Mudpaw dug his claws into the dirt, swaying on the spot. Well, I guess nobody in the clan likes me! Ha! That's so funny... It wasn't. It really wasn't. Maybe he could go to thunderclan and start anew. He looked at the roaring stream, a spike of fear crossing through his chest. He wobbled across the stepping stones nervously, trying to get over to Sunningrocks. His heart thumped at the clear blue depths. It was agony looking at its waves, but it would be worse to go back to RiverClan with nothing waiting for him. "Hey there, Muddy! Whatcha doing coming over to ThunderClan land?" A familiar calming voice. Reedfluff's fluffy red chest was in view as he looked up from his fumbling paws. "Reedfluff," he murmured in relief, almost losing his balance. "Let me help you, big guy," she chuckled, leaping on the gray wet stepping stones and pressing against him to get him across. He flopped onto Sunningrocks, gratefully putting his head on his paws. "You never answered my question. What are you doing here?" she meowed more seriously. "I'm just lonely, I guess..." That was an understatement. "Aww, you came here to see little old me," she said, smiling "So then, how's it going, Mudspatter?" "It's, uh - it's Mudpaw now." Reedfluff's grin turned into confusion. "What? Why? Did I rub off my trouble making skills on you?" "Apparently, I'm not useful to the clan..." he trailed away, not wanting to talk about it. Reedfluff noticed how uncomfortable he was getting and quickly changed the subject. "I've been good. My dad Turtlespots won't get off my case, though," she said. "Ok, maybe I did put ants in Shellfrost's nest, but she deserved it!" she huffed, her red fur blazing and puffing up in indignation. "Why did you put ants in her nest?" he asked quietly, laughing and cheering up a smidge. "She's a selfish prat! She was trying to boss me around like she's deputy," Reed scoffed, licking down her fluffed up chest fur. "I believe you." He smiled, flicking his tail on the rock. "I'd like to be leader one day. It would be cool!" Reedfluff chirped. "Larchstar is so full of herself, it's comedic. She likes to make her fur glossy every single morning, and every time, a unknown cat splats mud on her." The word unknown was emphasized as such, you could tell the 'unknown cat' was Reedfluff. "Leader seems like too much responsibility. I just want a family..." Mudpaw broke off, sighing. "Wait, is your family-" Reedfluff paused cleaning her red tail and avoided his eyes in embarresment. "I was born in the worst RiverClan flood, and I was the only survivor of my family," he meowed solemnly, wishing they were still here. At least Ferretmuzzle had slept with Muddy instead. He was kind in his own way. "Reedfluff, where have you gotten to now?!" A rude female voice came from the trees. He guessed it was Shellfrost. "Ack, got to go! Talk to you again soon, slippery paws." And with that, she bounded off the rocks and was engulfed in the lush green forest of grass shimmers season. "Bye..." he meowed sadly, deciding to leave thunderclan territory before he was caught. His spirits were a bit higher, though he still couldn't push Trunkkit, Carppaw, and Wasppaw's words out of his mind. *** He slipped quietly back into camp, his head low. He didn't want to talk to anyone. Just sleep. Ferretmuzzle was fidgeting outside the elders' den, looking into space as usual, and Mudpaw felt a sudden urge for his comfort. He sat beside his uncle and tried not to breathe in his rancid scent. Ferretmuzzle didn't notice, still looking at something only he could see. Mudpaw tucked his paws under himself and leaned into Ferretmuzzle, who looked around wildly, then softened at Mudpaw lying there. "Sleep well, Frondcloud..." he murmured. The bird chattered quietly as the sun dipped below the streams and rolling fields of RiverClan territory, as Mudpaw fell into a troubled sleep.
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