The night was young and the moon was shining bright on the ground and cats were slowly tucking themselves in for the night. But not Silvermoon. Staying up was nothing new to her. Nothing strange. Her eyes hurt from keeping them open all the time, never sleeping. She was so tired. But, if she slept. Blackfeather would lurk in her dreams. It was worse enough he was her shadow now, but he was her nightmares too. Blackfeather was always there.. No matter what. Silvermoon pulled herself up and walked out of the warrior's den. She saw who was guarding camp this time. Blazefur. "Blazefur.. let me guard the camp." She murmured. "Silvermoon.. you're eyes.. they're so red." The ginger tom murmured. "Go to sleep Silvermoon." He demanded.
"Fine." Silvermoon murmured tiredly. "Can I at least go on a walk? I can't sleep." She grumbled. She wished she could sleep. "Fine, But be back soon! Or I'll send Cloudtuft after you!" Blazefur meowed. Silvermoon rolled her eyes. She left the camp, walking through the forest.
The soil under her was nice, soft, it cushioned her paws. Silvermoon walked to the Gathering place, the giant stone so visible. She has to satisfy the apprentice in her. Silvermoon traveled to the back, seeing a mini way to climb up. And so she did. Silvermoon stood on top of the rock, staring down at everything. The moon was bright, and shined a shadow. Silvermoon nervously looked at her shadow. Of course it was the frightening, spikes fur shadow, and it stared back at Silvermoon. She ran off, going a completely different direction. She was going to Star Pool, that place was bright, but casted no shadows. Her paws thudded as she suddenly felt something other than Earth. It was the Thunder-Path! Silvermoon felt it rumble, and saw a monster stare at her with big bright eyes, blinding her vision. "No!" A voice growled. A heavy weight pushed Silvermoon aside and into the muddy swamps of MossClan. She opened her eyes, seeing her rescuer. "Cloudtuft.. what're you doing?" She asked. "I could as you the same thing! Blazefur asked me to follow you after you left. We're worried for you Silvermoon." Cloudtuft murmured, pressing his head to Silvermoon's hesitantly. Silvermoon just looked at her muddy paws and body. Cloudtuft winced as he pushes his paw on the ground. "I think you sprained it.. or pulled a muscle. I know it's super painful. I did that tones of times as an apprentice." Silvermoon replied to her friend. She licked his injured paw gently. "Come on.. lets see if you can walk it off if it is a pulled muscle." Silvermoon meowed, leading Cloudtuft back across the Thunder-path.
Cloudtuft was able to walk it off. But Silvermoon still felt bad. He injured himself for her. Cloudtuft licked Silvermoon's still muddy face. "You're going to need to bathe in the river to get rid of that!" Cloudtuft commented, trying to make Silvermoon laugh. "Yeah.. do you wanna come with me while I bathe off the mud? I know a shallow part by Stoneclan territory." Silvermoon mewed, stretching her body. "Of course." Cloudtuft meowed.
Silvermoon stepped into the river and rolled around, feeling the mud leave and become one with the river. "I heard Mosscloud and Redsnow are trying for kits." Cloudtuft meowed, licking his paws. "Really? I thought Mosscloud would want kits with someone less prickly. Like.. Thornbush." Silvermoon meowed, laying on her side in the river. It did feel nice, but she knew she needed to be careful. She couldn't swim for the life of her. "Mosscloud says that Redsnow is strong, and all her kits will survive with him as their father. This has been a good season for kits." Cloudtuft purred. "I've never heard you mention StarClan.. do you believe in it?" Silvermoon asked. "No.. I don't. There is an afterlife though.. one where my family will be.. Afterlife is what you make it, so you see the people you like. Not the people you don't." Cloudtuft replied. "I wish I could believe that.. but I know StarClan is all too real.. and so is Death's Forest.."
Silvermoon murmured. "What's Death's Forest? I've never heard of that before." Cloudtuft meowed. "It's where the cats who broke the warrior code go.. Cats who are evil and corrupt." Silvermoon shivered, stepping out of the river. She shook her pelt dry. "Hey! You're going to get my fur wet!" Cloudtuft hissed. Silvermoon continued shaking her pelt out, and Cloudtuft threw the water at her with his paw. "Hey!" Silvermoon purred. Cloudtuft smirked, throwing more water at her. Silvermoon jumped in the water, it splashed on both of them, and the two just laughed. "I miss hearing you being happy Silvermoon.." Cloudtuft murmured, pressing his muzzle to her neck. Silvermoon wrapped her tail around Cloudtuft, feeling a wave of anxiety clog her throat and lungs. She shaked nervously, and Cloudtuft pulled away, looking at Silvermoon. "Are you okay?" He asked, placing his paw on her back. "I'm sorry.. I just.. I can't do this again!" Silvermoon cried, running off and back to camp. She didn't want her heart ripped out again. She didn't want to be manipulated again. She didn't want this again!" Silvermoon laid in her nest, closing her eyes. Until she finally, fell asleep.
It wasn't good sleep. But it was sleep. Sleep without interruptions, which Silvermoon could appreciate. She woke up and saw Cloudtuft in the corner, looking defeated. Silvermoon went to go wake him up and apologize, but Fireshine called her. "Ready for a friend day?" She purred, intertwining her tail with Silvermoon's. "What about Cloudtuft?" She asked. "Oh right! Let me wake him, you go meet up with Shinefire!" Fireshine purred. "Branchpaw isn't joining us?" She asked her friend. "Sadly not.. he's getting his full medicine cat name, and Badgersight is looking for Pebbleheart." Fireshine murmured. Silvermoon nodded sadly, sitting by Shinefire. "So, you and Tumbleweed are close.." Silvermoon meowed to her. Shinefire just nodded. "He's a sweet tom, but.." The she-cat hesitated. "You still love Branchpaw?" She asked with a purr. "Yeah.. how'd you know?" Shinefire asked. "Any cat with eyes can see it." Silvermoon commented, starting to groom herself. She might as well look nice. "I don't know if it's wrong.. but.. can you ask Branchpaw how he feels about me..? He's stopped talking to me.." Shinefire murmured, flattening her ears. "I'll ask for you." Silvermoon purred. "Thanks.."
"Alright everyone! Let's go!" Fireshine purred, leading Cloudtuft out.
YOU ARE READING
Wild Shadows (Book Two; Series One)
FantasyA couple moons have passed.. After Silvermoon got away from Blackfeather, she continues life as before. Yet, she still only feels safe in camp. She builds up walls, protecting her from hazardous cats. Meanwhile, Branchpaw is focused on his new care...
