js, i'm going to be trying to do at least 2,000-ish words per chapter, as that seems to be my pattern with this story so far :P
but here's another chapter for you guys! i'm a bit sad i didn't get any reviews on the last chapter tho ;w; please, if you have any thoughts on this chapter at all, leave a review! i'll keep writing regardless, but could i get at least one or two before the next chapter? not to pressure anyone, or anything ;;
Warriors?
Any other thought that Apple had at that moment was immediately drowned out by the confused, but curious buzz of chatter following his words. Every cat's eyes sparkled with newfound interest, and Stormeyes fell silent for a few moments, as if encouraging his audience to absorb what he had told them so far. Even Hawk, who was usually more stoic and quiet than a rock, murmured to Whitney loud enough to Apple to pick up on it. "I want to know about this 'SkyClan' he says he's from." He grumbled. "Can't say I've ever heard of it."
"I can already hear the myriad of questions you have for me." Stormeyes caught everyone's attention once more with a flick of his tail. "Who am I? Where is SkyClan? Rather, what is SkyClan? What is a warrior? You desire answers, and I have them for you – all of you."
He stood from his sitting position with an air of authority, and Apple found that she couldn't look away. None of the cats around her seemed to be able to either. He had them hooked. He knows the influence he has over other cats. Apple frowned, slightly unnerved by his presence.
"First, I will begin by telling you of the great SkyClan." He lifted his head, gazing down at his audience, seemingly pleased at the reaction he was already garnering. "We are brave, honorable warriors, bound together by our belief in our StarClan ancestors and our loyalty to the warrior code."
For a moment, his eyes grew dark. "Once, our Clan was lost to time. Nothing but a legend, a myth, a rumor. But then, a savior came to us in the form of Firestar, one of greatest leaders in Clan history." He swept his gaze across the crowd. "He found SkyClan's descendants, scattered through the forest and the Twolegplace, who lived without ever knowing of their deep and noble history. He showed us the ways of the warrior code, and with his guidance, SkyClan once again gained the ability to contact StarClan. However…"
He paused, giving his enraptured crowd a moment of suspense. "I believe that Firestar didn't not find every SkyClan descendant." Apple's heart skipped a beat at the implication behind his words. "And that is the true purpose of my mission; I believe that you – all of you – could potentially have a greater destiny than any of you could have ever imagined."
The crowd turned into a chaos of shocked and amazed gasps and exclamations, eyes shining and full of wonder as cats turned to look at one another. Apple and Raven shared a wide-eyed glance, and at Apple's paws, her three kits tumbled and clamored over one another with loud squeals of excitement. "Mama, Mama! What if we're warriors too?" Embers rapidly batted her paws against her mother's foreleg, tail lashing. "We could be special!"
"But…" Apple tilted her ears, interested, but still too full of questions to join in the energetic chatter. "We still don't know what a warrior even is. And what is he talking about when he mentions 'StarClan', or the warrior code?"
"It is true, I have not yet told you all the information that you need." Apple jerked her head back up, realizing that Stormeyes had overheard her above the cacophony of the other cats. Quickly, they fell silent in their desire to hear more. "Without the warrior code, there could be no StarClan, and without StarClan, the warrior code would have never come to be. By living according to the warrior code, everyone born to the Clan has a purpose. Leaders run the Clan beside their deputy, who makes sure that the warriors hunt and fight to ensure the Clan's survival. No cat ever goes hungry, especially those who cannot hunt for themselves, like nursing queens, kits, or the Clan's elders. And when you're too old to fight or hunt, you are assured a place in the elders' den, where you are allowed to rest and live out the rest of your days in peace for the service you have given your clanmates."
Stormeyes shifted his gaze to the sky. "And when you're sick, or injured? Instead of only being able to hope that you recover, in a Clan, you have a medicine cat who will care for you and give you the treatment you need until you are fit to return to your duties." Apple had to admit he had a point; she could easily recall the time that Bat fell ill due to a rotten mouse, and she had spent many sleepless nights watching over him, terrified, with no idea how to make him better.
"W…" To Apple's surprise, Tulip had spoken up beside her, mew turning to a squeak as many of the gathered cats turned their attention on her. "What about… StarClan?"
Stormeyes gave the timid pale gray she-cat a smile that seemed to ease her nervousness, if only slightly. "StarClan," he whisked his tail, gesturing toward the faintest of stars forming across the now pale orange sky, "is where a warrior goes once they meet their fate. It doesn't matter how old you are, or what your duty to the Clan is. As long as you live by the warrior code, you are promised a place in StarClan after you die, to watch over your loved ones and guide them through times of trouble. The medicine cat does not only heal, but is also given the ability to speak to StarClan, a duty shared by both them and the leader of the Clan."
An… afterlife? That exists? Tulip looked stricken, as if she had just had a revelation of some kind, but Hawk let out a huff of laughter. "So, you're telling us that the stars are actually all the spirits of cats from the past?" He sounded unconvinced. "You sure you aren't just eating too much catmint or something?"
A few purrs of laughter told Apple that some cats agreed with him, but she hesitated. How could they say it didn't exist, seeing this was the first time they had heard about it at all? A vague memory surfaced in her mind, of a time she had stargazed with her mother, asking her what the stars were and why there were so many of them. Her mother just smiled then, touching her muzzle to the top of her daughter's head. "One day, you will know exactly what they are."
Was this what she had meant?
"I know that some of the concepts I am placing before you may seem too outlandish to some." Stormeyes acknowledged with a stiff nod. "But I assure you, this mission is more important to me than anything I've ever done. I am loyal to the warrior code through and through, and have nothing to gain from lying to you."
