Bright Forest

Chapter 14

Rustpaw spent almost all the night trying to think if he wanted to join DoveClan, but eventually he fell asleep.

He tried to open his eyes, but he couldn't. He could smell a horrible stench of blood. Finally, his eyes widened and he was at the Gathering Bridge: some cats were covered in blood and fighting some other cats, but some were laying on the ground, still.

Suddenly, he was struck down by some cat. He rolled around, trying to get him off until he noticed it was Branchpaw. He slapped the brown tom and scrambled away to see the scene better: the other cats were unrecognizable, but he saw Poolspring roll down and get attacked by those cat shadows.

He looked at the sky, and immediately saw a cat looking at him. It was giant, with their plain fur caught with stars.

He woke up: Sliverstone was sorting some herbs. -Hello, Rustpaw.

The tom sighed:-Good morning.

-Why so bummed?- asked the silver tom.

-Uh, just had a weird dream...- he briefly explained. -Nothing to worry about.

-Here, have a mouse.

-Thanks...

He started eating it: delicious as always.

Sliverstone yawned:-You seem to like mice a lot. What's your favorite prey?

Rustpaw mewed:-I like mice and squirrels...

-I like squirrels too! But my favorites are frogs.

-Oh? I never tried them.

-They're tasty! I love them! Perhaps when you'll feel better I can give some to you... Blackberry is very strict about the diet for a patient... too bad she's going to retire soon. She's quite old.

-I can tell...

Sliverstone returned to the herbs. Rustpaw looked in the distance: he could tell that the patrols already went out, since nobody was in camp. But he could hear some cats talk.

-Yesterday Frondstar announced that you arrived, so if you ever feel bored of staying here, you can go talk with Oscar.

-Oscar?- that name sounded familiar.

-Yes.

"Wait... is that one of my former kittypet's old friends?" he thought. "What was her name... Violet?"

-If the name sounds weird, it's because he was a former kittypet.- explained the medicine cat. -He's mates with another cat in our clan, Halfback. She's in the nursery now, taking care of Snowingkit.

Rustpaw shrugged:-Can I... go see him!

-Sure! Follow me.

He followed Sliverstone to the elder's den, a hole inside a pine tree, sheltered by several bushes.

Sliverstone peered in:-Good morning!

A gray tuxedo tom with deep green eyes and a nose scar tilted his head outside:-Hello!

He studied Rustpaw for a moment:-Is this the newcomer?

-Indeed he is!- Sliverstone mewed. -Since he can't stay all day in the medicine den, perhaps you could tell him some stories?

-Oh yes, of course!- purred Oscar as he watched Sliverstone pad away.

Rustpaw curled up near Oscar.

-So, Rustpaw... right?- he mewed.

-Yeah...

-Nice to meet you! As Sliverstone told you, I'm Oscar. Don't mind my weird name, I was a kittypet before joining DoveClan... and I think you were too.