Heartstar's rise : Book Two

Ch. 19

When Heartstorm finally made it down the tree, he was shaking with tiredness and cold. He limped after Silverdrop towards camp. Eelpaw trotted at his side, chattering excitedly about their catches. They had caught a wet squirrel, its babies and a stupid bird. They finally made it to camp and the rain had lessened. A few cats were walking around camp but they were all headed somewhere, not just chilling around. Silverdrop and Eelpaw brought their prey to the fresh-kill pile which was in the shelter of a bush and a cat had put a few more leaves to keep it dry although it wasn't much use as the prey was already soaked when Silverdrop and Eelpaw dropped it in. Thornstar approached them. 

                "Good job!" he congratulated. "Good catch. Especially in this weather. Thanks Silverdrop, Heartstorm and you too Eelpaw."

                "I didn't do anything," assured Heartstorm. 

                "He just lay dead on a branch," agreed Silverdrop unhelpfully. Thornstar smiled. Heartstorm muttered under his breath and padded away with Eelpaw. Eelpaw was trotting by his side happily. They slipped into the apprentice den. Deerpaw was lounging in her nest. She leapt to her feet with a broad smile.

                  "Hey!" she cried bounding up to Heartstorm. 

                   "Hey," replied Heartstorm with a grin. He was glad to see Deerpaw. 

                   "What did you guys do today?" asked Deerpaw. "how's life as a warrior? Done anything cool yet?"

                    "He got stuck up a tree!" exclaimed Eelpaw. 

                     "NO?" gasped Deerpaw with a smile. Heartstorm rolled his eyes. 

                     "I didn't get stuck," he mumbled. But Eelpaw was telling an exaggerated story about how he had saved Heartstorm. Of course, Heartstorm didn't really mind, he was just slightly amused. 

                    "Aw, poor Heartstorm," said Deerpaw, prodding Heartstorm amiably. "So how is Silverdrop?" 

                    "She's so good at climbing!" cried Eelpaw. "I wish she could teach me but she's like so rude and annoying and bossy! Did I mention how bossy she was?" 

                    "Like two hundred times," mumbled Heartstorm. 

                     "What did you do today?" asked Eelpaw with a yawn. He padded to his nest and Heartstorm ached to be back in the apprentice den with his friends. 

                      "Nothing much," shrugged Deerpaw. "Moorpelt doesn't like rain so he just sent me on a border patrol then gave me the day off." 

                      "Lucky!" exclaimed Eelpaw. "But I had fun." 

                       "I'm going to sleep now," said Deerpaw. "I think Moorpelt will wake me up extra early tomorrow to compensate for the lack of training today." Eelpaw nodded. He grinned at Heartstorm. 

                         "Wanna go climbing again tomorrow?" he teased. Heartstorm shook his head. 

                         "You can go with Silverdrop. I'm never climbing a tree again," huffed Heartstorm. He was slightly sad he had to leave his best friends to chatter a bit more to go back to the warrior's den. He knew that even though they said they were going to sleep now, they wouldn't be able to help the urge to talk a bit more together. Heartstorm knew, he used to do it with them. But now.., now they didn't even seem to notice him gone. Heartstorm slipped outside. There was a light drizzle and Heartstorm puffed out his fur and stalked to the warrior's den. Moorpelt and Beestripe were in a corner, talking. Heartstorm slumped into his nest and closed his eyes. He wrapped his tail around his snout and tried to think of something good. He just wasn't feeling in a good mood. He hadn't had the best day and he just felt grumpy. Suddenly, he felt a warm breath on his ear. He looked up. He stared up into Silverdrop's grey and pearly eyes. They were beautiful. Heartstorm broke her gaze. 

                       "What's up?" he asked. 

                       "Do you want me to teach you how to climb?" asked Silverdrop. The question was so out of the blue, Heartstorm didn't say anything. He didn't like or hate Silverdrop. He didn't think he'd ever have to talk to her again after today. But that was stupid, they were in the same Clan for StarClan's sake! 

                        "Um, I think you should go ask Eelpaw," Heartstorm said finally. 

                       "You need the help more," she said firmly. "Tomorrow at noon." Heartstorm frowned and watched her pad away. Just when Silverdrop turned around, Sparkbelly appeared at his side and lowered his voice to Heartstorm. 

                        "What did she say?" he whispered. 

                         "Nothing," shrugged Heartstorm. Sparkbelly gazed at Silverdrop a little longer in a longing sort of way. "Right, alright, goodnight." Sparkbelly sighed and dragged himself back to his nest, staring at Silverdrop with clouded eyes. Heartstorm gave an amused snort and settled down for his second night in the warrior's den.