Chapter 13: Greyleaf
Greyleaf hated being separated from Pinestar so soon after reuniting with him. It's just not fair! Why can't I just have one more day with him, StarClan? She reluctantly returned to Blackfur's side, and Sunstar led the clan home.
The run back was much harder than the run there, and without the possibility of seeing Pinestar again fueling her strides, she lagged tiredly behind. The only cats who stayed by her side to provide support were Blackfur and Goldenfur.
After running for what seemed like moons, they finally arrived back at the camp. Greyleaf was exhausted, upset, and wanted do nothing but sleep.
Leaving the two tomcats behind, she moodily squeezed through the thorn tunnel and into the hollow. She passed curious cats that wanted to start up a conversation with her, but fatigue and crabbiness overruled hospitality, leading her to just ignored them.
When she got inside of the nice, warm, comfortable den, Greyleaf couldn't see any other queens or their kits.
Good, she thought, sighing inwardly, I can have some peace and quiet.
Finally crashing into her nest, the queen was looking forward to the uneventful, calm night, but her father had other ideas.
"Greyleaf, I just heard the news, and I'm proud of you for choosing Blackfurn- a tom that I approve of - to be your mate." Leopardheart meowed as he loudly entered the nursery.
No, no, no! Just leave me alone Dad! I just want to be alone! Greyleaf wanted to stick her paws into her ears and bury her head in the moss of her nest. Instead, shesighed. "Yeah, I'm very happy, but this means that I can't be deputy anymore. Now you can stop pestering me about it and bother my kits instead. Goodbye, Leopardheart." She snapped. Usually, Greyleaf's words would be on filter, but tonight, she just didn't care.
Leopardheart looked like she had just slapped him in the muzzle. His eyes widened and his tail dropped, but only just a bit. "Well, if that's the way you want it," He replied stiffly, "I'll just leave then."
"No, Dad, I didn't mean that," she tried to apologize, sitting up to look him in the eye, "I'm just tired, and I wanna go to sleep. The gathering took a lot out of me. I just need some time to unwind."
Leopardheart still looked hurt, but not quite as much as he did before. "I see," He said, "I'll leave you to rest."
Finally, I can sleep. She settled back down again. Wait Greyleaf, think about what you did, She began to chastise herself, I shouldn't have yelled at him. I need to make it up to him, somehow. But I'm so tired, I'll come up with something tomorrow. So, she drifted into a peaceful slumber.
When Greyleaf awoke, it was already Sunhigh. Wow, I slept through half a day! I need to get out and do something active.
She stretched and headed out of the nursery that was now full of sleeping queens and kits to leave the camp. Wait! She stopped herself halfway across the hollow. I can't just go outside without permission! Blackfur will have my pelt if I do. I'll have to ask Featherheart if I can leave. So, Greyleafmade her way to the Medicine-cat's den. The brambles tugged uncomfortably at her fur.
"Oh, Greyleaf, I didn't think you'd be coming back to see me so soon." Featherheart mewed when the queen was eventually able to squeeze into the cave inside of the hollow's wall.
"Hi, Featherheart. I know it's a bit early to ask for a checkup, but I did a lot of running yesterday and was wondering if it was okay to go out again today."
The blue-eyed medicine cat nodded, understanding glimmering in her eyes. "Many queens yearn to leave the hollow and get into the forest." She gave Greyleaf a quick check-up, pawing gently at her sides and checking her eye movement. "You're fine, still in good condition, but that doesn't mean that you can be reckless. Take a warrior with you. Seeing as Blackfur is on border patrol, you should choose a close friend to accompany you. Just don't stay out too late, okay."
Featherheart sounded like a mother speaking to her kit. Sure it was weird that she shared a similar name with Greyleaf's mother, Featherstorm, but Greyleaf didn't mind. She was glad that there was someone looking out for her.
Exiting the Medicine-Cat Den, the light-grey she-cat went searching for a warrior to take with her. Bramblepelt? Nah, I don't really know him very well. Leopardheart? No, he's probably still upset about my outburst last night. Best to give him time to get over it. Lilytail? Not her either. I just wanna get outside and be myself. She walked around for a while, looking and hoping to find someone that she could easily spend some time with. Eventually, Greyleaf flopped down in annoyance. By StarClan! Where is someone that I can hang out with?
"Need a little help?"
She looked up. Standing above her was Goldenfur, goofy smile spread across his face, blue eyes laughing.
