Sorry for the long wait! Should be updating next on Thursday. ^^ Anyway, not very interesting chappie. I wanted you guys to meet Lionblaze and Cinderheart's kits, they're so cute! I especially love Honeykit. -whimpers- I loved Honeyfern. :'(
Anyways, read and review! You know I love it!
icefire: (2 reviews! Woah!)
review 1 - Really? I never knew that, thanks for letting me know. I always pictured her with blue eyes.
review 2 - He he. :D I wanted you guys to see the nicer side of Dewpaw, and also, helping with this kitting might come in handy later on in his life...
FlyingOranges76: Thanks! I love CinderxLion, they're one of my favourite couples. xD Gotta love an annoyed Dewpaw.
Hannah: I wanted to show Dewpaw's lighter side. He's not all bad, he's just a little misunderstood. SeedxSnow are really cute. ^_^ Love those two.
Xxxxxxxx: Thanks for the feedback, I'll try not to use it so much. Snowpaw's so cute. ^^
Raggedstar 3: Sorry about that! I usually proofread, but sometimes I miss things out. Thanks for letting me know though and same, I love IvyxToad. They're cousins but let's just pretend that they're not. xD
Wildfire10: Thank you! Added Resurrection to my community. Must get round to reading it...
Amberpaw's P.O.V.
Dawn light streamed through the walls of the Apprentices' Den and onto the she-cat's patched ginger-and-white pelt. Amberpaw blinked sleepily and slowly rose to her paws, stretching briefly.
Dewpaw's nest was empty, but Snowpaw's sleeping form was visible in the centre of the den. She purred to herself, carefully stepping over her brother and exiting the den.
Amberpaw stepped into the pale sunlight just in time to see Dewpaw and Birchfall's tails disappear through the thorn barrier. Not many cats were up at this time; only herself, Bramblestar (who was settled on the highledge), Squirrelflight (who was sharing tongues with her mate) and Sandstorm (who sat outside the Elders' Den, green eyes clouded with grief).
The grey-and-white she-cat padded over to the fresh-kill pile, which due to it being late-green-leaf, was rather large. She quickly settled for a squirrel, her favourite type of prey, and sat down below the high-ledge.
Sorreltail had told her that she could have a day off from training today and Amberpaw was eager to make the most of it. She had already decided to go and see Cinderheart's kits, who had been born nine sunrises earlier, but she had no idea what to do for the rest of the day.
Hunting perhaps?
Amberpaw chewed at the squirrel, savouring the fresh taste. It was still warm and the grey patched she-cat assumed that it must've been caught by Birchfall; Dewpaw had told her that his mentor tended to go hunting very early, "Thank you, Birchfall," she muttered to herself.
Her alert amber gaze was caught by the slender form of Dovewing, emerging from the Warriors' Den, green eyes clouded with concern.
One of the four, she realised as she swallowed a mouthful of squirrel, I wonder what she's so worried about?
The young warrior scurried over to the High-ledge and hissed up to Bramblestar, "Bramblestar! We need to talk!"
The ThunderClan leader blinked open sleepy amber eyes, briefly licking Squirrelflight's cheek before leaping down off the High-ledge, "Sure."
Intrigued, Amberpaw slipped a little closer, ears perked forward, she managed to catch the pale grey she-cat's words.
"Rogues have attacked. Blackstar is dead and as is Rowanclaw," Dovewing meowed, voice scarcely a whisper. How does she know that? Amberpaw wondered, Oh yeah; her powers.
Bramblestar's eyes flashed with alarm, "Rogues. ShadowClan must be in turmoil," he glanced behind him at Squirrelflight briefly, "Thank you for alerting me. I'll make sure the patrols keep an eye out for rogues."
Dovewing smiled, relaxing a little and dipping her head to her leader, "Thank you for listening to my concerns," she meowed before padding away.
"ShadowClan without a leader and deputy, huh?" Amberpaw murmured to herself, amber gaze flitting over to the nursery. She quickly swallowed down the rest of the squirrel before padding over to the nursery. Time to meet ThunderClan's newest members!
Amberpaw hadn't been in camp when Cinderheart had given birth, but she'd heard the loud yowls of the dark grey tabby queen. She'd had five kits, Dewpaw had told her, the largest litter Jayfeather had ever known.
