Hey quick question: Which elder do you guys like better: Grassblade the friendly and mother-like she-cat or Shadownight the mysterious and quiet tom?
Let me know because it's going to be important!
Chapter 10: For Whom the Bells Toll
Stormpaw blinked her eyes slowly and raised her head. What happened? . . . Minnowpaw!
"Stormpaw you're finally awake," Sweetwind padded over from the herb storage.
"How long was I out?" the gray apprentice winced.
"Just about a day, I treated your leg but it looks like the bone is broken; I'm afraid you'll have to remain in the medicine den until it heals," Sweetwind stared with sympathy at the younger cat.
"What about my training? I'll have fallen so behind!" Stormpaw lowered in ears in sadness.
"I'm sorry Stormpaw but I cannot permit you to leave the medicine den until I am sure the bone is better," Sweetwind shook her head.
Suddenly a head peered into the den, "Stormpaw!" Drizzlepaw bounded into the den.
Sweetwind seemed to get that Stormpaw needed to be caught up in the Clan happenings so she quietly excused herself and padded into the clearing.
"Drizzlepaw what happened after I blacked out?" Stormpaw peered anxiously at the blue-gray tom.
Drizzlepaw lowered his head, "All of the apprentices now have to remain in camp for a moon . . . well Fernpaw and Mistpaw get to come and go as they please since they didn't go to the apprentices' Gathering."
Stormpaw sighed, "Well I have to stay in this stupid medicine den until my leg heals anyways. So at least you guys won't get too far ahead in your training without me," she grinned weakly.
"After the fight I wish I had been unconscious like you! The leaders started yelling and fighting with the apprentices and each other! ThornClan was especially looking for a fight; Cloudstar was furious about the death of her daughter," Drizzlepaw shook his fur as if reliving the sour memory.
"Minnowpaw was her daughter?"
Drizzlepaw nodded and lowered his head sadly. "But Minnowpaw was such an opposite of her mother . . . she was lively and spirited . . ." Stormpaw stared at the ground with sadness.
The tom shrugged and sighed, "So I hear you're around your second moon of training? That's good, usually you train to be a warrior from five to six moons so I'm sure it won't be long now," he encouraged.
"How many moons do you and Mistpaw have left?" Stormpaw tipped her head curiously.
"Actually we just turned twelve moons old so I'm hoping my ceremony with is today . . . or at least that's what my mentor hinted," Drizzlepaw's green-blue eyes danced with excitement.
"Drizzlepaw let's review some battles moves!" Berryfoot's voice reached the den.
Stormpaw watched as her friend shot her an apologetic glance before disappearing into the clearing.
Stormpaw was most surprised by her newest visitor though, Cloudspots padded into the den, his ears twitching to pick up sound. "Stormpaw," he mewed before settling down next to her, "what do you remember?"
Stormpaw's ears flicked back in surprise, "It's hazy . . ." she murmured, "but I think I saw you. You fought off that rogue and protected me . . . maybe . . ." she frowned doubtfully.
Cloudspots just blinked thoughtfully, "I hear Smokestar climbing onto the stump; perhaps we should go into the clearing and listen to what he is going to say."
Stormpaw struggled to her paws and wobbled forward before collapsing onto the ground in a huff with her leg twisted in an awkward angle. "Here, lean on me," Cloudspots offered her his shoulder without a second thought.
Stormpaw leaned gratefully on the gray tom and the two sat side-by-side just outside of the medicine den.
"Cats of RainClan, I call you hear today because one apprentice has shined above the others and I think it is time that he has become a warrior," Smokestar began. "Drizzlepaw, please step forward."
Stormpaw watched as a nervous Drizzlepaw came forward through the crowd of cats. "Why doesn't Mistpaw get her ceremony? She's the same age," Stormpaw whispered to Cloudspots.
"Mistpaw is the medicine cat apprentice, they usually train longer than a normal apprentice and their mentor gets to choose their name and when they become a medicine cat," Cloudspots replied.
Smokestar stared at his Clan with pride, "I, Smokestar, leader of RainClan call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Drizzlepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Drizzlepaw took a deep breath before meowing a clear, "I do."
Smokestar turned to Drizzlepaw's mentor, Berryfoot, "Is he ready?"
Berryfoot nodded with a kind expression on her face but Stormpaw couldn't help at flinch, remembering how she had been the first to oppose against Nightpaw and Stormpaw joining RainClan.
Smokestar smiled, "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name: Drizzlepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Drizzlefur. StarClan honors your enthusiasm and your faith and we welcome you as a full warrior of RainClan."
"Drizzlefur! Drizzlefur! Drizzlefur!" Stormpaw cheered loudly for her friend.
"That is not all," Smokestar murmured when the cheering died down. "Less than a day ago Minnowpaw of ThornClan was murdered. By who still remains a mystery and for that reason I would like all border patrols to be doubled and no queens, kits, elders, or apprentices leaving camp without a warrior or two to accompany them."
Stormpaw lowered her head, Minnowpaw's dead . . . and the cat that killed her could have been anyone or anything . . .
"The cat who killed her could even be in this clearing," Cloudspots' hiss startled Stormpaw. She watched in confusion as the gray tom stalked away, his tail-tip flicking back and forth.
"They could be in this clearing," Stormpaw whispered thoughtfully. "How did you get there before everyone else Cloudspots? How did you know . . .?"
But the tom was already too far away to hear her words but Stormpaw didn't care. The murderer could be anyone . . . the murderer could even be me.
Dun Dun Dun!
~Stormyyyfeather