The Darkest Moons (Warrior Cats)

9. Friendly Fights

     Palepaw’s heart was fluttering, and he cursed it beneath his breath. What in StarClan’s name is wrong with me? He paid little attention to the words of any of the leaders as they spoke, except for Beetlestar’s final words: “This gathering is over.” 

     No! But it’s so short! His hackles raised. What am I thinking?  

     He looked to his right, where the WaterClan apprentice perched on the edge of the bank. Her eyes met his, glittering playfully, and she bumped his side with her paw. “I’ll see you at the next gathering,” She meowed, whiskers twitching. Palepaw opened his mouth to speak, but what could he say? That pretty she-cat was leaving, following the rest of the WaterClan cats, and he was frozen to the cold earth.  

     “Bye,” he finally managed quietly, though no one heard. His entire body was stiff, muscles rigid as he watched her leave. He heard a voice next to his ear, but it was little more than simple, annoying buzzing in his brain. He could think of one word: Pretty. 

     A paw stepped on his tail, and he jerked it away, turning sharply to glare. It was Scorchpaw. “I asked you what’s wrong! You look like you’re seeing StarClan or something!” 

     Palepaw flattened his ears. “What- What does it matter?” He got to his paws and pushed past Scorchpaw, following Froststrike but searching the crowd. He could see Spottedpaw standing with a powerful looking white she-cat, who spoke to Beetlestar with an expression of distress. Palepaw ignored the leader’s stern look, instead focusing on the WaterClan apprentice with eyes like the sun. 

     “Watch it!” Hissed a cat as Palepaw crashed into her. It was a white she-cat from FireClan, whose long whiskers flickered from her bluish gray muzzle as the blaze stripe on her face crinkled. “Stupid DarkClan kits,” she huffed. 

     “Bluenose! Leave him be!” A cat urged. It was another she-cat, this one with black fur. Bluenose rolled her eyes. 

     “Shut up, Nightwing.” 

     Nightwing paused beside Bluenose and eyed Palepaw curiously before flicking an ear and hurrying after the rest of her Clan. Palepaw, meanwhile, felt a shove against his side. Once again, it was Scorchpaw. “Go!” He hissed. “Before we get trampled!” 

     Palepaw risked one more search for Spottedpaw — whom he failed to find a second time — before starting off. He found Goldstreak and chose to walk by her, following her as the cats of DarkClan split from FireClan and WaterClan as they crawled out of the valley’s southern end. He rolled the she-cat’s name through his mind over and over. 

     I should have talked to her more, instead of looking through the corner of my eye!  

     The journey back to camp seemed longer than any before as Palepaw grew more and more exhausted. His paws were numb against the ground, and his eyes felt like they’d close and never open. Still, he pressed forward. Tidefoot had joined them, walking at Palepaw’s side with wide, alert eyes of blue. 

     The camp was quiet. Most of the Clan was tired now, many going to their dens to rest before beginning dawn patrols. Palepaw paused in the center of the camp and watched everyone before opening his jaws to release a loud yawn. A shout made his fur spike on end. 

     “Tidefoot!” It was Rainfall, and she was hobbling towards the warrior, who stood near Palepaw. Everyone in the open was staring, eyes as wide as the setting moon above. “Tidefoot, I have news!” 

     Oh no. 

     Rainfall stopped in front of the tom, panting for a moment before purring loudly. “I was talking to Helen, and she thought something was up! I knew it! I just- I just knew it! And I went to talk to Clearwhisker about it and-“