His breath was white, even inside the den. He shivered, pressing himself closer to his mother's dark gray fur.
Stout legs, blood-red and crossed with stripes, stood outside the den, among a whirl of white flakes.
"Can I see him?"
"No."
"I'm practically his father—"
"You are not his father." His mother let out a long, threatening hiss. She stood up, leaving him cold without her warmth.
"I'm sorry." The tom's mew was muffled as he brushed muzzles with her. "But I keep you and that thing fed—"
"That's enough, Redhawk." His mother's voice was cold. "Go."
The kit drank his scent. Pine tainted his fur, and the smell of another she-cat.
"I love you Smokefur." Redhawk's heart panicked, beating it's wings against his ribs. "Please..."
"Go."
Silence hung, then the crunch of paw steps signaled his departure.
His mother slipped back in, the smell of blood and prey in her jaws.
"Did you scent him?" The kit asked.
His mother looked at him, and he felt a familiar coldness creep into his spine. He loved his mother, but her green eyes glittered like frost; she looked like a hawk sizing its prey.
"I don't give a rat's tail what he does as long as he brings me prey." She settled down, and surrounded him with warmth once again. He kneaded her belly, suckling until milk streamed into his mouth. She gazed down at him with a mother's pride. "As long as you grow strong, my little one."
Nightpaw roused himself gently, and felt his dream fade away, the taste of milk still in his mouth.
How ironic. He grumbled to himself.
He never expected to see Redhawk again, maybe in his dreams but certainly not while patrolling. Anxiety over the encounter bit him sharply, as if badger teeth were closing on his neck.
If he recognized me and told the Clans who I am...
He shook his head, telling himself that he was safe. Looking around, he found his denmates quietly sleeping, their flanks rising and falling. Outside, slanting slabs of sunlight and a hot breeze greeted him.
He stalked toward the elder's den.
Olivenose never missed a chance to punish or get rid of him; the elders' care was his duty since day one. He dove into the fresh-kill pile and found the rat he had hunted during the night.
One fat rat should be enough for both of them.
He'd have to take prey to the queens afterward, and clean the bedding. He shrugged inwardly. He didn't mind taking care of the elders or the queens, he liked it. Olivenose would have to find something else if she wanted to make him miserable.
He ducked into the bramble den, and though the old tom had forgotten Nightpaw's harsh outburst during his apprentice ceremony, guilt swept over him when he gazed at Tangletail.
"Finally!" Silentwind rasped. "I swear this Clan's trying to starve me." He swiped his tongue appreciatively around his jaws as Nightpaw set down the rat.
"Nightkit," Tangletail croaked with delight and stood up to join them.
At least he remembered me.
"Don't let Silentwind finish that rat." The elder nuzzled him affectionately. "Have you eaten?"
Nightpaw sighed. "No. I can't until Birdsong and Willowsong get their fill. Any ticks or fleas?"
Both elders shook their heads.
"And the bedding's nice and soft." Silentwind said between mouthfuls. "StarClan forbid Softpaw will ever be in charge of my bedding again."
Nightpaw chuckled. "I'll come back by later. If Ryepaw brings you fresh-kill save some for me." He waved his tail, and crossed the clearing to the nursery, stopping by the fresh-kill pile on his way.
"Doing nests again?" Birdsong was the first to speak once he entered. "Olivenose must have her paws full with you." She was splayed on her side, lapping gently at her belly. Nightpaw scrunched his muzzle as he watched her. Was she getting fat?
"Don't pester him." Bearkit chastised, padding up to Nightpaw with a sympathetic smile. "Glad you came to visit, grumpy-bee."
"I can't believe you're still here, you overgrown kit." Nightpaw touched his nose to her ear. "You should be an apprentice by now."
Paws pattered outside the den, and Willowsong gasped dramatically as she entered. "Look who's here," She said. "And he comes well-groomed! Not like that Dogpaw. That kit was always messy."
Nightpaw scoffed. "And smelling like a badger's backside."
"You cheeky fox!" Birdsong guffawed.
With the four cats settling down, Nightpaw began to feel a smile creep on his face. The cats around him had never treated him as an outsider. He'd always belonged with them. His memory of seeing Redhawk began to loose its terror; nothing would change the fact that he was part of ShadowClan. Always.
The two queens and Bearkit offered to help him haul heaps of dried pine needle into the den. The sun rose, and the clearing began to fill with cats enjoying the heat of sun-high.
Emberstorm and Honeypool shared tongues in a patch of sunlight, while Ryepaw and Softpaw laughed and snickered from the top of a fir. They were probably watching twolegs fall from their white boats in the lake.
Dogpaw and Briarpaw were sprawled in the shade, waiting for their mentors, and soon as Briarpaw saw the black tom head out of the nursery, she bounded up to him with big blue eyes. "Nightpaw, want to come train with Dogpaw and I?"
Dogpaw hung back and scrabbled at the floor with his front claws, ducking his head in embarrassment.
"Fallowstripe and Ashcloud said we're learning how to deal with ThunderClan battle tactics." Briarpaw pleaded.
"That sounds... practical." Nightpaw said halfheartedly. "But at least I'll have something productive to do. Wait here until I get Olivenose."
Briarpaw's eyes lit up and Dogpaw shot up with excitement, but had the sense to keep quiet.
"Olivenose?" Nightpaw peered into the warrior's den. Olivenose's flank stretched with a deep breath as she woke up and Nightpaw felt his claws itch with irritation. "Wake up you lazy dormouse!" His temper was cut short. "Ashcloud and Fallowstripe are taking their apprentices to train, we should be there too."
"No," Olivenose glared at him. "You have to clean nests and search the elders for ticks."
"I already did."
"Fine!" Olivenose spat, dark green eyes glowing. "Then you can help Quillheart today. He needs an apprentice to help him carry herbs to WindClan."
Nightpaw felt his throat knot with anger. "Softpaw can do that."
Olivenose shook her head. "Ospreytuft is taking her on a patrol." Without waiting for Nightpaw's answer, she headed toward the medicine cat den, skipping lightly.
"I guess WindClan it is." Nightpaw muttered crossly.