Wild Shadows (Book Two; Series One)

Chapter 22

 Silvermoon sighed as Pebbleheart covered and cleaned her wounds. She wasn't as hurt as everyone else. Pebbleheart seemed to constantly fumble and stutter, and even tripped a couple times. She seemed unbalanced.. "Sorry Silvermoon.. I'm just.. tired." She sighed. "Don't apologize." Silvermoon replied calmly, flicking her tail. 

 Cloudtuft soon joined her outside the den and the two shared a nice squirrel. "The Gathering wasn't as serious as it seemed. They just discussed the war with StoneClan and us. Not much of a war, but whatever, it's over." Cloudtuft purred. Silvermoon purred softly. She caught glimpse of Blackfeather walking into the clearing, a crow dangling in his jaws. She pressed close to her mate. "I love you Cloudtuft." Silvermoon cooed. She felt Cloudtuft get warm, and he wrapped a tail around her. She pressed her face into the tom's neck, opening one eye and seeing Blackfeather lash his tail. Silvermoon smirked. 

 Silvermoon continued to press close to Cloudtuft as Shinefire told everyone she would be expecting kits. Her heart ached for Branchstalk, but she knew Branchstalk was strong. She leaped off the rock, and Silvermoon saw Tumbleweed rush her into the nursery. She frowned. "Do.. Do you think Shinefire is happy?" She asked. "I mean, I heard once as an apprentice she never wanted kits. But maybe she changed her mind, many cats do." Cloudtuft replied. "My older sister never wanted kits, but once she was taken to the Snippers, she said she wished she did." He gave an example, stretching his large fore paws. "Do you want kits?" Silvermoon asked. "One day, but I'd never force you Silvermoon. It's your choice, since you'll be the one carrying them." Cloudtuft purred, pressing a nose to her ear. Silvermoon settled closer to him. Now Cloudtuft wasn't only a way to make Blackfeather upset, he was.. her mate. Silvermoon loved Cloudtuft, more than she originally expected herself to. Especially after her trauma with Blackfeather. Her loving mate wrapped a tail around Silvermoon. "I hope you know I'd never hurt you.." He murmured. "I know," Silvermoon purred.

 Stalking through the forest, Silvermoon kept her body low, and her tail flat. Carefully, she stepped towards a dove. Currently, she was showing Smallpaw to hunt. She paused, seeing it's wings twitch. Was it about to fly off? Silvermoon wriggled her haunches, and pounced at the bird, biting it's neck and feeling it go limp. She placed it in the small little prey pile the apprentices made for their prey. The others were out here as well, Bearpaw and Cloudtuft were battle training, while Duskfoot and Rowanpaw gossiped while they pretended they were training. "Okay Smallpaw, I want you to try hunting birds, alright? This is a good place for birds." Silvermoon meowed. Smallpaw nodded, giving a resolute look. She sat guard at the tiny prey pile. It was a nice day. The sun was poking through the leaves, and it was a good day for basking and hunting. Mosspaw and Bramblepaw were testing out their sneaking skills, trying to detect each other, while Blazefur and Tumbleweed  supervised. Snow-whisker was training Hoppaw. 

 Smallpaw had caught a tiny robin, and a huge raven. She was surprised, and gave him a tiny lick. "Good job Smallpaw, the Clan will eat well!" Tigerpaw gasped. He was out training with Hoppaw. "I call the raven!" Bearpaw laughed, playfully pouncing on Smallpaw. Silvermoon chuckled, nudging her apprentice up. "Come on Smallpaw, let's get this home before these savages eat it!" She purred. Smallpaw held his huge raven, while Silvermoon carried her dove and his robin.

 Silvermoon laid the two birds in the prey pile, and Smallpaw walked around camp boasting about his raven. "Take that to the elders! And you might as well clean the den too." She ordered with a small laugh. "I thought you loved me!" Smallpaw managed through the raven. "I do, but you need to clean out the elders den." Silvermoon replied calmly. The apprentice huffed, but nodded. She flicked her tail, shaking her head with a purr. 

 Silvermoon brought a bird into the medicine cat den, gently laying it in front of Branchstalk. Her brother was napping, and she didn't want to disrupt him, so she left the den soon after. Silvermoon padded back out. She saw Blackfeather and Cloudtuft talking, and she felt her heart sink.. What was he saying?

 Cloudtuft slowly approached her, a serious look on his face. "Is it true?" He hissed. Silvermoon blinked. "Is what true?" She asked. "You only became mates with me to upset Blackfeather." Cloudtuft growled. Silvermoon froze, and stayed silent. "It is." He growled before storming off. Her heart ached. What had she done?