After the rain passed, Morningwing felt blessed with the remains of the day to herself. She deliberately avoided Longfur, preferring not to patrol when she felt so angry. She'd conceded with Froststar on the personal condition that she'd get him next time. If he approached her again with similar words, she would be ready to fire back. Surely he must know that he cried war when he tried ordering Morningwing around like that. It wasn't everyday she was forced to apologize to Featherfur for something she didn't say. Featherfur hadn't even listened to the simple, I'm sorry. She'd left the nursery as soon as Morningwing entered. So Froststar would be in for a treat in that department.
Morningwing spent her day mostly daydreaming. The hunt had tired her, so she felt she deserved to lounge in the sun that was peeking out from behind the curtain of thickset gray clouds. Her wet rock warmed quickly with the sun's rays feeding it. She closed her eyes, enjoying the stretches of silence alone.
Of the time she idly waited for nothing, Morningwing allowed her mind to explore many things. She thought about her brother. He'd changed so much since the young warrior he was when he abandoned SootClan. He thrived in CinderClan, having a lover by his side. At least, he had a lover by his side until she was killed by rogues. Morningwing remembered there'd been some suspicion that rogues had killed Spikeheart, too. But they brushed off that as soon as they realized Morningwing had been there. They wondered about things that'd never happened. They made their own stories about his death.
Morningwing pondered death itself. Poppybreeze claimed she wanted to go in her sleep, but wouldn't there be pain? Would it be like a nightmare that bled into the waking world? Wouldn't there be a sudden cut off of air? Would your body just shut down? Morningwing was full of unanswered questions. She wondered about StarClan. She'd never held any contact with an ancestor. The day with Greenstar on MossClan territory reminded her of the tuft she'd seen. Does that count? She remembered the breeze, too. But that hadn't told her anything. For now, StarClan was a mystery she couldn't solve. Leave the solving to Tallflower.
As she began the topic of the handsome golden tom from yesterday, her solitude was no more. Mistlight entered the clearing, her fur fluffed with worry. Her blue eyes were wide, either taking in every detail or scared. Morningwing guessed the latter.
"What's the matter?" Morningwing asked, keeping her frustration contained in a calculated meow. "Froststar got your tail in a twist?"
Mistlight shook her head quickly, taking a staggering step forward. Her ears twitched nervously. "I-I need to ask you something," Mistlight murmured, lowering her eyes to settle on her own paws. "It's about Spikeheart."
Morningwing stiffened, her breath stopping cold. She cast her frosty glare at Mistlight, the iciness almost so cold a shiver could've gone down her spine. "With all due respect, I do not answer those questions," she hissed, her own fur fluffing—though in anger, not fear. "Why don't you ask Froststar? He seems to know everything these days!"
"Froststar does the best he can for us," Mistlight meowed simply. "I have come to you, because you are the only one who really knows what went on that night. I am not asking for the whole story. I just want a piece."
Morningwing shifted uneasily on her rock. "And what's that, Mistlight?"
"What were his last words?" Mistlight asked, her voice a mere whisper. She watched Morningwing carefully, her blue eyes shifting from her paws to Morningwing. But she made an effort to avoid Morningwing's persistent gaze.
Morningwing thought back to the last exchange she and Spikeheart had had. The words still rang fresh in her ears as if he'd spoken them mere heartbeats ago.
"Roseheart . . ." Goldenpelt panted, his eyes glazed over in pain. "Roseheart, please be strong for me."
"Don't say goodbye!" Roseheart hissed. She leaned down close to him, resting her head on his rapidly rising-and-falling chest. "I won't let you leave me, not like this."
"Roseheart!" Goldenpelt called more loudly. His breathing was already slowing. "Take care of Sweetkit for us."
"I will, Goldenpelt," she vowed. "I promise."
Goldenpelt never spoke again.
~.~
"Let all cats stronger than the storm gather around the Soot Tree!" Froststar's caterwaul rang through the air, loud, demanding, and firm. It didn't take much for everyone's attention to gather be pinpointed on the SootClan leader.
Morningwing watched with cautious eyes as her Clanmates began to congregate. Froststar stood tall on his perch among the branches of Soot Tree. The Soot Tree was struck by lightning during the violent storm that cast fire throughout both SootClan and CinderClan territory. It was very charred and black, but also leaning away from camp with age. Morningwing feared the day it would fall, creating more debris than she would rather clean up. She didn't know how the roots held, but as long as the Soot Tree stood, it was fine.
"Come on, Morningwing," Tinyheart whispered, giving her a nudge. "Let's go see what's happening." With great reluctance, Morningwing followed her friend. She knew Tinyheart would pounce on the story as soon as the meeting was over. She wasn't looking forward to it. Morningwing sighed, squeezing herself between Tinyheart and Brightstorm.
As Morningwing searched for the lucky kits or apprentices, she found Prowlkit and Webkit. Featherfur stood all-too-proudly behind them, her kits' fur sleek. She gave no sign that she noticed the crowd settling around her. Morningwing wondered, briefly, what it would feel like to be a proud mother. Spikeheart and she had covered the topic of kits many times, both agreeing that they'd wait until the time felt right. Morningwing wished she could say she was with-kit, but that wasn't true. All of her connections with Spikeheart were gone.
"Where is Jaypaw?"
Scorchclaw's concerned meow was alerting to her ears. Jaypaw should be with his mentor, or at least, his mentor should know where he is. Morningwing felt a pang of worry for her former apprentice. Jaypaw may hate her, but she didn't return the favor.