"I wanna be part of a Clan!" Embers eyes sparkled, and she stepped forward bravely past her siblings to stand even a little bit close to Stormeyes' rocky perch. "I wanna be a warrior and fight and hunt, like you!"
Amused murmurs rippled through the crowd, Apple dipping her head to Stormeyes in a silent apology for her daughter's interruption. The silver-gray tom, however, nodded approvingly at her. "I already know that your kit would make a fine warrior – all of you would, with the same amount of conviction and willingness to learn." He paused, leaping down from the top of the boulder until he was standing on level ground with everyone else. "I will not force you all to learn the Clan lifestyle. It is a choice for you and you to make alone. With that said… who wants to continue learning more about being part of a Clan, and the warrior code?"
Some stepped forward to stand by Stormeyes without a second thought, while others took a moment to discuss the proposition with their friends and family. A few simply left, slipping back into the forest to go back to their lives. Apple quickly wrapped a paw around her kits to keep them from surging forward to join the SkyClan warrior, much to their dismay and frustration, but Apple ignored their frustrated whines to cast a concerned look at her mate. "What do you think we should do, Raven?"
She wanted to hear his opinion, of course, but Apple knew with certainty deep in her heart that she had to know more. It wasn't that she had been so easily pulled along by his words, not like many of the other cats who now crowded around him with their eager questions. No, something else inside of her, some part of her she didn't even know existed until now, burned with desire to be… more. The endless cycle of life on the hills, as much as she hated to admit it, had grown stale. In a way, she didn't want anything to change – life was easy as it was, and her kits were able to play without worrying about danger lurking around every corner. She loved being a caring mate and mother, but… it was like there was some greater mission she had yet to fulfill.
Raven had a knowing look on his face, and Apple bit her lip. She should have known he'd be able to see how she really felt. "Seems the kits aren't the only ones interested in joining up with Stormeyes, hm?" Apple felt her ears grow hot, and Hawk gave her an incredulous glance with wide golden eyes.
"Apple, you're seriously considering this?" He narrowed his eyes, but Whitney sitting beside him kept casting looks over at Stormeyes' group like she couldn't decide what to do either.
"It's not like everything he said doesn't make sense, brother." Raven moved to stand beside his mate, and Apple touched her muzzle to his shoulder appreciatively. "Living in a group would have its benefits. None of us would have to worry if we fell ill, and leafbare would be infinitely easier to deal with when it comes to hunting and knowing you'll always have a safe place to sleep."
"Exactly." Apple nodded her agreement, willing Hawk to understand where they were coming from. "And… what if what he's said is true? That we have Clan ancestry already? That has to mean something! I have to know what potential that gives us."
Tulip pawed at the grass. "D-do you think… that housecats could have Clan blood as well?" She was looking at Stormeyes, tilting her ears back.
"Of course, Tulip!" Apple reassured her friend, wrapping her tail over her shoulders. "He said that SkyClan was scattered across the Twolegplace as well as the forest. You have just as much of a chance as any of us."
The pale gray she-cat smiled at Apple, pulling away and slowly padding over to join the SkyClan warrior. Hawk let out a deep sigh. "…I still don't know about this StarClan business. But I guess I'll stick around to see what he has to teach us."
Whisking around, he stalked toward Stormeyes' group, Whitney soon following after him. Breaking free from her grasp, Bat gave his parents a pleading look from wide green eyes. "Mama, Daddy? Does this mean we're going to become warriors too?" Heron and Embers tumbled to his side, following his lead and staring up at Apple and Raven.
The ginger tabby shared one last glance with her mate, and he purred. "Yes, kits. We're going to follow Stormeyes to learn all he is here to share with us."
The resounding squeal of joy was almost ear-piercing, the three siblings tripping over themselves in their eagerness to gather around the silver-gray SkyClan warrior. Purring with laughter, Raven stood to follow them, but paused when he noticed that Apple hadn't moved. "Apple?" He frowned. "Is there something wrong?"
Apple shifted her weight on her paws, not responding right away. She wasn't really sure how she could describe how she felt without just sounding like she was worrying over nothing, but… How much could they really trust him after just one speech? She was torn. He told them this was his greatest mission, but also said nothing of whether he had been sent by his leader or not. Perhaps it was just something we were supposed to assume? Regardless, Raven was still waiting for her to say something, so she shook herself. "No, nothing's wrong." A prickle of guilt ran through her fur, but her mate seemed to be so eager… she didn't want to bring down his mood. "Just… This is so overwhelming. Do you think he's planning to take us back to his Clan after he's done teaching us everything?"
"Perhaps, although part of me doesn't think so." Raven flicked his ear in reply. "For now, we'll listen to him and see where he's going with this. But if we think anything could potentially be dangerous to us or the kits, we'll leave. Does that sound good to you?"
Reassured by his words, Apple smiled, padding up to him and touching noses with him. Sometimes, she didn't know what she would do without her mate's gentle support always by her side. Before she had met him, she'd still been travelling all by herself, grieving for her lost family and barely scrapping by during the long leafbare ahead of her. It didn't take long for them to fall in love; Raven gave her the love and assurance she needed to mend the hole in her heart, and her thoughtful strength of mind and spirit pulled them through more than one rough spot. Regardless of what happens, we have each other. Nothing bad will happen as long as that is true.
"That sounds perfect." Twining tails with him for a moment, Apple pulled away, glancing back at the group of cats gathered around Stormeyes. "Let's see what else he has to tell us."
