Owlflight's Kits (Book One)

Chapter Thirteen

"How is she doing?" Owlflight asked. He had stayed in MudClan for three days now, and he was practically desperate to leave. But Cloud needed time to heal, and Brownfur said that it could take up to a moon.

But Owlflight could not wait a moon. He felt unhappy being with the clan that he had just left; he knew they thought he was a traitor. How could he stay with them, when they continuously gave him dirty looks and insults?

"She's healing well." Brownfur murmured. "I believe she will be able to walk again in around... Half a moon. She will always limp, though. It was a nasty fall."

Owlflight nodded slightly. "I'm.. Uh, gonna go talk to Robin and Stone now." He hurried out of Brownfur's den and to the apprentices den, where his sons had been staying since they arrived. Robin was surprisingly more comfortable being with the clan, and had actually left his father's side for once.

"Hey, Owlflight!" Stone jumped up when he saw Owlflight enter the cave.

"Hey." Owlflight muttered. "How are you two doing?"

Stone flicked his tail towards Robin, who laid with his tail curled over his nose. The long fur covered his whole face, making it hard to tell whether he was awake or not. "I don't think he's very well." Stone sighed. "He's.. Been... Odd."

"What's wrong?" Owlflight tilted his head.

"Dunno. I think he.. Snuck out last night. He left, I asked him what he was doing, and he told me he was going to make dirt. But he didn't come back for hours.. That's why he's sleeping now, he barely slept last night. I thought he'd gone to sleep with you, but he didn't, did he?" Stone asked.

"No." Owlflight's mind whorled. Why would Robin, of all cats, be sneaking out? "Have you said anything about it to him?"

Stone shook his head. "I haven't had a chance. He's been asleep."

"He probably has an explanation." Owlflight shrugged. "I can't think of any reason he'd sneak out."

Stone nodded. "Okay. I'll see if he leaves tonight."

*

Robin did leave that night, Stone reported. He said that he tried to follow him, but was discovered, so he didn't get to see where Robin was going. Owlflight was confused by this.
He was even more confused when he noticed that Robin had been much less dependant. He wasn't as nervous, either. He seemed to know that Owlflight was suspicious, clearly avoiding him. He'd make up excuses not to talk to him, or just stay as far away from him as possible.

Owlflight was afraid of what would happen when they left. Would Robin decide to stay with MudClan? Firepelt would be extremely angry. He knew how much Robin's safety meant to her; he couldn't just allow Robin to stay, could he?

"Hey, Robin." Owlflight greeted his son one morning. It was a particularly warm day, telling Owlflight of the upcoming greenleaf. He was glad the harsh cold and shortage of prey was over, but that was the last thing on his mind.

"Hey." Robin replied. He was eating a squirrel that had no doubt been stolen from GreenClan. It had the earthy, forest scent that all GreenClan cats carried.

"Where did you get that?" Owlflight asked.

Robin's whiskers twitched. "From the fresh-kill pile?"

"It reeks of GreenClan."

"I know. Not my fault if MudClan steals prey." He shrugged, sitting up. "Why? You think I stole it, don't you?"

"I- well, Stone tells me you've been sneaking out." Owlflight flattened his ears in embarrassment, feeling hot under his fur.

"Is that why you've been acting strange?" Robin laughed. "It was only one time. I was hungry and didn't want to wait for morning to eat."

"Stone says he's seen you multiple times."

"Well, he's lying!"

"Why would he lie about that? It's not like it matters either way. You won't get punished or anything.." Owlflight was puzzled.

Robin shook his head. "He's mad at me because I saved Cloud from the gorge and he didn't. He likes to be the hero.."

Owlflight considered that for a moment, but before he could reply, Robin stood and shook his fur off. "I'm going to get rid of this." He said, flicking his tail towards the remains of the squirrel. "Goodbye, Owlflight."

Avoiding conversation again. Owlflight thought, the fur on his shoulders standing up. Could Robin really be up to something?