It wasn't until a few moons later that Rainpaw was out and about, though still he wasn't allowed to train or hunt. Amberpaw was at his side whenever he could and Cloudpaw found him an annoying presence. He wished the tabby would just stay away… But that was wishful thinking… Putting Amberpaw out of his mind, Cloudpaw settled down with a mouse in the camp, listening to the gossip floating around at sunhigh.
Silentpaw was sitting with Sparrowstripe, "Kits! That's wonderful news, Sparrowstripe!" Winterstorm and Birdsong looked up from their spots in the clearing. The two toms then turned their heads sharply to glare at each other. Silentpaw looked around Sparrowstripe to see the two toms bristling and hissing softly at each other. "If you…don't mind me asking… who's their father?"
Sparrowstripe looked around the clearing, not missing the straining ears of many cats. Finally she leaned down and whispered something into his ear. When she was done she sat upright again, "I know you can keep a secret, Silentpaw." He nodded vigorously. "There's a good boy, now run along." Silentpaw stood, dipped his head then went on his way.
Cloudpaw looked around for Rainpaw, suddenly feeling hollow inside. He spotted the grey tabby curled up in a patch of warm sunshine. Cloudpaw sprang to his paws and bounded over to his brother, prodding him awake. "What do you want?" Rainpaw looked up.
"Rainpaw….do you know who our parents are?" Cloudpaw asked.
Rainpaw lifted his head and flicked the ear that had been nicked by Embertail, "That's a strange question to ask. And out of nowhere too!"
"No I'm serious!" The black and white apprentice mewed, sounding a bit distressed.
"If it makes you happy," Rainpaw rested his chin on his paws again, "I don't know."
"How is that supposed to make me feel better?" Cloudpaw hissed a bit irritated.
"It wasn't supposed to make you feel better; it was supposed to answer the question you presented."
Cloudpaw sighed, "Then who do you think our parents are?"
"This isn't a good time for questions, I'm tired," Rainpaw muttered, closing his eyes.
"Well I think Silverheart might be our father," Cloudpaw stated, "And maybe our mother just…isn't around anymore." Rainpaw said nothing but flicked his tail tip. Scanning the clearing, Cloudpaw spotted the long furred silver warrior sharing prey with Adderstar and some other senior warriors. He trotted over boldly as the group dispersed to continue on with the day. "Silverheart," he called out to the tom.
"Oh, hello there, Cloudpaw," he greeted warmly, giving a soft purr as he touched noses with the apprentice.
"I was wondering something," Cloudpaw started, going on when he got a nod from Silverheart, "Are you Rainpaw, Silentpaw and I's father?"
Silverheart seemed stunned by the question, momentarily. Slowly he shook his head, "I'm afraid not, Cloudpaw. I'm sorry."
Cloudpaw's ears flattened and he looked away, "Oh… thanks… I'm sorry I bothered you with such a stupid question."
Silverheart felt a pang of sympathy for the young cat and draped a silky tail over Cloudpaw's shoulders, "If it makes you feel any better, I can act as a father figure for you and your brothers." The apprentice perked at that and pressed into the long fur of the senior warrior.
"Thanks, Silverheart," Cloudpaw purred before bounding away to annoy Rainpaw again.
"Come to my den, Silverheart," a voice startled the senior warrior. Silverheart turned to face Adderstar. The silver warrior blinked but followed after the clan leader into the tunnel, then entering a wide cave that was very dimly lit. "That was a big promise and commitment to make, Silverheart,"
"It's not like I've sworn my life to a mate," Silverheart replied, "The apprentices want a father. It could have gone worse; he could have asked who his real parents were."
"I could care less about Cloudpaw, he's so dense. I'm more worried about Rainpaw and Silentpaw," Adderstar growled, motioning with his tail for Silverheart to sit.
"Worried?" Silverheart repeated. "What is there to be worried about, no disrespect meant?"
"Rainpaw spent several moons in the medicine cat den; you know as well as I do the gossip almost always goes through there first. Rainpaw is clever; he always evaluates his choices before acting on a decision. Silentpaw says nothing but he hears everything. I can tell just by watching him he turns over everything he hears in his brain, calculating and putting pieces of a puzzle together. Cloudpaw knows how to throw his weight around; he'll be a strong, ambitious warrior when he's finished training. Those three make for a dangerous combination," Adderstar paced his den.
"I see nothing wrong with this situation. They are clever, intelligent, and strong when they are cooperating together," Silverheart replied.
"I am worried they may eventually figure out their past," Adderstar sighed but padded over to Silverheart, "I'm getting old, Silverheart, and so is Owlflight and Icewhisker. Icewhisker needs an apprentice soon, before we wake up one day without a medicine cat. Owlflight has told me he wishes to join the elders in a few moons."
