Fire Clan: Foxkit's Destiny

Chapter 15:

"Wake up!" Called a voice, waking Foxpaw up from a troubling and uneasy feeling dream. "Foxpaw we are going hunting with Rabbitail, Nightpaw, and Mallowfur, ok?"

Foxpaw nodded wearily, having a sinking feeling in her stomach when Riversplash mentioned Mallowfur. She got up, shaking the scraps out of her pelt, giving her chest a few licks, and streched each of her legs in turn before padding out in the open, looking up at the slowly rising sun, trying to climb its way past up the trees. She then saw the group waiting for her. She quickly padded over to them.

"What took you so long?" Mallowfur hissed under her breath next to her, to low for anyone else but her to hear.

Foxpaw gritted her teeth and ignored her while she tried to listen to the instructions Riversplash was giving them.

"-and will be hunting separately. Got it?" He asked scanning our faces. Everyone nodded. "Good. Now lets go," he said as he padded through the exit tunnel quickly while everyone followed behind him. Once the reached the forest grounds a little ways in he said, "All right, fan out and meet here by sun high!"

"Got it," they all said in illusion.

But just as when Foxpaw was about to leap off in another direction, Nightpaw laid the tip of his tail on her shoulder. "Wait," he said quietly. Foxpaw didn't move.

When everyone had cleared to hunt in their quadrant, Nightpaw pressed his fur into Foxpaw's briefly. "Is everything alright?" He asked with concern in his voice.

Foxpaw and forced a smile. "Yes! Everything is perfectly fine! Why do you ask?"

Nightpaw frowned. "Whats wrong Foxpaw? You know you can tell me. And if it's Clover Clan don't worry because I'll make sure to protect you and-"

Foxpaw shook her head interrupting him. "N-no. It's not that. And don't worry, I don't need protection."

Nightpaw nodded. "I know, but I just want to make sure you know that the offer is there. But then what is it?"

She shook her head again. "Maybe I'll tell you later k?"

He frowned unsatisfied but didn't press. "Alright. But just remember that I'll always be here for you, ok?"

She nodded. "Ok thanks. Meet you back at sun high?" She asked lightly, trying to brighten the mood.

Nightpaw smiled. "Till then," he said giving her cheek a lick before bounding off in another direction. "And I bet I will catch more prey than you!"

"Haha doubt it!" Foxpaw called playfully after him.

He gave her a wave of his tail before he disappeared into the undergrowth. But when she turned to go another way, she felt a close pelt next to hers, breathing down into her ear.

"Don't you dare go close to my son. He's destined to be leader. I know it. So stay away," the feminine voice hissed sharply into her ear, spitting slightly.

Foxpaw flinched, nodding shakily.

"Good," and with that, she walked away. Foxpaw was to afraid to glance back to make sure she was gone when she plunged into the undergrowth to get away from her as fast as she she could, not looking back.

***

At sun high, Foxpaw padded back to the place where they first separated with a rabbit and two mice. Everyone else was already there calmly waiting. When Nightpaw saw her he instantly brightened up smiling.

"Hey Foxpaw!" He said brightly.

Mallowfur who was next to him snorted and said under her breath, "You shouldn't welcome someone who is late."

Foxpaw swallowed her annoyance and disappointment and kept her head held high. "No I didn't. It's exactly sun high."

She looked up at the sun but just gave me a glare.

"So everyone's here?" Riversplash asked ignoring the small quarrel.

They all nodded, Nightpaw shifting closer to Foxpaw, gently pressing his fur to hers comfortingly.

Riversplash nodded satisfied, only briefly glancing at the pair. "Lets head back."

They all nodded again but Foxpaw felt a heated gaze on her pelt. As everyone once again picked up their prey and started to leave, Foxpaw felt a tail on her shoulder which sent a shiver down her spine. Nightpaw was now happily trotting beside Rabbitail who was giving him praises on how big his two sparrows were, to busy to realize Foxpaw was being held up.

"We need to talk," hissed a very familiar voice.

Foxpaw swallowed. "About what Mallowfur?"

"My son and.. you," she said in a disgusted voice.

She gulped.

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So sorry for the short chapter! But I'm finally moving along with the story X3