"Dapplepaw's not here either," Brightstorm whispered to him. "Ebonysky is, though."
An uneasy silence filled the short time it took for Froststar to pick up his speech again. Scorchclaw, Brightstorm, and Morningwing glanced nervously around for either of the apprentices, despite the fact it was clear neither were here—or probably coming, for that matter.
"We have gathered here today to witness two major happenings for our Clan," Froststar proclaimed, his green eyes resting on each face, watching their reaction. Morningwing felt his gaze land on her and stay there. She didn't like it. "The first thing is that Prowlkit and Webkit have reached their sixth moon. Longfur and I have agreed it is time they join the ranks of apprentices."
Featherfur, Tinyheart, and a few others let out a cheer. Morningwing didn't join in. She had no respect for the kits who'd called her a traitor. Morningwing pointedly looked away, not caring if Froststar saw her.
"Step forward, future warriors," Froststar ordered, his eyes falling back to the kits. At being called 'future warriors' Prowlkit and Webkit wriggled with excitement. They stepped forward, Webkit the first to do so. Prowlkit puffed out his chest, his chin lifted proudly toward the leader.
"Webkit, you hold great promises to be the fearless warrior your father is. I have seen you are already learning young and I would expect nothing less from Longfur's son. Until you have earned your warrior name, you shall be called Webpaw." Froststar's eyes searched the Clan, perhaps seeking to meet the gaze of Webpaw's mentor. His eyes landed. "We all know of a brave warrior among us. Despite her recent struggles, Longfur and I consider her fit to be a mentor. Morningwing, you will train Webpaw with the same compassion Breezeheart has taught you. Your mentoring with Jaypaw was cut short, but this time, it will be you to teach Webpaw the path of a warrior."
Tinyheart gave her a hard nudge forward. Morningwing padded forth until she was a mere whisker-length away from her new apprentice. Webpaw was just as astound as she was, though he was quick to hide it. He wore a mask of joy, concealing his disappointment with ease. Morningwing didn't hide her own expression. Her eyes were wide and she knew shock was written on her face. She touched noses with Webpaw, as all mentors did with their apprentice, but she didn't say anything. The last time she had done this, she'd whispered 'You'll be an amazing warrior when I'm done with you' to Jaypaw. But her promise had fallen short. Scorchclaw was his mentor.
Featherfur and Prowlkit both showed similar signs of anger. Prowlkit bared his teeth at her. Featherfur's look was more of disappointment. Obviously she had spoken to Froststar and Longfur of this matter. She'd probably chosen Ravenclaw to be his mentor.
"Let us be grateful for the good things she's done," Longfur called to the surprised crowd. "She has proven her loyalty again and again."
Froststar nodded. "Now, Prowlkit, you are a great deal like your mother. She is very fierce and ambitious, much like what I've seen from you when you practice. As kin of such courageous parents, I would expect you to be a noble warrior as well. Until you have earned your warrior name, you shall be called Prowlpaw." His green eyes found the next lucky cat. "Redleaf, you will be mentor to Prowlpaw. I am proud to say you are one of my best warriors, always having brilliant ideas and battle strategies. Teach him the path of a warrior with the same devotion Longfur had with you."
As Redleaf padded to touch noses with Prowlpaw, SootClan began to chant the apprentices' names. The cheer was loud and overwhelming; it made Morningwing want to cover her ears. But she toughed it out, not wanting to be seen weak.
Morningwing had never really spoken to Redleaf in all her life. She knew he was obnoxious and therefore avoided him. No one wanted to be around a cat who thought he was leader. It hadn't helped that he'd been Longfur's apprentice. Redleaf thought he was superior to everyone, as if above a warrior but below the deputy. Morningwing was already not looking forward to training Webpaw with him.
"Hey, beautiful," Redleaf called, his persistent gaze holding Morningwing's. "Looks like killing Spikeheart paid off. Now you can have me."
~.~
While Redleaf was tempting with his insidious handsomeness, Morningwing couldn't even fathom why she was his prey. He could have just about any she-cat in SootClan. But it was she, the supposed killer of Spikeheart, who he was after. Maybe it was being so untouchable that appealed to him.
She did her best to usher Webpaw out of camp before Redleaf could follow. Because she hadn't been ready for getting a new apprentice, she knew she wouldn't take Webpaw out to see the territory today. It was already getting late, so she just wanted to help him get his nest all situated.
The two found an alder with moss gathered around one side. This will do. Morningwing signaled with her tail for Webpaw, as he was eyeing up SootClan grounds. His exploring would wait for tomorrow, though.
"Today we are simply gathering moss," Morningwing announced, "not only for your nest, but the elders' too."
Webpaw narrowed his eyes. He didn't say anything, just watched as she demonstrated how to use their claws to peel the moss. Morningwing's claws extended with ease, but it took Webpaw some practice with extending his claws fully. Morningwing found it odd, looking at his webbed paws. They reminded her of a duck.
"Can you make a promise?" Webpaw asked abruptly.
Morningwing nodded. "Of course I can! What do you take me for?" But she knew the answer. Everyone thought she was a selfish traitor who killed Spikeheart for one reason or another.
"Then promise me that you won't—" he took a mighty breath, his eyes flashing with fear, "—that you won't let whatever or whoever killed Spikeheart kill me."
Morningwing met his gaze confidently. "Webpaw, believe me when I tell you this: I won't let anything kill you. Spikeheart's death was tragic; I of all cats should know that. I wasn't able to save him. But I am ready now. I promise."
