Goldstar's past

Chapter 14: "Clueless."

Goldpaw opened her eyes, squinting at the bright light of outside the den. She got up and stretched. As she walked out, she realized it was sunhigh! She was suppose to go on dawn patrol! 

"Why you looking so surprised, Goldpaw?" Bronzepaw's voice made her jump. "Never seen the sun before?"

"N-no!" She squeaked. "I was suppose to be on dawn patrol! Why didn't anyone wake me up?!" 

"Relax!" Bronzepaw assured her. "Mistflower said that you needed rest. So no one woke you up."

"I'm just a burden to the clan!" Goldpaw groaned.

"Never say that!" Bronzepaw mewed, astonished. "You're anything but that!" Goldpaw blushed. That feeling came back. It spread through her like a wildfire. Goldpaw smiled. Bronzepaw padded over to the fresh-kill pile and dragged out a thrush. Then, he picked out a plump mouse. Goldpaw thought that he must have been hungry. But, Bronzepaw flicked his tail, beckoning her over there. She trotted over to him, and he pushed the mouse toward her.

"Thanks, Bronzepaw." Goldpaw meowed. Bronzepaw dipped his head, is muzzle covered in feathers. Goldpaw giggled when Bronzepaw tried to shake them off. Suddenly, she felt a stare burning into her fur. Goldpaw glanced behind her to find Fernpaw staring at her. He continued to stare at her for a little, then walked away. 

"I can't stand him." Bronzepaw growled. "He thinks he's so cool when he acts all mysterious."

"It's kind of creepy, to tell you the truth." Goldpaw mumbled. "But, I'm curious, too." Bronzepaw shook his head, but didn't say anything. Tigerlily bounded over to the two apprentices.

"Goldpaw, would you like to practice some battle moves?" She asked. "I'm really sorry that I snapped at you. It's hard losing someone. I never thought how you would take it and-"

"Tigerlily!" Goldpaw interupted, and laughed gently. "It's ok! I'm not mad.  And sure, I'm up for it. Can Graypaw and Bronzepaw come?" Tigerlily nodded and went to go talk to the other mentors. Goldpaw started to groom herself. 

"Psst!" Goldpaw stopped in mid-lick. She looked around for the source of that sound.

"Psst! Over here!" Goldpaw looked over by the medicine cats' den, and saw Darkpaw's purple eyes glowing from the shadows. Goldpaw walked over there and Darkpaw pulled her behind the den. Goldpaw yelped.

"What in Starclan do you want?! There's no need to push and shove!" Goldpaw growled, then smiled. "Now, seriously, what is it?"

"Have you noticed any tom acting... weird around you?" Darkpaw questioned her.

"Uh, no." Goldpaw paused for a heartbeat. "Well, Bronzepaw has been kind of nervous and skiddish around me. And nice. Nicer than he is to any other apprentice. And Fernpaw...-"

"Now, Fernpaw is jsut Fernpaw. What are you going to do about it?" Darkpaw joked.

"No, I mean... He just stares at me." Goldpaw confessed. Darkpaw giggled. "What? What's so funny?"

"You're so clueless!" She manage to mew through her giggling.

"About what?" Goldpaw demanded.

"Well, I can't tell you. You can figure out on your own." Darkpaw recovered from her giggle attack. "I have to go rest.  It's half moon. Bye Goldpaw!" She bounded out from behind the den and went inside. Goldpaw padded out casually. Has Darkpaw gone mad?! Oh well. Before Goldpaw could even meet up with Tigerlily, Fernpaw stepped in her way.

"Um..." Goldpaw mewed. "Excuse me..." Goldpaw stepped aside, but he stepped in her way again.

"We need to talk." Fernpaw's voice was deep and stern.

"But I-" Goldpaw began.

"Tonight. Moonhigh. Near the Great Maple." Fernpaw interrupted Goldpaw. He walked away, leaving Goldpaw confused. Weird, but I guess Fernpaw will always be that way. Goldpaw thought while trotting over to Tigerlily. Tigerlily nodded and slipped out of the camp entrance. They quickly reached the training hollow.

"Now... that move you were wor-" Tigerlily was cut off as Goldpaw suddenly dashed straight toward her. Tigerlily instinctively tried to slash her, but Goldpaw stopped right in front of her, and pushed off of the ground. Goldpaw was in midair. She lightly touched Tigerlily's muzzle, and stretch out her front paws to land. But, her jump was a but short, so she face-planted into the ground.

"Good Starclan!" Tigerlily mewed excitedly. "That was really good! You're doing great on working on that unpredictable stuff. I really thought you were going to attack me!" Goldpaw got up and shook the dirt from her pelt.

"Yeah..." Goldpaw hung her head. "But I didn't land right." Goldpaw felt like she has let down her mentor and herself.

"Your back flip was gracefull." Tigerlily encouraged. "It's just you still have short legs. They will grow and become long. Then, I bet you a moon of tick picking, you will be able to do it. It takes practice. Oh! Try to jump higher. It helps." Goldpaw nodded, feeling a little better. She tried again, the cool breeze whipped around her whiskers as she flipped backward. She felt Tigerlily's fuzzy muzzle on her back paw. Then, Goldpaw landed. She stumbled, but didn't fall.

"I-I didn't fall!" Goldpaw squealed.

"Good job!" Tigerlily cheered. "Though, you need to make the landing more graceful. Graceful cats are more likely to win a fight." Goldpaw nodded, mentally noting Tigerlily's advice. As Tigerlily demonstrated, she thought of Fernpaw and Bronzepaw. When Fernpaw talks to Goldpaw, Bronzepaw gets really mad. Why? It's so weird. And Fernpaw is always studying Goldpaw's every move. What are up with these two toms?! Goldpaw needed to know. But she couldn't go up to them and ask "Why are you acting so weird?" "Is there something wrong? You keep staring at me." "Bronzepaw, why are you acting this way?" "Tell me why you two are so weird?" 

Goldpaw shook her head. She had to focus on training. But, in the back of her head, she thought about meeting Fernpaw tonight at moonhigh.