Nightclouds Heartache

Chapter eight

  Nightpaw sat basking in the sun beside the elders den. It had been a moon since her squabble with Pinetail. Nightpaw rolled over lazily, and noticed Pinetail approaching her. She yawned and sat up, preparing to defend herself against whatever her mentor was going to complain about. As Pinetail approached, she did not greet Nightpaw, she merely stared at her. After a couple heartbeats, Nightpaw broke the silence.
"Do you want something?" She snapped.
'Huh? Oh yes, sorry." Pinetail meowed distantly.
"Well?!" Nightpaw prodded, her temper rising. She was in no mood to play guessing games. Pinetail began to look uncomfortable, a look you rarely saw Pinetail using.
"Nightpaw, I, er, have good news.." She meowed, her voice was cheery but her eyes looked tired. Nightpaw waited, filled with annoyed curiosity, for her to reply. Finally, Pinetail continued.
"Well, I've just found out. I'm, uh, going to be having kits! Isn't that wonderful?" She meowed, this time her eyes were brighter.
"Kits?! Does that mean I'm done my training?" Nightpaw asked shocked. She was confused, but happy for her mentor.
"Uh, no. Your going to have a new mentor," Pinetail meowed, uncomfortably. Shock and confusion melted into anger inside Nightpaw's stomach.
"What?! I don't want a new mentor! Why did you have to go have kits during my apprenticeship?" She demanded angrily.
"Nightpaw, this is beyond my control! You could congratulate me!" She meowed fiercely.
"Well, I'm not going to!" Nightpaw meowed simply. Pinetail looked at her coldly, all her cheeriness gone. Pinetail let out a low growl and walked off.
Nightpaw couldn't explain the fiery a anger in her stomach. Ever since her mom had died all her fondness of Pinetail had left. Though, she didn't really like any other cat in the clan (besides Crowpaw who was still missing) and no cat liked her, unless you counted Owlpaw. Nightpaw didn't much like Owlpaw, who was always bumbling around her annoyingly. Maybe once she became a warrior he would stop bugging her. A sudden new worry popped into Nightpaw's mind. What if I have to start my training all over?! She pushed the worry out of her head went back to basking in the sun.

A while later Nightpaw was again interrupted from her sun bathing.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey Gather 'round for a clan meeting!" Tallstar called loudly. Slowly, Nightpaw got up and gave a long stretch and presided to the center of the clan. Settling down near the front, Nightpaw gazed up at Tallstar. To Nightpaw's annoyance, Owlpaw sat down next to her. Owlpaw opened his mouth starting to say some thing, when he was interrupted by Tallstar.
"Cats of Windclan, I have great news to announce." Tallstar started.
"Pinetail is going to be the newest queen in the nursery." Tallstar declared. Some cats around the clearing gasped in surprise and happiness. Nightpaw was not one of them. Tallstar flicked his tail beckoning for silence before he continued.
"Though Pinetail's apprentice Nightpaw is not yet finished her training. So today I shall be giving her a new mentor." Tallstar meowed, sweeping his eyes through the cats huddled under him.
"Mudclaw, please come up here." Tallstar beckoned. Oh no, not Mudclaw!
"Mudclaw you are a strong and witty cat. Your apprentice Crowpaw is currently missing. You will Nightpaw's new mentor." Tallstar declared. Nightpaw was so deep I thought that she didn't even hear the rest of Tallstar's words. As Nightpaw got up, Mudclaw padded over to her.
"Nightpaw, I want you to go hunting before the gathering." Mudclaw declared briskly.
"Gathering?" Nightpaw asked in surprise.
"Yeah, mouse brain, gathering. Weren't you listening to Tallstar? You're going to the gathering." Mudclaw replied, flexing his claws in annoyance.
"Oh, well, shouldn't I rest before the gathering?" Nightpaw asked hopefully.
"I'm your mentor you listen and obey what I say. So you better be listening when I tell you to go hunting. Now!" Mudclaw meowed sharply. As Nightpaw stalked off onto the moor she let out a hiss of annoyance. She knew that the rest of her training would not be fun.