Wolf's Reign

Into the Dark Ch. 2

"Stop stirring up the leaves, you'll scare off all the prey." Badger corrected patiently, lightly holding his paw over my moving tail. I sighed narrowing my eyes at the mentor Rowan assigned to me. Thankfully, Gladeclan had accepted me with open arms, and I became comfortable quite fast; but even so it was hard to open up to any other cat so I stuck with Badger as his first apprentice.

I flinched under his touch and growled in annoyance, "Fox-dung." Badger simply blinked and sighed through his nose, unfazed by my words, "Calm yourself and focus on your catch."

I bit my tongue to stop from snapping at him. Pinning my ears back, I willed my tail to still, focusing my breathing to become smoother and shallow. Badger purred and smiled, "Perfect, Pebble, you're a fast learner."

I smiled a bit and sat up, curling my tail over my small paws. Badger sat beside me and bent a bit to see under my chin, "How's your wound?"

I lifted my head to allow him a better view of my now scarred neck. The thin scar ran along where that Tideclan warrior slashed at when I first arrived here. I glared at the trees ahead of me at the memory of the two cats, Olivestride and Shadowstone. Badger lifted his head and lay his tail over my back, a worried look in his eyes. I forced myself to relax and sighed, leaning into him a bit.

A half-moon has passed since my arrival into the clan, and although Gladeclan is friendly and calm, I can't help but feel as an outcast. There were only two other warriors who had started as kittypets before stumbling upon Gladeclan; the rest used to be strays or outcasts from far territories. I've made friends, sure, but no one as close as Badger or Rowan. The only cat who has been cold towards me is the medicine cat, Treeflower. Whenever I go to her den so she can check my almost healed scar, she stays quiet unless I ask her questions and gives me dirty looks, but I can smell fear on her. Why would she be afraid of me?

"How did you find Gladeclan, Badger?" I blurted out, looking towards my companion.

Badger smiled proudly, "Actually, I was one of the first litters born into the newly formed Gladeclan," I held back a chuckle at his childish expression, "my mother, though, was a kittypet before meeting Rowan and the rest of Gladeclan."

I looked wide eyed, "Your mother is that senior warrior, Maggie, right?"

Badger met my gaze, looking down on me a bit, "Yep."

I nodded and smiled, "She must be proud, her little furball is all grown up."

Badger rolled his eyes, pushing her a bit playfully before I continued, "What about your father?"

He paused and looked past me, a frown replacing his smile, "I never knew my father, but Maggie told me that as soon as the litter was born, they started to fight more," My ears drooped slightly as I listened intently, "Mainly, it was because my father didn't want to live in such a large clan of so many different cats. So one night, before we could even open our eyes, he tried to take me and my brother and sister away."

I looked surprised and gasped quietly, "But kits that young still need their mother. How could he do that?"

Badger shook his head, "He was only trying to protect us. He got away with my siblings. Luckily though in his haste I fell off his back and into the undergrowth where a patrol found me and brought me home."

I pressed against his side to reassure him, "I'm sorry that had to happen, Badger. I may have not been here long, but I think it all worked out for the best, you're a great warrior and friend."