Chapter 15
(My gosh, 15 chapters? That makes this story half way done, give-or-take. It doesn't feel like it's that close.)
Bluepaw and Pearlshine walked along Fallenclan's territory in silence. Pearlshine was the first to break it. "We haven't been getting along very well have we, Bluepaw?"
Really? I never would've guessed. Bluepaw thought sarcastically. She wasn't in the mood to deal with that problem though. She just wanted to get on with hunting so she could meet the loner again. She'd found out since their first meet that her name was Fieldwind.
"No. We haven't." Bluepaw replied flatly.
Pearlshine sighed. "It's my fault. I haven't been a very good mentor."
Bluepaw froze mid-step. "What?" She turned towards Pearlshine.
Pearlshine sat down facing Bluepaw. "I'm sorry Bluepaw. I'd like to start over."
Bluepaw tried not to look away, it would suggest she was hiding something. But you are hiding something. She thought. And here Pearlshine was, apologizing to her. "No, it's my fault." Bluepaw replied. "I'm sorry too."
"So, we're good now?" Pearlshine wanted to know.
Bluepaw couldn't' help but feel a little annoyed about how fast that moment had ended. "Yeah. We're good." She said, hiding any annoyance. "Now come on, I have to beat you at hunting."
"Beat me?" Pearlshine questioned. She chuckled. "Just because you've been doing better at hunting, doesn't mean you're better than me."
"Yes it does." Bluepaw argued, turning to give a half glare at Pearlshine.
"It's a challenge then?"
"Of course. Let's split up. And sunset we'll see who has more prey." Bluepaw suggested.
Pearlshine grinned. "It's on." She ran away, disappearing.
Bluepaw smiled proudly. She'd gotten rid of Pearlshine, now she could go look for Fieldwind. She walked to the border at the end of the clan's territory and lay down. "Bluepaw?"
Bluepaw lifted her head. "Fieldwind, that you?" She called out.
Fieldwind stepped out of the shadow of a building. "No it's Death Trap, of course it's Fieldwind." She joked.
It had been a joke, but Bluepaw still recoiled at the mention of Death Trap. "Don't say that name."
"Okay, okay sorry." Fieldwind apologized. "I keep forgetting how much you cats fear her."
Bluepaw bristled. "Hate her, it's not fear."
Fieldwind nodded. "Then you're very brave. I'd be scared." She looked away.
"Really?" Bluepaw asked in interest.
"A loner all on her own meeting up with a killer like Death Trap? Of course I'd be scared."
Bluepaw nodded thoughtfully. "You talk about being alone a lot, why don't you join a clan?" Namely this clan. Bluepaw thought. If Fieldwind joined a clan of course she'd join Fallenclan, it didn't need to be added.
Fieldwind shook her head. "I just don't think it's for me. I couldn't commit."
"Yeah . . . I guess I could see that. . ." Bluepaw said. She wasn't sure if she really could, but any cat who couldn't commit would make a bad clan mate.
Fieldwind chuckled. "Well, now it's my turn to ask you a question." She grew serious suddenly. "Do you like living in a clan? Is there anything about it you don't like?"
Fieldwind had given Bluepaw an honest answer, so she'd return the favor. She bit her lip in thought. "I like clans . . . they're a good idea." She sighed. "But they're not perfect. Everyone's always underestimating me. Even my mentor underestimated me! That's how I met you actually."
"Oh that's awful!" Fieldwind cried.
Bluepaw nodded. "It sucks." She agreed.
"You think any of cats feel like this?" She asked.
Bluepaw blinked. She hadn't thought of that before. "Maybe." She admitted. "Emberpaw from Stormclan had to become a medicine cat, and I bet she could've been a warrior. And Moonstar told Blueblaze he couldn't be deputy anymore, and made Dragonflame the deputy instead. She used to be a traitor you know." Fieldwind made a face at the mention of Dragonflame, but it passed so fast Bluepaw couldn't figure out what it had been about. "So yeah, I guess other cats feel that way."
"It makes you wonder, if every clan cat has the best intentions." Fieldwind said slowly, apparently thinking of it on the spot. "Especially the leaders." Bluepaw opened her mouth to object but Fieldwind hurried on. "I'm sure Fallenstar is a good leader, but the leaders seem to be making bad decisions. Stormstar made this Emberpaw and medicine cat, Moonstar got rid of a perfectly good deputy, and even Fallenstar put you with a mentor who doesn't believe in you."
Bluepaw stopped and sat down, her fur falling down. Fieldwind was right. "Fox dung!" Bluepaw hissed. "We should do something about this."
"Maybe . . . you could talk to some of the cats not happy with how things are right now." Fieldwind suggested. "And together, we and they could over throw the worst of the leaders."
Bluepaw smiled slowly. "That's brilliant!" She shouted eagerly.
"The only problem is, you'll have to talk to them, not me. You know about them more than I, I might mess something up." Fieldwind explained, looking nervous.
Bluepaw beamed. "Don't worry Fieldwind. I'll tell them all, I can do it!"
(Yeah Emberpaw is Emberheart now, but Bluepaw wouldn't know that.)
