~ In these promises broken, deep below. Each word gets lost in the echo. So one last lie I can see through, this time I finally let you - go! Go! Go! ~ Linkin Park

Chapter 14

"Lost in the Echo."

5/15/17 - 5/16/17 - 5/17/17

~ Echopaw ~

Two days later, Brightpaw is exhilarated. Today is the day, her warrior assessment. It is also Nutpaw and Cricketpaw's warrior assessment. They were tasked to catch the most impressive piece of prey they could get and return it to Brackenstar, if they did impress him, one of them could become warriors.

"We're totally gonna win!" Cricketpaw boasts.

Nutpaw nods. "Yeah! There's no way we're gonna be beaten by the tom thief and her crazy sister!"

Brightpaw looks at Echopaw trailing behind her in the evening light. The bright gold she-cat has hardly spoken a word since they left. She hasn't opened up to anyone since Violetbloom's tryst, even Cheetahspots is pestering her to say something out of concern.

A shadow under Brightpaw catches Echopaw's attention, and looks up to see a hawk circling overhead.

"Watch yourself!" She hissed. Brightpaw looks up and sees the hawk swoop down with its talons out. Echopaw jumps on the hawk's back and sinks her claws into its back. The hawk fights back, flapping its wings and trying to take flight.

Brightpaw latches on the hawk's neck and sinks her claws into its shoulders and chest, drawing blood. The hawk hits the ground under the two she-cat's weight and falls limp.

Brightpaw and Echopaw got off and looks at the fallen hawk.

"We did it…" Echopaw breaths.

Brightpaw nods. "Let's take it back to show it off. I can't wait to see the look on Nutpaw's face!"

Echopaw stares at the hawk's fallen form with intensity.

"...paw?"

Echopaw forces herself back to reality and looks at Brightpaw. Echopaw shakes her gold fur and grabs the hawk, but Brightpaw's gaze is fixed on her sister as she helps her carry the hawk back.

The two sisters lay their hawk down for Brackenstar to see. Next to Nutpaw's big rabbit, Cricketpaw's sparrow and Mintpaw's mouse, their hawk is the biggest prey for their Clanmates to see.

Brackenstar raises his head. "Brightpaw and Echopaw have earned their warrior ceremony. All cats prepare for the ceremony to start!"

Echopaw's heart flutters with excitement and looks around her. Cats were circling the two she-cats, patiently waiting for Brackenstar to begin. Spiderdusk and Cheetahspots were in the front of the crowd. Hawkflight and Larchleap were watching them.

Then her heart plummets when she looks at the nursery.

Violetbloom sits in front of the nursery with Sedgekit, Harekit and Ashkit watching. Actually, only Ashkit was watching, as Sedgekit and Harekit were sneakily playing behind Violetbloom's back, not that she ever paid attention.

Ashkit… is disturbing. Her half-brother is staring at them with too much attention to her and Brightpaw. When he sees Brackenstar step forward, his light blue eyes became cold ice chips filled with malice and disgust.

My kit-hood is a bit blurry, but I don't recall giving anyone looks that can kill a cat.

Just as she thinks this, Ashkit turns his glare on her, and she quickly looks away out of fright.

"I, Brackenstar, leader of WindClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in return."

Brackenstar looks at Echopaw.

"Echopaw. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Echopaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Echobreeze. StarClan honors your calm mindedness and stamina, and we welcome you as a full member of WindClan."

Echobreeze licks Brackenstar's shoulder and steps back as he looks at Brightpaw.

"Brightpaw. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

The silver tabby fluffs her fur. "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Brightpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Brightflower. StarClan honors your kindness and speed, and we welcome you as a full member of WindClan."

Brightflower licks Brackenstar's shoulder and steps back, their Clanmates chant their names.

"Echobreeze! Brightflower! Echobreeze! Brightflower!"

Echobreeze's euphoria fades when she hears Nutpaw's voice.

"How fitting that her name is Bright-flower!"

Cricketpaw agrees. "Like mother, like daughter."

Brightflower turns away from the rude toms and looks at Echobreeze.

"Just what I was a afraid of. What was Brackenstar thinking?"

Echobreeze tries to come up with comforting words when Hawkflight approaches them with their uncle, Larchleap, in toe, beaming with pride.

"Congratulations. I'm so proud of you both." Hawkflight told them.

"Now your next step is to make Hawkflight here a grandad." Larchleap teases.

Echobreeze gags. "Fat chance!"

Brightflower, on the other paw, bristles her fur with anger.

"I'd rather join the elders den before I ever have kits!"

Brightflower stomps away, leaving Larchleap flustered and Hawkflight shouldering his brother with a warning look.

~ Brightflower ~

Brightflower stares at the almost full moon, recalling her ceremony.

Of all names, why would Brackenstar give me a flower related one?

Brightflower sinks her claws into the ground, Echobreeze had fallen asleep while sitting down… somehow.

But that was the least of Brightflower's concerns.

Was she just destined to be Violetbloom's echo? Nothing more than a promiscuous she-cat who doesn't care who she hurts, and abandon many kits?

Screw them. I will never take a mate. I will never have kits, then they'll never compare me to her again.

Brightflower picks up the sound of a broken stick being stepped on. She sees a dark grey shape vanish behind the hilltops.

Ashkit?

She quietly gets up from her spot and stalks Ashkit across the moors, and the borderline between this and ThunderClan. Brightflower sees the shimmering Moonpool and Ashkit staring at it from afar before padding forward.

"Ashkit!"

Her half-brother jumps and glares at her frostily. "Why are you following me?!"

"You have no right to question me." Brightflower growls. She grabs Ashkit by the scruff - ignoring his protest - and pads away from Moonpool.

Foolish kit! Why would he go out here all by himself?

… Actually, how did he know where the Moonpool is?

Brightflower drops Ashkit when they were near the camp. Lizardtail narrows his eyes when he spots her. "Sneaking out already, eh?" He mocks.

"No, idiot. I was retrieving this one." Brightflower pushes Ashkit forward with her front paw. She refuses to acknowledge Lizardtail's sneer as she puts Ashkit back to the nest and resumes her post with Echobreeze.

The light touch of her tail on her flank causes Echobreeze to wake up and look at her with wide pale green eyes.

"I wasn't snoring, was I?"

Brightflower shook her head. Echobreeze sighs with relief. "Good, good."

Brightflower just can't seem to catch a break. She and Echobreeze can't seem to shake their mother's reputation and move on. Speaking of Echobreeze, she was a little bit too focused on that dead hawk...

Ashkit/Lionstar got caught by Brightflower sneaking out and taken back. She's a little suspicious of him now. After all, Ashkit wasn't told where Moonpool was, and is still very young, so Brightflower is right to be wary about him.

Hoo boy. She doesn't know that her suspicions aren't misplaced. ~ Kyubi