Chapter 5 - Midday
Silverkit stretched as the morning sun dappled through the forest and lit up the cave. She peered out of the nursery and looked around the big cave. One or two warriors were sharing tongues and the dawn patrol had already set out. She sighed. If only she could be with them. She would have to wait another day though before they would be old enough. Goldstar was very strict about the aging of her apprentices. She saw Tawnypaw appear from the apprentices den and Silverkit bounded over to her.
"What happened at the gathering last night," Silverkit mewed. She had fallen asleep after they left and had woken in the night when they had returned. Something seemed wrong as all the cats had been tense and wary.
Purring at Silverkit Tawnypaw replied, "RainClan accused us of stealing Reedstar's only kit. It turned out LightningClan had him and that the kit had decided to change clans. Reedstar backed down. He couldn't face the truth that his kit didn't enjoy belonging in RainClan."
Silverkit purred. She was glad those mouse-dung cats who tried to steal her had been put in their place. Curious she questioned further.
"What else happened? Did you meet any new apprentices?"
Tawnypaw thought for a moment then meowed, "There were some new litters of kits, new apprentices had been announced and a couple of new warriors. Seedstar died and the new leader of WindClan is Tornstar," she paused trying to remember, "Oh yes there was a newly made apprentice from LightningClan. I can't remember the name. She was there as well."
Purring her thanks to Tawnypaw Silverkit bounded back to the nursery to tell her mother and sister the news. When she got there, only Nutflight and her three kits were there. Sighing Silverkit padded towards the medicine cat den. It hurt her that Moonkit had chosen to follow the path of a medicine cat rather than becoming a warrior with her sister. There was nothing more Silverkit would have liked than to have trained alongside her sister. At least there was Amberpaw and Redpaw. They had been her friend when Moonkit was in one of her day dreams and they were barely a moon older than her. If she was lucky and trained hard there was a chance that they could all be made warriors together.
When she reached the medicine cat den she heard voices talking. One was her sister's, the others were to quite. She padded out of the shadows and saw her mother and father there. Dawnwing must be checking up on Sunflight Silverkit realised. Bounding forward she mewed, "Sunflight, how are you?" Seeing his daughter Sunflight purred.
"Much better now, I'll be moving back to the warrior den tonight and will be back training my apprentice tomorrow. On that note I need to talk to Goldstar about something..." he trailed off. Looking at Leafbrook to receive permission he got up stiffly, stretched, and walked slowly towards the main cave. Dawnwing yawned and followed after him calling over her shoulder, "Kit's be back before sun high."
Looking out of the entrance leading to the forest Silverkit could see the sun had barely risen above the treetops. She turned to Moonkit, "Guess what happened at last night's gathering!" she teased.
Abandoning the herbs she had been piling through Moonkit replied, "Go on, and tell me, I know your dying to!"
Silverkit blurted out the news that she had heard from Tawnypaw. Moonkit listened carefully, making the odd comment here and there. When Silverkit had finished she was silent thinking as Moonkit did.
"What are you thinking?" Silverkit asked. By now she knew she had to ask for her sister to tell her.
Flickering her ears nervously she replied, "RainClan are a nuisance. Have you forgotten how they tried to take you as a hostage? LightningClan and ThunderClan surround their territory. By the sounds of it Reedstar is waiting for a chance to lash out. Now he has a chance. Our territory was swarming with patrols and stealing the prey was forgotten. He'll take ever opportunity to start a fight. LightningClan better watch out."
Silverkit nodded in agreement. It was just like Moonkit to think things through. Sometimes she sounded like a Clan leader the way she spoke. No, she corrected herself, not a clan leader, a wise medicine cat. She was about to agree with her when another thought occurred to her.
"It is worrying that WindClan has a new leader. Remember Seedstar's unspoken agreement not to send her warriors down the cliff and attack our camp. Tornstar might not hold that agreement."
Moonkit sighed. "The steep cliffs won't stop them for long." She turned back to the herbs she was sorting. "I'll see you later then," she mewed, already busy. Silverkit sighed. Why was she so keen to get rid of her? Just then Goldstar's voice echoed along the passage to the main cave.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the High ledge for a clan meeting."
