Hey Guys! Sorry I haven't been updating lately. I've been really busy, but I hope you enjoy Chapter Eight! From now on I will try to post every Saturday and possibly early Sunday morning. Remember to review!
DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own warriors. All rights go to Erin Hunter for creating the warrior world.
Chapter Eight
Russetpaw sat quietly in the snowy clearing at RiverClan camp. Most of her clanmates had gathered around to sit vigil for Minnowtail. The only cats not there were Flamepaw, who was still recovering, Creamfur, a queen bloated with kits, and Sweetclaw and Palenose, who were severely injured in the battle.
"Do you need me to treat your injuries?" A soft voice made Russetpaw turn to see Shellcloud with a bundle of herbs in her jaws.
"Yes, please. Can you check my paw?" The apprentice asked and gingerly held out the wound so the medicine cat could see it.
Shellcloud sniffed it and then pushed her nose gently to her swollen pad. Russetpaw winced as pain shot through her.
"It's sprained," Shellcloud concluded. "I'll wrap it up for you, but you need to stay off of it for a while. Check in with me every day so I can replace the bandage and see how you are healing." Russetpaw nodded as she watched Shellcloud put some kind of pulp onto her paw. She then wrapped it in comfrey leaves.
The silver tabby rubbed some herbs into Russetpaw's other scratches. "I'll need to replace these herbs every day, as well." Russetpaw watched Shellcloud as she spread horsetail onto her last wound. Her body seemed stiff and she moved around the apprentice with caution. Is there something wrong with me? Or is Shellcloud just acting strange because of the battle?
She shook her head, knowing that the medicine cat was probably just stressed from caring for the entire clan's injuries.
Glancing up, Russetpaw realized that the sun was sinking low under the horizon and the moon was slowly rising on the other side of the sky. Blizzardstar has to appoint a new deputy soon… she realized. The ginger apprentice looked around, trying to find the leader.
Blizzardstar was across the clearing with grief glowing in his clear eyes. I heard Minnowtail was a good friend of his. He's obviously really affected by her death.
Sighing, Russetpaw stood up and padded up to Sparkpaw. She hadn't spoken to her friend since before the battle.
"How are you?" Russetpaw meowed as she touched noses with the ginger-and-white apprentice.
"I'm good. I only got a few scratches," her friend replied, flicking her tail. "What about you?"
"Same as you, a few wounds. I sprained my paw," Russetpaw said. "And I'm really exhausted."
"Who do you think will be the new deputy?" Sparkpaw asked, turning to gaze at her mourning clan.
"Well, we have a lot of good warriors. I think it's between Tidetail, Rockwillow, and Tinywave." The dark ginger cat meowed, pointing her tail at the cats she named.
Sparkpaw nodded slowly, "Not Raventuft?"
Russetpaw's whiskers twitched a bit. "Raventuft makes a good warrior, but he has such a short temper that I don't think he could handle it for a day!"
The apprentices purred with amusement at Russetpaw's remark.
"Well, why do you think Tidetail, Rockwillow, and Tinywave seem like good cats for the role?" Sparkpaw inquired, glancing at the warriors.
"Well, Tidetail certainly has lots of experience, and the clan really respects him. The only downside is that he is getting old," Russetpaw meowed, watching the black-and-white warrior from across camp. "Rockwillow has less experience than Tidetail, but more experience than Tinywave, and she is still young. She is very fair and makes good decisions. Tinywave is very energetic and attached to her clanmates, which gives her an advantage. She is always ready for anything."
"Which one do you want to be deputy?" Sparkpaw asked.
Russetpaw could have gone on and on about who she thought should be deputy, but a sudden meow rang out before she could answer.
"All cats old enough to catch their own fish must join me now for a clan meeting!" yowled Blizzardstar.
"Blizzardstar! He's going to announce the deputy!" Come on, Russetpaw!" Sparkpaw cried ecstatically.
Slowly, the tired, grieving clan cats rose to their paws and gathered around their great leader.
"We fought a harsh battle today and I am proud of all of you. We won! That territory is now ours."
Happy yowls rose into the sky after Blizzardstar spoke.
"With joyful news also comes sad news. During the battle, we lost our beloved deputy, Minnowtail." Russetpaw could tell that her leader could barely choke out the words.
"So, I must appoint a new deputy," Blizzardstar continued slowly. "I Blizzardstar, leader of RiverClan, say these words before the body of Minnowtail so she may approve my choice before her journey to StarClan."
Every eye in the Clan was focused on the pure white tom as he spoke. Who will be the new deputy? The question seemed to hang in the crisp air as Blizzardstar continued.
"The new deputy of RiverClan will be Tinywave."
Russetpaw glanced at Tinywave, who seemed to be in utter shock and surprise. However, her stiff, awkward movement was quickly replaced with determination, fearlessly glowing in her eyes.
