Crowtalon's Madness/Chapter 5

"Good catch, Crowpaw!" Houndfang called over his shoulder as he padded towards the base of Highledge where Dewleaf and Maplestar were furiously discussing something.

"Thanks, it was nothing, really." Crowpaw said tonelessly, depositing her rather large squirrel at the fresh-kill pile, her mind echoing with a horrible memory of one of Blizzardwing's reformative training sessions, this time his words echoed through her mind - ''Never let your accomplishments, big or small, get to your head, because they're worthless compared to other warriors'. ''

Upon hearing Houndfang's praise, more warriors crowded around the fresh-kill pile, starting at Crowpaw's squirrel. They collectively murmured words of praise, except for Blizzardwing and Darkwater who stood glowering in one corner. Crowpaw's head felt like it was burning from her foster parents' glares, but thought in satisfaction, Well, at least now they are no longer in control of me.

Crowpaw chose a scrawny vole for herself while the elders helped themselves to her squirrel. Biting into the stringy flesh, Crowpaw quickly finished it, not realizing the hunger she had felt since dawn. ''I'm so numbed, I can't even feel hunger. ''Crowpaw thought rather dimly to herself before heaving herself to her paws, and stalked off towards the apprentice den, her black pelt melting into the shadows. Settling down in her fresh new nest, pushing her nose under her paw, Crowpaw soon slipped into the welcoming comfort of sleep...

The next day, she felt a paw jabbing her sharply in the side. Crowpaw's claws unsheathed and she sprang up, hackles lifting, thinking it was Blizzardwing waking her for another training session, until she saw her mentor's calm face.

"Oh, stop being so on edge. Come on, we're going moss gathering." Snakeheart meowed, slightly amused. Crowpaw sheathed her claws and stared down at her paws, a little embarrassed.

"Moss gathering?" Crowpaw echoed, a pit of disappointment open in her stomach.

"Don't worry, after that, we'll do battle training." Snakeheart assured her apprentice, and Crowpaw brightened a little. Pricking her ears for any sounds, Crowpaw followed her tabby striped mentor into the woods.

-wip-