CHAPTER 9
Redkit jumped on Mothkit and she backed away quickly, quivering she bumped into Dawnpool who dropped herbs everywhere.
"Sorry Dawnpool!" Mothkit squealed. "Here, let me help you!"
My eyes glowed as I watched the kit quickly pick up the herbs and give them to her.
"Russettail?" Redkit's voice broke my thoughts off and I turned to him.
"Yes?" He looked a lot like Redclaw who had been dead for several moons now.
"Isn't tonight a Gathering? Because if it is I want you to tell me everything that happens when you return!" he announced with shining eyes.
"Of course Redkit." I dipped my head and smiled at him. "Your wish is my command!"
He squealed and tackled Mothkit and they rolled away.
I walked to the medicine den and glanced around. "Dawnpool? Are you in here? Hello?"
"Right here Russettail. What do you need?" She only gave me a quick glance and continued to sort her herbs.
"Do you think Redkit could be the Third cat?" he asked as he tilted his head.
His sister stopped and looked at him. "I haven't really thought about the prophecy in a while… After Hawkheart died I sort of put everything else on hold..." she admitted.
"What prophecy?" Mothkit's head popped out of the back den.
I closed my eyes and shook my head. Dawnpool, you rabbit-brain! I thought. "We didn't say anything about a prophecy," I said.
Dawnpool blinked as if she silently wished she hadn't said anything. "You can go now Mothkit."
The kit bounced out of the den, squealing.
"All those who can catch rabbits join here beneath the Tallrock for a Clan meeting!" Reedstar yowled.
Russettail turned around, Dawnpool following behind slowly.
When everyone had entered the clearing and settled down and Reedstar continued, "ThunderClan was caught on WindClan territory stealing prey. Cloudpool informed me this morning. Talltail, Russettail and Flowerwhisker, I want you to goto their camp and warn them away."
Talltail dipped his head. "And if they refuse, Reedstar?"
"Then tell them if we see them on our territory again, we'll rip them to shreds," he growled and jumped down from the rock and disappeared into the crowd.
I flicked my tail and gathered the patrol and we quickly left the camp.
We headed towards the Steppe where Reedstar sat silently, only nodding to us and focusing back on the sky above.
Passing him I heard Flowerwhisker mumble something in Talltail's ear.
"Do we have a problem?" I asked, turning around to face them with glaring eyes.
Flowerwhisker shook her head and shoved past me, walking ahead Talltail fell in step beside me as we followed the younger she-cat.
"You don't have to be so hard on her, Russettail.." he whispered.
"But if I don't then she'll think she can do what she wants when she wants to. And Reedstar won't very happy with anyone," I replied as we passed the Flatlands.
"I know you're upset that Dawnpool had the courage to invite her into the Clan and you wouldn't have."
"You're right, but that doesn't change how I feel about her in the Clan," I growled and watched Bluefur lead Patchpelt and Smallear our way.
"Hello, Russettail," Smallear said kindly, giving us a nod.
"What can we help you with?" Bluefur growled.
"We wish to see Sunstar immediately!" I ordered with a stern face.
Patchpelt nodded before Bluefur could reply. "Follow us please." He turned around and raced toward the camp.
The WindClan cats entered the ThunderClan camp, glancing around besides Russettail who was staring straight ahead at the ThunderClan leader who looked back completely dumb-founded.
"Sunstar, I wish to speak with you. Alone," I demanded shooting a glance at Talltail and Flowerwhisker who stayed quiet.
He shook his head. "Whatever you have to say to me can be told to my Clan as well," Sunstar replied calmly.
"If you wish," I snorted. "WindClan has seen three ThunderClan cats travel on to our land and steal our prey!" Russettail turned to the group of cats.
Gasps of disbelief rang out in the clearing.
"And I can name them to." My eyes flashed and Sunstar had a guilty look on his face.
Swiftbreeze, Adderfang and what looked like an elder flinched and turned away.
Russettail walked to the elder. "What is your name?"
"Mumblefoot," he said, looking at the ground and shifting his paws with great embarrassment.
"One!" I shouted and faced Swiftbreeze. "Two!" I hissed in her face and turned to Adderfang who was glaring at me with pure hatred. "Three."
"Are you accusing my warriors in their camp?" Sunstar questioned.
