Sunflower's Past

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

"Sunflower, slow down! I can't go any farther." Weedwhisker panted as he came to a stop. Sunflower purred as she too slowed down.

"So, I win," Sunflower meowed with a purr of amusement. Weedwhisker didn't answer, but continued to pant heavily.

"We haven't even begun to catch mice even!" Weedwhisker meowed, narrowing his eyes at Sunflower. Sunflower jumped into the air.

"Then we will! This can be the meeting place, bye!" Sunflower meowed quickly, and then ran off deeper in the forest.

"I'll catch way more mice." Sunflower meowed to herself. A slight change in smell caught her attention, and her eyes flicked forward. Slinking low to the ground, she silently stalked the mouse. With a leap, she landed and gave the killing bite. It limply fell in her mouth.

Sunflower continued on and caught now more mouse. Pleased with herself, she made her way back to the meeting place.

"How many?" Weedwhisker demanded. He looked smug as she displayed the two mice.

"How many did you catch?" Sunflower asked, feeling a bit uneasy at his smug expression.

"I caught a squirrel!" Weedwhisker meowed proudly, and Sunflower meowed in amusement. The squirrel was small and pitiful.

"We were supposed to catch mice." Sunflower reminded him gently, and he stopped his look and looked at the ground.

"Of course," He mumbled. He looked up her and a spark of amusement was in his eyes. Sunflower purred and picked up her mice, promptly heading back to camp with Weedwhisker stumbling a bit before he followed.

They entered camp, which was in a dull mood. guessing the worst, Sunflower hurriedly left her mice and went straight to Forestpelt.

"What's going on?" Sunflower asked pointedly, and Forestpelt's tail drooped.

"I think you know," Forestpelt meowed with a sigh. Sunflower's eyes covered over and she sat down, no longer able to hold herself.

"Who?" She asked. Forestpelt sighed.

"Do you really want to know? Lilaceye." Forestpelt rushed, her gaze dropping to the ground. Sunflower nodded. She hadn't known the elder very long, but her death would affect the clan.

"Tomorrow is the gathering," Forestpelt meowed eagerly, trying to get off the subject of Lilaceye's death. Sunflower gratefully joined in about the gathering, remembering her first time there.

"Todays also our vigil, so at least we will do it all together," Forestpelt meowed again, and Sunflower purred.

"I wonder if Weedwhisker will be able to not meow the night away," Sunflower meowed and Forestpelt laughed. It felt better to not talk about the greencough that was devastating the clans. Ivystone approached the two she-cats slowly from the warriors den.

"Are you two still apprentices?" Ivystone asked, stifling a purr of amusement. The two she-cats stared at the deputy before realizing they were in front of the apprentice den.

"Oops," Forestpelt meowed and Ivystone purred. A deep cough surrounded the camp suddenly, and Ivystone stopped her purring.

"That's Fernstar, he's not doing very well," Ivystone meowed sadly. Sunflower suddenly jumped up and whirled around.

"Why is StarClan doing this?" She hissed in anger. "What did we do to them to deserve this?" She asked again, looking around in confusion. Ivystone's eyes were unwavering as she gazed at Sunflower with a newfound respect.

"Why don't you go to the Moonpool then? Ask StarClan yourself," Ivystone responded, looking over Sunflower closely. Forestpelt was silent until now.

"I'll come with," She meowed strongly. Sunflower looked surprised.

"Who knows if I'm even going to the Moonpool," Sunflower meowed in defeat. Forestpelt jumped to her feet.

"We're going. StarClan needs to give these warriors some answers," Forestpelt meowed stubbornly. Ivystone nodded with her eyes half closed, thinking over what they were going to do. These were two new warriors, and they had their vigils yet. Deciding carefully, she opened her eyes, the two she-cats looking at her.

"You may go, count this as your vigil and don't talk on the way. Come back as soon as you wake up from the Moonpool. We will need you," Ivystone instructed carefully, eying the she-cats. They nodded in acknowledgement.

"Come on, we are going to need travel herbs," Forestpelt instructed. The two stopped at the medicine den and hesitated, the coughs stopping. Sticktail poked his head out and saw the cats.

"What do you two need?" He meowed gruffly. The she-cats exchanged glances but Forestpelt answered.

"Travel herbs, we are going to the Moonpool," She meowed, looking at Sticktail. He didn't say a word, only coming out of the den with some herbs, and then disappearing back inside. Sunflower stared after him, but he didn't reappear.

"Eat." Forestpelt instructed once again, and Sunflower sniffed the herbs, wrinkling her nose. Looking over to Forestpelt, she saw that she was doing the same thing.

"Eat them whole, whether they taste good or not," Mosspaw meowed irritably, his eyes narrowing at the two. Sunflower glanced at his stormy gaze and realized they were blocking the way into the medicine den. Gulping down the herbs, a horrible taste filled her, and she gagged once efore moving out of the way. Mosspaw, looking superior, padded inside with a smirk.

"Ready?" Forestpelt asked, seeing Sunflower looking down.

"Ready," Sunflower meowed, meeting her friend. Together, they headed for the entrance, ready to face a pack of foxes if they had to in order to get to the Moonpool.

-Just another chapter out, next one will be their way to the Moonpool. So, yeah! See you next time!- Moonflier