☆3 - There my ear went.☆

When he woke up again, he was in the medicine den, back at the Shadowclan camp.He twitched his ears nervously, only to realize one of them was tied up with cobwebs.

It came flooding back to him.The fox, the blood, his ear, everything.

"Foxdung!" He hissed. "You're awake!" A sweet voice next to him called.

Two sweet voices, actually.

Mum and Pearleaf? Their presence is the last thing I need.

He turned his head, and surely, there were Marigoldpelt and Pearleaf. "Oh my son!" His mum walked over to him and bonked her head against his as a sign of love. He tried not to flinch. "I was so worried when they dragged you into camp! I knew I shouldn't have let you go outside!" She purred.

"Pearleaf is here too! She came here to ask you something. She has stayed by your side during all the day that you were unconscious."

I have been unconscious for an entire sunrise?

Pearleaf was looking at him shyly, and purred when they made eye contact. She stood up and padded over to him.

Marigoldpelt stepped back, to let Pearleaf sit by Corvidstorm's nest. Before she loafed down to be at eye level with him, he sat up with a grunt. He didn't want to be awkwardly compact like that.

Pearleaf cleared her throat.

"Look, Corvidstorm. I- I've been meaning to tell you something.

She narrowed her eyes in a friendly way, and underneath her silver fur a blush was creeping up her neck.

Oh no. She's going to confess. What do I tell her? How am I supposed to say I don't like her?

"I, uhm. I really...like you, Corvidstorm. I was hoping you'd be my mate."

Marigoldpelt was beaming behind her.

"F-for life."

In the opening of the medicine den, someone shrieked.

Pearleaf turned her head around. Dappletail was tearing up between the vines that formed the curtain.

"P-pearleaf! You knew I liked him! How could you!?" She hissed, whiskers drooping.

Pearleaf looked shocked, turning her head from Corvidstorm to Dappletail to Marigoldpelt. "I- I..."

"Spare me your excuses!" Dappletail hissed, as she turned around with an angry flick of her tail. Through the vines she could be seen racing over the camp and plunging herself into the warrior den.

Such drama. Why do they even like me? I don't think I've ever shown signs of interest, did I?

Pearleaf sighed. "I'm sorry about her."Corvidstorm shook his head."It's okay.""Well? What do you think? Do you want to be my mate?"

Foxdung. I- what do I do?

Before he could make any excuses, Marigoldpelt interrupted.

"Calm down sweetie," Corvidstorm wasn't sure whether she was talking to him or Pearleaf, but before he could ask she already continued. "He may not be ready with an awnser yet." She eyes her son. "How about we give you two sunrises to think?"

Ah.

"That's fine, thanks mum." He nodded to his mother. "I want to sleep now, please."

"Of course sweetie! Come Pearleaf." She guided a confused, but not unhappy Pearleaf out of the den.

×

When Corvidstorm woke up again it was because someone was tugging at his ear.

"Mwuuuh?.."

He opened his eyes and looked up to see the small, grey figure of Thistlepaw bent over him. "Ah, you're awake! I was just swapping your bandages, but your ear seems to have healed very quickly," She meowed. "The edges are a bit rough, but there's no infection. You're really strong!" She smiled at him.

"Thanks Thistlepaw. I'm glad it's not infected, my mother would have a nervous breakdown if it was." He sighed.

"Squirrelwhisker?" Thistlepaw called her mentor.

Squirrelwhisker padded into the patient area from her own den in the back of the cave."Is it infected?" She asked while yawning.

Thistlepaw shook her head. "On the contrary, it's looking really good!" With a flick of her tail, she motioned for Squirrelwhisker to come take a look at it - who did so.

"Woah! You're a quick healer Corvidstorm! I think we can get the bandages off already."

Corvidstorm could only nod in response.

When the bandage was removed, he asked Squirrelwhisker a question;"Do you maybe have a puddle for me? I want to see my ear."

"Of course! The rain last night formed one right outside the den, here." With a flick of her tail and a twitch of her ear she motioned for both Thistlepaw and Corvidstorm to come with her.

It had rained last night? Good. I love the smell of wet grass.

Corvidstorm stretched himself delicately, before slumping with Squirrelwhisker to take a look at himself in the pool.

It was still wet outside, and the grass was very soothing to Corvidstorm's itchy pawpads. He yawned and turned his head to walk over to the puddle Squirrelwhisker and Thistlepaw were sitting by, but he was interrupted, for the umpteenth time, by two cats racing over to him, calling his name.

On closer inspection, he saw it were Applepaw and Ratpaw. Except, Ratpaw should have had his assessment by now.

"Corvidstorm! Guess what?" Applepaw cheered, as he came to a skidding halt infront of the dark tom.

"Tell me what's up." He meowed.

"The fox fight got me my warrior name! I'm a warrior now!" Applepaw said, staring at Corvidstorm's ear.

"Oh that's great! I missed it, I think I was unconscious." He meowed, purring.

Applepaw nodded. "You were! But now I got my name at the same moment as Ratstalk!" Ratstalk nodded vigorously behind him.

"What's your name?" Corvidstorm asked, 1½ ear pricked in curiosity.

"Appleleap!" So said Appleleap smiled brightly."That's a very cool name. You definitely deserve it." "Thanks! Me and Ratstalk have to get going now, we have warrior duties to do." The toms turned around and padded away happily.

Warrior duties? Like fixing yourselves a new nest in your new den?. He chuckled at himself, then he turned to take a look at the pool.

"Woah." His reflection was nearly the same, except he was missing a bit more than half of his left ear. He rotated his head to look it from all angles."Is Goosestep still alive? I would've expected for mum to kill her if she'd seen me with a torn ear and blood gushing down my face." He joked inwardly.

Thistlepaw chuckled, as did Squirrelwhisker. "What?" Corvidstorm looked at the two she's. "Well, I'm pretty sure Beetleeye has to physically restrain her to keep her from clawing Goosestep's eyes out." Thistlepaw purred.

A yowl was emitted from on top of the shaderock."All cats old enough to stalk through the shadows, gather under the shaderock for a clan meeting!"

Cats started creeping out of every corner of the camp, and the trio by the puddle also turned around to pad over to the dusty patch underneath the shaderock. Corvidstorm sat down, not really next to anyone. Naturally, his mother and Pearleaf came to sit next to him, but only after they had guided Pebbleheart out of the elder den.

Pearleaf is really kind and respectful. I feel sorry I can't return her love.

What's this meeting about? He then wondered. All 'paws have been given their names. He looked at the other cats.

Meadowstar spoke up."I am going to announce who is coming to the gathering tonight!"

It's a full moon! I nearly forgot there would be a Gathering tonight.

"Let's see. Me and Goosestep, of course. Squirrelwhisker and Thistlepaw too. Then Ratstalk and Appleleap can come. Beetleeye, Chestnutfur, Pearleaf, Duckbelly and Corvidstorm." Meadowstar eyed the medicine cats while saying Corvidstorm's name, asking if he was fit to come with just a glance. Both the medic's nodded in response.

"Alrighty then - meeting dismissed!"