Cinder

Chapter 8

A full moon brightened the sky. Cinderpaw sat in the clearing, looking around. She thought of Talonpaw back in camp. Snowfall had been able to put him in her den. He was situated in a soft bed of moss. His whole belly had been swabbed in cobwebs and herbs. He was now breathing steadily, and Snowfall was sure he would make it. Hawkpaw has refused to go to the gathering. He had chosen to stay with Leafstrike in the medicine den with Talonpaw.
Cinderpaw stood when she spotted Ravenpaw. He was moving stiffly, as if the wounds she gave him were bugging him. Cinderpaw was questioned when she entered camp. Creekpelt had asked what had happened, and she had lied to say she got caught in a bramble bush. She was sure her mother didn't believe her, but she did not push her for more information.
"How's Talonpaw?" Ravenpaw asked once he had reached her.
"Better. He's breathing steadily." She meowed.
"Good." Ravenpaw replied before sitting. He seemed uneasy and uncomfortable. Soon, Maplepaw joined them, tail held high.
    "Hello friends." She purred. Cinderpaw didn't reply. "What's wrong?" She asked.
    "Nothing." Ravenpaw Said stiffly.
    "Is everything okay?"
    "Fine." Maplepaw frowned and sat down. Cinderpaw watched Mudstar leap into the great oak, and she felt a searing hatred for him in her chest. He was the reason Talonpaw was hanging on with his life. He was the reason WindClan couldn't do anything without looking behind them. She snarled. Maplepaw shot her a look but didn't say anything. Falconstar joined him, giving him a cold glance.
   Petalstar and Thornstar joined the other leaders. Cinderpaw noticed Heronwing glaring at Switcheye, who stared at him back with hostility. The deputies of the other clans, Cloudspring and Foxclaw, stared at them, baffled. The tension in the air was so strong Cinderpaw could feel it in her fur. She shifted away from Ravenpaw, afraid of her clan getting angry or hostile. Ravenpaw noticed and flicked his tail.
Mudstar stood to address the clans. He spoke calmly of good hunting and fine training and a new warrior, Finchwing. He also mentioned the apprenticeship of Marshpaw and Toadpaw. Cinderpaw hardly heard him. She was glaring up at him with a burning rage. She looked around the clearing and noticed Snakepaw staring at her questioningly. She blinked at him.
    "ShadowClan has been doing well. Frogfoot and Willowtail drove a Fox off of our territory." Cinderpaw turned to see a brown tom and a silver tabby she cat staring up at Petalstar wit pride. "We also have a new warrior, Yellowfur." The clans cheered for the new warrior. Cinderpaw joined in half heartedly.
"RiverClan has two new warriors: Snakefang and Mistpool." Cinderpaw glanced surprised at Snakefang, who beamed at her. "We also have three new apprentices; Mottledpaw, Stormpaw and Bramblepaw." Thornstar stepped back. Falconstar took his place.
ThunderClan has two new warriors; Splashtail and Graystep." He waited for the cheers to die down before he continued. "We also have Talonpaw and Hawkpaw as apprentices, though they did not make it. Talonpaw was fatally injured, and his brother who is Hawkpaw is with him. Mudstar, anything to say about that?" Falconstar asked with sheer rage in his voice. Mudstar gazed calmly at him.
"No, I don't. We all know WindClan is weak and doesn't train their apprentices properly, so he saw it coming." He sneered. Falconstar growled and unsheathed his claws. "Anyway, I know one of your cats attacked Ravenpaw." Mudstar added. Cinderpaw felt dread clutch her belly. Ravenpaw shifted his paws nervously. Maplepaw shot him a questioning glance.
"Really now?" Falconstar asked. "That is a loud of fox dung."
"You told him?" Cinderpaw hissed to Ravenpaw, hurt.
"What else was I to do?"
"Lie!" She hissed.
"It's true. Ravenpaw, stand and tell who attacked you. What did the cat look like?" Mudstar asked. Ravenpaw stood with his head held high. Cinderpaw's heart was hammering in her chest. Would he tell on her?
"I do not know Mudstar. As I said, i didn't get to see what the cat looked like. Who knows, maybe it was a rouge." He meowed before sitting.
"Thank you." Cinderpaw whispered in his ear. He flicked his tail in response.
    "If he ever finds out it was a WindClan cat, you will have ThunderClan to reckon with." Mudstar threatened. Without waiting for a reply, he jumped down and beckoned his warriors with his tail.
   "What was all that about?" Maplepaw asked.
    "Trouble with our clans, that's all." Cinderpaw murmured.
    "That isn't good. Can... can we all be friends with all that is going on?" Maplepaw asked.
   "I don't see why not! Why should clan rivalry be so important?" Ravenpaw questioned. "Sometimes.... sometimes it just makes life much harder than it needs to be." He turned a baleful gaze onto Mudstar. "I'll see you two later." He meowed. Cinderpaw watched him go before saying farewell to Maplepaw. She walked over to speak real quick with Snakefang.
   "Congrats in being a warrior." She purred. Snakefang nodded to her.
    "It's great! You should be a warrior soon right?" He questioned.
    "I got some time yet." She purred.
    "I see. Well hopefully I'll see you soon!" He mewed before bounding away. Cinderpaw watched him go before she followed her own clan home...