"May the wind under your wings bear you to where the Sun sails and the Moon walks."
-Unknown.
Swiftfire's P.O.V
Do you know that moment, when a pang of realization hits you in a flash? When you realize how much you've wasted your life on other useless things. How you never, no matter what, take care of your parents. They cherish you from the moment you first open your eyes to the last dying breath of theirs. Then when they fly away into their afterlife, you forget about them and continue your life, like they never walked on the surface of this earth.
"Hailfoot…" I croaked, the fur under my eyes moist with the tears that it had absorbed. His fur was lifeless and cold. If I touched my nose to his fur it would send chills down my spine.
"Swiftfire?" A solemn voice broke the moment. I looked up and Aspenflame stood, all battered and bruised. I sniffed, regaining my posture. "I'm sorry." He whispered, lowering his gaze and stepping back. "I'm sorry for your loss. I- uhm, could've saved him but, instead I thought about myself. He gave his life up for me." He said his voice strained with some sort of guilt. "I wasn't a true warrior today."
I stared at him. My head was still spinning with thoughts, but what he said processed very well in my mind.
"It's okay Aspenflame. I appreciate your condolences." As I struggled to regain my thoughts the rest of the clan had gathered muttering lowly about 'who would be the next deputy'. A few cats offered their condolences quickly but, were too caught up with the gossip of the day to pay any attention to my deceased father any longer.
"I shall sit vigil with him tonight. Will you be joining me, Swiftfire?" Hazelstar mewed, towering over me.
"Of course." I said, my eyes lingered behind her where Skypaw watched the moving sun her orbs distinct.
She is hiding something.
"Swiftfire, Aspenflame will need some treatment." Rosepaw said, appearing in front of my face, slightly frightening me. I nodded and walked over to the den with Rosepaw at my heels, muttering about the next deputy. It enraged me.
"Shut up!" I snapped, turning my head. Her orbs went wide with surprise and she quickly scampered onto the tiny opening. I followed her, my eyes still showing signs of anger. I didn't want any cat to think I was vunerable.
"Aspenflame, you're hurt?" I said, walking over to him. He raised his gaze and it rested hard on mine.
"Uhm, yeah." He said in a obvious voice. I sighed and eyed his tiny cuts and bruises.
"You're telling me it was a rouge pack that attacked you?" I said, while quickly grabbing some poultice and crushing it under my paws. He nodded.
"Their a vicious group, I'll tell you. There were only two of them but, they fought like monsters." He growled, managing to say all that even though he was under a lot of pain.
"Well, if I were a warrior I'd go out there and rip their living souls out." I muttered lowly, making sure he wouldn't hear me. "Rosepaw." I snapped quickly, jolting her out of her mid day daydream. She said something inaudible.
"What is the best herb for bleeding scratches?" I quizzed her, looking at her sharply.
"Uhm, Poppy seeds?" She muttered lowly. I sighed. She looked at me, with her head tilted. I mentally smashed my head into a wall.
"Are you serious, mousebrain?" I rubbed Aspenflame's shoulder for a while longer. She shrugged. Aspenflame's gaze instantly flickered and his gaze looked at me with the most confused look.
" Cobwebs and Marigold." I said sharply. She nodded and stayed still.
"You're my apprentice for a reason! May you please get them for me?!" I yelled, enraged by the fact she was standing there like a squirrel eating an acorn. She rolled her eyes and instantly want to the herb supplies.
"Apprentices." I muttered under my breath. Aspenflame was smirking.
"Speaking of Apprentices.. How is Skypaw doing? She hasn't been an apprentice for two days and she has already been in battle." He mewed, his voice laced with concern.
She is fine." I mewed, remembering our last encounter. He nodded, and tried craning his neck to look out the opening.
"It's my fault she blacked out." He growled. My ears perked and I looked at the long haired tom. "I should've trained her as soon as I became her mentor." He continued. My ears zoned out as Aspenflame continued his long rambling.
"You're all set. Just make sure not to move too much for a few days." I mewed. He nodded and quickly padded out.
"Thanks Swiftfire."
Skypaw's P.O.V
Nightfall was quick to come. Hazelstar had called for a clan meeting. I was quick to pad out of the crammed medicine cat den. I sat under the rock, making sure my eyes were not to meet the dead body of Hailfoot. The clan fell into a pin drop silence as Hazelstar cleared her throat loudly. I watched her as her steady eyes met mine.
"Cats of Shadowclan we have all gathered tonight under Highrock to mourn the fallen. We have lost many cats over the past few moons but, today as you all very well know we have lost our dearest deputy to bloodthirsty rogues."
The only rogues that I know of, Skypaw - are those cats from the Rebellion. Aspenflame's part of them.
Technically they aren't rouges. They're clan cats that don't exactly like their clans.
The clan broke into a series of mutters. They were once again silenced by Hazelstar by her quick whisk of her cunning eyes. I quickly looked over to the other side of the clearing, only to meet with Swiftfire's glimmering sad eyes.
