Chapter Two: Broken Inside
Brightkit awoke in the medicine cat den. Rising to her paws, she saw Flowerwing laying down, with her eyes wide open. They were clouded, not bright green like they usually were. And when Brightkit brushed her pelt against her adopted mothers, she didn't even stir.
"She won't react to you, Brightkit." Dappleheart was beside her at once. The brown calico she-cat, who normally looked young now looked many moons older. Her pelt was unkempt and she smelled of herbs.
"Why won't she?" Brightkit asked.
"She's broken. Losing all of her blood-related kits is hard on a mother, especially a young one, like Flowerwing."
"I'm still here." Brightkit reminded her.
"It doesn't matter. She thinks she's lost all of her kits. Therefore, she won't be able to take care of you any more. I think I'll give her some herbs for her grieving and try to find you a new mother."
"There are no nursing or expecting mothers."
"Exactly. Which means you will have to eat fresh-kill and I will have to find you a caretaker."
"Why can't you take care of me?"
Dappleheart paused, then turned away, looking for herbs. "Oh, you wouldn't want to live with me. I'm always busy and I'm not exactly 'mother material'. Not to mention I'm not exactly young anymore…."
"I don't mind. You took care of me when Darkmoon found me."
"That's because you were my responsibility. I had to make sure you were okay."
"But why not now?"
Dappleheart hissed in frustration. "Because you have nothing wrong with you. I don't even understand why The Pure Ones didn't kill you or take you!"
Brightkit looked at her, tears leaking back into her eyes. "So you're saying that it'd be better if these 'Pure Ones' took me. I get it. I'm useless."
"No, no, little one. I never meant that. I'm just under a lot of pressure. I never meant to snap at you." Dappleheart stepped forward, her eyes apologetic.
Brightkit slowly backed away, finally turning and running. She was just a blur through the camp. she darted through the tunnel, running hard until she came to a place where a stream ran. It was the place Darkmoon had found her.
Brightkit collapsed and sobbed into her paws. She didn't even notice a misty shape approaching her, 'til a paw gently rubbed her back. A starry she-cat with wild gray fur and sharp yellow eyes gazed at her. She didn't look in sympathy, nor hatred. Just a look that said tough it up, kit. But she continued to stroke her with her paw. eventually, Brightkit calmed down enough for the she-cat to speak.
"I am Yellowfang. I was once a medicine cat of ShadowClan, but then I joined ThunderClan to be their medicine cat. I am now, a member of StarClan."
"Am I dreaming?" Brightkit asked.
"No, you are awake. It was decided that I should go down to speak with you. That is, if you're smart enough to hear what I have to say."
Brightkit waited for the she-cat to say whatever she wanted to say. when she didn't, Brightkit answered. "I guess I'm smart enough. Dappleheart suspects I'm only four moons old though."
"Age doesn't matter, kit. Your soul is wise enough to understand many things. And your mind would be capable of doing so, if you'd grow up!" Yellowfang said, rolling her eyes.
Brightkit fell silent. Yellowfang had a sharp tongue. Compared to the other warriors, she could probably take them all out with not her claws, but her speech.
"Anyway," Yellowfang continued. "You can't run from the past. Or your destiny. It's something I learned, long ago. I hope you, mousebrain, can learn this quickly. Mainly because its a life lesson you need to learn quickly if you're to survive."
"Brightkit! BRIGHTKIT!" Owlpaw's voice echoed through the woods.
"Remind me again, why I bother to bring you looking for a kit?" Darkmoon's voice sounded.
"Because I've got owl eyes." Owlpaw reminded him.
"More like a monsters roar." He scoffed.
The two cat's were just beginning to come into view. Yellowfang rose quickly and turned even more transparent.
"Don't tell your friends I was here. Just pretend I was never here." she whispered, and disappeared with a gush of the wind.
"There she is!" Owlpaw yowled. Both siblings raced over to her. "Boy, am I glad to see you! We've been looking for you for, like, forever!"
"It was not forever, we set out when it was sunhigh. The sun has barely shifted, you mousebrain." Darkmoon rolled his eyes.
"The point is, we're glad to have found you. You little bugger! Dappleheart nearly sent the clan into a panic, she made it sound so urgent. I was training and you interrupted it, you little shrew!" Owlpaw said, batting Brightpaw's ears gently.
"I'm sorry. I got really upset and just lost my head, I guess."
"It doesn't matter." Darkmoon said impatiently. "Let's get back to camp, before they organize another searching party for the searching party."
The three cats walked in silence. and though she didn't speak, nor show herself, Brightkit had a feeling Yellowfang was watching her.
…
When they walked into the camp, several cats had relieved looks on their faces. A few even walked up to the searching party and congratulated them. But possibly the loudest and most noticeable thing that occurred, was Dappleheart's yowling.
