Hi everyone! Here is the next chapter of my story that, I'm really happy to say, most of you enjoyed. Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed, that was really appreciated (:D)!! Okay, it's been four moons after the drought, and now Autumnkit, Goldenkit and Honeykit are ready to become, you've guessed it, apprentices! Please review to tell me if you thought it was good or if it was terrible so I'll know when to stop ;). Enjoy, and thanks again!!
xxx
By now, Autumnkit could hardly imagine life without rain or grey skies. She wished for just some sun; not as much as the drought, of course, but just for a break from the endless clouds. She tried to be thankful, though, by remembering how desperate she'd been the days before the storm and how Streakkit had died.
She hadn't told anyone about her dream of Redchest and Streakkit, if she could really call it that; it had seemed so real, and she could still remember her father's scent and how Streakkit's eyes glowed with pure happiness. Autumnkit was happy for him, that he had found peace, but she still felt that he should be here with them now.
Tawnytail had told them this morning how they were almost ready to become apprentices, and excitement had instantly fizzled up in Autumnkit. The fact that she was taking the few steps down the path she needed to become a great warrior had made her feel ready to fight all the other Clans right then, although of course she knew that it was silly to think like that.
"I'm going to be the best warrior that ever lived," growled Goldenkit, bouncing about the nest and bowling into Honeykit, who mewed and pushed him away. "I'll be a Clan leader, the most famous one who ever lived, and the elders will tell stories about me to kits. I'll be a legend: Goldenstar of DuskClan, no, of GoldenClan, named after me!"
"With an ambition like that, you'll end up like Tigerstar of ShadowClan," meowed Autumnkit, remembering a story that Brownlegs, the elder, had told them yesterday. "And he got killed by a kittypet."
Goldenkit bounded into her and pinned her down growling playfully. He nipped her ear and then let her kick him off. "Tigerstar wasn't real. Whoever heard of a warrior being killed by a kittypet? If you believe those elder's stories then you're stupid, Autumnkit."
"I believe that they're real," put in Honeykit, pausing between grooming her pretty coat. "The elders couldn't make them up. They haven't got the imagination."
"Well, what else have they got to do all day?" pointed out Goldenkit rather rudely, pawing at a stray leaf that had fluttered into the nursery. "Yes, I'll be the best leader in all the clans, ever. And the first thing I'll do as a leader will be to get you two kicked out of our clan. We'll only have boy warriors in GoldenClan."
"Tawnytail, can you please tell those kits of yours to quiet down?" growled Specklefur, raising her head and flicking her ears impatiently. "I can't get any sleep!"
"Yes, alright, Specklefur," mewed their mother, flicking her tail at her kits. "Quiet down, you three. And Goldenkit, don't talk such silliness, or I shall make Cloudeyes feed you herbs to calm you down. They don't taste nice at all."
"I'm only telling Autumnkit and Honeykit what to prepare themselves for," grumbled their brother, but he sat down and pawed his leaf in a less boisterous way.
"Oh, your father would be so proud of you all," said Tawnytail after some silence. "I'm sure he's watching us as much as he can from StarClan, waiting for you to become apprentices and warriors…maybe even leaders. Oh, when you get your warrior names the sky will burn with his pride and Silverpelt will glow so brightly that it will dazzle all the cats of the Clans, the twolegs, anyone who looks up at our ancestors. Imagine, my kits, the bravest warriors of the Clan!"
"You know, I don't think I really want to be a…" mumbled Honeykit, but then she shook her head. "Never mind."
"What were you going to say, Honeykit?" asked Autumnkit kindly. She was maybe the most sensible of the litter; her sister was a little shyer, but more calculating, and Goldenkit was just loud and violent, though he was playful and deep down, kind aswell.
"Nothing, Autumnkit." She stretched, flexing her short, sharp claws. "I can't wait to start hunting. Imagine catching our first mouse!"
"I know. This time tomorrow we'll be Autumnpaw and Honeypaw!"
