Thanks to everyone who reviewed, followed and favorited the story! Review Replies:
thee survivors: I'm glad you like Tigerclaw! One of my biggest gripes was that the series didn't make him seem as manipulative as he was. They did a great job of making him intimidating, but the manipulative side of his character fell flat. Simitria: this is the beginning of some of the minor changes I have planned. As you can tell this chapter, Ravenpaw is a little less of a chicken. I love him though. I kept his anxious nature without making it quite as debilitating as it was in main series.
CHAPTER ONE
"Wake up, Firepaw!"
Firepaw let out a soft grunt as a paw poked her in the side. She batted weakly at the fuzzy shape in annoyance but Graypaw just laughed and swatted at her again.
"Come on, get up!" he repeated. "Better get used to being up bright and early!"
Dustpaw snorted, looking up from where he was sitting in his nest washing himself. "That kittypet has probably never gotten up early a day in her life."
Sandpaw snickered and hit Ravenpaw, surprisingly, spoke up.
"She'll get used to it," he defended weakly. "And don't let Redtail or Whitestorm hear you two giving Firepaw a hard time."
Sandpaw snorted, but Dustpaw looked away from his nervous brother's gaze. Redtail would have his ears if he caught Dustpaw picking on the new apprentice. Plus, she was being trained by Tigerclaw, so if any kittypet had a chance of being an actual warrior one day, it was Firepaw.
"Fine," Dustpaw's agreement had Sandpaw staring at him in slack jawed surprise.
"What?" she demanded. "Dustpaw, you can't honestly- "
"Sandpaw, it's time for dawn patrol," Whitestorm meowed, his head poking into the entrance of the apprentice's den. His eyes scanned the group. "Oh, you're all awake. Good morning, apprentices. Graypaw, Firepaw, Tigerclaw and Lionheart are going to take you both around the territory today. Go and get something to eat before they wake up or else you'll be starving by sunhigh."
Firepaw heaved herself up and gave a small shake to dislodge the moss of her best from her fur. "Yes, Whitestorm."
"And take some prey to the queens."
"Yes, Whitestorm," Graypaw echoed. "Leave it to us."
Firepaw and Graypaw slid out of the apprentice's den behind Sandpaw, who trekked after her mentor sullenly and threw a glare at Firepaw over her shoulder as they joined the other dawn patrol cats. Firepaw and Graypaw Berliner for the fresh-kill pile.
"Okay, so, the rabbit and that pair of large mice should be for the queens," Graypaw meowed. "You carry the rabbit?"
Firepaw nodded and carefully lifted the rabbit from the prey pile while Graypaw snagged the two mice. He flicked his tail and led her in the direction of the nursery - the bramble bush from the night before. They slid underneath and Firepaw was pleased by the rush of warmth that the nursery provided. Milk scent and kit scent hung heavy in the air.
"Oh, good morning Graypaw, Firepaw," a golden furred molly meowed. "Is that for us?"
"Yes, Goldenflower," Graypaw meowed, dropping one mouse at her paws and the other next to Frostfur who purred. "The rabbit is for Brindleface and Speckletail to share."
Firepaw padded over and set the rabbit down next to the queen and the older molly.
"Thank you," Brindleface purred, tail curling around her paws.
"It'll do," Speckletail sniffed. "Brindleface, you eat your full first. An expectant Queen can never eat too much."
Firepaw was taken aback at this - Brindleface certainly didn't look like she was expecting.
"Some queens prefer to move in as soon as they know," Graypaw meowed. "But a lot like to put it off as long as they can."
Firepaw nodded - that made sense to her.
"Firepaw!"
"Graypaw!"
Lionheart and Tigerclaw's calls echoed through the quiet camp.
"Darn, and we didn't even get a chance for a mouse," Graypaw grumbled. "Oh well. Come on, Firepaw!"
The two burst out of the nursery and bounded to their mentors.
"Sorry, Whitestorm wanted us to feed the queens," Firepaw explained when Tigerclaw's amber eyes landed on her.
The massive dark brown tabby nodded. "Good. I'm glad you're being useful. Today, all we'll be doing is showing you the territory."
Firepaw nodded, walking at her mentor's side as they padded out of the camp. Lionheart and Graypaw we're behind them, talking quietly as they walked.
"The dawn patrol is going to the Twolegplace border and then the RiverClan border first, so we'll start at ShadowClan's, work down to Fourtrees and the RiverClan," Tigerclaw meowed. "That's the Great Sycamore, it's a sign that we're getting close to Snakerocks and behind that the ShadowClan border. We'll avoid Snakerocks today. It's a dangerous place for cats, let alone an untrained apprentice. adders live in the rocks and wait for inattentive cats to wander in while hunting."
