Shapeshifters

3

WHEN PILLPOOL TOLD me it was okay to leave, I bolted out of the cave and couldn't wait to catch up with Dust. I found Dust and took him unaware, we rolled until I had him pinned.

"Pinned ya!" I said when I was on top.

"Light!" He exclaimed. "You're back! I knew you would be. They kept telling me you wouldn't make it, looks like I proved them wrong." He looked so smug.

He was pretty much my only friend. Rose acted younger than us and Thorn, Dust's kin, acted just like Rose. It got annoying, but every once in awhile it was fun to watch them play and be the pups I knew I never could be.

"Are we going up to the rock today?" I asked him eagerly. 

Dust shook his head, "Suntail said it would be good to have a day off of chilling up there. I don't think he wants another accident like last sun." 

So my fall pretty much scared everyone except me. That could've been because my father, Shapeclaw, was giving me the courage not to be scared. No one knew that he was my father, the whole pack was convinced that Star was. 

"Dust," I started. "I need to tell you something important." He moved his head slightly to the left, our secret signal for "meet-behind-the-pup-cave". We headed back there.

"What's this about, Light?" He sounded a bit nervous if anything, maybe a little scared. "If it's about last sun, I don't really want to know."

"It's sorta about that," I said. "But the important part isn't," I added quickly when I saw him start to turn away. I sighed and announced, "Star isn't my father." 

Dust stared at me like I was cag-mag. I probably sounded like it. We stayed silent for a few moments before I spoke. "Say something. Anything."

"Did you just say Star wasn't your father?" Dust stated in disbelief. "Well, if he isn't, then who is?"

I should have been prepared for this, but I wasn't. I didn't think I could tell him about Shapeclaw, at least not yet. So, instead of responding to him, I shrugged. "I don't know. I just got the feeling he wasn't. Mainly, when I asked Pillpool to speak with my kin last sun, Star wasn't there." I didn't have to mention Shapeclaw or the dream this way. 

"Okay," Dust uttered. "I think you're holding back some information," Uh-oh. "But I won't pressure you." Thank goodness.

"Thanks Dust, please keep this a secret. I don't know who all knows," I told him. 

He nodded and I nuzzled his shoulder. When we exited from behind the pup cave, the whole pack was bustling, more so than usual. Dust and I exchanged a look of confusion. Since Suntail asked us not to go on our rock, we sat under it. That was as close as we could get and not be on it. Every once in awhile, one of the pack members would come and congratulate me.

I was then more confused than ever. Why were they congratulating me? I thought. Did they know I talked with Shapeclaw? I started panicking, thinking they somehow figured out that I talked to him. No, I laughed at myself. They are congratulating me on surviving the fall of last sun. I had a feeling I wasn't going to be the same, if anything, I was going to be more panicky.

Then I spotted Goldendawn across the camp. "I'll be right back. I'm going to talk to Goldendawn," I told Dust, then padded over to where Goldendawn was sharing tongues with Star. I looked at the ground when I asked, "Can we talk Goldendawn? Alone." I added when I remembered Star was there.

"Sure," She said. She turned to Star and mentioned that she would find him later. Star nodded and left. "What's this about Light?"

I looked her in the eye. "I know Star isn't my father," I blurted out quickly and quietly. She looked more surprised than shocked. "Am I right?" I was more scared that I was right then not. 

Goldendawn nodded, but said nothing. She stared off into nothing for a few moments before stating, "You're right Light. I didn't know how long I'd be able to keep it a secret." I just sat there, flabbergasted. "With you being as smart as you are, I knew you'd figure how sooner or later. I was just hoping you'd wait long enough for me to tell you."

"Does the whole pack know?" She shook her head. "Can you tell me who my real father is?" Goldendawn said nothing. That scared me, I thought she might clam up so I said, "It's Shapeclaw, isn't it?" She abruptly stood and motioned for me to follow. 

I followed Goldendawn across camp to where Moon and Suntail were speaking to each other. I hung back as they exchanged some words before Moon motioned me over. I got up and headed over to her, but kept my head down. 

 "Come to my cave tonight," Moon told me. "I need to speak with you privately." I nodded, confused, and she dismissed me, but not Goldendawn.

I padded back to where Dust was under our rock. He looked at me, as if expecting an explanation. "I have to talk with Moon tonight," I told him. "And I confronted Goldendawn about Star not being my father. When I asked who, she wouldn't tell me." My first lie to my best friend. I felt like I was getting torn apart by a pack of up-walker dogs. I'm scared of telling him the truth. I thought this would be the one thing to stay the same, but guess I'm going to change in all the ways.

Dust and I chatted the rest of the sun. He told me about my fall, what he felt. He even said that he did shed some tears. I could only guess that Suntail and Moon felt similar things. That must be what Moon wants to talk about. I told myself. Goldendawn already told me she was more panicked than scared.

When moon time came, I waited until all the pups and mothers were sleeping before I left. I stopped abruptly in the middle of the camp, just then realizing that Goldendawn hadn't said anything when I asked if Shapeclaw was my father. He was. I made the connection myself. With that thought on my mind, I went to Moon's cave. Wondering what she wanted to talk about about. Shapeclaw? Star? My fall?