Chapter 16

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Wolfpaw glanced at her twisted leg and sighed heavily. A moon; an entire moon had passed since Angelkit and Wolfpaw had found Colby. Even though Wolfpaw's opinion of her wasn't the best, she had proved to be very useful. Since Wolfpaw couldn't hunt, surprisingly Colby had caught a lot of her meals for her. Pretty impressive for a kittypet. While Wolfpaw sulked in the shadows, Angelkit's amusement that another cat had to hunt for an experienced apprentice gave way to Wolfpaw's embarrassment. She felt humiliated when Colby came dragging another piece of prey for her to munch on. But Angelkit never made fun of Wolfpaw. She simply just said each time she brought her prey, 'Will this do?' and Wolfpaw would nod absently.
Now they were on the outskirts of the Twolegplace. Wolfpaw could see the hills surrounding the lake and it gave her an extra nudge to keep moving. In other good news, Wolfpaw had less than half a moon until she could take her cast off. Seeing how far away the hills were, she guessed that she would get it off shortly after they had got to camp.
Then some warrior would receive Angelkit as an apprentice.
Wolfpaw heaved a sigh. She had enjoyed teaching Angelkit warrior moves and such, so it would be a sad moment to let her go to another cat other then herself. But what? Was her brain full of fluff? Did she really think that she would be her mentor? She was still an apprentice. And even if Ashstar made her a warrior, she would simply choose another warrior more experienced then her.
Then it all clicked.
If Wolfpaw wasn't going to be Angelkit's mentor, then she had to do her best to teach her all that she could before it was too late. With a flicker of recognition, Wolfpaw froze mid-lick in grooming herself.
That's what Sandeye was talking about.
Glancing around, she sighed as Angelkit crested the hill with Colby behind her, their mouths moving together in conversation. Wolfpaw flattened her ears and scowled sadly. Colby was getting so close to Angelkit and she still didn't trust her that well. Stretching and gaping her jaws into a yawn, Wolfpaw stood and trotted over to the two she-cats.
"Hey guys, any luck catching prey?" She asked hopefully flicking her tail.
Colby looked away. "Not exactly. But we can cross this bridge over yonder and find some!" She said cheerfully. "It'll be as easy as catchin' a mouse." She gave a wink to Wolfpaw and she curled her lip. She turned and swept her tail over Wolfpaw's muzzle, causing her to sneeze. "C'mon LightClan cats, let's go eat." With that, she bounded ahead disappeared down the hill. Angelkit sighed and glanced at Wolfpaw.
"Were so close to home. It's as if this adventure hadn't even happened." She said thoughtfully, her mind somewhere else. They began padding after Colby with Wolfpaws spirits lifting. She was anxious to get home and they were so close. As Angelkit and Wolfpaw crested the hill they saw Colby waiting by a very old looking bridge built over a fast-flowing river. The wood looked old and eaten. Wolfpaw gulped as Colby approached the bridge with obvious confidence.
"Hold on Colby, is this a really good idea?" Wolfpaw asked.
She smiled brightly and padded onto the bridge anyways. "Of course, I've crossed this bridge many a times." She then leaped into the air and landed back down, the bridge creaking ominously. Wolfpaw flinched.
"At least wait for us, Colby." She pleaded, nonetheless. Colby rolled her eyes then padded back to the duo.
"Its alright, I promise." She said, willing them to believe. Wolfpaw bit her lip and glanced at Angelkit. Her eyes were bright.
After a sigh, Wolfpaw relented. "Okay," she said, a thought coming to her mind. "But I'll go first, then Colby after me and then Angelkit, you'll go." She said.
That way I can see if it's stable.
Angelkit nodded and Colby made a noise that Wolfpaw assumed was 'yes'. Gulping, Wolfpaw padded up to the bridge and carefully placed a paw onto the old wood. Breathing in and out through her nostrils, Wolfpaw walked fully onto the bridge and took a pawstep, then another.
Colby sighed heavily. Huffing, she said, "come on Wolfpaw, I said I had crossed this bridge for so many times I've lost track by now. I promise it's safe." With that remark, she walked onto the bridge and head butted Wolfpaws rump, sending her a pace forward. Wolfpaw let out a shriek and fell forward, hearing a low creaking. Widening her eyes, she leapt to her paws and bunched her muscles, preparing to jump. As she pushed off, she heard wood snap and shortly after a splash. Turning on her heals, Wolfpaw watched as Colby's cream head disappear below the surface, her paws thrusted out above her. She surfaced soon after, her eyes wide as she gasped and floundered around. Wolfpaw began ripping at her woven cast, trying desperately to get it off. Colby continued to gasp and gurgle but eventually she caught onto a loose branch and clawed her way to the end closest to the shore and leapt, off, landing in a heap. Wolfpaw sighed in relief as she shook out her pelt and began washing. Wolfpaw turned to Angelkit, a shaking ball of fur with wide blue eyes. Her gaze was locked on the raging river below. Wolfpaw glanced at the hole Colby had made and looked to the edge. There was enough room for Angelkit to avoid the hole and make it over safely.
"Angelkit," Wolfpaw said over the roaring of the river. Angelkit snapped her head up suddenly. "I have an idea. Go around the hole carefully and slowly, you'll be fine." She encouraged.
Angelkit swallowed. "Stand on the bridge to catch me in case I jump."
Wolfpaw looked down at the bridges wood distantly. Placing a paw carefully down, the bridge creaked. Reading back in alarm, Wolfpaw gasped. "I can't, you'll have to Go it alone." She said.
Angelkit gulped and nodded. Breathing in, she stepped onto the wood carefully and began padding forward. She flinched at every creak but kept going nonetheless. When she was a pawstep away from the gap, the planks behind her gave way. 
Wolfpaws jaw dropped. "Angelkit, jump!" She howled.
Shrieking, she bunched her muscles and prepared to leap, but was thrown off when the one of the bridges legs crashed, tilting the brige completely. Angelkit let out a squeak and was thrown off her paws, rolling to her doom. Wolfpaw watched in a horror as she rolled off the boards and let out a bloodcurdling cry.
"Wolfpaw!" She screamed before her voice was literally drowned out by colliding with the water. Wolfpaw watched as she surfaced a far ways off, her paws flailing wildly. "Help!" She croaked before disappearing once again.

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