A panther's black pelt will cover the honeymoon and stars, the clouds will turn black and the night shall last forever...
Pantherpelt joins Nightclan! Does anyone mind if the next chapter is three weeks later? Nope? No-one? Good!
Chapter 7 - Nightclan
7 moon rises since last time.
As Pantherpelt woke and excited feeling filled her belly. Today she was going to Nightclan. She had learned everyone's names and Shadow had taught her how to fight. She crept out of the warrior's den and picked up a piece of fresh kill. She had just finished when Mousepaw bounded up to her.
"Pantherpelt! Are we learning to fight again today?" he asked, clearly he had been up for ages.
"Well, today I think we're taking a break." She said. He looked confused
"For how long?"
"Erm, just for a day." She meowed, trying to get him to go away
"Is Opalpaw taking a break?" he said back immediately
"Well...no." she said awkwardly, while walking away from him
"Then why are we?" he meowed again. It was getting very annoying
"Because..." she couldn't think of anything. Why would anyone not mentor someone? "I have to go on a journey."
Mousepaw gasped "Why?"
"Starclan sent me a prophecy." She said while still walking towards no-where
"Really! What did they say?" he asked in awe. Pantherpelt decided to make it up.
"A panther's pelt will go towards the forest of...secrets where...no mouse may follow." She said, struggling
"Mouse! That's me!" he practically screamed and ran towards the apprentice's den.
Oh great. Now I'll have to leave right now, instead of tonight. She thought
She checked there was no-one else around and slipped into the black forest that lead to Nightclan. The fallen leaves pressed softly on her paws as she walked slowly. The forest was much larger than she had thought. Finally she arrived at their clearing. She stayed in the forest, just watching for a while, seeing who she could recognise.
Firebreath was fighting with Jetpaw, then Pantherpelt realised they were training.
Oh. So that's who Jetpaw's mentor is.
Beyond that, Slatefur and Darkstar were talking worriedly and she spied Blueheart talking to a very bored looking Shadowpelt.
I can't talk to Slatefur or Darkstar when they're talking. No, actually when they're together would be best. Can I do it in front of everyone? She worried, but then her heart filled itself with courage.
She walked right through the clearing, her head held high, but not too high. All the cats stopped talking and stared at her, she especially notice Shadowpelt's eyes gouging into her. Darkstar looked unimpressed.
"Who are you?" His voice wasn't cold at all. It was very clear and sounded young, completely the opposite of what she had expected
"I am Pantherpelt. I have come to ask for your agreement in me joining Nightclan." She said, her voice luckily didn't break.
"Well. I won't be prejudice about where you came from. Where did you come from?" he meowed back
"Cloudclan." She said and wondered if she should have lied. She didn't want to seem soft.
"Ha. Well. You're welcome to stay for one moon, after which you may be escorted into the apprentices den, just to see whether you are worthy to be there." He said and some cats chuckled. Should she thank him?
"Just to let you know, you are to be treated like a loner till that day comes, so you are called Panther and will catch your own prey, and sleep outside." She wasn't surprised at all and that seemed to shock him a bit.
"Naturally." She said only and went over to a comfy looking bit of moss round the edge of the clearing. He looked surprised further and everyone continued talking, but a lot less. She saw Shadowpelt go over to her.
"What are you doing here?" he said, his eyes still wide
"Isn't it obvious? Joining Nightclan." She said and turned her head from him
"Yeah, but why?" he asked like only that bit was obvious
"Because I belong here."
"Huh." He meowed and she looked at him sternly
"You'll see. I'll be more of a warrior than you could've ever imagined." She left then to go hunting for herself.
Just seven moon rises later Slatefur said "Hey. Panther. It's really cold out. Sleep in here tonight"
"Thanks" Pantherpelt said and went over to Slatefur's den.
"Well. You've survived so far, Panther." Shadow said
"Call me Pantherpelt." She meowed back
"But you need to befriend Blueheart. Don't forget that."
"Yes, I haven't. I'll work on that, but I've got plenty of time. Don't you think I should wait until I'm Pantherpaw at least?"
"No. Actually yes, because they don't know you know about the killing thing. Just be nice to her now, and then be friendly later." Shadow said and disappeared into Slatefur.
"Hi. Sleep well?" she asked as she was making some remedies.
"Yes, fine thanks." She paused. "Do you want me to catch you some fresh kill?" Slatefur shook her head.
"No, I'll get some later. Hey, you know that Riverkit and Talonkit are being made apprentices today and I think that Riverkit's going to be my apprentice." She said
"Wow. That's great Slatefur." Pantherpelt left Slatefur's den to go catch her own prey.
As she was in the forest she saw Jetpaw watching her.
"Do you want something?" she said when he was behind her.
"What? Oh um...no" he said. She turned to face him
"Then why are you staring at me?"
"It's just. You're new." He said awkwardly
"Wasn't Icewish new?"
"Well, yeah but. She was a different colour. I always thought Cloudclan cats were really light. You're as black as me."
"Any other reason?" she prompted.
"Well..." he looked down "Shadowpelt seems to like you more than my mother." Pantherpelt was surprised
"Really?"
"Well, yeah Panther. Actually I don't think he likes my mother at all." She empathised him.
"Don't worry. It doesn't matter as long as you're going to show him that YOU are the best warrior-ever." He brightened up.
"Yeah." Then he suddenly realised who he was talking to. "Hey, why am I talking to you?" and left. She sighed and carried on hunting.
Thanks so much for reading! Really appreciate it!