"Yes, yes I am." He looked at him levelly and caught Talltail's eyes that were full of excitement.
"I told you I'd get you," Adderfang hissed and then lunged and I stepped out of the way and he fell to the ground.
"Get your warriors under control, do you understand?"
The leader dipped his head. "With all due respect, I cannot control them like you may think I can."
"Well if you don't control them, WindClan will. Because if we see one warrior put a hair over the border, we will rip them to shreds." I grinned and flicked my tail at my warriors. "Good luck." And we exited the camp.
Silverhawk's eyes made me jumped back and I felt like I'd had a heart attack.
"That was very brave what you did at ThunderClan camp," he said with a wink of an eye.
"I did it for my Clan. Not for your entertainment!" Russettail retorted, lashing his brown tail.
The Dark Forest cat nodded. "I know who you did it for and I know why. But now it is time for you to become a real warrior, so you may train the apprentices here."
"Apprentices?" My eyes light up in surprise. "You mean there are only apprentices?"
"Well, there are some like you that call themselves warriors but they are not truly warriors. They must kill something to get there name," he explained and pushed Redclaw out of a bush.
I gaped at him. "Dad?!"
"Kill me!" he growled. "Do it! Please kill me now!" he begged.
"You heard him. Kill Redclaw or be killed. Your choice. Either way it's still going to hurt for you," Silverhawk commanded.
My father closed his eyes. "Do it quickly."
Russettail swallowed and shot his paw out, feeling blood on his claws he ripped them out of his father's throat and his body disappeared.
"That was perfect!" Silverhawk mewed. "If you have the guts to kill you father then you can kill anyone!"
But his praise made him feel worse than he already did.
"Let all cats old enough to kill their own enemies gather here!" I heard a loud and strong but confident voice call and Silverhawk quickly raced through the bushes and I followed.
A muscular, broad-shouldered, dark brown tabby tom with unusually long front claws stood on a large rock, eyes gleaming.
Lots of familiar cats gathered beneath the large rock, looking around curiously at their Clanmates and others from different Clans.
"We have a new warrior among us. Russettail, step forward! He completed his training and will now mentor all of you apprentices. Your main apprentice is Volepaw," the tom announced.
I looked at the RiverClan cat with fear. Instantly I knew I couldn't put him through what Silverhawk put me through. But I touched his nose anyhow.
"We will do a group activity first," Silverhawk mewed. "Partner up but every mentor come here."
"Go be Hollyflower's partner, tell her I sent you." I pushed Volepaw towards her and then trotted to Silverhawk and the others.
"What exercise?" Adderfang asked, giving me an approving nod.
"They're going to climb trees, trusting there partner to catch them on the way down," the large tom that was on the rock mewed.
"And if the partner misses?" a dark gray tabby tom with black stripes asked with happily gleaming eyes.
"Then the one in the tree must fight them!" Antpelt hissed excited now.
"Tigerstar," Mapleshade said to the large tom, "tomorrow I want Russettail and I to control the water training, understood?"
He nodded. "Spread out and watch and give pointers." Tigerstar walked away towards Hollyflower and Volepaw.
I walked to Scratchtail and Pikestar. "What you'll be doing is one of you will climb a tree and the other must catch the one in the tree. And if the one jumping touches the ground, you get a surprise."
"I call the catching!" Scratchtail growled, pushing Pikestar towards the tree, winking at me in the process.
Pikestar climbed the tree easily and went up four branches and faced Scratchtail. "Go!" he called and jumped.
Scratchtail caught the leader on his back and I glanced at Hollyflower and Volepaw.
Volepaw was in the tree, his eyes wide he jumped and Hollyflower missed catching him and Tigerstar growled something in the apprentice's ear and he darted forward, lashing at her muzzle.
Hollyflower was surprised at the blow and fell over. Then he jumped on her and bit her shoulder and pushed her into a tree. "You should've caught me you rat-brain!"
Russettail rushed over to Tigerstar. "Are you going to let him kill her?!"
He nodded. "If he feels like it. Whatever your apprentices feels he may go for it!"
I hissed and jumped, landing on Volepaw's back. "Next time don't be too needy and aim better!"
The ShadowClan she-cat stood up, breathing heavily she looked at Tigerstar. "You call yourself a leader?! More like an apprentice with a losing streak!"
