Chapter 18

"Unsettled."

3/28/17 - 3/29/17

Littlefalcon

The gorge is unnaturally silent. Only the scuffle of paw steps can be heard as ThunderClan tries to return to a false sense of normalcy. Driftcloud is incredibly upset with Snowpaw's disappearance, and Thrushwing left the camp to search for Nightpaw and comes back with nothing.

I don't understand. Why did they leave?

Littlefalcon has been stuck in this train of thought since last night. Ivyheart was distraught over Nightpaw. Rosefoot was determined to leave the lake all together in order to, as she said, "hunt down Snowpaw and ground her paws into dirt until she gets some sense".

"Littlefalcon!"

The black and white tom jumps to Darkstar's voice directly in his ear.

"For StarClan's sake! I've been calling your name for two minutes!"

Littlefalcon replies meekly. "Sorry, Darkstar…"

Darkstar beckons his nephew underneath the Highledge where no cat can hear them.

"I understand your concern for Nightpaw, but we can't afford to show that in front of the Clan."

Littlefalcon lashes his tail. "I can't help having emotions! I'm not as nonchalant as you were when Goldflame left!"

Darkstar narrows his bicolor eyes at the mention of his daughter. "You seem to forget your age. I was ready to tear the forest down to find her."

"Why didn't you?" At this point, Littlefalcon is tempted to leave and find Nightpaw and Snowpaw and bring them back.

Darkstar said, "Because I needed to put my Clan first, and I made you deputy for a reason. One day you'll have to put your Clan's needs above your own and trust StarClan to watch over Nightpaw and Snowpaw."

Littlefalcon couldn't imagine doing that. Tigerflame wasn't an absent father, but his duties as deputy often left Littlefalcon and Finchblaze out from seeing him as kits, even when Tigerflame found time to visit them in the nursery.

Littlefalcon made time to see Ivyheart and their kits. Nightpaw was like him, small, and he did everything he did to make sure she didn't feel the stigma he faced as a kit and apprentice.

What if she's hurt and stuck out there? What if she thinks I overlooked her or abandoned her? What if-!

"Stop it." Darkstar said gruffly. "Don't play the 'what if' game. It will drive you crazy."

Littlefalcon swallows and gives a weary sigh. "Okay. I'll try."

Mosspaw

ShadowClan is relatively normal after yesterday. It was almost as if Owlpaw's absence meant little to the Clan, like a tick that was removed. Even Patchflower doesn't look distressed over her missing apprentice.

Stuck up snob. Mosspaw had the misfortune of being on dawn patrol with Patchflower in the lead and her, Ploverfoot, Flowerpetal, and Dewpaw.

Patchflower nears the Greenleaf Twolegplace and suddenly growls. Mosspaw sees a RiverClan patrol glaring at them. Olivestar is leading with Larkflight, Darkwater, Willowfall and Bouldertooth.

Olivestar flicks her ears with a slight smirk. "What seems to be the problem?"

"None of your business!" Patchflower spat.

No, shut up you stupid she-cat! Mosspaw glares at Patchflower for picking a fight.

Bouldertooth snickers. "Ooh. I think we hurt their feelings."

Patchflower looks ready to fight, and Mosspaw looks at Ploverfoot with pleading eyes. Ploverfoot immediately pads up and shoulders Patchflower back while gazing at Olivestar's patrol coolly.

"Yes, we have feelings. Unfortunately, I don't expect you heartless fish eaters to understand."

Ploverfoot signals the patrol to turn around and leave with the jeering RiverClan patrol behind them. Mosspaw sighs with relief. Although Patchflower scowls at Ploverfoot.

"Why did you do that?! You made us look weak!"

Ploverfoot glares at Patchflower evenly. "No, I was protecting what little dignity we had left."

"Are you saying ShadowClan is weak?" Flowerpetal demands. Dewpaw growling beside her. Ploverfoot rolls her eyes - Mosspaw rolls her eyes simultaneously.

"I'm thinking of Heatherstar!" She said. "She's already under stress because of her illness. The last thing she needs is to hear that her lead patroller is too hot headed to be trusted with rival Clans!"

"Ploverfoot is right." Mosspaw put in. Patchflower glares at her. "Oh be quiet! You're an apprentice, so stay out of warrior business!"

Ploverfoot immediately stands in front of Mosspaw with burning rage in her eyes.

