Stormfur stretched his front paws out and arched his back as he basked in the early sun. It was a beautiful Greenleaf morning and he was looking forward to going fishing in the river. Even this early it was warm, and down by the river it would be cool and stay cool even later in the day.
Stormfur tried not to flinch when Hawkfrost padded past him, the tabby's broad shoulders and dark fur reminded him of Tigerstar. Of standing under the bone pile as his mentor fought to protect him and his sister. But Hawkfrost was not a member of the Clan then. Unlike most of the cats in the den behind them, who had left him to Tigerstar's mercy with not a word of complaint. And Stormfur considered him one of the most loyal warriors. Not a close friend but a cat he trusted at his side.
Hawkfrost's cold blue eyes landed on him, almost like he knew Stormfur's thoughts, "good morning Stormfur."
"Good morning," he murmured back, dipping his head to lick his chest fur, "how'd you sleep? The rain didn't wake you?" He'd heard it on the roof of the den in the middle of the night, but now the only sign was the cloudy skies and the smell in the air.
"No, I slept well, though I miss sleeping next to Mothwing," Hawkfrost's sister was sitting by the medicine cat den, Stormfur wished he was talking to her instead, "you're lucky you still have your sister with you."
The way Hawkfrost had worded that made the fur on Stormfur's back stand up, that was rather ominous.
"It's not like Mothwing's leaving, she's just following a different path," he meowed, forcing his pelt to lay flat, "she's still here Hawkfrost."
Not like his father who'd left to go back the ThunderClan. It was hardly a surprise, looking back on it, Graystripe had always loved ThunderClan and Firestar. And he and Feathertail were proud to call him their father.
Hawkfrost was speaking again, "well, excuse me Stormfur, Leopardstar wanted me for a patrol." He slipped away, Stormfur felt a deep feeling of relief as he disappeared.
"Making friends with Hawkfrost?" He turned his head to find Mistyfoot approaching him. He twitched his ears and shrugged.
"More making conversation," he dipped his head to the deputy, "do you need something?"
She nodded, "yes, I know it's still damp Stormfur, but the river should be fuller now, can you and Feathertail go fishing?"
"Of course," Stormfur agreed eagerly, hoping his exhaustion from sneaking out to meet the other cats at Four Trees wasn't showing.
Mistyfoot purred her thanks, "I knew I could count on you." She stretched out her back, "I have to go rouse another hunting patrol, but I'll send Feathertail to you."
Stormfur dipped his head, curling his tail around his paws as he waited for his sister.
Once she joined him they headed out of camp side by side, heading for a spot on the river where they loved to fish.
They settled in among the reeds, making sure not to cast shadows on the water, Stormfur's eyes were focused on the river below him, searching for fish. The familiar sight of the water rushing over rocks, the sound of it gurgling, it all lulled him into a state of relaxation, especially after the long night last night.
Stormfur wondered at his sister's easy acceptance of the other prophecy cats. Sure, he wasn't one of them so he didn't really have room to judge but… Well he knew Brambleclaw, when they'd spent the moon in ThunderClan during Tigerstar's reign he'd been an apprentice too, but they'd hardly spoken more than a few words. Stonefur's death had weighed heavily on him, and Brambleclaw looked too much like his father. But he hadn't been a bad denmate.
Tawnypelt had already left for ShadowClan by that point, so Stormfur knew her only from Gatherings, but she seemed to have a quick wit and sharp tongue. Not very similar as far as siblings went, but a good pair of warriors.
It was Crowpaw that was giving Stormfur the most trouble, the hostile apprentice had left a bad taste in his mouth. Honestly Stormfur thought they might've been better off without him, let Squirrelpaw take his place.
He didn't know Firestar's daughter all that well either, but he'd talked to her sister at the last gathering, and Leafpaw seemed quiet, but smart. Her sister was much more noisy, but well… if he had to choose between the apprentices he'd probably say her. She'd been trouble, but compared to Crowpaw-
Water splashed him in the face, he jerked his head back to look at his sister in confusion, "what?"
"You missed a fish," she twitched her whiskers, "it almost jumped onto the bank for you that's how easy it was and you just stared at it."
Stormfur huffed and gently shoved his sister, "sorry. Lost in thought." He pressed his muzzle against her for a moment.
"We'll need to figure out a way to talk to Crowpaw later," Feathertail waved her silky tail behind her, thinking out loud, clearly they'd been thinking about the same thing, "we can't just walk up to him."
He may not like the apprentice, but for his sister's sake he'd help, "it shouldn't be too hard, most of the Clan is still impressed with how I handled those rats." He gave his chest a self-conscious lick, "I can probably get myself on a patrol near that part of the river, and Crowpaw will probably think to talk to me. Hopefully."
