Good at Hiding

(Sorry guys, it's super loooooong!)

Larkpaw blinked open her eyes, and her exhaustion seeped away in an instant. Today she would become a warrior! Joy flooded through her as she stood up and stretched before bounding out of the den. Her brother Adderpaw was eating a mouse in front of the apprentices' den at the edge of the clearing. He glanced up, ears pricked, and the littermates shared a look of excitement.

"Good morning," Adderpaw said, shaking out his gray fur that mimicked the fur of their father, Stormstar, so much. Larkpaw jumped high and landed on her paws, as excited as a kit.

"At last!" she exclaimed. Adderpaw blinked at her, amused. Larkpaw flicked him with her tail. "I can't wait to be a warrior." Adderpaw nodded in agreement. Larkpaw watched as he sat back down to his mouse. He would be the best, strongest warrior that StoneClan had ever had, and Larkpaw lifted her chin with pride.

A bright ginger blur distracted Larkpaw, and she looked around to see the younger apprentice, Robinpaw. The young she-cat crouched as though to pounce. Larkpaw whipped her tail away, just in case.

She blinked once, and in a split second her denmate landed on her. Larkpaw shoved the ginger cat off and turned to glare at her friend. The apprentice sat with her tail wrapped neatly around her paws. "I thought you were ready to become a warrior," Robinpaw teased. Larkpaw turned away and groomed her brown tabby fur, embarrassment prickling her pelt.

Robinpaw leaned against her. "I'm just kidding," she mewed. "I'll miss you though. I'll be the only apprentice now, for moons." Larkpaw nosed her friend's ear.

"I know, and I'll miss you too. But we can still be friends."

"We better be!" Robinpaw leapt up. "Let's go hunting with our mentors. It's your last day." Larkpaw and Adderpaw stood up too, and Robinpaw beckoned them with her tail. "Let's go!" Robinpaw bounced enthusiastically. Larkpaw nudged her, purring at her antics.

Larkpaw's and Adderpaw's mentors were padding out of the warrior's den, heads together. Thornypelt and Dawnstream both looked up as their apprentices neared. "Hi!" Larkpaw said. Quieter Adderpaw dipped his head respectfully. Robinpaw darted off to find her own mentor.

"Can we go out and hunt with Robinpaw? It's our last day as apprentices," Adderpaw said. Thornypelt shrugged when Dawnstream glanced at her.

"Fine by me," Thornypelt meowed. Dawnstream nodded. Larkpaw purred happily.

"I can't wait for our ceremony!" Larkpaw scraped the ground eagerly with her claws.

Adderpaw sat down next to his sister. "I know, Larkpaw. I can't wait either."

...

Larkpaw stalked through the rocks, itching to pounce on prey. Adderpaw padded beside her, and Robinpaw was on her other side. The mentors followed them. Robinpaw's mentor was on a border patrol, but Thornypelt and Dawnstream had decided to let her come. "More paws mean more prey," Thornypelt said.

StoneClan's territory was a large rock field, almost endless tumbled stones under endless blue sky. Larkpaw leapt from one rock to another, her nose in the air. She could scent a mouse in the cold clefts in the stone below her. She bounded down off the rock, ears pricking when she heard the scuffling of small claws on rock.

A dim shape scurried in the shadows, and Larkpaw pressed herself to the ground. She waited for a moment, pinpointing where the mouse was, and leapt. The mouse squeaked in alarm a second too late; Larkpaw landed on it and snapped its neck. She stood up proudly with her catch in her jaws.

"Nice!" Adderpaw called. His mew echoed against the stone. Robinpaw dashed past her.

"My turn!" she called. Larkpaw turned toward her mentor, Dawnstream, who nodded at her, approvingly.

"Nice catch," Thornypelt mewed. Her own mouse lay limp at her paws. "You'll make a great warrior."

Larkpaw ducked her head and said modestly, "I had a great mentor." Dawnstream purred.

"Thank you!" The gray she-cat looked pleased.

Larkpaw jumped slightly, startled, as Adderpaw appeared beside her out of nowhere with a pigeon. His gray pelt blended in with the rock field so well! Her littermate's whiskers twitched, betraying his withheld laughter, and Larkpaw glared at him, embarrassed, until he looked away. He nudged her good-naturedly. "Just teasing," he mewed.

Robinpaw bounded up to them, holding a plump hare. Her mouth was full of fluff but her eyes gleamed. She dropped the hare next to Larkpaw's mouse. "How'd I do?" she asked Larkpaw.

Larkpaw poked her with one paw. "Fine, of course. Your catch is way bigger than mine!" Robinpaw puffed out her chest. Larkpaw picked up her mouse and turned to head back to camp. Adderpaw walked beside her. The pigeon in his mouth muffled his voice.

