Warriors: Sharptalon's Mist

Chapter 39

Three days had passed since the fox attack. Wingpaw was devastated over Lighttail's death. Sharptalon felt bad for her. And now it's my turn to raise her. 

Sharptalon stalked through the undergrowth, feeling the cold breeze of the leaf-fall winds. He shook out his pelt. The mouse he was hunting was scuttling around the roots of a tree, searching for something to eat. 

Then, Sharptalon leaped forward, his claws extended. He landed on the mouse, killing it with a quick bite to the neck. He picked it up in his jaws. I should return back to camp with this. He padded through the undergrowth until he reached a birch tree and dug up the vole he caught. He padded over to where a badger's old den was and dug up a fat squirrel. I hope the elders enjoy this.

As Sharptalon walked into camp, he padded to the fresh-kill pile. It was not that big, with only a skinny shrew, a fat thrush, a squirrel, two rabbits, and five mice in the pile. He placed his catch in the pile, then turned as he heard a noise at the camp entrance.

Wingpaw padded into camp, Ivypool at her side, looking proud. Molefur and Blazepaw were with them. 

Wingpaw and Blazepaw were walking together, looking happy. Wingpaw had a wren in her mouth, and Blazepaw had a young squirrel. 

Wingpaw glanced up as she neared Sharptalon. "Sharptalon! Look! I caught my first bird!" She purred. 

"Great job," Sharptalon purred. "And good job too, Blazepaw."

Blazepaw nuzzled his friend's cheek, purring. 

Ivypool padded up with Molefur at her side. "I've got to go organize patrols," she meowed before turning away.

Molefur shifted his paws. "Go ahead and clean out the elders' den," he meowed to Blazepaw.

"Can Wingpaw help?" Blazepaw asked, blinking at his mentor.

"No, I was planning to take her out to practice a battle move," Molefur meowed, twitching his whiskers.

"Aw, well, bye, I guess," Blazepaw meowed to Wingpaw, flicking his tail.

"Sootpaw and Auburnpaw should be there too," Molefur called after Blazepaw as he padded away.

Sharptalon watched as Wingpaw and Molefur padded out of camp, then turned back to the fresh-kill pile. He picked out a two mice from the pile, then headed to the nursery, eager to see his mate. 

Sharptalon began to make his way across camp, but as he crossed the medicine den, he heard a cat calling him. He turned, seeing Peachpaw. She motioned him towards her.

"What?" Sharptalon asked through a mouth full of fur.

"I need to speak to you," Peachpaw whispered. She looked scared.

Sharptalon padded closer and pushed through the overhanging brambles, then placed his mouse at his paws. "What about?" He asked as he sat down.

"It's about Rabbittail," Peachpaw mumbled. 

Sharptalon felt interested now. "But why speak to me about it?" He asked.

"Well I trust you. And plus you were in WindClan's camp for a few days," Peachpaw pointed out, her tail curling around her paws. "Did he do anything weird while you were there?" She asked.

"No, not really,"Sharptalon mewed, twitching his whiskers. Should I tell her about Kestrelflight? "He seemed a bit strange though."

Peachpaw narrowed her eyes. "Are you hiding something from me?" She asked.

"No. I just don't know if I should tell you," Sharptalon explained, flicking his tail.

"Tell me what?" Peachpaw leaned forward, her eyes rounding. 

"Rabbittail is crazy," Sharptalon whispered, leaning closer to the apprentice. "He...." Sharptalon trailed off. He eyed Peachpaw desperately. "Don't tell anyone this, ok?" He mewed.

Peachpaw blinked, her eyes shimmering. "Ok, I promise I won't."

Sharptalon sighed. "I don't think you were born yet when Kestrelflight got really sick, right?" He asked. "Well, Kestrelflight was very sick, and Rabbittail... killed him... to put him out of his misery," he mumbled.

Peachpaw gasped, her eyes widening. "What? Why would he do that? That's crazy!" She mewed. "Does anyone else know?" 

"No," Sharptalon answered, shaking his head.

"How'd you find out?" Peachpaw asked, curious.

"He told me," Sharptalon whispered. "I-"

Twistedfoot and Flamedawn walked in suddenly, herbs in their mouth.

Flamedawn stopped, blinking at Peachpaw. "Peachpaw!" He gasped, looking disappointed. "I thought I told you to sort those herbs!"

Peachpaw ducked her head in embarrassment. "Sorry, Flamedawn. I'll get right to it now," she mumbled.

"What's Sharptalon doing in here?" Flamedawn asked, blinking at the scarred brown tom.

Before Peachpaw could answer, Sharptalon cut in. "She was wanting to show her knowledge of herbs to me," he lied, flicking his tail. Getting to his paws, he added, "Peachpaw is smart, I knew she'd make a great medicine cat."

Flamedawn blinked at him. "Well she is pretty smart already," he commented, looking proud. He dropped a bristly-stemmed plant at his apprentice's paws. "Remember what this one is?" He asked.

"Horsetail," Peachpaw answered, flicking her tail.

Flamedawn purred. "Great job," he mewed. 

Sharptalon picked up his mouse and padded towards the entrance, but Needlepaw suddenly walked in, two fat mice in her jaws. 

"Here, eat," Needlepaw mewoed, dropping the mice at Flamedawn's paws. 

Peachpaw blinked, her eyes shimmering. "Thank you, Needlepaw," she mewed

Needlepaw blinked softly at her. "You're welcome," she mewed, turning around to pad from the den.

Sharptalon hurried out after her, and padded towards the nursery. Half-way there, he spotted Crowfeather talking with Leafpool. The former medicine cat looked distressed. 

"....dle being a warrior," Leafpool mumbled, her eyes glistening with grief.

"It's ok, I don't mind you going back to be a medicine cat. But how can we love eachother?" Crowfeather asked. "We need to be together for our kits, please."

"I'm sorry, but I'm best in medicine skills, and I should just go back to that role. I'd be useful there, not here," Leafpool murmured.

Crowfeather slightly bristled. He turned away from her, flattening his ears, then stopped at he saw Sharptalon. "Oh, Sharptalon," he greeted.

"Crowfeather," Sharptalon greeted. 

"I forgot to ask you, how's WindClan?" Crowfeather asked. "Well, when you spent those days there, was everything ok?" He asked.

"Everything was fine," Sharptalon responded, feeling suspicion. He's not thinking about leaving and going back to WindClan, is he?

"How's my son?" Crowfeather asked, his eyes rounding.

"He's fine, but mad that you're gone," Sharptalon explained, flicking his tail.

"Thanks for telling me," Crowfeather mewed, padding away.

Sharptalon glanced at Leafpool, exchanging looks. 

Leafpool blinked at him, grief shimmering in her eyes, then turned away, her tail drooping.

Sharptalon turned away, heading towards the nursery. I hope Stormgaze enjoys this mouse!