Book 1: Echoing Voices - Warriors

Chapter 4

Ivypaw's POV

Ivypaw twitched her ear uncomfortably as Ashfrost lead her towards the lake. Her mentor had been silent the entire time and the only sound that filled the forest was the sound of pawsteps.
It felt like moons had past by the time they got to the lake. Ashfrost sat down and motioned with her tail for Ivypaw to sit too, which she did. She made it so there was a bit of space between Ashfrost and herself, feeling a little uneasy at the moment.
"Er...what did you need to talk about?" Ivypaw managed to ask.
Ashfrost heaved a sigh, keeping her gaze on the water.
"Kestrelstar, Shimmersong, and I have been...talking." she began.
Ivypaw's heart seemed to drop, "Is it about Nightmoon?"
Ashfrost nodded her head slowly and turned her head away.
Ivypaw felt like her head was suddenly spinning. Her stomach felt hollow and she lowered her ears slowly. She swallowed before asking.
"W-what happened to her?"
Ashfrost took a deep breath.
"She's not doing well. According to Shimmersong, her wound is getting worse and she's just getting more sick. Wounds aren't suppose to keep reopening and now, it's infected." she explained.
Ivypaw snapped her gaze to her paws before she shut her eyes.
"She's not going to die is she?" she whispered.
There was no reply.
After a long pause of silence Ashfrost's voice spoke again.
"I know this is hard, but Rowanthorn and Snowpaw are having a hard time as well. Remember that you aren't the only one."
Ivypaw's eyes opened again and she held back from causing herself to bristle.
"Then why are you always telling the news about Nightmoon to me separately from Rowanthorn and Snowpaw?" she demanded.
Ashfrost locked her icy blue gaze with Ivypaw's dark hazel glare.
"That's not important. You just need to calm down. Your sister and father are probably having a even harder time than you!" she spat.
Ivypaw felt her insides flare with fury. She just caught herself from unsheathing her claws, but she couldn't hold back as the fur on her shoulders rose. She somehow managed to force herself to stay sitting.
"Explain to me how exactly you came to that conclusion?" she snarled through gritted teeth.
Ashfrost was about to reply, but Ivypaw got to her paws quickly.
"You know what, it doesn't even matter." she growled lowly.
"Ivypaw, listen-"
"No. You listen." Ivypaw growled, "If you really think that I don't care about Nightmoon as much as Snowpaw and Rowanthorn, I don't care. Because there's no point in trying to tell you any different."
Before Ashfrost could say anything, she turned back towards camp and dashed off.

Ivypaw stopped herself once she got to the entrance of the camp. She clenched her jaw, thinking about Kestrelstar. He would go back to staring her down again. That's the last thing she needed right now.
I am so close to becoming a warrior. I need to calm down.
Ivypaw told herself herself as she pushed through the camp entrance and she flattened her ears, suddenly feeling as if every cat was staring at her. Thought when she looked around, everyone was going about their own business. She took a glance at the high-ledge, where Kestrelstar usually was, but he wasn't there this time.
Ivypaw let out a breath of relief and slowly padded over to the fresh-kill pile. She kept her gaze low, not taking a glance at where she was going since she knew exactly where the pile was. She started to become conscious of where everything was and what everyone was doing. Shimmersong and Kestrelstar were nowhere in sight.
Probably in Kestrelstar's den.
Rowanthorn was talking to Snowpaw. When Ivypaw caught her sister's eyes, Snowpaw flicked her tail in a small 'hello', not having the slightest idea of what Ivypaw just discussed with Ashfrost. Ivypaw just nodded in response.
Duskpaw was talking to Auburnpaw, who was just laying down, not paying attention as usual. The senior warriors; Fireflare, Dappleshade, and Emberblaze were having some kind of deep conversation, probably about their apprentices. Including Ashfrost, the four cats had always been always good friends.
Echowhisper and Brackenthorn were watching their kits; Adderkit and Palekit.
The kits are around four moons. They should be apprentices by the time I become a warrior. Ivypaw thought.
The elders; Grasspelt, Brownfur, and Smokestorm, were in the sun with their eyes closed. Smokestorm was saying something, but the two other elders were sound asleep.
Roseleaf was speaking with her sister, Juniperflower. The medicine cat apprentice.
I remember when Roseleaf and Darksky were my denmates. It was only a few moons ago, but Darksky got into an accident. So his warrior ceremony was delayed. He was so upset when Roseleaf got her name before him. Since they had become apprentices around the same time, he expected for them to become warriors at the same time.
Ivypaw couldn't help but grin slightly at the memory.
She shook her head, "I'm rambling to myself again." she whispered under her breath.
She snapped back into reality and perked her ears when she realized she had walked right past the fresh-kill pile.
Do I really get that carried away?
She blinked and lashed her tail before padding back towards the fresh-kill pile. That's when she saw that he was there.
Darksky.
Ivypaw held back an internal groan, "This should be fun." she mumbled sarcastically to herself.
She took a deep breath before slowly heading towards the fresh-kill pile. She would never admit it, but she was kind of looking forward to try and having a normal conversation with Darksky. She only ever did once and he was interesting to talk to if he really wanted to.
I can't believe I thought we were actually going to be friends after that.
"Darksky." she muttered her greeting.
The tom just glanced up at her, but didn't reply as he took another bite of his half-eaten mouse.
"Mice to see you too." she meowed and waited.
Darksky paused and rolled his eyes, "You're hilarious."
Ivypaw snickered slightly before bending down and picking up a shrew.
"So you do have ears that work." she replied, her voice muffled from the prey in her jaws.
She sat down and dropped the shrew in front of her before she took a bite.
Darksky rolled his eyes and scoffed before taking bigger mouthfuls from his mouse so he could eat faster and leave.
Ivypaw twitched her ear and before she could say anything, he finished his prey and started walking away. Ivypaw bristled slightly and from the corner of her eye, she saw Ashfrost enter camp and immediately made eye contact with her.
Ivypaw quickly looked back at Darksky and before she thought of something else to do, she held down his tail to keep him from walking away.
He immediately spun around with a slight hiss, "Do you mind?"
Ivypaw flattened her ears, but her gaze hardened, making her just look frustrated instead of completely taken aback by her own actions.
"No, I don't." was her snarky answer.
Darksky wiggled his tail out from under her paw and started walking away again, grumbling under his breath.
Ivypaw shot a glance at her barely-touched shrew, then Ashfrost, and finally Darksky.
The only way I can avoid a lecture is by continuing to talk to Darksky. Hopefully, Askfrost won't cut in.
Ivypaw continued to follow Darksky as he started to head out of camp.
"For the love of-" the tabby spun around, his neck fur rising slightly, "Well you leave me alone!" he growled.
Ivypaw couldn't risk another glance at Ashfrost, but she could tell her mentor's scent was getting stronger. Meaning that she was getting closer.
"I, uh...can I please get out of camp? I'll explain later if you let me. Right now." Ivypaw meowed quickly, trying not to seem desperate, but she probably failed.
Darksky's glare turned into a scowl and his eyes narrowed.
"I'm really going to regret this." he mumbled under his breath.
He continued out of camp and Ivypaw followed close behind.