"Don't you dare speak to my apprentice like that… I will report this to Heatherstar and Rabbitstep, you can be sure of that."

Mosspaw picks out a chubby frog when Dewpaw rudely sits next to her.

"Why's your mentor a coward?"

Mosspaw purposely bites the frog and chews very, very slowly to avoid saying something she might regret.

"Could you talk some sense into Ploverfoot to not be Owlpaw cowardly?"

Mosspaw glares at him. Dewpaw smirks victoriously. "I knew that would get your attention."

Mosspaw swallows her frog and Dewpaw takes her half eaten prey.

"Listen." Dewpaw said. "Try convincing Ploverfoot that we don't need another Owlpaw in this Clan."

Mosspaw glares at him and says, "I'm sure the last thing we also need are reckless toad brains like you and Patchflower."

Mosspaw turns her back on the arrogant dark grey tom and heads for the apprentices den. She sees Splashpelt watching her through slitted eyes, and turn her attention to Marshfoot.

"I saw Dewpaw." Mosspaw looks at Swiftpaw lying in his nest. "You did good putting that idiot in his place."

Mosspaw nods. "It's never too hard to make him back off."

"I know. It's just he's been bugging you a lot since Owlpaw…"

Swiftpaw suddenly trails off, Mosspaw nuzzles her brother.

"No, it's fine."

"I just don't understand why he would leave? He's always been scared of leaving the den, how can he leave the lake all together?"

Mosspaw blinks sympathetically. "I don't understand it either."

Swiftpaw flicks his ear. "Maybe Kestrelwing knows. Him and Owlpaw are always hanging around like mentor and apprentice."

"Don't bother." Mosspaw and Swiftpaw look and see Splashpelt glancing at them.

"Owlpaw believes he is old enough to make his own decisions. Why make a fuss about it?"

Mosspaw bushes her fur. "How can you say that about your own kit?! Aren't you worried?"

Splashpelt shrugs. "I will once he starts behaving like a ShadowClan cat. Until then he can do whatever he wants."

Splashpelt pads away, leaving Mosspaw seething. She was used to her mother being indifferent toward them, but this is becoming cold hearted, even for her.

I will never treat my future kits like you do, Splashpelt. Never.

Bearpaw

Bearpaw feels the current push him around. He tightens his teeth on the tuna as he fights it, swimming for the shore. He pops his head up and makes it to shore where Silversnow is waiting, and drops the small tuna on the ground.

"Bearpaw, this is not the usual size of fish you would get."

Bearpaw coughs. "The water was in my eyes, my ears, it was all-."

"Bearpaw." Silversnow said sternly. "We are River-Clan. Water is our closest friend, you need to learn how to use the river to your advantage."

Bearpaw hears Silversnow mutter as she turns around,

"Beechpaw knew what to do on his first swim…"

Bearpaw wrinkles his nose. "Well, I'm not Beechpaw."

Silversnow blinks and looks at him. "Did you say something?"

"... Nothing."

Bearpaw pads into the camp where it was silent. He looks at cats standing around looking at his left shoulder with horror.

"Is that for me?"

Bearpaw looks at a light grey tabby's green eyes, and realized with a terrified jolt that it was Daisypelt. In his surprise, Bearpaw drops the small tuna on the ground.

Daisypelt smiles mockingly. "Why thank you. I'd prefer to have Beechpaw give it to me, though. He didn't drop my favorite fish on the ground."

Daisypelt's limbs shake wildly as she bends down, slowly and steadily. She licks the tuna up into her mouth and lifts herself up. Daisypelt lifts herself up, groaning, and stands up.

She gives him a teasing smile and turns around, padding slowly as each paw step becomes an unsteady movement like she was caught in an earth-shake. Daisypelt vanishes inside the elder's den.

RiverClan is silent and whispering with their own shocked opinions.

"Did you see her leave?"

"How long has this been going on?!"

"Will she kill us in our sleep?"

"I thought the Paws of Nature took away her ability to move!"

"RiverClan, RiverClan!" Olivestar spoke up. Bearpaw can see that she, too, is also in shock. "We must calm down. I don't know how this happened but I promise to get to the bottom of this."

"But Daisypelt can walk again!" Birchfang snaps. "Do you know how dangerous that is?!"