"Tonight close cats close to Hailfoot while be joining Swiftfire and I in sitting a vigil. He has proved his bravery and loyalty to his clan today and he shall shine up in the sky with Starclan tonight." Of course, many cats were still sitting anxious to hear some news about the new deputy.
There were rumors around camp, which I just happened to hear, that Aspenflame would qualify for a fine deputy. Of course, I couldn't argue with that because it was very well true.
A moment later, the clan was dismissed with a quick flick of the tassel from Hazelstar.
"Is that it? You aren't going to choose a new deputy tonight?" Flamestripe yowled from the crowd. Hazelstar looked past her shoulder and simply shook her head padding off to Hailfoot's dead body.
Well, that is odd.
The clan broke out into silent murmurs again, as most cats padded to their dens gossiping in groups. My silent pry was interrupted by a quick flick on the shoulder.
I swear, if this is Rosepaw I am going to bit her lousy tail again!
Instead I was treated by the icy eyes of my mentor.
"Aspenflame, you scared me." I mewed my pelt bristling slightly, with anger not fear.
Lucky I caught his eyes before he got his tail bitten.
"Skypaw! Are you alright?" He murmured, being too close for my own comfort. I backed away smoothly, grinning sheepishly.
"I can ask the same thing." I muttered. He chuckled, showing his sparkling spiky teeth that bought cold chills down my own spine. "Uhm, yeah I am fine. You look more battered yourself." I pointed out, signalling to his scratched and bruised pelt. He nodded.
"I want to let you know to wake up earlier tomorrow. I want to start training right away." I sighed. Finally.
" Right now, Swiftfire recommended some well earned rest. So if you don't mind, I'm going to go snooze." He said cooly, padding off to the warriors den.
Just like that I was left to my own thoughts and questions waiting to be answered.
Rosepaw's POV
"I hate being a medicine cat!" I hissed to Ravenpaw.
"It must be so boring being Swiftfire's apprentice. He's cute and all, but the amount of time he spends in his den with Scarpaw is appalling. He barely even spends time with you, and you're his apprentice." Ravenpaw said with a shrug, and continued grooming her silky black fur.
I rolled my eyes. "Who do you think the new deputy will be?" I asked, knowing what her answer would be. Aspenflame.
"Everyone knows the right choice for deputy was Aspenflame, but just the fact that Skypaw was his apprentice made me hate the idea. Scarpaw, being deputy's apprentice?! I hope not." Ravenpaw said with a small shudder. I nodded in agreement. "I was supposed to be Aspenflame's apprentice, but Applefall wanted me to become Swiftfire's apprentice. Could you imagine Skypaw being Swiftfire's apprentice? She's already corrupting him into her monster ways. You saw how he snapped at me today."
Ravenpaw nodded solemnly, shaking her head sadly. "It's horrible. Somebody should tell Hazelstar to just kick Skypaw out of the clan. She's going to destroy us all."
I said nothing about that, and got up, shaking my reddish fur. "I have to go pick herbs or whatever before Swiftfire gets mad at me." I muttered rolling my eyes.
I padded out of the apprentice den, and looked around. Cats were settling down for vigil.
Without a second glance at them, I bounded out of camp, running through the forest with a sly smirk. I didn't need these grieving losers.
I slowed near the ThunderClan border, sniffing the air. It smelled heavily of pine and cedar. A familiar warmth washed over my nose making me grin ear to ear. He was here! I raced towards the smell, with a small smile.
He was hiding in the mere bush in front of the big cedar tree that rose high above the ground. "Rosepaw!" Eagleheart purred, his bright blue eyes shining when he saw me.
"Eagleheart." I purred back. "Sorry I haven't been coming lately, Swiftfire's a horrible mentor. He doesn't let me do anything, and our deputy just died."
Eagleheart gasped. "What happened?"
"Well, he and Aspenflame went out for patrol. They were attacked by rogues, and Hailfoot was killed." I said lowering my voice.
Eagleheart bristled, and licked the top of my head. "Well, you've got to be careful then. It would be horrible if you got hurt! I'll make sure to tell my clanmates."
I purred affectionately, leaning my head against his shoulder. "Okay Eagleheart. I've got to go though. If I'm gone too long getting herbs, my clanmates will become suspicious." I murmured against his orange fur. He gave me a quick lick behind my ears, sending warmth through my fur.
"Bye Rosepaw. See you later…" Eagleheart called quietly from his side of the border, his eyes shining brightly.
I walked away from the ThunderClan border.
Hello, Erik speaking! Wow. Can you believe it J&T actually updated? Who could've known?! Well, I wouldn't blame them. Life outside fanfiction world can be tough and sometimes you just don't get the time to actually sit down and write.
Anyhow - PLOT TWIST. Hands up if you're for Eagle x Rose * Le hand raise *
Our Contest for Skypaw's warrior name is still up and running. So, get those names in! Details are in the previous chapter.
Buh-bye and Happy Saturday!
QOTD: In the actual books, whose death do you find the most sad?
