Lavenderpaw's Destiny

Chapter 11

Turtlefoot paced impatiently in front of the blackberry bushes. Where is Daisystream? It was almost dark and Turtlefoot hadn't seen her since she'd left to go find prey. Her heart pounded as she waited for her friend, wondering if something had happened to her. As the sun sank below the horizon and darkness covered the forest, Turtlefoot's anxiety grew. Daisystream wouldn't stay out this late unless something bad had happened. 

Her belly swung beneath her as she paced, and she hissed in annoyance. Already her kits were getting in the way; Turtlefoot couldn't be more relieved that she wouldn't have to raise them. It was like Rowanroot had said: she would be a terrible mother. Her heart clenched as she thought of her former mate and the harsh words he had said to her the last time they spoke. Would I really have been a terrible mother? She quickly pushed the thought out of her head. It didn't matter, she'd never be a mother after all. 

She was preparing to leave the makeshift den to search for Daisystream when she heard a rustle in the bushes. Rogue scent touched her nose and she whipped around, fluffing out her fur to make herself appear bigger. Relief washed over her as Daisystream's white pelt appeared from underneath a dense briar bush. 

"Where have you been? I've been worried". She hissed. Daisystream's scent mingled with rogue scent, and Turtlefoot stared at her curiously. "Were you with a rogue?" 

Daisystream's pelt bristled in embarrassment. "I met a tom named Spider. He told me the best places to hunt and caught this mouse for us!" 

Turtlefoot stared at the mouse Daisystream had dropped at her paws. It was plump for a leaf-fall mouse, but it was bathed in rogue stench. Although Turtlefoot's stomach was grumbling, she turned her nose up at the prey. "It stinks of rogue". She growled. "I'm not eating it". 

Daisystream's eyes widened in dismay. "You have to eat, your kits are growing every day!" 

"They're not my kits". Turtlefoot reminded her. 

"Even more of a reason to eat this mouse". The white she-cat hissed. "They're my kits, and I want them to come out healthy". 

Taken aback by the usually gentle she-cat's fierceness, Turtlefoot was at a loss for words. Without saying anything, she slowly crouched by the mouse and choked down a few mouthfuls. After she'd eaten her share, she sat back, glad that her stomach had stopped rumbling. 

"Thanks". She muttered. 

Daisystream shrugged. "Thank Spider when you meet him". 

"I'm going to meet him?" Turtlefoot stared at Daisystream incredulously as the white she-cat scarfed down the rest of the mouse. 

She finished eating before answering, and began cleaning her whiskers as she spoke. "Well, he lives in this forest, so I assume we'll run into him while we're staying here". 

"I suppose". Turtlefoot grumbled. The idea of sharing territory with a rogue made her shudder. Pineclan had never taken in rogues before, and the cats were always appalled when other clans did. 

"Oh Turtlefoot, rogues aren't our enemies. Just because our clan doesn't accept them doesn't mean they're bad cats. Lionstar accepted Lavenderkit even though she was a rogue kit". Daisystream reminded her. 

Turtlefoot shook her head. "That's different. She was a defenseless kit whose mother was killed by a fox. If we hadn't taken her in she would've died". 

"Well Spider's mate and kit were killed by a monster. I think he's lonely. Would it be so terrible to  show him a little kindness?" 

Turtlefoot hesitated, feeling awkward. She couldn't imagine what it would feel like to lose her family. Maybe I shouldn't have been so quick to judge him just because he's a rogue. "I suppose we could spend some time with him while we're staying here". She muttered.