Chapter Two
Silence. The three cats barely breathed. Finally, the grey she-cat spoke. "Tawnypaw, did Nightpaw really agree with KillerClan? I find that hard to credit."
Tawnypaw sighed, golden fur shining in the morning light. "Look, Ashpaw, I know this is hard for you to accept, but I speak the truth."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ashpaw growled, indignant.
"Oh, nothing," replied Fishpaw and Tawnypaw together, though they were stifling giggles.
"Well, have fun hunting by yourselves today, guys!"
The white apprentice, Fishpaw, scowled. "Oh, come on, Ashpaw! Can't you take a joke?"
"Besides, you're the best hunter in CityClan!" Tawnypaw chirped.
Ashpaw rolled her yellow eyes and trotted away.
On her hunt, Ashpaw was heavily distracted. She missed four easy kills, and then let a pheasant get away from her!
When she came back empty-pawed, her peers were amazed.
"Even I caught something!" Fishpaw remarked. He was slower at catching mice or voles, but water creatures…well, that's another story.
Ashpaw shrugged. "Oh well. Wasn't much prey where I was," she lied.
Tawnypaw eyed her suspiciously. "Uh-huh. Sure."
"Hey, has Nightpaw come out of Purestar's den yet?" the grey she-cat questioned vaguely, ignoring her friend's comment.
"No," Fishpaw sighed. "But even I'm getting worried… Do you think Purestar killed him?"
Ashpaw glowered at him and cuffed him around the ear.
Can I please go now? I'm hungry, and I promised Ashpaw I'd hunt with her."
Purestar exhaled deeply through his nose. "Fine, but I want to speak with you again later. Deathwhisper, Nightpaw…Both of you, get some rest."
Nightpaw nodded, letting Deathwhisper go first so he could watch her.
As soon as he left, Ashpaw's grey face was stuck in his. First he had though it was Deathwhisper, but then he noticed the yellow eyes. He tried not to let the she-cat see his disappointment. "Yes? Are we still going hunting?"
"Just got back. Solo-hunt."
"Oh…Did you break your record?"
"Nope. Got nothing."
Surprise was etched on Nightpaw's face. "But you're CityClan's-!"
Ashpaw averted her gaze before Nightpaw saw the anger. "Shut up. Tawnypaw's already given me the speech."
"Are you…mad at me?" The tom asked in obvious confusion.
"Gee, I wonder," the she-apprentice blathered. "One of your best friends disappears for one night without explanation. The next day, he announces that a Clan, whom we already don't get along with, has been harboring rogues! And this is agreeing with one of the worst packs of liverless- What in HellClan are you grinning about!"
Nightpaw was indeed smiling, but when he didn't answer in the space of a second, the she-cat continued.
"-Liverless worms! And then, of course, he spends the night with the leader and his mentor, blowing off yours truly and making her have a cold night's sleep! Again!"
"Oh, right. About that…I have to talk with Purestar again tonight. You'll have another 'cold night', Ashpaw." Nightpaw smirked at Ashpaw. What he hadn't expected to happen was Ashpaw's yellow eyes filling with tears.