Tigerstar looked at her calmly. "Antpelt will teach you your lesson later." He yowled, "Everyone may go back your nests. Remember, tomorrow is water training!"
Scratchtail raced past me and I followed him, closing my eyes while running.
Reedstar led me through a hole and I watched the RiverClan cats with interest.
With such cold weather Reedstar wanted to check on the other Clan to make sure they weren't going to harm us before tonight's Gathering. Tonight's Gathering also meant no Dark Forest!
Volepaw entered the clearing with some big fish in his jaws, Lilystem following behind her apprentice.
I wondered how Hollyflower was doing, her Clan had no spies because we were allies but I had kind of hoped we'd send some cats over there.
Scratchtail and Cherryheart were sent over to ThunderClan to spy and come home with loads of information.
Crookedjaw exited the medicine den, his shoulder bleeding and his muzzle all scratched up. Ottersplash follow after, her pelt looked like one of the Dark Forest cats raked there claws through her pelt. Which is probably what happened.
Brambleberry looked tired as she applied herbs to the cats and Hailstar shakily walked over to her.
"Will they be already? We can't afford to lose another great warrior this Leaf-bare," he mumbled, struggling to stay on his paws.
"The question is will you be okay? You seem to be dying right now!" Brambleberry shooed him to the medicine den and continued to work on Crookedjaw and Ottersplash.
Reedstar turned around. "Come on, its time to get back to camp." He sprinted away and I glanced back at Volepaw.
"Of course Lilystem. Right away." He dipped his head respectfully and then bounded out of camp.
I quickly sprinted after Reedstar and followed his tracks back to camp where he slowed down.
Russettail entered camp. Reedstar, Scratchtail, Cherryheart and Cloudpool were talking quietly while the Clan busily made the camp stronger.
"Excuse me!" Redkit purred, slipping under me, carrying a stick to Talltail and Mothkit.
"Russettail, come help our group!" Dawnstripe called, flicking her tail towards the fresh-kill pile.
I bounced over. "What about it?"
"Cloudpool wants us to burry some prey like the ThunderClan cats do. It saves prey and keeps us from starving!" Flowerwhisker explained quickly.
Whitefang was helping Dawnpool sort herbs little ways away and I could hear him mumbling to her softly.
"So what're you and Russettail going to do about the prophecy? Or have you not decided yet?"
I felt myself get angry and frustrated. Dawnpool told Whitefang?! Nodding at Dawnstripe and began to dig the hole but waited for Dawnpool's response.
She hesitated. "Russettail doesn't want to do anything about it… He thinks we should figure out the cat really quickly and then do our destiny."
That's not true! Don't act like you know everything! My eyes narrowed and I dug faster, hitting Whitefang with lot of dirt on purpose.
"Russettail! Russettail stop!" Flowerwhisker tackled me and I fell to the ground.
"Is he alright?!" Dawnstripe gasped and then darted towards a large pile of dirt.
"What is wrong with you!?" Dawnpool hissed in my ear, her voice full of anger and disgust.
"Sorry…" I muttered and walked to the warriors den to sleep before the Gathering.
"Finally, he's here!" Tigerstar growled, staring at me with cold eyes.
Mapleshade, Antpelt, Thistleclaw, Silverhawk and Adderfang stood in a circle, their eyes narrowed to slits while Darkstripe sat a few tail lengths away.
"Mapleshade and Russettail will be leading the water training today and tomorrow. You will be watching the apprentices fight in the water, using battle moves. Make sure they don't die, got it?" Silverhawk asked.
"Of course," Mapleshade spat.
The apprentices entered and began talking to one another and I caught Volepaw's eye.
He came to me and tilted his head. "Any tips on today's water battle? Like… who should I be with?"
My eyes searched the crowd and I realized that every apprentice was here. "Patchpelt. He's ThunderClan and ThunderClan cats hate water. So he'll be pretty bad."
Volepaw dipped his head and walked to the warrior and they began talking.
"Alright! Time to begin the training!" Mapleshade yowled. "Russettail, you can have Volepaw and Patchpelt and Crookedjaw and Scratchtail. I'll have the others."
I nodded in agreement. "Everyone in the water!" I commanded and walked with my cats to the mucky green water.
Volepaw and Crookedjaw jumped in and swam around and Patchpelt hesitated but jumped in.
"I can't do this," Scratchtail muttered. "I'm not a good swimmer."
