Squirrelflight took another couple of steps forward, her green eyes bright. Brightheart, sitting opposite her, sat straight up, her ginger-and-white fur fluffed up against the growing chill of Leaf-fall.
Her eyes were also watchful - the two she-cats were on Camp watch, and the sky was beginning to grow gray as three shapes emerged from the warrior's den and made for the entrance. Ashfur was leading Rainwhisker and Spiderleg, and he stopped in front of Brightheart, turning his back to Squirrelflight. Rainwhisker and Spiderleg cast her awkward glances before looking back at Ashfur.
"Where are you going?" Brightheart was asking Ashfur. The gray toms speckled fur began to bristle. "Hunting!" he hissed. "Or do we need some cat's permission to breathe now?"
Brightheart seemed about to protest, but thought better of herself, exchanging a glance with Squirrelflight. The ginger she-cat knew what Brightheart wanted, though she still prickled with annoyance at Ashfur's refusal to have anything to do with her.
I guess he deserves some smypathy, she thought irritably. After Birchpaw... she winced at the memory of the young apprentice. Ashfur had appeared a moonrise after they'd rescued Graystripe - that was two days ago now - with the news that Birchpaw had been killed by a fox.
Ferncloud, Birchpaw's mother and Ashfur's brother, had been distraught - but Ashfur had been cold and distant, snapping even more than usual and spending most of his time out on patrols. Brightheart moved to let the gray tom and his den-mates pass, and the two warriors sat there in silence for a while.
Squirrelflight turned to see the camp, and was startled at how busy it had become. Firestar stretched and yawned from his den on the Highledge, warriors and apprentices were beginning to make their way towards the centre of the camp. Daisy and Sorreltail lay just outside the nursery, Sorreltail's kits curled up, asleep, and Daisy's playfighting in front of the two queens. Leafpool and Firestar were talking outside the medicine cat's den - Squirrelflight thought she knew what about. Firestar had been checking up on Graystripe constantly, and last night Leafpool had announced that he was going to make a full recovery.
This news had cheered the Clan, and Squirrelflight sank into memories of her old friend. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" Squirrelflight jerked round - Firestar was standing on top of the Highrock, his orange pelt glowing in the shafts of sun that filtered through the trees around the hollow. Daisy's three kits sat below the Highledge, their fur neatly groomed and their eyes sparkling.
"I have called you here because Daisy's kits have reached six moons, and the time has come for them to become apprentices."
Squirrelflight hurried over to stand next to Brambleclaw who gave her an affectionate lick and turned back to regard the apprentices with eager amber eyes. Squirrelflight wondered what he was thinking.
"Brambleclaw, come forward."
The brown tabby warrior stepped towards Firestar, looking excited and - something else that Squirrelflight could not recognise. "You will be mentor to Berrypaw."
The little cream-coloured tom sat up straighter, and walked forward. "Brambleclaw, you have shown yourself to be a warrior of great courage and loyalty. Do your best to pass these skills on to Berrypaw." Brambleclaw touched noses with Berrypaw, and the two cats withdrew into the crowd.
The
next kit to walk forward was Mousekit, his gray fur smooth and eyes
bright.
"Brackenfur," called Firestar, and the dark
ginger tom walked out of the crowd of cats looking stunned. "You
will mentor Mousepaw. Pass on to him your skills of intelligence and
quick thinking, and he will make a fine warrior."
Brackenfur nodded, and touched noses whith Mousekit. Finally, Hazelkit, the gray-and-white she-cat, moved forwards, her blue eyes bright.
"Squirrelflight," meowed Firestar.
Squirrelflight's blood froze. Me? Her limbs felt like air as she took a few stunned steps forward to stand in front of the Highledge. "You will be Hazelpaw's mentor. You have served your Clan with determination and courage - do your best to pass this on to Hazelpaw."
Squirrelflight touched noses gently with the young apprentice - my apprentice, she reminded herself - and touched her tail on Hazelpaw's shoulder, guiding her to stand next to Bramblelclaw and Berrypaw. Brambleclaw gave her a friendly nudge on the shoulder, and Squirrelflight purred thickly as Firestar dismissed the Clan.
Hazelpaw looked up at Squirrelflight. "What do I do now?" she asked, giving a little purr. "I want to learn all the warrior skills!" Squirrelflight smiled. "Now you need to go and eat," she purred, grinning at Brambleclaw who was telling Berrypaw the same kind of thing.
"Ashfur's hunting patrol should be back soon... I wonder where they are?"
