The sparkle of the dim moonlight showed Robinpaw his blue-gray fur. His eyes reflected knowledge that Robinpaw would never be able to understand in her lifetime, all in two blue orbs. His tail whished back and forward as he waited for Robinpaw's reaction, clearly enjoying her blank look.
"You brought her to Starclan? But I thought they lived in the sky and were just a nursery tale."
"That's true" his eyes glimmered with amusement "They do live in the sky, guess I lied when I said I brought her there"
Robinpaw hissed "What are you talking about?"
" I brought her to the next best thing"
"Which would be?"
Jaypaw smirked "You don't know much about me, do you?"
Well she used to think the gray tom was quiet and sensible but now she wasn't so sure. Thinking back, Robinpaw realized that she didn't know much about him. When they played, Jaypaw always seemed to play the villain, that is if we got him to play. Usually he'd sit and wacht his siblings, Dewpaw, and her play. She barley talked to him.
"I suppose I don't, but I've been your friend since I was a kit and never have heard you mention a Starclan. Now, are you going to explain?"
"No, figure it out yourself" Now more than ever his eyes danced with joy "Also if you've been my friend all that time and never knew this side of me, then you really don't know much about me" then he stalked away toward the clan, a irritating wave of mystery followed him as he walked.
"Why do care if I don't know you?" She asked storming after him.
"Because I thought you were different, I thought you could be a member. I also thought the same for your sister but she was a disappointment"
" Member, you mean the thing that was second best to Starclan?" Robinpaw started to feel foggy from all the confusing clues Jaypaw was giving her. She tried piece together everything that was happening.
"I guess"
"Can you at least tell me where Wind went?"
"Figure it out" Robinpaw dug her claws into the earth to keep from strangling Jaypaw.
" We're here" Jaypaw pointed out when they made it to the camp entrance. It was dawn now and cats should be waking soon. Robinpaw felt a wave of relief as she realized that she could now ask her sister question.
When she walked into camp she spotted her sister nibbling on a mouse near the and elder bush. Robinpaw was happy to see her eating, she must be getting better.
Robinpaw picked up a sparrow and watched Jaypaw walk into the apprentice den, a smug on his face. She had never seen this side to Jaypaw and prayed that whatever he was up to wouldn't come to bite her or her sister. Speaking of sister, Robinpaw padded over to her, breakfast in tact.
When Dewpaw noticed Robinpaw approaching, she started to wiggle, looking uncomfortable.
" I thought you were asleep in the apprentice den."
Nope"
"Where were you?"
Robinpaw turned to her sister "I think you know, we have to talk, but later"
The rest of the meal was shared in silence. Robinpaw ripped through her sparrow quickly while Dewpaw nibbled slowly. Redwillow woke up at the first lights of sunset. She joined the two apprentices.
"Well aren't you two up early" Redwillow started to lick down her messy fur.
"We couldn't sleep" Dewpaw explained.
" First Red Moon always the hardest"Actually from all the excitement, Robinpaw had nearly forgotten the event. In fact, it was hard to believe that Shadowclaw's death was only last night.
Anyway, after breakfast I want you two to go to the training hollow. Practice until me and Frozenlily come."
The apprentices nodded just as Frozenlily shot of the nursery a panic look on her face.
"Wind is gone!" She cried. Robinpaw rolled her eyes, took her long enough to notice.
At her cry many cats awoke, though nobody cared about Wind. Bonestar looked happy to not have to deal with the rogue. So with that the clan began to start the day. While Shrewfang just said "Good riddance" and began to organize. Robinpaw herself didn't care about Wind, but she couldn't help but to wondering if she was with this so-called Starclan. But thinking about it made her head hurt, why did Jaypaw have to tell her in such a confusing way?
"We better get going" she whispered to her sister, when here mouse was done. The two made it to the training hollow just as the sun was finally able to reach over the horizon. The training hollow was a big sandy clearing, perfect to teach young she-cats how to hunt and toms how to fight. They started off with a simple exercise. Dewpaw pretends to be the mouse, while Robinpaw hunts her down, then they switch. They were suppose to work in silence but Robinpaw was determined to get anwsers.
"So"Robinpaw started as she approached the 'mouse' "Where were you last night"
"Your tail needs to be lower" Dewpaw advised "And I was with Jaypaw and Wind"
Robinpaw crawled forward until she thought she was in a good place to leap "I know that much, I saw the whole thing. I guess it be better if I just asked why were you going to 'Starclan' with them"
"I told you, I don't like Red Moon. Jaypaw , for the past few moons, have been telling of this mystical clan that doesn't have Dark Forest ways."