Russettail felt Tigerstar's eyes on him. "Suck it up and get in the water!" I growled and shoved him in.
Scratchtail stayed above surface easily, his eyes glimmered in confusion as he got ready to start the training.
"Go!" Mapleshade and I shouted at the same time and then Volepaw's head disappeared almost instantly.
Patchpelt went under water and Volepaw came back up, obviously standing on Patchpelt.
The older tom escaped and the apprentice fell into the water where Patchpelt bit his shoulder, ripping it open.
Crookedjaw was pinned against the bank line while Scratchtail ripped into his stomach. I could see his blood pouring into the water.
Volepaw was fighting Patchpelt viciously but the ThunderClan tom was destroying him while trying to keep his head above the murky green gross water.
"Stop!" I growled at my group and they all climbed out of the water. "Scratchtail and Patchpelt, you two are the winners and you choose if the losers fight, or get Tigerstar's charges."
"Tigerstar's charges," Patchpelt growled and Scratchtail nodded in agreement.
"Follow me," I ordered Volepaw and Crookedjaw and walked to Tigerstar who was watching me.
"Volepaw, go fight Darkstripe and Silverhawk. Crookedjaw, you go fight Adderfang and Antpelt," he commanded without even thinking.
"They'll get torn up!" I commented as they walked away. "Why make them do that?"
"So they'll grow stronger. Sure, it'll hurt, but they need to learn that fighting is dangerous and you can die." Volepaw's yowl of pain and anger cut him off and then he continued, "You may go now, Russettail."
I glanced at Volepaw and nodded, then closed my eyes.
"Russettail, come on. You got to go to the Gathering!" Cloudpool mewed and then slid out of the den and I followed.
Stretching I padded to where Reedstar was quickly leading the other cats out of camp and we broke into run.
Dawnpool, Whitefang, Scratchtail, Flowerwhisker, Cherryheart and Cloudpool were with us tonight.
We stopped at the edge of Fourtrees, looking down at RiverClan and RiverClan only.
We raced into the clearing and I saw ThunderClan-Bluefur leading them-enter the clearing after us, their teeth bared.
Pikestar led ShadowClan into the clearing and he jumped onto the Greatrock.
"This Gathering will begin now!" Bluefur yowled, jumping onto the Greatrock.
"Bluefur, where's Sunstar?" Hailstar asked, glancing at the she-cat.
"He has passed away and I have taken his place as leader," she replied calmly.
"RiverClan welcomes you, Bluestar." He dipped his head. "RiverClan is doing well. The twolegs have moved away as Leaf-bare gets worse. But we have plenty of prey and we're healthy."
Reedstar stepped forward. "We have three knew warriors: Scratchtail, Flowerwhisker and Whitefang!" he announced and cheers came from WindClan, ShadowClan and RiverClan. "We're very strong and prepared for any attacks." He sent a glance at Bluestar. "Welcome Bluestar!"
"Thank you, Heatherstar," Bluestar said calmly. "After Sunstar's death Honeykit became Honeypaw and Leopardfoot moved back to the warriors den. Our new deputy is Adderfang!"
Adderfang stepped forward from the shadows under the Greatrock. "I promise to be loyal and to take Bluestar's place after she passes." He looked at me and winked, an evil grin spreading across his face.
I swallowed my terror and watched Pikestar step forward.
"ShadowClan welcomes you, Bluestar. But perhaps you'd like to share Sunstar's death with us, hm? After all, he was a great friend of mine," Pikestar mewed, glancing at the new leader.
"You have no right to question my leader's death!" Bluestar growled, neck fur bristling.
"Then I was wrong? Larksong and a bunch of rouges didn't try to kill him?" Lots of gasps spread through the Clans.
"H-how do you know that?" Bluestar's eyes were wide with fear.
"Lets just say I have my ways," he replied calmly, glancing down at Patchpelt. "So is it true?"
"Stop talking about my leader like he is a fool!" she snarled.
"Is?" Pikestar seemed puzzled. "Does that mean he's still alive?" He tilted his head, grinning.
"What?! No! Larksong killed him, scratch down the belly! Of course we chased the rouges off and-" Bluestar stopped dead when she realized she'd admitted her Clan was weak.
The ShadowClan leader faced her. "Not feeling so clever now, are we?" He laughed and shoved her off the Greatrock. "ShadowClan, attack ThunderClan and ThunderClan only!"
