Chapter 7
I didn't feel tried and didn't want to be alone so I padded over to Risedrop and Oakstorm. They looked at me curiously. "I couldn't sleep. Can I stay here with you guys?" Oakstorm nodded and Rosedrop gave me a smile, which I returned. I was quiet for the rest of the night just like they were supposed to.
The clan seemed surprised to find me with Rosedrop and Oakstorm the next morning. Long ago we had lied down and I placed my head on Oakstorm's shoulder. I had cocked my head, asking him silently if that was all right, and he had nodded. It was more comfortable, lying like this. Oakstorm had broad shoulders and soft fur but I had never noticed.
I was concerned with the rest of the clan finding us that way. Would they make assumptions like my sisters had? I was never comfortable being gossiped about. Should I have moved? Did it matter?
Fishcreek walked up to us and said, "Your vigil's over. You guys better go get some rest. You must be tired." We all nodded, got up and headed off to our dens. I heard him send out the patrols as I slunk into my nest and wrapped my tail over my eyes. "Silverpaw!" Fishcreek yelled, annoyance radiating from every hair on his pelt. I groaned before getting up and exiting the den.
"Yes?" I asked as I came over to him.
Fishcreek meowed, "When I said you guys, I meant Oakstorm and Rosedrop. It's time for your training."
Training? I had stayed up all night and now I had training? "Fishcreek, I'm tired." I whined.
He narrowed his eyes angrily and spat, "You decided to stay up all night. You didn't have to but you did. No cat told you to, and now you must face the consequences of that choice."
I sighed and then said, "Yes I understand but it was all night! And it wouldn't hurt to skip one day."
He snapped at me. "Yes it would! That shows you how little you know! Now go tend to the elders. Changed their bedding, feed them and check them over for ticks. Then we'll have some hunting practice. Go!" he spat the last word so I headed out to the forest.
Ugh ugh ugh! I knew he gave me the job of tending to the elders as punishment for complaining. UGH! Why couldn't I keep my mouth shut? Why didn't I just go to sleep like a normal cat? I reached the moss place and started scooping up clawfuls of it. I gathered it under my chest and set off to camp.
I padded across to the elders' den. I didn't see Fernpaw. The lucky she-cat was probably out training with Smallflower after a restful night's sleep. I entered the den and saw the six elders, Furrypelt, Nighteye, Blackwhisker, Rainfur, Frostspot, and Bumblenose. I took all the old bedding out of their nests, tossed it aside for a moment, and placed the new moss in their nests. I didn't have enough so I had to go back and fetch more. On the way I dropped the old stuff in the dirtplace.
I finished with the moss and went to the medicine cats' den to get mouse bile. Shadepaw must have already heard what had happen. She had mouse bile for me. She wished me luck and I thanked her before heading out and walking back to the Elders' den. I went through each cat, one by one. When I found a tick, I parted the fur and dabbed mouse bile on it till it fell off. When I was all through I washed my paws off in the stream.
When I got back to camp, I was relieved to find the fresh kill pile had enough prey to feed all the elders. I grabbed a as much as I could carry, delivered them to the den, and went back for more.
Finally, finally I was done! But that meant my day was only half over. Sigh. I was so tired! The sooner I when to training the sooner I'd be able to go to my nest and sleep. When I spotted Fishcreek in the training hollow, I could tell he was still mad. "You should have been done a long time ago!" I don't know if he went on or not cause I stopped listening. Then he started to demonstrate something so I paid attention. It looked like we were working on fishing. Again. I suppressed a sigh.
We trained all afternoon. By the time we got back to camp, I was ready to snap. Fernpaw bounded up to me, but I ignored her and went straight to my nest. I could hear Shadepaw's low voice, so I guessed she must be telling her what happened. I gave it no more thought once I laid down. Sleep had taken hold of me, and it was just as powerful as that warrior who had tried to kill me. It was nice to experience a pleasant kind of power. It was just what I wanted.
The nest morning I felt so refreshed, almost like I was a new cat. I wasn't moody anymore and I could immediately tell Fishcreek was happier too. I was assigned to a border patrol with Smallflower, Sandclaw, Oakstream and Fernpaw. The borders were pretty quiet, except for an owl hooting. I slowed my pace to let Oalstorm catch up with me. He purred as he fell into step with me. "How are you?" he asked.
I smiled. Somehow, he only had to say three words to make me feel warm inside. "I'm great."
He nudged me affectionately. "Oakstorm, Silverpaw, keep up." Oakstorm nodded, but I felt irritated. Sandclaw was not leading the patrol so she had no right to tell us what to do. It wasn't like we were trailing behind. I waited for Oakstorm to mention this.
"Sorry Sandclaw." My heart sank as I watched him walk up to her and smile. She returned it, and he licked her ear. They both purred. He was looking at her in the same way he used to look at me. But why was I jealous? It was natural for Oakstorm to make more friends as he spent more time with the warriors than he used to. But it seemed like he was passing me aside in favor of Sandclaw. Didn't our friendship mean something to him the same way it did me?
Their behavior made my heart sink all the way to my drooping tail. I trailed behind Fernpaw. She seemed to understand. She stayed close to me the whole patrol, pelt brushing pelt.