Well since the other chapter was really short…this one is really long! Like 9 pages long haha. And well the previous chapter is like the only chapter I actually show Nightstar training Lightningpaw because it would just be a pain in the butt to do it every time Lightningpaw falls asleep! So…read review and enjoy!
I woke up, feeling restless. I had sprawled out over Littlepaw's empty nest, and I had kicked up the moss in her nest as well as mine. I straightened it out the best I could and then headed outside, making sure not to step on Thrushpaw's tail that was laying in front of the entrance to the den.
I shivered as I stepped outside. Snow had not fallen, but I could see frost on the outside of the dens. Luckily there was no wind, so it wasn't as cold as it could have been.
"Lightningpaw! Today you are changing out the bedding in the elder's den, and then we are going on the evening patrol," Sparrowtail ordered.
"But I don't want to clean out the elder's den! Runningwind is always so grumpy, and I don't think Acorntail likes me," I protested.
"Runningwind was always grumpy, even as a kit so every cat in this clan has had to deal with it. And Acorntail doesn't like anybody, not even his own denmates," Sparrowtail said.
"But-" I started.
"No more buts. Now go do it. It is the apprentice duty to clean out dens, so you better get used to it," Sparrowtail said.
"Then what are you going to do?" I snapped
"I'm going on a hunting patrol with Flamepelt and Mumblefoot," he replied.
"Can't I come? I can hunt good too you know!" I protested.
"No. You are going to clean out the elders den and no buts, ands, or ifs. You may have extraordinary strength, but you can't get out of your apprentice duties," Sparrowtail said before padding away.
I felt anger rising in me and my fur began to bristle. Then Turtlekit and Blossomkit came running up to me.
"Hey Lightningpaw, have your eyes always been red like that?" Turtlekit asked.
I began to relax, and I asked him," They're red?" "Well not anymore. Now they are their usual yellow. But for a second you were all stiff and your fur was bristled and your eyes turned red," Blossomkit said.
They then tumbled away, leaving me pondered by that thought. How could my eyes change color through my feelings? Would my eyes turn blue, if I was depressed? If I was in love, would they turn green or amber? I shivered at the thought.
I walked over to the elders' den, and saw Acorntail asleep, Runningwind grumbling to himself, and Dawnpool grooming her long fur.
"I'm here to clean out your bedding and replace it," I announced.
"Finally you apprentices decide to do some work around here! This dirty old moss has been crying to be changed for days!" Runningwind yowled.
"Be nice to him Runningwind! He's a new apprentice, and you don't want to scare him away," Dawnpool said.
I like Dawnpool the best already.
"Well as long as you do the job right I won't claw your ears off," Runningwind hissed.
I managed to choke back a snarl, as I began to claw the bedding away.
"Come on Acorntail, let's go bask on the sun rocks," Runningwind said, as he woke up his denmate.
"Why? I'm perfectly comfortable right here," Acorntail snorted.
"This apprentice is going to change out our bedding," Runningwind explained.
I snorted. He didn't even know my name.
Acorntail sniffed the air. He was trying to smell my scent, and recognize it.
"But Sparrowtail isn't an apprentice," Acorntail objected.
"No it's some black apprentice. Goosestar's son," Runningwind said.
"Then why do I smell Sparrowtail?" Acorntail asked.
"Because Sparrowtail is his mentor mouse-brain! Of course he'll have Sparrowtail's scent on him!" Runningwind hissed.
So Runningwind couldn't remember my name, but he could remember my mentor and my father. I knew elders were madder then rabbits.
"His name is Lightningpaw," Dawnpool interjected.
"Oh right. That rings a bell," Runningwind said.
"Can I please start doing my duty already?" I asked.
"As soon as Acorntail gets up and comes to the sun rocks with me," Runningwind replied.
"Fine, fine I'll go. But his smell. It doesn't smell all like Sparrowtail. It smells like something else too. I can't quite place it," Acorntail said as he walked away with Runningwind.
"He's weird," I remarked as I began to roll up the dirty moss.
