Hey guys! Sorry for the wait, but I thought it'd be easier to write in the car than it actually was. However the trip has got my inspiration up, and I actually split this chapter in two as it was fourteen pages and two different points of view. You should have the next one up soon=)
Jayleaf1: Okay thanks for the feedback, Frozenfang needs more love;) I'm really glad you liked the chapter!
Chapter Twenty Four
*Hopepaw*
I wake up first on a cool New Leaf morning, and leave the apprentice's den just as an early border patrol gets back. It's mostly older warriors and they fan out, taking over the hollow as they cool down from the run, eating and sharing tongues.
Not wanting to join them, I stick to the edge of the hollow, sitting down underneath an outcropping we sometimes gather at. Watching the patrol I note that they seem rather relaxed, so I figure nothing bad was found. Aunt Midnight's up on Highledge, watching the Clan like she normally does, her posture calm.
I could almost believe that everything is almost okay, almost safe, except I can still see Blossomfall, see her eyes finding me in the trees, hear her promising to kill me. Again.
Again.
It just doesn't make sense. Somehow I know this cat…. My memories of my kithood are muddled. I know we'd snuck out – an idiotic plan made by kits who thought they were invincible because they were young. But the events of the capture and the aftermath are jumbled, almost blocked out, like my mind has decided that I'm not strong enough to handle what ever happened.
And then… all those encounters with Blossomfall…. I don't know much about her, just that she had lived in ThunderClan for a long time, betraying us, and Ivypool and my Aunt confronted her, back before we were born, but I'd messed up and asked the elders, without realizing that Briarlight was – is – her sister. Needless to say, I didn't get much information.
On top of that I've been having all these weird dreams lately, they wake me up in the middle of the night, filling me with fear but I can never remember them. There's just a strong sense of déjà vu, like whatever the dream was, it's happened to me before. I can't make any sense of it – or maybe I don't want to….
"Hey."
I look over at Featherpaw and nod slightly as she sits next to me. "You okay?" she asks softly.
"Fine." I reply immediately, automatically. "What are you doing out here?"
"When I woke up you were gone. Moonpaw, Lightingpaw, and I have been keeping an eye on you ever since….." Her voice trails off and I nod, I don't need to hear her finish.
"I don't know if I should be flattered or insulted." I mew dryly as we sit.
"Choose flattered. We're your friends, we're just worried. To be fair, you've been acting different Hopepaw – keeping secrets from them? And why?" Featherpaw demands, her voice insistent.
"Stop." I mutter softly, "It's difficult enough to understand without you trying to analyze everything."
She obliges for a moment before she whispers, "They've noticed haven't they? Your siblings."
Sighing heavily, I nod, "Emberpaw and Heatherpaw have always been protective of me – they treat me like I'll shatter at any second. Lately, Heatherpaw's been a lot worse. And Eaglepaw keeps asking me if I'm all right. I've been having nightmares and sometimes I'll move around. It wakes him up. He wants me to see Jayfeather."
"Maybe you should." Featherpaw whispers, "He could help you. And if you don't want to talk to him, Snakesayer will help."
"The thing is," I mutter, "Featherpaw, I don't think I want to know…"
"What do you mean?" Featherpaw asks wearily, surprise in her eyes.
"I just get such a bad feeling – it's an awful feeling Featherpaw. I don't need to know. It's nothing good."
"Okay," Featherpaw mews nodding, "I understand that. Just try and put it out of your mind. But why can't we tell them?"
"Because!" I mew sharply, and in my impatience, my voice becomes harsh, "I'm afraid they'll tell me!"
"Oh…" Featherpaw mews softly and I can see her figuring it out. "I see."
I curse softly as I see Aunt Midnight walking up to us. We plaster on smiles as she approaches. A small wry smirk appears on her face as she sits in front of us.
"It's too early for smiles as wide as those girls. What exactly are you hiding?"
Featherpaw laughs lightly at once and shakes her head, "Nothing mother, we just didn't think you'd want to see us grumpy and complaining."
"We were thinking of you." I mew to my mentor, giving her an innocent smile.
"I'm sure." Aunt Midnight replies sardonically before she shakes her head, "Well girls you get to be the bearer of good news."
I cock my head in question as Featherpaw's eyes widen slightly.
"Wait mum do you mean…?"
"Your warriors assessment is today." Midnightstar mews with a smile. I gasp and Featherpaw squeals, a laugh bubbling up immediately afterwards.
