Moonwatcher came out of his cave and sat down in front of the Light Ledge. Jumping up he yowled the gathering call.
"Today I have the important honor of turning three training kits into full hunters and guardians. Pebble that Tumbles Down Slope, Ice that Freezes Stream, and Breeze after Wild Storm. Do you promise to hunt for the tribe and not for yourself?" Moonwatcher's voice rang out clearly to the gathered cats below.
"I do," they coursed, pushing their way through the crowd of cats.
"Do you promise to provide for your Tribe, through rain and snow, through day and night, and forever?"
"I do."
"Do you promise to guard the cave and its hunters as well? And to be called on to defend the territory of the Tribe?"
"I do."
"Then by the power of the Tribe of Glimmering Stars, I present to you Pebble that Tumbles Down Slope. A full Hunter and Guard of the Tribe of Rolling Stones. By the power of the Tribe of Glimmering Stars, I present to you Ice that Freezes Stream. A full Hunter and Guard of the Tribe of Rolling Stones. By the power of the Tribe of Glimmering Stars, I present to you Breeze after Wild Storm. A full Hunter and Guard of the Tribe of Rolling Stones."
"Ice! Pebble! Breeze! Ice! Pebble! Breeze!" the gathered tribe chanted.
Hopping down from LightLedge, Moonwatcher limped over to Pebble and Ice. He quietly murmured his instructions for their one night vigil. They walked out of the cave entrance and sat on either side of the hole. The Guards stationed for sentry duty quietly murmured their thanks the the Tribe of Glimmering Stars for having a good night's rest.
"Cedarfoot wake up," Water's voice broke through Cedarfoot's dream. Opening her eyes she saw that Water and Grass were at the narrow entrance of the training cave.
"You and Rockshade are going to have some battle training together," Grass explained after seeing the confusion in Cedarfoot's eyes.
"Really?" Cedarfoot asked. "Isn't he too much of a higher level for me to train with?"
"He should be, but you are an excellent fighter Cedarfoot," Water explained. Cedarfoot nodded and scrambled out of the cave. Rockshade was flicking his tail impatiently. When he saw Cedarfoot he turned around quickly and started towards the cave entrance, mostly to hide his blushing.
Rockshade
Rockshade walked quickly away from Cedarfoot. He had never told anyone, even his brothers, about the crush he had on Cedarfoot. Slipping through the gap in the cave wall, Rockshade emerged outside.
"Hey! Rockshade wait up," he heard Cedarfoot call. Stopping, he calmed himself and turned around. Cedarfoot was bounding towards him. Going to fast without watching where she was going Rockshade saw her trip on a pebble. She fell headlong towards a spur of sharp rocks. His eyes widening, he lept into action. Racing towards Cedarfoot he yowled to their mentors. When Rockshade reached Cedarfoot he jumped in front of her, slowing their descent down. They were almost at a complete stop when they reached the rocks. Rockshade felt his paw graze the point of the rock and heard Cedarfoot yelp in pain. Rockshade stood up shakily. He winced when he put his paw on the ground, so he picked it up. Stumbling over to where Grass was waiting he check to see if Cedarfoot was injured. She was hopping towards them with her other front paw in the air. Then Water burst out of the cave with Moonwatcher limping after her.
"Come along," he said. "Let me see your injuries." Rockshade and Cedarfoot both flipped over onto their backs and raised their paws in the air.
"Your lucky you stopped in time or the wounds would be much worse," Moonwatcher told them through a mouthful of herbs and cobweb. "Now come to my den. You need to rest."
Rockshade lay in the training den trying to sleep. Moonwatcher had treated and released them. He had told them to go get something to eat and sleep in their own hollows. Rockshade had fell asleep as soon as he curled up but now he just couldn't stop thinking about what might have happened if he had not been quick enough. A furry paw touched his nose and he looked up to see Cedarfoot standing over him.
"Follow me," she whispered. Rockshade heaved himself up and follow Cedarfoot out of the cave.
"Where are we going," he hissed.
"You'll see," Cedarfoot said with humor. Rockshade sighed and padded after her.
"Now close your eyes," Cedarfoot instructed. Rockshade obediently shut his eyes. Cedarfoot lead him up a weaving rock path.
"Ok. Open your eyes," Cedarfoot said. Rockshades eyes opened and he gasped in astonishment. They were on top of the cliff gazing at the stars. There was not a cloud in sight and the moon shone brightly.
"It's beautiful up here," Rockshade breathed. He turned to Cedarfoot and looked into her eyes. "Thank you Cedarfoot." Cedarfoot ducked her head and laid down staring at the stars. Rockshade slipped next to her and curled around her. She brought her head up sharply then laid it back down.
"No, Rockshade. Thank you. For everything," Cedarfoot murmured to herself as she fell asleep. Rockshade shuffled around so he could look into her face. With that image in his mind he fell asleep.
Cedarfoot
"Cedarfoot. Wake up." Rockshade's voice worked itself into Cedarfoot's dream.
"Just a little bit longer," she mumbled.
"Cedarfoot we have to go back to the cave before anyone gets up," Rockshade scolded.
"Fine," Cedarfoot sighed. She opened her eyes and saw that the sun hadn't risen. Rockshade was standing at the top of the path. Heaving herself up she stalked over to him.
"You worry just a bit too much, Rockshade," Cedarfoot mewed to him. She set off down the path with Rockshade right behind her. Hopping from boulder to boulder she called out behind her:
"How did you like last night?"
"It was great," he cheerfully called back.
When they were back in the cave Water and Grass walked out blinking the sleep from their eyes.
"Well you two are up early," Grass commented. "We were just coming to wake you up. You're going to be doing yesterday's training today." He and Water started towards the entrance.
"Come on," Rockshade meowed. "Just, watch where you're going." Cedarfoot bounded after him. At the entrance to the cave she slowed down. Cautiously, she peered down the slope looking for anything that could trip her. She walked down the slope towards the waiting slope.
"Alright let's go," she said when she finally reached them.
Rockshade let out a frustrated breath. Cedarfoot hopped off of him with an amused snort.
"I thought your fighting was supposed to be good," she laughed.
"I was the best, till you came around," he joked. It was after dark up at their secret spot. They had trained all day long going over new battle moves.
"While we were training did you get the sense that something was watch you, Rockshade?" Cedarfoot suddenly asked.
"Actually, yeah! I had the strangest feeling we were being watched. Why do you ask?" Rockshade mewed
"No reason. It's just that I feel like I'm being watched," Cedarfoot answered. Rockshade padded closer and touched her nose.
"It's okay. I'll protect you," he whispered into her ear. "But we should probably head back just in case." Cedarfoot lead the way down the mountainside. At the cave Cedarfoot caught a hare and dragged it in and sat down in front of her sister. A few minutes later Rockshade entered the cave with a scrawny thrush. He glanced at Cedarfoot and settled down next to his brothers.