Bearheart's Shame

Chapter 3

Bearpaw crept along the border, staying in the undergrowth. Irisfall, a new warrior, had been torturing her since Irisfall was an apprentice.

Bearpaw never knew when Irisfall was going to jump out at her and rake thorn sharp claws across her face.

Her back ached from the last time Irisfall attacked her. She had been merciless and ruthless, stopping only to lie that she had been attacked by a fox.

It was very cold for a leaf-fall morning, and Bearpaw shivered.

Prey was scarce in Thornclan territory, and Bearpaw's ribs could be seen through her fur.

She was jerked away from her thoughts about the weather when she heard rustling on the other side of the border.

Bearpaw froze, her claws sliding out.

A silver muzzle poked out of the undergrowth, a glowing fish in the jaws of this silver cat.

The silver Moonclan cat slid completely out of the bushes, with barely a glance at Bearpaw.

Bearpaw stood straighter, bracing herself to confront him.

But she couldn't bring herself to do it.

He was on his side of the border, so he wasn't breaking the warrior code.

"You look starving." The silver tom meowed suddenly.

Bearpaw nodded, her mouth filling with water the sight of the scaly fish of the ground.

"I'm Riverscar." He gestured to a scar across his back.

"B-Bearpaw." She stuttered, her breath catching in her throat.

Riverscar laughed, and put the fish on the border.

Bearpaw looked at him as though he was crazy.

"We can share. There's plenty of prey in Moonclan this leaf-fall." Riverscar took a bite of the fish, his eyes glowing with pride for his catch.

Bearpaw hesitated, then stepped up to the border to take a bite.

She sank her teeth into the shiny body, and flavour exploded in her mouth.

She sat down, savoring the flavour and the meat.

"So you like it?" Riverscar asked around a mouthful.

Bearpaw nodded, taking another bite of the fish.

"What's your deal? You're all beat up and broken. Doesn't your clan have a medicine cat?" Riverscar queried.

Bearpaw was surprised that he sounded genuinely worried.

"Yes, we have a medicine cat." Bearpaw began gently, trying not to spill everything out to a cat from another clan. "I was attacked."

"By who?" Riverscar asked quietly.

His silent listening helped him understand that she wasn't attacked by a something and rather a someone.

"My clanmate." The words hurt, but Riverscar's gentle eyes pressed her on. "She's been hurting me since she was an apprentice. Her name's Irisfall. She's a new warrior. I don't know what triggered it! It's been happening for moons!"

"You need to tell someone. You are clearly hurt. You can't let this go on. Bearpaw, please. You shouldn't have to suffer." Riverscar's eyes were brimming with worry. He wanted her to be safe.

"I tried a couple sunrises ago." Bearpaw lowered her gaze, ashamed of what had happened.

"They didn't believe you, did they?" Riverscar tucked his tail gently under Bearpaw's chin, lifting her head ever so slightly.

Bearpaw nodded, eyes full of sorrow.

"I'm sorry."

Just then and there, Bearpaw would have stayed forever.