"And this time in four seasons, I'll be Goldenstar," sniggered Goldenkit, swishing his tail. "And you two will be loners, living outside of the clan!"
"You wish," mewed Honeykit, pushing him over.
"Get off," retorted Goldenkit, kicking her with his hind leg. Honeykit squealed.
"Goldenkit!" meowed Tawnytail, sounding shocked. "You must never kick someone that hard. And if that's your attitude towards running a clan, you will end up like Tigerstar."
"He wasn't real," meowed Goldenkit, exasperated. "Who do you think will mentor me, mother?"
"Tawnytail!" bellowed Specklefur, her swollen belly looking ready to burst. Autumnkit was sure, when she was older, she would never have kits. Giving birth to them sounded painful, and if one died, how would she cope? She'd seen how her mother fell to pieces after Streakkit's death. Besides, she didn't want to end up all crabby like the normally patient, gentle Specklefur, although her kits were almost here. At least, that was what it looked like to Autumnkit. Her thoughts quickly turned back to her lost brother.
Streakkit…she wondered still about the dream. How much of it had just been her imagination? She hadn't had many dreams, and none like that since that night, and if she did dream, they were just silly things. Like flying above the trees of the forest, or being attacked by angry rats or, once, foxes that she fought off single-pawed. Autumnkit would awake feeling very proud, only to remember she was still in the nursery and none of it had actually happened.
That was another thing- she hadn't felt the same when she'd awoke from that special dream. She hadn't woken up thinking about how stupid it had been, or how good it would be if that was real. She'd felt like she'd never even been sleeping to start with… but she always came to the same conclusion, which was to talk to Cloudeyes, and then her courage deserted her whenever she saw the white cat. Truth be told, she was scared of his almost sightless eyes. They seemed to see into a part of her that was secret, and that she didn't want anyone to see, despite the fact that she wanted to like Cloudeyes and befriend him.
She hadn't told her siblings this for fear of being teased by Goldenkit, and besides, Honeykit was getting quite friendly with Cloudeyes, and often helped him sort out his herbs if no one else wanted to. In fact, Autumnkit was beginning to think she might even become a medicine cat apprentice.
"Honeykit?"
Cloudeyes' voice made her jump, and she whirled around, scared that somehow he'd realised what she had been thinking, but he only twitched his tail at her in greeting. Honeykit stopped washing and jumped up, her eyes shining slightly with happiness.
"Yes, Cloudeyes?"
"Do you want to come and collect some herbs with me? You're big enough to now- almost ready to be an apprentice, aren't you? That is, if your mother thinks it's ok…"
Honeykit nodded enthusiastically, then turned to Tawnytail. "Can I, mother? Please can I?"
Tawnytail looked uncertain for a moment. "How far are you planning on going for these herbs, Cloudeyes? Not that I don't trust you, but the forest is so dangerous for kits…"
"Mother!" yelped Honeykit, embarrassed. "I'm nearly an apprentice."
"Not far, Tawnytail," promised Cloudeyes, flicking his ears in amusement at Honeykit. "Only a few fox lengths from the camp, and we'll be extra careful. Burningembers is coming with us to hunt."
Autumnkit wrinkled her nose up. She didn't like the senior warrior, with his eyes like dark pits and his deep red fur, but he was quite respected amongst all the Clans, so she kept her mouth shut.
Tawnytail flickered her gaze to Cloudeyes and back, and narrowed her eyes to allow her daughter to collect the herbs.
"Thankyou! Come on, let's go," she said hurriedly, dashing to the camp entrance. They were lounging just outside of the nursery, half in and half out, and Cloudeyes dashed after her, calling for her to wait.
"Great. Honeykit gets let out, but we have to stay here, bored," growled Goldenkit, savaging his leaf.
"Let's go and visit the elders, then," suggested Autumnkit, also feeling a bit bored, and cold.
"No. I don't want to. They're boring, and we have to bring them food and things, just to get them to tell us kit stories."
