Lillyheart's Secret

Chapter Seven

"Murkpaw! What are you doing here?" Lillypaw felt uncomfortably hot.

Murkpaw's eyes narrowed, and a soft growl built up in his throat. "You are a kittypet, aren't you? And don't you dare try and lie to me, I saw that twoleg stroking you!" Lillypaw opened her mouth to speak, but Murkpaw's next words silenced her. "And to think I had feelings for you." His tone softened, and tears shined in his eyes. "You... You betrayed our trust. You betrayed my trust!" His voice hitched.

"Murkpaw," Lillypaw sighed. "I didn't have a choice!"

"You didn't have a choice? You didn't have a choice when we took you in? You didn't have a choice when Creekstar made you an apprentice? But now you have a choice? Pathetic! Is this some sort of game to your little kittypet mind? And now that you have some sort of responsibility, you're going to go prancing back home, to your life of ease?" Fury sparked in Murkpaw's eyes,and the feeling was infectious.

"Shut up!" Lillypaw snapped. "Are you that narrow minded? Do you really think I would toy with my friends? If you would just stop and think a minute, you would realize that I came back from the twoleg place! If I truly was running away, I would have stayed there!" Murkpaw shuffled his paws, looking rather abashed.

"Lillypaw, I..." He grimaced. "Fine. Say what you will, but watch your back. There are other forms of treachery, and you don't know the half of it." He stalked away, leaving Lillypaw shivering at his threat.

She looked up at the sky, which was turning violet with the setting sun. The willows made a sighing sound, and she echoed it back. No doubt Murkpaw will tell everyone. I'll probably be banished from the clan. Lillypaw licked her paw anxiously. I guess I'll leave in the morning, just in case. She slithered up the nearest willow tree, going as high as she could. Good. She draped herself over a branch, and let the black fill her mind.
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Lillypaw looked at the cats around her, their faces filled with disgust. She heard the voice of her mentor and leader, and the contempt in her voice made Lillypaw shiver. "This pitiful kittypet has betrayed Riverclan's trust, and so she must be banished! Turn your backs on this traitor, and let her life be filled with misery."

Her clanmates yowled their responses, and turned their backs on the shivering apprentice. "Wait! I didn't mean to!" She raced from cat to cat, trying to get them to meet her gaze. "Wavecloud, please!" The she-cat turned away without a word. "Please!" Lillypaw slumped to the ground, and felt her form melt into the ground . The world spun around, and she plummeted through the darkness.

Lillypaw's eyes snapped open, just in time to realize she was falling. She landed with a crunch on a branch below her, and yowled in pain. She felt herself tipping again, and saw the ground coming closer and closer. She landed with a sickening thud, and resisted the urge to scream. All my fault. Lillypaw curled into loose ball, and shivered in the cold. Her leg pulsed with pain, and tears streaked down her cheeks. All my fault.

A breeze whispered a comfort, and she thought of Wavecloud's warm voice. What I wouldn't give to be with her right now. A murmur of a voice whispered in her ears. Lillypaw, Lillypaw come back. Lillypaw? "Lillypaw!" Two blue eyes appeared in her vision, frantic with worry. "Lillypaw, what happened?"

"Wavecloud?" Lillypaw croaked. She tried to sit up, and gasped when a sharp feeling raced up her leg. A warm sensation trickled down her paw, leaving it red.

"Lillypaw, what happened?" Wavecloud screeched. "Creekstar! I found her! Murkpaw, go find Reedfoot!" She buried her nose in Lillypaw's fur, and Lillypaw sighed in relief. "Lillypaw, I was so worried when you didn't come back yesterday! What are even doing out here anyways?"

"I-" Lillypaw was interrupted by Murkpaw, who was racing towards them.

"Reedfoot is coming in a minute! He said to find cobwebs and camomile, and poppy if we can find an-" He jerked to stop, and stared at Lillypaw with wide eyes. "Lillypaw, what did you do? What happened?" He crouched next to her, fear scent coming off in waves. His eyes darted to Wavecloud. "Will she be okay?"

"I don't know." Her voice was hushed, and Lillypaw choked back a sob. "It looks bad."

"I'm sorry." Lillypaw mewed. "All my fault."

"Don't say that." Murkpaw's voice was thick with grief. "It's not your fault at all.

"I was so scared," Lillypaw murmured. "So scared."

Wavecloud laid her tail across the apprentice, and purred lightly. "You'll be fine, little one. You'll see, it'll be ok." Her words lulled Lillypaw into sleep, and she heard a whisper in ear. Do not fear, greatness shall come from your paws. Be brave when stars shake.