"This is an honor, Blizzardstar. I promise I will serve RiverClan to the best of my ability!" The blue-silver cat meowed, about to burst with pride.
"Minnowtail now lives among the stars, but RiverClan still lives on with our new deputy!" Blizzardstar yowl seemed to strike new strength into his cats.
"Tinywave! Tinywave! Tinywave!" Russetpaw cheered along with her clanmates, welcoming their new deputy with warm cries of congratulations.
Sparkpaw and Russetpaw were about to turn back to sit with Minnowtail's body when Raventuft stalked up to them.
Russetpaw narrowed her eyes at her mentor, whose eyes seemed to be blazing with anger. Shouldn't he be happy? Tinywave is his sister after all…
"You two don't have to sit with Minnowtail, since you weren't very close to her," He huffed, clearly in rage. "You can go ahead and get in your nests."
Russetpaw nodded stiffly and followed Sparkpaw into her den. She shot a quick glance at Raventuft to see him slip into the warrior's den. The apprentice's heart sank quickly, remembering that Minnowtail had been Raventuft's mentor. Why isn't he sitting vigil for her? What in the name of StarClan could Raventuft possibly be doing at night that is more important than respecting his dead mentor?
Russetpaw pushed her thoughts away as she yawned sleepily. I'll worry about this later… She grunted and slipped into her nest next to Sparkpaw. Ashpaw was already curled up in his nest, sound asleep.
Curling into a small ball, Russetpaw listened to the sounds of night. An owl hooted and she could hear the calm trickle of the stream's flowing water.
Usually these sounds would lull her to sleep quickly, but Russetpaw found herself wide awake. She fidgeted with the moss in her nest, churning up her bed.
Russetpaw tossed and turned for a while, trying to close her eyes for the night. I'm exhausted, so why can't I sleep?
Sighing, the ginger cat drew herself out of her nest and slipped out of the den silently.
She gulped in several mouthfuls of the crisp, chilly air. Russetpaw gazed up at Silverpelt. The mass of twinkling stars seemed to keep her at ease. I wonder if Minnowtail is up there now, looking down at our camp. Maybe my father, too.
Russetpaw inhaled deeply as she thought of her father. Of course, she had never known who he was. Many cats in the clan had told her that it was Hailfall, some warrior that had disappeared before she was kitted. Mistyfeather had never told her and Ashpaw anything, so Russetpaw was skeptical. My father must be out there somewhere… either in the stars or somewhere else.
"Can't sleep?" A familiar meow made Russetpaw whip around, startled.
"Oh, hey, Acornpelt," she meowed, embarrassment welling up inside of her. "Um, yeah, I couldn't - so I came out here."
To her surprise, a purr rose in his throat. "Neither can I. I just can't get comfortable."
Russetpaw rested her gaze on Acornpelt. His muzzle was pointed towards the stars, the moonlight reflecting on his deep amber eyes. A small sigh escaped him as a soft breeze ruffled his tabby fur.
"What's wrong?" Russetpaw inquired as Acornpelt turned to face her.
"Nothing. It's just that… well, whenever I look at the stars in the sky, I'm reminded of my parents. I… miss them sometimes," Acornpelt explained softly.
The ginger apprentice had never thought that such a strong, noble warrior could be so gentle. Russetpaw remembered that both of his parents had died when he was only a kit.
Padding a bit closer to her, Acornpelt locked his gaze with Russetpaw, his eyes glowing, "Do you ever wonder… if they are watching us?"
Though Acornpelt never told Russetpaw who he was really mewing about, she knew what he was implying.
She glanced away, looking at the ground, "I-I don't know, but I know they still care and are out there somewhere."
Russetpaw's pelt was growing hotter by the second. Talking with Acornpelt filled her with too many feelings all at once, so she quickly changed the subject.
"Bet I can bet you to the lake!"
"Bet you can't!" Acornpelt's eyes glowed, but before he could do anything, Russetpaw bolted out of camp.
Her whiskers twitched with amusement as she raced into the forest. She gulped in the clear air, her lungs rejoicing as she glided into the river. Hearing something lumbering behind her, she swam across strongly, the current tugging at her pelt. Even as a RiverClan cat, Russetpaw was never completely at ease in water, especially after the incident with Flamepaw. Relief swept over her when she felt her paws graze the pebbles that dotted the stream's rough bottom.
Russetpaw sank into the cool snow when she slipped out of the river, leaving deep paw prints behind her. Grunting, she shook out her ginger fur, spraying freezing water everywhere.
Acornpelt got out behind her, muttering a bit about the wetness that soaked him to his skin. Russetpaw purred and bounded along the bank.
"I told you couldn't catch me!" The apprentice called to her friend as she broke into a run.
Acornpelt growled playfully and chased after her, flinging up snow in his wake.
