Chapter Two
Days began passing quickly after the tour of Thunder Clan territory. Stormpaw and Runningpaw began their real training the day after. Stoneheart taught Stormpaw how to properly hunt different types or prey from birds and squirrels to mice and rabbits. Every few days Stoneheart would take Stormpaw into a sandy hollow and they would spar, Stoneheart sharing tips and fighting moves that he had learned from his mentor and simple life experience.
Runningpaw soon became a master rabbit hunter, his speed easily keeping up with fleeing rabbits. Stormpaw became good at hunting squirrels and tracking. As their skills developed, so did friendships.
Squirrelfur and Amberpaw were easy allies in ThunderClan. Other warriors began acknowledging them slowly and as their kittypet scent faded, they began trusting the young apprentices with hunting patrols and assignments. Some cats like Goldenpaw and Dapplecloud were still sour about kittypets being taken into ThunderClan but Stormpaw learned to ignore them.
One morning about a moon after Stormpaw and Runningpaw had ventured into the forest; Stormpaw was hunting near twoleg place.
He paused at a gully and drank in the cool morning air. Winter was coming or as the warriors called it bare-leaf. Prey would be scarce. Stormpaw drank in the air again searching for prey scents. Instead of finding a prey scent, Stormpaw camp to a cat scent. The fur on his neck began to rise and his claws flexed the ground. His mind raced with the fighting moves Stoneheart had taught him in the past moon.
Stormpaw pinpointed the scent and leapt across the gully. On soundless paws he bounded toward the scent. He leapt out of a bracken thicket and bowled over two shapes. It was two cats!
Stormpaw latched his claws into the fur of the biggest cat and threw his whole weight against her, forcing the cat down. A second cat yowled in fear and surprise and Stormpaw whipped around, leaping back from the cat and glaring at his enemies. Seeing the cats he froze.
One of them was pretty silver tabby with pale green eyes. The other was a young black and white tom. It was Silver and Patch!
Stormpaw stumbled back, his fur laying flat and his heart racing with fear. If anyone from ThunderClan saw him talking to them he would be punished and they would be attacked.
"Smoky?" Patch meowed, amber eyes wide in disbelief. "Is that you?"
"I'm Stormpaw now" Stormpaw meowed.
"My kit!" Silver mewed, licking his ears. "How dare you runaway from me! Where's Stripe?"
"He's called Runningpaw" Stormpaw meowed. "He's at camp with Breezecloud probably, I'm not sure. I haven't seen him since this morning."
"Why are your names different?" Silver asked. "Who's Breezecloud? What camp?"
"I joined the wildcats" Stormpaw meowed. "So did Runningpaw. We're training to be warriors now. We're not kittypets anymore. Breezecloud is Runningpaw's mentor. My mentor is Stoneheart."
"You joined wildcats?" Patch asked in awe.
Stormpaw nodded. "You have to leave now. If I get seen I'll be in big trouble and you'll be in bigger trouble. You're kittypets and you're in ThunderClan territory."
"You're my kit!" Silver exclaimed. "So is Stripe, I mean Runningpaw. You two are coming home."
Stormpaw unsheathed his claws. "I won't. ThunderClan is my home now. I have friends in ThunderClan, so does Runningpaw. I'm not going back to that soft life."
Silver looked sad. "Will you bring Runningpaw to see us? I've been searching for you for days!"
Stormpaw glanced around, drinking in the air. His heart stopped.
Risingstar padded out of the bushes behind him. Stormpaw froze; every muscle in his body tensing. He turned. Patch and Silver saw Stormpaw's sudden fear.
"Stormpaw? What's going on here?" Risingstar asked patiently.
"I caught these kittypets in our territory Risingstar" Stormpaw meowed, dipping his head low. "I was going to show them back to the twolegplace."
"I see" Risingstar meowed. "You weren't going to attack them? Why?"
"I did at first" Stormpaw explained quickly. "But then they told me they were just lost. I thought it would be against the warrior code to attack them when they didn't know any better."
"Very good Stormpaw" Risingstar meowed in approval.
"Stormpaw" Silver meowed. "Who is this?"
Stormpaw stiffened again and cursed his mother silently. Why hadn't she kept quiet? Risingstar's eyes narrowed.
"Stormpaw, do you know them?" Risingstar demanded.
"Yes Risingstar" Stormpaw muttered, looking at his paws. "They're my mother Silver and my brother Patch. They live in twolegplace. They came looking for me and Runningpaw. I told them to leave. Risingstar is my clan leader."
"You took my kits?" Silver demanded, her eyes flashing.
