Stars Without Borders

15

The sun had risen a bit above the horizon by time Softpaw had gotten close to camp, but it didn't remove the chill on her back from the cold wet dewdrops on her back. The she-cat didn't want to return to camp just yet, but she knew the clan would become suspicious of her absence and she was starting to miss her brother. They didn't talk like they use to and the thought alone made her heart heavy. Shaking out her fur Softpaw changed directions and slowly made her way along where the trees seemed to become few until there were none. Sniffing the air, Softpaw's stomach leaped as she caught Jaypaw's scent. It was stale under the smell of dew, but she could tell it couldn't have been that old. Doubt prickled in her mind. She could remember the meeting Jaypaw had with the StarClan medicine cat and she remembered what she had said to him and how he had seemed to hate the very thought of giving up on being a warrior. In all honesty, Softpaw could see why he didn't want to give up. Becoming a warrior, proving everyone wrong about him, and being able to have a family? It was an amazing quest he must have spent his whole life thinking of. And just like that, it was gone. And she had supported it! The she-cat's tail lashed out angrily at her stupidity, but what was there to be done? His destiny was written as clearly as her's was and there was no changing it. She would just have to manage to support StarClan's decision through supporting her clanmate, whether he liked it or not.

"What are you doing here!" Softpaw snapped out of her thoughts immediately and spotted Jaypaw who was glaring right at her pelt as though he could see her.

"I-I was just wandering around." Her meow wasn't firm enough and he snorted crossly.

"Yeah right! You probably came here just to pity me." The last part was mumbled, but it made Softpaw's pelt tingle in frustration as she took a step forward.

"Don't you dare think I'd pity you! I tried to support you, but you wanted to act like a kit who couldn't play outside the nursery! You always act like you know everything and you don't. I know how you feel about having Brightheart as a mentor, but I'm sure the one everyone is pitying is her because she has to put up with a stupid ungrateful furrball like you!" Never once had she given Jaypaw any reason to believe she pitied him. He was an apprentice just like her and the others, blind or not. Taking a breath the she-cat turned away from the tom and started padding away her paws barely making a sound.

"You'll learn Jaypaw. One day, you'll know for sure where you belong and maybe you won't be such a grumpy old badger."