Nightclouds Heartache

Chapter seven

  Nightpaw lifted her muzzle sleepily at the sound of paws thudding into camp. Annoyed that her clanmates were so careless of her sleep, she curled up into a tight ball trying to sleep again. Just as she was starting to fade into what felt like a deep sleep, a paw jabbed her ribs.
"Hi, Nightpaw! Wanna hear a about the gathering!?" The newly named apprentice Owlpaw meowed excitedly. Nightpaw lifted her head for the second time grumpily.
"Oh, I'm sorry if my sleeping bothered you." She mewed sarcastically. Ignoring her nasty retort Owlpaw started telling her about the gathering. Nightpaw lied back down but pricked her ears to listen.
"...The leader of Shadowclan is this big scary black tom. Of course, you probably saw him during the battle but I wasn't allowed outside the nursery. The leader of Thunderclan is a big orange tom, Firestar. He seemed nice. My mentor, Tornear, told me that he saved Windclan once when he was just a warrior. Cool right? Oh, and you know how Crowpaw's missing? Well, I got news on that-" Nightpaw bolted up at these words. Blinking curiously at her, Owlpaw continued.
"Apparently, some cats from other clans are gone, too. None of the other clans know where they went, though. Oh, and the other leaders are having problems with monsters coming on their territory. Well, I guess it's better them than us. Anyway, that's mostly what happened tonight," Owlpaw finished. Disappointed that he had no further news on Crowpaw, but glad that he was finished talking, Nightpaw curled her tail over her muzzle as she lay down. Nightpaw flinched as Owlpaw lay his tail on her back. He quickly lifted his tail off, giving his chest an embarrassed lick.
"Sorry..." He mumbled awkwardly. Nightpaw chose not to reply, but was thoroughly annoyed by him. Nightpaw fell asleep, thinking of Crowpaw.

Nightpaw woke up to Pinetail nudging her. Feeling as if she had only slept for a minute, she tried to pretend to be asleep. Nightpaw felt the tapping stop, amazed that it had worked. She soon found out though, that she was wrong.
"Nightpaw when your done acting like a kit and ready to be apprentice you can come out and groom the elders." Pinetail meowed briskly. Sighing, Nightpaw slowly got up and padded out of the den. She looked around seeing that the rest of the clan was awake and doing chores. Unwillingly she headed to the elders den.

"It's 'bout time some cat came to groom us!" Torndew rasped grumpily.
Seeing that Nightpaw wasn't about to reply he went on, "You youngsters off doing 'important' things. Not caring about us old folk. Why, when I was a apprentice, I was always responsible. Not like you young-ins." Nightpaw couldn't stand to keep her mouth shut any more. I hate Torndew!
"I'm here now arnt I?!" Nightpaw meowed rudely. Torndew opened his jaw to reply but was cut off by Morningflower.
"Oh, Torndew, I don't recall you being responsible cat, so stop squabbling like a kit! But, Nightpaw, it's your duty to rid us of fleas, not argue with us," Morning flower meowed in a sweet but stern voice. Nightpaw shot her a nasty look and started on her fleas.
Trying to ignore story Torndew was telling, Nightpaw's thoughts strayed to Crowpaw. I wonder where he's gone. I hope he wasn't captured! Maybe he left on his own free will. I hope he is okay. Why would he leave, though? Maybe Shadowclan took him! Nightpaw was shaken out of her thoughts by Torndew.
"Hey what's the hold up? Scared to touch my fur? It's not that dirty!" Torndew meowed hastily.
"S-sorry, I was just lost in my thoughts, I guess." Nightpaw meowed distantly.
"Worried about Crowpaw?" Morningflower meowed, with a little to knowing look in her eyes. Angry and annoyed Morningflower had guessed right, she replied sharply.
"No! Anyway, it's none of your business!" With a hurt look in her eyes, Morningflower didn't reply.

Nightpaw padded out of the elders den, glad she was done. Morningflower seemed to have guessed her feeling for Crowpaw. She scanned the camp in search of Pinetail. Finally, she spotted him sharing prey with Webfoot. They had their tails twined talking in quiet voices. Nightpaw padded up to them waiting to be greeted. She stood there waiting for them to notice her. Annoyed that they didn't notice her, Nightpaw cleared her throat. After a heart beat or two, Pinetail looked up at her.
"Oh, are you done grooming the elders?" Nightpaw nodded, "Good, you can go hunting with Owlpaw and Tornear now," Pinetail meowed in her brisk voice that she only saved for Nightpaw.
"Oh yeah, speaking of Owlpaw, I was wonder why when he just became an apprentice and already got to go to the gathering, when I haven't gone once!" Nightpaw spat angrily. Pinetail looked Webfoot, who looked awkward at hearing them argue.
"Webfoot, could you just give us a moment please?" Pinetail asked sweetly. Webfoot nodded looking relieved. Pinetail watched him walk away before replying.
"Me and Tallstar agreed that you were in no condition to go to a gathering." Pinetail replied shortly.
"What do you mean no condition?!" Nightpaw asked angrily.
"You've been so grumpy and rude lately that we agreed that you were in no condition to go. You might have gotten worked up and broken the truce," Pinetail meowed simply. Before Nightpaw could reply, she continued.
"I know you miss Breezeheart, but that doesn't mean you can take it out on the rest of clan. Besides, you cannot grieve forever; your mother wouldn't want that. You have to move on and find good things in life. I miss my nice and cheery apprentice. What happened to her?" Pinetail meowed with a note of sympathy in her voice. She gazed at Nightpaw sadly. Nightpaw stared at her mentor anger bubbling in her stomach. How can she tell what my mother wants?! She is no medicine cat! With no reply, Nightpaw gave an angry hiss and stalked off.