Chapter Seven
“Hahahaha! The both of you look like you’ve just gotten into a fight with yourselves instead of getting harassed by several kits.” Sniggered Pinebolt as he walked in between Bloodpaw and Graypaw. Having come to fetch the two from their punishment, the lanky looking tom couldn’t stop himself from bursting into laughter at the sight of the two apprentices’.
Bloodpaw had thought handling a single kit was annoying and difficult. That is until he had to help out with watching over Honeyshadow’s four kits at the same time. Each one was already the size of a paw, but their personalities had been so energetic that Bloodpaw wondered how their mom was able to look after them all at once. Not to mention giving them baths when their mom was busy sleeping most of the time was perhaps the most stressful thing he had to do. Every time he would struggle in keeping a kit still to try and clean them, another would find a way to start clawing at his pelt or start biting him in several places.
It didn’t help that Dewhare, who had come to supervise them, found it amusing. Even when both Graypaw and Bloodpaw looked to her for help, she would only smile and shrug her shoulders before winking at them. Then she would leave them alone to defend themselves from the energetic kits, much to their dismay and horror. It was long past the afternoon, when the sun was already hanging very low in the sky, were they relieved from their punishment when Pinebolt had come to fetch them both.
“I thought handling one kit was rough, but five of them? It’s a nightmare.” Mewled Bloodpaw as exhaustion started to creep into his limbs. “I don’t know how Honeyshadow and the other queens can handle keeping track of every kit.”
“It kind of feels like when we were kits, doesn't it?” Softly muttered Graypaw as he released a large yawn.
“Uh..” Stopping in his tracks, Pinebolt threw a look towards Bloodpaw. The ears from his apprentice had already begun to droop a bit. “Graypaw, why don’t you go and ask Longsky what else she needs help around camp. I need to speak with Bloodpaw about something important.” Seeing the look on Pinebolt’s face, Graypaw didn’t argue and chose to give his friend an apologetic smile before dashing off to find the deputy of Shadowclan. Once they were alone, Pinebolt would turn back to Bloodpaw. “Look, Bloodpaw,” He began.
“I know I shouldn’t be thinking hard of it, or shouldn’t be thinking of it at all,” Mewled Bloodpaw as his eyes began to water a little. “But, it gets hard trying to brush it off. I still want to know how my parents died, and why.” Turning his face towards his mentor, the blood red ginger’s eyes were full of tears. “Why can’t no one tell me about their deaths? Is there something that you don’t want me to know about?”
“Bloodpaw,” Pinebolt mewled softly but shut his mouth the moment Bloodpaw sent a tearful glare in his direction.
“No more lies, Pinebolt. No more secrets, please. I’ve been shut out in the dark for too long. I want some answers now.” Bloodpaw hissed softly as he tried to contain the anger that had been imprisoned inside of his heart for many moons. “Please,” He mewled more softly.
“I’m sorry, Bloodpaw,” Mewled Pinebolt with deep regret in his eyes, “But I know nothing about your parents’ death. The only one who would know would be Smokestar. However, you’re going to have to trust him if he has a good reason for keeping it a secret and not telling you. That’s all I know.” And with that, Bloodpaw couldn’t do anything but watch as Pinebolt turned tail and walked away from him.
Bloodpaw didn’t know how to respond as his mind was completely dividing itself in half. On the one paw he was more confused than ever with what he just got told. On the other paw though? He was completely burning with anger on the inside. Once again, he did not get the answer he’d been looking for. The only thing he got was another indirect answer that held no weight to his questions.
Gritting his teeth to stop himself from screaming out in frustration, and slowly raking his claws against the ground until he felt a trickle of blood, Bloodpaw released the breath he’d been holding in a slow hiss until he was able to calm down enough to think straight again. He was not about to ask Smokestar anything until he was sure he could get answers from the Shadowclan leader. And when he was alone by himself with no one else around. Once he was sure that he was fully calmed down, the young ginger apprentice began to head towards the elders’ den. It was time to make sure none of them had any ticks in them.