"C'mon, let's go tell them!" I mew and Featherpaw and I spring up, racing towards the den. I half glance back at Aunt Midnight and she looks sad, and alone. This realization is driven from my mind a split second later as Featherpaw shunts me into the den, and we tumble over Moon Beam and Feather Breeze.
They wake up blearily with complaints but we shout over them. "Wake up, wake up!" I cry, and Featherpaw laughs.
When they're all looking at us, annoyed and tired, Featherpaw takes a dramatic breath, "It is my upmost pleasure to inform you, that today, we shall be taking that last step…. Today my good friends, today is our warriors assessment!"
"WHAT?!"
"You're joking!"
"Are you serious?"
"No way!"
"Ahhhhhhhh!"
Chaos breaks out and Emeraldpaw and Frostpaw draw back together, watching us with amused smiles, while the new paws look around startled. We all burst out of the den, voices high with excitement, our energy tense and nervous. I can feel it working in my blood, the unbelievable fact that soon, I Hopepaw, I will be a warrior.
The remaining border patrol warriors look at us as we practically frolic about, some with disdainful looks others amused, a few nostalgic. The youngest warriors, our old friends come over and Hailstreak asks, "What's happening? Are you guys having you're warriors assessment today or something?"
"Yes!" We bellow and Moonpaw runs up to him, her eyes alight with excitement,
"Isn't it wonderful?" She asks brightly causing him to laugh, nodding as the others congratulate us.
"You're not warriors yet." A snide voice mews, and the half-party halts. We turn and see Spiderleg watching us, a haughty look in his eyes as he continues, "Just because you have an assessment it is not guaranteed that you will actually become a warrior. You could fail. So if you would be so kind as to not interrupt us with your idiotic, childish display, I believe we would all be quite grateful."
We stare at him in silence, my mouth is actually half-open, and I see affronted looks on everyone faces.
"Well, you know, it's funny," I almost groan as I hear the familiar voice, angry and sharp, as Moonpaw – true to form – stalks up to Spiderleg, "I think we would all be quite grateful if you could take two seconds out of your day to remember that other cats live here too, and they are just as entitled to live their lives as you are yours. I am sorry if we bothered you with our "childish display" of excitement, but you bother me every day with your childish insistence on stirring up trouble and being a –"
"Okay that's enough now." Hailstreak mutters as he quickly nudges Moonpaw backwards and Fallensnow, Silverwind, and Frozenfang take her place.
"I think it's time to go now." Fallensnow mews, perhaps too sweetly, with a saccharine smile.
Spiderleg faces twists in anger and he hisses, "You all need to learn respect!"
"We show it when cats deserve it." Silverwind mews coolly and I have to stop myself from "ooooooh"ing along with the guys.
For a moment, Spiderleg looks as though she's slapped him, but he recovers swiftly, "The only reason any of you are anywhere is because your mothers have cleared the way for you." He mews in a low, spiteful voice, "If they hadn't fallen into favor, you'd all be nothing."
"Is that so?" Frozenfang asks dangerously, "I have some friends who would tend to disagree, but I'm sure you know who they are." His blue eyes are narrowed as he observes the black warrior, "I think we're done here."
Spiderleg shoots us all a malevolent glare, but he seems to know he's beaten, as he slowly stalks off.
"What is up with him?" Eaglepaw asks as the tension slowly dissipates.
"Who knows…?" Owlswoop mews tiredly, shaking her head.
"He was more confrontational than usual…" Cloudcatcher muses, "I wonder if something's happened…"
"Well don't worry about that now!" Spottedsky mews worriedly, "You all need to focus on your assessment!"
"They'll be fine," Mosslight mews, nudging her sister, "We trained them well… and they had good mentors." She adds as an afterthought.
I laugh slightly and then Midnightstar appears, "Time to head out," she mews lightly and Flamewish grins at us.
"Good luck!" She whispers. I smile as I walk out, with my tail held jauntily, I don't need luck. I've learned well, and Midnightstar's taught me everything I need to know – probably more.
No, I'll be just fine.
Okay guys what did you think? I like writing in Hope's point of view, and then stuff added on and spiraled;) Any guesses as to why Spider was being iffy? Also don't forget about the poll, Storm or Strike! I need those answers;)
-Quote: "All you ever wanted was love, but you never looked hard enough, it's never gonna give itself up." ~Low, Coldplay
Fantastic song, fantastic band, fantastic line. I'd just done John Green and Harry quotes so I figured songs needed some love;)
So review please!
~Midnight