Heartstar's rise : Book Two

Ch. 2

Heartpaw gazed at the small mouse in front of his paws. He looked around, cats watched him with judging and cold looks. Although nobody started a fight with him, he felt shunned. He took a small bite of the mouse and cringed. From behind, a cat moved. 

             "Eat the miserable thing already," a harsh voice came. Heartpaw turned around to see a dark grey cat with mottled fur. 

              "Sorry," mumbled Heartpaw. 

             "Ain't nothing to be sorry about," the old cat assured. "Longpelt, a proud elder of WindClan." Heartpaw forced a small smile. 

              "So you're ShadowClan, eh?" said Longpelt. Heartpaw nodded. "Staying one night?" 

              "Yes," agreed Heartpaw. "I mean, I don't know how long I stayed before that." 

               "Two days and a night." 

               "Oh ok. Thanks." 

               "You seem sad." Heartpaw couldn't help but chuckle. 

                "Yeah. Sorta," he answered. 

                "You shouldn't be. You've got no Clan," the old cat coughed. 

                "Yeah I know. Thanks for reminding me," grumbled Heartpaw. Maybe all the WindClan cats were the same afterall. 

                 "Hey, I didn't finish," grunted Longpelt. "I'm old. Let me take me time. I was saying.. You've got no Clan, you should be glad. You're free. An old cat like me, I regret my choices. I wish i could've traveled the world, seen many things. But I'm too old now. You've got the opportunity. Go for it." Heartpaw frowned. He thought about walking away from the Clans. Seeing new things. Things no Clan cat had ever seen. It didn't give him a shiver of excitement, it sparked nothing in him except faint disinterest. He didn't want to see the world. He liked his life. He just wanted to be a warrior. 

                "Don't please you?" Longpelt said. Heartpaw shook his head. "Oh well, to each their own." Heartpaw nodded and gulped down the skinny mouse quickly. 

               "Thanks for the talk," he thanked Longpelt and dipped his head before trotting away. Fawnstar padded up to him. She had a distracted look. 

               "You may sleep in the apprentice's den tonight. Tomorrow, you leave with the dawn border patrol," Fawnstar told him. Heartpaw nodded. She seemed in a hurry to get rid of him. 

               "Thanks," Heartpaw mumbled finally. Fawnstar, who had started to walk away, turned back. "For everything." 

                "Don't thank me. I didn't want to drag you here. Thank Addertail," Fawnstar replied without emotion and walked off. Heartpaw padded to the apprentice den where he heard some talking. He recognised Ivypaw's voice. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, opened his eyes once more and stepped into the den. It was slightly dark and his eyes took some time to adjust. He looked around. The walls were covered in moss and ivy. The walls were of uneven rock and the ground was soft soil. Big moss beds were spread around. Ivypaw didn't turn to him. Only Firepaw, another greyish cat, a ginger cat and a tortoiseshell cat. 

                 "Hi," said Heartpaw awkwardly, not looking at Ivypaw. He knew she didn't want him to talk to her. She was avoiding him and she had told him specifically not to bother her anymore. He would respect her decision. Firepaw glared at him and lashed his tail. 

                 "Hi ShadowClan cat," Firepaw said. The tortoiseshell cat stepped forward. 

                 "You're not sleeping in this den, are you?" he asked.