Warriors #1: Moondance of Fate ✓

Chapter 12

I awoke with sore shoulders, and a sharp hiss of pain escaped my lips when I attempted to rise. My muscles protested vehemently. "Are you okay?" Hollypaw meowed as she pushed her way into the den. I looked at her, my pain evident in my gaze. "I've been better," I mumbled, struggling to stand, only to feel my shoulders tremble, and the wounds started to bleed.

"I'll go get Leafpool or Jaypaw," Hollypaw said, rushing off again. I hissed and clawed at the ground, sinking down, too wounded to rise.

Soon enough, Jaypaw arrived with a bundle of herbs in his mouth, placing them beside me and sniffing at my shoulders. "These are deep wounds, Moonfall. What were you thinking when you entered a dirty den with freshly made injuries?" he groaned.

"I just wanted to sleep," I gurgled. "We all want that, but we have to take care of ourselves first," Jaypaw replied, applying some ointment to the torn wounds. I sighed. I didn't like getting hurt any more than the next cat, but from a WindClan warrior, it was shameful.

"Let me guess, you were attacked by a sparrow, then? Or perhaps a raven?" Jaypaw growled with a cold tone, and I knew he could see right through me. I didn't need to tell him anything. He knew that whatever I told him would be a lie.

"I was out with Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw, and we encountered Breezepelt." Jaypaw stiffened when he mentioned his half-brother but said nothing, only continuing to apply poultices. "He attacked me, I suppose, and now I have these puncture wounds." I sighed and turned away from the gray-blinded gaze of the medicine cat. "You must be disappointed in me, right? Anyone would fall for such a foolish trick."

"I'm not," he meowed after a moment, and I stared at him for a few minutes.

"Why not?" I groaned. He smiled broadly and paused to spread his paws over my shoulders. "Because, yes, it was foolish, but you're in love. Cats do foolish things when they're in love."

I blinked. "What do you know about love?" I asked more pointedly than I had intended, and Jaypaw's eyes grew distant once more. "I know more than you realize," he hissed and tore off a few leaves to mix into the poultice, but I recoiled. "No, don't say it," I hissed, and Jaypaw groaned. "Don't play that game."

I didn't stop, but moved away from the nest and away from the slender cat. "Not until you tell me." Suddenly, Jaypaw pounced on me, and I squeaked in surprise that he could hold me down while being so blind.

"Don't tempt me, Moonfall, it's hard enough as it is." Then he withdrew and turned his back to me, leaving me sitting there, staring in astonishment at his retreating figure.

He's certainly full of surprises.

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

"Oh, come on, furball," Lionpaw taunted while I playfully rolled around in my nest. "Why do you think Jaypaw would ever do such a thing?"

"Why would I know? You're his brother; go talk to him," I retorted. I rested my head as I gazed up at the intricate ceiling of the warrior's den, adorned with lush branches and grass. ThunderClan sometimes felt like a different world.

"Come on, you know Jaypaw's way too grumpy to make friends," Lionpaw mocked, rolling his eyes.

"Yes, but I also know he's unpredictable."

"And what if I did?" Jaypaw growled suddenly, making me whirl around to face the gray medicine cat apprentice. "Jaypaw!" I exclaimed, taken aback, and he fixed me with an unyielding gaze. "You were speaking so loudly that even Mousefur lodged a complaint. Keep your voices down in the dens," he grumbled, striding past me.

I watched him go, and Lionpaw let out a low growl. "Now, tell me if you found Moonfall, and if you did, why?" he insisted.

Jaypaw sighed and turned to his brother. "I never get any peace, do I?" Lionpaw sputtered, "W-well—!"

"Oh, spare it!" Jaypaw snapped, flicking his tail over his brother's mouth. "Yes, I befriended her, but she tempted me. I couldn't help it," I chuckled and rolled onto my belly. "Apologize, but I didn't know you liked me so much, Jaypaw," he glared at me. "I like you," he sighed and turned to face me, his head lowered, "so much that I don't like the way my brother looks at you."

"Okay," I meowed. Jaypaw blinked, and so did Lionpaw. "Okay?" the golden warrior roared. "Okay?! You just found out that my medicine cat brother likes you, for real! And so do I!" I sighed and rose, curling as the wounds on my shoulders tingled. "What am I supposed to say? I don't know what would make me feel better." Tears began to glisten in my eyes, and I dipped my head as I rushed out of the den and through the thorn tunnel into the forest.

I couldn't handle any more toms right now.