More ShadowClan cats poured into the clearing, attacking the outnumbered ThunderClan cats.
"Stop! Stop it now!" I heard the medicine cats shouting as the truce was broken.
I backed up into Ottersplash. "Sorry!" I mumbled.
"You did well on tonight's training," she said in my ear. "You should be my mentor." Her eyes flashed and she lunged into the crowd, ripping at a ThunderClan cats ears.
My heart stopped and Reedstar stayed where he was on the Greatrock, completely surprised at the attack.
Russettail jumped on the Greatrock. "Reedstar, we need to go. Now!" I growled and shoved him towards WindClan territory.
He stumbled but caught his balance. "WindClan, back to camp!" he screeched and raced into the bushes.
I stopped and watched fleeing WindClan cats and then caught Hollyflower's painful eyes.
Knowing I couldn't leave her under Tawnyspots' sharp claws I darted forward and tackled him. "This is for the prey!" I hissed and bit his neck and he raced off.
"You alright?" Hollyflower was beside me suddenly.
"Yeah… What about you?" Looking at her I saw the blood coming down her chest and stomach. "What is all this about?"
"Pikestar wanted action. He made friends with everyone in the other Clans but ThunderClan refused, so he made the other Clans attack ThunderClan. It's a pretty great plan!" she explained.
"He can't take the other Clans over unless.." I froze. "Unless I become leader, Adderfang becomes leader, and Patchpelt becomes leader." My heart pounded and I felt okay with it for some reason.
I raced away quickly, my heart pounding I could smell the WindClan cat's fear leading a trail back to camp.
"Russettail, was the fighting doing down?" Reedstar asked, stepping forward.
"No. They are still fighting like wild dogs!" I grunted and glanced behind me to see Cloudpool enter.
"Everyone get to sleep. Dawnstripe will keep watch and at dawn Talltail will take her place. Two warriors must remain in came for the time being, and StarClan be with you.." Reedstar walked to his den and disappeared inside.
Everyone spreaded out, going to their dens and as I curled up I hoped Tigerstar wouldn't come to me.
My eyes opened and I crawled out of the den, careful not to step on Dawnstripe who was sound asleep.
"I call a Clan meeting!" The leader's eyes were full of distress.
I quickly gathered, looking up at him with pricked ears.
"Mothkit and Redkit, step forward!" he commanded and they stepped forward. "Redkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Redpaw. Your mentor will be Russettail. I hope Russettail will pass down all he knows on to you." Reedstar nodded at me.
Quickly, I stepped forward.
"Russettail, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from me, and you have shown yourself to be strong and loyal. You will be the mentor of Redpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him," Reedstar mewed.
I touched my nose to Redpaw's and led him to the front of the front, my heart pounding.
"Mothkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Mothpaw. Your mentor will be Dawnpool. I hope Dawnpool will pass down all she knows on to you." He dipped his head at my sister.
Dawnpool stepped forward and faced her leader.
"Dawnpool, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Hawkheart, and you have shown yourself to be intelligent and a great thinker. You will be the mentor of Mothpaw and I expect you to pass on all you know to her."
She touched her nose to Mothpaw's and then walked away.
"Redpaw! Mothpaw! Redpaw! Mothpaw!" the Clan cheered.
"Cloudpool will be making border patrols. So get to work!" Reedstar jumped down from the Tallrock.
"What're we going to do first, Russettail?" Redpaw asked, bouncing up and down.
"Explore the territory," I mewed after hesitating.
"Awesome!" he squealed. "Come on!"
I followed after him as he raced to the entrance, but slowed down when we reached the outside of camp.
Cinderleaf walked past me. "Good luck!" she shouted, leading Cherryheart and Scratchtail towards the ShadowClan border.
"We'll cover the RiverClan and ThunderClan border today," I decided, "and tomorrow will be the ShadowClan and unclaimed territory."
He nodded. "Sounds like a plan!" Redpaw walked beside me, keeping my fast pace as if it was nothing.
A dark shape appeared beside him and I could barely make out the faint cat. Tigerstar! You can't have him! I bared my teeth at him and he disappeared.
"Whats wrong?" Redpaw asked, looking around.
I shook my head. "Nothing… Let's just keep going.. But keep your eyes open."