Nightpaw made a angry face when he saw his old father, whom he loved. He turned his back on his father and snorted,
“Sorry, I don’t have time.”
He made his way to the cave of the disciples, but was stopped Tallleaf and had a desperate look, as if begging him to stay. Nightpaw hesitated, pinched his eyes and growled under his nose.
“I just wanted to talk to you.” Tallleaf begged, “please, my son.“
Those words sounded like an echo in Nightpaw's head. Did Tallleaf call him son? Nightpaw sighed heavily.
“Okay.” Nightpaw agreed. Tallleaf sat in front of Nightpaw with an attentive look. Does he want to congratulate me as much as Flowerflight and Crowtooth? Nightpaw wondered. But he knew he’d find out if he talked to the big hand.
“It’s been a while since Bluefeather give you in another family.” He’s starting to meow. “I was wondering if it was the right decision to put you in the care of Flowerflight. Now that I see how you’re acting, I regret that I obeyed to your mother.”
Nightpaw felt a sudden anger. Why is Tallleaf twisting his head right now? He didn’t want to talk about the past anymore, he just wanted to focus on science.
“I’m proud of you, Nightpaw. I’ve always been.” His father grumbled. Nightpaw was silent. He didn’t know what to say. All his life he wasn't loved by his mother, Bluefeather loved only Stonekit. Nightpaw was sure of that.
“I don’t care.” Nightpaw barked hard.
Tallleaf made big eyes.
“W-What?” Tallleaf asked. in an unbelieving voice. Nightpaw stretched out his claws as if he were attacking his father.
“I don’t care!” He repeated loudly in an angry voice. Tallleaf looked disappointed.
“I know you want to apologize, but I don’t care. I dream of becoming the Shadowclan’s strongest warrior. I don’t need a family for that. You all leave me alone!” Nightpaw cried, and without waiting for the answer of the Hohenblatt, he made his way to the camp of the students.
I’m sick of it, easy enough! He screamed in his mind and lay down next to Littlepaw. He tried to forget everything that was bothering him. He wanted Bluefeather and Tallleaf vanish his memories. It felt as if his heart had been broken. I want to forget everything! Nightpaw desperately called.
Tears ran down his eyes. He couldn’t bear the pain he felt. He couldn’t concentrate on learning anymore, and Tallleaf wanted his son to forgive his father, but he couldn’t. Only now did his father decide to talk to him. Nightpaw said it was too late to apologize. He has a long education ahead of him, and for that he has to learn and be prepared.
Nightpaw awakened from his thoughts, then he left the apprentice's den and sat down and looked into the cloud-clouded sky.
“The time of the barren trees is near.” He heard the voice of Stonefoot eating a squirrel with Molefoot.
Nightpaw looked towards the two warriors listened to their conversation.
“You’re right,” Molefoot agreed. “But will Swallowstar survive that time?”
Nightpaw has asked himself that question. Swallowstar hasn’t been able to eat or run lately. Now he is replaced by Tornjaw, which is living through the disease of the leader of ShadowClan.
“I don’t know.” Stonefoot muttered. Nightpaw sighed heavily. He was sure that the end of Swallowstar might be near.
“But let’s stay tuned, Sagewing is a good medicine cat. He knows what to do.” Stonewing added in a quiet voice.
I hope so. Nightpaw thought. But Swallowstar isn’t going to live forever, and Nightpaw clenches with a grim face. He still felt anger and hatred towards Tallleaf. Nightpaw calmed down when he saw Bouncebird returning from a hunting patrol. When the she-cat warrior looked at him, she gave him a friendly look, and Nightpaw smiled slightly. He no longer looked at her when Amberpaw and his other siblings approached him.
“I think it’s been a rough day.” Amber paw buzzed confidently.
“It was, very much.” Goldenpaw confirmed when she was running around Amberpaw.
Nightpaw was silent and watched how proud his siblings were of themselves. The only thing he felt now was emptiness. He couldn’t feel the way his foster siblings felt. Without thinking, he sighed and made his way to the students, ignoring all the cats. He stopped, however, when he noticed that Bluefeather spoke with Flowerflight. Nightpaw felt more hatred than before, ignored the whole environment and entered apprentices den and went to his nest to fall asleep and forget everything what happened.
