Chapter Two

It was sunhigh when Dovewing finally returned with two plump mice. When Squirrelflight asked where she had been, Dovewing replied, "Hunting."

My heart ached just from seeing her. I turned away and walked out of the camp.

I had walked a long time, and I suddenly realized where I was. Unconsciously, I had walked towards the place where I had seen Dovewing with Tigerheart.

I turned around and returned to camp. "Bumblestripe!" Squirrelflight shouted. "Where have you been?"

I ignored the ThunderClan deputy and grabbed a thrush off of the fresh-kill pile. "Bumblestripe!" Squirrelflight hollered with a harsher tone of voice. "Where have you been? You left at sunhigh and you just got back now, near sunset! With no prey or anything! So where were you have you been?"

I was not in the mood to be bothered by Squirrelflight. I turned around and shoved my nose in her face. "Leave me alone!" I snapped.

I half-heartedly nibbled at my thrush. I was starting to feel almost too exhausted to keep my eyes open. I let myself drift into a restless sleep.

***

Squirrelflight wanted me to go on the dawn patrol, but as soon as I found out that Dovewing was on the border patrol, I refused to go. Squirrelflight threatened to tell Bramblestar, but I didn't care. I didn't care about anything anymore. I just turned around without saying anything, walked back into the warriors den, and fell back asleep.