The Clash of Stars Book 1: The Key

Chapter 11: Thornpaw

Thornpaw set down a small bundle of leaves, nodding to the cat laying in the nest in front of them. "Here's your herbs, Mothclaw," they said. "Marigold should help with your stiff joints. I know Ashrunner normally does this for you, so let me know if I've forgotten anything."

The ginger tabby elder lapped up the herbs, purring at Thornpaw. "They're fine," he replied, cheerful. "Where is Ashrunner, anyways? It seems she's left you all on your own today."

Thornpaw gave a small laugh. "I can manage, but she's been in Emberstar's den," they said. "Shadowtalon, too — she put Sandymoon in charge of patrols. I think they're discussing the Gathering."

Mothclaw raised a paw, prodding Thornpaw on the nose. "Chestnutmist told me all about that!" he exclaimed. Chestnutmist was another one of the elders, and the youngest of them, at that. Though, that still made her quite old. "The deputy going behind Gryphonstar's back like that! Is Gryphonstar mad, or where was she when the whole Clan was attacking us?"

Thornpaw sighed heavily. "I know," they agreed. "She seemed to want to make amends with us, though."

Mothclaw tucked his paws under him with a scowl. "Well, she'll need to do quite a lot for that to happen."

Thornpaw shook their head, pricking their ears as they heard pawsteps. As they looked up, they sighed. It wasn't Ashrunner — it was Wildpaw, looking dead on her feet and, to be frank, a bit upset.

"Are you alright?" Thornpaw asked after a beat.

"Fine," Wildpaw answered, "it's just that I was on the dawn patrol this morning, and then she left me to train with the other apprentices all day after that while she left to talk to Emberstar. Finchthorn just let me go."

Thornpaw suppressed a purr of amusement. The first day of her training with Shadowtalon, the deputy had seemed ... overwhelmed, to put it in a light way, with Wildpaw's excitement and energy. It seemed she finally found a method of managing it.

"Well, that's good," Thornpaw replied. "You should go to your nest and have a lie-down while Shadowtalon's still busy."

Wildpaw nodded but didn't move from where she stood, scuffling her paws against the cave floor.

Thornpaw watched her for a moment. "Wildpaw?" they ventured.

"I can't sleep," Wildpaw burst out. "I don't think the other apprentices like me."

Thornpaw blinked at her. "What do you mean?"

"Goldenpaw is always so mean when we practice our fighting moves, and he never shares prey with me!" Wildpaw meowed, ears flattened. "Even when Fallenpaw and Howlpaw are out doing their shield training! He'd rather eat alone than with me!"

"Well, Goldenpaw doesn't like anyone," Thornpaw reasoned. "I wouldn't take it too harshly."

Wildpaw fixed Thornpaw with a pitiful expression. "I've been trying to be his friend, though."

They placed a paw on Wildpaw's shoulder in reassurance. "Try talking to Howlpaw — he's nice," they suggested. "Or Fallenpaw." They didn't know Fallenpaw very well, but he was Fogrose's apprentice, so he couldn't be too mean.

Wildpaw shook her head, pulling her wings close around her. "What if they don't like me, either?" she cried. "I thought that the other apprentices would think that I'm cool because I'm different, but they all seem spooked by me."

"I thought Howlpaw was showing you around at the Gathering?" Thornpaw pointed out.

"Well, yeah, but ..." She trailed off, curling her short tail around her paws.