"We should clean up after we get to camp," he mumbled to Larkpaw. "I think our ceremony will be after we get back." Larkpaw nodded, her mouth full.

The littermates walked side by side the rest of the way back to camp. They paused on the edge of the large hollow in the stone fields. Below, cats roamed among a huge tumble of rocks, ducking in and out of dens. Larkpaw followed close to Dawnstream as they hurried down the face of a particularly large, flat stone. They stopped by the prey-pile, dropping their catches there, before the apprentices parted from the group. Larkpaw crouched to get into their den. She began to groom herself carefully, not missing a spot.

Larkpaw had just finished smoothing her fur down when she heard her father's voice ring out. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Stonefall!" Larkpaw rushed over to Adderpaw and frantically began to groom his mussed pelt.

"You're hardly looking like a warrior!" she complained.

"You're starting to sound like a worrisome mother," Adderpaw purred in reply. They both fell silent for a moment, remembering their own mother. Redwillow had died in an attack by fierce rogues, back when Larkpaw and Adderpaw were newly apprenticed. The previous leader before Stormstar, Sparrowstar, had lost his ninth life in that battle as well, and then Stormstar had become leader.

Stormstar continued. "Adderpaw and Larkpaw! Come forward." Larkpaw felt frozen, but Adderpaw nudged her forward, out of the den.

"Come on," he whispered. "We're going to be warriors!" Larkpaw heard the excitement fluttering in his voice like butterflies. She slowly began to move. One paw at a time.

Stormstar stood at the top of the Stonefall, eyes glowing with pride for his kits. Adderpaw flinched once. So he's nervous too, Larkpaw thought. She stood up a little straighter, hoping that she looked presentable.

Stormstar padded down the Stonefall to stand in front of them. Happiness gleamed in his gaze. "If only Redwillow could see you," he said softly, but his eyes seemed cold all of a sudden. He shook himself slightly, then said the words that leaders before him had spoken so many times before. "I, Stormstar, leader of StoneClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Adderpaw," he called, "step forward." Adderpaw took one nervous step forward, then another. "Adderpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Adderpaw took a deep breath. "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Adderpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Adderstripe. StarClan honors your courage and your kindness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of StoneClan." Adderstripe's fur bristled with joy. He licked Stormstar's shoulder (only after a moment of hesitation, Larkpaw noticed) and Stormstar pressed his muzzle into his son's shoulder. Adderstripe pulled away quickly.

"Your turn!" he whispered to his sister. Larkpaw almost burst open with eagerness.

Stormstar turned to her and repeated the ceremony. Larkpaw could hardly listen for all her excitement. At last, she heard, "Larkpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

It took all of Larkpaw's effort to keep her mew from trembling. "I do," she whispered. "I do," she said again, louder this time. Stormstar nodded encouragingly.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Larkpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Larkflight. StarClan honors your enthusiasm and your loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of StoneClan."

Larkflight barely remembered licking her father's shoulder and the feel of his muzzle against hers. She padded to stand beside Adderstripe, thunder roaring in her ears.

"Adderstripe! Larkflight!" the Clan called. Larkflight saw Robinpaw, Thornypelt, and Dawnstream yowling the loudest. "Adderstripe! Larkflight!" Stormstar joined in to celebrate his kits' new names. "Adderstripe! Larkflight!"

The Clan dispersed. Cats came up to congratulate Larkflight and her brother. The littermates sat down in the center of the clearing for the nightlong vigil. Dusk was gracing the sky, heralding the night, and the occasionally star peeped through the dimming sunset.

Adderstripe and Larkflight sat side by side as the camp became quiet, save the breathing and snoring of cats. Suddenly, Adderstripe spoke up.

"Can I trust you?"

Larkflight was surprised. "Of course. I'm your Clanmate." Adderstripe turned to look her in the eyes.

"Can I trust you?"

Larkflight met his gaze. "I am your sister. If you have a secret . . ." Did Adderstripe have secrets? ". . . I will not tell. I will never tell." They watched each other, eyes locked.

Adderstripe looked away first. He turned his head and muttered, "Let's talk tomorrow."

Larkflight shivered in the wind that blew off the rocks. Where was her easy-going, happy brother? Who was this new cat with secrets? She watched the stars of Silverpelt wink until she fell into a tired state.

...

Thornypelt stepped out of the warriors' den the next morning, shaking Larkflight from her trance. She felt bone-tired, so tired she could've fallen asleep in the center of camp.

"How was your vigil?" Thornypelt asked. She stretched in the morning sun, then strolled to the camp entrance. "I hope you didn't fall asleep on your paws," she teased. Adderstripe glared at her. Larkflight was stunned at her brother's rudeness.

"Where are you going?" Adderstripe asked, grouchily. Larkflight stared at him. So did Thornypelt.

