Spiderleaf was tired. He knew he wouldn't have a nice sleep for a while. But the joy of receiving his medicine cat name filled him with a new kind of ecstasy.
He gazed out over the Moonpool, his eyes half closed as the water ripples danced over one another. He didn't know how he felt about staying awake when each of the medicine cats were conversing with StarClan. He almost felt as if he didn't belong.
Although he was sure that tonight his ancestors would forgive him. He had received his full name and he was prouder than he had ever been before.
He didn't even want to imagine how furious Honeyflower would be with him if she found out that he had stayed awake on such a night. But Spiderpaw knew he was more shocked than she would have been.
He was becoming more and more sleep deprived with every night that passed. But the sensation was becoming more and more normal to him with each passing day. And besides, the Moonpool looked just that small amount brighter when he was exhausted.
He knew he couldn't wait any longer. He had to make his move. He carefully sat up and turned away from the glorious pool. The lights dimmed and he had to carefully place his paws so he didn't stand on Honeyflower's long golden tail.
He placed each of his paws carefully and slowly as he gradually made his way up the slope. Once he was out of range to have stood on any of the dozing medicine cats, he burst out of the clearing and into the pine forest.
He slowed himself down. He knew he couldn't go calling out. Besides, the small Thunderpath was a reasonable walk from here. He didn't fancy another long walk, especially not after his journey down to the SunClan just the other night.
The trees seemed to wind around him, and for a second he was vividly reminded of the Dark Forest. He envisioned the cats curling around him, their dark eyes blazing as they hid behind the dim red glow of the bushes.
He shook his head. He was sleep deprived, but he wouldn't let himself become delusional just because of that.
Instead, he forged himself to keep on pushing forwards. He felt like he couldn't walk any further, yet at the same time his legs were moving without him even having to think. He let his eyes shut, although he was wary incase he tripped over his paws.
He caught himself thinking about the moor again. He hadn't felt a breeze like that in such a long time. He thrived in the forest, but he couldn't help but wander back.
The breeze had been so soft. So comforting.
Something about the trees not giving way to any sort of fresh air just seemed to remind him of the Dark Forest even more. He wondered how Briartail could cope nearly every night in that strange place. He wondered whether Aspenclaw had spoken to her since she had left about her going to the forest.
He wafted his tail. He couldn't help but wonder whether the tom would consider telling Echostar. Spiderpaw's didn't even want to think about how enraged he would be if the tom had done such a thing. He didn't think Aspenclaw was that stupid.
But he couldn't help but see that point of view.
He knew one of the only reasons he wasn't telling Echostar was purely for Briartail's benefit. Spiderpaw's knew how much his sister had wanted to be a mentor to Heronkit, and even if she wasn't officially apprenticed, he knew just how proud Briartail was to be able to teach her just some basic skills.
He didn't want to risk having her lose that. As long as she wasn't in immediate danger.
But he knew that this whole situation was spiralling out of control. For a minute, he debated whether he should have ran back and touched his nose to the water.
He needed the guidance. He knew he needed some advice. He didn't want to admit he had no idea what to do, but the guilt was creeping up on him like a dog on a feline just like him.
He knew however that there was no turning back now.
He couldn't believe he heard a car swarm past the small Thunderpath up ahead. He failed to comprehend how he had been walking so far.
But he knew he wasn't there quite yet. What confused him the most was trying to find an answer for why Slatestripe had wanted to meet him in an area that was so secluded. Nevertheless, he respected the warrior's decision. Maybe he was just as scared of Talonstar finding out than Spiderleaf was with Echostar.
A few minutes passed as Spiderleaf wandered through the trees. Although he knew Slatestripe wasn't far away, he couldn't help but notice how lonesome he felt. The trees didn't feel like they watched him. Instead, he felt as if their gazes were turned - either that or they weren't there at all.
His breath rushed back as he barely noticed a figure in the distance. He carefully bounded forwards.
"Slatestripe!" he whispered, almost so excited he couldn't contain himself.
But Spiderleaf quickly realised the figure that stepped into his view wasn't who he was expecting. He quickly backed away. Hopefully he hadn't been noticed.
"Spiderpaw."
Spiderleaf threw his head down.
"I only want to talk."
Spiderleaf was enraged. He couldn't believe Slatestripe had lied to him!
