Stars Without Borders

5

Softpaw and Mousepaw took turns carrying back the rabbit as they headed towards the camp. Softpaw tripped over one of the feet of the rabbit causing her to stumble into Mousepaw as she dropped her prey.

"Sorry.." She mumbled taking a few steps away from him as he purred in amusement.

"It's fine Softpaw. Any cat would be stumbling over prey this big." He meowed reassuringly.

"If you say so.." Softpaw meowed unconvinced.

"Here you carry the mouse and I'll take over the rabbit ok?" He asked pushing the mouse towards her which she nodded thankfully as she picked it up in her jaws. By the time they got back to camp they were practically asleep on their paws.

"Here Softpaw it's your catch. You should carry it in." Mousepaw stated motioning to the rabbit with his tail and took the mouse from her jaws causing her pelt to heat up.

"O-ok.." She muttered picking up the rabbit in her jaws and carrying it through the tunnel.

"Mousepaw-! Woah! Softpaw did you catch that?!" A cream colored tom meowed surprised, but all she could do was nod in response as she made her way to a pile stocked with prey and placed her rabbit with the rest.

"Mousepaw. Did she really catch that?? Or did you just give it to her??" The tom questioned while Mousepaw shook his head.

"She caught it all by herself Berrypaw." He meowed glaring slightly.

"Oh... Well.. Great catch Softpaw." Berrypaw meowed before bounding away towards a small gray and white she-cat.

"That's my brother, Berrypaw and that she cat he's with is my sister, Hazelpaw." Mousepaw explained while she only nodded in response.

"Softpaw! Mousepaw! Fetch something for the elders!" A black tom with a brown underbelly ordered causing Softpaw to flinch slightly at his tone.

"Yes Spiderleg." Mousepaw meowed dipping his head while Softpaw looked at the fresh kill pile. Deciding on a vole she waited on Mousepaw as he picked up a mouse realizing she still didn't know the camp very well. Motioning her with the tip of his tail, Mousepaw padded over to a makeshift den before disappearing inside while Softpaw followed in nervously.

"About time!" A brown she-cat muttered glaring at the two as they entered the den.

"I smell Mousepaw.. But who is with you?" Asked a younger looking tom with a striped pale pelt.

"Longtail. Mousefur. This is Softpaw." Mousepaw spoke as he placed a mouse in front of the she-cat.

"Another kittypet. Of course." Mousefur spat poking the mouse. Remembering the vole, Softpaw padded infront of the tom and placed the vole in front of him. Looking in his dull eyes sent a shock through Softpaw's body.

"You're blind..." She whispered as she backed away slightly.

"Yes I am." He responded calmly before taking a bite out of the vole.

"Softpaw we should get something to eat before we head off to the apprentice'a den to sleep." Mousepaw spoke snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Ok.." She muttered as they left the den.

"Don't worry about Mousefur. She's just... Well, Mousefur." Mousepaw meowed as they neared the fresh kill pile.

"I'll.. Try to remember that.." Softpaw muttered in response as she picked up a shrew.

"Come on. You can eat with me. I'm sure everyone else has already eaten." He motioned his tail towards another group of cats before picking up a squirrel and padding over towards them, Softpaw following closely behind.

"Looks like Mousepaw has a shadow." A golden tabby remarked looking up from his paws.

"Shut up Lionpaw." Mousepaw glared settling himself beside Berrypaw as Softpaw sat a tail length away from him feeling embarrassed as she ate her shrew silently.

"So who do you think will be going to the gathering?" Hollyleaf asked as she padded over to join them.

"Softpaw is definitely going. She's Firestar's apprentice so it's a guarantee. And of course Mousepaw and I will be going as well." Berrypaw meowed giving his chest a few quick licks.

"I.. Don't think I'll be able to go..." Softpaw meowed quietly causing them to turn their gazes towards her.

"What?! It wouldn't make sense if you weren't there!" Berrypaw hoped to his paws his eyes wide open.

"Yeah... Well.. I doubt it... I'm going to sleep... Bye..." Softpaw meowed as she finished her shrew and padded inside the apprentice'a den to see her brother Smokepaw already curled up in the corner. Padding over to him she scrapped some fresh moss beside him before curling into his side.