CHAPTER 11
Over the past few days Ashpaw had been spending a lot of time with Brightpaw, mostly Smallfern, who was starting to get sick of him.
"Get out! He is fine!" she had spat at him that morning. Ashpaw was chewing quietly on a starling, his eyes locked on the lichen-covered rotting tree trunk that the medicine cats called their den. He could see movement inside, and he perked his ears up to listen in.
"Brightpaw, there is something I have to tell you. And I'm not proud of this, but…" he heard Smallfern begin and leaped to his paws and raced across the camp into the den.
"Hey brother! How are you doing?" he called as he entered and saw Brightpaw laying on the soft moss with Smallfern leaning close into his face. She sat down and bared her teeth at Ashpaw. Ashpaw felt sorry for the confused apprentice, as he looked from Smallfern and Ashpaw.
"I'm fine." He whispered, trying to hint for Ashpaw to leave. Ashpaw couldn't let his brother do this; he couldn't let him break the warrior code.
Like me. He thought sadly.
Ashpaw gave Smallfern a glance and turned around, thinking of Silentpaw.
I want to see her tonight. He thought, missing her soft warm fur.
As Ashpaw padded away he heard Smallfern continue where she left off.
"Brightpaw, I think I'm in love with you." She said, sounding ashamed. Ashpaw heard Brightpaw gasp and he stuttered, but Smallfern wouldn't let him talk.
"I want you to forget about Leafpaw, I want you to myself." She said her mew was fierce.
"I can't forget about her!" Brightpaw replied and Ashpaw tried to imagine himself in his brother's position. It must be hard for Brightpaw.
That night, Ashpaw snuck out of the camp and raced to the border, not even pausing at the river. When Ashpaw reached the border, he stared out to the place he was forbidden to set paw. The one place he could not go. Ashpaw bowed his head and stifled a wail.
"Why did the cat that was meant for me have to be born in SunClan? Why can't I like any other cat?
"WHY ME?!" Ashpaw cried into the forest, his voice echoed through the trees.
"Talking about me?" a familiar mew sounded from the SunClan side of the border, and Ashpaw spotted a beautiful white tabby she-cat.
"Silentpaw!" Ashpaw cried, standing up to greet her. Her ears were flattened, her teeth bared. Ashpaw took a step back.
"You think coming here will make me forgive you? You rejected me twice and you think I'm mouse-brained enough to fall for your little trick for the third time? Think again." Ashpaw was taken aback; he took a step back from the cat who he thought loved him.
Silentpaw looked at her paws; her shy nature was kicking in.
"I know what my warrior name is now." She said, recalling the first night they met in secret.
"I'm Silentsong now. I'm a warrior." She said, puffing out her chest. Ashpaw tried to be happy for her, but all he could do was stay silent. She wouldn't take him back.
"What is your warrior name?" she asked, taking a step forward. Ashpaw just shook his head, wishing he had a warrior name. He had been an apprentice for over four moons and should be getting his warrior name by now.
"Well, I'm sure you will be soon. How is Brightpaw doing?" she asked, starting to sound irritated. Ashpaw shrugged, thinking of Brightpaw's troubles.
"Alright, why aren't you talking to me?" she demanded, unsheathing her claws and clawing the soil. Ashpaw's rage returned and he leapt to his feet and crossed the border and spat in her face.
"I can't be friends with you!" he said, watching her flinch away.
"Then why did you come?" she cried.
"I can't be friends with you because I'm in love with you! I need to be more than friends!" he yowled, tearing the grass from the ground.
Silentsong's face seemed to change from fear and anger to love.
Pure love. And Ashpaw loved it.
He took it in, he felt her love.
And he loved her back; he wanted to be with her.
Forever, and ever.
Silentsong purred and gave his ear a lick.
"I love you, too." She told him and turned around towards her territory.
'I love you, too'
'I love you, too'
'I love you, too'
'I love you, too'
The words echoed in Ashpaw's head and all he could do was stare after her.
