Chapter 17
"Let me help you with that, Seedfur." Shadowpaw mewed courteously. The Cream-colored queen hissed and battered the top of Shadowpaw's head with her claws, her kits backed away in fear... only Palekit stood by Shadowpaw's side. Shadowpaw staggered backwards and watched as the queens ushered her kits back into the nursery.
"That's what happens to murders!" Spat Mistyfern. Her amber eyes looked old and weary as she sat in her new den in the elder's den. After the death of Scar…she was never quite the same mentally.
"Good morning Mistyfern." Shadowpaw murmured sadly. "Do you need me to fetch anything for you?"
"Yeah," She growled, "My mate from StarClan!"
Shadowpaw sighed and watched as his mother's silver fur disappeared in the shade of the elder's den. Goldfur must've been asleep in the elders den, Shadowpaw had yet to see her amber eyes burn in the shade.
"Don't let Mistyfern get to you." The gentle voice of Airpaw mewed beside Shadowpaw. "She's just confused…and a bit crazy."
"Yeah, no kidding" Grumbled Shadowpaw, the two's pelts brushing as they walked.
"Who else could we help out?" Airpaw wondered aloud, her blue eyes scanning the camp. "Ooh, I know! We could see if Whistleleaf needs help with herbs."
"Herbs…really," Shadowpaw mewed sarcastically. Airpaw giggled and nudged Shadowpaw with her shoulder, the tom only smiling slightly at her playful gesture.
"It's better than nothing." She purred. Shadowpaw nodded and the two bounded over to Whistleleaf's den. The pretty she-cat was busy counting the amount of herbs in her storage to notice the two of them.
"Hi Whistleleaf," Airpaw chirped. The brown-and-white medicine cat jumped in fright but smoothed her fur when she realized it was just Airpaw. "Need any help?"
"As a matter of fact…" Whistleleaf disappeared for a heartbeat before returning with a bundle of marigold in her jaws, she laid them down in front of Shadowpaw and Airpaw. "I'm going to need you to collect me some more marigold. Can you do that?"
"Sure thing" Shadowpaw murmured, taking a flower in his jaws as a sample.
"Thank you." Purred Whistleleaf
Shadowpaw and Airpaw padded close to each other's side as they scaled the ravine with fast paws. Airpaw slipped a few times, but Shadowpaw was quick to her aid, helping her with a soft paw. Airpaw flattened her ears and blushed under her pelt was they continued to pad into the forest.
As Shadowpaw watched Airpaw pad through the forest with him, he felt guilty for not telling her that he may not see her in a moons time. The black tom noticed that he was staring and quickly looked away, focusing on following the scent of marigold.
"I found some!" Airpaw called, snatching a bundle of marigold in her jaws. Shadowpaw reached down and grabbed a few, before that guilty feeling gnawed at his stomach again. Shadowpaw sighed and dropped the flowers.
"Shadow—" Airpaw questioned before Shadowpaw nuzzled the fur under her chin with his muzzle. The white she-cat was taken aback, her mouth gapped open in astonishment.
Shadowpaw back away and looked deep into Airpaw's eyes. The she-cat emitted waves of embarrassment off of her pelt, her blue eyes looking down at her paws. Shadowpaw lowered his head and wrapped his tail neatly over his paws.
"I have to tell you something." Shadowpaw mewed.
"W-What is it?" Airpaw whispered.
"I have one moon…" Shadowpaw murmured sadly. Airpaw tilted her head in confusion and widened her eyes. Shadowpaw looked up at her with waves of gloom beaming off of his pelt. "If I am not respected by then…I have to leave the camp."
"What…that's ridiculous! Who says?" Airpaw testified with a sad frown.
"Galestar…he says he won't allow myself to live like I have." Shadowpaw mewed.
"That's ridiculous!" Hissed Airpaw with a growl, her eyes turning sharp and icy as she paced in a tight circle, "If they have a problem with you, they can deal with me! I won't let Galestar do this."
"Airpaw…I'm sorry." Shadowpaw mewed again. "I've already taken the deal. I have to make this work…if I ever want to see you again."
Airpaw sighed and lowered her shoulders, a determined look growing on her face. The white she-cat leaned forward and pressed her cheek to Shadowpaw's. "If you leave…I'm coming with you." She whispered sweetly.
Shadowpaw opened his mouth to testify but a rustle in the bushes caught his attention. Airpaw and Shadowpaw swung their heads around with wide eyes; Rainpaw jumped back and flattened her ears in surprise.
"I'm so sorry!" She squealed. "Was I interrupting something? Oh—I should just go…"
"Rainpaw, it's not what you think!" Shadowpaw called after the silver tabby. Rainpaw stopped in her tracks and looked back over at the black tom, the white diamond on his chest glowed in the night air. Airpaw bounded over to her and licked her sister's shoulder. "What do you want?" Shadowpaw mewed; slightly embarrassed that Rainpaw had caught his nuzzling Airpaw.
"Galestar Is about to appoint Rabbitpaw and Cliffpaw as warriors…I thought you may have wanted to see this." She murmured, awkwardness waving off of her pelt.
"Sure thing, Rainpaw," Mewed Airpaw as if nothing had happened, Rainpaw ducked her head and left the scene in a flash. Airpaw purred and slowly walked over to Shadowpaw, her nose close to his.
"Let's go."