Silverheart stared at his leader, "I don't understand why you're telling me this, Adderstar."
"You have an open heart and an open mind, Silverheart. I want to know who you think is a good replacement for Owlflight."
Silverheart sat there thinking for a while until he managed out a single name, "Winterstorm. He is a brave warrior with a great spirit and no cat doubts his loyalty to StoneClan. His ambition could be a good drive for young cats in future generations after us. Although promoting him to deputy would not do us much good; it would boost his already oversized ego."
The two cats purred in amusement at the thought but Adderstar broke off in a fit of coughing. He recollected himself quickly, "StarClan has given me a warning… A great trouble is coming to StoneClan and I can do nothing to stop it. I was told of stones splitting in half and clanmates spilling each other's blood. It is terrifying…to have the same dream over and over every time I close my eyes…but know nothing can be done about it."
"Have you told Icewhisker about it?" Silverheart inquired.
Adderstar shook his massive head slowly, "Icewhisker has lost faith in StarClan. He hasn't visited the Moon Crystal for several seasons."
The silver warrior flinched a bit, "What kind of clan are we, if our own medicine cat does not believe in StarClan?"
"A nearly broken one, according to StarClan…" Adderstar sighed before continuing, "Do you think Rainpaw would be interested in becoming the next medicine cat? He just seems so nervous during warrior training…"
"I've often heard him talking to Silentpaw about his training. Rainpaw says he would enjoy his training more if Mountainblaze weren't so harsh on him," Silverheart paused for a moment, "Though Mountainblaze is one of the gentlest cats I know."
Adderstar curled his tail thoughtfully, "He hasn't let his shoulder injury slow him down though. He'll continue to train under Mountainblaze. I'm sure Rainpaw will want to have a fair chance against Embertail if they ever meet in battle again. Now go. I am tired."
Silverheart rose to his paws and dipped his head respectfully before leaving and heading back outside. Robinwing bounded over to him, ginger and white pelt shining in the sunlight, "What did Adderstar need?"
Silverheart flicked an ear, wanting to get off the subject, "Just my thoughts on a few things. How's your training with Cloudpaw coming along?"
"He's such a bother!" Robinwing sighed unhappily, "He's a noisy hunter and he has clumsy paws in battle training. The only thing he's good at is eating and taking naps!"
A soft purr as the senior warrior recalled his first apprentice, "You just need to figure out the best way to communicate with him, that's all."
Robinwing shook his head, changing the topic, "What do you think of Sparrowstripe expecting kits?"
"Kits are always a wonderful part of clan life. But those she-cats know how to drive a tom crazy, I'll say that," Silverheart sighed quietly.
"I'll admit that I am quite surprised you don't have a single kit to call your own. You! Of all cats in the valley! No regards to gender or labels!" Robinwing exclaimed in a hushed voice.
"Oh trust me, that tom is a tramp," Goldenfire snorted as she dragged herself past them towards the fresh kill pile. "I remember when he was an apprentice! You always had to keep your eye on him or he'd be chasing after and flirting with some poor cat."
"Ah, well…" Silverheart gave his chest fur a few quick licks, "You can't blame a cat when he's lonely, no?"
The golden furred elder gave a disdainful sniff, "Applefur and Stormfrost are gone because of you."
The senior warrior bristled slightly, "Your kits left on their own. You still have Robinwing and Foxpelt."
"My first kit was taken from me! My poor kit, Hawktalon! His father was your mentor and he died saving you from a dog because you were too stupid to run away when he yelled at you! You put Foxpelt in danger too! Foxpelt and Hawktalon lost their father because of you!" Goldenfire snarled, bushing out her fur, "Applefur and Stormfrost were born to a different father and they left when they learned you killed their father! And Robinwing never knew his father; he has no memory of his father because you killed him before he opened his eyes!"
"Falling Feather was not worthy of being a father of any cat," Robinwing uttered softly.
Goldenfire turned to glare at her youngest son, her gaze softened and turned to sadness, "You would have liked him if you knew him."
"I know enough to safely say he is not a father I would be proud of," the ginger and white warrior spat. "He ran between clans and constantly mated with many she-cats. StarClan only knows how many kits he has."
"Enough!" Goldenfire hissed and swatted Robinwing with a hard paw, making the warrior stagger a bit. "You will not speak of your own father in that manner." She gave another snarl before turning tail and stalking over to the fresh kill pile.
Across the camp, Cloudpaw was concerned for his mentor when he noticed the ginger tail droop. His mentor's pride seemed wounded and despair hung over him like a dark cloud. The apprentice had a moment of realization; there was more to these cats than they showed, and some had a darker past than others.
AN:/ I'm only here for the making you aware of new kitties this time
Hawktalon - Ireland
Applefur - Wales
Stormfrost - North Ireland
Foxpelt - Scotland
Falling Feather - Random OC