Chapter 11: Fern Dapple
Fern Dapple reached her forelegs out in front of her and arched her back, her jaws gaping wide in a yawn. Her jay-blue eyes narrowed into half-moons as she relished the stretch in her muscles and the way her silver pelt shimmered like moonlit shadows in the sunshine.
"Show-off," a voice teased from behind her.
Fern Dapple's eyes flew open, and she whirled around, her fur puffed up like a bramble bush. She narrowed her eyes as she spotted a petit light brown she-cat sitting behind her, her tail flicking and yellow eyes glimmering. "What did you just call me?"
Blossom Dust smirked. "I called you a show-off." At the silver she-cat's affronted expression, she added with a roll of her eyes, "you're really telling me that you weren't showing off your beautiful pelt and powerful muscles just now?"
Fern Dapple gave her chest a couple of licks. "I guess so."
"Oh, come on-admit it."
Fern Dapple let out a mock sigh as she padded over to her friend and flopped down beside her. "Okay, fine, I was showing off."
"I knew it," the small she-cat crowed.
"Yup, you got me there." Fern Dapple couldn't help but chuckle. "I am proud of my strong muscles, and I do think that my fur is gorgeous."
"Maybe a little too much," Blossom Dust said, giving her friend a nudge.
"Oh, hush, you." The young hunter tried to shove her back, but she scooted out of the way, giggling as she did so. "You're telling me you take no pride in your strong body and sleek pelt with golden spots like dapples of sunlight?"
"Those are your words, not mine," Blossom Dust returned. "At least I don't rub it in everyone's faces."
Fern Dapple's mouth dropped open. "I do not."
"You were standing in the middle of the camp where everyone could see you."
"I was not."
"You were too."
"I'm going to get you for that." Fern Dapple sprang to her paws, but Blossom Dust was quicker and darted away before she could even take a paw-step. She flopped back down. "Oof. I'm too tired from that hunting patrol this morning. You have to come back here and stand perfectly still so I can get you."
Blossom Dust's ears pricked, her eyes lighting up. "Oh, that's right. You led your first hunting patrol this morning. Congratulations. How did it go?"
The blue-eyed she-cat hauled herself into a seated position as the small she-cat scurried over and sat down beside her. "Thank you." Her ear tips warmed slightly. "I think it went well-at least, I hope it did."
"Come on. You really need to give yourself more credit. I'm sure you were amazing."
Fern Dapple flashed her friend, an appreciative glance. "I was shocked when Falling Star chose me to lead a hunting patrol with Bracken Tail, Dawn Sky, Amber Mist, and I for hunters, and Soaring Hawk and Dappled Fur for fighters," she went on. "She told me that I could choose where we were going to hunt, so I decided to take the patrol to the birch tree grove with those rocky knolls near the lower part of our border with the Clan of the High Peaks. There's usually a lot of squirrel nests, and rabbit burrows there. We caught a good amount of prey, and Amber Mist even caught a plump squirrel all by herself. There were no issues."
"That sounds like it went well," Blossom Dust said with a smile. Her brow creased. "So, what's the problem?"
"I don't know." Fern Dapple gave a shrug. Her voice was as small and fragile as a butterfly. "I guess I just keep obsessing over the things I feel like I could've done better. I could've sounded more confident when I was giving out assignments. I could've not stepped on a twig and lost the bird I was stalking while half the patrol was watching."
"I understand that." Blossom Dust nodded, her expression solemn as she studied Fern Dapple's face. She curled her tail around her friend's side. "I second guess myself a lot, and I worry about what others think of me. But I've learned that you can't let your worries overwhelm you. You have to trust yourself and your instincts. You have to know that you are amazing and that everything will be okay."
"Thank you, Blossom Dust," Fern Dapple purred. She leaned into her smaller friend, resting her head on top of the other she-cat's. I am lucky to have her as my friend.
A flash of dark brown tabby fur at the edge of her vision caught the silver tabby she-cat's attention. She turned her head, frowning as she saw Jagged Path shuffling across the camp, seeming to move aimlessly. She gave a start as he lifted his gaze to stare directly into her eyes. What does he want? She ground her teeth, her eyes narrowing. Jagged Path's lake-blue eyes were round as they held her gaze, emotions rippling through the deep waters.
"What was that about?" Blossom Dust asked. She had pulled away and now sat with her head, cocked inquiringly.
Fern Dapple jumped. "What was what?"
The light brown she-cat gestured with her head. "That exchange between you and Jagged Path."
The young hunter was silent for several heartbeats as she stared off into the distance. Blossom Dust waited patiently. Eventually, she sighed and turned back to her friend. "Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. Things have been strained between Jagged Path and I for a while now."
Blossom Dust furrowed her brow. "How so?"
"Well, I guess we just haven't talked or spent any time together in several moons. As you know, we were close as kits, but when we became trainees, Mossy Moon selected him to be a fighter and me to train as a hunter, so we were doing completely different training, and so, we were too busy to spend much time together. It's pretty much the same now that we're full Clan members. And then there was his arrogance, his rudeness, and his meanness to other cats, especially your sister." Fern Dapple hung her head, shame twisting inside her like a venomous snake. "As a kit, I was always too scared to stand up to him. I will always regret that."
