Wooh chapter ten everyone! Can we try to make it to ten reviews to celebrate?
Please, please, PLEASE read and review! I really want to know what you all think!
Also, dreams will now be told through italics (sorry I haven't been doing that and possibly confusing others )
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Tigerpaw went to sleep that night with his mind racing. He couldn't stop thinking about Silverpaw. She was a beauty; her sleek silver fur and pretty blue eyes were enough to make any tom fall in love. And... that gray tom she was with.
What was their relation? Were they just apprentices? Cousins? Siblings? Tigerpaw thought they looked too similar to be just cousins, but he was unsure. All he knew was that he really liked Silverpaw, and it wasn't good.
He couldn't love her. Loving her meant that he'd be breaking the warrior code to an extreme, and would be kissing his hopes of becoming leader away. But... she was so pretty, and when they spoke, he felt something just click between them. Loving her felt... natural.
Settling into his nest, he went to sleep, and dreamed of a world where he and Silverpaw were together and no one could disapprove the relationship.
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Something incredibly shocking happened the next day, and Tigerpaw was there to witness it. Stoatpaw, who was out on a hunting patrol, came home to find quite a shock.
Tigerpaw had been sitting next to Fuzzytail. The two were sharing a shrew, and Mossfang was organizing patrols. The day seemed to be off to a normal start, when a strange scent reached Tigerpaw's nose.
"What... what's that smell?" he asked Fuzzytail, sniffing the air. Fuzzytail began sniffing as well, and her eyes widened. Tigerpaw watched her leap up in fright and anger, her tail lashing behind her.
"That's the reeking stench of Hailclan!" she shouted, looking at the entrance of the cave. Mossfang's head twisted towards her, and Wheatstar bounded out of her den, her fur bridtling. Tigerpaw looked at where she was looking: sure enough, there was a massive, pure golden tom standing there, his head down and his shoulders slumped. In his jaws he held what looked like a kit, but almost too old to be one. Deerheart stood next to him, looking shamefully at the ground.
The cats of Steamclan watched in astonishment as Deerheart led the tom down to the center of the cave. Tigerpaw got a closer look at the kit: she had a dark golden fur color of her father, but the tabby pattern of Deerheart. She looked around the camp with wide eyes, mewling loudly.
"Papa? Where are we? Where's Sugarberry? A-And Daisykit? Papa?" she was frightened, her paws tucked in close to her as the tom approached Wheatstar next to Deerheart. Wheatstar bared her teeth, leaping down and confronting Deerheart. Tigerpaw, along with many other Steamclan cats, stood up and surrounded their clanmate and the rest of her party. Tigerpaw noted on how sad and pathetic Deerheart looked.
"Deerheart, what have you done bringing a Hailclan warrior into the Steamclan camp?" she turned her green gaze down to the kit, whose eyes were huge saucers, filled with fright. For a moment, Tigerpaw thought he saw sympathy flash in her eyes for the golden she-kit. She lifted her gaze, glaring ar Deerheart. "Well? Care to explain?"
"Wheatstar, I... I've done something very bad." Deertheart gulped, shuffling her paws. "I broke the warrior code... and had a single kit with Kestrelwind." the cats of Steamclan gasped, shocked murmurs spreading throughout the crowd. One of the elders shrieked, to which Wheatstar silenced the crowd. She looked ready to claw Deerheart's fur out. Deerheart gestured to the tom, Kestrelwind, who looked just as downcast as his mate.
"And why is he here?" Wheatstar growled.
Deerheart looked up. "Kestrelwind wishes to join Steamclan, along with our kit." Wheatstar bared her teeth, hissing at the golden tom. Tigerpaw's pelt tingled with anticipation.
"Please, Wheatstar." Kestrelwind stood up, dropping the kit at his paws. She scrambled between her father's legs, trembling. "I was the only survivor in a litter of three. My mother and siblings died of greencough when I was three moons old, and my father ate the deathberries to cope with the loss. Please, Deerheart is my only family left." he glanced at his mate, fear rushing into his expression as he took her head under his.
Wheatstar closed her mouth slowly, the tip of her tail flicking back and forth. She seemed to be contemplating something when she spoke, "Does Beetlestar know about this?"
"Yes, Wheatstar." Deerheart responded, smacking her tongue against the roof of her mouth. Her mouth had gone dry. "Beetlestar seemed perfectly fine with it; he was kind enough to let Kestrelwind leave if he so desired, but to never return."
Wheatstar turned to Kestrelwind and sighed. "Very well. I will bring it up with Beetlestar at the next gathering. All cats who are tall enough to wade in the pools, gather beneath the Hot Spring's Paw!"
Wheatstar leaped up, taking her seat on the large piece of rock. Mossfang came up and sat next to her, his eyes wide. Deerheart curled her tail around her kit, looking fearfully up at her leader, who cleared her throat.
"Cats of Steamclan, Deerheart has brought a Hailclan warrior into our camp, claiming he wants to join our clan!" the previously gathered cats turned to the golden tom, who hung his head in shame. "He states that Beetlestar has given him permission, and that he is to never return. Do we allow him into our clan?"
