[Warriors] - Book 1 - Beyond the Lake.

Chapter 8

Mintheart looked at his mate, who was daydreaming away about something. The black she-cat had been awfully distracted today, which worried Mintheart. "Hey, Skypelt! Your mind's somewhere else again.", he meowed. Skypelt snapped put of her daze. "Sorry Mintheart, I was thinking about something my sister said.", she purred lovingly. "It's late, maybe you should get some sleep, Skypelt.", Mintheart suggested. Skypelt yawned, "Maybe you're right, I'm pretty tired. Goodnight, Mintheart.", she meowed and licked her mate's ear before going into the Warrior Den. Mintheart sat in silence, wondering what Skypelt's sister, Goodnight, could've said to her that distracted her so much. He decided to just shrug it off for now, surely it couldn't be something bad. Suddenly, a figure appeared out of the apprentices den. Mintheart recognized his apprentice, Rainpaw tiptoeing towards him. "Good evening, Mintheart.", the light grey cat meowed. "Hello, Rainpaw.", Mintheart greeted his apprentice. "What are you doing up this late?". Rainpaw sat down next to Mintheart. "Don't you think my sister's been very airheaded lately?", Rainpaw asked the mint-colored tom. Mintpelt nodded in agreement. "I know what you mean, she's been like that the entire day now.", he answered the young cat. "Do you think it's something bad?", Rainpaw's voice sounded a bit worried. Mintheart shrugged, "I don't know, I don't think so, personally. She didn't seem upset or worried, just a bit distracted, as if her thoughts were somewhere else.". Rainpaw looked at the ground, "Whenever I ask her if something's bothering her, she says it's nothing.", he mewled softly. Mintheart poked the young cat's flank with this tail. "You worry too much, Rainpaw. I'm sure Skypelt will be just fine.", he encouraged the apprentice. "I hope you're right.", Rainpaw mumbled, his voice sounded thankful. "Well then, I think I'm going to sleep aswell, it's getting late.", Mintheart got up from his spot and stretched. "Goodnight, Rainpaw."

The sun awoke Mintheart by shining right in his eyes. The tom yawned and stretched, he looked around the den. Only Colorpelt and Brighttail were still asleep. He stepped outside the den, feeling the warm morning sun on his fur. He noticed a few apprentices such as Lightpaw, Crèmepaw and Dreampaw, but Rainpaw was nowhere to be seen. He was probably still tired from his late night talk yesterday. Mintheart decided to wake the young cat up for a hunting practise, but before he could reach the apprentice den, a ball of black fur jumped onto his shoulder. In the distance, Momma-Cat Nightleaf came running out of the nursery, towards him. It eas then he noticed that the black fuzzy ball was Blackkit, Nightleaf's son and Skypelt's youngest brother. The kitten climbed around on Mintheart, plating with his ears and attacking his tail until Nightleaf grabbed her young and pulled him off. "I'm so sorry, Mintheart. He was gone before I knew it.", the black Queen apologized. "No need to apologize, Nightleaf. That's just how kittens are.", he purred. He didn't notice Skypelt watching him since she returned from training Emberpaw, an amused glint in her eyes. Mintheart was good with kittens. He'd be a good father.