean so much to me! I really hope you like the future chapters too!
SamiJo2402: Am I 100 years old? Well, I guess I'm looking good for a 100 year old then XD
Clover: wELL dang thank you! I appreciate it!
Frost: *drumroll* coooooorrrrrrrect!
Chapter 30: Go Away
Thrushpaw shook his head as Rainpaw slipped out of camp for what seemed the millionth time. With a twinge of alarm, he saw Sunpaw trod out after her, and stood up to follow.
"Where has she been going?" Goldenpaw muttered, sifting through the fresh-kill pile beside him. He shrugged, and impatiently clawed at the ground. "If she's on a walk, someone should go with her. A fox could get her. Or a badger. Remember in the mountains when..." Oh, please stop talking so I can get Sunpaw away from Rainpaw!
"She'll be okay. She's been doing this for moons." The words slipped out of Thrushpaw's mouth before he realized it, and with a jolt of panic he hoped that Goldenpaw wouldn't think anything suspicious.
"Really?" Goldenpaw asked curiously. "Well, I don't blame her. It's bad enough for me watching you ogle over Silverpaw."
Thrushpaw felt a wave of heat flush through his fur. "I don't know what-"
He broke off as the she-cat turned away, dragging a chaffinch over to Lionstorm. The two exchanged a few words, and then settled on the opposite side of camp together.
"What were you talking about?"
Thrushpaw whipped around, all thoughts about Sunpaw forgotten, mouth hanging open as he spotted Silverpaw standing behind him.
"Oh... uh... y'know... stuff," he stuttered. I hope she didn't overhear that...
Silverpaw frowned. "Well... okay."
The two sat in awkward silence, Thrushpaw praying that she wouldn't hear his heart pounding a million miles an hour.
"You wanna go on a run?" He burst out, and let out a sigh of relief when she sprung to her paws.
"Let's go!"
Thrushpaw raced after Silverpaw as she dashed out of camp, shooting through the fern tunnel and up and around the stone hollow. With a burst of energy, he sped ahead of her, veering around a log as he called, "Race you to the ShadowClan border!"
The pair bounded through the forest, darting around clumps of fern and leaping over bramble patches, playing tag with each other's tails. As they neared the border, they ran side by side, and Thrushpaw felt his heart warm at the delighted look on Silverpaw's face.
Suddenly Thrushpaw's paw caught on a root, and he went tumbling across the grass, breath shooting out of him as he slammed against a bush. Laying winded on the forest floor, he barely registered Silverpaw running up to him until her face was above his.
"Great StarClan, what happened? Are you okay?"
Thrushpaw nodded his head, forcing himself to his paws. I will not embarrass myself again. I've gotta show her I'm strong.
"It... barely... hurt..." He wheezed, inwardly screaming at himself. Look what you did! She's gonna think I'm weak! Mouse-dung, don't worry about me.
"Well that's a relief," Silverpaw sighed. "I remember when I was a kit, I tried to climb a tree and fell off the trunk, and didn't touch another tree for a moon. I was terrified also of leaves."
"Really?" Thrushpaw meowed, finally catching his breath. And now the subject is off me. Good way to play it off, Thrushpaw.
"Yeah. I eventually got over it when leaf-fall came, and I jumped in a pile of leaves for fun."
"You did that too?!" He grinned. "My sisters and I used to race to the bottom of the leaf piles to see who could get there the fastest. I, of course, always won."
"I bet I could beat you to the top of the tree." Silverpaw gestured to an oak a few tail lengths away.
Thrushpaw snorted. "In your dreams!" Kneading his paws into the ground, he started the countdown. "On your mark, get set... go!"
Taking off, the tom dashed across the grass and took a flying leap onto the trunk. Fastening his claws into the bark, he began to scrabble his way up, sending showers of bark onto the forest floor.
As the top came in sight, he began to feel triumphant until he spotted Silverpaw jumping from branch to branch, steadily gaining on him. Thrushpaw quickly looked for a shortcut, but found none, and sped up as the branches started to thin out. He felt his muscles cramp with effort, and with a last burst of energy he plunged onto the top branch, and purred in delight when he noticed Silverpaw beside him.
"Tie," she gasped, flanks heaving. "Good climb."
"You too," he puffed, struggling to cling to the bark.
"And look at this view!" Silverpaw pointed her tail at the wide expanse of trees, most of the tops still towering above them. "We could leap to that branch, and walk all the way to camp without touching the ground!"
"I'd rather not," Thrushpaw muttered, suddenly sick as he noticed the branch swaying beneath his weight. "I'm going back down."
Silverpaw shot him a look of understanding, and branch by branch, they descended.
As the ground neared, Thrushpaw regained his confidence, and with a mischievous glance at Silverpaw, leaped out of the tree, still several branches off the floor. He landed in a pile of leaves, and with a challenging look, called, "I dare you!"
She shot him an annoyed look, and jumped without hesitation.