"What happened to the curse? The Paws of Nature swore that she won't be able to move again!" Bouldertooth put in.

Olivestar said, "I'm planning on going to ThunderClan and asking the four of them myself if I have to, but not right now."

"Why not?!" The demand is met with a barrage of questions. Silversnow glares at the crowd. "Silence!"

"In case you haven't noticed, we're not on friendly terms with ShadowClan, and if we are caught passing through it will only lead to more conflict."

Olivestar nods approvingly to Silversnow before looking at the crowd.

"As for Daisypelt, has she gone after any of you directly?"

RiverClan fell silent, Olivestar flicks her tail. "Then there's nothing wrong about it. However, I want a guard with Daisypelt every time she wants to leave camp, and it must be someone who won't be tempted to kill her."

Bearpaw can already sense that his Clanmates were reluctant to accept Daisypelt's recovery. He and Beechpaw were told many scary stories about her, and were always relieved that Daisypelt couldn't do any harm.

Now she's mobile again.

This is just straight up weird.

Softpaw

Softpaw went into the nursery to check on Violetbloom and her kits, who were born close to midnight when her brother left. The dark silver she cat rests with two other she-kits huddled close to her belly, one bright gold, the other a pure silver tabby, Echokit and Brightkit.

Goldentail's kits are yet to be born, but Hazelheart assures her that she will deliver by the beginning of next week. Softpaw steps out and sees Hawkflight standing outside.

"Can I see them?" He asks her. Softpaw moves aside, and allows Hawkflight to enter the nursery. While Hawkflight wants nothing do with Violetbloom, he shows an effort to make time to see his two daughters.

Softpaw blinks the morning sun as WindClan begins to start with their activities. She notices Duskcloud hasn't appeared from the fox burrow, and Grassclaw is being too rude about waking her up.

"Stop, stop!" Softpaw scampers to him with a flicked tail. "Yelling is hardly going to make her get up. Let me do it."

"Whatever you say, half-Clan."

Softpaw narrows her eyes. "Keep it up. Just remember that I learn my herbs and poisons everyday."

Grassclaw suddenly becomes fearful of her and quietly pads away. Softpaw wishes she didn't threaten him, but she is begging to feel the pressure Spiderpaw faced.

Spiderpaw became the center of ridicule after their father was discovered, the teasing the rumors, and now with him gone, they go after the next thing: Softpaw.

Softpaw isn't as short tempered as her brother, but she refuses to allow the mocking reach to where it becomes unbearable and uses her knowledge as a medicine cat to "warn" others.

Softpaw looks inside the fox burrow. Duskcloud's fur coat is untidy and appears to be tired.

"Mom?"

"... It's my fault." Duskcloud whispers. "He left because he couldn't live with knowing who his father is… knowing he's half-ThunderClan. If I had just waited, or never told him at all, Spiderpaw will still be here."

Softpaw's heart broke as she squeezes herself into the burrow.

"It's not your fault."

Duskcloud looks at Softpaw as if she just notices her. "Softpaw… Please forgive me! I never meant to hurt you or your brother!"

"I already did."

Duskcloud sobs quietly. Softpaw sees Duskcloud's ribs showing, and gets up.

"I'll get you something to eat."

The pale grey and white she-cat left the fox burrow and approaches the fresh kill pile-

"A beautiful day without any half-bloods! Oh, I forgot about you."

Softpaw prays for StarClan to give her strength. Cheetahpaw smirks as she tries to get in her way to the food.

"How does it feel to have a traitor for a brother?"

Softpaw looks at Cheetahpaw. "Why are you obsessed with Spiderpaw? Do you like him?"

Cheetahpaw bristles with fury. "No! I hate that half-Clan traitor! He was never a true WindClan cat and I was right! Did anyone listen to me? No! I won't be surprised if you left us, too!"

Softpaw frowns. She wondered if she and Spiderpaw left, Cheetahpaw would have nothing to complain about.

"Cheetahpaw," she asks the patched she-cat. "Do you know the difference between a juniper berry and a deathberry?"

Cheetahpaw snorts. "Of course not! I'm not a medicine cat!"

"... Good, because I am."

Cheetahpaw's smirks fell from her muzzle, and her eyes widen with horror. Softpaw grabs a rabbit and pads to Duskcloud's burrow with the satisfaction of making Cheetahpaw back off.

If only Spiderpaw could see this now.