Brambleberry's Path

Chapter 25:

Petalfur looked up at Hawkwing as she set down a rabbit at her paws. The pale ginger she-cat purred a thank you and bent her head to take a bite. But before she could sink her teeth into the fresh-kill, coughs racked her body. Hawkwing flinched and stared at her with sad emerald orbs. She turned to Birdpaw, who looked almost as if she was going to cry.

"I'm going to go talk to Brightface. If you need anything from me, just come get me, ok?" She mewed softly before padding out of the den. Brambleberry padded over to her and her emerald gaze hardened.

"Look, I'm sorry about what I said to you yesterday." Brambleberry mewed softly. Hawkwing stared at him with cold emerald orbs.

"I don't want to hear anything about what happened yesterday. Not right now, when there are other things to worry about. So please, don't bring it up. It's better left alone for now." She mewed before stepping around him and padding towards the nursery. Their pelts brushed for a fleeting second before Hawkwing flinched away and walked away quickly.

Brambleberry sighed and watched Hawkwing walk away before he turned towards the medicine cat den. He took a deep breath and padded after the brown she-cat. When he poked his head into the nursery, he saw Brightface staring down at her two kits as they slept.

"How long until they're apprenticed?" Hawkwing asked, staring at Pebblekit intently. His small white and brown flecked pelt rose and fell with each breath he took. Her emerald eyes shone and Brightface purred at her.

"You really want him as your apprentice, don't you?" She asked with amusement. Hawkwing looked up at her and purred.

"How could you tell?" She asked. Brightface rolled her sapphire eyes and prodded her friend with her paw gently.

"You're as clear as the water in the lake." She mewed. Hawkwing stuck out her tongue at her friend and stared down at the small sleeping kits with adoration.

Brightface looked over to see Brambleberry watching them with amber eyes and glared at him, making the dark tabby back out of the den and pad away. He padded out of camp to go hunting, passing Blazecloud on the way. The ginger and white patched tom had a pigeon in his jaws and was taking it towards the nursery. Brambleberry stopped and stared after him with narrowed eyes.

Hawkwing poked her head out and said something to him before both cats disappeared into the nursery. The dark tabby warrior glared at the nursery and growled before storming off into the forest to hunt.

Hopefully that would calm him down.