『Dark Dreams ~ Chapter 5』 "I'll teach you fishing," offered Silverstripe. "Off you go, Coyotepaw, Gingerpaw." "Aww, but I wanna stay with her!" complained Coyotepaw. "Yeah!" agreed Gingerpaw. "Fine, you can come too," sighed Silverstripe. The apprentices cheered. "Look at the fish," Lunarmoon said. "Ah-ah-ah- remember to keep your shadow off the water!" Groaning, Dreampaw protested, "But the sun is behind us! How are we supposed to do this? Can't we hunt on the other side of the river?" "That's ThunderClan territory." Silverstripe's words pierced Dreampaw's heart. She thought of Wolfpaw and Brownpaw. Dead Frosttail. Lilyblossom. Tears stung her eyes. "Are you okay?" Coyotepaw asked softly. Dreampaw didn't reply. He wrapped his tail around her. "...Let's just fish," Gingerpaw suggested. Lunarmoon shoved her away with her tail. "She must be remembering her friends and family in ThunderClan," she murmured softly. "I-Is it too late to go back?" Dreampaw whispered. "Are you sure you want to go back?" Silverstripe asked gently. Dreampaw shut her eyes. Images flashed into her mind. Wolfpaw. Brownpaw. Her family in the nursery. Then her mind erased and she thought of Coyotepaw. Gingerpaw. Silverstripe. Arriving at RiverClan. She opened her eyes again. "No... I want to stay," she croaked, her voice barely a whisper. "I was meant to be here." Her shared mentors smiled. "Thank you Dreampaw," purred Silverstripe, stepping forward. "We should find you a permanent mentor." __________________________________ "You?" spluttered Dreampaw. "B-But you're the leader!" Brightstar smiled but didn't answer. "Let's teach her fishing," offered Silverstripe. Brightstar nodded. "Why isn't she talking?" Dreampaw whispered to Lunarmoon and Silverstripe. Lunarmoon laughed. "She doesn't think there's a reason to talk unless necessary, like for ceremonies." "Oh," Dreampaw said, disappointed. They had arrived at the river by then. Dreampaw focused on a silver fish, keeping her shadow out of the water. Then she pounced, claws hooked into the fish's side. Next, she quickly flipped the fish onto the stone. "I did it!" she cried. Coyotepaw and Gingerpaw aborted their fish and came running over to see. "Great job, Dreampaw!" they exclaimed. "Yes, that was a very good catch," agreed Lunarmoon. Then another voice piped up, "I agree. Well done, Dreampaw." It was Brightstar! 'A first catch must be a big deal,' decided Dreampaw. 'If she's talking for it!' "Brightstar?" asked Coyotepaw in bewilderment. Brightstar smiled but didn't speak. "I'm glad Brightstar's my mentor," Dreampaw purred under her breath as they left to carry their catches back to camp. "What was that?" asked Lunarmoon. Dreampaw purred. "Oh, nothing!" she said, and continued to carry the fish to camp. She spotted a pair of red eyes in the shadows. She stopped to look at them. The eyes narrowed and disappeared. "Dreampaw! What's the wait?" called Silverstripe. "Nothing! Coming!" Dreampaw yelled, picking up her fish again and following her mentors. Next: Previous: First:
