Tangletuft's Mistake; (complete)

Chapter seven

"Hey Tanglepaw! Rabbitfoot told me not to bother you but I wanted to know if you're awake or not!" Redkit mewled, gently nudging the older cat with his tiny paw.

The red furred tom had been reckless this past moon with his only littermate still sick. Just the last day he had snuck into the warriors' bedding several times, only to be carried back to the nursery.

"Well I'm awake now. What else do you want? Half of my tail?" Tanglepaw purred, opening her eyes to see the tom-kit, standing all pretty like and eyes shining like moons.

"What? Why would I want half of your tail? That's just crazy." Redkit scoffed sweetly, giggling afterwards.

Tanglepaw rolled her eyes, then suddenly found herself purring again. As the den rustled, Rabbitfoot suddenly padded in and stared at the two younger cats.

"Redkit I told you not to wake up Tanglepaw." Rabbitfoot mewed. His voice gentle yet firm.

"No worries," Tanglepaw mewed, stretching her front paws outwards "I had to get up sometime." As Tanglepaw stood up in her nest, Rabbitfoot shook his head at her.

"What's wrong?" Redkit asked, looking up, curiosity sparking in his gaze, clearing noticing the shaking of Rabbitfoot's head.

"Oh nothing," Rabbitfoot mewed before gently pushing the tiny tom out of the door to the medicine den "Why don't you go and play hunt the rabbit with Falconheart. The young warrior was sitting alone, his sky-gray pelt deflecting the sunlight while his pale, almost yellow looking, muzzle glistened, glowing like a star.

"Alright! Hey Falconheart!" Redkit spun off hard on his heels, sprinting to the younger warrior.

Tanglepaw giggled, still standing in her nest "Isn't Redkit just the cutest kit? I know he'll become a great warrior one day. Maybe even leader."

"Yeah. I know. Cute kit. But Tanglepaw that's not the point. My point is you're sick... But you aren't."

"What?" Tanglepaw asked "You're kidding. How can a cat be sick and not sick at the same time?"

"I'm not sure. You don't have any signs of greencough, fever or whitecough yet you cough when you work for something." He paused, taking in a deep breath before continuing "That's a disease I cannot get ride of." Rabbitfoot looked at his paws, feeling ashamed.

"So? It's just a little cough." Tanglepaw mewed "I'll push past it and become the best warrior I can. I promise I'll be great."

Rabbitfoot shook his head once more, raising his head upwards "If you cough whenever you run, fight and hunt then you'll only scare off the prey, make our Clan look weaker in battle and you won't be able to train properly. That's not fair to you or WindClan."

Tanglepaw narrowed her eyes until they rested as green slits "What are you trying to say here Rabbitfoot?"

Rabbitfoot sighed before letting out a breath so cold it seemed like countless cold leaf-bare days mushed together into one breath of sheer coldness "You cannot become a warrior."

"What? Don't be silly Rabbitfoot! I can still be a warrior! So what if I have a cough? I'll make up for it in intelligence. I can do this."

Rabbitfoot let out an awkward gurgling sound, obviously out of arguments "All right. You can continue warrior training. But if you pass out during a training session as little as one time, we're going to have to have a talk alright?"

Tanglepaw nodded "Thanks Rabbitfoot. Just you wait! I'll become leader of the Clan someday!"

The medicine cat laughed "I thought Redkit was going to be leader."

"He can be deputy." Tanglepaw giggled back, earning a laughed purr from Rabbitfoot.

Then silence surrounded them. For long moments the den fell to awkwardness, the silence itching on her bones.

"So um Rabbitfoot," Tanglepaw looked up "C-can I go and train now?"

Rabbitfoot nodded "But remember this promise though alright? If it doesn't work out, we'll have a talk. Maybe instead of leader you could become medicine cat. You do promise right?"

Tanglepaw tilted her head "Why would I want to become medicine cat? But sure why not, I promise."

"Good," Rabbitfoot mewed, his tone suddenly happier "Now go and train. I bet your littermates and mentor will be glad to have you back."