Batpaw laid awkwardly in his nest, Redtuft and Berrypaw preparing his daily herbs. He yawned. "Alright, Berrypaw, what should we give him today?"
"...Um..." Berrypaw thought for a moment, "Marigold...? And, erm... goldenrod?"
"Right. Have a bit of gumweed, too."
"Okay!" Berrypaw's eyes glimmered. Batpaw watched him with admiration. He knew so much about herbs... Berrypaw began to treat his wounds, and Batpaw winced as he licked some herb's juices onto them.
"It stings!"
"Herbs aren't supposed to feel good. They make you feel good." Berrypaw retorted, though his eyes glimmered. Batpaw felt his fur grow warm as he licked the wound near his neck. He didn't understand why he felt like that. Maybe I'll ask Redtuft about it later. He licked a paw.
"Can you stand up today?" Berrypaw asked.
"Let me try." Batpaw gingerly placed his front paws on the ground. So far, so good. I think I can do this... He placed his hind legs down, and the right one ached. "Ow!" Berrypaw stared at him worriedly. "Nothing to worry about. I'm fine." He added quickly.
"I'll say if you're fine or not." Berrypaw glanced at his aching leg. "You've strained your leg." He reported.
"Can you fix it?"
"It'll take time." Berrypaw sniffed, "But it'll heal. Tomorrow, I'll put cold wet moss on it. It might help."
"Okay." Batpaw tried to go back to his nest, but Berrypaw nudged him away.
"Let's go out for a walk." He suggested. Batpaw didn't argue. Berrypaw wouldn't hurt him on purpose. He gingerly padded after him out of camp. Batpaw's leg felt as though it were on fire. Berrypaw glanced back at him. "Almost there." He promised.
They reached the river. It was day, and the sunlight peered through the trees, making the water glimmer like crystals. Berrypaw rested beside the waters, the water lapping at his tail. "Come over here!"
Batpaw sat awkwardly beside him, stretching his strained leg across the grass. Berrypaw licked his fur.
"Does your leg hurt when you sit like that?"
"Not really. When I bend it or stand on it, it hurts though." Batpaw looked away. Berrypaw cared about him so much...
Berrypaw nuzzled his neck fur. "Snakepaw is a jerk!" He declared.
"Yeah. He's always been a big old dirt-face."
Berrypaw laughed. Batpaw's heart ached with love. I love him, He thought adoringly, He's so sweet and considerate... Snakepaw is unfair. He's not a bad, lazy cat. Berrypaw looked at the clear water, his eyes bright. "This place is so pretty at this time of day." He mewed.
"Yeah. You're prettier, though." Batpaw added, twitching his whiskers.
"Very funny, Batpaw." Berrypaw squeaked, looking away, embarrassed.
"It's true!" Batpaw reached over, nuzzling his fur, "I love you so much..."
"I love you too." Berrypaw murmured, his eyes shining. Batpaw saw his own love for him being reflected in Berrypaw's eyes. "I've liked you for a while..."
Batpaw shuffled his paws, feeling self-conscious as Berrypaw gazed at him, his brown eyes burning into his pelt. "I like you too. I just never realized it." He whispered gently. Berrypaw's purr grew louder than Batpaw's, pressing himself against his fur.
"If only we weren't so young!" He rolled his eyes, "You know the warriors only want cats to have mates at their age."
"It's not fair. We're definitely as smart and mature as them." Batpaw agreed. I wouldn't be ready for a mate anyway. He thought privately. "You're telling me that we don't have more sense than Dapplepuddle?"
"Apparently!"
Batpaw nuzzled his shoulder, "I wouldn't mind waiting."
Berrypaw licked his head. Batpaw drew closer to him, and his eyes grew wide. "Erm, Batpaw..."
"Yeah?" Batpaw blinked. "Something wrong?"
"N-no... Sorry." Berrypaw apologized, licking his fur awkwardly. "We should head back."
"Okay." Batpaw got up, and winced with pain. Berrypaw allowed him to lean on his side.
"Wait, hold on." Berrypaw ran away for a minute, leaving Batpaw alone. Did I mess up? He wondered worriedly. What if he ran away and never comes back? What if he doesn't want to be mates later? His eyes grew wide. To his relief, Berrypaw returned with a bundle of herbs. "Redtuft wanted me to bring him some tansy. Snowkit has a cough." He explained. Batpaw nodded, and leaned on him again. They slowly headed back to camp. Batpaw had noticed how Berrypaw wrapped his tail around his back, as though trying to protect him. I've had more battle training than you! I don't need protecting! He thought, though his whiskers twitched in amusement. "Go and rest." Berrypaw ordered, padding off to the nursery, not letting him reply. Batpaw watched him leave, surprised at the sadness he felt from being away from him. He has to work. He told himself sternly, flopping down in his nest. Redtuft was away as well, tending to Brightlight and Nightsky. Having nothing to do, he decided to go to sleep, closing his eyes.
Batpaw's dream was an odd one. He was chasing butterflies like he did as a kit, but the butterfly soon drifted away, leaving Batpaw alone. His father had been watching him the whole time, staring unblinkingly, disapproval in his gaze. Batpaw stared back. I don't care about you anymore. He thought angrily. His father's lips drew back in a snarl. "You should never have been born!"
"But I was. You can't change that!" He retorted, ignoring his trembling legs.
"You're too immature for your own good. Warriors must be serious at all times." He snapped. "I thought I told you that."
Batpaw flinched as he raised a paw, claws unsheathed. Before he could strike, he woke up with a jolt, Berrypaw snoring next to to him before he lifted his head drowsily. "Bad dream?" He asked.
"Yeah."
"What was it about?"
I don't want him to worry about me. "Nothing important."
Berrypaw blinked at him. His eyes glimmered with suspicion, but he said nothing. Batpaw laid down, resting his head on his back. Berrypaw sneezed before quickly falling back asleep, snoring gently. Batpaw purred quietly. He's adorable. He thought, I would love to be his mate... The thought of being with Berrypaw, a warrior and medicine cat, made his heart ache. He loved him so much. He drifted back to sleep, his dream more peaceful than his last one. Berrypaw and Batpaw had two small kits- A tortoiseshell and a calico, just like them. Batpaw didn't want his dream to end, but the sunlight woke him up. He yawned.
"Wake up, sleepypaws." He nudged Berrypaw gently with a paw, who rolled over on his side.
"Ugh..." He grumbled, closing his eyes to fall back asleep.
"I'll eat your catmint again if you don't wake up." He had gotten a bellyache that day, but it was worth it.
"You wouldn't." Berrypaw's eyes grew wide.
"Yes. Wake up."
Berrypaw groaned, dragging himself out of the nest. Batpaw watched him leave. "Wait." He called. "I'm missing a lot of warrior training, you know... Can you help? I don't want to be made a warrior after Snakepaw!"
"Of course." Berrypaw's eyes glimmered. "I won't go easy on you, though."
"Good."
