Wolfpaw

I had been training as an apprentice for almost two moons now. Redpaw was amazing at battle training. He learnt the moves and performed them perfectly. Whereas, Grasstail said that I was more of a hunter. Skypaw had been acting strange, ever since he went to the StarStream. I had tried asking about it but he changed the subject. Probably medicine cat stuff.

"Wolfpaw, border patrol," Branchfur, the deputy, called.

"Coming," I yawned. I stood up and arched my back. I hurried out of the apprentices log to see Branchfur, Thunderstorm, Raincloud and Frostpelt waiting for me. As soon as I hurried over, they headed out of the camp.

We ran through the forest. I had to slow down to stay behind Branchfur, who was leading the patrol. It was fun! The wind going through my fur felt lovely. It had recently started getting hot.

Soon we slowed down. We had reached the BreezeClan border. Thunderstorm marked the first few markers. "Well well, look who it is," a voice said.

I spun around. It was Windflight and Falconwing. I groaned. At least they were on their territory. "Frostpelt can we keep going please?" I whispered. More loudly I said, "Sorry I am busy at the moment."

"We're not doing anything," Windflight said.

"I thought we were going for a walk," Falconwing said, "together."

"We were," Windflight said. They headed off.

"Why were they talking to you?" Frostpelt asked.

"I don't know," I replied. "They have a grudge against Grasstail and he's my mentor."

"Grasstail is a great young cat," Frostpelt acknowledged.

"You think," I muttered. Frostpelt must have heard me because when I looked up her eyes were shining with amusement.

We marked the rest of the border without any more problems. We headed back to camp. "Go find Grasstail," Frostpelt said, once we arrived back at camp.

I looked around. He wasn't in the warriors den. He wasn't eating. "Hey Graystar, have you seen Grasstail?" I asked Graystar, who was sharing tongues with Frostpelt in the shade.

"He was on the dawn patrol," Graystar responded.

"Did he go to the WaterClan border?" I asked.

"No, I sent him to the BreezeClan border," Graystar said, suspiciously.

"He wasn't there," I informed "Do you want me to go find him?"

Frostpelt nudged Graystar. He purred. "Sure."

I hurried out of camp. Where could he be?

I wandered around the forest for a while. I enjoyed the feeling of dirt and leaves under my paws. I preferred it. The hard smooth rocks at FourStones just felt different, strange. I listened to the birds singing their songs, high in the trees.

I came to the river. I crouched down and lapped at it. Once I had drunk my fill, a thought hit me. The hill!

Grasstail told me the other day, that he liked to sit on a hill in the shade and just think. I walked over to his hill. Sure enough, he was sitting under the tree, staring into space.

"Grasstail," I called, running up the hill.

He looked around wildly, and then he spotted me. "Why are you here?" he asked.

"I was worried about you," I replied.

"What! I can take care of myself, thank you very much," he said sourly.

"That's not what I meant," I whispered, looking at my paws. I looked back at Grasstail. He was looking at me, eyes shining with a strange emotion. "You heard that," I squeaked.

Grasstail nodded. "I know what you mean now," he said. "You like me."

"I do," I replied bravely. My pelt flushed hot with embarrassment.

"Well, I like you too," Grasstail said quickly.

"You do?" It was more a statement, than a question.

"I do," he replied. "You asked if I had any brothers or sisters, well I do. They are Windflight and Duckpelt, from BreezeClan."

"BreezeClan," I whispered. "I knew you had something to do with them."

"Anyway, I was born and raised in BreezeClan," Grasstail continued. "No one liked me, except for Owlstar. My littermates picked on me and did nasty things like pushing me in the river when I was drinking. So I ran away. Graystar found me hiding in his territory, so he took me in and gave me a place in his Clan." Grasstail looked at me expectantly.

"Your past doesn't matter Grasstail, what really matters is the present. So forget about BreezeClan, they are behind you. You are a loyal FlameClan cat."

