Stones (Book Four) Ocean Breeze

Chapter Nine

Brightpaw's POV

Brightpaw padded with the group, mingling with Cocoapaw and some of the OceanClan apprentices.
    "Hey, I bet you guys that I can catch the most prey when we stop to hunt!" Ravenpaw announced. She was walking in front of the others, glancing back every few seconds to say something or listen to someone else.
    "No way!" Gingerpaw and Cocoapaw chorused. Cocoapaw bounced in circles around the group excitedly, while Gingerpaw batted at his sister's right ear.
    Brightpaw smiled, "Well who's the one who can change sizes? A smaller body can get past more twigs, while a large paw can kill a mouse with one swipe." They shrunk and then enlarged themself as they said it.
    "Hey, I'm a good hunter, too," Quailpaw muttered. She walked up a bit, but still remained behind the other apprentices.
    "Well yes, Quailpaw," Ravenpaw laughed, "But I'm better! Seastar even said I'm an amazing hunter!"
    "Seastar would never compare her apprentices," Eggpaw walked up and stated, "Now, I must go consult with my mentor about something." He padded off, his cream tail twitching lightly.
    "Huh, that was odd," Gingerpaw mewed, his green eyes shimmering with interest, "I wonder what he needs to say."
    "And he knows that Ashpelt is out back with Zenwhisker, right?" The pure black she-cat pointed her tail at the gray and black cats chatting in front of who Brightpaw thought was Ceaderstripe and Burntwhisker.
    Cocoapaw stopped bouncing and looked at the others, "Does this mean-" He threw himself into a hilariously dramatic pose, "We have a mystery to solve?"
    "Eh, maybe he meant Seastar," Brightpaw shrugged, staring ahead at the bright (haha, like their name) sun.
    "We'll never know unless we go find out!" Ravenpaw's pace quickened, and Brightpaw thought nothing except to follow.
    When the apprentices reached the front, Brightpaw realized that the path was covered in debris; it was probably from the earthquake. Cats, both from OceanClan and back at home, were unsuccessfully trying to move it.
    "Oh, Brightpaw, you're here!" Sunsparkle smiled, turning away from the pile of rubble, "I saw you move that tree off of Wavefang, so maybe you'd be able to move this?"
    "Will do," Brightpaw replied.
    "Thank you," Sunsparkle dipped her head.
    "Stand back," Brightpaw commanded, then told themself, "This can't be that hard. It's just a bit of rocks."
    The cats moved, and Brightpaw prepared for their "mission." They inhaled sharply, growing to the size of a lion. How cool would it be to become a lion? Brightpaw thought, Although I'm pretty sure they don't live here.
    With a sudden burst of energy, Brightpaw lunged into the pile of boulders and branches, using their giant paws to shove the rubble into the nearby river. They watched the debris as it tumbled into the gushing waters, letting their fur fall into their regular size once again.
    "Wow, good job, sis!" Sunsparkle padded over and congratulated her with a huge smile. Brightpaw shuddered at the last word.
    "Sib or," Brughtpaw paused, panting, "Sibling."
    "Oh, sorry!" Sunsparkle jumped up, "I always forget that kind of stuff, don't I?"
    Wavefang limped over, "Yes, you are very forgetful," She purred to Sunsparkle, then looked at Brightpaw and stated, "I'm very disappointed in you, though. Do you know how many lives that could've killed by doing that?!"
    They shrugged as more cats continued to walk over, "I'd rather get crushed than drown."

Ceaderstripe's POV

"Good job Brightpaw," she praises.
Hazelstripe nods, "you did good."
Froststar whispers something into Hazelstripe's ear before dipping his head to Brightpaw.
What was that about? Ceaderstripe wonders.
"You could've killed someone," Wavefang mews, "you have to be careful."
"Calm down," Brightpaw rolls their eyes, "I'm not going to hurt anyone."
"Wavefang," Ceaderstripe steps over, "why don't you go inspect the debris, check if you're so concerned."
Wavefang shoots her a glare before limping off, Sunsparkle follows.
Ceaderstripe rolls her eyes.