Chapter 4
Starrypaw crept up to the bush with a mixture of fear and excitement. Whoever was in there was trespassing, but she couldn't help but feel a bit thrilled at the thought of a fight.
Suddenly, the stranger leapt out, her eyes wide with anxiety.
"Who are you?" Starrypaw asked, staying tense and on alert. "Why have you come into ThunderClan territory?"
She didn't quite know the scents of the other Clans, but she could tell this was not one of them. It was a she-cat, and she smelled of twolegs. Her coat was a sleek black color that showed good health, but Starrypaw saw a sorrow shadowed in her deep blue eyes. Upon studying Starrypaw closer, she seemed to lighten.
"Is it you?"
Starrypaw turned her head in confusion, and took a pawstep back. "What?"
The she-cat's head and tail drooped. "You don't know me."
Starrypaw shook her head. "No."
"I need you, my..." she broke off and approached Starrypaw slowly.
Starrypaw shrank back, but did not run. There seemed to be no reason to fear this cat. She sniffed Starrypaw up and down. Now that she was closer, Starrypaw realized there was a familiar scent about her.
"You smell strongly of the forest cats now," the she-cat said, not hiding the sorrow in her voice.
"Now? What do you mean?"
She gazed deep into Starrypaw's eyes one last time before stepping back.
"I'll come back for you," she said.
"What?"
The cat turned and streaked off through the forest.
"Wait!" Starrypaw began to run after her. The forest started to fade away, and a thick mist enveloped her until she could see nothing.
Starrypaw jerked awake. The morning sunlight shone through the top of the den, and she could hear some activity outside. She sat up to see that the apprentice's den wasn't entirely empty. Still curled up in the corner were Whitepaw and Spiderpaw, but they stirred as more sounds outside began to wake them.
It was a few days after Squirrelpaw's fall into the mysterious hole, and the hole had continued to grow, causing Firestar to warn the Clan to keep away a good distance as it collapsed farther. Nevertheless, so far their apprentice work had been highly successful since they'd had about a week of training. Starrypaw and Squirrelpaw were able to hunt even better now, and Leafpaw seemed happy with Cinderpelt and her path so far.
It was also the first time Starrypaw had ever had a dream so vivid and strange. She stretched and then licked her speckled pelt down to look more presentable to Graystripe as she replayed her dream in her mind. The strange black she-cat had smelled like twolegs, but she'd known Starrypaw. Suddenly, Starrypaw stopped midlick. She realized that the recognizable scent had also been in her first strange dream as a kit. Could the black cat have been the anguished, yowling cat she'd had dreams about before?
A sound at the entrance disturbed her thoughts and Mousefur slipped into the den.
"Wake up, Whitepaw and Spiderpaw. The dawn patrol and hunting patrol have already returned and everything. Starrypaw, Graystripe's waiting for you as well," she commanded in a slightly harsh tone before slipping back out into the sun.
Starrypaw slipped out after her and padded over to where Graystripe was sharing tongues with Brackenfur.
"Finally up?" he asked upon seeing her.
Starrypaw lowered her head sheepishly. "Sorry."
"Well, eat and get ready to head to the training hollow."
Starrypaw nodded respectively and trotted to the fresh kill pile. She was honestly grateful that the hunting patrol had already returned so that she could go ahead and eat, but it didn't help her feel any less guilty. Especially with the way Squirrelpaw watched her with a smirk on her face. Starrypaw was positive Squirrelpaw had gone on the dawn patrol. At least I'm not the only one who slept in, Starrypaw thought as she grabbed a finch from the pile.
After a satisfying meal, Starrypaw licked the remnants off of her paws and lips and then headed to find Graystripe. The gray tabby warrior was sitting patiently by the gorse tunnel, and Starrypaw was relieved to see that he didn't look angry or upset.
Her training for that day involved more fighting skills, and Graystripe gave her one called the leap-and-hold, which was simpler as well as good for a cat her size.
"When you're smaller than an opponent, this one is helpful. You simply spring onto their back with claws unsheathed, putting you in a position to inflict more severe wounds," Graystripe explained. "For training you're obviously going to keep your claws sheathed."
Starrypaw got a few chances, and it was honestly challenging to stay on Graystripe's back. She was sure that if her claws were unsheathed on a real opponent it would be simpler to hold on.
Graystripe and Starrypaw headed back to camp after sunhigh, and her spirits were lifted a bit at having learned another move. When Starrypaw entered the gorse tunnel however and padded into the camp, a pang of envy shot through her as she saw Whitepaw and Shrewpaw sharing tongues. Suddenly, she shook her head and looked away.
Come on! Starrypaw thought while staring at her paws. Why should I be upset about that!? Honestly!
"Everything okay, Starrypaw?" a voice asked suddenly.
Starrypaw jumped and turned to see Spiderpaw and Mousefur slipping into the camp.
"Yes fine, how was training?"
"Great! Mousefur says I'll be a great ThunderClan warrior, and it's a definite change from the way she spoke this morning."
