Ceasing midstride adjacent to the thorn barrier, Heatherpaw awaited the arrival of fellow apprentices Rowanpaw, Larchpaw, and Aspenpaw. Since Inkstar recently discerned that the three young cats should advance from apprentices to warriors (mostly at the inciting of their mentors), the ebony leader sought to implement a method to demonstrate the theory. Heatherpaw heard it rumored by the trio that 'assessments' would indicate if an apprentice was an adept hunter. Why not battle tactics? That is mandatory in our training, albeit a small amount. So why is it not present in the assessment?
"Hello, Heatherpaw," Rowanpaw chirruped, bushy tail suspended like the arcing plumes of a feather behind her. The brown tabby apprentice, albeit initially alarmed by the appearance of the littermates (since they severed her of her intense concentration), was again immersed in a bout of intrigue.
Heatherpaw's mother, Creamtuft (formerly a kittypet by the name of Cream Puff), was coerced from her home approximately eighteen moons ago when her humans abruptly departed. Cream Puff and her sister, Doe, together survived in the blossoming wilderness – until Doe encountered a rogue cat whose very presence caused her to swoon. Creamtuft loathed the tom (though unaware of why she felt so) and consistently warned her sister to remain free of his influence. However, when Doe informed Creamtuft that she was anticipating the arrival of the rogue cat's kits, Creamtuft instigated a row which caused both cats to diverge from one another, hostile blood broiling between them. Whilst she meandered through the forest, Creamtuft encountered a former kittypet who took her in with the expansion of the cold season. His superficial amiability disappeared with the onset of dusk and for the entire duration of a night, Creamtuft resided in his house of torment. At dawn, she was able to attain liberty, but within weeks, she was beset with illness. A fox later located her den and Creamtuft was forced into the wilderness as she kitted. Early spring snows did not quell matters either, as Creamtuft almost bled to death. Thankfully, a border patrol of EclipseClan cats located her and by Juniperheart's deft paws, Creamtuft recovered. However, one of her kits perished (Creamtuft later named this small cream kit Lilykit).
Heatherpaw had never known kin (other than Creamtuft), and the closest she possessed was Rowanpaw, Larchpaw, and Aspenpaw. Creamtuft mentioned locating Doe's corpse (even confronting Doe's former mate over the matter) but never her kits. Because the trio were raised without the presence of a mother and possessed an uncanny resemblance to Doe, Creamtuft often saw them as her sister's kits (taking every visible opportunity to dote on them, as if that might amend her wrong).
"Quit dawdling, Heatherpaw," Whitetail gently spoke. "The others are waiting on us."
Heatherpaw bounded forward in an attempt to eclipse her apprehensions with adrenaline. Ahead, Rowanpaw's tail bobbed in a manner comparable to a flailing squirrel. Aspenpaw and Larchpaw flanked their littermates, conversing in hushed tones. Heatherpaw could scarcely discern the words they uttered, save for: "What are you going to do now that you're about to be a warrior and Vinepaw is still an apprentice?"
Rowanpaw loped to a halt, mimicking the actions of her mentor, Inkstar; Heatherpaw awaited her response with baited breath. Then the epiphany: why, exactly, did this concern her? All cats aged and had kits of their own when the time was right. No, it was more a matter of… we're yet too young, Heatherpaw conceded.
Inkstar imperiously rid her voice of raspy tones, while simultaneously directing the attention of the cats present to the speech ahead. "For moons, you three apprentices have prepared to become warriors. Here is the final test. Your mentors and I will be watching you as you hunt. Heatherpaw and Whitetail will act as our guest surveyors. Do well, and I am certain of your imminent success."
At the summons, the apprentices lunged forward into the interwoven bracken stalks, moving centrifugally from the Crystal Pool. Mere moments after their disappearance, Inkstar signaled for the scant group to spread. Fernberry and Leafnose padded after their apprentices, Rowanpaw and Aspenpaw, respectively. Heatherpaw stalked in the direction of Rowanpaw, treading in the pawsteps of Inkstar. In past moons, the ebony leader sheltered herself in Eclipse's den, dirtied and reticent. Now, her pale eyes radiated enthusiasm and pleasure like twin suns as she surveyed the apprentice she instructed in prior moons.
