𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑆ℎ𝑎𝑑𝑜𝑤𝐻𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟

Chapter 2

     Eclipse rolled over, flinging Solar's wing off her. She and her sisters were getting bigger, and the nursery-den was feeling much more crowded now that two litters were four years old and one was five.

     StarFlower had claimed another nest in the den, to give her Drolgonets more space to move in their own nest. SunnyHeart and Breezy had already moved out of the den.

Solar, FeatherCloud, and Eclipse got to their paws, and slipped out of the den. FeatherCloud looked to Storm, eating a falcon by the prey hollow, and rushed over to her father.

Eclipse watched as Solar followed FeatherCloud, and the two showed Storm the battle moves they'd picked up here and there.

He watched them, a bit of pride filling his gaze. Eclipse wished Storm would look at her like that.

She sighed, and padded over to the prey hollow. She grabbed a rabbit, and sat next to her father, her wing brushing his. He glared at her, and shifted away from her. Eclipse growled softly.

Why does he have to hate me?

She then stalked off to her shady spot. Reed stepped out of the nursery-den, and stretched. His tail flicked into the air, and he reached his wings upwards as far as they'd go. Then he came over to Eclipse, and sat at her side.

"Good morning," he yawned.

"Morning," Eclipse muttered, her pelt feeling hot as his wing rested against hers.

Eclipse stared down at her rabbit, not feeling hungry anymore.

"Want some?" She asked quietly.

Reed's eyes lit with hunger. "Yes, please!"

He ate the rest of the rabbit, and scratched behind his ear.

"So" he said, his eyes lighting with mischief. "Don't you think Solar and SkyChaser would make great mates?"

Eclipse stared at him. "Uh... Yeah, I guess..."

"Everyone thinks so! They're totally meant for each other," he said, looking over to a spot near the nursery-den.

Eclipse followed his gaze, and saw that Solar was chatting with SkyChaser. Her tail was wagging slightly, and she was laughing a lot.

SkyChaser was making jokes, and teasing her lightly. Eclipse could tell her sister had a crush on him.

I suppose they do look like they're meant for each other. Although, we're not allowed to have mates until we're six years old.

Reed nudged Eclipse's side with his wing.

"Hey," he said. "You look like you think no one will ever look at you like SkyChaser does Solar!"

Eclipse whipped her head toward him. That was exactly what she was thinking.

Reed started laughing, and he flicked Eclipse's wing with his tail.

Eclipse let a small smile cross her face. Then Sapphire came over, and she sat at Eclipse's other side. The three started chatting, and challenging each other. Eclipse enjoyed the warm sunlight on her fur, and Reed and sapphire's wings brushing hers.

    Eclipse was dozing in a patch of soft grass, her pelt warmed by the sun. Sapphire was still at her side, and Eclipse was laying with her head stretched across Sapphire's shoulders. Sapphire was resting her wing over Eclipse.

Eclipse felt a light touch on her muzzle, and opened her eyes to find her mother standing over her.

"Come," she said quietly. "Alpha wants to speak with us."