"He's had a tough life. He was in love with Birdsong, but Birdsong began to fall for Sparrowtail. She and Sparrowtail were in love for a little while but then Birdsong abruptly ended it, and became terribly ill for moons. But since she has recovered they barely talk," Dawnpool said.
"Is that why sometimes Sparrowtail looks like he's in pain?" I asked.
"Yes it is. Most cats think he still secretly loves her, when Birdsong doesn't love him anymore," Dawnpool replied.
"Wow. I never knew Sparrowtail had ever been in love before," I admitted.
"Yes. He was very jealous when Rosefur had his brother's kits. He had wanted to have kits with Birdsong I think, and Flamepelt having kits made him burn with envy. But Birdsong is a medicine cat, so they couldn't have had kits anyway," Dawnpool said.
I placed the dirty moss ball outside the den and began to scrape off the rest of the old moss. Dawnpool seemed comfortable lying in the empty bracken nest for now.
"That's so weird. I mean Sparrowtail is a handsome cat I suppose," I said.
"He's Runningwind's son actually. And back before Runningwind became an elder he wasn't that bad looking himself," Dawnpool said.
I let a mrrow of laughter as I tried to imagine a young, good-looking Runningwind.
"It's hard to imagine but it's true. His mate was Dovefeather. She was a beautiful fluffy white she-cat with amazing ice blue eyes. But only days after Sparrowtail and Flamepelt were apprenticed a badger roamed onto the territory and it killed Dovefeather and terribly injured a senior warrior named Harespring. After he recovered from his injuries, he moved to the elders den and died 3 moons later of old age we think," Dawnpool explained.
"Wow. That's terrible. Is that why he's so grumpy all of the time?" I asked.
"Yes it is," Dawnpool said.
"But Sparrowtail said Runningwind has always been grumpy," I said.
"Because Sparrowtail barely remembers his Mother. And Runningwind has been grumpy since her death so that is all Sparrowtail remembers of his Father," Dawnpool said.
"Dang. Hold on I'll be right back. I have to get some fresh moss," I said as I slipped out of the den.
I picked up all of the dirty moss and buried it over in Dirtplace. I found some fresh moss just outside of the medicine cat den, and Sweetflower said I could use it for the elders' den. I grabbed as much of it as I could and walked back over to the elders' den.
"You know Lightningpaw, you should come and clean the den more often. It'd make Acorntail and Runningwind a little bit less grouchy with clean moss and it feels good to talk to you," Dawnpool said.
"Yes it feels good to talk to you too. I'm glad you're not as grumpy as the other elders," I remarked.
"I'll take that as a compliment," Dawnpool let out a mrrow of laughter.
"So how do you like your nests?" I asked.
"Oh we all like them differently. Runningwind likes a lot of moss, Acorntail is used to only a little bit of moss, and I'm kind of in between," Dawnpool said.
I started with Acorntail's nest, and I began to stretch some moss across his nest.
"Did you ever have kits?" I asked.
"I did once. But it was never meant to be. My mate was a Thunderclan tom named Smokefoot, and I gave birth to one kit. He was a smokey gray tom that I named Crowkit. Smokefoot never knew of him. When Crowkit was 3 moons old a falcon flew straight into camp, picked him up, and carried him away. Even if the falcon had lost his grip and Crowkit had fallen, the height he fell from would have killed him," Dawnpool sighed.
"Is Smokefoot still alive?" I asked.
"Yes. He's a senior warrior in Thunderclan. After Crowkit died, I didn't talk to him anymore. I couldn't bear to tell him that I had given birth to his son, but let him be killed by a falcon before he was even apprenticed," Dawnpool said.
"I'm so sorry," I said.
"It's alright. It doesn't sadden me anymore. I've had a very happy life," Dawnpool said.
I started on Runningwind's nest now.
"Do you know who Goosestar's father is?" I asked after a few moments of awkward silence.
