The Clash of Stars Book 1: The Key

Chapter 16: Thornpaw

"We'll be lucky if it doesn't turn into a fight," Ashrunner was murmuring, folding a bundle of herbs together. Thornpaw could see the tip of her tail twitching with nervousness, like she didn't want the patrol to leave yet.

"I'm sure it won't come to that," Cherrylight replied as Sandymoon bent down to lap up his share of traveling herbs. The pale tom screwed up his face as he swallowed, shaking away the taste with a twitch of his nose.

"Who knows, with those FlashClan cats," Breezeshade put in. The large molly had been hovering behind Cherrylight, frustrated that she was to stay behind and guard camp.

Cherrylight lapped up her herbs, mewing her thanks to Ashrunner. She padded away from the cleric's den with Breezeshade. Thornpaw just managed to catch her words as she meowed, "Come on, you know FlashClan isn't so stupid as to try and attack again."

As the two mollies left, Sandymoon flicked his tail. "Probably for the best she stays behind, huh?"

"It's bad enough Shadowtalon is going," Ashrunner replied in a low voice. Thornpaw pricked their ears, but Ashrunner was already nodding to Sandymoon. "Good luck."

"Thanks; we might need it, with those mountains," Sandymoon replied, trotting to where Emberstar was tearing into a bat. The two began chatting. With Cherrylight, Sandymoon, and Emberstar taken care of, that only left ...

As if on cue, Shadowtalon padded to the cleric's den, Wildpaw in tow. Ashrunner stiffened at the sight of the molly, and seemed to go even more rigid when the deputy spoke.

"Thornpaw, a word."

Nervously, Thornpaw opened their mouth, but Ashrunner intervened. "Anything you need to say to Thornpaw can be said in front of us."

Shadowtalon glared at Ashrunner, but the cleric held her ground. Shadowtalon sighed and turned to Thornpaw. "Wildpaw can't fly," she deadpanned.

Thornpaw blinked, surprised. They weren't sure what they expected Shadowtalon to want to talk about, but it wasn't that. "I — yes, she can't," they stammered.

"Well, what's wrong with her?" Shadowtalon demanded. "I thought her wing healed."

"It did," Ashrunner said.

Shadowtalon's eyes flashed towards Ashrunner before flicking back to Thornpaw. Thornpaw craned their neck to see a timid Wildpaw sitting behind Shadowtalon.

"Maybe Wildpaw could speak for herself?" Thornpaw offered with hesitation.

"I tried," Shadowtalon grunted. "She won't tell me."

"Well, EchoClan lives in the tunnels," Thornpaw pointed out. "Is it that important if she can't fly?"

"Emberstar wanted her as a messenger in case of emergency."

Thornpaw hated being right sometimes.

"I'm sure it won't come to that," Ashrunner reassured.

"I don't think so, either, but something's wrong with my apprentice," Shadowtalon countered. "I want to make sure she's alright."

Thornpaw tilted their head. The way Shadowtalon acted towards them, they'd always just assumed she found all of the apprentices to be nuisances.

They turned to Wildpaw. "Do you feel okay to climb?"

Wildpaw nodded. "I'm not hurt."

Shadowtalon gave a heavy sigh, turning back to look at her apprentice. "That's all I needed to know," she said. "Get your herbs and get ready." She raised a paw and ruffled the top of Wildpaw's head before stalking over to Emberstar.