Featherlight's lover

Chapter 13

       Featherlight's paws felt like ice. A small light came across the horizon but it was still not sunrise. Her littermates sat beside her, daring not to talk. Featherlight saw Honeymoon lashing her tail with irritation to speak. The last task to become a full warrior is to sit in a silent vigil for one night after receiving their warrior name, according to the warrior code. Featherlight rested her tail on her paws, her eyelids feeling droopy. A dawn patrol came out the entrance. Featherlight and her littermates dipped their heads silently to them and turned their heads to the sun. They were all thinking the same thing. When is the sun coming up? Another dawn patrol headed out towards the WindClan border. Impatience burned her chest. The sky was growing brighter, but Featherlight didn't break the silence until she was sure the sun was above the horizon. Then, Nightbeam nudged her and angled his ears to the sky. An orange glow was just visible to see on the horizon. "Happy to see the dawn?" Blazefire meowed which took Featherlight by surprise. Her littermates didn't notice the ginger tom approaching. They nodded together to Blazefire. 

    "It's alright; you may speak now. Your vigil is over."he said. "Thank you Blazefire!" Honeymoon meowed gratefully and stretched her stiff legs. Featherlight got up too and licked her chest fur. "Go get some prey and rest. You've earned it."he nodded to them and walked into the forest. Featherlight and her littermates relaxed in tiredness and walked over to the fresh-kill pile. "I'd say it was a great time of our lives." Nightbeam cheered and took a chaffinch. Featherlight grabbed a squirrel for herself and walked towards the apprentice den. Honeymoon called out to her, "Hey Featherlight, aren't you going to eat with us?" Featherlight turned around. "I'm going to have some alone time, if you don't mind." she said. Honeymoon was about to protest but Bristleheart stopped her. "Let her have her own way to celebrate." she explained. "Maybe that's just how Featherlight is comfortable." Featherlight thought in her mind. 𝒀𝒆𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕. She sat near the entrance and peacefully ate her chaffinch. Jasperhaze came out of the warrior's den and spotted her. He walked up to her and smiled. "Look like someone just became a warrior." he chuckled. Featherlight smiled back and joked, "It feels better than I expected, except for the frozen paws." Jasperhaze laughed and looked down at his paws. "Uh Featherlight?" he began. She looked at him questionably. "Yes?" she answered. "I-I wondered if you might be free right before sunset. Can you meet me at my secret hideout then? I have to tell you something important there." he asked. Featherlight tipped her head confused, "But you could tell me right here-" "Jasperhaze! Your going on a hunting patrol with Sleekpelt's group." Flywhisker called out. Jasperhaze acknowledged him quickly and turned his head to Featherlight. "Just think about it okay? I'll be waiting until after the sun set." he said and quickly ran off. He left Featherlight confused as a mouse. She thought about his strange attitude while he went off. 

        Jasperhaze raced through the tunnel and crashed into a dark brown tabby. He yowled in surprise and they hit their heads together. "What are you-" Jasperhaze growled angrily and look at the tom and yowled. "Rogue!" Featherlight leapt to her paws while Flywhisker sprinted to them and leaped on the rogue. "Who are you? Are you part of Viper's cats?" he demanded the tabby and shook his pelt viciously. 

        Featherlight rushed over to the commotion and knocked Flywhisker off. "Featherlight! What are you doing?" Flywhisker stammered. Featherlight stared at the tabby in shock. Memories of seeing the tom appeared in her mind. The dark brown tabby looked at her with his mouth opened. He was so surprised that he stumbled on his paws. "Featherpaw?" he whispered in awe. Featherlight looked confused when he mentioned her apprentice name. "Did we meet before?" she asked. Her clanmates began creeping up cautiously to inspect the strange intruder and sniff his pelt.  Ajax let a warning growl for them to go back and turned to Featherlight. "Yes, don't you remember me? Ajax, your prison guard."