Warriors: Hollow Spirits (Book 1)

Chapter Six

Soulpaw sat in the sandy den, waiting for Dapplestar to reply. Dapplestar merely sat where she was, her eyes gazing at Soulpaw, then Littleweb. Dapplestar cleared her throat before finally speaking.

"Why did Soulpaw have to be here anyway? She is just an apprentice and has not gone to the Moontree yet." Dapplestar remarked, her eyes flicking to Soulpaw, making the apprentice glance at the ground worriedly.

"Soulpaw i-" Littleweb was about to reply, but gazed at Soulpaw as well. "She can leave now, and I ask this because this is not for her to hear." Littleweb mewed, looking back at Dapplestar. Dapplestar nodded, understanding what the warrior meant.

"Soulpaw, please leave, and I also recommend that you get something to eat, as well as sleep." Dapplestar dismissed Soulpaw, waiting for her to go.

Soulpaw dipped her head as she got up, beginning to leave but froze at the entrance as Littleweb hissed in her ear, "Beware of the wolf that sleeps at dawn." Soulpaw was shocked, but continued leaving the den, trying not to show that she had heard anything from the small warrior.

The clearing seemed to have a chilling wind, and Soulpaw shook her head, trying to relax. Beware of the wolf that sleeps at dawn, the words echoed in her mind, and for a moment Soulpaw stood there, looking at the ground, suddenly a weight pinned her down, and she looked to see her attacker. Her eyes flickered with fear as the cat she saw was Wolfpaw. The young apprentice was smiling friendly, and he looked at her playfully.

"Want to go hunting with me?" Wolfpaw asked, deciding to finally get off of Soulpaw. Soulpaw got up, shaking her ruffled fur, and looked back at Wolfpaw.

"Sure, for the elders, right?" Soulpaw mewed, still a bit alert in case that Wolfpaw grew grumpy again. But Wolfpaw merely nodded, padding to the gorse tunnel.

"See you at the willow tree next to the river!" Wolfpaw mewed as he left camp, and Soulpaw shivered, not from the chilling wind, but from the fact that Wolfpaw was cheery. Something wasn't right, but Soulpaw decided to shrug it off as she ran after Wolfpaw.

The weather seemed to be nice, seeing that it was still Green-leaf. Soulpaw tracked through the woods, her paws lightly touching the ground as she headed for the willow tree.

Wolfpaw was sitting next to the river, his eyes gleaming with wonder. Soulpaw was about to mew that she was there but Instead jumped back as Wolfpaw lashed out a paw at the water, sending a fish flying in the air. The apprentice caught it with his paw and finished the life of the fish with a swift bite to the neck.

"How did you do that!? That was amazing!" Soulpaw mewed, her eyes glowing at the large apprentices skill. Wolfpaw looked at her, realizing that she had watched him.

"Its just a skill I picked up. Let me show you," Wolfpaw mewed, flicking his tail for Soulpaw to sit next to him. Soulpaw smiled at his offer and sat down quietly, looking at the river with carefulness.

"What you do is you watch for movement in the water, and once you see something lash your paw out and send the fish flying in the air for a moment, then do the finishing blow." Wolfpaw explained, his amber eyes reflecting the waters surface.

Soulpaw nodded, still looking at the churning water. A movement to her right told her that a fish was there, and she lashed her paw at it, sending the fish into the air. She swiped an unsheathed claw at it, killing the fish instantly. Soulpaw looked at Wolfpaw, her eyes gleaming with joy. Wolfpaw smiled.

"Good job! Now then, I would like to show you something. We will get the prey once we get back from my secret spot." Wolfpaw mewed, his eyes gleaming with happiness. Soulpaw nodded, following the tom as they began to run deeper into the woods, avoiding any obstacles.

Soon the cats reached Fourpools, and Soulpaw didn't feel tired as she looked at the wonderful sight the clearing had to offer. Soulpaw was about to sit down and rest, when Wolfpaw flicked his tail for Soulpaw to follow.

Soulpaw nodded and followed Wolfpaw into a tunnel, then entered a small cave, a hole in the ceiling lighting the place up. Wolfpaw sat down, smiling at his secret home. Soulpaw gazed at it, her mouth gapped open. Wolfpaw chuckled, and then frowned, unsheathing his claws.

Soulpaw froze, waiting for a blow. But the tom had leaped over her, landing on a large snake. Soulpaw couldn't move, her mind racing over what had happened. Wolfpaw did a killing blow to the snakes head, and looked at Soulpaw with worry.

"Are you alright? Did the snake bite you?" Wolfpaw mewed with deep worry as he placed the dead snake on the ground. Soulpaw looked at the worried apprentice and felt the toms fur pressed against hers with worry. She froze again, blushing a bit.

"I'm fine," she managed to stutter out, and smiled briefly at Wolfpaw. Wolfpaw let out a sigh of relief.

"I am glad your alright. Let's get back to camp, I am sure their worried about you." Wolfpaw mewed, keeping his pelt against Soulpaw's. Soulpaw nodded, starting to head out of the cave through the tunnel. Once out, she let her fur finally lie flat as Wolfpaw came out behind her. The two apprentice's headed back to camp, their pelts touching one another as they went back to the Willow tree to collect the fish they caught.

As Soulpaw sat down in front of the river to get a drink, she flicked her ears as Wolfpaw cleared his throat.

"Will you promise to keep my spot a hide out? And..." Wolfpaw paused for a moment, thinking carefully. "Will you meet me there during night?" Wolfpaw admitted, his eyes darting to Soulpaw. Soulpaw felt shocked at the question, but nodded with kindness. Wolfpaw's eyes brightened up instantly, and the two apprentices padded back to camp, their tails twined together.

(Hey guys!!! I had to do this chapter three times, just because of technical difficulties. But This is FINALLY here, and I would be so happy if you guys put comments down because a SHIPPING SHRINE IS WELCOMED!!!)