Starrypaw brushed her tail in a gesture of admiration and approval across Spiderpaw's shoulder. She knew how hard it was to earn praise from Mousefur. As Spiderpaw bounded after her, Starrypaw thought about how long Mousefur had been here. She knew that Mousefur had been a warrior before Firestar had even come to the forest, and she thought maybe she would join the elders soon. Then, Starrypaw felt a stab of regret and guilt. Mousefur was an excellent warrior, and though she was nearing older age, that didn't make her any less helpful to the Clan.
Starrypaw stretched out in a patch of shade and cleaned herself up while watching the bustling camp. Whitepaw had finished sharing tongues with Shrewpaw (to Starrypaw's relief) and she and Squirrelpaw were tussling by the apprentice's den to practice their fighting skills; Firestar and Sandstorm shared tongues by the highrock, and many other cats relaxed together in the heat of greenleaf. Despite the threat of little water supply, greenleaf was a peaceful, easy season.
After her cleaning session, Starrypaw thought about her strange dreams that Cinderpelt wouldn't explain to her. Maybe Cinderpelt didn't completely understand, but that didn't mean that she couldn't say what she thought about it to Starrypaw. Was there something that Cinderpelt knew that Starrypaw didn't? Maybe, there was something the whole camp knew...
"Starrypaw? What's wrong?"
Starrypaw looked up to see Leafpaw approaching her. The gentle, empathetic look in her eyes soothed her. She considered telling Leafpaw about her dreams. She was a medicine cat in training after all, but something told Starrypaw not to say anything yet.
"Well, nothing's really wrong," she began, "it was just a bit upsetting to see Shrewpaw with Whitepaw is all. I don't know, it's silly."
Leafpaw splayed out beside her. "I understand, and it's not silly. You two have grown pretty close."
Starrypaw felt relieved by Leafpaw's words, and she hadn't lied technically, she just didn't tell Leafpaw everything that was wrong.
"Well, thank you."
Leafpaw gave Starrypaw a gentle lick on the ear. "Feelings can be difficult. At least that's what Cinderpelt says when I'm frustrated or upset. There's nothing wrong with having feelings. All you have to do is use StarClan as your guide."
Starrypaw gave a brisk nod, and her eyes met Leafpaw's.
"You're a great sister you know," she said.
Starrypaw thought she saw a flicker of sadness cross Leafpaw's eye for a split second, but she blinked and it was gone. Maybe there was something the whole camp knew. Had her suspicions been correct? Starrypaw pushed the thought away. They leaned against eachother until Graystripe flicked his tail, letting Starrypaw know to go to him.
"Thanks again, Leafpaw!" she called behind her as she bounded across the clearing.
Even if it had been a few sentences, Leafpaw's words had been calming, and a bit of hope of figuring out her dreams lay with Starrypaw as she stood respectfully in front of Graystripe.
"We're sending out hunting patrols, and you and I are going," he explained quickly. "The forest is plentiful as we near the height of greenleaf and we'll need our strength for leaf fall," he added to the gathering patrol.
Rainwhisker, Dustpelt, and Squirrelpaw clumped up behind them.
Of course, Squirrelpaw is coming as well, Starrypaw thought as she rolled her eyes.
The fresh kill pile was already extremely plentiful, and having more was always helpful, but Starrypaw wondered how different it would be when they had little rain. Sandstorm had told them many stories of painfully dry greenleafs. Not too many greenleafs ago, but when Bluestar had still ruled ThunderClan, a fire had swept through and destroyed the Camp. Starrypaw shuddered a bit at the thought, even though she'd never seen fire herself.
"Ready?" Graystripe called out.
A muttered reply spread out through the group, and then they set off through the gorse tunnel and into the forest.
As they slowed, Starrypaw scented squirrel. She peered through a bush to see one leaping about, burying things. Dropping into a hunting crouch, Starrypaw struggled to remember what to do when hunting squirrels.
They run away up trees, she thought, so what do I do again?
The squirrel hadn't noticed her yet, so Starrypaw thought she had more time to think. Suddenly, a bird fluttered away nearby, and a frustrated grunt could be heard from one of her clanmates. Someone must've lost a bird.
Unfortunatley, the squirrel heard the commotion and shot through a bush towards a tree. Starrypaw darted out after it and ran through the bush as well. Unexpectedly, a sharp pain shot through Starrypaw's front right paw, and she stopped, watching the squirrel escape up the tree with an angry growl.
Starrypaw sat and studied her paw to see a thorn driven into her pad. She must have picked it up when running through the bush. Luckily it wasn't too deep, but she wasn't sure how to remove it.
A feeling that she was being watched suddenly overcame her, and she scented the air around her as her fur bristled on her neck. Starrypaw placed her injured paw on the ground, careful not to put weight on it. She didn't want anyone to think she couldn't defend herself for any reason.
Starrypaw was positive someone was there, but the wind must've been taking the scent away from her. She turned to look behind her, and then something slammed into her.