The next morning Lionclaw awoke Ashpaw.
"Today, you are taking your assessment." Lionclaw told him, looking at Ashpaw with approval.
"Is Brightpaw?" Ashpaw asked, glancing over at the medicine cat's den. Lionclaw shook his head.
"No, Brightpaw has two moons of catching up to do. But he will catch up soon; I hear he is walking again." Ashpaw sighed, wishing his brother could become a warrior with him but nodded,
"I understand" Lionclaw purred.
"Now, go out and hunt your best. I will be watching you." He growled, dismissing Ashpaw. Ashpaw spun around to the camp entrance and sped through the wet marsh. Once Ashpaw had left the marsh, he lifted his nose to scent the air.
Mouse!
Listening for the little creature, Ashpaw spotted it on the root of a tree. Dropping low into a crouch, Ashpaw crept slowly on it. Ashpaw pounced and gave it a swift bite to the neck. Ashpaw buried his mouse by the tree, planning to return to it later.
Ashpaw had caught another mouse and a rabbit when he finally spotted Lionclaw's ginger pelt in the bushes. He wondered if Lionclaw had hidden that well, or if he just started following Ashpaw. Ashpaw thought about crossing the river, but decided to hunt in the marsh for any hidden voles. Before Ashpaw even reached the marsh, Lionclaw padded out from a thorn bush.
"Well done. Collect your prey and meet me at the camp." He mewed, nodding in approval. Ashpaw raced to collect his prey, returning to the camp with a full mouth. Brackenstar was out today, and he seemed to approve of the catch Ashpaw had caught. Lionclaw was next to his leader.
"Ashpaw! Come here." Lionclaw called to his apprentice.
Ashpaw padded up to Lionclaw and Brackenstar purred.
"You have really changed since you were a kit, breaking the warrior code." Ashpaw felt like claws raking his side as Brackenstar said that.
"T-thank you" he stuttered, feeling like a traitor.
"I think you deserve to earn your warrior name." Brackenstar continued, mistaking Ashpaw's nervousness fro excitement. Ashpaw perked up.
"Really?" he mewed in excitement. Brackenstar nodded and leapt to the top of the tallrock.
"Good work" Lionclaw whispered as Brackenstar called the Clan. Ashpaw felt guilty as he spotted Brightpaw limp from the medicine cat's den.
I'm sorry, brother. He thought to himself.
Ashpaw silently climbed the tallrock to join Brackenstar; he could see the entire camp from there!
"I, Brackenstar, leader of RainClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Ashpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?
Ashpaw held his breath and nodded.
"I do" he mewed, glancing over at Brightpaw, who looked hurt.
"Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Ashpaw, from this moment you will be known as Ashstorm. StarClan honors your loyalty" Ashstorm flinched.
"And courage and we welcome you as a full member of RainClan." Brackenstar placed his head on Ashstorm's shoulder, and Ashstorm licked his shoulder in turn. Ashstorm gracefully jumped down from the tallrock as cats chanted his name, he noticed Redflower was the loudest.
"Ashstorm! Ashstorm! Ashstorm!" they called and Ashstorm felt happy he finally became a warrior.
Brightpaw slowly limped towards Ashstorm, and Ashstorm felt sorry for his brother.
"I'm sorry." He whispered and Brightpaw shook his head, looking troubled as Leafpaw bounded up to him.
"Congratulations, Ashstorm!" she mewed, giving Brightpaw a lick on the ear, who ducked away. Leafpaw looked hurt and spun around.
"Job well done, Ashstorm." Ashstorm spun around to see Redflower purring at him. Ashstorm gave his mentor a nudge.
"You trained me well." He meowed. Redflower looked away, as if trying not to argue with him.
"Ashstorm, as tradition you shall sit vigil for this night and guard the camp. You may not speak or sleep." Brackenstar mewed, padding up to Ashstorm. Ashstorm nodded as cats returned to their dens for the night. Ashstorm sighed and sat down on the ground, staring out the camp.