Chapter 10
Dark Suspicions and Deepening Friendships
As the days went on Reaperpaw became more and more suspicious of Mothclaw, he noticed that when kits were born some lasted a moon while others only lasted a few days. Spottedears lost two kits seven days ago and she was devastated. Spiderpond lost one kit, Ashdawn lost three, Mousefeather lost two, and Appleleg lost one kit. They all died under Mothclaw's care, while it was common for a weak kit to not make it, the death rate was bad, really bad. All these deaths happened in one moon and made Reaperpaw lost weight, have nightmares,get more depressed. It worried Leafpaw and Falconwind to no end, which made Falconwind frustrated and more likely to snap only to calm down and apologize and Leafpaw to be by his side 24/7 unless he was out training. One night he woke up from a particularly grizzly nightmare where he not only witnessed Duskclan's destruction but watched as all the kit's in Petalclan die from a dark shadow. Leafpaw was pressed up against him purring and even the other apprentices had moved closer to him in comfort. Ebonykit too was of great comfort to him as when ever she saw him looking sad she'd ask Spiderpond if she could cheer him up and if she got a yes she'd run over to him, sometimes her siblings Swiftkit and Willowkit would come too. The next moon was happier as he got to see all the kits out and playing. Spiderpond's kits, Ebonykit, Swiftkit and Willowkit. Ashdawn's kit Sootkit. Spottedears kits Sparrowkit and Dovekit. Mousefeather's kits Thunderkit and Lightningkit. And Appleleg's kits Riverkit, Eagelkit, and Elmkit. Reaperpaw and the apprentices had fun playing with them when they weren't training or hunting. The kits always brought out Reaperpaw's playful side and he would end up play-fighting with the other apprentices. His friendship with the other apprentices grew as he found out more about them. Beaverpaw was strong and Reaperpaw liked play-fighting with him, Otterpaw was great at hunting and Chestnutpaw was smart, and Leafpaw was kind. His bond with his mentor Falconwind strengthened as well. He helped save Falcondwind from a rat attack once while on patrol.