Chapter 14

"Wow! The forest is so… so awesome!" Cloudkit squeaked. "Can we see the river and the training hollow and the boundaries?"

I laughed, "Whoa slow down. I said I'd take you for a walk, not a tour. What do you want to see the most?"

She didn't hesitate. "The river!" she yelled. I nodded and set off for the water, Cloudkit bounding behind me.

When the river was in sight, she raced ahead of me. And jumped into the river! No! I raced down the slope and plunged into the water after her. She coughed out river water and whimpered, "Silverpaw… help." She sounded… like she had given up. I swam faster. Her head disappeared from sight. I dived underwater in a desperate scramble to find her and get her out of the water.

I crawled out of the river, Cloudkit dangling from my jaws like a piece of fresh-kill. I placed her gently in a bed of ferns and looked at her. No scratches and she looked ok. Her eyes were closed but I could see her chest going up and down, so she was definitely breathing. I stayed beside her for a few minutes, deliberating if I should bring her back like this. She opened her eyes slowly.

"Silve- Silverpaw?" She meowed weakly. I nodded. She smiled at me saying, "You saved me. Thanks." I nodded again, and groomed her fur, cleaning it of river water and warming her up. She sat up and shakily helped me. She slowly regained her composure, though she wasn't the happy bouncy kit I knew and started loving.

"You'll be ok, just make sure not to rush blindly into things. And never go out alone." She nodded earnestly. So I continued. "That's how I lost Mosskit. She jumped into the river, just like you had. Fernpaw went in after her I was told. I ran back to camp to get warriors to help us. But we were too late, and we almost lost Fernpaw too. But Webpelt pulled her out."

She looked at me thoughtfully. "I never knew what happened to Mosskit. No one would tell us, Graymist said she didn't want to talk about." I knew this. The whole clan grieved over Mosskit. I gave her a lick and she looked a bit better.

"Come on, you're ok, right?" I asked. She nodded eagerly. I offered to show her how to fish. She cheered up all the way to her happy normal self. We walked back down to the river at a normal pace. I settled myself in front of the river, and Cloudkit sat close to me.

I explained it was important to sit back so her shadow wouldn't hit the water, but close enough so she could easily scoop out the fish. Then I showed her how to get the fish out of the water. "Speed is essential." I told her. She wanted to give it a try, but I said, "No it's getting late and we've had enough excitement today." I led her back to camp.

Graymist was at the Fresh-kill pile with her mate and kits. Cloudkit ran up to her and she covered her daughter with licks. I followed behind. Graymist paused in her grooming to say, "Thank you Silverpaw."

I nodded, "Goodnight." As I headed for my nest I heard Icekit and Thrushkit pestering Cloudkit about the forest. I purred until I saw Sandclaw staring at with scorn and jealousy. Understanding hit me like the light from the sun.

But I would talk to her tomorrow. I slunk off to my nest. I would fix this thing tomorrow with Sandclaw. Fernpaw entered the den before I could drift into sleep. "Hey. How was the walk with Cloudkit?"

I smiled and said, "Great! She sure has a lot of energy! I showed her the river."

She nodded and sank into her nest. "See you in the morning." She yawned.

I nodded. She drifted into sleep quickly but I didn't fall asleep until moonhigh.

The next morning I woke up first and was waiting in the clearing for Sandclaw I decided to start off as friendly as possible. Sandclaw emerged from the warrior's Rosedrop, Oakstorm, Smallflower, Splashspot, Wetfoot, Reedpelt, Frostwhisker and Rockshade.

Smallflower began dividing up the cats into patrols. Meanwhile, Sandclaw said, "Let's go working on your hunting skills." I nodded and together we walked toward the training hollow.

On the way, I spoke, "Sandclaw? Why don't you like me? I mean just cause Oakstorm and I were friends dosen't mean I'm a threat to you anymore. He dosen't even like me anymore."

She sighed, "I'm sorry I've been so mean to you. I was just jealous that you and Cloudkit were getting along so great. I mean I wanted to have a relationship like that with my sister's kits. And you have one without working at it, or even wanting it in the first place. But I realize my behavior isn't helping anything. So I'll be better."

I nodded, surprised at her change of heart. But it wasn't shocking to hear that my idea from last night had been correct. She surprised me even more by saying, "Oakstorm dosen't hate you, but he thought I didn't like you so he followed my lead. Plus the way you couldn't let go of him made him a bit upset." I understood that. I felt an unexpected stab of pain. I still missed him so much.

"I think we can get along nicely now, the three of us." She said, and I nodded and smiled. Deep down though, I knew that wouldn't work.

When we reached the hollow, she showed me the best way to catch a pigeon. "You have to use both speed and stealth. Keep low to the ground while you stalk it and once you get close enough, run and pounce." I nodded, and tried it out for myself. It wasn't as natural as catching fish, but after a few tries I got the hang of it. "Now why don't you go see if you can catch one?" I nodded again and headed deeper into the forest.

I liked how different Sandclaw was, like a whole new cat! I knew training wouldn't be so tough from now on. But Oakstorm…he would still be a problem. I had tried to be happy for him but it wasn't working.

Focus! I told myself, You're hunting! I forced Oakstorm from my mind and looked around, scenting the air for any clue to where the pigeons were. I followed a scent trail there was one digging up a worm by the river. Remembering my lesson I dropped into a crouch. Slowly I padded up to it, and was close enough to jump. I raised my leg to leap when the creature looked around. I froze.

But it continued its search for food, unaware it was about to become a meal. I ran a few steps and lunged. I had grabbed it by the wind. It started pecking at me nose, trying to get me to let go. I wasn't having that. It tried to fly away but I gave it a swipe and it fell to my feet, dead. Thanks, StarClan! I thought. I picked up the bird, and Sandclaw stepped out of the ferns before I could decide that to do. "Great job, Silverpaw."

I meowed around the prey, "Thanks." She led the way back to camp.

I set the bird on the pile. Smallflower came up to me and said, "Do you mind checking on the elders? Going over them for ticks and feeding them?" I nodded and padded to the den. I called a greeting before stepping in. Furrypelt and Nightwhisker sleeping, and Nighteye, Frostspot, Bumblenose, Rainfur, and Blackwhisker were talking.

"I was wondering you guys were hungry." I asked. They all meowed yes, so I vanished again. I saw Fernpaw dragging a huge clump of moss in. I nodded hello to her and picked out some prey from the pile.

Then I went to help Fernpaw with the moss. She was very grateful. Together we made new nest for all seven of them. Furrypelt and Nightwhisker were grumpy when we first woke them up but cheered up when we announced they were getting a new nest. Fernpaw hauled the old moss to the Dirtplace while I went over them for ticks. Fernpaw went with me to the river to wash up and them we did some fishing.

When we got back, laden with fish, the clan was assembled for a meeting. Fernpaw and I quickly deposited our prey and sat beside Rosedrop, Shinewhisker, and Shadepaw. "Tonight is the Gathering. I have chosen Oakstorm, Rosedrop, Shinewhisker, Webpelt, Spashspot, Wetfoot, Rockshade, Smallflower, Fernpaw, and Silverpaw to come. Also Bumblenose, Blackwhisker, and Nighteye." Oh boy! I had completely forgotten about the Gathering! And it would be Fernpaw's first one, and Rosedrop's first one as a warrior! This was going to be great!