Chapter 12
"That smells like trouble." Galestar growled. Shadowpaw sniffed at a hole in the forest floor, it smelled rank and the apprentice curled his tongue at its stench.
"Smells like badger." Weaselclaw growled, Rainpaw sniffed at the hole and sneezed.
"What's a badger?" Shadowpaw mewed to Galestar.
"They are lumbering cannibals with black and white fur." Mewed Weaselclaw, "One swipe of their claws and it could mean death."
Shadowpaw shuttered and looked back into the den by Rainpaw's side. Galestar twitched his whiskers in thought and looked over his shoulder. His amber eyes held a spark of a significant idea. "Shadowpaw…you and Rainpaw run into the camp and fetch Flowertail and Wolfeye."
Rainpaw sighed in ignorance and shoved Shadowpaw forward, her blue eyes looked miserable as they walked together. Shadowpaw didn't like walking in silence, so he cleared his throat and thought of something to say.
"So…Rainpaw," Shadowpaw mewed. "Do you like being an apprentice?"
Rainpaw snarled and jumped in front of Shadowpaw's path, her claws glistened and her tail lashed back and forth. Shadowpaw flattened his ears and backed away when the silver tabby crept towards him.
"Listen cat!" She growled. "Don't try to small talk me. You know as well as I do, that I don't like you, even when we were kits. So walk in silence or walk alone, okay?"
Shadowpaw didn't know what to say…Rainpaw was always the quiet type. Her sudden outburst of anger had shocked him. The black cat nodded and watched as Rainpaw rolled her eyes and padded away from him. Shadowpaw did as told and padded quietly behind her until they reached the SkyClan camp.
"You find Flowertail…" Rainpaw mewed. "I'll fetch Wolfeye."
Shadowpaw padded past her and headed for the warrior's den. Hazestorm and Shortfoot were sleeping soundly in the den, but Flowertail was nowhere in the den. Shadowpaw quietly trotted into the medicine den where Whistleleaf was soaking moss in a pool of water.
"Hello Shadowpaw!" Whistleleaf mewed cheerfully.
"Have you seen Flowertail?" Shadowpaw mewed suddenly. Whistleleaf frowned slightly at Shadowpaw's sudden question.
"I think she went into the nursery to play with Seedfur's kits." Whistleleaf meowed.
"Thanks Whistleleaf." Shadowpaw called as he trotted for the nursery.
As soon as Shadowpaw entered, Palekit perked up and bounded over towards him. His amber eyes looked up at him with complete interest and undivided attention. Shadowpaw didn't have time to talk with Palekit so he averted his eyes to Flowertail who was chatting with Seedfur.
"Galestar needs you, Flowertail." Shadowpaw mewed to the pretty tortoishell.
"Can I come too?" Palekit mewed with a raised tail. His pale ginger coat was kit fluffy, and only being a moon old, he and his sisters were beginning to run around the camp.
"No, Palekit…just Flowertail and I." Shadowpaw mewed.
"Aww, come on!" his sister, Mothkit testified.
"I'll be back." Flowertail called to Seedfur. Shadowpaw left the nursery before any more of Palekit's sisters tried to talk to him. Rainpaw and Wolfeye were waiting for the two near the exit of the camp when they finally left the nursery.
"It took you long enough." Hissed Rainpaw to Shadowpaw, the black tom ignored her and the four cats padded into the forest until they approached Galestar and Weaselclaw. Wolfeye exchanged a sweet rub with Weaselclaw across her cheek, the two purring and murmuring sweet words to each other.
"We have a problem." Galestar mewed. "It appears a badger has taken a like to our territory."
"Does it have cubs?" Flowertail mewed.
"I don't smell milk." Wolfeye sniffed the air.
"What if there are more of them?" Rainpaw questioned.
"I'm not sure…" Weaselclaw sniffed the hole. "It smells stale."
Galestar frowned and flicked his tail for the cats to head back to camp. "Fallowfur and I will discuss this in my den…but be open for suggestions on how to drive them out."
The cats began to leave. Shadowpaw looked back over his shoulder; his neck fur bristled in fear when badgers eyes glowed downwind in the shadows from the cats' spot.