Feathertail still looked worried so he gave her a gentle lick, "I'll get the message to him, don't worry." An even better idea occurred to him, "or, when WindClan comes down to drink tonight, the two of us can speak to him then."
Feathertail looked relieved at the idea and nodded, rubbing her head against his shoulder, "thank you."
Then she lightly batted at his muzzle, "now, we need to catch fish, you've already missed one."
Stormfur settled back down into his fishing crouch, this time the fish wouldn't get away.
/
Mistyfoot greeted them when they returned, looking impressed with how much they'd caught.
"Well done you two," she looked over the fish with pride, "the elders will be pleased."
"Have the queens been fed?" he asked, lifting his head from the prey pile, warmth flooding his chest at the deputy's praise. They didn't have any apprentices at the moment, so the warriors were making sure the queens and elders were fed.
"Yes," Mistyfoot meowed, Reedkit popped up behind her, the black kit's eyes trained on the fish before him.
"I could eat another fish," the kit meowed, eyeing one of them hungrily.
"You just ate," Mistyfoot let out a soft purr, licking her son on the head.
"But I need to get big and strong, so Leopardstar will make me an apprentice!" he turned his eyes to Feathertail and Stormfur, "right?"
Stormfur and his sister laughed a little, Stormfur nuzzled against Reedkit, "I think you're strong enough as it is. If you bring the elders a fish though, Leopardstar might see you and think you're ready to be an apprentice."
Reedkit perked up, and grabbed a fish, "thanks Stormfur," he mumbled through the fish.
Feathertail purred, "you already look like an apprentice."
Reedkit lifted his head higher, and trotted towards the elder's den.
Stormfur felt a warm rush of affection for the black kit. Following Tigerstar's reign, Mistyfoot and Blackclaw had tried to salvage their relationship, and failed. However, Reedkit was adorable, and Stormfur and Feathertail spent a lot of free time playing with the young tom.
"He wants one of you as his mentor," Mistyfoot admitted softly, "he changes his answer every time he tries to pick."
"We'd love to mentor him," Feathertail replied, Stormfur nodded. He'd wanted to be a mentor for so long. He wanted to pass down what Stonefur had taught him. He wanted to help raise warriors for the Clan, ones that would never make the mistakes that led to Tigerstar's reign over RiverClan.
And Reedkit was a wonderful cat, and Stormfur wanted to help teach him.
Mistyfoot touched her nose to Feathertail's forehead, then Stormfur's, "he'd be lucky to have either of you as his mentor."
Stormfur purred in thanks, he'd love to mentor Reedkit if he could. If Leopardstar would pick him.
"Not to change the subject, but I meant to say this, Feathertail could you lead a border patrol for me?" Mistyfoot asked, "I'd like to check that ShadowClan isn't also causing problems."
Feathertail nodded, "I can do that," she agreed, tilting her head, "I'll probably take Hawkfrost and Swallowtail."
"Hawkfrost?" Stormfur repeated, turning to his sister.
She nodded, "if there's trouble he's strong and a good fighter." Her eyes gleamed, "though Swallowtail and I could probably take most of them."
Stormfur shoved his sister, "Well leave some ShadowClan for the rest of us." They shared a look, neither were sure what to do if they had to fight one of the other prophecy cats.
"Take Heavystep as well," Mistyfoot suggested, "the four of you are a strong patrol."
"Patrol?" Stormfur and Feathertail turned their heads, Leopardstar had come over, "is something going on?"
"I was just planning tomorrow's dawn patrol," Mistyfoot replied, dipping her head to Leopardstar before adding, "Stormfur you can sleep in tomorrow, but I'll want you on a hunting patrol."
"Sure," he nodded, "who's leading it?"
"Blackclaw."
Stormfur nodded, he was slowly getting the impression that Leopardstar wanted them to leave.
"I'll take more prey to the elders, I know Reedkit took them a fish but one piece of prey isn't enough for all of them," Feathertail touched her tail to Stormfur's shoulders.
"And I'll go with you," they dipped their heads to the leader, Feathertail grabbed a fish on their way over to the Elder's den. Loudbelly and Shadepelt were curled up, Reedkit was listening to them with his ears pricked and eyes wide, it sounded like a story about Sunning Rocks and some battle. They dropped the fish off, Loudbelly nodded in thanks while Shadepelt continued her story for Reedkit.
Stormfur would've said something, but more rain arrived, sending him and Feathertail scampering for the warriors den to take shelter.
