Wolf's Reign

Nightpaw's Envy Ch. 3

Nightpaw's Envy Chapter 3

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The ground hurtled toward me. Flashing in and out of my dazed vision as I spun blindly mid-air. Fear gripped my heart as I became certain that I was going to die, or somehow injure my body beyond repair. The ground sped toward me, and at the last second, I closed my eyes, tensing my muscles to lessen the damage.

Just then when my fear peaked its highest, I jumped up in my nest, feeling fur beneath my paw. I heard a hiss and leapt off my denmate's, Lionpaw's, tail. The golden apprentice glared at me and brought his tail under himself protectively, "Watch it, Nightpaw!"

Clearing my throat, I realized my dark fur still bristled and my eyes must've been wide with fear. I mumbled a half-hearted sorry and left through the moss covered opening and into the morning sun. Quickly adapting to the light, I shook my pelt of leftover moss and sat off to the side to calm myself. I licked my paw and swiped it over my ears and where I could reach to smooth the fur.

"You seem shaken up, was it a nightmare?" I looked up alarmed and narrowed my gaze when I identified my brother, Shadetalon. His black pelt was dark against the remaining melting snow, a sign that Greenleaf would be here soon. At the sight of my annoyed expression, he sighed, "Look, Nightpaw, I'm sorry you weren't made a warrior."

I scoffed and looked passed him at Sunstar, our father, sharing a vole with our mother, Duskbreeze. They looked so happy, sharing morning tongues before the day's work. I envied their happiness and glared at them, before glaring instead at my brother. He groaned and rolled his eyes, "How long are you going to ignore me? It's not my fault you got sick."

I growled lowly, silently warning him to leave me alone. Shadetalon is the same age as me, yet was made a warrior a few days ago when I wasn't.

When we were first born, my brother was healthy and strong. But I was weak and sick from the cold of late leaf-fall with something similar to greencough, yet unknown exactly to our medicine cat, Mistfeather. After two moons of loneliness spent in the medicine den most of the time, Mistfeather finally discovered that as I aged and got stronger, coltsfoot started to ease away my symptoms. So much to the point that I could sleep with my mother and brother in the nursery again.

Although I'm healthy now, Sunstar and my mentor, Stonewhisper, were 1. Worried I might get sick again, and 2. Somehow convinced that I'm disrespectful and irresponsible. I felt the need to claw at something, but pushed down the anger, like I usually do.

Shadetalon interrupted my thoughts with a growl, "So quit being so childish, and maybe you can prove yourself to-"

I interrupted with a hiss, jumping to my paws defiantly, "Why don't you shut it, Shadetalon! I don't need your sympathy, nor your stupid help." I spat and raised my hackles a bit.

My brother hissed back, jumping up in surprise at my outburst. We stared each other down for a moment, daring the other to make a move first. I heard a stern voice growl from behind Shadetalon, "Break it up you two!"

Shadetalon visibly relaxed and grunted turning and nodding respectfully to the deputy before padding off towards a small group of warriors. I held my glare and sat down again, fur bristled again despite my grooming. Streamgaze stayed standing and sighed, "I'm truly sorry that you're a late warrior," I lifted my glare to her as she continued, "but it's important that you, as calmly as possible, find a way around these obstacles."

I pawed the ground, feeling guilty for making a scene. The blue she-cat beside me sighed and flicked her tail across my flank softly, "I was going to ask you to go on the sunhigh patrol along the Boulderclan border. If you're up for it."