Russetpaw nimbly ducked through the undergrowth, her ears flicking as they picked up Acornpelt's grunts of frustration. She would slow for awhile, letting the tabby catch up, before speeding off into the forest again.
The ginger she-cat realized that it was a lot easier for her to maneuver through the undergrowth than Acornpelt. Her slim and smaller frame helped her dart underneath brush, unlike her warrior friend's stocky build.
Finally, the lake came into view. The silver moon above cast beautiful reflections into the water's eerie blue depths. Russetpaw couldn't help admiring the sight.
Her ear twitched as a small rustle in the undergrowth made her turn. She purred when Acornpelt appeared from the bushes.
"Ha! I beat you!" She meowed triumphantly, flicking her tail over his ears.
"Yeah, but can you beat this?" He growled playfully and leapt at her.
Russetpaw squeaked in surprised as Acornpelt barreled her into the snow. He pushed her into the ground, icy crystals clinging to her ginger fur.
"Get off me, you great lump!" She hissed angrily, though her eyes were brimming with excitement.
"Not until you give in!" Acornpelt responded, gently pushing her further into the snow.
"Never!" she said, and then gave him an enormous push with her back legs, flinging the tabby off of her.
Russetpaw quickly drew herself out of the snow, letting Acornpelt stand up, too. The fur on the right side of his face was flattened unnaturally and the apprentice let out a mrrow of amusement. Acornpelt looked embarrassed and drew his paw over his muzzle to straighten the fur.
Russetpaw padded past him and sat at the base of a oak tree, where roots entangled each other before dipping low into the ground.
"I'll race you to the top," she meowed teasingly to Acornpelt.
"I'm not a squirrel! RiverClan cats swim, not climb," The tabby retorted, while Russetpaw's whiskers twitched.
"All cats can climb." The ginger she-cat looked up at the tree. "Or are you a coward?" she teased.
"I'm no coward." Acornpelt grunted and then jumped onto the oak's thick trunk, his claws digging into the bark. Acornpelt didn't move, his joints stiff with uncertainty.
"You're not going to climb a tree like that!" Russetpaw purred as she clawed up the trunk, passing him.
Raventuft had given her a brief climbing lesson, but he didn't know that his apprentice had practiced the skill many times afterward. Being up in the leafy heights of the trees still felt a little unnatural for Russetpaw, but she was definitely more at ease with climbing than her other clanmates were.
The ginger she-cat hurled herself toward the nearest branch, digging her claws into it for a better grip.
"You coming?" she asked Acornpelt. The tom looked skeptical for a heartbeat before determination blazed in his eyes. The tabby warrior leaped up next to Russetpaw.
"Let's go!" He meowed, following the apprentice onto the next branch. The pair of cats leapt up the tree together, the branches growing smaller and smaller. Russetpaw came to a halt on a slender branch, realizing the ones above her wouldn't hold their combined weight.
"Come up here," She meowed down toward Acornpelt, who was struggling a few tail-lengths below her.
The tabby warrior looked up at her and gave a explosive leap, landing right next to Russetpaw. His weight made the branch sway and Acornpelt froze with fear.
Russetpaw purred and rested her tail tip on his flank. "Don't worry; this branch is strong enough to support both of us."
The tabby relaxed a bit, but his movement was still stiff and he glanced around cautiously.
"Quit being a scaredy-mouse and look this way!" Russetpaw meowed, gesturing with her tail.
Acornpelt turned his head to look. He gasped with awe when he did.
Beyond the tree's cold, leafless branches was a view that could take a cat's breath away. Below them was the lake, sparkling in the starlight. It looked like a small puddle from where they were.
"It's beautiful," Acornpelt breathed as a soft breeze ruffled his fur.
Russetpaw nodded. She loved coming up here. It was the perfect place to relax and get away from busy clan life.
"You can see all the clan territories too!" Acornpelt went on. "Over there is Shadowclan and then WindClan down there- Oh! I can see the island!"
Russetpaw purred contentedly as Acornpelt turned his head to look at her. His eyes were soft and full of warmth as he spoke to her.
"Thank you for bringing me here, Russetpaw… It's been a night I'll never forget."
The apprentice's fur grew hot as Acornpelt drew closer to her. Their fur brushed ever so slightly, making Russetpaw squirm under her pelt.
For a quick instance, Russetpaw leaned into Acornpelt, her head resting on his shoulder. Her ginger fur melted into his dark tabby pelt before she drew away.
Acornpelt was startled for a second. Oh no… what have I done? Russetpaw felt shame rushing through her. Sparkpaw must have been wrong - he doesn't like me like that!
Russetpaw was about to turn away when Acornpelt broke into a rumbling purr. Relief washed over the apprentice as she pressed into his warm fur.
Together, they sat in silence, watching the stars gleam above them. Tonight couldn't have been more perfect… Russetpaw relaxed next to Acornpelt as the sounds of night washed over them, the battle just hours before completely forgotten.