Lillyheart's Secret

Chapter Nine

Softpaw and Emeraldleaf sat at the fresh-kill pile, chatting about the upcoming gathering. Lillypaw sat nearby, listening intently. Eager for her first gathering, she soaked up any information she could. She got up, and wandered over to the apprentice den. "Hi Siltpaw!" She chirped.

The grey tom looked up. "Hey Lillypaw. I heard you can finally go out of camp now." He gave her a knowing smile.

Lillypaw shuffled her paws. "Creekstar said to find someone to go hunting with us. Want to come?"

"Sure." He climbed out of his nest, rubbing his tail against her cheek. The two apprentices trotted over to the entrance, where Creekstar was waiting.

"Siltpaw, good morning. Are you ready to go hunting?" He nodded, and they left the camp.

Lillypaw heard a shuffle come from some long grass, and she dropped into a crouch. Sneaking forward, she saw a mouse emerge from the grass. She tensed, then leapt forward, landing neatly on top of the mouse. She nipped its neck, and picked it up.

It was sun-high when the hunting patrol went back. Siltpaw had two fish, and a shrew. Creekstar and Lillypaw each had a bird and a mouse each. The dropped the fresh-kill in the pile, and went their separate ways. Lillypaw followed Creekstar over to the stream, and the two of them stared at the water.

"This is going to be my first gathering." The wind ruffled her fur, and Lillypaw shivered.

Creekstar looked away. "It's long overdue." Silence crept between them, leaving Lillypaw uncomfortable. "I'm sorry I've been so... Detached. I haven't been a good mentor."

Lillypaw blinked. "It's not your fault. I've been in the medicine den for the last moon."

"But it is my fault! I should have noticed when you didn't come back that night." Creekstar licked her chest. "I should have been a better mentor, and a better leader." The two she-cats sat in silence, but there was understanding. Creekstar left, and Lillypaw dipped her paw in the water. She watched the ripples spreading outwards. Life is so turbulent sometimes... I'm glad to have found some form of peace. She went back to camp, greeting Lizardtuft as he passed. She paced the clearing until Creekstar came out of her den.

"Riverclan, the gathering is tonight. The cats that are coming are Mapleheart, Mossfang, Nettlesmoke, Darkice, Emeraldleaf, Murkpaw, and Lillypaw. Eat something before we leave, you'll need it." Then the leader walked away.

Siltpaw came over to Lillypaw and flicked his ear resentfully. "It's not fair that I don't get to go. I work just as hard, if not harder than Murkpaw!"

She licked his ear sympathetically. "I'm sure there's a reason. She probably needs you here to protect the camp." Siltpaw grunted, and Lillypaw licked his ear again. "I'm sure there's a reason."
*
*
*
*
Lillypaw stared at the tree bridge uneasily. She placed a paw on it, and her fur raised as it groaned. "Hurry up!" A voice called behind her.

"Sorry," she muttered. She jumped on the tree, and raced across as fast as she could. Halfway across, she tilted to the side and slid of the tree. "Ack!" She plummeted into the water, and it enveloped her. It's freezing! A plume of bubbles drifted above her, and she vaguely saw a shape coming towards her. Feebly, she kicked her legs, but shock and cold made them stiff. Help!

Suddenly, she was being pulled out of the water, and fresh air was rushing into her lungs. She gasped for breath, barely aware of the sand sliding underneath her. She saw two green eyes, then focused on the cat's face. Murkpaw! "Daft furball," he mewed, licking her shoulder. "You said you'd always be by my side. You aren't allowed to die."

Creekstar crouched next to her. "Are you okay?" Lillypaw nodded. "Then get up. We can't show weakness at the gathering." She grabbed Lillypaw's scruff and hauled her up. Lillypaw shuffled behind Creekstar, feeling uncomfortable from all the stares. One tom stepped forward, and Creekstar hissed at him. "Give her some space!" She flicked her tail at Wavecloud, and Lillypaw went to sit by the warrior.

Wavecloud gave Lillypaw a lick. "Be careful on that tree, it's slippery." Lillypaw shook herself, trying to get dry. "Why don't you go sit with the other apprentices?"

"Okay." Lillypaw padded over to where all the apprentices were. "Hi."

Five sets of eyes flicked up to her. "Hi." A brown tom raised his tail in a greeting. "What's your name? Mine's Acornpaw."

Suddenly, Lillypaw felt shy. "My name is Lillypaw... This is my first time to a gathering."

A black tom blinked with shock. "Aren't you a little old then?"

"Molepaw!" A red tabby whacked the apprentice. "Ignore him, he's dumb."

"Hey!" Molepaw protested. He ignored a glare from the tabby, and stepped towards Lillypaw. "As you know, I'm Molepaw, that's Acornpaw. The cranky red tabby is Needlepaw, the lazy one is Birchpaw, and this is my brother, Smokepaw."

Smokepaw nodded at Lillypaw, his charcoal fur shining. "Hey. Good luck with your apprenticeship."

Lillypaw heard a voice, and saw Murkpaw gesturing to a spot beside him. "Bye." She smiles at the other apprentices , and went to join Murkpaw.
*
*
*
*
Larkpaw and Dovepaw mimicked the way Lizardtuft was leaning over the water. "Like this?" Dovepaw asked, readjusting herself.

"Not quite." Lillypaw shifted the younger apprentice back. "You need to keep your shadow off the water."

"Oh," Dovepaw's eyes widened. "Is this better?" She asked Lizardtuft. Her mentor nodded, and Dovepaw's face kit up with glee.

Lizardtuft dismissed the two sisters, and they ran off, swiping at each other's paws. Lillypaw settled next to him, and his tail settled on her shoulder. "You know, Creekstar speaks very fondly of you. I'm glad you fit in so well."

Surprise and delight made Lillypaw warm inside. "Thank you."

The deputy nodded. "You'll make a fine mentor one day, and I mean it." The two of them sat in silence, watching the clouds.