Mutatio

Chapter 8 NightSky

Two weeks had passed since FlamePaw learned the truth about who his mom was. Two weeks had passed since MistTail made me swear not to tell anyone else about FlamePaw's powers. Two weeks had passed, and FlamePaw still wasn't talking to me. He didn't talk to anyone very much. Not anymore. He walked around camp with his head bowed, watching his paws as he worked. He had grown a lot since I caught him sleeping outside the nursery. He was strong and quick, and he had long since lost his puppy fuzz. He did every task assigned to him without question or complaint, and never played with the other apprentices. As I watched from the other side of the clearing, I saw KindlePaw nudge him with her nose, making him raise his head. They exchanged a few words, then FlamePaw turned and walked away. KindlePaw watched him walk away, sadness in her eyes. I bit my lip. I had to talk to him. This had been going on for too long. I got to my paws and walked over to FlamePaw.

"FlamePaw, we need to talk." I told him. He didn't even acknowledge me. He brushed past me and left the camp. I growled slightly and followed him. "FlamePaw!" I called. He twitched his tail and picked up his pace. If he started running, I would loose him. I couldn't run as fast as him. Not to mention that I wasn't feeling the greatest.

"FlamePaw! As the mate of the Alpha's son, I am telling you to stop running and talk to me!" I snarled. FlamePaw stopped dead in his tracks. I walked up next to him, but he didn't look at me. I nudged him and he pulled away. I sighed and sat down.

"FlamePaw, I'm sorry. I really am. I should have told you sooner, and I would've only...it wasn't my secret to tell." I told him. He sat down, his lip curled in slightly.

"Is that the Zeta's mate, or my aunt talking?" He snapped. I moved closer to him.

"It's me talking. Your friend. The friend that didn't tell when you slept outside the nursery, the friend that gave you lessons on how to fight before you were even apprenticed. The friend that would've been your mentor if it weren't for a certain...medical condition." FlamePaw looked up at me, his eyes sad. "The friend that helped MistTail back to camp and told no one of what she had seen a young wolf do, because she knew that it wasn't his fault." FlamePaw suddenly buried his head in my shoulder. I rubbed my muzzle against him as tears dripped down his cheeks.

"I just wanted to be normal..." He whispered. I licked the top of his head comfortingly.

"I know, FlamePaw. And you are normal. You've just got...special qualities, that's all." I assured him. He raised his head, not looking convinced. Then his eyes filled with worry.

"You said you had a medical condition... Are you alright? What is it?" He inquired, concerned. I smirked and nudged him with my nose.

"I'm fine. I'm just not sure I want the rest of the pack to know yet. And your mentor doesn't know either, so don't ask her about it. I don't need her on my case as well." I said with a laugh. FlamePaw smiled slightly, but he still looked worried. "I'm fine, FlamePaw, I swear I am!" He shook his head.

"Fine. Do you...do you wanna go hunting with me?" He asked. I smiled and nodded.

"I would love to go hunting."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When we came back to camp, the others had already eaten and were settling down for the night. FlamePaw thanked me for earlier that day, then ran off to find KindlePaw. I sighed and padded over to ShadowChirp, who was laying down in a patch of grass, bathing in the setting sun. I laid down next to him and he licked my cheek.

"How are you feeling?" He wondered. I shrugged.

"I've felt better." I informed him, resting my head on his paws. He started grooming my pelt, comforting me.