Chapter 1: The Meeting
Jaypaw bit his lip, a soft wind filing through the entrance to the apprentice's den. The sky was sable with tiny white stars shining above, casting a moonlight glow upon the ground below. All the other apprentices were sound asleep in their nests, but the pale gray tom stayed awake. He could sense everything… the gusts that rustled his fur, the smell of the cool night, the feel of moss under his paws. Yet, he wasn't able to see. Leafpool's words still haunted his mind, hanging over him like a storm cloud.
After thinking for awhile, Jaypaw finally decided to go to the Moonpool. Maybe I will get an answer there… he pondered to himself as he padded out of the apprentice's den over various sleeping felines. He struck up a conversation with Brackenfur, ending with the warrior calmly letting him go out into the forest. Jubilant and satisfied that someone in the clan didn't fret over everything he did, the gunmetal colored grimalkin headed to the trail for the Moonpool. As he neared the mythical place, his nervous worries started to slip away, fading into the back of his mind. Many soft whispers of the dead buzzed in his ear, prompting a feeling of relief as the apprentice neared the silvery depths of water. The welcoming whispers blended together as he dove his nose into the pool's depths.
Jaypaw's eyes fluttered open, the previous oblivious blackness replaced with actual sight. The woodland was alive with the scents of life and prey. The air was pleasantly warm with many plants growing high. "Bluestar? Lionheart? Cinderpelt?" he called out, his voice echoing around the starry terrain. Of course, StarClan wouldn't actually be helpful and appear right away! the apprentice grouched as he started to wander around. He just wanted a simple answer, yet StarClan had to have made circumstances even more strenuous. With his paws flailing across the smooth grass, he jumped forward, enjoying the opportunity of finally using his eyes. Then, up ahead, he noticed a strange corrupted blackness. There was no sound, no scent, not anything. As he continued there, the warmness, the sounds of birds chirping, and the scent of prey started to disappear. A wall of mist obscured his vision, making his persistent walking more reluctant. Hesitantly, he placed a paw in and then his whole body.
Darkness swallowed Jaypaw as he placed his feet on the now muddy dirt. The trees were bare and stiff followed with tiny slimy mushrooms growing from the roots. "Jaypaw?" a voice coaxed from the distant. He squinted a bit, spying a diminutive indistinguishable figure in the distance. As the shape approached, its features took form. The feline was a broad-shouldered tom, with a pelt much similar to that of Brambleclaw's. "Jaypaw!" the voice persisted stepping toward the apprentice. Another figure appeared alongside the tom, with similar features and a lighter shade of pelt color along with icy blue eyes.
"Yes?" Jaypaw squeaked as he flattened his ears, feeling minute among these giant cats. The bigger cat, one with long hooked paws padded forward. "Welcome. Don't be afraid. We are kin," mewed the feline. "I am Tigerstar, your father's father; and this is his brother, Hawkfrost." Jaypaw perked up at those names. He had heard many vicious tales about Tigerstar; about how he had betrayed his own clan, killed off anyone who got in his way, unleashed a pack of dogs to prey upon cats, and much more.
"It is good to meet you at last," Tigerstar purred, grooming the underside of his paw. "Brambleclaw is blessed to have three fine kits," Hawkfrost added, eyes glittering as if they were melting icicles. "We watched you in battle earlier," the ghostly leader bubbled. "I am glad to see you have inherited your father's skill." "And yours, Tigerstar," the other cat commented. Jaypaw's eyes slitted. My fighting is nothing, much less good. I need pitiful help! he shouted in his mind. "We can teach you how to improve your skills if you like," Tigerstar offered, tail perking up and dancing like a snake.
"I-I'm not sure I want to become a warrior…" Jaypaw sibilated uneasily between his jaws, curling his lip. "How can any kin of mine say such a thing?" Tigerstar scoffed through clenched teeth. "It is bad enough to see Mothwing wasting her talents as a medicine cat." "She would have had a much better chance, but it seems.. She'd just thrown it away like crowfood," Hawkfrost hissed, emphasizing the last word in pity and disgust." "At least Hollypaw is finally starting to realize that her destiny does not lie in pandering to the weak and the sick," Tigerstar meowed in an unimpressed tone.
