Silverlight's Virtue #1: Dark Shadows

Chapter 10

Sparrowpaw widened his eyes in mock innocence. "Who, me? Tell lies? Silverpaw, you've got bees in your brain." Silverpaw rolled her eyes and was about to retort when Dawnleaf came bustling over. She took one look at Silverpaw, who was covered in scratches and blood, and tutted, "Honestly, I thought Leaflight would do a better job of taking care of her apprentice. I mean, really! Look at you, sweetheart! Come with me."

Silverpaw gloomily waved her tail at Sparrowpaw and followed Dawnleaf into the medicine cat's den. Once there, Dawnleaf instructed her to sit down and wait for her to get the herbs. Silverpaw sat down, wincing as her cuts scraped the rocky floor.

After about five minutes, Dawnleaf came over to Silverpaw, her jaws clamped on a poultice of leaves. "Mmmf ermf merrrd mu u mmfmff," she mumbled through the leaves. Silverpaw cocked her head to one side. "What did you say?" Dawnleaf dropped the poultice, and mewed, "I said turn around so I can see your scratches." Silverpaw did as she was told, and Dawnleaf started spreading the poultice on her scratches.

                                                                                      ~*~

"There. All done, sweetheart. You can go now, but remember-" she fixed Silverpaw with an stern look, "Tell Leaflight that she's in for it now." Silverpaw stifled a purr. Only Dawnleaf could talk to Leaflight like that, and not get her ears clawed off.

Silverpaw decided that it would probably be safer to not tell Leaflight anything, and was about to settle down to a piece of fresh-kill when Shadowblaze came bounding over. "Silverpaw, Leaflight wants to see you in her den." Silverpaw groaned. "What does she want me for?" Shadowblaze shrugged. "Probably to ask you everything that happened while you were at FireClan." Silverpaw reluctantly got up and followed Shadowblaze into Leaflight's den.

Leaflight looked up as Shadowblaze entered, closely followed by Silverpaw. "There you are, Silverpaw. I thought Dawnleaf would never let you out of her den. I have a few questions to ask you."

"Okay."

"So, first we need to clear up what really happened after you were knocked out by the FireClan tom. Can you tell me what happened?"

Silverpaw settled into a more comfortable postion, and told Leaflight everything that had happened and everything she had heard in FireClan. When her narrative was over, Shadowblaze let out a sharp growl. "So FireClan is plotting forest domination, eh? And they started with us because they thought that docile LeafClan would be the easiest to defeat!"

Leaflight shook her head, looking like she was thinking hard. "I don't think so. LeafClan is merely the closest to the FireClan camp, so it would be easy for the FireClan invasion patrol to send for reinforcements. As for FireClan plotting forest domination, I'm afraid that has the distinct possibility of being true."

Shadowblaze's claws unsheathed, then quickly resheathed. "Those mange-pelts! They can't hunt in our territory anyways - they would scare away all the prey with their huge paws! None of the Clans can live on another's territory." Leaflight nodded, then mewed, "It is not up to us to decipher the motive of the FireClan cats, but for now, we must continue on as though nothing has happened."

Shadowblaze opened his mouth to speak, but Leaflight slapped her tail across his mouth. "We'll act as though nothing has happened to show FireClan that we are not afraid or shaken up by their attack, and to show them that we are as strong as ever, perhaps stronger."

Shadowblaze nodded his agreement, then shot a pointed glance at Leaflight - the meaning was clear: Get your tail off my face! Leaflight's tail shot away from his face like it was being chased by a horde of dogs. "Okay, Your Majesty." Leaflight mewed, hiding a grin. Shadowblaze rolled his eyes and mewed, "If you want to act like everything's normal, shouldn't we take a border patrol to the FireClan border?"