Stepping into the dim, her amber eyes quickly adjusted to the light. Lionblaze was already in the den and was sharing tongues with Cinderheart whilst five small bundles were tucked in the curve of their mother's belly.
Upon spotting the daughter of Cloudtail and Brightheart, Cinderheart lifted her head and meowed a greeting, "Come to see the kits?"
Amberpaw nodded, but remained silent. Her attention was on the five small lives at Cinderheart's belly.
The dark grey tabby let out a chuckle before briefly licking her mate on the cheek, "Bring back a squirrel, you know I love squirrels," she whispered as he departed the den.
Amberpaw dipped her head to the disappearing golden tom before stepping forward to greet the small kits, "Hello, kits," she looked up to their mother, "What are their names?"
"Pebblekit, Puddlekit, Honeykit, Stormkit and Mosskit," she meowed, touching her tail to each kit in turn, "Pebblekit, Puddlekit and Mosskit have opened their eyes and were awake a few hours ago, but they've fallen asleep again," she meowed with a chuckle, nodding to three of the kits.
"Wonderful names," Amberpaw purred. The largest kit, a golden tabby tom, began to rouse, Pebblekit was it?
The young kit blinked open his eyes to reveal their colour, a vibrant green. Sleepily, Pebblekit shook his head, "Momma, who's that?" he meowed, leaf-green eyes falling upon Amberpaw.
The grey-and-white she-cat purred, "I'm Amberpaw," she meowed softly. The golden tabby tom-kit had found his voice quickly, the young apprentice noted.
Amberpaw hadn't uttered her first words until she was half a moon old, but then again, she had always been a slow one.
The tom-kit tilted his head to one side, "Are you a warrior apprentice?" he asked, "Because I'm going to be a warrior."
"Yes, I'm a warrior apprentice," she smiled, amber eyes glowing in the dim light of the nursery.
Pebblekit's green eyes lit up and Amberpaw noted he looked exactly like his father, not including his bright, leaf-green eyes. The golden tabby kit quickly poked a very pale grey tom-kit and a tortoiseshell-and-white she-kit awake, "A warrior apprentice has come to see us!" he squeaked excitedly.
The tortoiseshell-and-white she-kit slowly woke up and had to blink her pale green eyes open slowly before her eyes adjusted to the light, "Why'd you wake me up?" she asked sleepily. Then her gaze fell upon Amberpaw, "A warrior apprentice!" she shrieked.
The light grey-and-white apprentice let out a purr, though her attention had already been diverted to the pale grey tom-kit who had begun to rise to his paws.
"Who are you?" he queried, amber gaze alert despite having only just woken up, "Are you a warrior?"
Amberpaw chuckled, "I wish," her gaze fell upon the two remaining kits who were still asleep, "I'm just an apprentice."
"Just an apprentice!" The white tom, who she realised was Puddlekit, widened his eyes, "I'd do anything to be an apprentice now."
Cinderheart let her tail rest on her son's flank, "You're only just over a quarter-moon old," she reminded him gently, blue eyes soft.
"What's going on?" a soft voice sounded.
All eyes fell upon the furry golden brown mass of Honeykit who had just woken. She fixed her bright green gaze on Amberpaw, "You're not mother."
Cinderheart's eyes lit up, "Honeykit! You've opened your eyes!" she rushed over to the golden brown tabby she-kit and smothered her in licks.
"It's so bright!" Honeykit replied, green eyes darting around the den, "Is it always like this?"
Cinderheart held her daughter close, "Your eyes will adjust, my sweet," she whispered softly, licking her daughter's cheek ever so gently.
Honeykit wriggled away from her mother's tight hold, "Stormkit's woken up," she nodded to the dark grey, almost black tom, who had just risen to his paws.
"Whoa!" he let out a squeal of excitement as he stumbled over a moss-ball. His eyes were just like his mother's, a bright blue colour.
"You've all opened your eyes," Cinderheart purred pulling all five of her kits close to her dark grey fur, "Wait till your father sees, he'll be so proud of you."
Amberpaw could sense her time was coming to an end and dipped her head to the proud mother, "Thank you for letting me visit them, they're so cute."
"Cute! I'm not cute! I'm a feroscious warrior!" Pebblekit squeaked, attacking Mosskit who shortly let out a "Hey!"