"Of course I do! Goosestar's father was never leader, but definitely the most noble and loyal and trustworthy cat in the entire clan. He was deputy, but he died bravely before he could ever take the position of leader like everyone thought he should have. His name was Thornheart, and he was a very handsome golden brown tabby tom. He became deputy at a very young age. Only six moons after he became a warrior, the former deputy, Snaketail, died and the leader at the time, Ashstar, appointed him as deputy. But Thornheart died of a terrible case of greencough seasons later. It was a battle even he could not win. But before he died he and a she-cat named Sandslip had Goosestar and his sister Brightcloud. Brightcloud was a tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes. Goosestar became Ashstar's new deputy after his father's death, and he took place as the new leader when Ashstar died in battle," Dawnpool replied.
"But what happened to Brightcloud and Sandslip?" I asked.
"Sandslip moved to the elders' den and eventually died of old age. Brightcloud died in the same battle that Ashstar did," Dawnpool said.
"And what about Lilyfoot? Who are her parents?" I asked.
"No one really knows. One day when another warrior named Cedarpelt, his apprentice Breezepaw (now Breezefur), and I were out hunting we found two kits asleep in the crook of two rocks. They didn't smell of any clan. They were barely old enough to talk, and when they woke up all they said was that they had traveled a long journey and fallen asleep here and their mother had left them. So Breezepaw and Thrushwing followed the mother's scent, but they said it went on very far in the same direction. She had meant to leave her kits behind. So we took them back to camp, and a queen with only one kit, Brackenclaw was the kit to be exact, took them in as her own. These two kits are Lilyfoot and Ravenclaw," Dawnpool said.
"Do Lilyfoot and Ravenclaw know that they aren't Clanborn?" I asked.
"Yes they do. They were told long ago, so that if they found out when they were older they wouldn't be furious that they had grown up in a web of lies," Dawnpool replied.
Dawnpool shifted into Acorntail's nest as I began to put moss on hers.
"Wait. So does that mean I'm only half-clan?" I asked.
"Yes," Dawnpool replied, seeming ashamed of what she had told me.
"No it's fine. I just wanted to know the truth about my ancestry," I said.
Birdsong scooted into the den.
"The earlier you are told the truth the better," Dawnpool said," Oh hi Birdsong!"
"Sorry to interrupt I was just going to give Runningwind his juniper berries. I thought he was in here but never mind," Birdsong said as she padded away.
"There, all done," I said.
"I'm sure Runningwind and Acorntail will be impressed. Now run along little one. You can ask more questions next time," Dawnpool said as she laid down in her nest.
I walked out of the elders den and stretched my legs. I looked around camp. Blossomkit and Turtlekit were playing outside the nursery while Rosefur was grooming herself only a few mouse-lengths away. Cloudstorm and Dawnstripe were grooming each other by the sun rocks, I could hear them talking and laughing. By the glow of happiness in both of their eyes, I assumed they liked each other. I stifled my mrrow of laughter and continued looking around camp. Everyone seemed to be gone. Even Goosestar. Then I saw Quailfeather and Darkpelt emerge from the warriors den.
"Sleepy-heads," I muttered as I walked over to the fresh-kill pile.
I grabbed a small rabbit from the fresh-kill pile. I hoped Sparrowtail didn't mind. Apprentices aren't supposed to eat unless their mentors say so, but I hadn't eaten since before the Gathering last night, and the fight had drained much energy from me. I slowly chewed the rabbit, savoring its juicy meat. Since leaf-bare was upon us, most of the rabbits we caught would be limp and stringy, unlike this one. This one was very flavorful and tender. Before I knew it though, it was gone and only a scrap of rabbit fur was left on the ground. I sighed and began to groom myself. Then I heard a rustling of the gorse bush, and Thrushpaw, Maplewhisker, Breezefur, and Windflight came in. Thrushpaw had two mice, Maplewhisker had a vole, Breezefur had a rabbit, while Windflight was empty-pawed. They deposited their catch carefully on the fresh-kill pile.
"It's okay Windflight, you'll catch something next time," Maplewhisker encouraged her daughter.
