peachy | a warrior cats fanfiction

▹ chapter 1

"You see, Peachpaw, one of the beautiful things about life is that it is not eternal. StarClan only plans to take when it is later planning to give. Leafpaw's death must have been needed for this natural order – StarClan has good things coming for you. You will blossom."

The calico apprentice sat still in the medicine cat's den, staring down at her paws, trying her best to ignore Honeyfur's words. They were not making her feel much better. The golden tabby had spotted her sulking in the camp clearing alone, and had summoned her to her den, presumably with a scheme in mind to give Peachpaw yet another one of her "pep"-talks. 

Peachpaw knew the medicine cat had good intentions, but her chatter about StarClan and their plans and hope and faith and whatnot didn't do much to ease her mind. Most of what Honeyfur spouted sounded like it was just her own made-up nonsense. Peachpaw had gradually found out that the she-cat really was an airhead, like cats gossiped about. 

"Okay, Honeyfur," The calico mewed finally, getting to her paws. She shook out her fur, taking a moment to look around the den. It always seemed like a mess to her, herbs strewn about in places, some left to dry, others hanging on the den's woven walls, some in places Peachpaw couldn't even explain. She'd been here enough times to know that Honeyfur's apprentice, Barleypaw, was always attempting to clean up, yet somehow his work never stuck around. 

"So are you okay?" The older tabby meowed. "Or, okay enough to go out with your friends? I hate to see you standing around all alone. I think you need some people around you more often."

Peachpaw shrugged. She didn't agree nor disagree, if she even cared. Most of the time she didn't know how she was. She was just... there. "I'm fine Honeyfur, thanks, and I'll try," She replied anyway. She liked her friends, but as much as they cared, sometimes they couldn't quite understand. They either babied her, or ignored her, or tried too awkwardly hard to cheer her up. Their relationships didn't feel normal or natural anymore, and sometimes it was too much to bear. Leafpaw's death was still fresh on their minds.

Honeyfur sighed. The apprentice lifted her head, studying her striped face for a moment, wondering what the sigh specifically meant. Eventually, a halfhearted smile crossed the medicine cat's jaws. "Okay, well then head on out," She said. "I don't wanna see you all by yourself again. I'll make sure you got some sort'a company, even if that company is me."

Peachpaw didn't respond. She nodded slowly, averting her gaze. Sometimes she felt bad that Honeyfur always seemed to reach out to her – she could never reciprocate the kindness very well. It made her feel guilty. Taking a deep breath, the she-cat turned around, exiting the den and padding into the bright clearing.

"It's new-leaf!" The she-cat called after her. "Go do something fun!"

All Peachpaw did was wave her tail in acknowledgement as she continued to pad away.