"Take them?" Risingstar asked. "You insult me. Stormpaw and Runningpaw came willingly to ThunderClan."
"Risingstar she doesn't know any better" Stormpaw meowed, pressing his belly to the ground and looking as small as possible. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean for them to come here."
"I know" Risingstar meowed. "Stand up Stormpaw, I won't punish you for this but be sure to clean your pelt."
"Yes Risingstar" Stormpaw meowed, standing up.
"Lead them to twolegplace" Risingstar meowed. "I will wait for you and we can hunt together, I wish to have a word with you alone away from camp."
"Yes Risingstar" Stormpaw meowed.
Risingstar vanished.
"Follow me" Stormpaw meowed, flicking his tail.
"Stormpaw, you are led by her?" Patch asked.
"Yes" Stormpaw meowed, leading the way toward twolegplace. "Risingstar is a great leader, I'm glad to know her."
"Are you sure this is what you want?" Silver asked as they reached the fences.
"Yes" Stormpaw meowed.
"Will you still come visit?" Patch asked. "With Runningpaw?"
"Of course" Stormpaw meowed. "Goodbye."
The two leapt over the fence and disappeared. Stormpaw turned and bounded toward a nearby stream to wash his pelt clean of their scent. When he headed back toward where he had found Silver and Patch he found Risingstar waiting for him.
"Do you miss it?" Risingstar asked.
"No" Stormpaw assured her. "I am loyal to ThunderClan now, I swear by StarClan."
Risingstar surveyed him with piercing green eyes. "I have no need for weak cats in my clan Stormpaw. You and Runningpaw are strong and I'm sure you can survive clan life as long as nothing is holding you back."
Stormpaw returned to camp carrying a sparrow and a mouse at sunhigh. Amberpaw was sharing tongues with Goldenpaw near the apprentice den and Runningpaw was crouched near the nursery with a pretty white she-cat named Frostfoot.
Putting his fresh kill on the pile, Stormpaw bounded over to join them. Frostfoot's two kits, Poppykit and Streamkit greeted him happily, excitement in both pairs of blue eyes.
"What's going on?" Stormpaw asked.
"My kits are having their apprentice ceremonies at dark" Frostfoot purred.
"Congratulations" Stormpaw purred.
"Thank you" Streamkit meowed happily.
Stormpaw touched noses with her and then with Poppykit. Frostfoot purred again and licked each kit and turned to Stormpaw and Runningpaw.
"How's your training?"
"Breezecloud is amazing!" Runningpaw meowed happily. "She taught me a new fighting move." Runningpaw's amber eyes sparkled when he glanced at Stormpaw.
Stormpaw took a step back. "No thank you Runningpaw. If I tried to spar with you, you'd tear me apart!"
"No I wouldn't" Runningpaw meowed indignantly. "You're my brother!"
Stormpaw snorted. "I know that you dumb furball. Can I talk to you alone for a moment though, I have something I need to tell you. It's kind of urgent."
Runningpaw looked surprised. "Okay, bye Frostfoot."
Stormpaw led his brother away from the other cats and they scrambled up the ravine into the forest. When they were a good distance from camp Stormpaw stopped and turned to face Runningpaw.
"What's wrong?" Runningpaw asked.
"I met Silver and Patch in the forest today" Stormpaw meowed.
Runningpaw's eyes lit up. "Really? Are they okay? Does Patch have a new home?"
"I told them we'd come see them tonight" Stormpaw meowed quietly. "Do you think you want to go?"
"I'd love to" Runningpaw purred.
"Okay" Stormpaw meowed. "But when we're done we have to wash our pelts carefully so no one can track their scent from us. If anyone found out we'd be in so much trouble." Stormpaw shivered. "Risingstar found out though. She said it was okay since they were family but we have to make sure they don't block our judgment."
"Right" Runningpaw agreed. "Come on, we might as well hunt for a while. It's almost twilight but I bet we could find some mice to take back."
Warriors retreated to the dens and apprentices finished their meals when darkness crept over the ThunderClan camp. Stormpaw and Runningpaw sat with Amberpaw outside the den sharing a vole and sharing their day's lessons.
"Tomorrow night is the Gathering" Amberpaw meowed. "I hope we get to go."
"Have you been to one before?" Stormpaw asked.
"Once" Amberpaw meowed, "It was right after my naming ceremony. Goldenpaw was so jealous because Squirrelfur punished her for mouthing off to Tallheart and insulting Palepelt. The Gatherings are mostly just cats talking and leaders discussing issues that could influence all of the clans."
"Stoneheart said it was just a bunch of old cats having a reason to snap at each other without making a full fledged war" Stormpaw meowed.