Windflight nodded but said nothing as she padded into the warriors den. I assumed she felt as if she had let the whole clan down. I had a hint of sympathy for her, but I knew that I would always be able to catch something for the clan, even if it is something as small as a mouse.
"Hey Lightningpaw! What have you been doing all morning? I didn't see you when you woke up," Thrushpaw said.
"It's probably because Sparrowtail ordered me to clean out the elders' den this morning. I just finished," I explained.
"Wow what a terrible way to start off the day! Wait, then what's Sparrowtail doing?" Thrushpaw asked.
"He's off hunting with Mumblefoot and Flamepelt," I said.
"What a jerk! But he's been gone longer then I have. Is he really going hunting?" Thrushpaw asked, her brow raised suspiciously.
"I dunno. I say we go check it out," I said.
"But can we leave camp without permission?" Thrushpaw asked.
"Sure I guess. And if anyone asks we are out collecting moss for Sweetflower," I said.
Thrushpaw nodded and we quickly exited camp while no one was looking.
You know you are just putting yourself into trouble for no reason. Nightstar said.
I know, but still. He's been hunting for too long. Is he really hunting? I asked.
No he is not. But these are secrets that shouldn't be revealed… Nightstar warned me.
Well I need to find out. Too many secrets are kept from me. I replied.
Because you are merely an apprentice. Secrets are not meant for you. Nightstar snapped.
I closed my mind shut, and I felt Nightstar's presence disappear, with a wave of frustration.
"Do you still scent his trail?" Thrushpaw asked.
I paused for a second and drew in the scents around me. I caught Mumblefoot's scent first, and then I found the others.
"This way," I said, as I pointed my tail towards the Thunderclan border.
As I walked closer to the border their scent grew stronger, and soon I spotted them up ahead by the river.
"Ssh I see them," I said as I flattened myself to the ground.
"Where?" Thrushpaw asked.
I forgot Thrushpaw probably couldn't see that far away. Not yet at least.
"By the river. Now come on, get down," I hissed.
Thrushpaw flattened herself to the ground and we slowly crept forward. I spotted a bush close enough to the river where I could probably hear them and see them.
"There is a bush up ahead and we are going to hide in it so I can hear them," I whispered.
Thrushpaw nodded and we silently crept forward. I tilted my ears forward slightly, so I'd be more likely to hear them. Luckily the grasses were still tall, and Thrushpaw and I were easily hidden by them.
We settled down behind the bush, and I could hear them talking easily.
"I can't hear them!" Thrushpaw whispered.
"I can," I replied.
Thrushpaw luckily didn't question why, but strained her ears, trying to listen to their conversation.
"Come on Sparrowtail, we've been waiting here forever. Some cats are going to start looking for us soon," Flamepelt said.
"We caught some prey so they can't question that we went out hunting," Sparrowtail replied.
"Is this beautiful she-cat gonna come here or not?" Mumblefoot asked.
"Rosefur is more beautiful then any she-cat," Flamepelt snapped.
"To you! I think she's uglier then fox dung!" Mumblefoot teased.
Flamepelt tackled him and the two toms fought for a few moments until Mumblefoot shoved him off.
"Okay, okay I was kidding! Relax!" Mumblefoot laughed.
"Both of you quit it right now!" Sparrowtail snapped.
Flamepelt's eyes slowly lost their fury and Mumblefoot quit letting our mrrows of laughter.
I sniggered with laughter and Thrushpaw stared at me oddly.
"Why did your eyes turn green for a moment?" she asked.
At least now I was figuring out the code. Red is anger, and green is laughter. Weird.
"I dunno," I shrugged as I focused on the cats again.
"Sssh! She's coming!" Sparrowtail hissed.
Flamepelt sat down and smoothed down his ruffled fur while Mumblefoot groomed himself as quickly as possible. Sparrowtail flattened down a tuft of fur on his shoulder and then sat down on the shore.
A sleek dappled tortoiseshell she-cat with one brown paw and fascinating amber eyes stepped out of the bushes on the other side of the stream. I gulped and sighed. She was beautiful.
