The Choice

Chapter 11

The two young cats returned to camp during the evening, slipping in through the dirtplace tunnel. The camp seemed calm, and the sight of Birdflutter making quiet conversation with Dawntail. 

"So. You two just happened to leave the camp to make dirt at the same time?"

Hawkpaw and Orangepaw looked up to the voice who spoke, and they both shrank back at the sight of Graystar. He was an average sized cat, but his rank gave him a much bigger presence. 

"O-oh, we just wanted to get out of camp," Hawkpaw said in a soft voice.

Orangepaw gave a nod, "Yeah, and our mentors wouldn't have let us actually go out, you know? So we just sat there and caught up on training stuff."

The gray tabby gave them a skeptical look, and it was as close to angry as Hawkpaw wanted to see him. Just before he could speak, Whitefang skipped up behind them with a calm look on her face.

"Well, this is odd. Orangepaw, did you drag your friend into trouble?" She asked. 

Graystar looked up to his mate, offering a hint of a smile, "No, just checking in. Let's go eat."

"Sounds great," She said before adding, "I'm getting you up at dawn tomorrow, Orangepaw, so make sure to get a good amount of sleep!"

Hawkpaw exhaled as they padded off, relief flooding over him, "Good story, Orangepaw. I could barely think of anything!"

She let a giggle and the two padded farther into camp. They split ways and Hawkpaw trotted over to his sister who was talking to Lionpaw. 

"Hey you two!" He said as he approached, "Lionpaw, you were battle training with Boltpaw, right? Was it fun?"

"Yeah, especially when I win," She said with a soft purr. 

Both Hawkpaw and Flurrypaw gave a chuckle, with the latter responding, "I do enjoy getting to attack my brothers!"

"Wow, okay then," Hawkpaw purred in a fake annoyed tone, "Have you two seen Sandpaw lately? I feel like he's avoiding everyone."

"Hm. Actually, he went out with Ashbreeze earlier today to train, and a few days ago. I guess he's too busy to hang out with any-cat his age." Flurrypaw responded with a sigh. 

Lionpaw tipped his head in a confused manor, "Doesn't he take the two of you out, two?"

The siblings exchanged a glance before the tom said, "No, he.. doesn't see us the same way Sandpaw does." 

"What?"

The three of them turned to see Birdflutter, a concerned look on her face, "Your father loves you both very much."

"We know.. it's just that.. that he doesn't do the same stuff with us that he does with Sandpaw. He's never groomed me behind the ears, or taken me out to train," Hawkpaw murmured. 

Their mother almost seemed shocked. Had she never realized the bias their father had towards their brother.

"We love our father a lot, it's just that he never bonded with us." Flurrypaw added.

"I'll.. I'll talk to him about that. I'm sorry I never noticed, you two." Their mother said.

Hawkpaw watched as Lionpaw silently slipped away before giving his mother a smile. He didn't expect a change, but was glad their mother wanted to try.

"I hope you don't blame your brother. He was the first born, so that might be why. Your father was the first born in his family, and things were similar for him. So, I'll tell him that's not how we'll do things."

Both siblings stayed silent as their mother gave them each a nuzzle and followed after Lionpaw. 

'Nothing will change, but it's nice to know it's nothing something me or Flurrypaw did.'