smoke & mirrors (hiatus)

.: chapter ten :.

.: ♚ :.

AS soon as the sun began to rise in the sky, Heronskip was running out of his den. He poked his head into Dewleap's den, but he wasn't there. His wife, Cranewhisker, perked her ears up. "Dewleap?"

"Cranewhisker- d-do you know where Dew-dewleap is?" Heronskip mumbled, knowing he sounded embarrassed.

"He went off to Fawnsplash's hut. To visit Oakstripe," she added. Heronskip was surprised to hear that she didn't sound too concerned.

And then Waspclaw appeared from behind Heronskip. "Watch out," the tom hissed, pushing past Heronskip. His fur bristled as he entered the den.

"Waspclaw," Cranewhisker meowed, standing up. "Not now."

"What is Heronskip doing here?" he hissed. "Do you have something to tell me? Jeez, how many cats are you-"

"Waspclaw. Not now."

Heronskip felt like he might throw up. He backed away, and saw the look of horror on Cranewhisker's face. Clearly he wasn't supposed to have heard that.

He ran to Fawnsplash's den as fast as he could. When he arrived there, he skidded to a stop. He knocked on the side of the entrance with his paw. A familiar gray face popped out of the curtain of lichen. Dewleap looked at Heronskip and nodded for him to come inside.

Oakstripe was wide awake, laying in a nest with her tail curled around her tortoiseshell paws. The cobwebs were off of her mouth, so Heronskip hoped she could talk again. Dewleap padded over and sat down next to her.

The gray tom gave him a questioning look, and then meowed quietly, "We have a lot to talk about."