Silverkit bounded towards the main cave and found all the clan gathering beneath the ledge where Goldstar was sitting. All of them looked mystified to what the meeting was about. Silverkit spotted Amberpaw and sat down next to her. Seeing the clan was assembled Goldstar began to talk.
"Last night at the gathering I accused RainClan of stealing prey and crossing borders. Reedstar told me that his reason was just. He had been looking for his missing kit. He accused us of stealing his kit. As it was it turned out that the kit, now an apprentice had chosen to leave RainClan and is now a member of LightningClan. Reedstar could see no reason to turn it into a fight and all was settled. However I fear RainClan is looking for a reason to attack. We must be very careful how we react to them." She paused to let her words sink in before continuing, WindClan has a new leader. Seedstar is dead and Tornear is now Tornstar."
Silverkit whispered to Amberpaw, "Were you at the gathering last night?"
Her friend flicked her ears. "No, I haven't been yet. Only Elmpaw and Tawnypaw went."
"And that brings me to our final thing today," Goldstar was still talking. Bother she'd missed what Goldstar had said about WindClan. She pricked up her ears, curious to what else her leader had to say.
"With two threats looming our clan needs to remain strong. Two of our apprentices are ready to become warriors. She saw Tawnypaw and Elmpaw sit up straighter.
"Elmpaw, Tawnypaw, come forward." The two excited apprentices padded forward. Do you promise to fight and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Tawnypaw shivered, "I do." while her brother remained calm, "I do," Elmpaw mewed.
Goldstar stepped forward. Then I, Goldstar leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to honour your noble code and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn."
Goldstar stood before Elmpaw. "Elmpaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Elmstripe. StarClan honours your compassion and bravery." She moved on to Tawnypaw. "Tawnypaw, from this moment on you will be known as Tawnyfur. StarClan honours your spirit and enthusiasm." Goldstar stepped back. "Tonight you will sit a silent vigil."
"Elmstripe, Tawnyfur, Elmstripe, Tawnyfur," The clan called with Silverkit joining in. Amberpaw turned to her and sighed. "It won't be long until we're made warriors to!" she purred. "I still have to be made an apprentice," Silverkit mewed, sadly.
Seeing her friend upset Amberpaw nudged her playfully. "In one day. I don't know why you didn't become apprentices with us. You're only just two weeks younger. It's less than a moon! Don't worry about it. Blackpelt says that he's taking us on a tour of the territory. I have barely been allowed out recently."
Cheered up and curious Silverkit asked, "Any ideas who my mentor will be?"
"No, it's so unfair. I begged Blackpelt to tell me and eventually he said he doesn't know."
"What have you done training wise?"
Amberpaw groaned. "Well nothing the first day because of RainClan. The second day he took me out and showed me a bit of the territory, apart from that all I've done is hunting practise."
"I'd love to be out hunting by the Great Chestnut." Silverkit mewed, longingly.
"Come on, you only have one day to wait. It's not that long. As for me I'd rather be having some battle training in the sandy hollow. But all I get to do is stupid patrols along the RainClan border and hunting."
Silverkit purred. "Maybe you could..." She couldn't finish because at that moment she heard Dawnwing calling her. Glancing outside she saw that the sun had reached its highest point in the sky. Sighing she mewed to Amberpaw, "Got to go. I'll see you later."
She turned towards the nursery where Dawnwing was waiting.
"Is Moonkit with you? Don't tell me she is still with Leafbrook!" her mother hissed. "Wait here." she mewed before bounding towards the medicine cats den. She was back a moment later with Moonkit behind her. She settled down in a patch of sunlight and began to give her sister a thorough clean. Silverkit settle down besides her mother in a patch of sunlight purring as it warmed up her fur. When Dawnwing had finished with Moonkit she started licking Silverkit. She didn't mind. It was relaxing to just sit there and let the gentle rhythm lull you. She had almost fallen asleep when small little bundles of fur knocked into her. She opened her eyes to see Nutflight's three kits play fighting. They were still tiny and paused blinking in the bright sunlight. Hissing from having been woken up Silverkit stood up. Moonkit was had also been awoken by the younger kits. She turned and watched for a moment as the three kits walked around unsteadily on their too-big paws. After a while Nutflight poked her head out of the nursery and rounded up the guilty trio. Silverkit turned back to Moonkit and mewed, "Why don't we get Brighteye to tell us a story?" she suggested. It would help pass the time. Moonkit purred, "I'll race you," and before Silverkit could say anything set of running. Silverkit bounded after her.
