Gingerpaw opened her eyes. She tried to move and her head throbbed. She vomited river water. And again. Eight times, she tried to breathe, but only water passed through her lungs. Finally gasping for breath, her throat raw as bark, she raised her head.
Foxpaw raised his too. "Gingerpaw?" he whispered. "GINGERPAW!"
He covered her face and neck with fierce licks. He was licking her fur the wrong way. Ruffling it to warm her.
Gingerpaw coughed and retched again, then her head fell back and her eyes closed.
But before she drifted into sleep, she allowed one thing to escape her. "Foxpaw." she murmured. "My Star-cat."
Gingerpaw awoke to find herself being dragged through the bramble tunnel. She kept her eyes closed, too weak to move.
She was vaguely aware that the rain had stopped and bright sunlight shone through her closed eyelids.
I terrified screech sounded from nearby. "Gingerpaw!" It was Thrushtail.
Gingerpaw heard her mother throw herself at Foxpaw. "What have you done?" She screeched. "You killed my kit!"
All around the clearing, there were shocked gasps and murmurs. Then a low wailing began. Gingerpaw recognised the voices of Lionpaw and Smallpaw.
The sound of fighting cats was deafening for Gingerpaw. She wanted it to stop before her mother killed Foxpaw.
She fought to open her eyes, but they were too heavy. "Mother," she rasped. "Stop..."
Foxpaw yowled in pain from somewhere nearby. Gingerpaw's eyes opened and she blinked in the warm, bright sunlight.
"Oh, Gingerpaw." Foxpaw's relieved sigh sounded through the clearing. Thrushtail hissed at him and Featherstar's order rang out.
"Silverstripe, Quailfeather! Capture the apprentice!"
YOU ARE READING
Gingerpaw
RomanceA feral cat, born and raised in Treeclan, looks all set to become the perfect warrior that her clan needs to protect them from harsh seasons and deadly rivalries. She has a mother, father, sister, and a best friend who hopes to someday be her mate...
