Moonpaw sat up in the apprentices den, a single thought on her mind. Leopardstar, I'll show you who I really am!
Moonpaw sat up when she felt Pikepaw squeeze in beside her. "Y-you seem w-well rested, M-moonpaw." He nuzzled into her fur. Ugh! Not now, Pikepaw! Moonpaw wanted to shout, but she bit back the words.
"Uh, yes Pikepaw. Did you, also, sleep well?" Moonpaw meowed back, trying to awkwardly step sideways from her nest.
"Oh, I-I slept g-great!" Pikepaw purred. Moonpaw stood up, abruptly. "Well, that's good. Um, I need to go now. Urgent business with Owlsight. Mentors, am I right?" meowed Moonpaw, backing away.
Moonpaw padded away, leaving behind a crestfallen Pikepaw. Moonpaw heard him sigh from behind her and felt a stab of guilt at leaving so abruptly.
Moonpaw flicked her whiskers uncertainly and stepped into camp. Frost crunched underfoot and cold rays of the leaf-bare sun hit her pelt, chilling her to the bone.
Moonpaw stretched her paws ahead of her, feeling if she was about to walk into something. Satisfied, Moonpaw walked her usual route to the fresh-kill pile. She sniffed the air but found only the stalest scents of prey.
Turning back around, Moonpaw scented a familiar apprentice as they walked towards her. Petalpaw.
"Would you like to share my water vole? It isn't much, but you'll need strength for your assessment with Leopardfur," Petalpaw mewed in her soft, kind voice. Moonpaw nodded and flicked her tail, gratefully.
The two apprentices huddled together, bent over the small bit of fresh-kill. Moonpaw felt her pelt warm where she was close to the other apprentice.
Moonpaw took a small bite and heard Petalpaw do the same. Moonpaw still felt hungry but she pushed the remnants of the vole towards Petalpaw with her muzzle. She felt resistance and realised Petalpaw was trying to give Moonpaw the last bit of prey.
"You take it," Moonpaw meowed, trying to ignore her rumbling stomach. Petalpaw chuckled. "I've had my fill. Please have the last bite, do it for me," mewed Petalpaw. Moonpaw sighed and bent down to eat the last bit of the meal.
"I should get ready with Owlsight now," meowed Moonpaw, though she didn't want to leave. "Yes, I'll see you later." Petalpaw gave her a lick on the ear and Moonpaw heard her step away.
Moonpaw shook the snowflakes from her pelt and raced to the warriors den, scenting Owlsight as she approached.
"Ah, Moonpaw," mewed her mentor. "We should leave soon, Leopardfur came back late in the night and I imagine she will want to test you quickly."
Moonpaw nodded and the two cats padded towards the camp entrance, frosted reeds crunching underfoot. But, the two cats had barely taken a few steps when Leopardfur's yowl could be heard.
"Cats old enough to swim! Gather beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!" Leopardfur shouted. Moonpaw stepped towards the new leader's voice, Owlsight's tail on her side to guide her.
"Cats of the river, I have traveled to Highstones and received my nine lives. From this moment onwards I will be known as Leopardstar!" Moonpaw couldn't help shuddering at the news, even though she had heard it from Shiningstar already.
"I name my deputy as Owlsight!" Leopardstar continued. Mews of approval rang throughout camp at this news. Moonpaw heard Owlsight stand up beside her.
YOU ARE READING
The Blind Warrior - The Brightest Prophecy, Part 1
FantasyMoonkit was born blind and faces prejudice from her clan. As misfortunes and hardships face the clan, a mysterious cat joins them... But their intentions might not be as good as it seems. ...
