Splashflight's Mistake (book one)

Chapter 9

"Come on, out, in, out, in," Nightgaze coached Splashpaw through his paw exercises. Turns out he had broken his ankle, and he had just started strengthening exercises after about four sunrises. The break was healing nicely after a moon, according to Nightgaze. And Splashpaw was happy to oblige in helping with his chores until the next gathering, when Nightgaze told him he should be healed enough to go.

"Almost done?" Splashpaw asked as he stretched his hind paw out one more time. It was already beginning to ache and throb, and he had only just started. Nightgaze nodded, and placed gentle paws back on his leg to guide it out a few more times.

"Two more. In, out... In, out," Nightgaze finished. After a sigh of relief from Splashpaw, he set the apprentices paw down and Splashpaw stuck it out for Nightgaze to place the brace back on.

"Thanks, Nightgaze," he said as he tightened the reeds. After a few heartbeats, the familiar restricting feeling in his leg returned, and he sighed, he looked around for something to do. He flexed his claws in annoyance. He just itched to run and begin his training again; after all, he was almost better. He could almost walk now. He turned to Nightgaze when he was done. "Can I please go out? I want to watch Morningpaw and Dawnpaw's training!" He pleaded. Nightgaze opened his mouth to object, but Splashpaw moved closer persistently. "I promise to be good and I won't overuse my paw!" He begged again. He wasn't going to take no for an answer, and the medicine cat seemed to know that. Nightgaze finally sighed and sat down.

"Fine, you can-" He began, but before he could even finish, Splashpaw interrupted him with a squeal of glee. Then Nightgaze gave him a hard stare with his blind blue eyes. "But no training! I will help you get there and explain to Snowtip and Treevice they are not to let you move an inch!" Splashpaw gave a disappointed grunt as Nightgaze got up and nosed under Splashpaw's shoulder, helping him up as Splashpaw sighed.

"Fine... I won't try anything..." Splashpaw groaned as he limped to the entrance of camp where Brightkit followed, bouncing up to him. Her eye shone with all the innocence of a kit. He purred, remembering when he was a kit too. Something about Brightkit just made him smile. "Hi Brightkit!" He said with a grin.

Brightkit hopped up to his level, which wasn't hard, considering how small Splashpaw was. But Brightkit was smaller still. She bounced around, excited and hyper as always. Her lips bubbled out words that Splashpaw could hardly keep up with. "Hi Splashpaw! Are you feeling better? Tell me again what happened?" She started, her eye big and round as a plump piece of prey. "Please?" She fluttered her eyelashes.

Splashpaw smiled. "I'll tell you later, Brightkit. I'm off to watch training! Nightgaze finally let me leave the medicine den!" He purred. Brightkit jumped around, prancing in a circle around Nightgaze and Splashpaw.

"Ok! I'll see you later then! Maybe you could tell me the story before bed?" Splashpaw nodded and Brightkit squealed. "Yay! That's a great story! I bet Morningpaw and Dawnpaw are jealous of you! You got into a battle with a twoleg on your first day! You're sooooo cool!" Splashpaw gave a tight nod. It isn't that... He longed to say, her words suddenly causing the pain of his sisters relationship with him to return. But Brightkit was already scampering away. Splashpaw sighed and got up, limping to the training bank with Nightgaze alongside him. Its not that simple... He thought, not quite sad, but feeling the familiar pang of loneliness that accompanied thoughts of Morninngpaw creep into his mind.