Didn't expect me to post this so soon, eh? Well, I'm currently working on the next chapter, so expect that soon. ^-^
Captain Scar: Yeah...
Springflower: Heh. ^.^ :l I haven't been active on there... Of course, I still go on and stuff, but I usually don't stay long. I've been busy. "Busy" as in reflecting almost on what happened currently, reading, and working on this. So yeah, busy schedule, I'll try to go on sometime today.. If you're on as well, that is..
Enjoy Chapter 8!
~Frost
Ratberry's POV:
As soon as she heard the order, the two toms, Scorch and Aiko, leaped at her, their fangs bared as the two pinned her down; one on her right flank and the other at her left flank. Acting quickly, Ratberry thrusted a paw upwards into the underbelly of Aiko's, scoring a deep slash.
With Aiko out of the way for a moment, Ratberry quickly scrambled to her paws with Scorch still attacking every inch of her body that he could reach. She ducked another one of his attacks, swiping her claws over his muzzle. Hissing and shaking his head to clear the droplets of blood that were blinding him, he lunged once more, fastening his teeth on one of her hindlegs. Twisting around, she raked her jagged claws over his ear, leaving a deep nick in her wake.
Whirling around, she faced Aiko once more, her pelt nicked with multiple wounds dealt by Scorch. Making the first move, Aiko lunged at her, clearly aiming for her neck. Rearing up onto her hindlegs, she batted at the tom with her forepaws, sending him to the ground beside her.
Leaping backwards, she tackled Scorch to the ground, her claws digging into his shoulder blades as the white she-cat pinned him down. With both of the toms occupied, Ratberry sprang away from Scorch and met the leader's scorching yellow gaze furiously.
She stayed standing, her claws itching to drive themselves deep into the leader's neck. Though, she had to restrain herself from doing so, only glaring at the ginger tom once more before whirling around and running.
As the leader watched the white she-cat flee, Scorch and Aiko had recovered enough to stagger to their paws. "Should we go after her, sir?"
Crimson thought for a moment, the tip of his tail twitching irritably. "No, let her flee like the coward she is. Our business is done here." Scorch nodded in acknowledgement with Aiko dipping his head slightly. "Go get the others," Crimson ordered them both.
In their haste to do what their leader had said, the two cats stumbled to where the rest of the group had went before the whole ordeal had happened. Crimson watched Scorch and Aiko silently before resuming to turn over future ideas in his mind.
Whispers broke out as soon as the she-cat had uttered her name. Eyes flashing back and forth between their Clanmates and the she-cat, the Clan murmured in curiosity. Stormstar stayed silent, meeting Allira's gaze, judging whether she had come in peace or had simply stumbled upon their camp.
"And what exactly are you here for?" Jaycloud spoke, her voice smooth as she came to stand beside her leader.
The cold pale green gaze flashed to the dark-grey she-cat. "I wish to join your Clan," Allira responded calmly, her tail flickering quietly behind her.
The whispers continued, some indignant gazes still trained on Allira. Flicking his tail for silence, Stormstar inquired, allowing to let a little curiosity trickle into his voice, "Why would you want to join StormClan?"
At this, Allira barely shrugged, her expression neutral. "I have heard of the four Clans living in this forest. I mean you no harm, I simply wish to join."
"Why us in particular?" Jaycloud questioned curiously.
Allira shrugged again, remaining silent.
"Hmm.." Stormstar narrowed his blue eyes faintly. "You will be allowed to stay in the camp while me and my deputy," at this, Stormstar's tail gestured to Jaycloud beside him, "think if we shall let you join our Clan."
Inclining her head slightly, Allira nodded, casting a cold glance around the clearing, seeking out the ones who were still gawking at her.
"You will sleep in the warriors' den for now," the stormy-grey leader added, interrupting the dark brown she-cat's silent search.
"Very well," she replied curtly. The StormClan leader nodded tersely, motioning for Pebblestone and Jaycloud to come with him.
Watching the three cats heading into a den beside a tall rock, Allira stood in front of the entrance. "Hi!" a voice broke through her silent musing.
Glancing at the she-cat who had interrupted her, Allira replied warily, "Hello..."
"I'm Fleetpaw! Who are you?" the young she-cat asked excitedly, padding around the she-cat. Following her movements with a careful and guarded gaze, she answered, "I'm Allira."
"That's a weird name," Fleetpaw put in bluntly, coming to an abrupt halt in front of her.
Scowling, Allira fixed the young she-cat in her cold glare, the tip of her tail twitching slightly with suppressed anger.
Squirming underneath the intensity of the she-cat's glare, Fleetpaw added hastily, "I meant it's not weird, it's um.. interesting. It's not like normal warrior names." Shifting on each paw uncomfortably, Fleetpaw ducked her head shyly, her ears slowly flattening.
Rolling her eyes, Allira broke off the glare and resumed gazing at Fleetpaw with a spark of interest igniting in the depths of her orbs. "Um.. you're not very talkative, are you?" Fleetpaw asked meekly, glancing upwards.
"I'll talk whenever I desire," Allira scowled.
