Hi, everyone! I've been a bit busy lately, so I have not been updating often. I finished reading Long Shadows in a few hours, and it was, I think, like, the best book in the series so far!
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Chapter 10
Dewpaw padded over to the spot where the apprentices ate, dangling a mouse in her jaws. She sat down between Cloverpaw and Falconpaw and began eating. "Hi, everyone," she purred, looking around at her sister, Falconpaw, and Stonepaw.
Falconpaw nodded to her as he bent over to take a bite out of his vole. "Hello, Dewpaw," he mewed as he gulped. "So, what did you do today?"
Dewpaw shrugged. "Hunting and battle training." She took a bite out of her plump, brown mouse and purred, "There's so much plump prey running around, almost begging to be caught!"
Cloverpaw nodded in agreement. "That's the beauty of Green-leaf. There's plenty of prey, and good weather."
Dewpaw flicked her tail in agreement and tore off a bite of mouse. She noticed Stonepaw gobbling his squirrel down as fast as he could, and she purred. "What's wrong, Stonepaw? Do you think a badger is going to come and steal that squirrel from you?" she teased.
Stonepaw flicked his ears, narrowing his eyes in mock fury. "Oh, calm down, I just promised Berrytail I'd meet him at the training hollow, and I don't want to be late." He licked his lips and stood up. "I'll see you later," he mewed as he padded off to join his mentor.
Dewpaw nodded. "Bye." She turned to Cloverpaw. "I wonder where Cloudpaw is."
Cloverpaw shrugged. "Who knows? He's always wandering around, or trying to flirt with Frostpaw." She said the last word scornfully.
Dewpaw sighed. "I know, he's been so… well, unfocused lately. What should we do? I've talked to him, and he's in denial right now."
Cloverpaw rolled her eyes. "I should knock some sense into him." She fell silent, and she gazed off as if she was thinking.
Dewpaw finished her meal silently, glancing around camp. Then she licked her lips, stretched, said bye to her sister, and made her way to the apprentices den. But she was stopped by Shadowclaw.
"Hey," he growled. He was never friendly, except to his mate and kits. And he seemed to have a grudge over Dewpaw and her siblings. "Silverstorm still hasn't gotten any fresh-kill yet, because all the lazy apprentices are sitting around eating! And I'm sure she'd like some fresh moss for her nest. You don't have anything better to do, do you?"
Dewpaw shook her head. "I'll be right on it," she replied quickly. She strode over to the fresh-kill pile and picked up two juicy voles. Then she padded over to the elder's den.
"Hello, Dewpaw," Silverstorm purred, getting up to her paws a bit stiffly. "Mm, those voles look delicious, and I'm hungry."
"Sorry you've been hungry all day," Dewpaw mewed. "Can I clean out your den for you?"
Silverstorm nodded. "Sure, that'd be fine. I'll just go and eat outside, in the warm sun." She picked up the voles and padded out.
Dewpaw watched her grandmother leave and clawed at the moss on the ground, clumping it into a large, dirty ball.
~oOoOoOoOoOo~
Dewpaw collapsed on her nest, panting. After cleaning out the elder's den, she had gone on a border patrol with Ashenfur, Leafdapple, and Hazelstep. There had been a small skirmish on the WindClan border. Obviously, the WindClan cats had been worried when Dewpaw had gotten too close.
She began grooming her fur. Although she was tired, she wanted to be clean. When she was done, she settled down to take a nap. But Flightpaw and Eaglepaw padded into the den, yawning. She sat up and mewed a polite hello to them.
"Hi, Dewpaw," Flightpaw purred.
Eaglepaw glanced at her and nodded, acknowledging her presence.
Dewpaw settled down to sleep again, but something poked her. She lifted her head and saw Eaglepaw standing over her, his green eyes looking hopeful. "What is it?"
The grey tom shuffled his paws uneasily. "Um, could I talk to you, please?"
Dewpaw sighed. "No cat can get any sleep around here," she grumbled.
"Sorry, but this is important."
"Fine," Dewpaw mewed to the younger tom, standing up and stretching. "But you owe me. I was working my tail off all day!" She led him to a secluded corner of camp, behind the empty nursery. "Now, what's on your mind?"
"Love," Eaglepaw breathed, his green eyes glazed over as if he was having a memory.
"What are you talking about?" Dewpaw snapped. "Speak some sense, Eaglepaw!"
The grey apprentice ducked. "Sorry. But I'm in love with your sister!"
"Cloverpaw?!"
"Yes."
Dewpaw purred with amusement. "You love her? You're only eight moons old!"
The grey tom looked defiant. "I'm old enough to love!"
Dewpaw shrugged. "Okay, then. Whatever you say. What do you want me to do about it?"
Eaglepaw glanced up at her pleadingly. "Could you, well… talk to her? I mean, not necessarily say it directly, but, kind of hint it? Please! She never notices me! I went hunting with her once, and I blew it when I lost that squirrel!"