But said internal hope dissipated with the sounds of a fray ahead. Claws rent fur; blood's acidity tainted the air inundating Heatherpaw's nostrils. "Get off my sister, you fiend!" Aspenpaw shrieked. Heatherpaw glimpsed her tabby-and-white pelt tackle a brown-and-cream cat. Was that Meadowthorn of SpiritClan? Now that Heatherpaw was closer, advancing toward the fray, the recognized the muscled shape of the Clan deputy, Falcontalon, and of a fellow apprentice named Timberpaw.
Heatherpaw hurled herself at Timberpaw, whose fangs delved into Whitetail's shoulder fur. "What are you doing, trespassing here? Release my Clanmate, coward!" Latching his sable scruff between her jaws, the brown tabby apprentice attempted to free her mentor.
Timberpaw rent a clod of fur from Whitetail's shoulder, strewing droplets of crimson as both cats stumbled backward. "My Clanmates and I have already fought through the defenses of AutumnClan and DarkClan. Only EclipseClan bars us from StreamClan."
"And what wrong have StreamClan done to you?" Heatherpaw caustically remarked.
"I'll give no more information," Timberpaw retorted, peeling back his lips to reveal rows of fangs scintillating with crimson. "EclipseClan are our enemies."
Heatherpaw swiped at Timberpaw; the apprentice almost collapsed atop himself. "Fool!" Heatherpaw stooped to hiss in his serrated ear. "We never had to be your enemies. But because you've shattered the warrior code, it seems to be that we are."
There was a mournful yowl which commanded the essence of Heatherpaw's attention. Inkstar! Peering about the fray, she noticed Meadowthorn looming above Inkstar, her dark blue eyes glistening with menace.
Heatherpaw leapt across the broad back of a SpiritClan warrior, latching onto Meadowthorn and unbalancing the tabby-and-cream cat. "Stay away from our leader!"
"Too late," Meadowthorn leered. "I've already managed to rob her of a life, if not more."
Heatherpaw scored her talons between Meadowthorn's eyes. Her opponent grimaced as rivulets of the viscous substance hindered her sight. For multiple moments, she sought to free herself, scrabbling rashly until one of her lashes struck Heatherpaw in the stomach. Winded, Heatherpaw landed upon the soil, the sensation of ebony blotches storming across her vision.
"Get up." Amidst her daze, Heatherpaw vacantly gazed at the imperial form of a cat from her Clan. Another patrol, comprising Barkclaw, Blackthorn, and Creekfrost, had somehow been enlightened of the dispute and proffered aid to their Clanmates.
"Get out of our territory!" Creekfrost pounced upon Falcontalon. "You CloudClan forsaken brutes have no concern for the warrior code!" Tufts of fur swirled about the grey tabby as he demonstrated no mercy to the SpiritClan deputy.
Heatherpaw hastily stood and Blackthorn paced backward. "Get to Inkstar at once and detach her from this battle. She may have recovered, thanks to your intervention, but she is in no state to continue. I'll hold the SpiritClan warriors away from you." With an ireful, discordant hiss, Blackthorn cast her talons upon Boulderjaw, producing a ghastly incision at his side before dragging him to the soil.
Heatherpaw snaked between the sprawled limbs of a leggy russet tabby tom, ducking so as not to avert his attention from his visible opponent. For good measure, however, as she emerged on his opposite side, Heatherpaw scored his flank with the claws affixed to her hindpaws. Foxbird yowled agonizingly and Fernberry delved his fangs into the tom's forepaw, causing him to crumple.
