Disclaimer: I don't own the Warrior series!
Title: Little Pawsteps And Lion Roars
Summary: Those Who Walk Strangely have destroyed the Tribe Of Rushing Water's home, sending them scrambling to ThunderClan for help. Lion, a loyal cave-guard to-be, is content with her life even after all that, but everything changes when she meets excitable apprentice Littlepaw.
...
MagaNerd- Names ahead!;
Littleflower- flowers are small, simple, and beautiful, like Littlepaw herself.
Littleblossom- Littlepaw is blossoming into a warrior, as well as a grown up she-cat.
Littlerose- Roses are usually symbolized with love and beauty; love being an important part of Littlepaw's character.
(Also, I love all the imagery of flowers with Littlepaw, but I'm curious as to why. Is it because they're beautiful? Names we've read in the books? Fitting? Everyone see's Littlepaw with a flower name when she becomes a warrior, and it's interesting to me. I never would've thought of it.)
...
Newpath led the three-cat patrol to where they'd planned to meet up, posture oddly stiff. He seemed deeply in thought.
As did Littlepaw, Lion decided, noticing just how close the apprentice had chosen to walk with her. Her green eyes were fixed solely on Newpath.
Did I miss something here?
Upon spotting Bravetruth bounding towards them, Littlepaw stiffened and pressed even closer to her, as thought she were a queen protecting her kit. Shouldn't she be happy to see her mentor? Lion wondered. The she-cat had always seemed to look up to the tom; what had changed to make her suddenly so antsy? It's not like I'm going to disappear!
"We found a cave." The deputy reported, tail lifted proudly. "Claw and Quiet seemed to enjoy it."
"That's good." Newpath nodded. "Because we found a waterfall."
"One I think Stoneteller will be able to use." Lion added, remembering the lights glittering off the water.
Bravetruth's eyes lit up. "Really? Then there's no way this can't be it."
"It's Stoneteller's decision." Lion answered stubbornly. "Only he will know if this is where we're supposed to be."
"Of course." He soothed. "But, even if this isn't it, it's certainly at least a good backup plan."
The cave required some climbing to get to. Lion felt concerned as she scrabbled up the ledge with familiar ease. The climb made it harder for predators and rogues alike to find their way out of the forest to attack, but the Teller Of Pointed Stones had always lived right next to the Cave Of Pointed Stones. Would Stoneteller be okay living a short walk away from the Waterfall Of Stars?
We'll find him a cave between the two, if that's what we have to do, she reassured herself.
Quiet poked her head out of the entrance, whiskers twitching. "Come look at this, Lion."
"Coming!" She scampered ahead. The prey-hunter nodded to the small open space at the front of the cave. It was tall and wide, but scattered into different holes a little farther ahead. They'd have to barricade the more open space to fight off the snow, but it'd be warmer this close to forest level year-round, anyway.
"I was thinking the cave-guards and to-be's could sleep here. The Olders and kit-mothers could have the very back caves, while the prey-hunters slept near the entrance." She explained. "What do you think?"
Despite making logical sense- cave-guards near the front to protect, to-be's in the weather to help toughen them up, Olders and kit-mothers in the back to hide from the worst of the snow, and prey-hunters in one of the middle caves to be close to the exit for dawn hunting without fear of waking up the cats in the back- Lion felt a spark of irritation that she would spend the rest of her days cold and wet while Quiet and the other prey-hunters would be sheltered and warm.
"It makes sense." She admitted begrudgingly.
"Don't worry." The prey-hunter touched her nose to Lion's ear affectionately. "You'll get the warmest nests."
"Speaking of nests." Claw said, appearing from a cave to their left. It wasn't big enough to house the Tribe, she noticed, but it was certainly enough for Stoneteller. "Lion, Littlepaw, would you mind fetching some bedding? It's getting late."
Lion dipped her head. "Of course."
Bravetruth's eyes flashed with irritation. "Littlepaw is my apprentice, Claw. I'll be the one to give her tasks."
Claw stared at him, surprised, before nodding. "You're right. I'm sorry."
The leader to-be turned to his apprentice. "Littlepaw, go check the forest for prey. We're all hungry."
"But, the bedding-" She started to argue, then shut her mouth with a snap.
"I'll do it." Newpath, ever the peace maker, offered. "I'm awful at hunting, anyway."
The cave-guard nodded his agreement. "Thank you."
Lion gathered some feathers and moss, flanked by Newpath, while Quiet and Bravetruth hunted. Littlepaw, obviously shaken by her mentor's stern words, brought back no prey.
Together they crafted some nests and laid down to sleep. Littlepaw curled as close to her as possible. Lion gave her a rusty purr and fell asleep.
Littlepaw loved the mountains.
She'd hoped, deep down, that she'd hate them. That she wouldn't find it in her to give up ThunderClan to live here, purely because she hated every inch of it.
But they were beautiful, and Lion's fur made her feel so warm against the cool breeze that cut through her pelt like milk. Her fate was sealed.
Nevertheless, the distant sound of the waterfall kept her awake late into the night, unlike Lion, who'd fallen asleep the moment her head hit her paws, as though the sound was an earthy lullaby to her ears.
I'll sleep that soundly one day, she told herself. It'll take time, but Lion will be with me, and I'll get used to it.
Littlepaw cracked open an eye. A small, strongly built shape was creeping silently out of the cave, the moonlight shining off disheveled gray fur.