"Okay, fine," Dewpaw mewed. "Promise me to let sleeping cats lie from now on."
Eaglepaw nodded vigorously. "Thank you."
Dewpaw nodded and made her way back toward the apprentices den. Flightpaw was already asleep. She curled up in her nest and sighed happily as sleep overtook her.
~oOoOoOoOoOo~
Cloudpaw padded into camp, grasping fresh-kill in his jaws. He set it down on the fresh-kill pile, and wondered if he should take anything to the medicine cats. No! I have to get over Frostpaw! he told himself as he padded toward Falconpaw, who was sitting in the clearing. "Hi."
Falconpaw nodded. "Hello, Cloudpaw. I think your sisters were wondering where you were."
"They were?" Cloudpaw sighed. What could they possibly want now? They were probably going to lecture him again! "Do you know where they are?"
Falconpaw shrugged. "No, sorry."
Cloudpaw glanced around camp, then trotted off to the apprentices den. Dewpaw was curled up inside, sleeping. He curled up beside her and closed his eyes, feeling his sister's flank rise and fall steadily. He tried to sleep, but sleep wouldn't come to him. He turned in his nest, careful to not disturb Dewpaw. Then he got up reluctantly and stretched. He jumped when he heard a rustle behind him. Flightpaw was sleeping behind the trunk of the bramble patch that served as the den, almost hidden from view. She was scrabbling at the moss, like she was having a bad dream. She murmured and yowled once, too.
He nudged her with his white forepaw, hissing softly. "Flightpaw, wake up!"
The ginger and white she-cat blinked, then looked up. Her green eyes were wide and fearful, but they softened soon. "Oh, hi, Cloudpaw."
"Are you okay?" Cloudpaw asked. "You were murmuring in your sleep, and… well, flailing your legs, and… it looked like you were having a nightmare."
Flightpaw sighed. "I was." She got up to her paws and shook her fur. Then she ran her fur along it in brisk strokes to get in back in its neat place. "I don't know what it was… there were marshes everywhere, and tall pine trees, like in ShadowClan territory, and some cat was chasing me, yowling, and…" She shuddered. "It was horrible. And right when I felt claws sinking into my skin, you woke me."
Cloudpaw pressed into her side comfortingly, trying to be a friend. (And only a friend!) "Don't worry, Flightpaw, it's alright now."
Flightpaw sighed. "Thanks. I guess I should go and do something, rather than sit here and think about that nightmare. I'm going to go find Whitepelt."
Cloudpaw nodded. "Good idea. I'll see you later, Flightpaw."
The she-cat nodded before dashing out from between some branches of the bramble thicket.
Cloudpaw settled down again, but he was still restless. He got up and padded out of the den. Maybe he could be of some use to his Clan. He glanced around, and saw Leafdapple signaling to some cats, as if they were about to go on patrol.
He raced over to his grandmother. "Can I join you? I have nothing else to do."
Leafdapple nodded. "Sure. Forestlily and Hazelstep are coming with us, to hunt."
Cloudpaw nodded and took a step back respectfully when the other warriors approached. "Hello," he mewed.
Forestlily purred. "Hi, Cloudpaw." And Hazelstep nodded.
"Okay, then. Let's go," Leafdapple said, leading the way through the thorn tunnel.
~oOoOoOoOoOo~
Cloudpaw set down the two mice and blackbird on the fresh-kill pile and looked around. Dewpaw was emerging from the apprentices den, her sleek black fr rumpled from sleep. He padded over, flicking his tail in greeting.
"Hey, Cloudpaw," she mewed, yawning. "Where have you been?"
"Hunting," Cloudpaw replied. "I came back, and you were sleeping. Then I went on another hunting patrol."
"Oh, sorry," Dewpaw mewed.
Cloudpaw shrugged. "Falconpaw said that you were looking for me. What did you want?"
"Oh, I was just wondering," Dewpaw answered, shuffling her paws. "Why?"
Cloudpaw shrugged again. "Where's Cloverpaw?"
Dewpaw yawned and hissed, "I was asleep, how should I know?"
Cloudpaw rolled his eyes. "I was just asking," he snapped. He was tired of his sisters bossing him around! Just because he was the smallest in the litter didn't mean he had to do whatever they demanded!
Dewpaw cringed a little, and Cloudpaw couldn't help but feel smug.
~oOoOoOoOoOo~
Skipping four moons or so…
Cloudpaw padded over to the fresh-kill and picked a plump vole. He sat down near the stump in camp, where the apprentices ate, and took a bite. Then another. And some more. By then, the vole was nearly gone. Snowstorm approached him, looking thoughtful.
"Hi, Snowstorm," he mewed, swallowing some vole.
The white she-cat purred. "Hello, Cloudpaw. Eat quickly. I have some special news."
Cloudpaw's ears perked. "Really?" He gulped up the remains of the vole and looked up. "I'm done!"
