This will be in Timberleafs point of view.
I couldn't believe that I let her leave, just like that. I'm pretty sure I saw a hint of fear in her eyes when she looked up at me. It just doesn't feel right without her trying to drag me around. I sighed and looked over at the apprentices den. I couldn't let her leave, but it's already been a while since she left. It just doesn't feel right without her.
I got up to go on a walk in the forest. She was an eight moon old cat and didn't know how to hunt when she got here. Didn't her parents teach her? I then remembered what her brother had said, 'There's an evil cat in every family.' Who could it be in their family? Could it be him? No. Quietpaw was calm around him. When he told the clan for her that she was leaving, she looked scared and sad. Shouldn't you be happy to go home? Shouldn't you be happy to see your family?
I shrugged. I decided that hunting would be the best to keep my mind off of things. I tasted the air and caught the scent of blood. Who's bleeding? I tried to follow the scent, but it seemed like it was everywhere. I sat down and tasted the air again. I caught a familiar scent in it. Quietpaw!
"Quietpaw!" I called, "Quietpaw, where are you?"
I saw her small shape stumble out of some bushes. She was covered in blood and looking at me with bleeding eyes. I stared at her, stunned for a moment, but quickly snapped into action.
"Quietpaw. I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have let you leave!" I meowed quickly.
She shook her head.
"I am sorry."
She just shook her head again and winced in pain.
"You don't want me to be sorry?"
She nodded.
"Quietpaw I will always be sorry that I let this happen to you." I walked over to her side to help her back to camp. She shook her head as tears started to form in her eyes, but she still walked with me.
I helped her back to camp as quickly as I could. When we got to camp, I heard a few gasps. Amberfeather,bathe medicine cat ran over to us right away. She took Quietpaw away from me and brought her to her den.
"I'm sorry." I whispered after her.
I silently made a vow to myself not to sleep until I found out she was okay. If anything happened to her, I would never forgive myself. I should have stopped her from leaving when I saw the fear in her eyes, but I didn't. I just stood there like an idiot. Who did that to her? Who helped her escape? I felt like crying as I heard her crying inside the den. P
Whoever had done this to her would be back. I just know it. Why her? Of all cats, why did she have to be the one to suffer?
I could hear Amberfeather talking to her.
"Did someone you know do this to you?
This is when I wish Quietpaw would talk. Then I would know the answer. I was hoping it was a no. It had to be a no. I knew it was yes though. Otherwise why would she have been scared? I just hope it wasn't her kin. That's the main thing I wanted to be a no.
"I'm sorry, but I have to ask this. Did Timberleaf do this to you?"
I knew her answer to that one. She wouldn't lie about that even if she were mad at me. She doesn't lie about things like that.
"Okay. I'm sorry I had to ask that, but I just want proof for the others. Where does it hurt the most?"
I nearly fell asleep after a while, but forced myself to stay awake. After what seemed like moons, Amberfeather came out.
"Good news everyone! Quietpaw will survive!"
I smiled. Yes! I'm glad that nothing bad happened to her. Well, nothing worse then what already has. I walked into the medicine den and saw Quietpaw, sound asleep. She looked like she was having a bad dream.
"Stop. Stop it, f-" her muttering in her sleep was cut off by her screaming.
Amberfeather came running in. I looked over at her.
"She's having a bad dream." I explained.
"Wake her up. It could stretch the serious wounds open if she keeps squirming like that." she instructed.
I started to softly shake Quietpaw. She was crying her sleep now and she kept crying as she woke up. I leaned closer to her.
"It's okay. It was just a dream." I whispered, repeatedly. Was it really just a dream?
She sobbed against my shoulder and I stood there feeling helpless. I knew she could talk now. I knew that she just chose not to. But why? Why didn't she want to talk? It was a mystery for me and I have a feeling that she wouldn't be telling me anytime soon. I didn't blame her. Whatever the reason was, I'm pretty sure it related to her coming back, covered in blood. Her own blood. Although I did wish for her to say something to me. Anything.
She eventually cried herself back to sleep and I laid her down. I laid down a fox length away from her. I watched her until I drifted to sleep.
I woke up the next morning to her whimpering in her sleep. I walked over and softly shook her. She opened her bright blue eyes and looked up at me. She smiled for the first time since she came back.
"Who did this to you?" I asked, I didn't want to, but I just had to know.
She looked away and I sat down by her.
"Quietpaw, did your brother do this?" she shook her head rapidly.
I figured that it wasn't her brother, but it wanted to make sure.
"Was it your kin?"
She stared up at me with pleading eyes, like she was begging me to drop it. I sighed and gave in. I didn't like it when she looked completely helpless. Like a lost kit. I love Quiet. She is the best cat ever. I didn't want her to be scared, or to feel helpless. I laid down and leaned my head against her. I softly cried into her fur. I'm pretty sure that pleading look meant yes.
She lightly hit me with her muzzle. I looked up and she smiled, like she was trying to tell me she was okay. But was she really?