A Dark Path

Chapter Three

Willowpaw stretched as he awoke. Yet another day waking up just as energized. As if he'd actually slept, like every cat else had.
Well, he did. His body did, at least.
But he never really slept. Instead, he'd made Heatherpaw go hunting, and had made her lose...well, he'd lost count of how many mice had gotten away. At least she wouldn't be bragging anymore.
Willowpaw was cursed. Every time he slept, since the day he became an apprentice, he was cursed to possess another cat.
Willowpaw was only ten moons, and every time he awoke, he felt slightly weaker. Willowpaw was starting to feel less energized every time he woke up. He got to his paws and huffed, shaking out his pelt. Spaeing a glance over his shoulder he saw Heatherpaw staring at her paws in confusion.
Willowpaw didn't even get to choose which cat he possessed. He'd just gotten lucky with Heatherpaw. He sighed and left the den, going to look for Shadowbriar, FirClan's medicine cat and Willowpaw's mentor. He only stayed in the apprentice's den, because Shadowbriar thought that he needed to get to know the other apprentices. She was the only cat who knew about his curse, and she tried to tell him that it was a gift. As if he'd believe that.
Willowpaw stalked over to the medicine den, and sure enough, Shadowbriar was there.
"Oh-hello, Willowpaw!" Shadowbriar offered a friendly smile and turned away from the herbs she was sorting. She smelled strongly of lavender and mint, a few of the leaves were even tangled in her fur. Today, there was a poppy flower in her fur as well, near her shoulder.
"You have things all over your pelt." Willowpaw meowed flatly. Shadowbriar laughed. "What's new?"
"What do you want me to do today?" Willowpaw asked. Shadowbriar padded over to him. She was about his height, she wasn't the tallest of cats. "Before we start, how're you doing? Who were you last night?"
"Heatherpaw." Willowpaw avoided the first question, just like he was ignoring the twinge of pain in his chest every time he took a breath in. "I didn't do much, just went hunting."
"Alright." Shadowbriar mewed, "But you didn't answer my first question."
Willowpaw looked away. He would never lie to Shadowbriar, so he couldn't say he was fine. "My chest hurts when I inhale, but it's nothing to worry about."
Shadowbriar looked at him sternly. "Don't say that, especially when we know nothing about your gift."
"Curse." Willowpaw corrected under his breath as she went to get him some juniper berries. Shadowbriar returned with a bundle that Willowpaw quickly sniffed and identified as juniper berries wrapped in watermint.
Willowpaw quickly ate the bundle and sat up. The pain in his chest eased slightly.
"Is that better?" Shadowbriar asked.
"Yep." Willowpaw rolled his eyes. "Can you tell me what we're doing now?"
"Today, we're going to rest." Shadowbriar meowed, "Because tonight is the half-moon."
Willowpaw sighed. "Alright."
"Make sure you get something to eat before night falls!" Shadowbriar called after him as he left the den.