Disclaimer: I don't own Warrior Cats!
Title: Berry Paint
Summary: Sandkit wants to look pretty for his apprentice ceremony, so he wears berry paint; Lightkit feels alone in RiverClan for her messy pelt and gruff demeanor, save for two elders, and strives to outdo Rosepaw; Hoptail's known who they are all along, but they're hesitant to tell their mate, Mintpelt; and Smallkit of ShadowClan is scared to face who he really is- is it a tom at all?
Chapter Title: Smallpelt (Mousepaw)
...
Skyleaf12- He is! He just feels trapped.
WhisperRanger26- Definitely happy dance! I've missed Sandpetal a lot.
...
A touch of Sunhigh heat melted pleasantly into Smallpelt's brown fur. He paid no mind to the temperature, pressing hesitant paws to the boggy dirt. The warrior eyed them nervously as he walked, touching the heel of his paw to the tip of his claws. It felt unnatural and cramped. No one would ever subject themselves to this.
Still, Smallpelt watched in fascination. It was so easy to change how a cat looked; just a flick of the tail or the way they walked could give a cat an entirely different attitude in the eyes of another. He still didn't know exactly what he was searching for inside of himself, but this was as good a place to start as any.
"Smallpelt!" An ecstatic voice called. The young cat immediately made himself walk more normally, as if ashamed of himself for experimenting. Bracken rustled as Mousepaw flew into the boggy land to playfully tackle him, laughing. A fondness for the 'paw settled in his belly.
"Get off me, you furrball." Smallpelt shouldered him away and sat up, throat vibrating with a purr. "Shouldn't you be preparing for your assessment?"
Mousepaw stood, shaking his brown pelt out. "I'm on my hunting portion now," He meowed, eyes shining.
Smallpelt blinked at him, then sent a quick glance around. "Darkflame'll kill you if he finds you talking to me."
"I told him I'd look for you, so he won't be surprised if he catches us." The apprentice shrugged. "Aren't you going to wish me luck?"
"Of course," Smallpelt pressed his pelt to the tom's side, chin resting on his spine. "Good luck, and may StarClan purr upon us all."
"Now I know you're messing with me."
Smallpelt pulled away, giving Mousepaw a quick lick on the ear. "You'll do fine. You kept the Clan afloat all alone in the worst moons of any season. You deserve that name and more."
Mousepaw's eyes glowed. "Smallpelt, if I get my warrior name, will you join me in the warriors' den?"
"You mean... pull up a nest?"
"Yeah. I know Lizardpaw and Rockpaw are important to you, but we'll both be warriors. We should be sleeping in the warriors' den."
Smallpelt felt divided. I want to be the best warrior I can be, but I'm still weak and uncoordinated. The pleading look on Mousepaw's face made the decision for him. "I'll see what Spiderberry says, but I don't see why not."
"Thanks!" The brown tom pressed his head to Smallpelt's chest before pulling away. "I'm glad I won't be the only one."
"Prey-stealers!"
They both jumped. Smallpelt turned to find a black and white tabby spitting at them. A torbie tom was keeping him away, shouldering his chest in an attempt to hold him back.
An apprentice? Smallpelt opened his jaws, scent glands becoming coated with RiverClan. He hadn't realized they were near the border. Mousepaw hissed in reply, but Smallpelt waved his tail for silence and stepped forward. "I don't see any prey here."
"You probably already ate it." The black and white tabby sneered. "That's just the way ShadowClan is; no sense of honor."
"Take a sniff around," Smallpelt invited, ignoring the flare of anger that jostled his chest. "You won't find our scent over the borders."
The apprentice hesitated, nostrils flaring. The torbie cat softened, gazing at them with hopeful eyes.
"Please don't be mad at Reedpaw," He hissed quietly. "He's just trying to do his best."
Smallpelt dipped his head.
Reedpaw finally fixed his attention on the two cats again. Confusion mixed with a desperation to prove himself. "You're too close to the border not to be planning trouble."
"We have nothing to plan," He promised. "What are two cats going do to a whole Clan?"
"Steal prey, of course," He spat, fur bristling. Smallpelt saw his claws slide out. "Well, you won't get past me, badger-hearts!"