Before Fernberry might thank her, Heatherpaw moved forward, distinguishing Inkstar's ebony pelt ahead. Timberpaw and Mottlewing detained the thrashing leader beneath their paws, rancor evident in their belligerent eyes and dilated irises. Heatherpaw yowled her fury, albeit above the din, her ire went unheeded by the enemy. Surreptitiously, the brown tabby apprentice ducked into a tunnel comprised of entwining branches of bushes and scampered forward, crouching and with clandestine steps. At the mouth of the bush, she dived at Timberpaw, securing a blow with the accuracy of a viper. Mottlewing was notified of the presence of an enemy and bit into Heatherpaw's ear. Inkstar was able to stand and valiantly attempt to detach Mottlewing from her target, but the damage was already inflicted. Blood oozed from a sizable gash upon Heatherpaw's ear.
"Black – Blackthorn sent me to fetch you," Heatherpaw panted as Mottlewing and Timberpaw absconded.
"While I appreciate her gesture, possessing leadership does not liberate me of battle," Inkstar responded solemnly.
Yet in spite of her bravado, Heatherpaw noted the injuries of her leader and the exhaustion evident in her rheumy eyes. What, exactly, was the appearance of a leader in the aftermath of losing a life?
"Look!" Heatherpaw inhaled joyously. "SpiritClan are leaving!"
Inkstar breathed out her pent up apprehension before collapsing onto the earth. Before Heatherpaw might move to proffer support, Blackthorn and Barkclaw approached.
"She's lost a lot of blood," Fernberry calmly noted as her fellow warriors bolstered Inkstar upon their shoulders.
"Let us fetch her to camp rapidly then," Barkclaw stated brusquely, padding onward.
As Barkclaw and Blackthorn paced past Heatherpaw, the brown tabby apprentice discerned hushed words. "If only Sun were here," Blackthorn murmured. Heatherpaw was unsure how to response, since she rarely heard Blackthorn speak of her sister, especially not in such regretful tones.
"Is Inkstar alright?" Rowanpaw hastened toward her Clanmates.
"She will live, with CloudClan's blessing," Creekfrost clarified with a pensive twitch of his whiskers. "Only they know that our retaliation against SpiritClan was justified. And you fought well, thanks to the training she provided you with. Come now, you should have your wounds seen to."
"Especially you, Heatherpaw," Fernberry chimed. "Great CloudClan, that gash on your ear is dreadful!"
I had forgotten about that.
By the eve of the subsequent day, Inkstar had seemingly mended, as had Heatherpaw (though the poultice remained still on her injured ear). When the beckons arose from the ebony leader at nightfall, Heatherpaw identified the reason – further demonstrated when she sighted the appearance of the three apprentices beneath the boulder. What will their new names be? More so, what might my name become - when my day has come to pass?
"Cats of EclipseClan, I have gathered the whole of you today because of the events of yesterday. Although our apprentices were deliberately assailed by SpiritClan warriors, they fought in the manner of warriors. For that reason alone, it has come to my attention that these three apprentices are capable of defending EclipseClan. Rowanpaw, Larchpaw, and Aspenpaw, please stand forward at this time.
"Rowanpaw, I assign to you the title of Rowanfall, for your tail appears like a falling feather. Larchpaw, I assign to you the title of Larchtail, because your tail is long and thin like the trunk of a larch tree. Aspenpaw, I assign to you the title of Aspengaze, since you have keen eyes with which to spot prey from distances away. Clanmates, welcome your fellow warriors."
"Rowanfall! Larchtail! Aspengaze! Rowanfall! Larchtail! Aspengaze!" Varying tones of voice arose in a chorus to greet the three newly appointed warriors. No cat seemed more pleased than Creamtuft, whose golden eyes radiated joy like twin suns.
Yet Heatherpaw was disconcerted. These cats may or may not be our kin. Will my mother be more pleased when I am appointed a warrior? Or does she care more for Rowanfall, Larchtail, and Aspengaze than me?
"And on a final note," Inkstar's decree silenced the cacophony. "Another apprentice fought well yesterday. However, she is yet young to become a warrior as her peers have. But we do honor the courage of young Heatherpaw."
"Heatherpaw! Heatherpaw! Heatherpaw!"
And rightfully proud was Heatherpaw.