Starrypaw yowled as she was rolled, and she scratched blindly, hoping to stop her attacker. Finally, she came to a stop with the unknown force pinning her down. When she looked up, she let out a sigh in half relief and half frustration. Standing over top of her with a triumphant look on her face was Squirrelpaw.
"Squirrelpaw!" she exclaimed. "What on earth are you doing!?"
"Tracking you," she replied smugly. "I did pretty well didn't I?"
Starrypaw squirmed under her weight. "Just let me up."
Squirrelpaw stepped back lightly and sat with a dignified air about her. As Starrypaw stood slowly, trying not to place her right forepaw on the ground, Squirrelpaw began licking her paw and drawing it over her ear.
The bushes rustled and the rest of the hunting patrol burst out looking alert.
"What happened?" Graystripe demanded. "We heard a yowl."
"Squirrelpaw attacked me," Starrypaw answered. She shook herself down, staggering a bit without a fourth paw on the ground.
"Pfft, I did not! You make it seem like I was trying to kill you!" Squirrelpaw shot back.
"Alright enough, Squirrelpaw." Dustpelt stepped forwards. "What really happened?"
"I tracked her, you know, for practice, and then I pounced on her after she lost a squirrel and when she wasn't looking. You know for prac.." Squirrelpaw broke off at the sharp look she received from Dustpelt.
"This isn't stalking practice, Squirrelpaw! We're on a hunting patrol!"
Squirrelpaw looked uneasily at her paws. Against her will, Starrypaw suddenly felt bad for her.
Graystripe turned his attention to Starrypaw. "Are you hurt?" he asked, noticing how Starrypaw held her paw above the ground.
Starrypaw lowered her head and ears in embarrassment. "Well, I stepped on a thorn when chasing the squirrel."
"Oh," Squirrelpaw said, "I didn't notice that. Uh..sorry, Starrypaw."
Starrypaw eyes widened. She'd never received an apology from Squirrelpaw before. She wondered if it was just for show in front of her mentor or if she really meant it, but it was impossible to tell by the way Squirrelpaw acted.
"Alright now," Graystripe began, taking charge as the good deputy he was, "let's continue hunting-if there's even any prey left after all that commotion. Starrypaw, you can head back to camp and get that thorn removed."
All four cats nodded respectfully, and Starrypaw limped towards the camp slowly. She wondered how twolegs could manage on two legs when she could hardly manage to limp on three.
Finally, she slipped into the gorse tunnel carefully. Ferncloud lay splayed out in front of the nursery, her large stomach rising and falling in the sun. Starrypaw had nearly forgotten that Ferncloud was expecting kits again.
"Starrypaw." It was Shrewpaw. "What's happened to your leg?"
Starrypaw's mood lifted upon seeing Shrewpaw, and she limped up to him. "It's fine, I just have a thorn in my paw."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Shrewpaw gave Starrypaw a quick lick that sent a warm feeling down her spine. "I'll help you to Cinderpelt's den."
Shrewpaw's pelt brushed Starrypaw's as they walked side by side to the medicine cat's den. Finally, they reached the den, and Starrypaw lay down heavily with a sigh of relief. She was exhausted from limping.
Shrewpaw slipped inside for a moment before emerging with Cinderpelt and Leafpaw right behind him.
"A thorn huh?" Cinderpelt said, crouching beside Starrypaw's right paw. She studied it for a moment. "Hmm, it doesn't look too bad."
"It's not too deep, thankfully," Starrypaw added.
"Leafpaw," Cinderpelt said without turning away from Starrypaw's wound, "watch carefully. This might hurt a bit, Starrypaw. Just keep still."
Cinderpelt opened her mouth and ever so carefully and gingerly grasped the end of the thorn in her teeth. She pulled backwards, and the thorn slipped out painfully. Starrypaw tensed, but then relaxed at the relief that followed.
"Now lick it clean. You need to do it a good bit to avoid infection, but not enough that it's raw. If it starts to hurt worse, come back to me."
Starrypaw ran her tongue over her paw a few times until it no longer bled. The wound still stung, but it was much better now. Cinderpelt applied an herb that soothed it even more. When Starrypaw stood, she found little pain when putting weight on her paw.
"Thanks, Cinderpelt!" she exclaimed as she walked slowly towards the same patch of shade she'd been lying in that sunhigh.
Shrewpaw followed, and when Starrypaw stretched out comfortably on the cool, thick grass, he lay beside her, leaning up against her. Starrypaw couldn't help the purr that escaped her throat, but Shrewpaw did the same, and they shared tongues together. The feeling of Shrewpaw's tongue rasping over her fur was one of the most comforting things Starrypaw had ever felt, almost as if she were a kit back in the nursery with her sisters and her mother. Starrypaw wished this peaceful time could last forever.
Hey guys! I don't know how many people are reading this story (probably not a lot lol), but I have gotten a good bit of followers on my account that I didn't expect, so thanks to everyone who has given me a chance!
Anyway, I just wanted to say that the story might seem slow for right now, but it will definitely pick up soon. Especially next chapter. So stay tuned!