/
Around dusk Feathertail and Stormfur emerged from the den, Stormfur eyed the sky, with all this rain, the river would be heavy and flooded. Stormfur was briefly worried WindClan wouldn't even be at the river to drink, but one look at his sister told him they had to try anyway.
As they were padding along the river, a clump of bracken rustled, and Stormfur was surprised to see Brambleclaw jump out. The powerful ThunderClan warrior looked more like a drowned squirrel than his usual imposing figure.
"Hi," he greeted them with a friendly flick of his whiskers, sending several water drops flying, and despite the Greenleaf heat he was shivering.
"Great StarClan!" Stormfur looked him over, "have you been for a swim?"
Brambleclaw twitched one ear, "I fell off the stepping stones. Feathertail, can I have a word with you?"
"Of course," Stormfur's sister stepped forward, "are you sure you're alright?"
"I'm fine," Brambleclaw brushed off her concern, "have you had another dream?"
"No. Why have you?" Stormfur's eyes widened at the thought of another dream. After nothing had happened at Fourtrees he'd been almost convinced that somehow they'd all made it up.
Brambleclaw guided them to a soft patch of grass, where he explained his dream, of water that tasted of salt, and a cave with teeth like rocks. His fur bristled with fear, and his eyes grew wide as he talked about the waves. Stormfur could understand, that sounded frightening even to a cat used to swimming.
"I spoke to Ravenpaw this morning—you know, the loner who lives near Highstones? He says the sun-drown place is real. And he told me that StarClan's prophecies are always vague. We need the faith and courage of warriors to understand them, and to trust that what StarClan wants us to do is right." Brambleclaw finished his story, after a heartbeat, Stormfur prompted him.
"Which is what?"
"I . . . I think we should go to the sun-drown place," Brambleclaw looked between the two of them, "that's where StarClan will tell us what we need to know."
Feathertail hadn't spoken since Brambleclaw started his tale, but now she nodded, "I think you're right."
"What?" Stormfur was on his paws before he knew what had happened, "Are you mad? You don't even know where this place is."
Feathertail's trail flicked against him, "No, but StarClan will guide us." He wished he had his sister's certainty, pacing along the bank as he thought.
"Faith and courage—we'd certainly need those if we went to this place," he mumbled, loud enough for the other two to hear, "I'm still not convinced that you're right, mind you," he turned to Brambleclaw, a reassuring idea occurring to him, and he added, "but if you're not, maybe StarClan will send another sign to turn us back."
Feathertail looked relieved at his assessment, "Does that mean you'll come with us?"
"Try to stop me," he replied, before turning to stand face to face with Brambleclaw, who was becoming the unofficial leader of the group, "I know I've not had any dreams, but an extra warrior could be useful."
"You're right." Stormfur felt a wave of relief that Brambleclaw hadn't tried to argue with him about it, "thanks, both of you."
"So when do we leave?" Stormfur asked, mentally running through everything going on in RiverClan and how easy it would be to sneak away.
"I thought the day before half-moon," Brambleclaw answered hesitantly, "that should give us enough time to talk to the others."
Stormfur nodded, that made a lot of sense, soon enough to not waste time, but with enough time that they could safely contact the other two.
Brambleclaw went down to the river, staring at the water, as the breeze tugged on Stormfur's whisker he saw a shiver pass through Brambleclaw, "I know Tawnypelt will come if I ask her," Stormfur nodded, of course she'd come with her brother, "but what about Crowpaw? He'd rather eat fox dung than go on a journey with us. But if all the cats StarClan have chosen don't go together, we might fail the prophecy."
"Crowpaw will understand," Feathertail tried to sound confident, Stormfur held back a derisive scoff, instead he tried to be helpful.
"We'll help you persuade him," Stormfur added, he glanced over at the sky, "he comes to the river to drink every day about sunset. It's too late now, so why don't we meet there tomorrow and talk to him together?"
"Okay," Brambleclaw looked grateful for a moment, before his shoulders dropped, "provided he comes, after this rain. WindClan should have water of their own now, remember."
"If he doesn't come," Feathertail lifted her head, her eyes filled with conviction, "we'll just have to think of something else."
"You should head on back," Stormfur nodded, to the forest, "before someone catches you or your Clanmates start wondering where you are."
Stormfur blinked in surprise when Brambleclaw touched noses with him, and then Feathertail, "I'll meet you at the stepping stones tomorrow then," he flicked his tail at them, and headed off.
"Don't fall in! I won't rescue you!" Stormfur called after him, Brambleclaw laughed as he padded along the shore, Stormfur let out a soft laugh as well, turning to his sister, heading back to camp by her side.
And we check in with RiverClan, quite different than WindClan. Also sorry for the delayed update, things were hectic but I'll update on Wednesday as usual.