Fawnpaw ducked and slashed out, fighting back. Featherfall avoided each blow cleanly and shot her paw out towards Fawnpaw's belly. Fawnpaw knew this trick; she called it the Snake. Her response? Fawnpaw dropped her head and bit on her mentor's paw, then rolled over. Featherfall let out a loud rrrrow of pain.
"You alright?" Fawnpaw asked. Featherfall winced and gingerly placed her paw on the ground.
"Yes, yes…ah, that was a great move, Fawnpaw. That's the first time a cat responded well to the Snake. Lets get back to camp."
The whole way back, Featherfall was gritting her teeth and keeping the weight off her hurt paw. Fawnpaw was starting to wonder if she had really hurt her, when suddenly Featherfall said;
"Did you know Silverwing is my sister?"
Fawnpaw stopped in her tracks. Her mind flew back to two moons ago, when she had seen Stonepaw. Her fur prickled. Her mind raced every time she pictured Stonepaw's glare, his hateful attacking stance. Silverwing had been his mentor.
"Silverwing?" Fawnpaw spluttered.
"Yes." Featherfall looked away, her eyes distant. "I belonged to CedarClan a very long time ago. When I was a kit, I saw some warriors attack a fox when I snuck out of camp. I ran back and told everyone. We found out that they had not been CedarClan warriors, they had been SnowClan warriors. Well, they went out to battle, and I went along."
"They LET you?!" Fawnpaw gasped in shock.
"Of course not! I snuck out with them. The SnowClan warriors saw me and…"
"They stole you." Fawnpaw was completely appalled. "Our Clan stole a kit."
"Well…yes," Featherfall mumbled. "But when I came to SnowClan, everyone was nicer and kind. I didn't really want to go back. Silverwing hates me for it."
"I'm…really sorry, Featherfall," Fawnpaw murmured. For some reason, she felt guilty.
"It wasn't your fault."
"Who stole you?"
Featherfall hestitated.
"…It was…Thickpelt and Flowerfur. They took me.
Fawnpaw's head swam. Flowerfur was so polite and funny. Thickpelt, a bit cranky, but a blast to be around. Why would they steal kits?
Featherfall sped up, clearly not wanting to speak more. Suddenly a longing feeling bloomed in Fawnpaw.
"Hey, I want to do some hunting. Can I go out alone?"
Featherfall didn't seemed surprised.
"Yes…just be careful." she seemed exhausted.
Fawnpaw left the hollow and padded out further into the forest, towards the CedarClan border.
"Hello."
"Eek!" Fawnpaw leaped upwards and looked around wildly. A gray tom strolled out of the bushes.
"S-stonepaw!" Fawnpaw gasped. Stonepaw tilted his head.
"What are you doing here?" his voice was calm, cool, and collected. Fawnpaw stared into his eyes. They weren't so hostile as last time.
"You're in my territory," Stonepaw said, raising an eyebrow. Fawnpaw jerked back to reality.
"Oh. Uh, sorry. I was just…wandering, I guess."
Stonepaw nodded, his eyes soft. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then he quickly turned and ran.
Fawnpaw coughed and curled over. Leafpaw had just kicked her in the gut-again- that night.
"FAWNPAW!" Leafpaw screeched, her head jerking back. Mousepaw and Juniperpaw shot up and looked around. Leafpaw was shaking, her nest torn to shreds.
"Leafpaw, it's okay. You're awake." Fawnpaw was exhausted. Leafpaw had been having these nightmares for a while now.
"It was really bad this time," Leafpaw whimpered. "I don't know…a cat, a white cat with black spots and amber eyes, he…"
Leafpaw moaned and slowly fell down. Panic lit up in Fawnpaw.
"Should I get Orangespots?" Juniperpaw asked, looking at Leafpaw in concern. Mousepaw just looked completely confused.
"Yes, get Orangespots, both of you," Fawnpaw ordered. They both took off, relieved to have something to do.
"Leafpaw, what happened?" Fawnpaw asked gently.
"There was…a white cat. He had a black stripe across his back and amber eyes. He was…he was just clawing at the trees, and each clawmark was stained with blood. Then he…he said something."
"What did he say?" Fawnpaw pressed. But Leafpaw had curled up into a little ball, whimpering, whispering nonsense.
"Leafpaw!" Fawnpaw poked her, panic rising again. Orangespots slid into the den.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Leafpaw. She had a really bad nightmare."
"The one with the white cat?"
"Yes, but this time he said something."
Leafpaw looked up, her eyes terrified. She took a deep breath, and her voice became ominous and low.
"A fawn can't ever, ever get too curious, or else its heart will lead it astray."