Leaves exploded around them as she landed on the ground, and Thrushpaw purred loudly as he began to stand up.
Suddenly, a voice squawked, "Thrushpaw!" and he tripped and slid back into the pile.
"Lilypaw?" Silverpaw meowed beside him. "What are you doing here?"
The light gray she-cat ignored her, instead crossing the border and running up to Thrushpaw.
"I've been waiting by the border for you! It's only been a few days since the Gathering, and I know you needed time to cool off, but I just want you to know I still like you! I get that it might have come as a shock to you, so I understand your outburst, but I just want you to know that I forgive you! I think our friendship blossomed during the mountain journey, and maybe it turned into something more. And... Thrushpaw? Are you listening?"
Thrushpaw groaned and buried his face deep into the leaf-mold, remembering how he hadn't told Silverpaw about their encounter at the Gathering when she had asked, and wishing it all was a dream. How am I going to get out of this one?
"Well, anyways, I think that-"
"Hold up, Lilypaw." Thrushpaw pushed himself out of the leaves, wincing at the knowing look on Silverpaw's face. "I know you like me. You've been pretty obvious about that."
Lilypaw nodded, eyes bright.
"But I..." Thrushpaw stiffened as he imagined her running away, crying, as he told her he had no interest. I don't want any dirt on my paws. But I have to tell her. He opened his mouth to continue, but froze. I can't do this.
"I have to go back to camp."
To his relief, Lilypaw nodded.
"I've been out here too long. Cats will start to worry." In a softer voice, she added, "Meet me here tomorrow night."
Thrushpaw felt sick at the prospect of meeting her, but managed to nod.
"Bye, Thrushpaw," she mewed. "Oh, and Silverpaw," she added, "I know you're his friend, so make sure to keep quiet about this."
Silverpaw rolled her eyes, and answered, "Whatever."
Lilypaw bounded away, and Thrushpaw sullenly stood up and began to trek back to camp. He flinched as Silverpaw sidled up beside him, expecting her to be angry, but a weight settled in his stomach when she was quiet, gaze fixed upon the path back to camp.
He dragged his paws in the grass, unable to bear the silence. Shout, scream, say something!
Finally, as they neared the camp entrance, she stopped him with her tail, fixing her sharp gaze on him.
"You've gotten yourself into a mess."
"Yep."
"Well, what are you going to do?"
"Eh, I don't know, probably something stupid," he replied, a hint of a grin returning to his face.
"Good, but you've already done that."
"I'll think about it."
"Good."
They continued into the camp, and when they reached the center, he asked tersely, "Are you mad?"
Silverpaw turned and faced him, tail tip twitching slightly. "Yes, I am angry. But I'll forgive you, because I can never stay mad at you."
When he didn't respond, she smiled. "Look, I'm going to talk to Goldenpaw. I'll see you later."
As she left, Thrushpaw headed towards the apprentice's den. I'm glad you can't stay mad at me, Silverpaw, because I don't know what I'd do if you could.
A huge sniff interrupted his thoughts, and Thrushpaw peeked into the den entrance, starting when he spotted Rainpaw curled up in her nest, eyes watery and defeated.
Shocked, he met her gaze, wondering what could have happened, until he remembered with a jolt Sunpaw following Rainpaw out of camp. Oh no...
"What happened?" He asked, sitting beside her and running his tail down her back.
Rainpaw opened her mouth, hesitating before meowing, "Sunpaw."
I knew it.
"She followed me from camp, and saw me meeting up with Stormpaw, and she..." Rainpaw exhaled slowly. "She attacked us." She moved her tail to reveal blood slowly oozing from a scratch on her shoulder. "She pinned me to the ground and promised me she would tell the Clan about this, and get me exiled for my 'betrayal.'"
As Thrushpaw listened, anger began to burn in his pelt, and he unknowingly was flexing his claws into the moss.
"Listen," he started. "She's being a fox-heart, but there's not really much we can do right now. Let's wait and see what she does. But I want you to know, I'll stand with you."
Rainpaw nodded, but didn't look much more relieved as she curled into a tighter ball.
Thrushpaw sighed, and sank down into his own nest. He stayed awake for a while, listening to each cat come into the den, and wondering with apprehension what the next day would bring.
Okay, let me say that I enjoyed writing the beginning of the chapter, but once Lilypaw came into the picture, I had so much trouble writing the rest. I know the past few chapters have been (in my opinion) kind of dull, but they're about to pick up speed!
I have two references in here to two movies. I absolutely love these movies, which as of 2019, will become a trilogy. If you can guess what movies, I will love you even more.
And... *cue the drumroll* in two chapters, the contest winners will be announced!
The top three people get to create an OC with a supporting role and ask one questions about the story. I will open PMs as soon as I post the chapter.
Final note: So, as I've said, I've been working hard on the plot for this story and the sequel, and I'm excited to say we have about 15 or so chapters added to the story!
Alright, folks, that's a wrap. See y'all soon!