Cinderheart chuckled, "It's ferocious, not feroscious," she corrected gently before diverting her attention to the pale grey-and-white apprentice, "Thank you, I'm sure they'd love you to come and play with them some time."
Amberpaw nodded, "I'd love to," she dipped her head to the dark grey queen before taking a step back and departing the den.
The camp had sprung into action since she'd first emerged from the Apprentices' Den and Squirrelflight was organising patrols from the Highledge, Bramblestar at her side.
"Mousewhisker! Take Orangepaw, Bumblestripe and Dovewing on a patrol to the ShadowClan border!" the dark ginger she-cat yowled.
The chosen cats dipped their heads to the deputy, before gathering together. Orangepaw dashed over to her mentor, green eyes glowing with excitement. Although she hadn't been an apprentice long, Amberpaw knew it wouldn't be long until the former loner was a warrior.
Orangepaw was almost the same age as Mousewhisker and had she been born in ThunderClan, she would certainly be a warrior by now. Amberpaw had also noticed how close Orangepaw and Mouswhisker were; closer than just a warrior and apprentice. Perhaps they'll become mates when she's a warrior?
Her gaze drifted around the hollow, Now, what to do? Hunting? She mused on her options for a second before making up her mind, "Squirreflight!" she called up to the deputy of ThunderClan.
The dark ginger she-cat looked up, "Yes, Amberpaw?" she asked, green eyes filled with interest.
"I'm going to go hunting, by myself," a cream-and-brown pelt caught her eyes and immediately she regretted her words. Oh StarClan, I should've have asked him to come with me!
Ever since the day that he'd saved her on the tree-bridge, she had kept thinking of him. She didn't know what had gotten into her, he was just a friend, right?
She shook Molespots from her thoughts and forced her gaze back to Squirrelflight. The deputy looked contemplative, she must be wondering whether to let out an apprentice of my age, on my own.
"Alright," Squirrelflight sighed, "Just be careful."
Amberpaw nodded and with a flick of her tail, trotted towards the thorn barrier, sliding under it easily. Once out in the forest, she could relax.
She took a step forward to find her paws were wet. Amberpaw let out a growl and looking down, expecting to see a puddle, but instead she saw that the droplets of moisture clung to every blade of grass around her. Dew. Morning dew.
The words of the prophecy flew back to her and all of a sudden she stiffened. She and Snowpaw had worked out that they needed to go back to ThunderClan's old territory, but they knew nothing more.
And Dewpaw continues to deny he is in the prophecy.
Amberpaw sighed and suddenly an idea struck her. Perhaps I could go to see StarClan?
"But how do I visit StarClan?" she pondered out loud, staring at the grassy the forest floor, "Of course! The Moonpool!"
Amberpaw scrambled to her paws, I can ask StarClan about the prophecy. She headed off towards the WindClan border, her heart lifting with hope.
Perhaps StarClan could help her understand the prophecy, and my destiny perhaps?
When she reached the Moonpool, it was sunhigh. The young apprentice had never seen the Moonpool before and it took her breath away.
Water, glinting silver in the light, tumbled down into a small pool. The ground was marked with paw prints, generations old. Probably from the ancients that Jayfeather talks about.
Taking a deep breath, she settled herself down by the large pool. All to do now is to wait for night fall, and then I visit StarClan.
But waiting by the Moonpool made her restless. Her paws itched to go over and take a sip, just to quench her thirst, but she managed to resist.
Do I really have to wait till night?
She eyed the water, her mouth watering at the temptation of its cool depths. Just a sip, then I'll go back to waiting for StarClan.
Amberpaw rose to her paws and padded over to the water's edge. She crouched down, the gentle ripples of water lapping at her paws.
She smiled, seeing her face reflected in the silver-blue depths before leaning close and taking a sip. That's better.
The water was cool on her tongue and tasted exquisite. Is this what Starshine tastes like? She wondered. She blinked open her eyes.
Wait, where am I? She stood in a sunny forest, a blue sky above her head. The scent of prey hung thick in the air and she could hear the distant sound of water tumbling over water.
A golden tabby tom stood before her, his pelt shimmering with starshine, green eyes bright, "Greetings young one, my name's Lionheart."
Read and review please! Not much else to say. :)
Leafsplash, out.
