Sorry for not updating in a while family problems got in the way! So here's the next chappie! It's so short it should be illegal, but I hope you enjoy nonetheless! I'm working on the next chapter right now, so keep reading! ^-^
Chapter 7
Larkpaw
"I'm here for you…" Briarpaw's words rung in Larkpaw's ears louder than any battle cry she had heard in her life, and hit her harder than crashing into a tree. She was sure she heard him, but could she believe him?
She couldn't say anything as shock overwhelmed her. She licked his cheek in silent thanks and walked away on trembling paws. She hadn't had any cat try to reassure her that way since Olivefur joined StarClan's ranks. Even then, they were lying to her face. They were her Clanmates, if they lied to her, then why in StarClan's name would a FireClan tom really mean it?
The thoughts whirled in her mind as her paws travelled a well-known path home full of strangers. They had all changed since Olivefur's untimely death, sadly her father the most. Larkpaw's vision blurred as the memory of Olivefur's murder and Rowanstar's abandonment played over and over again. If no cat could hear her heart breaking, then they were deaf and blind.
She hardly made it up the camp's large trunk walls and got inside. She completely ignored every cat that approached her, only dipping her head at Silversnow. She roughly brushed past Pinefoot and Jaypaw and ran straight down into the apprentices' den. Then she slowed down next to Heatherpaw's nest.
Maybe I can talk to her...she always knows what to do.
Larkpaw then curled up in her nest and squeezed her eyes shut, willing all her troubles away…
Lark-kit twitched her nose at the weird smelling leaves that sat before her father. Rowanstar wrinkled his nose and lapped up one.
"Oh, stop being a kit." Olivefur laughed and flicked her mate with her tail. He glared at her mockingly and lapped up the rest while staring at her. "Happy?" He rumbled and tackled into her.
"Hey! That's not fair!" Olivefur protested and batted him away.
"What was that? I believe we both know who the real kit here is now!" Rowanstar winked at Lark-kit. She purred happily. She loved her family.
They're the best any cat could ask for. She smiled as her mother and father both purred happily. Then they twined tails.
"Eww!" Whined Lark-kit as they laughed. She licked her paws uncomfortably.
"Don't worry about t Lark-kit. One day you'll find a tom you'll fall head over paws for. You just wait my little bird." Olivefur got up from where she was and walked over to her kit and licked her playfully.
"Toms are icky! They smell like mouse dung and are annoying..."
Larkpaw jolted awake in the dark. Toms are icky? …I was such an immature kit! Her thoughts drifted to Briarpaw; his blue eyes had actually shown with real concern for her. But why? He's just a friend like Jaypaw, nothing more.
She flicked her ears in annoyance as her heart told her otherwise. She knew she had to stop thinking about him and try to clear her mind. She decided to get out of her nest and padded silently past Heatherpaw and Fawnpaw out of the den and out into the moonlit filled camp. There were no other cats outside (the other Clans didn't have the skills or claws to climb up their camp, so no night guards were needed), which was fine with her.
She curled up in the moonlight and let her thoughts lift away under the stars as she drifted off into a light sleep.
Jaypaw
Jaypaw watched Larkpaw murmur in her sleep that "toms are icky". He lifted his head up from his nest and looked over to where hers was. Beside her nest were her closest friends Heatherpaw's and Fawnpaw's nests. He had no way getting to her without waking them up! He laid his head back down as he saw her move in her nest. He watched her pad silently out of her nest and past her friends without waking them.
How did she do that? He shook his head and followed her to the mouth of the den. She had curled up in the middle of the camp. Her red and brown fur shown like silver under the moonlight as her pelt rose and fell as she slept.
"Something's bothering her, isn't there?" Jaypaw jumped as Fawnpaw trotted up beside him. He nodded slowly. "I think there is, but she hasn't told me anything. She looks so sad all the time…"
He sighed in annoyance. "We're best friends! Or I thought we were..." He trailed, not sure what to think. They had always been close after Larkpaw's mother died.
"She'll come around. I know." Fawnpaw padded over to her sleeping friend and licked her flank then went back into the apprentice's den.
Jaypaw sat down at the mouth of the den. He wanted to be right next to Larkpaw but couldn't wake her. She looked so peaceful for the moment and didn't want to ruin that.
I would never try to ruin that. Ever.