Warriors: Feather's Path

Chapter 17

Feathercloud parted her jaws in a huge yawn as she arose from her moss nest in the ShadowClan warriors den. For once, the she-cat realized was up first as she saw her mate, Hawkclaw curled up next to her.

Letting out a quiet purr, the small tabby she-cat took a step out the den, and felt the cold, crisp leafbare air run through her whiskers. She soon noticed most of ShadowClan awake, parting up in groups to go on patrols, just to talk, or eat. 

Feeling her stomach growl at the thought of fresh kill, Feathercloud padded over to the fresh-kill pile beside camp entrance, and grabbed a scrawny black bird. The she-cat flicked her ear in annoyance as she dragged the bird out of the pile.

"What's the matter?" A voice from behind startled Feathercloud

The small she-cat looked to see a black she-cat. 

"Don't like crows?" The lean she-cat asked.

"I um, erm-" Feathercloud searched for words, uncomfortable by the she-cats hard gaze.

"Crowwing," A black and white mixed she-cat meowed as she padded ip. "Don't be rude."

Feathercloud realized it was actually a cat she knew, Breezetail. She was a sister of Blackspeck, the ShadowClan's medicine cat, and she silently thanked for her appearance.

"Oh Breezetail," The black she-cat croaked, turning to face the black and white she-cat. "Don't ruin the fun."

Breezetail flicked the black she-cat's shoulder with her tail. "Sorry Feathercloud," She mewed. "This is Crowwing," She fixed her green gaze on the black she-cat's blue. "Blackspeck and I's sister."

Feathercloud slowly nodded. 

Would've been nice to know earlier... 

"Well, hello Crowwing." The small tabby she-cat mewed as she placed the crow she had taken from the pile in front of her. "Nice to meet you."

"I could say the same," The black she-cat meowed. "But I'm not a very nice cat." She flexed her claws, and glanced at Feathercloud's belly. "Don't you think you eat enough?"

"Is there a problem here?" 

Feathercloud turned to see Gingerstar, the ShadowClan deputy Whitefang, and Hawkclaw approaching, two of  them carrying a mouse. The small she-cat was surprised she hadn't noticed them taking anything from the pile that lay a couple fox lengths away earlier.

Breezewing shifted as the leader, deputy and Feathercloud's mate sat in the group. "Just typical Crowwing." She looked at the black she-cat with her blue eyes.

"Mmhm." Gingerstar meowed, lifting his muzzle at Crowwing.

The black she-cat flicked her tail. "I'm just teasing." She meowed.

Feathercloud got up, and turned to Hawkclaw. "Let's just go eat somewhere else."

The dark golden tom got up and nodded. "That's fine." He meowed, dipping his head to the leader and deputy before heading across the clearing with his mate.

Once they both settled down by the thin birch tree that sat next to the nursery, Feathercloud looked at Hawkclaw.

"Do I look plump?" She asked, sitting down.

Hawkclaw shrugged. "Not really." He meowed. "I mean yes, you're expecting my kits, but it's not that noticeable. Why to ask?"

Feathercloud plucked a feather from the crow. "No reason." She mewed.

"Sure," Feathercloud mewed to Ravenpaw. He had just asked her and Hawkclaw to come on a patrol with him, Cinderclaw, Dawnpetal, and her apprentice, Palepaw. It was the day after the conflict between Feathercloud and Crowwing, and Feathercloud hadn't seen the black pelt of Crowwing at all since then.