Finally! I finished the cover! It was so frustrating because the B in Border kept getting cut off. I tried at least four times before I got it right. To celebrate, here's chapter 9.
CHAPTER 9
Cherrynose still shuddered, even a half moon later. She had seen dead cats before, but she had never watched a cat die.
Now she was afraid to leave the camp, not even to train Amberpaw. Knowing her fears, Molewhisker suggested hunting in the middle of the territory so that no clan would be near.
Whenever a patrol left, Cherrynose would get nervous, especially if someone she knew well was on it. She would go behind the warriors' den where there was a small pit of pebbles. She'd move one for each cat, and if she moved one without moving any others, this cat would be back safely.
Molewhisker had been on patrol the day before. Cherrynose had saved his pebble for last. She had managed to get the pebble over without moving others, but it was difficult because she was shaking so much.
Cherrynose jumped. She listened hard as Graystripe organized a patrol of Mousewhisker, Thornclaw, Dustpelt, Lilypaw, and Seedpaw to go to the ShadowClan border.
Mousewhisker stood up. "Don't do the pebble thing again, Cherrynose." he whispered.
Cherrynose watched him leave. Mousewhisker paused, then looked back.
"We'll all be back home safely. I promise."
As soon as the patrol left, Cherrynose slid behind the warriors' den. She stared at the pebbles for a few moments, then moved one for Thornclaw. She pulled it out of the pit.
She got Dustpelt's out easily. She was slightly nervous as she moved the ones for the apprentices. She got Lilypaw's out without moving any others, and had a little trouble with Seedpaw's. But everyone would return safely.
Cherrynose shook with fear and stared down at the pebbles. Which one would she move for Mousewhisker?
She chose one close to the edge of the pit. As she pushed it slowly, her paw slipped. Three other pebbles moved.
Cherrynose gulped. She pushed all the pebbles back in.
Mousewhisker will be fine! Pebbles don't decide things!
She sat by the half-rock and glanced anxiously at the entrance.
Dovewing and Bumblestripe were sharing a vole. Dovewing sighed.
"What am I going to do when our kits come?" she swiftly licked her chest fur a few times, then glanced back up. "I've never had kits before, and I'm really nervous."
Bumblestripe licked her neck fur. "Everything will be fine, I promise."
Dovewing nodded reluctantly. "I plan to move to the nursery tonight."
"I'll bring you fresh-kill every day." Bumblestripe promised.
Dovewing disappeared into the warriors' den to get her nest. Cherrynose watched her.
Oh, she's cheating! She's not building another nest!
She approached Bumblestripe. "Congratulations." she mewed.
"Thanks," Bumblestripe sighed. "I told her everything would be fine, but I'm just as nervous as she is."
Cherrynose heard pawsteps. She dashed to the camp entrance. The patrol had returned.
Mousewhisker came last. He was limping on his gray forepaw.
"What happened?" Cherrynose gasped.
"Relax. It's just a thorn!"
Cherrynose sighed with relief.
Cherrynose waited until Mousewhisker's paw had been treated. Mousewhisker purred with amusement.
"What going on, here?"
"Your pebble moved other pebbles."
"Are you telling me you did the pebble thing again? You must stop!" Mousewhisker laughed. "The pebbles didn't cause me to get a thorn in my paw. That would have happened even if you hadn't moved any other pebbles."
"I won't do the pebble thing again. At least I'll try not to." Cherrynose promised.
...
Fight your OCD, Cherrynose!
Someone, please help her get over her worries with a review!