Clear sky

Chapter Three

"Good, now run, but not too fast." Fallenpaw began to run softly. Her paw still hurt but it was healing up better. "Great job, Fallenpaw," Shadowflight said. Wetleaf nodded. "You've been doing way better now." He said, moving over to her. Fallenpaw saw Shadowflight glare at Wetleaf. What's his problem? Fallenpaw thought. Shadowflight stood. "Hey, Wetleaf, I think I heard Darkstar calling for you." He spoke. "I didn't hear-" "There it is again, go on Wetleaf. It might be important." "Oh, alright." The brown tom ran away. "Did you lie to him?" Fallenpaw asked.   Fallenpaw looked up at the dawn sky. Shadowflight nuzzled her.  She purred. The tom smiled. "Come here, I want to show you something." He brought her to a quiet place. There was a beautiful stream and a beautiful tree. "It's amazing!" Fallenpaw exclaimed. The two sat. The tom wrapped his tail around her. She looked into the water. "Look! a fish!" Fallenpaw snatched the fish up quickly. It flopped around, sending a little splash of water. The fish jumped out of her paw, and onto Shadowflights face. "Agh!" The dark om fell into the water. He pushed his head out of the water, gasping for air. "Hahaha! Are you okay?" Fallenpaw walked over to help him. "Yes, I'm, fine!" He pulled her in the water. Fallenpaw fell in, she held her breath and opened her eyes. It was beautiful underwater. She then bopped her head up for air. "Hey!" She spoke. He smiled and splashed her. "Shadowflight!" She splashed his back. "Ahh!" He went underwater. "Haha, alright. Come back, Shadowflight." She looked around. "Shadowflight?" She began to panic. He hadn't gotten air. What if he drowned? She then felt something wrap around her hind paws and pull her under.  She kicked and jumped out of the water. "Shadowflight!" The tom then jumped out of the water. He shook out his pelt, laughing historically. Fallenpaw stared at him, pelt dripping. "You scared the fur off of me!" She hissed. He laughed. "Look at yourself! You are soaked!" He purred with amusement. Fallenpaw embarrassedly shook out her pelt, giving her chest fur a few quick licks. "Come on, let's get back to camp." Fallenpaw meowed to Shadowflight. "They'll be worried." "I'll race you!" Shadowflight said before taking off. "Hey wait! That's not fair!"

"Fallenpaw, you seemed to catch a fever," Wetleaf said. He nuzzled her. "Are you sure you want to stay in the medicine cat's den still? You can sleep with me." He spoke. Fallenpaw shook her head. "I'm okay, thanks." "Fallenpaw! Come quick!" Fallenpaw looked up. "What?" "Hollysong just had her kits!" Shadowflight exclaimed. Fallenpaw stopped. She had her kits. "How many?" She asked. "Two healthy toms." Fallenpaw ran over to the nursery, tail streaming behind her. "Oh, Hollysong, Congratulations!"  Hollysong purred, rubbing her tail over her kits. Their father, Sagewing, was sitting next to her, purring uncontrollably. "Oh! They are so cute!" Fallenpaw meowed. Hollysong moved her tail for Fallenpaw to see. There was a dark brown tabby and a light gray tabby tom. "What are their names?" Fallenpaw asked. "The dark brown tabby is Hazelkit," Sagewing meowed. "And the gray one is Silverkit." Hollysong finished, licking her mate's cheek. "They will be great warriors someday!" Fallenpaw said, trying to be optimistic. Would the two kits grow up in a code-less clan? 