"Don't talk like that, Goldenkit. What's the matter with you today? Do you have to go to your nest early? One day you will be an elder, and then you'll wish that you'll be treated with the respect you deserve."
"I won't be an elder. Only cats who aren't leaders are elders. And they get more respect than they- sorry, mother," he quailed as he saw his mother's eyes flash angrily. "I'm restless because I want to be an apprentice so badly."
"You must learn to be patient, Goldenkit. Autumnkit and Honeykit aren't acting as silly as you are."
Goldenkit snorted and pounced on Autumnkit, but she pushed him off, not wanting to play any games. She could feel something in the air- something that made her fur stand on end, not exactly with fear, but she could feel something was about to happen.
"Autumnkit? Are you feeling alright?" said Tawnytail, swishing her tail and sitting up.
The kit didn't move. "I-I-"
"I was only playing," said Goldenkit sullenly, not understanding.
Autumnkit gasped as she felt fire rush through her veins, shooting her full of energy and the need to fight. It was so strong she was nearly overpowered-but then she realised Goldenkit was prodding her and she was brought back to the nursery, back to normal.
"Should I get Cloudeyes? Autumnkit, can you hear me? Are you alright?" Tawnytail was panicking, overreacting as usual.
"Y-yes," stammered Autumnkit. "I think I got…indigestion. And bellyache. I'll ask Cloudeyes for some herbs when he gets back, if it hasn't gone by then."
Something inside of her told her not to tell her family what had really gone through her mind just then. Images of claws and fiery eyes and blood…she shook herself again, and turned back to the nursery. "I think I'll lie down for a bit."
"Do you want me to go and get Cloudeyes now, darling? If you don't feel well, he won't mind coming to help you…"
"No, mother, I'll wait til he gets back." She really was starting to feel a little ill, though she wondered why she didn't want to tell her mother what she'd just experienced. What if she didn't believe her? What would she do then? Or, maybe she was imagining it. The more Autumnkit thought that, the stronger she believed it. Just making it up. Overreacting, like her mother…
Just as she had almost disappeared into the nursery, she heard a loud yowl and yelp that made her whirl back round, her heart leaping with fear. What had happened?
Cloudeyes, Honeykit, Burningembers, Ravenpaw and Spidertail were returning wearily into the camp, and dragging something with them. A big bundle of grey fur- a body?!
Tawnytail gasped and leapt forward, seizing Honeykit and covering her with hundreds of grateful licks.
"Mother! Let go! I'm fine!" screeched Honeykit, kicking to get free.
"What happened?" mewed Tawnytail in between the licks. "Is- oh, no!"
Autumnkit and Goldenkit, along with the rest of the Clan, hurried forward to see who the body was. Who went on the patrol that morning?
Getting nearer, she realised it was Stormpelt, the Clan deputy- or at least, he had been the Clan deputy. She hadn't know him at all- he'd never spoken to her, but he'd seemed quite nice, nodding at her in greeting whenever he saw her peeking out of the nursery or playing. Her heart beating loudly, she stared down, wondering if this was another death. Oh, not again- the mourning, the cries, missing the dead cat- she remembered after Streakkit had died and Tawnytail had the energy to mourn him, and what she'd been like. She hadn't understood why, until she realised that they were Redchest's only litter with her and their mother wanted to preserve his memory through them. She cared about the kits as cats too, but felt it was her duty to her dead mate to keep them alive, and losing one of them was like failing him.
Suddenly, Stormpelt coughed, bubbles of blood appearing in the corner of his mouth.
"He's alive!" croaked Cloudeyes. "Honeykit, fetch me some yarrow, some cobwebs and-"
Autumnkit didn't listen as he listed off more roots, still checking Stormpelt. Tawnytail released her daughter for a moment so she could do as Cloudeyes asked her, but didn't take her amber eyes off Honeykit.