"Reedpaw..." The torbie prodded.
"Shut up, Sunpaw!" He snarled.
Mousepaw's pelt fluffed up at the hard words. Smallpelt's mind whirled. He's clearly threatening me, but if I step over the border it'll be my fault. The warrior forced his fur to lay flat and to sound discerned. "I won't fight if you won't."
Again, indecision fought in Reedpaw's eyes, before he finally moved to step forward and answer the challenge.
"Enough!"
They all froze. Berryleg padded out of the undergrowth, teeth and claws bared as she glared disapprovingly at her kits. Reedpaw and Sunpaw instantly fell back. "Smallpelt, Mousepaw, I apologize." The speckled white and brown RiverClan she-cat turned and lowered her ears to them. "The words of my son do not reflect the words of my Clan."
"No worries, Berryleg," Smallpelt meowed, sitting down to show a cool lack of aggression. "I think we all know how it feels to be young and itching for a fight."
Mousepaw sniffed and turned away, plunging back into the trees. This clearly wasn't the place for apprentices. Nor young warriors, but I can't run away like that.
"Reedpaw, Sunpaw, let's go," She flashed a tail across both her kits' muzzles. "Applestar will hear of this."
"But-"
"Hush, Reedpaw. Now."
Smallpelt forced himself to stand his ground as the warrior and 'paws were led away. He felt exhausted. Is this what warriors have to do every day? I'm not sure I can handle going back and forth all the time.
Smallpelt fell into the nursery with a sigh, stretching out. Little paws pressed against him. "Oh, kits. Today's been a battle."
"You fought a battle?" Badgerkit squeaked. "Show us some of the moves you used!"
"Not that kind of battle." He lifted his head off his paws. "It's just been a long day, is all."
"Did you catch us anything?"
"'Fraid not. I'll go on a hunting patrol later. For now, I'd rather roll in this moss for a bit."
"Smallpelt?" Ivyclaw's head appeared at the entrance of the den. "There you are. The apprentices are heading off to the hollow for a training session. Would you like to join us?"
Smallpelt heaved a sigh and nudged Foxkit off his back, sitting up with a grimace. "Or I'll go do that."
"Come back later," Foxkit begged. "We never get to play with you anymore."
"I'll try my best," He promised, slipping back into the clearing. Ivyclaw kept pace beside him, gray tail idly brushing the back of his paws.
"You might be able to beat Lizardpaw today," She chipped in helpfully. "You've gotten much stronger."
"Don't patronize me. Lizardpaw barely has her front swipe down."
"That's true, but she has size and muscle over you," Ivyclaw's whiskers accidentally brushed his cheek and she pulled a pawstep away, glancing pointedly at his thin and short stature. "You're getting good at being crafty."
He purred. "You taught me everything I know."
She hesitated, then shook her head. "You've taught yourself."
Smallpelt suddenly found himself in her paws. Ivyclaw had barely had the chance to teach him proper hunting techniques before Berrystripe died, and not long after he'd been writhing in a nest. She'd had to watch as her apprentice received his warrior name in the snow, and only on the grounds that they weren't sure if he'd make it. He'd never felt particularly close to his mentor, and now he realized exactly why. Yet she never gave up on me. She tagged along on my patrols and helped me with my catch-up training. I could never be that strong.
He reached over to gently nose her shoulder. "I wouldn't have gotten as far as I have if I hadn't had a great mentor to get me started."
Ivyclaw purred but didn't reply.
Smallpelt came back to the camp alone, a bird clutched in his jaws. The training session had been cut short when Darkflame had appeared with Mousepaw, making room for the second part of the assessment. Remembering his promise, Smallpelt had slipped away for some solo-hunting. The feathers tickling his tongue, the frog that morning a distant memory.
He felt satisfied as he set the food in the front of the nursery, hearing Badgerkit and Foxkit cheer and tussle to get the meatier parts. He took a mouse from the fresh-kill pile and went to eat by himself. I kinda want a litter myself, but that'll never happen.
Smallpelt glanced at the nursery, wondering what it'd be like to be a mother to a group of kits. He found the idea was an appealing one. I guess I could always become a nursery cat like Sandpetal, but I don't think that's quite it.
