Warriors: Sharptalon's Mist

Chapter 37

Sharptalon woke up to a quiet talking. The voices sounded low. Another long day had passed after catching those scents. Maybe other cats in the Clan were worried. 

Sharptalon got to his paws and stretched, his jaws gaping wide in a yawn. He stepped over his sleeping Clanmates, hearing birds chirping outside. The sun shone dimly outside, hiding behind a gray cloud. 

"Sharptalon! You're up!" Stormgaze was laying on a smoothed patch of grass, her storm-gray pelt dappled with sunlight. "Come over here!"

Sharptalon eagerly padded towards his mate, his thoughts mixed. "Yes, love?" He mewed.

Stormgaze's swollen flanks stuck out and swayed as she heaved herself to her paws with a grunt. "I'm soaking up the last bits of sunshine before leaf-bare actually comes," Stormgaze meowed. 

"Oh Stormgaze, you know it'll be a few more moons before leaf-bare is here," Sharptalon soothed, sitting down beside her. He could feel a slight warmth on his pelt as the cloud finally passed over the sun.

Wingpaw and Blazepaw were walking together, talking eagerly. They padded towards the fresh-kill pile, grabbing mice.

Stormgaze purred. "Looks like Wingpaw's already got a crush on someone," she teased.

Sharptalon stared after them, remembering when he was an apprentice with Stormgaze. Those were the great days. He remembered Fluffypelt always being there for him, and Ambertuft training him. Why did I have to lose everyone I loved? He then shook his head. No, I've still got Stormgaze and my unborn kits, and my brother.

Stormgaze lay down, pressing her muzzle to Sharptalon's cheek, purring. 

Sharptalon rested his tail over her tail, his purr faded. 

"Is something wrong?" Stormgaze asked, pulling away. Her eyes were rounded with concern.

"Nothing. I was just thinking about my mother. I miss her deeply," Sharptalon sighed, closing his eyes. Wind stirred his fur.

"I know you do. She was a very nice cat," Stormgaze murmured. "But remember that she gave her life for yours. She loved you."

"If only my father and sister were the same," Sharptalon sighed. He could feel his claws sinking into the grass. "They abused me during kithood and even when I'd became an apprentice. Then they left me, joining the rogues."

"Sometimes life is hard," Stormgaze murmured. "But we have to keep going for our ancestors' sake."

Sharptalon then thought back on when he was in the Dark Forest. He remembered how Silk had talked about how the Clans wouldn't allow you to live your own way. And I do agree, the warrior code is a bit unfair.

Stormgaze looked at Sharptalon. "Your brother is calling you, you know." 

Sharptalon snapped out of his thoughts. "Oh, sorry," he mewed as his brother came up to him. "I was wrapped up in my thoughts."

"That's ok," Lighttail meowed, flashing him a sympathetic look. "I wanted to go take a walk."

"Take a walk?" Sharptalon echoed, getting to his paws.

"We're brothers. I want to bond more," Lighttail admitted, his gaze shimmering with grief. "I feel like we should maybe... talk to eachother to calm ourselves. You know, like...."

Sharptalon gazed at him sympathetically. "Good idea. We can share our thoughts," he meowed. My brother has always been a bit soft.

"Yeah, that's what I meant. So, do you want to do it now?" Lighttail asked, his whiskers twitching.