Ravenpaw came and stood beside Tornvoice, a young she-warrior. "We were attacked on patrol," he told her, flicking his ear to get rid of the blood that ran down it. "By DayClan, near HollowOaks. They were trying to make their marks there, so we chased them off. But they came back with reinforcements, and suddenly Stormpelt doubled over, and Russetclaws savaged him. I attacked him though, and chased him off, and Greenpaw, an apprentice. Then we came back."
"That cut on your ear looks nasty," commented Tornvoice, her strange voice croaking and grating. She was actually a very beautiful dappled tortoishell colour with sparkling green eyes, but she had a terrible problem with her voice that left her wheezing and coughing. But she was kind and friendly to everyone, and Autumnkit liked her a lot.
The warrior caught her looking at them. "Hello, Autumnkit," she smiled, swishing her tail. "Do you want to sit beside us?"
"Thankyou," mewed the kit, remembering her manners. "Tornvoice is right, Ravenpaw, and that one on your leg looks painful aswell. Why don't you get Cloudeyes to look at it?"
Ravenpaw nodded, flicking his ears again and again, spattering drops of blood. "When he's finished attending to Stormpelt, I will. But not yet. I can survive; I don't know whether Stormpelt can, though." He sighed. "You'll be made an apprentice soon, won't you, Autumnkit?"
She nodded, feeling excited again. "But…" she paused, but then felt like she trusted them both enough to tell them. "I don't think Honeykit wants to be a warrior."
Tornvoice laughed, her voice ripping and cracking, and then coughed several times. "Have you only just noticed, Autumnkit? Surely she's going to be a medicine cat. Everyone in the Clan can see that."
"But mother wants us all to be warriors, like Redchest," meowed Autumnkit, looking down at her paws. "She says that he'll be proud of us then, and Silverpelt will shine so brightly it dazzles everyone who looks at it."
"Are you sure that's what Tawnytail thinks?" mewed Ravenpaw doubtfully. "I mean, wouldn't he be proud of her whatever she is, warrior, medicine cat, elder?"
"I don't know. She misses him so much. She talks about him all the time. I try to understand, but I wish that she could just look at us and see three kits, instead of three tiny Redchest's. She tries not to, I know, but I can still see it in her head."
Tornvoice leant closer, her eyes sympathetic. "But you want to be a warrior, don't you, Autumnkit? And so does Goldenkit- we've all heard his stories of when he's Clan leader." She flicked her long tail in amusement. "And Honeykit wants to be a medicine cat. That must be what StarClan has chosen for her. Tawnytail can't deny that, no matter how strongly she wants her kits to grow into strong warriors. It isn't her choice. No one forced her to become a Queen, did they? But that is what she wanted to do- to raise kits, I mean. And, given the circumstances a few moons ago, I'd say she did quite a good job, wouldn't you?"
Ravenpaw nodded in agreement, licking his leg. "Honeykit and Cloudeyes should talk to Soulstar. Maybe he could tell Tawnytail, but I don't think she'd mind that much, if at all."
Autumnkit nodded. "Alright. I'll tell Honeykit, when I get a spare moment."
Burningembers approached the group. "Tornvoice, Autumnkit. Ravenpaw, I just came to tell you that you fought like a warrior today. I'll be speaking to Soulstar about your warrior ceremony; there is nothing more Spidertail can teach you, I don't think."
Ravenpaw's eyes widened. "Really? I'm going to be a warrior?"
The senior warrior nodded, bowing his big head and blinking. "I'll go and speak to him now. And see Cloudeyes about those wounds- they look nasty. As soon as he's finished with Stormpelt, that is."
He strode off, and so did Tornvoice and Ravenpaw, as another apprentice came running for him. "Ravenpaw! What happened?"
Autumnkit trotted over to Honeykit, who was busy watching Cloudeyes apply cobwebs to Stormpelt's wounds.
"There," the medicine cat sat, stepping backwards and half admiring his work. "He should live, if we're lucky. I think we will be- Stormpelt's always been strong." Maybe Autumnkit was imagining his eyes flickering uncertainly.
"Honeykit, can I talk to you about…your mentor?" meowed Autumnkit.
