The Darkest Moons (Warrior Cats)

16. Clear

     Echopaw flattened her ears against her skull as she watched her clanmates wander about the camp. Redwing was arriving with her hunting patrol, Scorchpaw at her side with a wimpy squirrel in his jaws. Blackstar was returning from a patrol along the twolegplace border, Tinypetal and Miststep with him. Meanwhile, Tidefoot was pawing pickily through the prey pile, selecting a somewhat large rabbit and bounding over to Rainfall with it. Echopaw's eyes lingered on the expecting she-cat, who was lying on her side and beaming up at her mate.

Sometime this moon, she'll have her kits. Echopaw felt her heart lift in her chest. We'll have something good in our Clan. Something to really fight for! She watched as Tidefoot offered the rabbit to the she-cat, nuzzling her head just between her ears afterwards. He's a good cat. Silly, but he'll be a good father. He'll be dedicated.

"Echopaw!"

Echopaw turned her head to see Palepaw trotting up to the den, pushing in and stepping up to her. He flicked his good ear. "I think it's time to check my scratches."

"Dope!" Echopaw huffed. "They're healed. Nothing's red."

Palepaw twisted his ears back and rolled his eyes. "I just want to be sure I'm not going to go blind. I'll know who to thank if I do, won't I"

Echopaw snorted, and jumped when Clearwhisker called her name. "Be careful," she warned, casting one last glance towards Palepaw. "You're getting beat up a lot in battle. I'm getting tired of dealing with it."

Palepaw bobbed his head up and down, purring loudly. He turned away and padded away, meeting Scorchpaw in the center of the camp. The two began talking, and Echopaw's mind drifted away to Cobweb as she studied her friend. He could have lost his eye in that fight. The thought made Echopaw's throat tighten. The last thing she wanted was for her friend to be so gravely injured. He'd be broken by that.

"Echopaw!" Clearwhisker snapped. Echopaw jumped in her pelt and rushed to face her mentor, who blinked his cloudy gray eyes at her. "You're moping over Palepaw."

"I was thinking about his cuts," Echopaw mewed, sitting down. "I'm concerned about him."

"More concerned about him than Shadowclaw, who received worse wounds and is out patrolling while Palepaw sits in the camp?" Clearwhisker grumbled. "I understand that Palepaw is your friend, but you have to concentrate."

"Clearwhisker-" Echopaw began, but Clearwhisker interrupted her.

"Cats die when you focus more on one than any other, Echopaw. Remember that." The old tom twitched his pelt. "No matter how much you love a cat, you have to look to your entire Clan."

"I don't 'love' anyone. I care," Echopaw argued.

Clearwhisker narrowed his eyes at her. "Yes, you do. I see and feel more than you think. You might believe that you just care, but it always takes you by surprise." His voice rose, and he began coughing violently, spasms rocking him until he fell into his nest and groaned. Echopaw hurried to his side and pressed her nose to his cheek.

"I'm sorry! I'll get you a juniper berry!" She squeaked, twisting around.

"No!" Clearwhisker hissed, sighing as she turned back to him. He stared through the den's entrance, and Echopaw followed his gaze. He was watching Tidefoot and Rainfall, and there was longing in his eyes. "Please don't."

"Clearwhisker?" Echopaw mewled, nudging his head with his nose. "What's wrong?"

"Maybe I'll see her again," he whispered, closing his eyes. His voice was distant, embedded far into the past. Pain and regret rang in the air. Suddenly, his eyes flickered open, and he looked up at Echopaw. "You're going to the moonpool tonight. Alone."