Phantom of the Clans

Chapter 6

Spiritpaw woke early the next morning to hear Graypaw telling his brother to go check on Yellowfang. He could feel his stomach growling horribly from skipping his meal last night. He got up and stretched before padding outside.

He picked up a small, plump thrush from the fresh kill pile and ate. Afterward he picked out a squirrel and took it to the nursery where Nightpaw was. He set it down in front of Frostfur.

"Thank you, Spiritpaw." she mewed gratefully.

"No problem. How is Nightpaw this morning?" he asked.

"She's tired. You shouldn't worry about her so much. We know what we're doing." she purred in amusement.

Spiritpaw felt his ears heat up in embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I'll try not to worry so much. I'll see you again this afternoon, Frostfur." With that he left. He missed the confused look he was given for his strange vernacular.

He stepped out of the nursery and looked over to see Firepaw snapping at Yellowfang. Curious, he padded over to them in time to hear what his brother was saying.

"You'd still feel humiliated if I were warrior-born. You'd feel ashamed whether I was a precious she-cat from your own Clan or a wretched Twoleg that had picked you off the ground." Firepaw lashed his tail from side to side. "It's the fact that you need to rely on any cat that you find so humiliating!"

Yellowfang stared at him, her orange eyes very wide.

Firepaw carried on fiercely; "You're just going to have to get used to being cared for until you are well enough to look after yourself, you spiteful old bone bag!"

Spiritpaw was impressed. Maybe he wasn't the only one with a temper after all.

Firepaw stopped as Yellowfang began to make a low, harsh, wheezing sound.

Alarmed, Firepaw took a step toward her. The she-cat was trembling all over and her eyes were narrowed into tiny slits. Was she having some kind of fit?

"Look, I didn't mean..." he began, before realizing that she was laughing!

"Mr-ow, ow-ow," she mewled, a purr rumbling up from deep inside her chest.

Spiritpaw tilted his head a little in confusion.

"You have spirit, kittypet," Yellowfang croaked, stopping at last. "Now, I'm tired and my leg hurts. I need sleep and something to put on this wound. Go and find that pretty little medicine cat of yours and ask her for some herbs. I think you'll find a goldenrod poultice would help. And, while you're at it, I wouldn't mind a few poppy seeds to chew on. The pain is killing me!"

Spiritpaw watched as Firepaw raced away before looking at the old medicine cat. Deciding his brother had it handled, he went to find Runningwind, who was sharing a meal with Mousefur.

Runningwind looked up at him. "Hello, Spiritpaw. Heard you got put on hunting duty."

Spiritpaw nodded.

Runningwind stood up. "Lionheart. Mind if I lead a hunting patrol?"

"I'll come with you." Lionheart meowed. "Spiritpaw, could you fetch Graypaw?"

"Yes." Spiritpaw left to the apprentice's den. Graypaw was stretched out in his nest. "We're going hunting." he mewed.

"I want to sleep a little longer.." Graypaw mumbled.

"Lionheart said to come get you." Spiritpaw stated. Prodding him in the side with a paw.

"Alright! Alright!" Graypaw swatted his paw away. He got up and shook his fur out.