Chapter 8

Pinepaw ran his paw down Swirlpaw’s bruised side, wincing as he felt the gray-and-white tabby flinched under his pads. Hopefully it doesn’t hurt, he prayed.

“I think she’s okay,” Skypaw mewed slowly. “I don’t think the monster hit her too hard. I’m pretty sure it was slowing down.”

Pinepaw shrugged. “Maybe.”

“She’s close to waking up,” Spiralpaw observed. “She’s jerking all the time…” She trailed off.

“I’ll go hunt,” Skypaw offered immediately. “She’ll be hungry when she wakes up.” She quickly slid out of the den.

Spiralpaw and Pinepaw stood together in silence, staring at Swirlpaw’s sleeping form. Pinepaw felt the awkwardness that hung in the air. I have to do something, he thought frantically.

“Pinepaw,” Spiralpaw finally mewed quietly.

Pinepaw instantly relaxed. “Yes?”

“Um,” Spiralpaw stammered, “I had a dream last night. Heatherfur visited me.”

“What?” Pinepaw gasped. “Who’s that?”

“I don’t know,” Spiralpaw muttered. “She’s some cat from many generations ago…but she’s my kin. Anyway, she told me that Swirlpaw will recover.”

“Oh,” Pinepaw mewed, unsurprised. “That’s good. Did she tell you how long it will take?” He was itching to continue their journey.

Spiralpaw didn’t answer his question. She stared at the ground for a long time. “Pinepaw,” she eventually sighed.

Pinepaw frowned. “What?”

“You’re so easy to talk to.”

“Yeah,” he stammered, “I guess you are, too.”

“Well,” Spiralpaw began hesitantly, “Heatherfur also told me–”

She was cut off when Skypaw padded into the den. The SkyClan cat dropped a squirrel and two voles on the ground. “I thought you would be bored of mice,” she mewed cheerfully.

“Thanks, Skypaw,” Pinepaw mewed, biting into one of the voles. Skypaw took the other vole over to Swirlpaw’s nest and crouched down to share the squirrel with Spiralpaw.

Pinepaw felt a pang of grief as he chewed. Sharing. It had been so long since he had shared prey with Snowypaw. He was sure she would be dying to see him right now. Oh, yeah, and she said her assessment was coming up soon, he remembered. I wonder if she has her warrior name already.

There was a gasp from Swirlpaw and they all turned to look. The tabby’s yellow eyes were open now, staring at the three cats eating in surprise.

“Swirlpaw!” Spiralpaw cried, bounding over to her. “You’re awake! Are you hungry? Skypaw caught a vole for you. Does anywhere hurt?”

Swirlpaw shook her head. “Not really,” she answered. “My side aches, though.”

“Try getting up,” Skypaw mewed softly.

Swirlpaw slowly pushed herself to her paws and winced. “I’m fine,” she meowed quickly when Spiralpaw reached her paw toward her. “I’m just sore.”

“Just rest a little more,” Spiralpaw urged.

Swirlpaw groaned as the silver-and-white tabby gently pushed her down again. “This reminds me of the time I fell from the tree,” she sighed.

“You fell from a tree?” Pinepaw gasped. “When?”

“During training,” Swirlpaw answered. “Me and my sister were having a race up a tree and I fell…” She trailed off. “Let’s not talk about that.”

“Skypaw.” Spiralpaw padded toward the entrance, beckoning Skypaw with her tail. “Come outside. We need to talk.” She slipped out of the den. Skypaw followed her.

“Swirlpaw,” Pinepaw blurted as soon as they were out of sight. “I’m so sorry! I was scared, so I hesitated a little when you said to run! I’m sorry, Swirlpaw! You didn’t need to do that! It was my fault.”

“Pinepaw,” Swirlpaw murmured. “It’s okay. I’m glad you’re safe now. I forgive you.”

“You shouldn’t,” Pinepaw muttered, his pelt prickling with guilt. “That monster could have done something bad to you if it didn’t slow down.”

“Pinepaw, stop thinking about what might have happened. What matters is what did happen.”

“Swirlpaw,” Pinepaw began hesitantly. He decided it was time to talk to some cat about his dream, since Spiralpaw was sharing everything she had learned. I wish it was Spiralpaw, he found himself thinking. But she’s busy talking to Skypaw. And I want answers now.

“What is it, Pinepaw?” Swirlpaw asked patiently.

“I had a dream one night,” Pinepaw told her. “Nimblepaw visited me.” It wasn’t so hard to say her name now. “She told me, ‘Your time to act will come soon. You will suffer much, but you must stay strong,’” he quoted. “Do you have any idea what that means? You know, that kind of sounds like you, Swirlpaw. You saved me from the monster, and now you’re hurt…” He trailed off.

Swirlpaw shook her head. “Pinepaw, you mouse-brain, if Nimblepaw gave that message to you, it means you’re the one she’s talking about!”

Pinepaw sighed. “I know.”

Swirlpaw stared at him expectantly. “Do you have anything else to tell me?” she pressed.

Irritation was starting to poke at his pelt. What happened to the gentle and reassuring Swirlpaw? “No,” he grunted. “I want to talk to Spiralpaw. She’s had visions before, and she’ll have some advice for me.”

Swirlpaw’s gaze softened. “You know I’ve had visions before, too, Pinepaw.”

“Really?” Pinepaw asked doubtfully.

Swirlpaw nodded. “In fact, all of us had had visions, now that you’ve admitted it to me,” she mewed. “When I fell out of that tree, I had visions of Skypaw. Skypaw also had visions of me, and that’s how I got cured. If it weren’t for Skypaw, I probably wouldn’t be here right now.”

“So Skypaw cured you?” Pinepaw asked in disbelief.

“She brought the herb that cured me,” Swirlpaw corrected.

“So you three met each other, and I’m a stranger to you!” Pinepaw meowed bitterly.

“You’re not a stranger anymore,” Swirlpaw disagreed. “You’re our true friend. We’re glad to have you with us.”

“You can’t speak for everyone,” Pinepaw mumbled.

“I’m pretty sure Spiralpaw and Skypaw feel that way, too.”

Pinepaw heard them padding back toward the den and shook out his pelt. “Are ready to keep going?” he asked anxiously.

Swirlpaw slowly stretched and stepped out of her nest. “I’m great,” she mewed dryly.

“Hey, Swirlpaw,” Spiralpaw mewed as she poked her head into the den. “I’m glad you’re back on your paws. Let’s go!”

Skypaw padded in and helped support Swirlpaw. Pinepaw slipped out of the den and looked into the dark forest. The long leaves of the trees swayed in the cold breeze, and he breathed in the unfamiliar scent of the trees. Swirlpaw was okay, and they were going to continue their journey to find the Crystal Sun.

I only hope we make it in time.