Fallenpaw yawned and pulled the old moss out of the elder's den. Of course, the other apprentices couldn't seem to help her. She didn't feel well, the feaver's symptoms catching along with her now. Rivergrowl, one of the elders, a massive black tabby tom watched her. "Good job, Fallenpaw. You're gonna make a great warrior someday." He meowed, turning to lay on his back to let the sun warm his belly. "Thanks, Rivergrowl." Fallenpaw said, annoyance showing. She wished that at least Goldenpaw could be helping her. "You know, I'm actually kind of hungry." The tom said. Fallenpaw felt her fur prick. "What do you want?" "I'm in the mood for a pigeon." Fallenpaw sighed and got up, leaving her nest work to go and fetch the tom a pigeon. She dug through the prey pile, and Darkstar padded over to her. "Are you finished with your duties before you eat?" He asked. "I'm getting some prey for Rivergrowl." Fallenpaw said, not meeting his green gaze. "Oh, thank you Fallenpaw." He sat down and began grooming his paws. "I can't find any pigeon, he wanted pigeon..." Darkstar straightened and then stood up. "Come, I'll let you hunt. You can catch one for him. I'm sure my father would like a warm fresh one instead." Fallenpaw forced away her purr. Hunting was much more fun instead of changing the elders bedding. She followed Darkstar out of the camp and into Brightclans lush green territory. The air was warm and smelt amazing. She opened her jaws to let the air flow in. "What if I don't find a pigeon?" She whispered. Darkstar dipped his head. "I'm sure we can find one. Luckily their common in our territory." Just then, his eyes flicked up into the trees. "There's one." He whispered, pointing with his tail into the large tree. Fallenpaw felt her heart skip. She wasn't the best at climbing, even though it was normal for Brightclan to climb trees. "Go on then." Darkstar meowed, glancing at her gently. Fallenpaw nodded and slowly crept towards the tree before leaping up into the first branch. She watched as the bird was messing with something too high for her to see. She jumped higher and higher until she was only a branch away. She was that it was a mother, feeding her babies. She suddenly felt a pang of pity for the birds.  If she killed the mother, the babies would die too. She imagined herself with kits of her own, getting killed by a dog for food, leaving her babies alone without warmth, milk, or love. "Hurry up, Fallenpaw!" She heard Darkstar hiss. His voice edged annoyance. She felt her pelt burn with embarrassment. She then leaped, grabbing the bird and slamming it down. she heard a small crack. She sighed as she killed the bird. She felt bad. She hoped that at least the baby chicks had a father to care for them. "Thank you StarClan for this prey." She whispered before she leaped down the branches then landed next to Darkstar. He smiled. "Perfect catch! Good job, Fallenpaw. Although, you could have been a bit quicker." Fallenpaw felt her pelt heat up again. "I... I'm sorry. it was a mother..." Darkstar nodded. "I understand, but we need to eat to survive. Come on, I bet Rivergrowl is wondering where you are by now." The two cats made their way back to the camp. Fallenpaw glanced a smile at Darkstar before running over to Rivergrowl. "I got you a fresh pigeon, I caught it myself!" Rivergrowl smiled at her, his eyes gleamed with pride for her. "Great job, this is an amazing catch." He bent down and began to eat the prey. "Would you like to share? It's delicious." Fallenpaw shook her head. "No thanks, I'm still sick. I don't want to make you sick at all." Rivergrowl purred with amusement. "You aren't gonna make me sick, kiddo. Come here, share with me." Fallenpaw smiled and dipped her head and crouched next to him before taking a few bites of the bird. She had to admit, it was the best prey she ever tasted. "Thank you, Fallenpaw. You are a great hunter. I'm sure here soon you'll be getting your warrior's name." She tensed. My warrior name. She thought, tail flicking. "Yeah... That'll be cool! I wonder what it's gonna be." Rivergrowl smiled and sat up. "I bet it'll be nice. You know, you really remind me of my sister." Fallenpaw sat up and licked her lips. She never knew that he had a sister, he never spoke of her at all. "What was her name?" Rivergrowl nodded. "Her name was Oceanfeather. She was a very sweet cat, and a great hunter." Fallenpaw felt sympathetic for him. He seemed sad about her. "If you don't mind me asking... How'd she die?" Rivergrowls eyes slitted. "She... drowned." Fallenpaw felt her blood run cold. "Oh, StarClan I'm so sorry Rivergrowl." The tom dipped his head, blinking away sadness. "It's okay, she's with StarClan now." The two cats sat in silence for the rest of the day, Fallenpaw cleared the rest of the nests and told him goodnight before she went into the medicine cats' den and curled up in the nest she was using while she was sick. StarClan, let Oceanfeather know that I'd like to say hello.