Heartstar's rise : Book one

Ch. 52

            "So what are we supposed to eat?" snarled Hades. 

            "Yeah? You come here and we give you shelter and you give us more trouble than we already have," growled Cole. Heartpaw looked at his paws in embarrassment, shame and guilt. 

             "I am disappointed, I really am," sighed Rio, padding up to Heartpaw. He felt even more shame. Somehow, he did not want Rio to be disappointed in him. Lavender slipped in beside Rio and Hades. 

            "Leave him, did we really expect him to catch enough rats for us?" Lavender said, eyeing Heartpaw. He looked away from her. 

             "Yes," Rio replied. "Afterall, I hunted for his whole Clan while he watched. He should know by now how to hunt rats." 

             "I'm really sorry, I'll go now if you want," Heartpaw managed. 

             "It's too late," Rio said. "But tomorrow you will." Heartpaw nodded. "Right, everybody, leave him, we'll sleep with empty bellies tonight." Tristan growled and glared at Heartpaw as he walked by. Heartpaw crawled to the corner and curled his tail around him. Although it was warm and the cold wind was kept out, he felt lonely and mostly, homesick. He wondered what his Clan was doing. They were probably doing just fine without him. He closed his eyes and heard someone pad to his side. Lavender lay down next to him. 

             "You really messed up didn't you?" she whispered. Heartpaw sighed. 

            "I know, I'm sorry, everybody's been telling me that, I get it," Heartpaw replied getting slightly annoyed. 

              "That's not what I meant," Lavender said. "I tried to warn you. You owe them loads now." 

              "Yes, I know that," Heartpaw said. 

              "Be careful," said Lavender finally. "Don't mess up again." 

            "Yeah, I'm sorry," huffed Heartpaw. "How many times do I have to say it?" 

           "I'm not mad," assured Lavender. "I caught my own food although the others didn't." Heartpaw lay his head in his paws. He wanted to go back to his Clan. He didn't care if they glared at him or if Lionbreeze attacked him, he felt out of place here. Nobody liked him and he didn't understand half of the words they used. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep but although he was warm and the cold was kept out, he couldn't sleep. He shuffled positions. Nothing seemed comfortable.  

            "Would you quit it!" snapped Tristan. Heartpaw mumbled an apology and tried to stop moving but his whole body itched. He got up, hoping this wouldn't anger them. Tristan and Hades shot him angry looks but didn't ask him anything as he slipped out. Outside, the cold bit into Heartpaw's fur. Snow blew wildly around. Soon, snow clung to his fur and he felt frozen but he kept going. The cold seemed to refresh him. He walked deeper into the Carrionplace. He didn't see or hear any rats. He forced his way to the gate. He didn't care if he couldn't go back to camp but he wanted to be in his territory. As he crawled through the small hole in the fence, somebody blocked him. He stumbled back onto the icy ground. 

            "Where are you going in this weather?" asked Rio, peering at him. Heartpaw relaxed in relief. It was just Rio. 

            "Nowhere, I was just going back to my territory..., I just...," Heartpaw didn't get to finish. Rio beckoned him back towards the Twoleg den with his tail. 

            "Come on," he said. 

            "I just wanna go back to my territory. I wanna see it," whimpered Heartpaw. He didn't have any intention of getting further from his territory. He wanted to be as close to camp as he could. Rio looked at him for a while then approached. He pressed his face close to Heartpaw's. 

            "Are you coming back?" he asked. 

            "I don't know..., I'm really sorry I didn't hunt for you but I didn't stay a night  and I'm going now," Heartpaw said. But he was sure, he wasn't coming back. 

           "No, you still have to repay us, you owe us," said Rio. Heartpaw took a step back. The wind howled in his ears. 

           "I will but I won't stay with you guys...," Heartpaw said. 

          "No. How am I supposed to know if you're not going to just leave and never come back?" Rio said. 

         "I promise. I swear," begged Heartpaw. Rio cocked his eyebrow. 

        "You're not going anywhere till you repay us," he said firmly then led Heartpaw back towards the Twoleg den. Heartpaw stopped in his tracks. He was a warrior.., well an apprentice but he knew how to fight. Rio stiffened beside him. Heartpaw lunged at Rio who sidestepped and pushed Heartpaw to the ground.  

          "Be careful," smiled Rio. Heartpaw shivered and he remembered Lavender's words. If Rio hurt him he'd need to get Tide to heal him which meant he would owe Rio even more. Heartpaw took a step back. 

         "Fine," he huffed. Rio nodded satisfied and led Heartpaw back into the Twoleg den. Heartpaw followed him up a step but Rio shook his head. 

         "We were going to give you shelter. But you tried to leave without paying us back. You'll stay down here till you repay us," Rio said sternly. Heartpaw felt anger flare through him but he relented and slipped to the corner of the dark room. The wind howled outside and whistled in his ears. The ground was cold but not as cold as outside and the snow didn't reach him inside. He shuddered but closed his eyes to a troubled sleep.