𝚂𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚂𝚞𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 || 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚂𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚜 #2

Chapter Six: [Silverpaw]

Silverpaw pads hesitantly after Featherstar deep into SkyClan territory, gazing blankly up at the snow-laden trees.

She was trying to maintain her composure, but the nearly unbearable chill of the day was making it difficult; she wished they had picked a different day for hunting practice.

The sky had become a pale blue at last, after many days darkened by a silvery gray, and the few clouds drifting through the sky were small and bright, promising pleasant weather- at least to the long-furred individuals residing in the Clans.

Featherstar glances back at her apprentice, heather-blue eyes shimmering with an indecipherable glint.

"I'm interested in getting to know you better, Silverpaw," she mews, tipping her head to the side a bit.

"Tell me about yourself."

Prickling defensively, Silverpaw swallows and pushes down the nervousness coursing through her.

She wasn't quite expecting having to answer to yet another prober so soon, and additionally wasn't sure of how to go about deflecting if a particularly personal question arose.

"...Do you have any specific questions?" the silver tabby murmurs, twitching an ear.

Featherstar sighs thoughtfully, flicking her striped tail.

"...Mm. Do you get on well with the other apprentices?"

"...No."

The SkyClan leader lets out a clicking noise, seeming a tad concerned.

"Care to elaborate?"

Silverpaw averts her gaze, forcing out a sigh.

"Slatepaw, Ridgepaw, and Tinypaw are rude. Squirrelpaw thought it better to ignore me rather than risk being ridiculed by his new friends, so he's rude as well but less dramatic about it. Thistlepaw sleeps in the medicine den with Beechfoot and the rest of them now, and Palepaw and Fidgetpaw keep to themselves and don't speak to me unless they have to."

"I see," Featherstar replies, brow furrowing in thought.

"I also wanted to know...why exactly do you think some of our Clanmates are frightened by your appearance? Has anyone told you the story yet?"

Intrigued by this chance to learn more about what happened at last, Silverpaw begins formulating an answer in her mind.

"If...you're referring to Hailwatcher, Beechfoot said that it was because he had bad experiences with Father and I look just like him. As for Mother, I'm unsure."

"And I have no inkling as to what the story is, because no one has taken the liberty of telling me as of right now."

Featherstar murmurs something along the lines of 'I'm surprised..' to herself before glancing at her apprentice.

"I certainly feel for you, and I believe you're old enough to know the story so I'll tell it."

Silverpaw tilts her head, trying not to show her intrigue.

"Wasn't this intended to be a hunting lesson?"

Featherstar chuckles.

"We'll hunt, don't worry, but this is something I need to get out of the way first."

"..Alright."

"Anyways," the SkyClan leader continues, getting to be a bit more stern, "-this story is Hailwatcher's, but I wouldn't advise asking him for clarification, since it's difficult for him to talk about."

Silverpaw nods, twitching the tip of her tail.

"Around six moons ago now," Featherstar mews, "-Hailwatcher witnessed the murder of a warrior called Birchstorm out in the woods, who also happens to be your uncle through Rosebush."