Shapeshifters

2

I JOLTED AWAKE and was confused to find myself in the medicine cave. I looked around, trying to find Dust. Instead, I found Pillpool in the back corner organizing some herbs into different piles. 

I was surprised not to see Dust anywhere. I thought that most likely Pillpool would have kicked him out so that I could rest up and get better. I stretched and yawned then stood up and walked to Pillpool. "Pillpool," I said. "I was wondering if I could leave. I want to find Goldendawn, Star, Rose, and Dust."

"I'm sorry young pup," Pillpool told me. He called all the pups, young pup. I thought it was that he didn't want to bother to learn out names, later I found out it was that he had a bad memory for anything other than herb names and medicine stuff, as well as the troublesome pups. "I need to keep you here for another sun to make sure you really are okay." 

"How long have I been here?" I asked, curious about how long I had talked to Shapeclaw for.

"It's almost moon time," Pillpool answered. "Suntail and Moon brought you here, with a devastated Dust need I add, about sun-high. So, half a sun."

He said it so calmly, I started to panic. A half sun! I thought to myself. I talked to Shapeclaw for a half sun. At least now I have a reason to scope out the camp. "Can I at least talk to my kin?"

Pillpool nodded and left to get Goldendawn, Star, and Rose.

I can't tell anyone about what Shapeclaw told me. I directed myself. They will probably call me cag-mag for thinking I could talk to dead pack members. Or they'll tell me it was a dream, nothing to worry about.

Goldendawn rushed in with Rose not far behind. She was talking so fast, I couldn't understand a word. I let her talk for a few moments while I looked around for Star. I don't see him. I thought. That just adds to my suspicions.

"Calm down, Goldendawn," I told her slowly. "I'm alright, so you don't have to freak out."

"Freak out!" Goldendawn exclaimed. "I'm not freaking out. When I saw Moon and Suntail carrying you here, I nearly had a panic attack. Then I saw poor Dust nearly crying, he was all teared up if I might add." She went on for another few moments before Rose interfered. 

"Goldendawn," She said it so calmly I thought I might be imagining it. "Look, Light is okay. She only took a little hit to the head. So you don't need to go over the top about how you felt. I'm pretty sure Light is a little traumatized herself," Rose chuckled lightly. "Probably scared to do that again for a while."

"The head! For all we know, she could not be the same. And this is Light we are talking about, she's not scared of anything."

"But she's fine," Rose calmed Goldendawn down. I'll never know how she was able to do it. "Now, how about we leave so she can rest."

Goldendawn sighed and reluctantly left the cave. As she left she told me to get well soon. Rose followed her and sent me an apologetic look.

I flopped down on my moss bed and sighed. I knew I wouldn't be the same, not after what happened to me. But I can't show it. I directed myself. No reason for Goldendawn to be suspicious of me. 

Pillpool padded in and told me to rest, but if the pain got to much, he could give me poppyseeds. He went and pretty much fell asleep right as his head hit his paws. It wasn't so easy for me.

I tossed and turned for about half the moon. I kept thinking about Shapeclaw and what he told me. I kept focusing on the part about the name change. "You must willingly change your name. First, to prove. Then, to save." That's what he had said. I didn't feel as though I could tell anyone. At least, not until I knew what it meant.

I thought about telling Dust, but went against it. He probably wouldn't understand, or think that I was cag-mag. When I was finally able to fall asleep, it was almost already sun up, not the best time to be just getting some shut eye. When I slept, I dreamt of Shapeclaw and me; with him being my father, and not Star. When I was woken by Pillpool early the next sun, I confirmed my suspicion of the sun before. Shapeclaw was my father, not Star!