Blossom Dust touched her tail to Fern Dapple's shoulder in silent support.
Fern Dapple smiled a little as she turned her head to meet her friend's eyes. "But after what happened on that patrol half a moon ago with Spotted Owl, Jagged Path, and the eagle, I couldn't stand it anymore. I couldn't sit back and watch while my brother hurt Spotted Owl again, especially when she was injured, and it wasn't her fault. I snapped at last and yelled at him. We haven't spoken since." Her gaze flitted to where Jagged Path had wandered over to the hunter and fighter's den. "Though that look he gave me makes me wonder if he does want to talk, but he's just afraid to approach me."
"Well, you'll never know if you don't give it a chance," Blossom Dust said, giving her a meaningful look.
"Yeah, I guess. I'm reluctant to approach him, though, because there is that uncertainty of if he does want to talk and if he'll apologize to me and Spotted Owl. I will not talk to him if he won't." Fern Dapple saw a familiar flash of black and white fur emerge from the passageway out of the corner of her eye. "While we're on the topic of brothers, I have been wondering, what's going on with Tall Pine?"
Blossom Dust lifted her brows. "Are you changing the subject on me?"
The blue-eyed she-cat said nothing.
"Well, what do you mean?" The light brown she-cat asked, going with it anyway.
"Well…" Fern Dapple trailed off. Argh, how do I say this? She flattened her ears against her head. I'm not sure if my concerns are legitimate. I don't want to be overbearing or overstep my bounds. But wait, I'm just talking to Blossom Dust. She's my friend. She wouldn't judge me. She cleared her throat. "Well, I guess I'm just worried about him. I've noticed that he's been very distracted lately, often lost in thought."
Blossom Dust let out a snort of amusement. "Tall Pine's always been like that."
"I know, but he's never let it get in the way of his duties before. He's been distant and had his head on the clouds. There's also something off about him that I can't quite put my paw on. He's been like this ever since you all got home." Fern Dapple looked her friend in the eye, her tail tip flicking back and forth like a hyper sparrow. "Did something happen to him while you were away?"
Blossom Dust frowned but shook her head. "No, I don't think so."
"Hmm." Fern Dapple's forehead wrinkled as she thought. "I don't know." Her gaze felt as heavy as a boulder as she dropped it to her paws. "I know this seems kind of silly, and I'm really not that kind of cat, but I feel like he's ignoring me. And I-I just wanted to know if you knew anything."
"No, that's not silly at all," Blossom Dust assured her, giving her shoulder a bump. "You have a right to feel that way. Hmm." She tilted her head as she thought for a few heartbeats. "I wonder if Tall Pine's acting weird because Mossy Moon decided to let Sharp stay with our Clan."
Fern Dapple leaped to her paws. "Oh my stars, that's right." She swung around to face Blossom Dust, her eyes alight with urgency. "You're totally right. And that just reminded me of something I've meant to do. Is it okay if I say goodbye for now?"
"Of course." Blossom Dust nodded, flicking her tail at the silver tabby she-cat. "Go ahead."
"I'll see you later." Fern Dapple called over her shoulder as she bounded across the camp. I don't know how in the stars I forgot about Sharp. He's the reason many cats have been acting weird-probably including Tall Pine. I have to check on one now. Her pace slowed as she neared her destination, the weight of what she was doing finally sinking in. She came to a halt several tail-lengths away and tipped her head back to take in the crevice in the rock that started fox-lengths above her head, splitting more and more as it swooped like a diving eagle toward the ground to create the entrance to the chieftain's den.
As she stared up at the looming cliff face, Fern Dapple couldn't help but feel intimidated. She could remember the many times distinctly that she had stood in that exact same spot when she was younger, and how much bigger it had looked then. The shadow that the massive gorge wall cast on her seemed to weigh her down with all of the pressure she'd always felt. Pressure to be strong, to learn quickly, to succeed, to be the best. Pressure to live up to her mother's expectations that felt as high as the sky sometimes. Pressure to be worthy of being the grand-kit of Mossy Moon. Her ears pulled back until they were flattened against her head. I can never be as great as her.
Fern Dapple took a deep breath. And then another. She forced her ears forward. Striding forward, she poked her head into the den. "Mossy Moon?"
Covered in layered shadows near the back of the den, three heads turned at Fern Dapple's inquiry. Mossy Moon's ears pricked as she peered over Falling Star and Red Maple's heads. The regent's face wrinkled with annoyance, and the healer had a deep furrow in her brow. She looked deeply troubled. All three of them did. They always do these days. Guilt twinged inside Fern Dapple's chest. They have so much to worry about as the leaders of our Clan. I shouldn't have disturbed them.
"Sorry," the young hunter called, hurriedly withdrawing her head. "I'll come back later."
