Disclaimer: I don't own the Warrior Cats series!
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: Hoptail (Smokestar)
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Amberstorm233- I think it's up to the mother if the kit's name is changed, in the case of Crookedstar. Since Rainflower apparently went to Hailstar more than once, she probably pressed until he finally relented. Cool! It's nice to know Sandpetal ain't that old yet. =) I totally get what you mean, and I'll definitely miss writing them!
florapaw- Thank you so much! I really love Reedfern as well. =)
...
Hoptail sat back on their haunches with a little sigh, tail swishing aimlessly. "Hello, Smoketail."
Smoketail immediately leaned on them. "Goldenstar's not getting any better, is he?"
They shook their head slightly, thinking of the defeated look that had been hounding Longfeather's features. "He's had a good run."
"I'm going to miss him," the young warrior whispered into their fur. Smoketail lifted his head to look at them. "Will you?"
Hoptail nodded. Goldenstar had been many things in their life. A mate to Whitefire. The father to their half-kin. An excellent leader. There wasn't a single warrior in WindClan who wasn't mourning his loss, despite not having passed on yet. "We all get old, Smoketail."
The deputy flinched at the reminder. "I just dunno if I can take his place."
"Don't talk like that," they urged. "You're doing great with Robinpaw, aren't you?"
"But he's my first!" Smoketail insisted. "You were supposed to mentor him anyway. Goldenstar wanted you to be his deputy."
"I don't want to be a mentor," Hoptail meowed bluntly. "And Goldenstar wouldn't have picked you if he didn't want you."
The black tom shrunk down, chin pressed to his chest. "But that's just because I'm his son."
"The same could be said of Volefur," they reminded him. "You're the one standing by his side, and that's not for no reason."
"You really think so?" Smoketail asked, a hopeful look in his eye.
Hoptail licked his cheek. "Know so."
The warriors' den was empty as Hoptail opened their eyes, feeling cold and stiff. They shifted and sat up, feeling lonelier than they had in years. It wasn't like Mintpelt to not wake them up for patrols.
She barely looked at me yesterday, they thought somberly. When Hoptail had taken the plunge and finally told their secret to their long-time mate, they certainly hadn't expected silence as her reply.
Sliding out of the den, they took a seat in the warn sunlight, licking a paw and drawing it over their ear. Yarrownose and Molepool were chatting by the fresh-kill pile, smiling like old friends. Aircloud and Crowsky came padding into camp with a rabbit each, tails raised high in triumph. Robintail and Peatflower were sharing tongues by the entrance. Mistystream and Brokenear both were asleep in the nursery while Volefur was keeping their kits company. Rabbitwater and Poppyflame called a greeting as they slipped out of the camp, going for a walk. It was a comforting scene.
It's time, they thought. Hoptail stood with renewed purpose, finding and tracking Mintpelt's scent. They passed Brightfire and Reedfern on the way, the duo heading off to meet up with a border patrol. They'd noticed them becoming good friends as of late.
The trail led them to a small stream that wove through WindClan like a snake, babbling gently over pebbles. It wasn't uncommon for it to overflow a bit during Greenleaf, making the terrain muddy in some spots, but here it was dry as bone. Mintpelt sat with her paws within drenching distance of it, head bent low to the water, like she was trying to discern how to fish. She didn't argue when Hoptail perched next to her, taking a quick drink from the lapping waves. It was still ice-cold from Leaf-bare.
Hoptail licked their lips to rid themself of any lingering water droplets. "The kits are getting close to apprentice age, aren't they?"
That made her sit up blink at him. "Brokenear and Mistystream's? Not quite."
"Naw, I meant Reedfern and Brightfire. Won't be long before Smokestar starts assigning them 'paws."
Mintpelt's whiskers quivered, despite the conflicted look in her eyes. "Proud, are we?"
"Very," they agreed. "Between you and me, I overheard them planning to have a litter as friends." Hoptail let out a low sigh, eyes fluttering shut. "This isn't really our Clan anymore, is it?"
"I don't think any single warrior owns a Clan."
"I'm going to ask Smokestar if I can become an elder," Hoptail blurted out. Hearing it said aloud made their stomach sink, but they'd made up their mind. "I've missed sharing a den with Rabbitwater and Poppyflame; we've been together since we were kits, and it's weird to be separate now." Hoptail shot her a hopeful look. "I'd hoped you might join me."
"Okay," she meowed, surprising him. "But you're the one telling Smokestar. He's your half-brother, after all."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"You're not mad?"
"Oh, Hoptail." Mintpelt let out an awkward chuckle, shaking her head. "I'm not mad at you. I'm angry with myself."
Hoptail intertwined their tails. "You didn't do anything wrong."
"You didn't feel like you could trust me with yourself, even after all these seasons together." Her head bumped their chin. "Some mate I've been."
"You didn't tell me why you didn't want kits," they reminded her gently. "We've both kept secrets from each other." Hoptail laved a lick to her ear. "Mates don't have to share everything."
"I know." Mintpelt's white tail twitched.
Hoptail nudged her. "When you think about it, everyone's always tried to push this idea about us being the perfect couple. Raised together, trained together, always together. Maybe we wanted to live up to that."
"Maybe," she echoed. "Are we... good?"