Goldenfur! Of course! Why didn't I think of him before! "Yes," She replied, "But you'll have to pull me up by my scruff because I' too lazy to get up myself."
"As you wish, all-powerful-leader," He jested, fasteninghis teeth gently around her scruff and hauling the queen to her feet. "Jeez, Greyleaf, you've really put on the pounds." Somehow he managed to make this, normally rude, comment into a joke.
She chuckled and replied, "And I will use it all to sit on you if the need ever arises."
"I really hope it doesn't. I don't want my ribs broken."
They both laughed, enjoying one another's company. A sense of belonging flooded Greyleaf's senses. It was just as strong as the feeling she got around Pinestar.
It's like StarClan meant for us to be friends, just like they meant for Pinestar and I to be together. She purred with delight, and then remembered the reason she wanted to find Goldenfur in the first place.
"Hey, Goldenfur," She mewed suddenly, "Would you mind going into the forest with me. Featherheart said that I need a warrior chaperone if I'm gonna go outside the hollow."
"Sure," He responded, "That'd be fun. Plus, I get to be your supervisor." He imitated Sunstar's serious face. "From now on you will be known as Greypaw. Goldenfur will be your mentor, and you are to follow his every command and never disobey his orders."
Greyleaf giggled and touched her nose to his. "Yes, mentor Goldenfur, I will do everything you say."
Laughing together, they exited the camp and went into the forest.
The brilliant sunlight filtered through the canopy, dappling the forest floor with yellow. Greyleaf and Goldenfur chatted as they took their trip through the territory. They each took turns laughing, poking fun, and exchanging weird, funny facts about their clan-mates.
"Have you seen the way Bramblepelt walks after eating? He waddles back and forth and doesn't bend his legs. It's hilarious to watch him!" Goldenfur exclaimed, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. He knew all sorts of random things about Bramblepelt, seeing as they were best friends.
"Well," Greyleaf, not to be bested, replied, "Have you ever noticed how loud Blackfur snores? If he fell asleep in the woods, all the prey would be scared off! They'd think a monster was in their midst! I have no idea how anyone gets asleep in the warriors den! I can barely sleep myself!"
Goldenfur almost fell down, he was laughing so hard. "I have noticed!" the golden tom gasped, "He keeps me up too!"
Eventually, the two grew bored of exchanging secrets, and instead, they decided to play a game of hide and seek. They each took turns trying to camouflage themselves in the underbrush. Of course, in her condition, Greyleaf wasn't too good at it, but she was happy all the same. To her, it seemed like she was a kit again, with no problems and lots of time to do whatever she wanted. She also liked spending time with a guy that she didn't have to pretend to like, or that she didn't have to wait for the dead of night to see. The hours flew by, minutes only seeming like seconds for the two joyful cats.
Eventually, they grew tired of their game, and instead retired to a nearby tree that was close to an abandoned badger set.
Looking up into the sky, Greyleaf could see that the weather was no longer sunny. Dark clouds hovered above the forest, waiting to unleash a storm upon the animals below. Before they could scramble back to the hollow, the rain came pelting down.
"Take cover!" Goldenfur yowled, heading for the badger set.
Greyleaf followed, but still ended up with a coat that was so soaked that water seemed to rush off of it in rivers. She tried unsuccessfully to dry it by grooming, but the task seemed pointless. Every inch that she dried was soon soaked again by the rest of her waterlogged fur.
"Here, let me help." The tom offered.
Working together, they eventually groomed Greyleaf's fur dry. It still damply stuck to her body, but that was a great improvement from beforehand.
"I guess we're stuck here for tonight," she sighed, longing for her warm nest in the nursery.
Goldenfur chuckled. He never did seem to find anything to be sad about.
"Why are you laughing? Do I look funny?"
"No, it's Deja vous. Remember when this happened last moon. We aren't in the same hole, and you weren't expecting kits then, but the rest of the circumstances are the same. We're still hiding in a hole from a storm that suddenly swooped down on us."
"Yeah, that is weird," Greyleaf yawned, "But we should get to sleep. I'm tired from all that running."
He nodded, seeing that she wanted to get on with the night quickly. They huddled together at the back of the hole, and fell asleep.
Hello! Thank you When Cows Fly for those wonderful kit ideas! More ideas are welcome from anyone. All kits will be taken into account for the story until Greyleaf eventually has them. Thank you for reading!