"Wolfpaw, you are speaking like an elder," Grasstail replied, playfully.

"Yes I am," I said, in an old cranky voice.

"Hey Birdpaw and Sunpaw are having their final assessment tomorrow," Grasstail said, changing the subject.

"Have you seen how Redpaw moons over Sunpaw," I giggled.

"The way you used to moon over me," Grasstail replied.

I suddenly felt very self conscious, so I tackled Grasstail. He fell over, legs flailing. I stood on top of him. "I win," I proclaimed.

"Get off me, you big lump," Grasstail mewed, heaving me off.

We chatted throughout the day. "Look at the sunset," I said, pointing with my tail. The sun was setting over a distant hill, sending the final rays of sunlight streaming through the clouds.

"It's beautiful," Grasstail acknowledged. He moved closer to me. We watched the sunset, side by side.

"We had better get back to camp," Grasstail said.

"Let's hunt first," I suggested. "If we go back to camp empty-pawed, cats will start wondering."

Grasstail and I trotted off into the forest. His ears pricked and he crept off into the low bushes. I heard a squirrel digging a hole. I stalked to where it was and leaped, claws outstretched. I landed with my paw twisted. I yowled in pain. The squirrel darted up the tree.

Grasstail came crashing through the undergrowth. "Are you ok?" he asked.

"I twisted my paw," I replied.

"Can you walk?" Grasstail asked questioningly.

I put my paw on the ground. Pain shot up my leg. I winced. I shook my head.

"Here lean on me," Grasstail said standing beside me. "I'll get you back to camp."

"Thanks," I muttered, leaning on Grasstail. I limped back to camp. We walked in the thorn barrier. Curious glances were shot at us. "Wolfpaw! What happened?" Frostpelt screamed as she ran across the clearing to us.

"I twisted my paw trying to catch a squirrel," I explained quickly. "I can't walk."

"Off to the medicine den with you then," Frostpelt ordered.

Grasstail guided me to the medicine den. "What happened?" Skypaw asked, as we approached.

"Wolfpaw twisted her paw while hunting," Grasstail said.

"Put her here," Skypaw instructed. "She'll have to stay overnight." He ran into a small cave and came out with some herbs.

"Where is Splodgepelt?" Grasstail asked.

"Collecting herbs," Skypaw answered. To Wolfpaw he said, "Don't worry it's only a sprain. You'll be up and walking in a few days." He chewed some herbs up and spread them on Wolfpaw's paw.

"Thank you Skypaw," Wolfpaw said. "You are a wonderful medicine cat."

"I'll go get you something to eat," Grasstail said, leaving Skypaw and I alone.

"You and Grasstail, huh," Skypaw said, ice blue eyes shining. "I always knew."

"Have you seen how much Redpaw moons over Sunpaw?" I asked.

"I do not moon, she is a wonderful cat, Redpaw said, walking over. "I was coming to see if you're alright."

"I can't walk for a few days, but Skypaw says I'll be fine," I explained.

"Hey guys, since we're all here I need to tell you something," Skypaw whispered leaning closer. "The first time I went to the StarStream, a prophecy was given to me."

"A prophecy," I said, breathless.

"Yes, it was; the cat of the wolf, the cat of the fox and the cat of the meadow, will come together to bring back the Pride."

"You think it is us," I asked.

"I do, but sky has nothing to do with meadow so it's not me," Skypaw said sadly.

"The cat of the wolf must be Wolfpaw," Redpaw pointed out.

"The cat of the fox is Redpaw," Skypaw said, after a moment.

"Me?" he replied, surprised.

"What are you three talking about," Grasstail asked, coming over with a squirrel in his jaws.

"Nothing," Skypaw said quickly, shooting glances at me and Redpaw.

"I remember you used to do that as kits," Grasstail said. "Talk about something 'secret' and say you were doing nothing."

Skypaw, Redpaw and I looked at each other. We purred.

Hawktalon here,

A little WolfxGrass there :)