- The Origins of Smolderspirit -

Chapter Nine: Friends Again?

Owlpaw trotted down the narrow tunnel, carrying a good catch. With all of his thoughts being out of order, he decided to focus his energies on hunting. Providing for his clan. He headed for the clean-prey stash and set down his catch. He checked up on the seniors before anyone reminded him sternly. He then took a mouse and a chaffinch to the seniors, and trotted over to a corner by himself, eating silently. He watched as Smolderpaw sat and chatted with her friends. Sighing, he listened to his thoughts. "Maybe it's best I keep my distance from Smolderpaw...I don't want her to keep getting hurt by me..."

Owlpaw then looked back to his meal. He pushed it away. And laid down, sorrow making him lose his appetite.

* * *

"Really? Why right now?" Cedarpaw asked, somewhat jealous-like, "Shouldn't you wait a little longer to forgive him? When maybe he's proved himself better?"

Smolderpaw gave Cedarpaw a soft smile. "I don't want to be the reason Owlpaw's life is harder. If I let a cat suffer from my feelings, I wouldn't ever be able to forgive myself. And the clan needs focused lionets" she told him. Cedarpaw gazed at Smolderpaw. He nodded, and said, "I suppose it's your decision if you want to forgive my brother or not."

Smolderpaw licked Cedarpaw's ear, and added, "I'm going to talk with him after we eat. If I'm gone too long, head for Skyriver."

Cedarpaw nodded, and watched as she headed towards Brightstar. His heart ached for her. Licking his lips, Patchpaw noticed his look. The big lionet kept silent, but he smiled to himself. He knew he could trust Cedarpaw. As long as his feelings for her didn't create issues.

* * *

Patchpaw approached Willowpaw in the herbal den. "Be careful with the mouse bile," he reminded her, "if it gets on you, you're going to have to wash yourself off in the stream."

Willowpaw scoffed, clearly not wanting to be given orders by a lionet. She then carefully placed the bile back on the jagged rock shelves. She licked her fur down, then looked at Patchpaw, who was sorting yarrow. "Have you seen where Owlpaw went? I wanted to talk with him about going on a herb patrol," she questioned.

"I'm afraid that isn't going to happen. Lilypaw and Hazelnose already went out with Blizzardfrost, and Owlpaw is out on a patrol," Patchpaw responded.

Willowpaw stared at him. "Who all is he with?"

"Smolderpaw," Patchpaw said briefly.

Willowpaw curled her lip, scoffing. "Why would Owlpaw be out with that toad-licker?" she muttered. Patchpaw turned around, and strode towards Willowpaw. He was quite large for an average practitioner tom, which made him seem so intimidating. Especially for his young age. "That's my little sister you're talking about," he said, coldly, "and you know not to speak with a silver tongue."

Willowpaw nodded unflinchingly, but he wasn't able to tell if she was really feeling any sort of remorse for what she said. Her thoughts were hard to decipher. A puzzle piece none could solve. Patchpaw added, "I know you share feelings with Owlpaw. But you decided to follow the path of a practitioner for a reason. You have options. You can join him, and train as a lioness. Or you can focus on your duties to the clan, and stop courting each other in secret on your "herb patrols."

Willowpaw's eyes grew with anger. "ARE YOU SPYING ON US?" she spat.

"I give no cares for hovering over you, Willowpaw. But, let's just say I hear the whispers of The Clan Within the Stars quite easily. Our very ancestors."

She was furious. Scoffing at the name of their dead ancestors, she snapped, "WHERE ARE THEY?!"

Patchpaw stood over her. "Go find them, you toad-licker," Patchpaw responded. He smiled a dark smirk. The words rolled off his tongue easily. Willowpaw ran out of the den, and Patchpaw sat down, and rearranged the herbs, listening to new thoughts flooding through his head.