Newpath! Littlepaw clambered to her feet. She'd been curious all day as to why the warrior hadn't told Bravetruth about her declaration- the weight of it having bounced off Lion's ears- and there was no better time to ask then now.
She went to follow, but a large paw gently batted at her tail. Lion, only half awake (the missing warmth of Littlepaw's fur having woke her), blinked at her sleepily.
"Where are you going so late?" She whispered. "You should get some rest."
Littlepaw found herself purring. She's so worried about waking the others- always so selfless. "I want to go look at the stars." She said, which wasn't a complete lie. How did the night sky hold up so far away from the Clans?
Alarm flickering in those deep brown eyes. "It's dangerous to go out at night. I know it's okay in the Clans, but-"
"I'll be safe." She reassured. "I promise."
Lion put her head on her paws, obviously concerned but not willing to hold her back. "Falcon promised my mother he'd come back, but he didn't. A lion got him."
Littlepaw felt a pang of sympathy. Lion had told her the story of her father not long before they'd found the mountains, curled up under strange trees, taking comfort in the other's familiar scent. She could only imagine the weight that had been set on Lion's shoulders; being the spitting image of her father, and named after the thing that had killed him.
"I'll come back." She murmured, touching Lion's ear with her nose. "I won't leave you." Ever.
Lion's eyes drooped. She silently fell back asleep. Littlepaw purred and gave her a quick lick between the ears before following Newpath.
The tom was sitting on the ledge outside of the cave, staring up at the stars. "Littlepaw." He greeted as she appeared. He didn't sound surprised to see her.
Littlepaw sat down next to him, feeling a rush of awe at the sky. The trees in ThunderClan always covered most of them, but here, in the mountains, she could swear every star that was ever born glittered freely.
Tribe Of Endless Hunting, watch over us, please. She prayed. You may not be StarClan, but you mean the world to Lion, and that's all that matters to me.
"You didn't tell Bravetruth." She said finally, a hint of accusation in her voice.
Newpath nodded. "Do you remember my warrior name? My ShadowClan warrior name?"
Littlepaw nodded. The story, one she'd heard back when she was just Littlekit, had ripped her heart to shreds. To this day, she couldn't comprehend how Newpath- Newpaw, back in those days- had been given such a horrid name, when he'd always been there to play with her and keep her nest clean, to cheer her name like he did every kit given their apprentice name, to raise Grasskit as his own after his mother (her identity was a mystery to ThunderClan) had passed onto StarClan, despite having no blood tie to him.
"Brittlewill."
Newpath winced at the old name, but didn't scold her. "I understand what it feels like to be an outcast. I know what it's like to lose your home." He turned his dark eyes on her, gaze gentle. "But are you sure your reasons for leaving are good enough?"
Littlepaw bristled. "Are you saying your reasons for leaving were any better than mine?"
That's not fair, she chided herself the moment the words left her mouth. Leaving ShadowClan had left him unable to see his family ever again, especially his sister, who'd been seriously wounded during his warrior ceremony and was confined permanently to the medicine den. He'd sacrificed much more than anyone would ever realize, herself included.
Newpath shook his head. "Of course not. But you'll never be happy here."
"I love it here." She snapped at him. "I love the mountains."
"I know. I can tell." He answered calmly, eyes to the stars. "But do you love the Tribe enough to live with them for the rest of your life?"
Littlepaw froze. Do I love the Tribe? She wondered. It had never occurred to her.
"I just..." She searched for the right words. "I want her by my side. Forever."
"I understand." He replied, so warmly that Littlepaw believed it. Well, he has been padding after Windswift for ages now. "But that's not how life works sometimes."
"If you're so against this, why not tell Bravetruth?" She challenged. Newpath shook his head and walked away.
"Goodnight, Littlepaw."
"Wait!" She jumped in front of him. "Tell me!"
He stared at her a long moment before replying. "The most important lessons a 'paw can learn don't necessarily came from the jaw's of their mentors." He easily side-stepped her, pressing his muzzle to Littlepaw's forehead before leaving her alone. "Get some sleep, little one. We have a long journey home ahead of us."
Author's Note: Newpath might not be the best warrior out there (he kinda sucks at it, actually), but there isn't a kit, queen, or elder out there who has a bad thing to say about him.
Can you imagine, in a world like the warriors, where pride and honor is everything, being named for having a brittle will? It's no wonder Newpath left! (Also, take note that Crowstar was emotionally compromised at the time. Bluestar once named Brightheart Lostface and was still a great leader.)
If you can't tell, he's one of my favorite characters. I love them all, but Newpath is the best. I'm so excited about his backstory. I'm actually thinking of writing it early (The plot gives no spoilers to what will happen in this story, so why not?). Thoughts, everybody?
(And, yes, he has a huge crush on Windswift, but mostly he just wants her to be happy. Considering she's been helping him raise Grasskit, despite being an apprentice- remember, Windswift is the average age of a warrior, unlike Newpath, so when she was Windpaw, she really was a 'paw- when he showed up, it's safe to say the feeling is mutual.)
I'd also like to note that, for some reason, everyone has come to symbolize Littlepaw with flowers. Seriously; I've only had one warrior name that didn't involve them! Also, just to be fair, I will say this; as much as I love the names, I've yet to actually get the right name in a review (I won't say if it is when/if it pops up, but it's not there.)
Also, one last thing; I'm on Tumblr now! Got something to say to me that you can't say through review/PM because you lack the account? I'm at mandareeboo .tumblr. com (No spaces); everybody's welcome!
-Mandaree1