The medicine cat burst into view, her eyes full of anger and all of it was directed to Brightkit. The golden kit shrunk as Dappleheart approached her.
"IF YOU EVER LEAVE THE CAMP LIKE THAT AGAIN, I WILL BIND YOU WITH COBWEBS AND LEAVE A WARRIOR TO WATCH YOU AT ALL TIME! DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE? YOU'VE CAUSED THE ENTIRE CLAN TROUBLE AND CAUSED ME TO WORRY!" Dappleheart yowled as she approached.
"I'm...I'm really sorry, Dappleheart. I never meant to-" Brightkit's apology was broken off, by Dappleheart drawing Brightkit close, as she sat down. When Dappleheart finally let the she-kit up to show her that she was crying.
Some cat coughed. Brightkit identified it as Graylegs.
"Well, uh...Why don't we all get back to todays work?" He suggested awkwardly.
A few cat's murmur in agreement. Dappleheart rose to her paws. "Come, let's get some fresh-kill in you. Then let's get you cleaned up."
Brightkit followed her example and walked by her side as the two she-cats went back into the medicine cat den.
…
"Brightkit, you have reached the age of six moons, therefore it is time for you to be apprenticed." Stormstar's voice echoed throughout the camp. Brightkit, herself was trembling in excitement. She'd waited two moons for this to happen. During that time, Dawnwhisker had given birth to two kits. All through that time, she'd lived with Dappleheart, helping her tend to warriors and her adopted mother, who watched with glazed eyes from the Elders den. Dappleheart herself, watched proudly from the center of gathered clanmates. "From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Brightpaw. Your mentor will be Darkmoon. I expect that Darkmoon with pass down everything he knows to you."
Brightpaw blinked. she had never expected Darkmoon to mentor her. He always acted like he hated her anyway.
"Darkmoon, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Lunareye, and you have shown yourself to be brave and an honorable warrior. A notable thing you possess, is being the descendant of Bramblestar himself, whose father was the evil Tigerstar. Regardless, Bramblestar's loyalty was always to ThunderClan, and not to his father. I do hope, that you pass on everything you know to Brightpaw." Stormstar crouched, waiting for Brightpaw to touch noses.
Walk, don't run she instructed herself. Brightkit walked slowly and proudly to her waiting leader, and respectively touched noses with her.
"Brightpaw!" The cat's below chanted. "Brightpaw!" "Brightpaw!" "Brightpaw!"
Dappleheart smiled proudly from where she sat. Once Stormstar went back to her den, the group of cat's disbanded. Dappleheart and Darkmoon were the only ones who lingered.
Brightpaw ran up to Dappleheart and rubbed her head against the medicine cat's shoulder. "Did I do well, Dappleheart?"
"You did better than any apprentice I've ever seen at a ceremony. I'm so proud of you, Brightpaw" Dappleheart replied.
Brightpaw giggled.
"You'll be sleeping with the apprentices tonight. Now go with your mentor. it's bad manners to keep him waiting!" Dappleheart scolded playfully.
Brightpaw gave Dappleheart's shoulder a quick lick before scurrying over to Darkmoon, whose orange eyes were annoyed. Once Brightpaw stood in front of her new mentor, she realize how big he was. He had powerful shoulders, a gaze that betrayed no emotion and a long tail that rippled impatiently.
"Are you ready to start our first lesson?" he asked, his deep voice making Brightpaw shiver unintentionally.
"Yes, Darkmoon." Brightpaw replied.
"Then follow me. If you can." Darkmoon's eyes glittered with mystery as he suddenly turned into a blur of darkness. The blur raced out of the camp entrance, making the leaves at the entrance rustle as if a powerful wind has swept through and not a cat.
Brightpaw raced after him, finding it hard to catch up. She had spent most of her time around sick and injured cats, not playing at all. So she was a little out of shape. Regardless, she knew she wouldn't be able to catch up with her mentor with purely strength. she was strong enough or fast enough. Nor would she be able to find him just relying on sight. She thought quickly of her other senses she could use to track him.
Scent! she thought to herself I'll follow his scent!
She inhaled deeply, drinking in his scent easily. He was upwind of her. Whether or not he knew or cared, was another matter entirely. She was tiring quickly though. She'd either have to somehow gain a burst of energy so she could catch up or use some other method. She went with the second option and looked around at her surroundings. Up ahead, was a tree that had fallen over but was leaning on another one. If she could get into the trees, then perhaps she could land on his back and stop him.
She put on an extra burst of speed, regaining ground she'd lost while she was planning. She turned and ran up the tree, focusing on speed more than balance, which seemed to work more than doing it the opposite way around. Once she was in the tree, she found herself running right alongside Darkmoon, just higher up. she glanced up ahead, and saw that there was a break in the trees, too far for her to jump. Better now, than never.
she leaped, squarely on his shoulders. Fortunately, it wasn't much of a height, so she felt fine as he stumbled and fell.
