Chapter 5
Shadowpaw sat quietly, the days in the medicine den rolling by like slugs in the summer.
Suddenly, three cats burst in, bustling with excitement.
"You can come out, though you can't come on regular expeditions yet." Honeypaw's pelt stood on end. She was ready to burst.
Flarepaw nodded. "Yeah, you can play mossball to exercise your body!"
Another cat, one Shadowpaw never really talked to, stood back coolly, staying quiet.
"Yeah. I'll be on your team." Shrewpaw shook out his pale brown tabby pelt.
He was a thick and long furred tom with icy blue eyes, with a very pale, creamy brown pelt, with deep, dark brown stripes, and a white underbelly, under-tail, tail-tip, chest, under-muzzle, and white paws.
"He's the strongest, and since you're kinda weak-" Honeypaw was cut off by a snickering scoff from Shadowpaw.
"I'm small, I know, but I can play mossball as good as any swift WindClan cat!" she stamped her forepaw down hard as she stood up, a challenge gleaming in her eye.
Shrewpaw leaned forward. "Oh really?" he smirked.
"Really." she growled playfully. This tom actually gave her a challenge.
'Fresh from the nursery; I remember these games a little more clearly than this apprentice.' her mind sparked, and she stalked beside him.
Flarepaw and Honeypaw were exchanging surprised glances, but shrugged and padded after them.
Tearing a wad of moss from the side of the medicine den, Flarepaw rolled it up a bit, then smacked it towards Honeypaw.
Soon enough, the cats were enjoying themselves, tossing the ball back and forth to their teams.
"Runt! Look out!" Shrewpaw called to Shadowpaw.
Turning, she ducked just in time as Honeypaw sent the moss ball hurtling for her face.
It exploded with a loud thud against the stone wall of the medicine den, dirt and moss leaving a splatter mark on the side.
"Nice game." Honeypaw huffed, and Flarepaw nodded.
"Yeah, it was fun! Looks like you guys have to go." Shadowpaw breathed, indicating Squirrelflight and Dovewing waiting at the entrance to the camp.
"Oh, yeah! Hunting." Flarepaw flexed her claws, then looked over to Shadowpaw wistfully. "I wish you could come." she added, her eyes gleaming sorrowfully for her friend.
"Hey, we just spent ages playing mossball. You go and do your duty." she shook out her ruffled pelt, now running her tongue through the tangled furs.
"Yeah, see you!" Honeypaw and Flarepaw bounded away quickly.
Shadowpaw walked in, her side hurting, but not in a completely bad way. She felt alive again!
A chuckle came from the corner of the den. "Enjoy the game?"
Turning, Shadowpaw saw Shrewpaw standing there quietly.
"Oh, yes! It was great fun ... you make quite the opponent." she admitted shyly. She found it hard to talk with this tom.
Tilting his head as if acknowledging her remark, he murmured, "Not so bad yourself ... runt."
She padded into her nest, and felt the bedding was new. "Thank you, Moonpaw ..." she mumbled quietly.
Their game must have provided the future medicine cat the time to do such a helpful thing.
"What, can't change your own bedding?" Shrewpaw scoffed, yet she could hear the joking tone in his voice.
"At least I can watch my own head." she retorted.
"Yeah, with me calling your name."
"Oh, you'll miss me that badly?"
"No, just reassuring you I'm here."
She couldn't come up with a reply, mainly because his words shocked her, no matter how sarcastic his voice became.
Rolling her eyes, she rolled over, and laid down, closing her eyes.
She heard a gentle laugh, and he prodded her in the side, signaling his departure.
"See you later, runt." he purred in a friendly manner, padding out.
"Whatever ... furball." she purred back, the darkness at the corner of her eyes signaling the sun was going down.
She dreamt of everything wonderful that night.