He knew there was no backing down now. He lifted his head and stepped into the view.
He recognised the voice the minute he heard the sound. But what confused him most was why he had wanted to meet him.
His pelt was still stained and scarred, and for a second Spiderleaf had nearly rushed up to him to ask if he was feeling better. But he knew that there was no need. The figure was standing taller than him, and his eyes pierced through him like thorns.
"Why do you want to talk to me?"
Spiderleaf watched as the black and white tom lowered his thick head. He couldn't believe the tom he was faced with had been so weak only a few nights ago, and for a second he thought his lack of sleep was tricking him.
"I should think we both have things to say at this moment," Vinetail spoke. His voice was deep and emotionless as he lowered his tail. "Who would you like to go first?"
Spiderleaf narrowed his eyes. "You," he murmured.
Vinetail lowered his shoulders. "Well in that case, I'd like to thank you for saving me."
Spiderleaf lowered himself. He felt a rush of relief wash over him. "Any medicine cat would have done the same."
Vinetail nodded. "Now's your turn, Spiderpaw."
"Spiderleaf," the medicine cat corrected him lightly. He was taken aback slightly when the warrior stayed silent after he had pronounced his new name.
The only thing he could hear were the monsters roaring along the side of the Thunderpath. But Spiderleaf wouldn't let that worry him.
"What do you want me to say?"
Vinetail narrowed his eyes. "I'm no fool," he meowed. "I want to know what you're up to with my brother."
Spiderleaf adjusted himself. He opened his mouth to try and correct himself, but he felt like such an action would be pointless.
"Moreover, I'm interested to know why you took my brother to the Place of No Stars."
Spiderleaf shot his ears back. "How do you know?"
He quickly realised the mistake he had made.
"I'm his brother, and his safety is my business." He paused, scanning Spiderleaf up and down. "The last time I checked, medicine cats weren't allowed to have mates."
"We're not mates," Spiderleaf meowed, only knowing he was telling half a lie. But he wasn't about to let Vinetail become aware of that. "We're just friends."
"And I suppose friends meet up in the night to embrace one another and tell them how much they love one another?"
Spiderleaf hissed. "I suppose you'd know a lot about friends, considering the way you're speaking to someone."
Vinetail paused for a second, but he let out a snigger as if he was amused by the medicine cat's sudden hostility.
"I'm not about to start to even attempt to become any sort of friend to a fiend like you."
Spiderleaf rolled his eyes. "What are you trying to say, Vinetail? Stop wasting time."
"Very well."
Like a flash, Spiderleaf jolted back. He was panting and hissing in an instant, and he barely comprehended that Vinetail had actually attempted to leap on him. Grateful for his instincts, he leapt to his side and scratched Vinetail down the muzzle.
But the tom wasn't backing down. He hurled himself towards Spiderleaf, and as the medicine cat threw himself upwards, Vinetail blocked him, throwing his weight over his paws and throwing him down like a leaf.
He struggled to get the weight of the warrior off him. He panted and howled, but the warrior wouldn't budge.
"You won't get away with this," Spiderleaf panted.
"And I won't let you get away with brainwashing my brother into working for those evil shadows."
Spiderleaf couldn't even believe what he was hearing. Immediately noticing that Vinetail was distracted by his anger, he lifted his leg and kicked Vinetail's underbelly with an extreme force, sending him upwards with a flurry of claws.
Spiderleaf didn't know whether to run or whether to attack. The warrior was much stronger than him, especially when he was so, so tired. But his legs were swifter than Vinetail's.
He wished he had been just a little more rested. He didn't want to risk running away and falling. Who knew what could happen?
He didn't have time to contemplate. Vinetail was circling him, and Spiderleaf knew that if he didn't act soon, he would be just as damaged as when he found Vinetail a few nights ago.
He threw himself forwards, unsheathing his claws further until he hit his nose downwards. "Is this really the kind of warrior the Dark Forest has turned you into?"
Vinetail hissed loudly, and Spiderleaf had no idea how he was being so courageous. "If guiding me with preventing evil like you is turning me into a bad warrior, then I welcome that ice."
Spiderleaf was sick and tired of him. With a new force he threw himself forwards again, kicking out his back legs and slamming Vinetail in the face.
But the warrior clearly saw his attack coming.