Rise

Chapter 8

If there was any chance of Limestar reigning as a fair leader, it would be ruined as soon as Stormstripe becomes her heir.
Novapaw ran into the apprentices den and found Frost curled up next to Thunderpaw. Flamepaw and Duskpaw were out patrolling the borders, and Novapaw could just make out the outline of the ginger Squirrelpaw at the back of the den. She decided to go check on Maple and see how her kitting went.
Her mother was in the nursery, comforting Maple as she cried in grief.
Four kits were on the floor, but Novapaw could only see the rise and fall that showed it was breathing in one kit. Only one kit made it.
Novapaw thought back to when she was a small kitten. Bluemist gave birth to three kits but only her and Thunderpaw survived. She could never imagine how her mother felt after losing a kit, but Maple just lost three.
Her mate, Sand, was licking the small kit, his eyes fill
of love and grief.
Novapaw couldn't watch any longer, and she left the den. Over on the other side of the clearing, a dark gray tom was eating a shrew. Muscles rippled under his sleek fur.
'Wolfpaw is so handsome.' She giggled and walked over to the tom. "Hello." She meowed.
He looked up at her and smiled. "Hi Novapaw. Come eat with me."
Novapaw had only talked to the tom once, when they passed each other during training sessions. He was an eye, meaning he could see the future, but only a couple seconds forward. Novapaw wondered if he already knew she was going to approach him.
"How are you?" She asked politely.
"Good. You?" He ripped another piece of flesh and ate it slowly.
She purred, "I'm great!" Then she remembered something. "Who do you think Limestar will choose to be deputy?" She blurted out.
Wolfpaw seemed a little shocked at the sudden urgency in her voice. "I dunno. Fireclaw maybe?" He suggested before taking another bite.
She suppressed a sigh of relief at his words. "Oh okay."
"Why?" He asked.
"Just wondering." She meowed awkwardly. She was embarrassing herself in front of the oldest and strongest apprentice in the tribe!
"I was just about to leave with Ryestrike and Hawk to patrol the Tribe of Golden Sunsets border. Do you want to come?" He asked.
Novapaw was taken by surprise. "Really?"
"Yeah, it'll be fun."
"Yes!" She piped up excitedly. "I mean uh, sure." She licked her chest fur in embarrassment.
"Great. Let's go!" He laughed and raced her out of the clearing.
She followed happily, and looked over her shoulder to see that Hawk and Ryestrike had followed as well. Wolfpaw was a tail length ahead of her and she felt a burst of speed as she caught up. Novapaw jumped and crashed onto his back and he rolled over exposing his belly. He playfully pawed her as she pinned him down.
Novapaw giggled as they fought on the way to the border.
"Come on you too! We don't have all day!" Hawk growled to the apprentices.
Ryestrike purred softly at the sight of them. "Hawk is right. Let's go."
Novapaw let the tom go and walked side by side with him on the way to the border. As they walked, they had talked about training, and gossiped about other cats in the tribe.
'He's so sweet and caring...' Novapaw thought with a warm feeling and butterflies in her stomach.