Broken Truce (Warriors Fan-book) ON HIATUS

Chapter Eleven

They had collected six paw-fulls of herbs. Maple had led them through the Twoleg place. The gathered large leave and tied the herbs into bundles. They left a few bundles hidden in bushes, to come back for later. Lightningpaw followed the group when Maple stopped suddenly. She signaled with her tail for the group to wait. Then leaped over a brown fence. He heard Maple pawing at something. He flicked his ear impatiently. He turned to Snowheart.

"Where's Maple going?" He whispered to his mentor

"You'll see." The white tabby responded.

Lightningpaw flicked his tail with frustration. He turned around when he heard someone land on the fence. He looked up. A tom was next to Maple. It was like staring into a reflection. The same white coat with black stripes spiraling to creating sparks of lightning. And clear blue eyes.

"Are you Mellow?" Basiltail asked

"Yes." the tom grunted, "Is there a reason you had to bother me?"

Lightningpaw froze. Swanfeather stepped up.

"We know your mate, Jade." She meowed

"Oh, really, what did she look like?" Mellow was obviously suspicious

"Grey she cat with green eyes." Swanfeather responded

A flash of surprise and interest flashed in Mellow's eyes. Then nodded for the white she-cat to continue.

"Jade wandered into our territory, we thought she was one of the rogues who used to attack our camp. We found her and held her prisoner." Swanfeather explained

Mellow was opening his mouth to say something but Swanfeather interrupted.

"We didn't hurt her. But back then we didn't know she was expecting. Only until she started kitting. " Swanfeather lowered her head, "I'm sorry, Jade didn't survive."

The tom looked for a loss of words.

"We tried all we could, but she lost too much blood too fast." The white she-cat explained

"So..." Mellow spat, "the kits died too?"

"Kit." Swanfeather corrected him, "and he's right there."

The medicine cat pointed her tail at Lightningpaw. Lightningpaw looked the cat that was his father in the eye. There was a flurry of emotions. Anger, sadness, confusion. He snarled his teeth.

"Get out! I don't ever want to see any of you again!" Mellow growled and he jumped down the fence into his own territory.

Lightningpaw was shocked. Did his father not love him? He was so lost in thought that he didn't see Snowheart sit down besides him. He looked up at his mentor.

"Don't worry, Mellow was probably hit with so many things at once that he didn't know how to act." Snowheart mewed

Lightningpaw nodded. He wasn't upset, after all, he never knew Mellow. He was just shocked. Maple jumped down from the fence and muttered something to Basiltail. Basiltail just simply shook her head and said something back. Although Lightningpaw didn't catch what.

They spent the rest of the day collecting herbs. When they were done. The piled up the leave wraps and took them across the stream. Maple helped too, a little. Basiltail said goodbye to her friend. Everyone had a mouthful of herbs. Swqanfeather was limping holding a few wraps in one paw. They made it back to camp. Warriors greeted them. They piles the herbs outside the medicine cat den. Where Darkcloud and Swanfeather would sort through them. Lightningpaw was confronted by Splashpaw. Who asked a million questions about what happened. Lightning had trouble keeping up with what question they were on. He answered what he could, before Russetspots interrupted.

"I think you should let Lightningpaw rest, he's had a long day."

"Oh, no! I'm fine." Lightningpaw meowed

Russetspots nodded and walked away. Soon the other two apprentices joined.

"Hey bud, how was it?" Oakpaw asked

"Long." Lightningpaw replied.

Splashpaw perked up.

"Oooo! Since we're all here, can you tell us what happened? Like a story?"

Lightningpaw let out a small laugh. How could he say no.

"Alright." He meowed

He told the story in the best detail he could describe. Of course Splashpelt had many question about Maple. Lightningpaw simply told she was Basiltail's kittypet friend. He started to stutter when he got to the part with Mellow in it.

"Mellow?" Splashpaw asked, "how many strange cats are going to appear in this story."

"Actually you've heard of Mellow before." Scarletpaw informed

"Really?" Splashpaw looked at the dark ginger she-cat

"Yeah, remember when the rouge cats attacked our camp. It was Willow who recognized Lightningpaw despite never seeing him. She said he looked like Mellow. Then said Mellow ws Jade's mate."

"So you met you father." Oakpaw meowed

Lightning Paw nodded.

"Cool! How was he? Does he actually look like you?" Splashpaw asked

Lightningpaw flinched.

"He told us to get lost...." He trailed off

The apprentices faces changed.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Scarletpaw was the first the talk.

"Yeah, but who needs him, when you got us?" Splashpaw butted in.

She was obviously trying to bring up the mood. Lightningpaw smiled.

"Yeah... I guess..." He meowed.

"What happened after that?" Scarletpaw asked.

"Well..." Lightnignpaw told the rest of what happened.

Quickly, since the sun was about to set.