"Uh, right... Um, let me show you around the camp.." Fleetpaw stammered, straightening up as she moved to the front of the warriors' den.
Ignoring the curious and hostile glares that were directed toward her, Allira followed the gray and white she-cat silently. "This is the warriors' den," Fleetpaw gestured with a flick of her tail. "The apprentices' den is right next to it. There aren't very many apprentices, so it's usually Ripplepaw and me."
Allira acknowledged this with a slight nod, all the while remaining silent. Fleetpaw headed toward another den with Allira right on her heels. "This is the nursery, where expecting and nursing queens live," Fleetpaw explained. "There's only one nursing queen right now, and her kit is about to become an apprentice. Today, in fact."
Allira poked her head inside of the entrance, her gaze traveling over corner of the spacious cave. Her gaze lingering on the she-cat and what the dark brown she-cat assumed to be her kit, she ducked her head back outside.
"Come on, I'll show you the medicine cat den next," Fleetpaw declared excitedly.
"Alright," Allira responded curtly, following behind the apprentice as they came to a stop. In front of the den, a curtain of ivy and ferns stood before them, blocking any outsiders from seeing the inside of the cave. "This is Fernripple's den. She's our medicine cat; she's basically our healer, but she also communes with StarClan."
"StarClan?" Allira echoed, interested.
"Yep, StarClan." Fleetpaw nodded before explaining, "StarClan are our warrior ancestors. You can see them in Silverpelt when it's night. They watch over us and guide us in times of trouble."
"Are you her apprentice?" Allira asked, becoming more interested.
"Fernripple's? No! I'm training to be a warrior," at this, Fleetpaw puffed out her chest proudly. "If a kit shows a genuine interest in becoming a medicine cat apprentice, Fernripple will usually take that kit as her apprentice. But so far, she doesn't have one yet."
"Ah," Allira nodded in understanding.
"Oh, and that big rock that's beside Stormstar's den is the Highrock. It's where Stormstar makes important announcements and performs certain ceremonies. He'll be calling the Clan together soon, I think," Fleetpaw remarked, turning toward the Highrock. Flicking her tail toward the pile of prey that lay beside the Highrock, Fleetpaw added, "That's the fresh-kill pile. It's the duty of apprentices to deliver fresh-kill first to the elders and queens."
Allira acknowledged this with a slight nod, her gaze traveling around the camp clearing. Just as Fleetpaw finished wrapping up the brief tour, Stormstar, Jaycloud, and lastly, Pebblestone emerged from Stormstar's den.
The leader, with a strong leap, padded up the Highrock, starting to yowl the summoning words. "Let all cats old enough to hunt in stormy weather, gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!"
Allira watched curiously as the members of StormClan moved forward, almost as one, to sit beneath the Highrock. Feeling a slight nudge in her side, she glanced down to see Fleetpaw moving forward to sit beside a blue-grey she-cat that looked almost as young as Fleetpaw.
Silently, she sat in the back, her neutral gaze trained upon the leader.
"Today, we have gathered to perform one of my favorite ceremonies. Ivykit, step forward," Stormstar smiled. A brown she-kit stepped forward, her fur as sleek as it could be. Her bright blue eyes shined with excitement, though one, Allira could tell, was blind.
"Ivykit, you have reached the age of six moons and it is time for you to become an apprentice," Stormstar intoned, his clear blue gaze fixed upon the young cat. "From this day on, until you have received your warrior name, you shall be known as Ivypaw. Your mentor shall be," now his eyes sought one cat in particular, finally resting on one of the cats sitting around the Highrock. "Blackstone."
The jet black tom rose to his paws as he padded forward to stand beside Ivypaw. "You have shown yourself to be worthy of mentoring an apprentice. Teach Ivypaw all that you know." Blackstone dipped his head slightly to Stormstar before leaning forward and touching noses with Ivypaw, who was brimming with excitement.
Flicking his tail in amusement at her, mentor and apprentice both padded to the edge of the gathered cats who parted to make way.
"Now, unto more pressing matters," Stormstar stated, glancing at the she-cat whom he knew was sitting silently in the back. At this, hushed whispers started as the Clan caught on to what Stormstar had meant. "Allira, step forward."
Rising to her paws, she moved forward, coming to a stop in front of Stormstar who had picked his way down from the Highrock. "Allira, is it your wish to join StormClan?" "It is."
"Then, I shall deem it so. From this moment on, you shall be known as Shadefrost and you are now considered a StormClan warrior. Protect and defend this Clan with your life," Stormstar announced, dipping his head slightly to the dark brown she-cat who returned the gesture.
And so the chant began until the warriors of StormClan were up on their paws, yowling to their warrior ancestors above, the stars of the night beginning to appear, twinkling brightly in the growing dark sky as if in rejoice to the event currently happening. In accompaniment to the yowls coming from the StormClan camp, the birds joined the chorus, until it seemed like the whole forest was singing.
Ehh.. I didn't know what to put at the end, so I came up with that.. Yeah.. Hope you enjoyed and look out for Chapter 9 which is currently in progress still, but I'll hopefully be able to post it tomorrow or the day after. ^-^ Review what you want in the next chapter, as well!
~Frost