Bright Forest

Chapter 17

-You improved so much!

-Thanks...

The hunting patrol was returning to camp: Rustpaw was with Dovepaw, Firedusk and Bristleglade. As they put the prey on the fresh-kill pile he took a thrush and mewed:-I'll go bring this to Sliverstone.

Dovepaw purred:-Then I'll go get something for you later!

He agreed and went to the medicine cat den: Rustpaw had trouble sleeping and he would usually resort to Sliverstone for poppy seeds. Sometimes they would start chatting in the middle of the night, and the other was very comforting.

The ginger apprentice shook the leaves that covered the den. -Sliverstone?

The tabby medicine cat was crouched down. He lifted his head, covered with long vines and leaves. -Oh, greetings Rustpaw!

The other cat giggled:-What's going on?

Sliverstone shook off the leaves. -I was looking for something... how are you?

-I'm alright. I brought you some fresh-kill!

-Thanks, man!

As the medicine cat took the bird, he turned to Rustpaw:-Would you mind chatting for a moment...?

Rustpaw sighed. Dovepaw was probably waiting for him, but he was interested in what Sliverstone had to say. -Sure.

He curled up next to his friend.

-So, how's training with Viperbite?

The ginger tom looked at him: for some reason, that usual question made his fur bristle. -Um, good.

-You sure? He's a little... off, these days.

-Oh? How come?

-Well...- Sliverstone lifted his gaze. -He's sneaking out of camp more often, and comes back with a weird smell...

Rustpaw looked down. -Oh...

-And I wanted to ask if you know anything about this? A lot of cats have been spreading gossip about him yet I want to know what's actually going on.

-I honestly didn't even know that...- Rustpaw mewed. -I usually get carried away with Dovepaw, Risingpaw...

-Fair. Well what do you currently think about him?

The apprentice rested his chin on his paw:-Well, I think he's fine. A little rough, but an okay mentor overall.

Sliverstone stretched his paws:-Okay, I won't keep you in here forever. You can leave.

Rustpaw nodded and purred:-Alright!

As he left the bushes, he needed to sit down for a while. He seemed pretty suspicious of his mentor, and all of the other cats reacted similarly around him. He sighed as he saw Dovepaw waving at him with two mice. He then smiled. "Imagine what it would be like to live a normal life in a clan..."

-Heya! You were there for a while, was everything good?- the apprentice mewed.

Rustpaw sat beside her. -Yeah...

-Say, you two are very close...- she smiled.

-Pretty much...

-Like a lot.

He gave her a suspicious look.

Skypaw then emerged from the den and looked at the two. -What are you lookin at?

Dovepaw then purred:-Ah, don't you agree that Rustpaw and Sliverstone are pretty close?

Skypaw glared at her, but then brushed it off and replaced it with a visible fake smile:-Ah, yes.