She immediately got off of him when he began to get up. She backed away as he began to walk towards her, slowly, as he panted.
"I'm sorry, I just-" Brightpaw began to apologize but was cut off once again by Darkmoon.
"How...how did you do that?" He panted.
"What do you mean?" she asked, clearly confused.
"That...You...jumped on my back and brought me down. How?"
Brightpaw begin to explain her plan to Darkmoon. He sat down half way through and gradually, his breathing slowed.
Once Brightpaw stopped, he rose to his paws. "That was amazing. You not only thought it through while running, but you actually preformed your idea! Not many warriors would be able to do what you've done today. You've impressed me, Brightpaw."
Brightpaw looked at her paw, embarrassed. "All I did was plan out a strategy while running…."
"Exactly. Not many cats can keep up with me. You're not excluded. But unlike every cat, you actually thought of another way, instead of using brute force."
Brightpaw looked at him blankly.
Darkmoon rolled his eyes and padded over to her, brushing his pelt against hers. "You'll understand some day. Now let's get back to the camp. It's sunset, and the clan will be wondering where we are.
…
Once they got back, Darkmoon instructed Brightpaw to take a piece of fresh-kill and go to the apprentice den. She did as he told her to, and went over to the apprentice den, and looked around for some cats she knew.
Owlpaw noticed her and waved her tail. "Hey, hey Brightpaw! Over here!"
Brightpaw carried her vole over to Owlpaw and her friends. She sat down next to the fluffy dark gray apprentice and began to eat her prey.
"Hey guys, remember that kit that my badger of a brother brought in? Well this is her! My pal, Brightpaw."
A silvery she-cat waved her tail at her shyly. "Hi, I'm Silverpaw."
"I'm Nettlepaw." a brown tom with black markings said.
"The names Lakepaw." said a blue tom.
"I'm Starkpaw." a white she-cat said.
"And you already know my name." said Owlpaw teasingly. "Or at least, you should!"
Brightpaw swallowed her mouthful of her squirrel and smiled. "Owlpaw told me I was known here."
"Just because you're known and gossiped about, doesn't mean you're welcomed." a deep voice growled behind her. The other apprentice's eyes narrowed and Nettlepaw unsheathed his claws. Brightpaw turned to be facing a big apprentice. He had a nick in his left ear and a brown tiger striped pelt. His eyes, were an icy blue.
"What do you want, Hawkpaw?" Nettlepaw growled.
Hawkpaw glared at Nettlepaw. "Nothing, brother of mine. I simply am trying to put this rogue in her proper place." Hawkpaw walked off to rejoin his friends.
"Just because he and I share the same parents." Nettlepaw muttered, sheathing his claws again. "Does not mean I claim him as my brother."
"You two are related?" Brightpaw asked.
"Blood-related? Yes. By choice? No." Nettlepaw replied.
"Are you going to finish that squirrel?" Lakepaw asked, eying the half eaten squirrel.
Brightpaw took one last bite then pushed it towards him.
"Thanks." the blue tom said with a mouthful.
Brightpaw nodded.
Owlpaw gave a wide yawn. "C'mon, you furballs. Let's get to sleep already. Pineclaw told me I was going to have an assessment in the morning." The dark gray apprentice got up and padded into the apprentice den. Silverpaw, Nettlepaw and Starkpaw rose to follow her. Lakepaw gulped down the rest of the squirrel and raced after them. He turned to meet Brightpaw's gaze.
"Are you coming or what?" he asked.
Brightpaw rose and trotted over to his side. The two cats went into the apprentice den.
In there, All of the apprentices were settling in a bed. Lakepaw went to his, which was next to Silverpaws. Next to Owlpaws nest, was an empty one.
"Brightpaw, you can have this nest, next to me!" Owlpaw called over.
Brightpaw went to her friend and sniffed at her new nest. It smelled faintly of Darkmoon.
"My brother slept here before. I hope you don't mind his scent." Owlpaw explained.
Brightpaw shook her head. "No, it's okay. He is my mentor, after all."
"It's so weird being friends with my brothers apprentice. I always imagined I'd be a warrior before you came here. Guess ol' Pineclaw thinks I'm not ready, eh?"
"Hey Owlpaw! Shut your muzzle. You're the one who said they needed sleep, and yet you're talking to that rouge!" Hawkpaw called out. His friends all laughed.
"Hey Hawkpaw! With your big mouth, we'll never be able to sleep, much less talk!" Starkpaw called back. Owlpaw and the others laughed. No one laughed on Hawkpaw's side.
Lakepaw rolled his eyes and whispered. "They're a bunch of mousebrains. Don't listen to them. Just go to sleep."
Brightpaw nodded gratefully and closed her eyes. Both Owlpaw's and Lakepaw's pelts pressed into hers, sharing their warmth. For once, Brightpaw did not dream. Her sleep was peaceful and quiet.