"I said no such thing" the blue-grey tom meowed coming up behind Stormpaw.
"Yes you did" Runningpaw put in. "I heard it with my own ears, when we toured the territory."
"Not so loud" Stoneheart hissed playfully, looking warily toward Risingstar. "Risingstar'll claw my ears if she hears you say I said that."
"Warriors being disrespectful?" Amberpaw asked; eyes wide in false surprise. "I didn't think that could happen."
Stoneheart purred in amusement at the golden she-cat. "You learn new things everyday Amberpaw. Stormpaw, Runningpaw you are going to the Gathering tomorrow. So are you Amberpaw. Risingstar wanted me to tell you."
Amberpaw mewed happily and licked Stoneheart's ear. "Great! Wait until you two meet Rosepaw, she's amazing" Amberpaw meowed. "She's a RiverClan apprentice about two moons older then us."
When things in camp finally settled down and the warriors and apprentices retreated to their dens, Stormpaw and Runningpaw stayed awake sharing tongues and discussing their training. No one suspected they were thinking of seeing their old family later.
Greyfoot came over to them when Risingstar vanished into her den. Both apprentices bowed their heads respectfully to him as he sat beside Stormpaw.
"I want you two to go out tonight and fetch me some juniper berries" Greyfoot meowed. "I've showed Runningpaw what they look like."
Greyfoot watched them sternly. Stormpaw and Runningpaw exchanged nervous glances. Did Greyfoot know something?
"There's a bush near twolegplace" Greyfoot went on. "Bring back plenty but leave some so they can grow back."
"Right" Stormpaw meowed, realizing what Greyfoot was doing. He was giving them a reason to go out of camp and go toward twolegplace.
Greyfoot nodded and padded back toward his den. Runningpaw and Stormpaw leapt to their paws and bounded out of the thorn tunnel, scrambling up the ravine and bounding into the dark forest. Their eyes narrowed so they could see where they were going and Stormpaw led the way since he knew where Silver and Patch would be waiting for them.
When they reached the fence Stormpaw flicked his tail for Runningpaw to stop. Together they leapt over the fence and slipped down into a line of bushes and flowers that smelled strongly and made their noses sting and itch.
"Kits?" mewed a soft voice. "We're here."
Stormpaw and Runningpaw scented the air to make sure no twolegs were nearby and slipped out of the bushes. Silver and Patch bounded toward them. Runningpaw greeted them enthusiastically but Stormpaw's senses were on edge.
If someone saw them, if a twoleg caught them…
"Stormpaw, loosen up a bit" Runningpaw meowed. "You're making me jumpy."
"Sorry" Stormpaw mewed stiffly. "But we're going to get in so much trouble for this. We should go back, why did I even tell you about this?"
"Because I'm your brother, clanmate and denmate" Runningpaw meowed dully. "No one's going to follow us. I didn't smell a single cat all the way here."
"Are you two alright?" Silver asked. "You look so thin!"
"We're actually doing fine" Stormpaw meowed. "We ate before we left camp."
"Who feeds you?" Patch asked.
"We feed ourselves" Runningpaw purred in amusement. "We catch mice, voles, birds and rabbits to feed the clan and then we can eat."
Stormpaw suddenly unsheathed his claws. Something had just moved in the shadows of the bushes. Stormpaw flung himself into the bushes with a hiss of anger. His claws dug into a pelt and he dragged the cat out.
The cat lashed back at him, catching his head. They rolled over then Stormpaw pinned her down and gasped. It was Amberpaw.
Amberpaw was breathing hard and her fur was dusty. Stormpaw leapt off of her almost instantly, letting her stand up. The golden apprentice scrambled to her paws, shaking dust from her pelt.
"Sorry Amberpaw" Stormpaw meowed. "Are you okay?"
"Yes" Amberpaw meowed. "What are you two doing here? I thought you were ThunderClan cats!" There was real pain in Amberpaw's gaze, as if she was accusing them.
Stormpaw felt his heart wrench and Runningpaw ran over to them.
"Amberpaw you have it all wrong" Stormpaw meowed quickly. "This is our mother and brother. I caught their scent in the forest and we were warning them not to go to far or they'd get hurt."
"Don't lie to me you puffed up furball!" Amberpaw hissed. "The clan trusts you!"
Stormpaw felt totally helpless. Runningpaw looked sad and was shuffling his paws guiltily. This was worse then Risingstar!
"Amberpaw we haven't done anything wrong" Runningpaw mewed weakly.
Stormpaw padded forward and twined his tail with hers and licked her ear comfortingly. "Our hearts lay with ThunderClan now, you know that more then the others. You're our friend and we shouldn't have snuck out without saying anything. We're sorry."