He set his head on his paws, prey half-eaten. He was too deep in thought to take another bite yet. I'm so close.
"I did it!"
Smallpelt opened his eyes- he hadn't realized they were closed- and lifted his head. I have all the time in the world to figure this out- I need to be alert now. Mousepaw's fur was fluffed like a pinecone, mouth open to pant a little. "I did it, Smallpelt! I passed!"
The warrior stood and pressed his muzzle to the apprentice's head. He hadn't noticed before, but the tom had to bow his neck for him to do so. "That's great, Mousepaw! I'm really happy for you."
"Let all ShadowClan cats gather for a meeting!"
Mousepaw gave a little bounce. "It's time!"
Judging by the way Wingstar's face looked freshly cleaned as she appeared from her den, Smallpelt guessed she was catching up on her sleep before giving the call. She leapt onto her perch without hesitation, looking unruffled. Smallpelt took a seat between Lizardpaw and Rockpaw, feeling Skycloud's presence behind him. Boltgorse watched her son with pride as he took his place before the Clan. Ivyclaw gave him an acknowledging nod as she sat down, murmuring something to Brackentuft. He saw the eyes of the kits glinting from the nursery, and Mosswhisker gave a devious twitch of the whiskers.
"Today we honor an apprentice who deserves great respect for his actions during his apprenticeship. No cat here can complain that they didn't have decently fresh bedding, or that he didn't hunt more than the most dedicated of warriors when there was no moss to gather or food to catch."
I can, but he wasn't allowed in the medicine den often for fear he'd get sick himself. Smallpelt watched as Wingstar addressed the Clan with a confident air.
"Darkflame, is Mousepaw ready to be a warrior?"
The tom dipped his head. He looked every bit like the noble deputy the Clan had begun to see him as throughout the Leaf-bare. "Definitely, Wingstar. He passed every test easily."
"Then a warrior he shall be," She replied. "I, Wingstar, leader of ShadowClan, 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 in turn. Mousepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Mousepaw's chest puffed out and his tail winded tighter around his paws. "I do."
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Mousepaw, from this moment you will be known as Mousepoppy. StarClan honors your kindness and protective nature, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan."
Smallpelt glanced at the new warrior, wondering how he'd take the more feminine name, but Mousepoppy's tail was high and proud.
"Mousepoppy! Mousepoppy! Mousepoppy!"
Wingstar barely managed to report the warrior's vigil before he flung himself into the crowd, tail lashing with excitement. Mousepoppy stopped before Smallpelt with a hesitant look on his face, clearly asking for approval.
He reached out and leveled a lick to Mousepoppy's muzzle. "It fits you."
Internally, his mind raced. I thought only nursery warriors like Sandpetal could get pretty names. Poppy is such a special name, too, unlike my own. Smallpelt couldn't quite decide how he felt about that.
"Come on," Rockpaw bumped against his shoulder. "It's time for us normal cats to get some sleep. We'll find Mousepoppy some moss for his nest tomorrow."
Mine too, Smallpelt thought. This would be the last night he'd spend in the apprentice den. The warrior dipped his head and followed the 'paw back to their den, hazarding one last glance at Mousepoppy. The tom was padding off to the camp entrance.
Lizardpaw nudged him with a mrrow of laughter. "Don't look now, but I think he's got a thing for you."
"Yes." Smallpelt meowed. "I know." He pushed into the den before she could prod more, unwilling to discuss things further, curling into a tight ball. He stayed perfectly still as the two 'paws snuck in and hunkered down, listening intently to their breathing.
Smallpelt rolled onto his side, examining a light brown paw striped with black to better ignore the twists and turns his life had achieved. She? The pronoun resounded in his head. It sounded no different than any other word, but it was slightly disconcerting how easily it slid into place.
She, he repeated in his mind, then turned over and went to sleep as though he'd made some great effort.
Author's Note: Finally getting some development for Smallpelt that doesn't require him almost dying in the middle of the snow next to a pile of dead prey. That's a good start.
Next chapter is kinda messed up. I'll put a warning up for it, since I know a lot of folks don't read these notes.
Alright, question of the day! Who's your favorite character in this story and why? (I liked making these but I keep forgetting to. Eh.)
-Mandaree1
