The New Light of Hope: Books I to VI.

Chapter X: Feelings.

Milly:

Date: July 10th, 2019.

"Milly, come here!" Amethyst called from the nursery, sounding jovial with firmness in her voice. I rushed towards the nursery and Amethyst led me over to FerretPool and her cubs, in which all three now had their eyes opened; Willow, who was the oldest of the litter, had green eyes while her sister had yellow-orange eyes like FiercePounce, their father, and as for their brother –the only boy of the litter–, Robin, he had teal clored eyes just like FerretPool. "They opened their eyes!" Amethyst annouced. "Aren't they just awesome?"

"Cool." I said in response. "And just why exactly did you drag me in here again?"

"I wanted to show you the cubs' eyes have opened up and see how pretty they are." Amethyst replied. Just then, Honey, Sweet, Ember, and Tiny --BerryClaw and ShadowHunter's pups who were two months older than them-- came over to them and so did Snail and his sister, Poppy, who were the pups of MoonFur and FrogPounce as well as the grandchildren of the late Chief ShadowHeart that were a month younger than the rest. "Pups, don't crowd around FerretPool and her cubs." BerryClaw scolded them, but of course, they did not listen to her as they were curious to see their denmates with their eyes opened. "You six head back to your mother's and do as you're told and give your denmates a bit of space to look around them." I said to them as firmly as I could. Then the six pups when back to their mothers as soon as I had told them to. "It's cool that their eyes are opened and all." I said to Amethyst. "Can I leave now?"

Amethyst: "Yeah, go on. I just wanted to show you that."

I then left the nursery, questioning why Amethyst wanted to waste a little bit of my time just to show me FerretPool and FiercePunce's cubs' eyes were now opened. To this day, I find it a little silly to even think about.

That day, I had apoligized to SilentShadow for my behavior the previous day, and as harsh as he is with everyone, he forgave me easily somehow and we just worked together while I helped him with whatever it was he needed help with the most.

As we were working, StrawberryHeart walked up to us and at that moment, SilentShadow became flushed and red. "You two need any help?" She asked us. "I can help out with whatever it is if you want."

"We're good, thank you for asking, StrawberryHeart." I replied. "Okay, I've already checked on CloudedEyes and he's doing well." She continued. "I was just about to head to get some fresh bedding for the elders so that way they won't be complaining all night long. We don't really have any apprentices at the moment, so with us carrying out these duties will have to do for right now until one of the offspring are ready to become apprentices. You two wanna come help me out with collecting lamb's ear and some moss? I know just where to find some."

"S-S-Sure thing, StrawberryHeart!" SilentShadow replied, "Come on, Milly, let's go!" He sounded keen and quite jubilant about helping StrawberryHeart with carrying out this task and I also helped out with finding new bedding as well. We came back withexactly what we needed with a few extra comfortable things for the animals to lay on as well, we tended to the elders and even the mothers and replaced some of the bedding from the other dens as well. "Thanks, you guys." StrawberryHeart sighed when we finished up, "I appreciate all the help."

"A-Anytime."  SilentShadow replied, sounding flustered. "If you need anything else, you know where to us as well as Milly or Amethsyt."

"All right, I'll see youn later." She then left to go on about her day. "You like that she-wolf, don't ya?" I playfully asked SilentShadow when she was well out of sight. SilentShadow looked at me in defiance and embrassment. "N-N-No, I don't." He stammered. "I just think she's cool, all right?"

Milly: "Sure ya do. Just admit you like her already and just get them butterflies out of your stomach. It'd help you if ya did."

SilentShadow: "All right, I like her! Okay? Are you happy now?"

Milly: "That's what I thought."

SilentShadow: "Are you happy now?

Milly: "Yes. Yes, I am."

Then he left. I would have known that he liked StrawberryHeart to begin with when StrawberryHeart first approached us asking us for extra help. In fact, he was in love with her and these feelings would turn into love soon enough, I was sure of it.
...
Date: July 10th-July 11th, 2019.

"Use your whole body weight to shove 'em down and use great force while you're doing it too. And once you have them pinned, leave deep cut in their throat!" Brennar told me. That same night, I began the second night of receiving the "help" I needed the most. "So, you want me to knock my oppenent down and then give them the final, killing blow is what you're saying?" I asked him. "Precisely." SplinterFang added in. "And if you really want to give a final blow, rip their throat out if you must!"

"Slit their throat or rip it out." Got it! I kept that advice in mind whenever we had to battle or if we were in a skirmish of sorts. Boy, was I stupid to keep this in advice at hand whenever something like this happened later down the line. Then came the part of practicing this; a gray vixen came up to me and remembering what I was told, I did exactly that and I slit her throat as simple as that with only a scar left behind my right ear. "Excellent work Milly." WoodTooth said when the fight was over. Strangely enough, the animal I fought didn't die, but the injury I gave her stayed of them as she got back and looked at me. "I outta admit it, Milly. You're tougher than I thought." She told me.

"Ah, don't mention it." I said. Little did I know that what I was taught that night would later make my life take a turn for the worse and you will see exactly what I mean by that.