Heart Of A Fighter (Book 1): The Story Begins

Chapter 11: Trust Issues

Goslingpaw stalked away from the laughing Titanpaws, her fur soaked with water and who-knows-what. She gritted her teeth as the slimy chill ran through her body.

She had just been minding her own business, sunning herself, before three Titanpaws, Rockpaw, Lionpaw and Cootpaw, had decided to chuck soggy moss balls at her.

She held back a hiss when she heard the Starpaws laughing hysterically at her, and slid her claws out in a rage. Just because she was a Littlepaw didn't mean she could be picked on constantly!

She stomped over to the Nettlecave and sat down, furiously spewing out curses under her breath.

When she heard faint pawsteps behind her, her first reaction was to whirl around and let a deathly hiss explode from her throat.

She barely managed to stop herself from snapping at Depthpaw's face when she saw him standing there with a dry bunch of moss in his jaws and a shocked expression on his face.

"What? Come to mock me for being a river rat?" She snarled, glaring at him furiously. Depthpaw dropped the moss awkwardly and said nervously, "I-I just thought I'd help you dry off..."

Goslingpaw narrowed her amber-green eyes and was about to snap at him to get lost when one of the other Nettles, a ginger and white she-cat named Stempetal, stepped over.

"Goslingpaw, manners please," she mewed softly, her gaze steady. Before the cream and brown she-cat could protest, she bowed and meowed respectfully, "Greetings, Depthpaw, Son of General Thornslash."

Goslingpaw huffed and reluctantly bowed to the russet Titanpaw, knowing all too well his father was the highest ranking warrior in BlazeClan and his son deserved all respect.

Stempetal gave the Littlepaw a gentle stare before she said in her soft voice, "Aldertrail is busy today, Goslingpaw. Please don't get her to rush here and there. Hold your tongue if you have nothing nice to say, alright?"

Goslingpaw sighed and nodded. Her mentor was out on an expedition to the Pool of The Crown Spirits accompanied by both Berrytrail and Azuregale as more and more RoadWalkers monsters had ventured deeper into the forest, rendering hunting near impossible for BlazeClan.

She recalled one of the other Nettles, Lotusheart, lamenting that the monsters had run over multiple juniper bushes, yarrow bunches and dock leaf clumps, so they had to preserve the remaining herbs left.

It was still no secret that the Nettles knew that was going to be impossible because of the Claws always doing reckless stunts to get them injured.

The Littlepaw had wondered why Aldertrail didn't take her along, before then remembering Azuregale's confession to her mentor and batting the thought away.

She had also asked another healer, Willowflutter, why Cougarstar didn't go as well.

She was not surprised to hear that Cougarstar had wanted to have a 'future leadership lesson' with his children so he instructed Azuregale to go with the two healers and report back to him.

Goslingpaw was pretty sure it was an excuse to just laze about in the sun.

Suddenly, a couple of pawsteps were heard running towards her, and she turned to see Slatepaw and Stonepaw running towards her. "Gos! Are you okay?!"

They asked in unison. Goslingpaw held back a laugh as the brothers stared at each other in surprise at having said the same thing at the same time.

Suddenly, Stonepaw's eyes narrowed and he glared at Depthpaw. "Why are you here? Come to mock our best friend?"