Darkpools stood in the middle of the Cave of Rushing Water. "Cats of the Tribe of Rushing Water, we are here to perform the Ceremony of Prey Hunters. Sun, Lion, please come to the center of the cave."
Sun's heart raced as he realized that this was his ceremony. He was moving up from a To-be to a true prey hunter. His best friend Lion stood beside him with a confident smile on his face.
"Sun That Breaks The Storm, Lion Who Hunts With Pride, you have been taught by the prey-hunters of the Tribe and your time has come to move from a To-be to a true prey hunter. Do you promise to hunt for the Tribe and bring back the caught-prey of the mountains? Do you promise to always be true to your Tribe-mates, and follow the rules of the Tribe of Endless Hunting?
"May the Tribe of Endless Hunting help me make it so," answered Lion strongly beside him.
Sun hesitated, but finally mewed, "May the Tribe of Endless Hunting help me make it so."
"Tribe of Rushing
Water, Tribe of Endless Hunting, upon these two To-be's as I,
Darkness of the Half Full Pools, with the approval of the Tribe of
Endless Hunting, acknowledge them as full prey-hunters!"
As
tradition promised, silence fell over the Tribe of Rushing Water and
even the waterfall seemed to get louder. Sun's mind whirled as he
fell into his vigil of listening to the sounds of the waterfall until
Darkpools gave the sign. A slight feeling of dread filled Sun
straight through his blood to realize he was now just a prey hunter.
Sun woke to realize the Tribe was being summoned to the middle of the cave. Like most of the Tribe, he knew this was bad news. It had been over three seasons since the ceremony of prey hunters for him and Lion and he still felt as if he didn't belong. It's not that he wanted to be a Cave Guard, it's that he wanted to be more helpful at a time when he felt useless.
"Lion!" he hissed to his friend, "Lion, you hawk-head, wake up."
"We don't have to hunt until the sun is over the highest peak, Sun. Let me sleep until then."
Sun rolled his bright yellow eyes, "Darkpools is calling us. Come and hear the bad news, then you can go back to sleep." Lion gave a slight purr of amusement then shook his golden pelt.
"Show some respect Sun," came a she-cat's voice from behind them. Sun turned around to face his mother, Sky Where Hawks Fly, "Darkpools said the Tribe of Endless Hunting approves him, we must respect that."
"Sorry Sky," Lion and Sun mewed together.
"I have news for you Sun," she continued, a broad smile playing across her face, "Darkpools said I'm to have kits again. Isn't that wonderful news, I'll be moving in with the kit-mothers tonight."
Sun smiled, Sky was the only kin he had in the Clan, since kits never know who their fathers are, and now he was going to have half-siblings. "This is great, Sky. I'm so happy for you and Tumble and Flower will welcome you greatly, yes?"
"Yes," Lion padded forward to touch Sky on the nose, "Congratulations, Sky."
"Thank you Lion, I know you understand the importance of kin. Speaking of which, I believe Thunder was looking for you, Feather too. You should go find them. Hurry now you two, Darkpools won't wait forever."
Once she was out of ear shot Sun smiled, "I wish he would start without us."
"Come on," mewed Lion, flicking Sun over the ear, "I'd like to go find Thunder." The two friends walked out of the Sleeping Cave of Prey Hunters together. They spotted the two she-cats right away. Thunder was small for a to-be but not as shy as she looked. She was Lion's half-sister and really looked up to her 'older brother.' Feather was a young Prey Hunter who Lion had found special since the first time he saw her.
"Greetings, Thunder, Feather," Sun greeted them, touching each on the nose as Lion licked between their ears affectionately.
Another she-cat to-be walked over to greet them. "Hello," Shadow mewed shyly. She was also a To-be and was close to her sister, Emerald. Sun smiled back at the smoky pelted she-cat.
"Attention cats of the Tribe of Rushing Water!" Darkpools called from just in front of the waterfall, "It has been two moons since the last mission was sent to find the land promised to us by the Tribe of Endless Hunting. This land will allow the Tribe to thrive more then ever before. Now, I will send the following Cave Guards: Ivy Grown Up Cave Walls, Cloud Show By Silver Drops, you will go to find this promised land and the Tribe of Endless Hunting will show you the way.
Sun saw Flower's eyes mist over as Cloud's name was said and Cloud ran to her and began licking her ears and whispering to her quietly. Most of the Tribe guessed that they were mates though no cat knew for sure. He took his place next to Ivy and the two cats bowed their heads and promised to find this land or never return.
"Grass That Sways In Wind, you shall be the Prey Hunter to accompany them. The Tribe of Endless Hunting is with you. You have until the sun goes behind the mountain to leave."
Sun's tail slashed to the ground and flicked Lion's paws. They silently padded out of the Cave and began to climb the mountain. Sun knew that they were supposed to bring a Cave Guard with them but they only did half the time and Lion never asked.
They kept climbing until they reached a flat peak that couldn't be seen from the Mouth of the Cave. They called it The Peak of Hidden Silence because they were never seen or heard.
"Can you believe this!" Hissed Sun, "Another mission! This must be about the fifth that I can remember. I swear the Tribe is half the size that it used to be." He let out another low hiss, "At least Sky can't be sent away now that she's a kit-mother, and Flower's kits will be to-be's in about a moon."
"Are they already three moons old?" Lion asked with a shrug of his shoulders, "Listen Sun, you know there's nothing we can do about this. Darkpools is sure to notice this soon and stop the missions. If the Tribe of Endless Hunting didn't approve, they would do something." Lion gave him a sad smile, "But I don't know what I'd do if you or Thunder or Feather got sent out."
"I wouldn't go, and Thunder's only a To-be. You're right, there's nothing we can do," a funny thought passed through Sun's head, "How many times have we had the conversation?"
"About five times." They both gave a short mrrow of amusement. "It is too bad Cloud won't see his kits grow up."
The two toms caught a hawk and a rabbit before heading back to the cave and avoiding any cats that may ask questions about leaving without a Cave Guard. Lion went off to share his caught-prey with Feather and Sun looked around quickly. Emerald was sharing with Shadow, and Ember was sharing with Thunder. Tumble was sharing with Flower and whispering calming words to her. He shook himself and walked over to where a Cave Guard, Wing That Lets Raven Fly, boasted about the eagle that he killed before it could hurt any cat.
"Listening in on Cave Guard conversations again, are we?" A deep voice mewed.
"Greetings Rip," he mewed to the eldest Prey Hunter, Ripped Fur After Battle. To-be's are taught by all the prey hunters or cave guards of the Tribe, but Rip had taught Sun more then any other cat. It was a connection he always valued.
"Sun, I know you think differently but things have been the same for hundreds of seasons, you cannot change that now."
"Says who," grumbled Sun, then dipped his head, "I'm sorry, I know what you say is true but you cannot stop me from thinking. Would you like to share with me?"
"Of course Sun, I'll share with you. Is Lion padding after Feather again?" there was a sparkle in his amber eyes. "Or is he sharing with Thunder…the older protective brother he may be."
"Of course," Sun smiled at the elder prey hunter. "And who knows, maybe things will change one day."
Brightfang: Ok, so Flamestreak and I would like to thank Fang of Snarling Wolf for being our first reviewer. Oh, and Flamestreak should be getting an account some time next week, then she'll hopefully write her own stories.
Anyway, please review, encouragement makes me update quicker! XD
