She was six moons old now and able to move into the apprentices' den.
Fireheart said that she could move in that night and, if she wanted, could be made an apprentice. "You know that Bluestar would make you a warrior, we are always looking for more cats to join our clan."
Fallen had said that she would think about it, but deep in her heart she knew that Twolegplace was where she belonged.
Fallen walked over to the fresh-kill pile and took a mouse. She carried it over to a shaded area of camp and lay down to eat. A few seconds later Cloudpaw came over and lay down next to her. He had visited her a few times when she was in the nursery, usually bringing a squirrel or something.
"Hi!" He said brightly.
"Hi Cloudpaw," Fallen nibbled her food.
"So have you picked a name yet?"
"Yes." She swallowed and ate some more then shoved the other half over to Cloudpaw and began to groom her fur. Her wounds had healed and the bandages were taken off a few days ago. She was thinking about having someone teach her how to fight so that way, when she meets up with Slash, she'll be ready.
He gladly chowed down on it. "What is it?"
"Fallen Angel, but you can call me Fallen for short."
"Cool name, also I hear you're moving into the apprentice den."
"Yeah."
"Well since you can now leave the camp, let me give you a tour of the forest." He stood up.
Fallen stood up too. "Wow, you must have been hungry."
"You should see me when I'm starving." Cloudpaw ran off toward the thorn barrier. Fallen chased after him and they began the tour.
"So that's the Gorge, a river's at the bottom and if you fell down you would die, so be careful." Cloudpaw explained.
Fallen nodded and they looped over to a place called Snake Rocks.
"Be careful here," Cloudpaw said. "A lot of poisonous adders live here and can kill you with one bit."
"Wow," she looked at the jumble of rocks and imagined a snake leaping out at some unsuspecting cat. Surprisingly, it didn't make her shudder in fear or revulsion.
They continued onto the Sky oak and Tall-pines. Then they were at the border to Twolegplace. Fallen stood on the border, looking out at the streets and buildings.
Suddenly she was filled with a sense of something unseen pulling on her, pulling her back to the streets. That was where she belonged. Not in the trees or the forest. Twolegplace. Home.
"Fallen? Fallen."
"Huh?" Fallen looked at Cloudpaw who was looking at her weirdly. "Oh, sorry. Just zoned out."
"Okay, hey want to go to Sunning rocks?" He brightened.
"Uh, sure. What's Sunning Rocks?" She turned and followed him back to the forest, casting one more glance over her shoulder at Twolegplace.
"Sunning Rocks is a bunch of rocks next to the river that get nice and warm during the day, especially during sun-high, since it's right out in the sun." Cloudpaw explained.
"That sounds good, I would like to relax a little." So they ran back up the hill through the forest, all the way to a river.
They were panting by the time they reached Sunning Rocks. Fallen looked around at the large, smooth, flat rocks being warmed in the sun.
"Welcome to Sunning Rocks." Cloudpaw sat down in the sun, his head held high.
Fallen rolled her eyes. "Your ear is inside out."
Cloudpaw immediately put his paw up to his ear and fixed it quickly.
She laid down on a nearby rock and began to wash her paws.
Movement in the nearby bushes made her look up again. A grey tom with darker grey flecks came over to them and sat down. He was her and, of course, bigger than her. "Hi Cloudpaw, hi…." He trailed off. His tail flicked. "Who are you?"
"I'm Fallen Angel, the cat Fireheart found a quarter of a moon ago in Twolegplace." Fallen flicked her tail slightly annoyed that this cat didn't know who she was.
The cat's eyes cleared. "Oh yeah! Forgot, sorry. I'm Ashpaw by the way, one of the other apprentices."
She nodded and he settled down. "So," he said. "What was life like for you before you came here?"
Fallen hesitated, horrible feelings washing over her. "I don't want to talk about it," she looked away, into the forest, toward Twolegplace.
"Why?" Cloudpaw was watching her now, curiosity in his gaze.
"I just don't want to, okay."
More movement in the bushes.
This time a she-cat who looked a lot like Ashpaw came over. "Hi," she said to the three cats.
"Hi Fernpaw," Ashpaw flicked his ear.
"This is Fernpaw, Ashpaw's sister." Cloudpaw explained. "Fernpaw, this is our guest, Fallen Angel."
Fernpaw looked at her. "Hi!"
"Hi," Fallen nodded, the lingering feelings of her memories weighing her down.
"What's an angel?" Ashpaw asked as Fernpaw settled down on the rocks next to him, tucking her paws under her.
"Oh, uh, it's like another word for a spirit, I think."
"Nice."
"So, what were you talking about?" Fernpaw asked curiously.
"We were asking Fallen what like was like in Twolegplace for her." Cloudpaw explained, flicking his tail at a bee buzzing around his head.
"Oh, what was it like?" Fernpaw's eyes glittered with curiosity.
"I don't want to talk about it, okay." Fallen said again through gritted teeth.
They seemed to notice the tension in her voice so they changed the subject. "So Fallen," Ashpaw said. "Do you have any questions about how things work around here?"
Fallen replied, calming down a bit. "The queens explained pretty much everything to me but I'm still a little confused about what exactly Starclan is."
"Oh, Starclan are our warrior ancestors." Fernpaw remarked, washing her ears.
"Yeah, I know that but what is it?"
"Well," Ashpaw added. "Whenever we die, that's where we go."
"Even the evil cats?"
"I'm actually not sure," he flicked his ear.
"Wonder where Tigerstar is going to go." Cloudpaw murmured quietly.
"Who's Tigerstar?" Fallen cocked her head curiously. "All I know about him is that he betrayed Thunderclan and he was the last deputy."
"Ah, yes. Tigerstar." Fernpaw said, almost wistfully.
"He was one of the most powerful warriors in Thunderclan." Ashpaw added. "Until he tried to kill Bluestar to gain power. Luckily Fireheart stopped him in time and Tigerstar was exiled. But then the Shadowclan leader died and Tigerstar took his place."
"And that Fallen," Fernpaw chirped. "Is where we are at with the Tigerstar crisis thing right now."
"Wow."
"Yep."
They talked for the rest of the day until it was time to go back to camp. They raced each other back to camp, Fallen was in second place behind Cloudpaw when they burst into the camp. They sat at the camp entrance, gasping for air for a few moments, trying to catch their breath.
"Fallen, there you are!" Fallen looked up to see Fireheart coming over. He nodded at the others then looked at her. "Bluestar was wondering about your decision about becoming an apprentice. So, do you have one?"
Fallen hesitated, thinking it through.
"Um, no thank you. But is it okay if I stay here a little bit longer? I'm not quite sure about what I'm going to do yet."
Fireheart nodded. "Too bad you aren't going to stay but I'm sure that Bluestar will let you stay a little longer." He then flicked his tail toward the fresh-kill pile. "Why don't you go get something to eat then get some rest. And remember," Fireheart looked at the others. "Tomorrow your training continues and I want you rested and alert."
They dipped their heads, "yes Fireheart."
"Come on Fallen, let's eat." Cloudpaw
Fallen said a quick goodbye to Fireheart and hurried after the white tom.
After they ate they went into the apprentice's den and Fallen choose a nest set apart from the others. She was an outsider, and plus she preferred sleeping alone.
She said a quick good night to Cloudpaw then snuggled into the soft bracken and dreamt of Twolegplace.