"Why don't you let us teach you some fighting moves?" Hawkfrost pushed on, nearing closer to the smaller figure. The two cats ascended upon Jaypaw, yellow-stained ivories bared in an impish grin. "Once you see how easy they are for you, you'll realize that you were born to lead your Clanmates in battle, not spend all your time in camp with herbs and poultices." The apprentice bit his lip. Brightheart hadn't taught him squat, much less even shown him how to defend himself. Eagerness made him abandon his usual caution. If these two felines helped him, he might be able to fend for himself! "Will I be able to fight without relying on others?" he questioned the two tabbies. "Of course. Actually, others will be relying on you," the bigger grimalkin lisped. "It's a deal," Jaypaw agreed with a vigorous hop.
Tigerstar licked his lips as he led Jaypaw deeper into the dead forest along with Hawkfrost following suit. "Being blind is just a distraction, it will weigh you down; but you can still fight even if you are," the long clawed cat instructed, nodding at Hawkfrost who padded off into a different part of the forest. "Close your eyes and try to sense all you can," the tabby mewed, amber eyes narrowed. "Is this going to help me with fighting?" Jaypaw gurgled. "In time it will, now close them!" Sighing, the apprentice shut his cerulean flaxen orbs. "Now, there are more than just hearing and smell. There is the feeling of the ground. If you tune to the touch beneath you, you can sense vibrations of paw steps or even prey." Is Tigerstar crazy, how would listening to the ground help me at- he cut off his own thoughts, sensing a faint low vibration, telling him that a weighted object had pressed onto the ground, presumably Tigerstar. So… this is… really happening.. Jaypaw breathed in disbelief.
"Now try to dodge this," Tigerstar meowed stepping forward and swinging his paw by Jaypaw's feet. Sensing the vibrations of his movements, the apprentice jumped up, avoiding the attack. "Good. You can use that skill for your advantage. Now, let's go to battle moves. Show me your battle stance." The younger feline nodded, slipping into a slightly awkward pose. Tutting, the ghostly leader critiqued," Your legs are too far apart and your tail is too low. Keep your tail tucked close to your body so nobody will lash at it." Nodding once again, Jaypaw got into his battle stance. "Shoulders must stay relaxed. If tense, your enemy senses anxiety, or even fear. Most important part of battle is NOT to show fear." Hawkfrost watched as the two felines trained continuously.
It had been hours since Jaypaw left the StarClan clearing to train with Tigerstar and Hawkfrost in the Dark Forest."Can we… take a break?" The blind apprentice panted, craning his neck to listen for a reply, "No, we must continue. True warriors don't take breaks in between practice. The only way you are getting out is if your clanmates wake you, or you wake up by yourself!" Jaypaw suddenly felt sleep pull on his eyelids. With no hesitation and slight relief, he welcomed it, drowsiness engulfing him. Everything went dark as he jolted up from his resting spot by the Moonpool. The feline's body was surpassed with cold. Stretching his limbs, he got up and headed out with a spark of pride. He literally could "see" with his paws, having the ability to sense everything with just touching the ground beneath him. The whispering he had heard when he padded in a few hours ago had changed. Instead of welcomes, there were nothing. He couldn't find any traces of sound from StarClan. The apprentice sighed as he continued to pad back, the sky streaked a light dawn. Brackenfur glanced at him, once he entered the camp. Slight surprise was radiating through the warrior's body. "You've been out long," he commented, observing his claws. "Yes, but I really felt like I cleared my head," the slate tom replied back. Scenting the various smells and feeling of vibrations under his paws, he sensed that groups of cats started to emerge from their dens, and he knew everyone one of them. It was just another day in Thunderclan.