the toxic gossip train [c]

The limited effects of the herbs that Fawnshine had given Silverpaw would not last long and whatever reprieve they could afford the apprentice planned to capitalise on. As the sun began to drift below the mountain backdrop of the Southern lake, Silverpaw limped towards the familiar thick tabby pelt of her mentor. “Quailprowler,” they meowed in greeting, dipping their head.

The tabby swayed dangerously on her paws. “I have to talk with you. It is important.” a breath escaped Silverpaw’s lip, but it came out as a wheeze and they began to cough dryly. Perhaps the herbs would not last as long as they thought, better make it quick then, even if the young molly would have liked to have spent more time with her mentor. Since arriving at the Southern lake Quailprowler and Silverpaw had not spent much time together, it wounded Silverpaw that they hadn’t had a chance to continue their training due to her condition.

With a steadying breath, Silverpaw sat down. ”Fawnshine has given me some herbs, i feel slightly better, but i do really need to talk to you.” they stated tail flicking “We can walk and talk if you want. I need the exercise.” she added.

Quailprowler nodded and flicked her tail. "Let's go. This looks serious." The tall Molly started her slowed walk, her head down low to hear.

Silverpaw guided them quite far, her steps becoming more and more laboured, but she fought hard to suppress their limp, and keep her walking as smooth as possible. Once she was certain they were out of ear shot, they turned to face their mentor, anger that she had kept clamped down on when telling Fawnshine what she was about to tell Quailprowler had begun to seep through her facade. ”Like my first scars?” the apprentice meowed dryly, lifting a paw to their maw to suppress a cough. “They are the curtesy of Brightpaw.” she elaborated, her eyes darkening. A flurry of heated emotions, of revenge and anguish ran through her at the admission to her mentor. The promise of repayment they had made at the forefront of their mind. She felt the effects of the herbs waning, and Silverpaw still wanted to make it back to camp without Quailprowler having to carry her. In a hurry she began to catch their mentor up more fully.“Fawnshine knows. She has given me herbs for my injury and sickness. You are the only other cat I’ve told. I have not told anyone else i do not wish to cause more upset. I plan to tell Mottlestar and Acornstem, but I wanted you to know before i told them. You are welcome to accompany me when i do tell them.”

Silverpaw took a gasp of air with her lost finished, her breath coming in wheezes. How embarrassing. Why had they suggested the walk in the first place? Their desire to appear stronger and healthier would get them killed.

Quailprowler walked in silence, feeling like this situation needed to be led by her Apprentice. When Silverpaw stopped, the mentor studied the injuries with narrowed eyes. Her assumption that this meeting was in regards to her injuries was correct. As she listened to the stories, Quailprowler's fur prickled in anger, the heat of rage immediately seeping from her pelt. "That is unacceptable for a clan mate to injure so badly a clanmate. Why did he hit you, was there an argument?" Immediately the questions flew as the warrior began to pace off the emotions before she exploded. A side effect of being feral, if you could excuse that. "Not that it matters. Unless you struck him first, which I doubt. I've taught you restraint." The mentor continued pacing, her claws tearing up the earth. "And of course I will accompany you. Mottlestar is nothing short of a mother to me, and she trusts me. She will make sure you get your justice." If Mottlestar didn't, Quailprowler would be shocked.

Silverpaw nodded. “You did.” she confirmed “But maybe not my emotions.” she chuckled bitterly, another bout of dizziness hit her, and their vision began to swim. Her green eyes looked at their mentor, but all she could see was a brown mass. Her chest felt tight, and claws dug into the ground as she shook her head, trying to clear their vision. “I must sit.” meowed Silverpaw ears pressed against their skull in shame. This sickness was becoming far too strong for her liking even without the constant coughing her other symptoms seemed to have worsened to fill the gap it left.

Slowly, the lean silver cat settled down on her paws, head drooping as they fought the drowsiness that accompanied her frequent dizzy spells. “He was… having a forbidden romance with a SkyClan apprentice.” they finally gasped out, sweat beading on her forehead with the effort of such a small task. “Let’s just say he wasn’t happy I knew.” Silverpaw grit their teeth in frustration, willing the spell to pass, to stop taunting them. “Thank you, Quailprowler. I look forward to seeing justice happen.” she added with a gasp.