They arrived panting outside a thin narrow cave. Sitting by the entrance was Brighteye, a blind she-cat.
"Will you tell us a story?" Moonkit asked.
"One about the founding leaders," Silverkit mewed.
Brighteye purred as she replied, "All right. Settle down and I'll tell you."
After a while she began, "In the far past, many moons ago a litter of four kittens were born. Their mother gave them names to do with the weather that constantly changed around the landscape. These young cats grew to become great friends with great ideas. There was Lightning, the silent stalker, Wind, the fast runner, Rain, the swimmer and lover of water, and Thunder, the strong lover of the sun. Back then the forest was full of many dangers. Foxes, badgers and snakes roamed freely preying on anything they could find. These four cats, along with a friend, Shadow, a night hunter, decided to band together to make the forests safe again. It was then that they received a sign. A storm, it started with the wind, howling and blowing. Then came the thunder and after that, a bright flash of lightning. The shadows stretched out and then the rain fell down. This sign told the five cats what they had wondered and question. They must separate out. Divide the territory or die. So they gathered together groups of cats willing to join them. Set up their own customs and naming system that would mark them as different from other cats. When, after many years of work the five leaders died, they learnt that their faith and dedication had been rewarded and that when they died, they and all the clans would live forever in a warm forest with plenty of prey and no enemies. A forest untouched by the cold and bitter snows, but with a warm sun the shone eternally. Once the leaders knew this they came to their second in command or deputy in dreams and commanded them to come to a magical place where they could receive nine lives from their leaders to serve their clan faithfully for many years to come. From that the clans were born and have lived ever since."
Brighteye finished with a sigh.
Silverkit was silent, thinking about those five original leaders.
"Thank you Brighteye," Moonkit mewed. "That was, amazing," Silverkit purred.
Brighteye cocked her head to the side. "I learnt many tales when I was a kit. Now I must pass them on. Go now. My sides ache for a long snooze in my den." She got up stiffly and walked into the den Silverkit and Moonkit were left thinking about what she had said. If that was true Silverkit thought then the clans have been around for a very long time.
Silverkit shuffled around impatiently. They were going to be apprentices. Dawnwing was giving them a quick clean before the ceremony. She saw Beechkit pad uncertainly up to her.
"I'll miss you and Moonkit," she mewed quietly. Silverkit purred. "Soon you'll be an apprentice." Beechkit's face fell. "Five moons," she mewed. Olivekit and Oakkit bounded up to their sister. "Don't worry," Oakkit mewed. "Let's play," Olivekit added. Beechkit gave one last glance at Silverkit before bounding away. Silverkit sighed. Oh for when she was that innocent. She turned back and peered out of the entrance. Where was Goldstar? Wait, there she was coming out of her den. Silverkit shivered, this was it.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the High Ledge for a clan meeting. At once cats began to appear from the dens and gathered beneath the rock. Elmstripe and Tawnyfur appeared, bleary eyed from their vigil.
Silverkit followed Dawnwing out into the main cave.
"Two of our kits have reached their sixth moon and are ready to become apprentices. Leafbrook has decided to take on an apprentice and has chosen Moonkit to follow that noble path."
Silverkit watch as her sister stepped forward, proudly.
"Moonkit, until your receive your name you will be known as Moonpaw. Leafbrook is now your mentor to help you and guide your paws."
Silverkit stared. Who would be her mentor? She stumbled forward as Dawnwing gave her a nudge then holding her head high padded forward.
"Silverkit, until you receive your warrior name you will be known as Silverpaw. Thornclaw," Yes, Silverkit thought. She liked the golden tom.
"You are a strong warrior and deserve an apprentice to train and teach." Silverpaw stared as the warrior padded forward and then gently reached out to touch noses with him. She followed him to the side of the clearing and sat down beside Amberpaw.
"Silverpaw, Moonpaw, Silverpaw, Moonpaw." The clan chanted.
Silverpaw saw Moonpaw turn to ask Leafbrook something. For a moment their eyes met and she saw the same thoughts in her sister's eyes. They were apprentices after moons of waiting, and were ready to learn the skills that were there to be learnt.