"I'm sorry, Thornypelt," he muttered, realizing his mistake. Larkflight just blinked at her brother. This is not like him at all.

Thornypelt nodded. "Go and rest," she mewed. Adderstripe slunk to the warriors' den, Larkflight following.

"Are you okay?" she asked as they settled down in their new, soft nests. "You . . . you're not yourself." Adderstripe sighed.

"Let's talk later. I need some sleep." He rolled away from Larkflight. Larkflight curled up beside him and fell into a deep sleep.

...

"Larkflight." An insistent voice tugged her from sleep. "Larkflight." It was Adderstripe. Larkflight blinked and gazed out of the den entrance to see early-morning light. Sleeping cats surrounded her in their nests.

"It's morning. You slept the whole day and all night too. Let's talk now." Adderstripe whispered, tiptoeing out of the den. Larkflight followed him.

"Shouldn't we tell someone? Like Stormstar?" she hissed, and Adderstripe flinched.

"No. Especially not Stormstar." He responded. They climbed up the side of the hollow to the top. Larkflight leapt onto a large boulder and surveyed the stone fields the stretched to a smudge of mountains, hazy on the horizon. Larkflight breathed in cool air and exhaled, feeling so free.

Adderstripe interrupted the peace. "Come on."

Larkflight followed her brother on a winding trail through the rocks until they were far from camp. Adderstripe paused. He sat down on a mossy stone.

"So? What's this all about?" Larkflight asked. Adderstripe squirmed. He took a deep breath.

"You know the rogue fight, where Redwillow died and Stormstar became leader after Sparrowstar?" Sparrowstar was the leader before their father. Larkflight nodded. Adderstripe continued. "Well, rogues didn't kill Redwillow and Sparrowstar. Stormstar did." Larkflight gaped at him. Her vision clouded.

"Who would kill their leader, and their own mate?" she whispered.

"Stormstar, apparently. And I saw him. He had snuck up on Sparrowstar in his den, knowing that it was his last life, and killed him. Redwillow saw, and Stormstar killed her, too. There couldn't have been any witnesses.

"I was just a young apprentice. But I knew that my father, my father, was a power-hungry, terrible cat. No better than any rogue. And I ran. He didn't see me."

Larkflight stared her brother's glistening eyes. "I . . ." she trailed off. "What should we do?"

"Nothing," Adderstripe said, sounding defeated. "He's the leader of the Clan. They'd kill us."

"We can't do nothing!" Larkflight exclaimed. "We'll tell the Clan. When we get back."

"It's too dangerous!" Adderstripe snarled. He stood. Larkflight stared at him.

"Why didn't you tell me before? I could have helped," Larkflight murmured.

"You wouldn't have understood."

Larkflight turned away. "But I do now. We'll have to tell."

Adderstripe gaped at her, now. "We'll be killed, or forced to run away. To leave the Clan. It's not worth it."

"It is!" she snarled. "He killed my mother. He killed our mother! And Sparrowstar! He's a traitor!"

Adderstripe stared at her. Then resignedly, he mewed, "I'll stand with you, if you don't change your mind. Deep down, telling is the right thing to do." They locked eyes.

"You were so good at hiding," Larkflight murmured.

The two young warriors had reached the camp. The sun was up, and cats filled the clearing. Now was the time.

"Cats of StoneClan!" Larkflight yowled from the top of the Stonefall. "Gather beneath the Stonefall to hear what we have to say." Murmuring filled the clearing. But cats gathered below them, curious. Adderstripe lifted his chin, paws trembling.

"Do you remember the rogue fight? That killed Sparrowstar and Redwillow?" Adderstripe called. Cats nodded, confused. "Well, no rogue killed Redwillow and Sparrowstar." Larkflight gazed down at Stormstar, and saw fury burning in his eyes. "Your leader did."

The crowd of cats gasped. All eyes turned to Stormstar, who stood tall. "Is it true?" a cat whispered.

Stormstar glared around. "Do you believe those fools?" But his voice shook with fear, and every cat heard it. Thornypelt stood.

"You killed Redwillow and Sparrowstar?" she snarled. She turned to Adderstripe. "How do you know?"

"I saw it. Stormstar killed Sparrowstar, and Redwillow because she was a witness," Adderstripe said, voice strong and clear. "He is a traitor." It made sense; Stormstar never really grieved either of them. Every cat knew the truth.

Stormstar backed away. "I didn't kill anyone," he growled, but the battle was lost. StoneClan advanced on him. He turned and fled form the camp. Cats raced after him. Adderstripe turned to Larkflight. The sun rose behind him.

"Thank you," Adderstripe whispered.

"For what?" Larkflight asked.

"I feel so free," her brother murmured.

Larkflight leaned against Adderstripe and they watched the sun rise together, over the fields of stone, to the mountains at the edge of the sky.