Shadowpup had returned from Swiftcurrent Creek empty-handed and Silvertongue never returned. The girl had half a mind to leave, to go looking for his birth mother… but she was too afraid to abandon the only home she knew, no matter how tangled her feelings were.
But every night she prayed to Starclan that Silvertongue would return to them. To her.
Unsatisfied by Starclan’s silence, Shadowpup sought out
@Sandulf.
“I want you to teach me more about Starclan. How to talk to them,” she asked the Fang in a demanding voice.
Even at his own trip he had not found silvertongue. Not that he had been looking hard. If she wanted found they would find her. It sounded as if she preferred aloneness right now.
Sandulf looked at the pup that made demands. Did he know this ones name. Ah yes Shadow pup. He dipped his muzzle though he was about to disappoint.
I'm afraid I don't know how. I havent been taught the way of your father's people.
Shadowpup made an exasperated sound when the Fang, Sandulf, admitted he hadn’t been taught Starclan’s ways.
“I should have known,” she says in a brainy, matter-of-fact way without any softness, “you haven’t even been given a name from Starclan. How did you become a Fang, anyway?” Were adults always excused from the trials of an apprentice because of their age? Shadowpup didn’t think that was right. Furthermore, Sandulf had been apart of Riverclan since her birth and he still didn't know the ways. Maybe, just maybe, the future of Riverclan depending on Shadowpup and Shadowpup alone.
Only a moment went by before she followed up with a second demand. “Well, what can you teach me?”
Sandulf blinked and studied her. Then her words grew harsh and heavy and he leveled a cold stare at her. Mustering all his years of big brother, uncle energy into it.
I became a fang because your father deemed it so.
He shifted and began to walk away. Nothing. I don't teach those who treat me lesser than
But if you can find your manners. I can teach tracking, hunting and kindness.
Sandulf becomes standoffish but Shadowpup can’t quite parse why, oblivious that her tone had been disrespectful. Since Silvertongue’s disappearance, something had changed within the once-sweet and innocent child.
Shadowpup balked. Treat lesser? “What do you mean? I didn’t say anything like that,” she refuted him, unable to read between the lines. In her, there is a disconnect between words and the hidden meaning of them. “And I’m already kind,” she added sharply. Clearly, she was not.
Sandulf stopped walking to fix the girl with a gimlet stare. No you aren't acting kind right now Shadow pup. You need to mindful of your tone when speaking.
He took a small breath and thought through his words and how to best explain. How would you feel if i came up to you. And i said oh i should have known your still a pup not an apprentice, clearly because your name is pup? Amd then i demanded you do what i say without askin
Shadowpup grumbled under her breath but relented when Sandulf’s directly explained her poor tone. Her ears folded against her head, but Shadowpup didn’t necessarily look sorry. Yet, she apologized all the same.
“I guess I can see it that way,” she offered weakly. “Sorry.”
From then on, Shadowpup would be quiet and listen to whatever Sandulf had to teach her.