"Now your eyes are amber! And whose that new cat? I can't even hear them!" Thrushpaw hissed.
"I'll tell you later," I whispered.
Well amber means love then.
"Wow…" Mumblefoot muttered.
The she-cat leaped gracefully across the river and walked up to them.
"Who are your friends Sparrowtail?" she asked.
Her voice was as beautiful as her body. It was very graceful and polite, and was on the high-pitched side. It was like music to my ears.
"Lightningpaw, why do you look all moony like when Dawnstripe and Cloudstorm are together?" Thrushpaw asked.
I didn't reply.
I heard Thrushpaw let out a snarl and sit down on the ground with a thump.
"This is my brother Flamepelt and my best friend Mumblefoot," Sparrowtail said as he flicked his tail in the direction of each cat.
"Hello both of you. I'm Tawnywhisker," Tawnywhisker said.
Tawnywhisker, the most beautiful name I've ever heard.
"We've heard a lot about you," Mumblefoot said.
"I'm sure you have. I mean, it's natural for a cat to talk about his mate to his friends," Tawnywhisker said as she nuzzled Sparrowtail.
"Mate?" Mumblefoot, Sparrowtail, and Flamepelt gasped.
"Yes. Oh, I forgot to tell you Sparrowtail. I am expecting your kits. Goldenleaf said they should come in a moon or so," Tawnywhisker said.
I felt everything fall. Well so much for that.
"Now your eyes are blue! What is wrong with you?" Thrushpaw asked.
"Whenever my emotions change, my eyes change color too," I quickly explained.
"So what does green mean? And blue? And amber? And red?" she asked.
"Green is laughter, amber is love, red is anger, and blue is sadness. And my usual yellow is just normal," I said.
"Weird…" Thrushpaw muttered.
"Oh that's great!" Sparrowtail meowed.
"Yes it is! But I think I'll probably raise them in Thunderclan," Tawnywhisker said.
"I understand. And I'm fine with that. It's terrible how I always fall in love with cats that the warrior code doesn't allow me to fall in love with," Sparrowtail said.
"Whadda you mean another cat?" Tawnywhisker asked, her whiskers twitching angrily.
"Well I was in love with Birdsong, the Windclan medicine cat. But she suddenly ended it, and then she fell terribly ill. But when she was ill, she didn't get skinnier even though she sounded weaker. She got fatter. I assumed Sweetflower was giving her too much fresh-kill so she would stay strong and fight off the disease. She eventually did, but she soon got to her normal size again. We have barely talked since," Sparrowtail explained.
"Well that's all over now. I'm your mate now, and your true love," Tawnywhisker said as she nuzzled him again.
"Of course," Sparrowtail purred
"Come on, let's go," I said.
Thrushpaw nodded and we headed back to camp. Luckily, no one had noticed we were gone. We both snuck into the apprentices den and sat down in our nests.
"What was happening down there?" Thrushpaw demanded.
"Sparrowtail, Mumblefoot, and Flamepelt were down there waiting for a cat named Tawnywhisker. Tawnywhisker was beautiful, and she told them that she was expecting Sparrowtail's kits. Then Sparrowtail told her how he had been in love with Birdsong but she ended it abruptly, and then fell terribly ill," I explained.
"Sparrowtail and Birdsong were in love?" Thrushpaw gasped, her mouth wide open.
"Yes they were. Dawnpool told me all about it this morning when I was cleaning out the elders den," I said.
"I wonder if Birdsong gave birth to Sparrowtail's kits.." Thrushpaw giggled.
"Of course not!" I yelped as I jumped to my paws," Medicine cats are not allowed to fall in love, or have kits!"
"Geeze, you don't have to get all defensive about it," Thrushpaw snorted.
I heard Sparrowtail, Mumblefoot, and Flamepelt enter camp.
"Hey Dad guess what?" I heard Turtlekit mew.
"What is it?" Flamepelt asked.
"While you were gone Dawnstripe and Cloudstorm taught Blossomkit and I a battle move! Watch me!" he meowed.
