Darksong's Struggle

Chapter 9

The frog made Darkpaw have hiccups all night, which were quickly silenced by a jumpscare from Brindlepaw. The silence in camp was odd, with cats quietly sharing tongues, just like any SkyClan cat. There was a fearful aroma in the air, and Darkpaw felt unease churn his belly. The ShadowClan cats were acting like prey just waiting to be caught.

The prison ground was cold and muddy. Brindlepaw rolled over. "It's impossible to get any sleep," He complained.

"At least the den is warm," Webpaw pointed out.

"But they really couldn't bother to give us any bedding? Not even some bracken?" Brindlepaw grumbled. He sat up, his tail flicking and sending specks of grit scattering around the den. "Or do the ShadowClan cats sleep in brambles? Burrs? I got plenty from rolling around with Tornpaw today." He flicked a black ear, seemingly bothered by the earlier mock fight session. "Or maybe I got them from that piece of fox-dung!"

Webpaw grunted and glanced at his paw. "No, you're right. I've got a thorn wedged in there."

"Darkpaw?" Brindlepaw hissed.

Darkpaw blinked. "What?" He noticed Brindlepaw and Webpaw looking at him expectantly, as if he was about to do something. He nervously scuffled the ground with a forepaw. "Do you need something?"

"Oh," Webpaw mewed awkwardly. "I was wondering if you could get the thorn out of my paw?"

"Oh. Yeah." Darkpaw padded forward, feeling disappointment flood his chest. He had forgotten he was a medicine cats' apprentice. Since the training session, he had felt so much better about himself then he had since he was a kit, suckling in the nursery, unaware of anything wrong with him. He had felt like a warrior while fighting Fawnpaw, matching him blow to blow and easily outsmarting and outfighting him. Now he was stuck to being a healer, burdened by the weight of memorizing herbs and healing cats.

Webpaw held out his forepaw, and Darkpaw approached. He sniffed at it, pretending to know what he was doing. He could glimpse the fat end of the thorn, wedged deep in Webpaw's pad. "How did you not notice this?" He muttered, wishing his brother had told him earlier, before the thorn got so wedged in.

He stuck his nose onto Webpaw's paw pad, feeling it uncomfortably press against the skin. Awkwardly, he opened his jaws and struggled to grip the end of the thorn. It was just out of reach, and, terrified of pushing it in deeper, he backed up.

"Can you get it?" Brindlepaw asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Yes." Darkpaw reached out hesitantly with one claw unsheathed. Stop shaking! He had to be precise if he wanted to get the thorn out.

He tentatively hooked the end of the thorn with a claw, feeling it dig deep into the chip. He winced as he pulled, his claw already aching. But he thought it was working. Slowly, but surely. He wiggled the thorn, and it came a bit farther.

Webpaw gasped in pain.

"Sorry!" Darkpaw stopped pulling immediatly.

"No, no- it's fine." Webpaw blinked at him reassuringly. "I think you're getting it out. It's just been in there for so long that it's painful to pull."

Darkpaw hesitantly continued pulling, aware of Webpaw biting his lip, restraining himself from showing any signs of pain. Darkpaw was grateful to have such a good brother. He pulled the thorn out as fast as possible, and heard Webpaw let out a sigh as the thorn finally pulled out and thumped onto the ground.

"Thanks, Da-" Webpaw began, then looked at the thorn. His eyes widened. "StarClan, that's a lot of blood!"

Darkpaw followed his gaze and gasped. Past the bottom of the thorn, blood was covering it, staining the brown color crimson.