The cats all looked at Kestrelwind; he seems like an okay guy, Tigerpaw thought to himself, giving the first meow of approval. Fuzzytail followed soon after, and soon, the whole of Steamclan was shouting their approval. Kestrelwind had lifted his head, avoided the gazes he was getting. He seemed embarrassed.
Wheatstar shook her head, her tail flicking back and forth behind her. "By the powers of Starclan, I welcome this newcomer, Kestrelwind, into our clan as a warrior of Steamclan-- he has proven himself of no harm to our warriors, and does it for the sake of his kit. Along with him, I welcome his kit into the ranks as well." Wheatstar gazed down at Deerheart, who gave a loud scream of joy. She looked down and nuzzled her kit, who seemed frightened by all the noise. She whispered something in her kit's ear, and soon, the golden tabby sat upright, her pale blue eyes wide with wonder.
Wheatstar noticed this.
"Deerheart, how old is your kit, and what is her name?" the ginger she-cat purred. Tigerpaw's fur fluffed out; if this kit wasn't a kit, then he and Stoatpaw might not be alone in the apprentice's den!
Deerheart looked up, a sad smile on her face. "Her name is Mothkit, after my grandmother. She... she was three days away from her apprentice ceremony when I met Kestrelwind at the border."
Wheatstar looked down at Mothkit, who cowered under her gaze. She sighed, opening her mouth to once more address her clan. "Today, we not only welcome a new warrior into our ranks, but a new apprentice as well. Mothkit, come forward."
Tigerpaw's heart sped up. A new apprentice! Now, he might have someone to really battle against, not chubby Stoatpaw who seemed to topple at the slightest touch! A real opponent to test his skills on!
He zoned out, only thinking of the possibilities of having a new denmate. He snapped back into it when he heard his mother's name, Pineholly, be called to be Mothkit's-- no, Mothpaw's-- mentor. He, along with the rest of the clan, cheered.
The crowd dispersed, and Shiningeyes hopped up next to him, looking bewildered. "Well, that certainly was... interesting. Although, Kestrelwind isn't too bad of a warrior. He was always nice and polite to the cats of other clans, and now that I think about it, a little too polite to Deerheart." she shuddered, turning her head to see Pineholly, Mothpaw, and Kestrelwind approach.
"I thought I could tag along with you and Tigerpaw, Shiningeyes." Pineholly explained, looking down at Mothpaw. "I'm going to show Mothpaw and Kestrelwind around the territory, and teach her how to hunt a bit."
Tigerpaw fell back next to Mothpaw, who was shivering. Her large blue, almost silver eyes were wide with fright. Tigerpaw sighed; it was going to be a long day.
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Tigerpaw had almost forgotten about Stoatpaw.
He remembered his brother when the white tom entered the apprentice's den, glancing at Mothpaw. The golden apprentice flicked her silvery eyes towards him, her fur floofing out as she pushed herself against the wall.
"Tigerpaw, why is there an unknown apprentice in our den?" he asked, when Mothpaw squeaked out in anger.
"I'm not unknown! My name is MothpawI don't wanna be here, I'm supposed to be in Hailclan next to Sugarberry and Daisykit!" she sounded angry, laying her head down onto her nest in anger. "Ew! Your beds are super uncomfortable!"
Tigerpaw turned towards his brother. "Deerheart fell in love with a Hailclan tom, and Mothpaw was the result. She's only a bit younger than us, but not too much."
Stoatpaw nodded, going over to his nest and laying down. He began to make small talk with Mothpaw, who steadily came out of her shell and began to respond in short remarks. Tigerpaw sighed, setting his head against his nest and welcoming his dreams with open arms.
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Tigerpaw followed Silverpaw through the forest, her silvery pelt guiding him. She would laugh ever so slightly, and his pelt would burn with affection. She was just perfect; if Deerheart could fall in love with Kestrelwind, then he could surely fall in love with Silverpaw!
"Silvertail? Ooh! How about Silverpelt?" the she-cat in front of him purred, her tail going back and forth as her bright eyes gazed into his blue ones. "No... perhaps Silverheart?"
"Whatever your name, it will always be beautiful. Just like you." Tigerheart purred, hearing her mrrow with affection. "Perhaps for me... maybe Tigerpatch?"
"Tigerpatch sounds wonderful, dear." Silverpaw purred, her eyes widening. Suddenly her entire face went slack, and she was pulled away from Tigerpaw. His dream had become a nightmare, and he was frightened.
He watched her disappear into a thick blackness, and that overwhelming burning sensation filled him. The chant began in his head once more: Don't let him in.
The water appeared around him, and he seemingly resurfaced only to find the moon mocking him. He gazed in fright at his pelt; a silvery light was going over in places where his white and brown tabby pelt was turning into a silver tabby.
The sounds of screaming cats became deafening, and realization suddenly hit him.
This silver pelt... the pelt he was wearing... was Silverpaw's.
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