"You know that's all kit tales, right? Besides Jaypaw told me he didn't lead Wind to Starclan." She then leap through the sky and landed on Dewpaw, they switched.
"I know, Starclan is like Dark Forest. It's not a place you can go, Jaypaw was taking us to a clan that worshiped Starclan"
Robinpaw go out of her 'mouse' stance and sat up, this was news to her. "Are you telling me that you were going to leave Duskclan" Robinpaw mouth went dry, praying it wasn't true.
"I changed my mind"
"You were going to leave me behind to be a clan that probably doesn't even exist. Wake up Dewpaw! Jaypaw was pulling your tail and you let him."
"Please Robinpaw, you have to understand. I'm miserable here" Robinpaw didn't say anything, partly because she was shocked, but mostly because she picked up the scents of Frozenlily and Redwillow.
The training went great, Robinpaw supposed. It was mostly filled with silence, but luckily to distracted her she focused on the training. She nearly perfected the mouse stalking and was time to do it for real by sunhigh. It was a relief to stand up straight, stretching out all the muscles that were clumped together when she was crouching.
As they were about to be released to try it on their own, Jaypaw, Bearpaw, and their mentors stepped into the hollow. At first Robinpaw was confused when she saw Sparrowwing with them, but then she realized that he must be Jaypaw's replacement mentor. It was hard to remember that Shadowclaw was his mentor since he showed to sadness or grieve over the fallen warrior.
"Hello she-cats" Sparrowwing greeted in a cheery tone "Training going well?"
"Why, yes" Frozenlily purred "Thanks, I assume you toms want the hollow."
"Yes and no. I want to see that over sized she-cats strength" he then pointed at Robinpaw. She felt herself glow hot. "She nearly as big as Bearpaw and not to mention her shoulders, which are growing to be muscular like a toms. I just want to know if she possessives the strength of a tom. I want her to face my new apprentice."
Robinpaw turned hot to cold at the thought of facing Jaypaw in a battle.
"I don't know, Robinpaw hasn't had any battle training" Redwillow hesitated.
"It's okay, no harm in trying, right?" Robinpaw was actually eager to try.
"Alright, but claw sheathed!"
The apprentices nodded and went to the middle of the clearing. Every other cat sat in the sidelines looking at the young cats in anticipation. Robinpaw had never fought before but she tried to imitate what she saw at Red Moon.
She crouched to floor like she was hunting and puffed out her fur. Across from her Jaypaw was doing the same. Not wanting him to have the first move, she leap into the air aimed at Jaypaw. At the last moment Jaypaw dodged, landing her face first on the ground. She spat out the dust and sand that flew into her mouth and launched at his feet, since she was close to the ground. She was able to topple him over and jump on him.
It felt good to hold him down, the frustration from early was all pouring out. But the happy moment didn't last long. Using his back legs, Jaypaw kicked Robinpaw off him. Robinpaw fell to the ground once again, on her back. Jaypaw reared up at her leg and balanced on two back legs to make him look huge and intimating. He held a paw up, ready to hit. Robinpaw winced, waiting for it but it never came.
"This is a common attack, it hits quite well but I leave myself open. Hurry hit my legs" Robinpaw blinked at him. Was he seriously helping her. She kicked his back legs, killing his balance. He landed on the ground with a grunt.
With the opportunity, Robinpaw got up just as Jaypaw did. "Okay now lung at me again, but give me something I can't dodge"
Thinking quickly, Robinpaw charged right for him. She tackled him to the ground and pinned him there. Everyone watching seemed impress. Sparrowwing most of all looked like he couldn't believe a she-cat could do such a thing.
"Good, but you've already forgotten" with his back legs he kicked Robinpaw to the ground. Robinpaw mentally kicked herself for being bested by the same move twice. Jaypaw landed on top of her and held her down tightly.
He leaned down to her ear and whispered "You know I've been thinking about you all day."
Robinpaw struggled but to no avail.
" I think you should meet a certain someone. Tonight after the sacrifice, I'll send him to you."
"No" Robinpaw hissed back in a whisper "I don't want to be apart of your stupid plan" but he wasn't listening.
"He has been dying to meet you, and I think now is a good time for you to meet him. He is from the Starclan"
"Starclan isn't real" she denied. Her struggling increased.
" Maybe you won't have such an attitude when you meet Sagewhisker tonight" then he finally let go and left Robinpaw to lie in the dirt.
Robinpaw felt her heart ache as she tried to remember the last time she heard that name. The last time she heard someone mutter Sagewhisker, the name of her father.