"We were never bad," Hoptail promised. "Let's head back and eat."
They went to Smokestar after Sunhigh, finding him sunning himself and discussing StarClan-knows-what with Yarrownose. The leader and deputy quieted as they approached, dipping their head. "May I intrude on you for a moment, Smokestar?"
"It's not an intrusion," he reassured, waving a paw to his deputy. Yarrownose stood and padded away, bumping Hoptail in a friendly manner as he passed. "What's the problem?"
"No problem." Hoptail settled in on the cool stone with a grunt. "I've been thinking about when Goldenstar died."
Smokestar's ears fell a bit. He looked thoughtful. "It was a hard time."
"I miss him," they admitted softly.
"Me too," Smokestar meowed.
Hoptail shoved his shoulder with a smile. "Remember when you tried to have me be your deputy?"
The black tom purred with delight, eyes half-closed with affection. "I seem to recall you agreeing."
"Only for three moons. I knew Poppyflame and Rabbitwater were going to retire, and I knew you needed time to recover. The third moon was so you could think up a replacement."
"And yet, you were the one who suggested Yarrownose."
"Are you displeased with my choice?"
"Not at all. He's a fine deputy." Smokestar suddenly grew somber. "It's a shame that WindClan didn't get to have a Hopstar. You would've been a great leader."
"I prefer things how they are now," Hoptail confessed. Just being deputy had run them into the ground. Nine lives of duty would've worn them to the bone. "Mintpelt and I have decided to retire. She wanted me to be the one to tell you."
Smokestar's ear twitched. The tom looked mildly surprised. "That doesn't sound like her."
"I think she knew we needed a moment to ourselves." They leaned onto the black tom, who leaned back with a sigh, just like on that horrible day seasons ago when they waited for Goldenstar to die. "You gonna be okay, brother?"
The leader shrugged, staring at his paws distantly. "It scares me that everyone I love is growing old. You, Mintpelt, Volefur- you're all I have left. I don't want to lose that." He glanced at him shyly. "I asked Goldenstar to name me after you, you know."
"I know. He told me."
"He did?"
"Goldenstar talked to me about you all the time. You and Volefur were his pride and joy." Hoptail flicked Smokestar's ear with his tail playfully. "We'll never really leave you. We'll always walk the stars, watching, waiting, proud of all you've accomplished."
"You promise?"
"I swear on it."
Smokestar looked soothed somewhat. He awkwardly got to his paws. "Well, we should get on with the ceremony, huh?"
"That would be nice."
Hoptail joined Mintpelt at the front while Smokestar called for everyone to gather. Poppyflame and Rabbitwater poked their heads out of the elders' den, catching sight of their old friends. Smiles broke out across their muzzles as they padded over to sit down. Brokenear was giving Leftykit a thorough washing, and hardly looked up. Mistystream blinked at them, Broccolikit perched on her back and Blasterkit between her paws. Squirrelkit perched on Volefur's back as the black and gray she-cat settled in, watching her brother. Molepool and Yarrownose took their places as the other warriors came filing in. Smokestar waited until all had returned from their various duties to begin.
He waved his tail for silence. "Hoptail and Mintpelt have been staples in WindClan for longer than I've been alive, and there isn't a single cat here who can deny that they've earned their place in the elders' den- though, I'm sure just as many will miss them on patrols, or out hunting with the others."
"They're old as sin!" Rabbitwater called from the back, cackling. "I'd say it's about time!"
"Darling," Poppyflame interjected, loud enough to be heard over the laughter. "You do remember that we're older than them by a few moons, right?"
"'Course I do! We're all as old as sin! All four of us!"
Hoptail shook their head good-naturedly, turning to the crowd. "It was an honor to hunt and fight alongside all of you. But, I have to admit, I've missed my friends, even if they're crotchety elders that can't keep their jaws shut." They sighed a little. "I just wish Longfeather were here to retire with me. It's my only regret."
"Well, I was just going to go quietly, but somebody decided we're supposed to be giving big speeches, so..." Mintpelt meowed, shooting them an amused look. "I'd just like to thank- well, everything, I guess. The skies, the stars, the fresh-kill I've taken down, and especially the cats I've known and loved." She dipped her head. "I know WindClan is in good paws."
"Mintpelt, Hoptail," Smokestar started. The duo turned forward once again. "Is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go to join the elders?"
"It is, Smokestar," Mintpelt meowed.
"I'm ready," Hoptail answered, though they weren't sure if they were. It just sounded like the right thing to say.
Smokestar nodded. His eyes flashed sadly as his head bobbed. "Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest."
Hoptail felt a nostalgic tug in their chest as the Clan chanted their names, reminding them of their long-ago warrior ceremony. They smiled at Mintpelt. She smiled back.
Author's Note: Shout-out to Rabbitwater for giving no darns and interrupting the ceremony.
Well, ya'll, it's finally here. The last four chapters. They're each gonna be an individual goodbye to our main characters, and in the order they first appeared; Sandpetal, Lightstripe, Hoptail, and finally Smallpelt. At the end of each chapter, I'll put a little blurb of things that I've changed plot and character-wise, plus what I see happening in the future, etc etc. I'm gonna miss this story bunches, yo.
-Mandaree1