Snowstorm let out an amused purr. "Well, you'll be assessed today, along with Dewpaw and Cloverpaw."
Cloudpaw's blue eyes stretched wide. "Really? That's great news! When?"
"At sunhigh. Hazelstep and I will assess all three of you. Smokestar will not be able to," Snowstorm replied. "So be ready when the time comes, alright? We'll meet at the thorn tunnel."
Cloudpaw dipped his head. "Thank you." He turned and raced over to find someone to brag to. "Hey, Eaglepaw, guess what? I'm being assessed today! Isn't it great?"
Eaglepaw nodded. "Yeah. So you'll be a warrior soon!"
"That's right," Cloudpaw purred proudly. "I better go find Feathercloud and tell her the great news."
~oOoOoOoOoOo~
"We'll be watching you. You go hunt, look for as much prey as you can," Hazestep directed.
Snowstorm nodded and continued, "We'll all meet back here at the Sky Oak at sunset, okay?"
Dewpaw nodded, catching Cloverpaw's eye. Their eyes widened with excitement. She glanced over at Cloudpaw, who looked even more psyched.
"Go!" Hazelstep yowled.
Dewpaw scrabbled to her paws and immediately scented the air. The fresh smell of mouse hit her, and she tried to pinpoint its location. It was directly in front of her, just past a small thicket. She crept forward, setting her paws down carefully and quietly. She slunk around the bramble thicket, then lashed out with a forepaw, snagging the mouse with her claws. She killed it quickly and buried it.
~oOoOoOoOoOo~
Dewpaw felt shifting from beside her. She was in the apprentices den, sleeping. She blinked and saw a dark figure sneaking out of the den. Cloverpaw! Oh, I have to find out what's been bothering her! She got up and quietly followed after her.
Cloverpaw was heading toward the RiverClan border, the stream. There was another cat there, a tom!
Dewpaw stifled a hiss and hid.
"Cloverpaw," a warm voice purred. "I'm glad you're here, I have to speak to you."
Cloverpaw purred too. She crossed the stream on the stepping stones and licked the tom's ear. "I missed you, Rainheart."
Rainheart? Why, he's old enough to be our father! What is Cloverpaw doing?
"Cloverpaw, listen to me. I was glad when you found out about me, but your siblings have a right to know. After all, they're my kits, too."
What?! Dewpaw hissed and leapt out. "Cloverpaw, what's going on?"
Cloverpaw seemed taken aback and angry. "Were you spying on me?"
"That's besides the point! What's going on?" Dewpaw glared at Rainheart.
The tom, who looked identical to Cloverpaw, hissed. "Dewpaw, listen to me! I'm your father!"
Dewpaw froze. "Wh-what?"
Cloverpaw loped to her sister's side, splashing through the stream. "It's true! Look at him! I look just like him! And you have his black pelt! And Cloudpaw has his grey pelt!"
Dewpaw hissed. "You're wrong, Thorntail is our father!"
Rainheart's eyes darkened. "He lied to you."
Dewpaw shook her head, taking a step back. "NO! He couldn't have!" But she already knew. It was true. She gulped. "H-how did this come to be?"
Rainheart's eyes were downcast. "I don't wish to speak of that. It brings me too much pain. But… you have another sister, Streampaw, of RiverClan."
Dewpaw sighed. Streampaw looked identical to Feathercloud, it had to be true! "Why would Feathercloud and Thorntail lie to us? Did they know?"
Rainheart lashed his tail. "Of course they did! Everyone in ThunderClan knows! Everyone in RiverCan knows!"
Dewpaw shivered. "How did this happen? Explain!"
Rainheart narrowed his eyes. "The only thing I can tell you is that your mother and I ran away. We formed… RainClan."
"RainClan?" Dewpaw repeated, tasting the word on her tongue. "How--how could they lie to us? This is horrible!"
Cloverpaw nodded. "I know, Dewpaw. Stay here, I'll go get Cloudpaw. He deserves to know this, too."
Dewpaw nodded, then glanced up at Rainheart uncertainly. Cloverpaw had already disappeared.
Her father stared back at her, his eyes warm. "Dewpaw," he mewed. "Don't blame your mother. Thorntail manipulated her. It's all his fault, not your mother's."
Dewpaw took a step back. "Is it?"
Rainheart nodded. "Yes."
"I… I just want to know what really happened. The whole story." Dewpaw glanced at her father pleadingly.
Rainheart shook his head and remained silent.
Soon, Cloverpaw and Cloudpaw appeared.
"What's going on?" Cloudpaw hissed.
"Meet your father."
Oh yeah!!! Nice cliffy, right? Now, press the rectangle that says submit review! And then go to my profile, and vote on my poll! After that, click on the link leading to my forum! AWESOME! If you do all three, I'll let you make a character in my story or give you a sneak peek into what'll happen next. DO IT!!!