Amberpaw gazed at him, her burning amber eyes looking confused and unsure. Stormpaw pressed his flank to hers. His fur touched hers and a jolt of affection ran through both cats.
"I'm sorry" Amberpaw murmured. "I overreacted. I thought you were betraying the clan or leaving."
"We'd never leave" Runningpaw meowed, licking her ear.
"Meet Silver and Patch" Stormpaw meowed, flicking his tail at his mother and brother. "This is Amberpaw; she's our friend from ThunderClan."
Silver looked uneasy but Patch padded forward and touched noses with her. Amberpaw looked at Silver and hesitated uneasily. Silver finally padded forward and touched noses with Amberpaw.
"So Greyfoot sent you for juniper berries?" Amberpaw asked.
"Yes" Runningpaw meowed.
Amberpaw rolled her eyes. "That old tom always knows when an apprentice needs help, I don't know how he does it."
"Who is he?" Patch asked.
"He's our healer" Stormpaw explained. "He's old but he's probably the second greatest cat in ThunderClan." He glanced at Amberpaw.
"You flatter me" Amberpaw meowed, licking his ear.
Stormpaw felt his fur burn with embarrassment. Runningpaw purred in amusement. "You two make a cute couple, the beauty of ThunderClan and the mousebrained furball."
Stormpaw leapt on Runningpaw and bowled him over, batting his head playfully with sheathed paws. Silver and Patch purred in amusement and Amberpaw brushed her tail along Stormpaw's shoulder. He leapt off of his brother and licked his paw, bringing it once or twice over his ear. It was nearly midnight.
"We should get going" Stormpaw meowed. "Otherwise we'll be too tired for the Gathering tomorrow night."
"You might be, of course you're a soft kittypet" Amberpaw teased.
Stormpaw swatted at her but missed. "Soft kittypet? I'll get you for that later. Come on. Bye Silver, bye Patch."
The three apprentices padded back into the forest, Runningpaw leading the way to a patch of juniper berries. They picked several berries and picked their way toward camp again, slipping back in with ease. Amberpaw took the berries and placed them near Greyfoot's den so she wouldn't wake him and they hurried to the apprentice den, yawning and sleepy.
Stormpaw curled up with Runningpaw on one side and Amberpaw on the other. A cold wind blew outside the den but when Amberpaw's pelt touched his it was like a fire had been lit inside him, warming him and making him purr contentedly.
"Stormpaw wake up" meowed a sharp voice.
The grey tom groaned in protest and opened one eye. Runningpaw was prodding him and Amberpaw was sitting up. Goldenpaw was on her paws and looking as if she was in a foul mood. Stormpaw supposed it was a clan meeting and sat up drowsily, yawning.
"What's wrong?" Stormpaw meowed sleepily.
"You keep twitching and meowing in your sleep" Amberpaw explained. "And you got this somehow."
Stormpaw suddenly felt fire flare across his right shoulder and looked. There were three deep gashes across his shoulder and blood was beginning to trickled down his forepaw. Stormpaw remembered his dream before they had woken him.
He had been at the Gathering Place standing on the Fallenstone looking down at the clearing around him. It had been full of cats he had never seen though some had familiar scents. The cats had all been amazing, shining pelts, bright eyes that shone with starlight and they had been in their prime, not old like Stormpaw expected cats of StarClan to look. The cats had been chanting something but thunder had covered their words. Dark shadows had crept all around him and formed the bodies of black cats with long fangs and fur covered in blood.
The shadow-cats had then started attacking Stormpaw. He had tried to fight them back but had been scratched. Stormpaw hadn't realized the wound would carry over to his waking moments.
Stormpaw looked at the wound and winced again. "Its nothing" he meowed.
"Where did you get that?" Amberpaw asked, glaring at him.
"I really don't know" Stormpaw meowed with a sigh. "I just woke up like that. Sorry I woke you. I'll let Greyfoot look at it in the morning."
Goldenpaw didn't even look worried. She flopped down in her nest again and curled up in a ball. Before long Stormpaw knew she was fast asleep. Runningpaw however wore a similar expression to Amberpaw's.
"You know where you go that, you have to" Runningpaw meowed. "No one can just wake up like that."
Amberpaw however seemed to suddenly realize something. She stared at Stormpaw for a moment then curled up next to him again, pressing herself against him. Her amber eyes burned at him and he knew she had put everything together. She knew he had been injured by a dream and was keeping quiet. Stormpaw touched her muzzle gently, thanking her silently.
Runningpaw knew he had lost the battle and laid down again, still watching his brother intently.