Chapter 11
"Timberpaw, come here."
The young tom looked up from the mouse he was sharing with Moonpaw, muttering a hurried apology as he padded over to his mentor.
"What is it Thistlethroat?"
The gray and white tom's voice was hard and stiff as he meowed to his apprentice, "I believe it's time for you to have an assessment. Perhaps not to become a warrior though I'd say that will happen sometime in the near future. You've learned a lot since becoming an apprentice and you've fought many battles as well. It's obvious that you know how to defend yourself but I want to assess your hunting skills as well."
Timberpaw nodded, "Alright. Are we going to start today?"
"If you're up for it."
Timberpaw narrowed his eyes, a smile on his face at the anticipation of a challenge, "Always."
"Then we'll begin immediately." Thistlethroat meowed. "Just so you know, Stingpaw and Hazepaw will be also having their assessments today. Nightstar, myself and their mentors have discussed it and we've agreed that we want you three to be apprenticed at the same time as you seem to be just as good as they are. In a few sunrises we'll have you three on a joint assessment to test your ability to work together as a team."
Timberpaw felt a growl rise in his throat at the prospect of having to work together with the two arrogant apprentices and performing his warrior vigil with them but he forced it back down. Even if they didn't all get along they were still clanmates and Thistlethroat had every right to put them together for a group assessment.
"So are we going to go?" Timberpaw asked after a few moments of awkward silence.
Thistlethroat nodded, looking relieved, "Of course. I'll fill you in on the way to the training hollow."
As the two toms padded through the forest, Thistlethroat began explaining, "I'll assume you already know more or less what a hunting assessment entails don't you?"
Timberpaw nodded, "Of course I do."
Thistlethroat dipped his head in acknowledgement before continuing, "Just to fill you in on the parts you may not know, you will begin from the training hollow and are assigned simply to hunt. Try not to wander too close to our borders because, as you well know, some clans take advantage of a lone cat."
Timberpaw cringed slightly, all too aware of the scars that were a constant reminder of the ThunderClan patrol that had attacked him. It seemed so long ago despite that it had only been a mere few moons since.
"Anyways," Thistlethroat went on, "I will be following your progress. I will be watching you and you will most likely not see me, understood?"
Timberpaw nodded, "Yes sir."
Soon they reached the training hollow and stopped.
"Is there anything else I should know?" Timberpaw asked, anxious to start the assessment and get it over with.
Thistlethroat shook his head, "Just don't get hurt."
Timberpaw raised an eyebrow but nodded, turning and bounding out of the training hollow. He would pass this assessment. He wouldn't let his mentor down.
As he padded through the forest, the apprentice pricked his ears, keeping aware of not only nearby potential prey but alert to any signs that his mentor was nearby. Every so often the young tom would catch sight of a flash of white and gray fur or a whiff of Thistlethroat's scent.
He may think he's the best warrior ShadowClan has ever seen but he doesn't use stealth worth fox-dung. Timberpaw thought, smiling slightly as he caught sight of his mentor again.
The tom shook his head slightly. There was no need to think those things about his mentor while he had a mission to complete. Now was time for his assessment and he had to make it count.
Timberpaw scented the air, blocking out what he could scent from his mentor as he caught the familiar whiff of mouse. Perhaps a few frogs.
Dropping into a hunting crouch, the young tom moved forwards, his pawsteps soft and silent as he stalked closer to the piece of prey. The mouse nibbled it's seeds, unaware of the predator about to catch it for his clan's dinner. With barely a whisper, Timberpaw leaped, his paws landing squarely on the creature's back as he gave it a swift nip to the neck, killing it instantly.
No use in making prey suffer. When one was quick, they could the prey before it's panic took over and it's muscles tightened, leaving the meat tight and sinewy. If he was fast, Timberpaw could kill a mouse and the meat would remain soft and tender. It wasn't exactly necessary but it made the elder's happy.
Timberpaw quickly buried the mouse, wanting to get on with his assessment. He would have to be light-footed and silent if he wanted to catch enough prey and still keep Thistlethroat happy.
So the young tom continued hunting, easily catching and burying three frogs and a skinny lizard before much time had passed. As he buried another mouse a little while later, Timberpaw smiled to himself, feel proud of his hunting thus far. It came naturally to him, as easy as climbing a tree.
Suddenly another scent reached him and Timberpaw pricked his ears. Squirrel! There weren't always squirrels on ShadowClan territory, mostly things like lizards or frogs and mice. If Timberpaw could catch this rare bit of prey, Thistlethroat would surely let him pass his assessment.
Timberpaw dropped into his crouch, inching forwards towards the squirrel. He let out a snarl of annoyance as his paw landed on a dead leaf that had gone unnoticed by his keen eye. A crackling sound filled the air and the squirrel darted away. Timberpaw swiftly straightened, bounding after the prey as fast as he could. He was one of the faster cats in ShadowClan and he felt sure that he had outrun his mentor without even trying.
Timberpaw was vaguely aware of himself nearing the ThunderClan border but he didn't stop. He couldn't let this opportunity slip past him.
Suddenly there was a squeak from up ahead and Timberpaw skidded to a halt to see a huge gray patched tom standing above the dead squirrel, a smirk on his face as he turned to the ShadowClan apprentice.
Timberpaw froze and he felt a choking sensation in his throat as he realized who was the cat standing before him.
It was Jackalstar.
"Well, well, well, look who it is." Jackalstar meowed, leaving the squirrel to pad closer to Timberpaw. "I've been waiting to speak to you."
Timberpaw stood his ground, feeling frozen to the spot as he managed to stammer, "You're on ShadowClan territory."
"You should check the scent markers. You are on ThunderClan territory." Jackalstar meowed dismissively, "Normally I would be obligated to force you back into your own territory with any necessary force but, these aren't normal circumstances are they?"
Timberpaw didn't reply, fear rising in his chest at the ThunderClan leader's mockingly serious tone.
Jackalstar glanced back at the ShadowClan tom, raising an eyebrow, "Oh, you don't know do you? She never told you I suppose and I understand her reasons. I wouldn't tell you if I were in her place either."
"Tell me what?" Timberpaw whispered, his voice fearful and quavering. "Who is she?" The tom didn't know why he was asking the questions. Somehow, he already knew. He had known for a long time now, even if he hadn't been willing to admit it to himself.
Jackalstar laughed softly, his eyes glittering with a dark sort of glee as he meowed in a mocking voice, "Brightsky never told you. I don't suppose she had much of a chance now did she? I did kill her after all."
Timberpaw felt a sick anger rise in his chest, his fur prickling with dread but still he said nothing.
"She never told you that Mudtail wasn't your father." Jackalstar laughed, a sick sort of glee in his voice as he went on, "She never told you who your real father was."
Finally Timberpaw's voice returned again and he whispered, "She may not of told me but I figured it out."
Timberpaw took a deep breath before he mewed in a soft, barely audible voice, "You're my father."
((A/N- *insert intense, ominous drum music here* The big reveal is finally here :D Plot twist! I know a few of you readers probably already realized Brightsky's secret or whatever but, for those who haven't, now you know! Hope you all liked, I know it's not quite as long as my other few updates but it's still pretty good in my eyes, almost 1400 words. Please no reviews asking where in the world Thistlethroat is through all of this, you'll find out soon enough ;) But yeah, I was home today since I just got lower braces put on and yadda yadda yadda and, needless to say, I can't really eat anything so... yeah... it really sucks . But you got your update, so, be happy XP Hope you all liked, if you review you get a Jackalstar plushie and... a dead... squirrel? Yeah... Enjoy!))