Her sister eyed her warily. "I've already decided who it will be, Autumnkit!"
"Cloudeyes, I know," interrupted her sister, feeling a little shocked that Honeykit had already made up her mind. "But…are you sure you want to be a medicine cat? Think of everything you're throwing away!"
"Throwing away?" Honeykit looked confused. "But I'm not. I'm doing what I was born to do. I'm going to be a medicine cat, I've already chosen. Soulstar is speaking with mother right now!"
She pointed her nose in the direction of Tawnytail, who's eyes were wide and her ears pricked, looking a little flustered, whilst Burningembers swished his tail from side to side impatiently, wanting to tell Soulstar about Ravenpaw.
Autumnkit turned back. "I came to tell you that you should be a medicine cat, and not to mind what mother thinks. I didn't realise you'd already sorted it out!"
Honeykit laughed. "Well, I have. In fact, I've thought it through so many times- I'm just so sure this is right for me. I'll be a great medicine cat, I just know I will."
Her sister nodded. "What will Goldenkit think?"
"You're the one who just told me not to care what other cats think or said!" she nudged Autumnkit, not unkindly, and opened her mouth to say something else, but then Soulstar's summoning yowl echoed around the clearing, and the two kits followed, knowing that this could well be the day they were given their apprenticeships. Autumnkit wondered who would her and Goldenkit's mentors would be.
"Cats of DuskClan," announced Soulstar, "I have several announcements to make, and all of them are good news. First of all, we have three new apprentices that need their apprentice names. Honeykit has informed me of her intentions of becoming a medicine cat for DuskClan, under the training of Cloudeyes. Honeykit, are you sure it is your wish to become a medicine cat apprentice?"
Honeykit took a deep breath. "It is."
Soulstar nodded his head, and then announced, "I, Soulstar, leader of DuskClan, ask StarClan to accept this cat as the apprentice of Cloudeyes, our medicine cat. She will train hard to learn everything she can about helping save our warrior's lives. I know give her her apprentice name, Honeypaw!"
Autumnkit licked her sister's ears once and joined in the cheering as the Clan called out their new medicine cat apprentice's name. "Honeypaw! Honeypaw!"
When it had died down and everyone's attention had turned back to Soulstar on Tallrock, his gaze fell on her and Goldenkit.
"Flowerlegs, you have been a mentor before, and are ready for another apprentice. You will be mentor to-" Autumnkit held her breath- "Goldenpaw."
Goldenpaw hurried forward and touched the slim tabby's nose. She twitched her whiskers, narrowing her eyes. She seemed very pleased with this choice.
"Tornvoice, you are more than ready for your first apprentice. You will be mentor to Autumnpaw." She felt a thrill at hearing her new name used for the first time, and happy that it was someone she liked. "Pass on all the knowledge of Stormpelt to Autumnpaw, so that she may be a great warrior when her time comes."
Autumnpaw stepped forward and touched noses with Tornvoice, who muttered, "Your eyes are shining brighter than Silverpelt, Autumnpaw. Was I a good choice?" and laughed, coughing.
"A very good choice," mewed the new apprentice, and then listened to the sound of the Clan calling her and Goldenpaw's names. They were apprentices!
The ceremony wasn't over just yet, though. Just as Ravenpaw was beginning to look a little worried, Soulstar called, "Wait! Before you go back to your duties, we have one more warrior to name." It was sunset now, setting the leader's grey fur on fire, and a small breeze ruffled the cats fur. "StarClan, I call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I recommend him to you as a warrior in turn." Soulstar paused, then yowled, "Ravenpaw, I give you your warrior name. From now on, Ravenpaw shall be known as Ravenwing!"
The Clan cheered yet again, no enthusiasm lost despite how many cats had been renamed tonight. Ravenwing grinned, showing his white teeth, as they called his name, but Autumnpaw was thinking a little sadly of Streakkit. If only he'd been here, she thought. Streakpaw, Streakpaw- they should be calling his name, too…