(Warrior Cats)SmokeTrail's fire

Chapter 31: The Heart Of A True Warrior

Because of Waterpaw's death, faithpaw was excused from her training until she was ready to go back. However I wasn't sure if she could ever recover enough in order to train as the apprentice she was. 

Forestpaw and her were growing closer. I was surprised to see my shy daughter making friends with him. Sometimes I could see the grief in Forestpaw's eyes. I could tell that he was mourning for the cat Faithpaw had been. Even though she was shy, she had liked to play with him and talk to him when I wasn't around since most of the other cats disliked our family.

But now that cat had hidden down deep in the grief-stricken shell we have before us. Faithpaw and Waterpaw were tight. The two of them had become close as the clan began to believe that the two of them would take after their father's pawsteps.

On the other paw, Rose's kits were gaining just as much negative attention as Faithpaw. Rainpaw was wild and defiant. Petalpaw was quiet and lived in the shadow of her brother and seemed to do whatever he told her to. He clearly seemed to piss Ashpaw off.

Faithpaw was in the medicine den with Dreamheart who actually had called her there for a reason I didn't know. I had noticed her frequently keeping an eye on Faithpaw but never asked why. After a while, She called me in, too.

As I approached, Faithpaw was walking out and didn't meet my eyes. I frowned and approached Dreamheart who wore a solemn expression. "Dreamheart, is something wrong?" I asked, somewhat concerned.

"Well it's about Faithpaw, I was asking her some..,questions. Her mental state is not in a Good place. It's normal for her to grieve for a long time considering her and her half-brother were so close, but I don't think she's getting better. She can't train like this and even you know it."

I didn't respond, unwilling to admit that she was right.

"Its strange because she has friends, she has family and everything else a clan cat could ask for. She has the perfect life in the clan. You and goldeneyes do everything you can for her and yet...it's like losing Waterpaw overgoes all of it..."

I nodded. Suddenly a question pricked at my pelt. "Did you tell her yet?" I asked in a whisper. Dreamheart shook her head. "She can't possibly handle such news in her current state. Then it would be for sure that she wouldn't recover."

I felt relieved and also saddened.

"She knows nothing except that everyone is afraid of her. She doesn't even know about her real father or what he did."

***
I left the den to try to recollect my thought. I just sat down in the clearing, watching the apprentices. Faithpaw was crouched on the sandy ground with Forestpaw seeming to be talking to her gently.

I approached them slowly, coming up to Forestpaw without Faithpaw noticing. "I want to talk to you." I whispered to him. He nodded and followed me a little ways from her.

"I know that Faithpaw hasn't been acting like herself ever since what happened, but I just need you to keep trying." I told him. He just gave me a beaming smile.

I loved that smile. I always did.

The smile of someone who was in love. Someone who was proud. Faithpaw's smile.The smile she had never shown until the day she told me she was expecting. It wasn't until then that I had ever seen her truly smile.  It was then that I had finally understood.

"You will find what is left of what is gone if you have faith in the forest..."

It made sense now.

" Smoketrail!" Forestfire called, his eyes sparkling with excitement. He an I not caught my attention, and I padded over to him, curious to what he wanted to show me as he slowly backed into the nursery,  hiding something from my sight.

"Forestfire....?" I questioned.

"Surprise!" He moved out of the way, presenting Faithheart, exhausted, gently grooming a small brown tabby kit. Faithheart looked up at me, faintly smiling. "This is Brackenkit....He also has two sisters, Bramblekit and Fogkit."

Bramblekit was rusty brown, with her sister being light gray.

I smiled.

I put my Faith in forest. He repaired my Faith with kits.