It was silent for a moment except for a quiet thud of Turtlekit's paws.
"That's excellent Turtlekit! I know you and Blossomkit will be fantastic warriors someday!" Flamepelt purred.
You should quit eavesdropping on cats. Nightstar warned me.
But I want to find out these secrets! And I have extraordinary hearing and sight so I can't help it! I protested.
Before Nightstar could reply I shoved him out of my head again, and I heard a snarl hissing in the wind.
"You wish you could see your kits grow up like that don't you," Mumblefoot grunted.
"Shut up!" Sparrowtail snapped as he cuffed Mumblefoot over the ear.
I turned around to see Thrushpaw asleep in her nest. I exited the apprentices' den and headed over to Sparrowtail.
"What about your kits?" I asked, pretending like I just barely overheard Mumblefoot.
"What kits? He's not having kits!" Mumblefoot stammered, his legs shaking slightly.
"Okay Lightningpaw, you can keep a secret, right?" Sparrowtail hissed under his breath.
I nodded vigorously.
"Well, there is this she-cat in Thunderclan named Tawnywhisker. And it turns out, she is having my kits!" Sparrowtail whispered.
I gasped, and pretended to act thoroughly shocked.
"But you can't tell anybody. This needs to stay a secret. Got it?" Mumblefoot murmured.
I nodded again.
"Now run along and eat something if you're hungry. We'll do the evening patrol later today. You have the day off to do whatever," Sparrowtail ordered.
I nodded and grabbed a mouse to bring over to Littlepaw. I headed into the medicine cat den.
"Oh hello Lightningpaw!" Birdsong meowed.
I looked around the den. The entire den was stocked with herbs. I couldn't figure out how Birdsong and Sweetflower could even move around.
"We're just stocking up on herbs for leaf-bare. It seems like it's going to be a long one this season," Birdsong said.
Sweetflower was no where in sight, while Littlepaw was curled up (except for her broken leg which had a splint on it and was stuck out) asleep in her nest.
"Sweetflower is out collecting catmint. Last leaf-bare we had no greencough or whitecough, and I have a feeling that this leaf-bare we are going to have a lot of it," Birdsong said.
"Wha?" Littlepaw said, seeming dazed as she lifted her head off her paws.
"Hi Littlepaw, I brought you this mouse," I said as I pushed it closer to her.
"Thanks," she muttered sleepily as she took a bite out of it.
"She's been drowsy all morning," Birdsong whispered," I think Sweetflower gave her too many poppy seeds."
I stifled a mrrow of laughter. Littlepaw did look very drowsy as she gulped down her mouse. Then I realized I should probably tell Birdsong about Tawnywhisker. I mean, they had been mates, right? I would just make her promise that she wouldn't let anyone know she found out. And that she wouldn't tell anyone.
"Hey Birdsong, can you keep a secret?" I whispered as Littlepaw drowsily fell back asleep.
"Of course," she meowed.
"Well, Sparrowtail is having kits! This Thunderclan she-cat named Tawnywhisker is having his kits," I hissed.
Birdsong looked thoroughly shocked, and I saw a hint of jealousy in her pale green eyes.
"Oh wow. Well congratulations to him," Birdsong said dryly.
"I thought you would be more happy for him," I said.
"I am happy for him," Birdsong mewed.
"Uh-huh…" I said.
Birdsong turned around, and I left her with her swirling thoughts.
I walked into the apprentices den, and curled up in my nest and fell fast asleep.
Hmmm this chapter gives you much to think about yessss? I think this time I will give a…..Sparrowtail plushie! Sure, let's go with that. Please review!
P.S The next chapter is going to be an updated alliances because I like to keep track of the cats! The reason I am doing that is because like 3 moons of time is passing since I don't want to linger too much on Lightningpaw's apprenticeship!
P.S.S Please check out my newest story called Prophecy of Silence! Coming out either today or sometime in the near future….And fyi that story has nothing to do with Lightningpaw and his clanmates!