"It's fine, Fern Dapple," came Mossy Moon's firm voice. "We were almost finished. Hold on."
Fern Dapple shifted from paw to paw as she waited. Her tail swished back and forth, as restless as she felt. With every heartbeat that crept by, she began to doubt herself more and more. This is mouse-brained. I shouldn't have disturbed Mossy Moon. It's probably fine anyway.
After what felt like was an eternity, but was probably a short time, Fern Dapple heard the soft plods of paw-steps. Falling Star and Red Maple emerged from the cave with the chieftain close behind them. Red Maple greeted her with a warm "hello," before she and Falling Star dispersed into the camp. The dark brown tabby she-cat paused just outside the entrance to her den and gave a toss of her head. "Come on in."
Mossy Moon led the way into her den with long strides. With just a few steps, she had reached her nest and took a seat beside it, gesturing for Fern Dapple to do the same. The silver tabby she-cat sat, wrapping her tail around her paws. The chieftain met her gaze, her blue eyes an echo of Fern Dapple's, though weary but warm. "What can I do for you?"
Fern Dapple took a deep breath. She could feel her nerves churning like a colony of ants in her stomach, but she straightened her spine and raised her chin. "I know that this has been a trailing time with a lot of hardship and challenges. I wanted to see how you're doing."
"Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Fern Dapple." A small smile flickered across the chieftain's lips before they reformed her solemn expression. She lapsed into silence, her eyes glazed over as if a sheer sheet of ice had formed over the lakes of her blue eyes, deep in thought.
Fern Dapple tilted her head as the silence lengthened, studying her grandmother's face. Despite the dim light, in the close quarters, she could make out the gray tinging the chieftain's muzzle like frost, and the haggard lines of her face. She's starting to show her older age, the young hunter realized with a jolt. And she looks exhausted. I'm glad I came to check-in. She bit her lip. I hope she's doing well. These past few moons have been hard on all of us, but especially her.
At last, Mossy Moon heaved a great sigh. "If I am going to be honest with you, you're right; this has been a trailing past several moons. It has for every cat, including myself." Her eyes wandered past Fern Dapple, out into the camp beyond as they took on that dazed look again. "I feel the weight of every cat in our Clan's life on my shoulders. As chieftain, it is my job to make the tough decisions. I am responsible for all of them." Her shoulders slumped just noticeably, as if under an immeasurable weight. "I love our Clan. I will defend it until my dying breath. I have been doing my best, but there are so many uncertainties, so many unpredictable things. So much danger." She tilted her head back as if she could see the stars through the stone mountain. "I pray to the Clan of the Bright Stars that I am doing the right thing."
Fern Dapple shifted forward, hesitantly extending her muzzle to touch her grandmother's shoulder. "I can understand that. I often wonder if I am doing the right thing." She settled back on her haunches and offered her chieftain a sad smile. "It's hard to know if you are making the correct choices and taking the right action because no one knows what the future holds. I think that you just have to trust your instincts in what they are telling you. Trust your Clan. We'll always stand with you. And trust in our ancestors."
Mossy Moon returned her smile, her eyes becoming sharper as if shaking off her melancholy. "Those are wise words from someone so young. I am tired and concerned, but I want you to know that I will do whatever it takes to protect our Clan. There will be more trials and hardships to come, but we will face them together. I will never stop fighting for our Clan. Your words have given me strength and faith that I needed to continue. Thank you, Fern Dapple."
The silver tabby she-cat ducked her head. "Oh, I don't know really, but you're welcome."
Mossy Moon leaned forward, her intense gaze bore into Fern Dapple's. "No. You should not doubt your wisdom, your skills, or your capability. You are an amazing young cat, Fern Dapple, with a lot of potential and a lot to offer this Clan. You will be a great cat one day, perhaps greater than me."
Fern Dapple's head snapped up like a pulled-back branch rebounding into place. Her heart rose like a bird launching itself into the sky. "You really think so?"
Mossy Moon let out a soft snort of amusement as she sat back on her haunches. "Yes, I do." She clambered to her paws. "This has been a wonderful talk, but I have something that I have to attend to now. But, please come by again soon."
"I would love to," Fern Dapple replied. A grin split her face as she dipped her in farewell to Mossy Moon, and then padded out of the den, thoughts flashing through her mind like little fish in a brook.
SURPRISE! So the thing where I add in a few chapters every book from a new character's perspective is a thing now. Annnnndddd, we get a chapter from Fern Dapple! It was such a nice change of pace writing from a new character's perspective, good practice for me, and really fun to develop her point of view. She is now one of my favorite characters! This chapter was mostly fluff, but it was a nice change of pace, and we do get some good character and relationship development. Let me know what you think of Fern Dapple!
Fun Fact: As a kit, Fern Dapple dreamed of being chieftain one day. Now, as a young hunter, she still secretly hopes to be chieftain, but doesn't know if she is worthy.
Reviews: Guest - I'm glad that you do! No, Frosted Leaf wasn't.
- A Warrior At Heart