A few more minutes of walking found them near a large gray path that cut through the territory.
"This is the Thunderpath," Lionheart meowed while Tigerclaw's eyes scanned the pine forest on the other side. "It's dangerous - Twoleg monsters patrol on this path and many unsuspecting cats have been struck and killed by them. However, you can always tell when they are coming. Here, place your paw."
Firepaw hesitated before pressing her paw down on the rough gray path. "I'm… what am I looking for?"
"Wait a moment."
The path began to vibrate under-paw and slowly a rumbling noise grew into a powerful roar. Firepaw leapt back, fur bristling as a large metal monster tore by on the Thunderpath. Her green eyes were wide and startled, and her legs shook slightly in fear.
"That was a monster?" she breathed in shock. "What a horrid thing!"
Tigerclaw's tail flicked across her ears. "Relax. They hardly ever leave the Thunderpath. As long as you're not on it when one is coming, you'll be fine."
They followed the Thunderpath down and traveled in silence towards Fourtrees. The four large oaks were almost as intimidating as the Thunderpath, but in a different way. Whereas the Thunderpath was intimidating because of the danger it posed to a cat's life, this place felt like… like many expectations were weighing down on Firepaw's shoulders.
"Fourtrees is a sacred place to the Clans," Tigerclaw meowed solemnly. "Every full moon, the Clans gather here together in peace to share news and grievances we may have with one another."
"So there must be one soon?" Firepaw asked.
Tigerclaw's eyes gleamed proudly. "Yes. Tomorrow night. Perhaps I can convince Bluestar to take you. Cats should always go to their very first Gathering as soon as possible. We'll hunt tomorrow, and if you pick things up well, I'll ask her to let you go."
A wail reaches their ears and a tabby tom skidded to a stop near them.
"Lionheart, Tigerclaw!" he gasped. "Thank StarClan, Redtail said you should be here by now."
"Runningwind," Tigerclaw growled. "What's going on?"
"RiverClan! They're after Sunningrocks," Runningwind explained. "We're outnumbered!"
"Graypaw, Firepaw, return to camp, tell Bluestar what has happened," Tigerclaw ordered. "Lionheart and I are going with Runningwind."
"But -" Graypaw protested.
"Go!" Lionheart ordered before the three toms raced off.
Firepaw nudged Graypaw, who was staring off after the others forlornly. "Come on, we need to hurry!"
Shaking himself, the thick furred gray tom nodded and took off with Firepaw hot on his heels. Her muscles burned in protest as they raced through the forest toward camp, but it was only a matter of minutes before they burst into the camp.
"Bluestar!" Firepaw screeched, causing many of the cats to look at her in shock. "Bluestar!"
The leader emerged from the medicine cat den, Spottedleaf at her side.
"What is it?"
"RiverClan have attacked the dawn patrol at Sunningrocks," Graypaw gasped out, his sides heaving. "Lionheart and Tigerclaw went to back them up because Runningwind said they were outnumbered."
Bluestar's eyes narrowed. "The dawn patrol… that would have been Redtail, Whitestorm, Sandpaw, Dustpaw and Runningwind… Mousefur, Willowpelt, Ravenpaw! You are to go and back them up. Goldenflower, you as well. You're not expecting kits currently, so it is no problem for you to join the battle."
The four cats nodded and ran for the tunnel. Bluestar turned her attention back to the apprentices. "You two get food and rest."
"I can go help! I've had battle training!" Graypaw protested.
"No, you're too exhausted from the run back," Bluestar meowed with a shake of her head. "You will stay here. Spottedleaf, prepare your herbs."
Firepaw and Graypaw each picked up a mouse before heading toward the apprentice den and settling down outside the entrance. Firepaw's first bite of actual fresh-kill was delicious, but her worry filled the taste, making it Alamo's like eating bark.
After she had finished eating, she buried the bones and dozed off in the sunlight, waiting for the battle patrol to return.
—TTF—
"Redtail is dead!"
The chilling wail jolted Firepaw from her sleep and she quickly sat up, eyes wide. Ravenpaw stood on the Highrock next to Bluestar, his green eyes wide with horror and pain. A wound on his foreleg was bleeding heavily.
"We… we arrived at Sunningrocks and the battle was still going on," he explained. "It appeared that at least seven or eight RiverClan warriors attacked the dawn patrol at Sunningrocks. Their deputy was among them. Oakheart had Redtail pinned - they were going on it viciously. Even when we showed up, RiverClan still had the upper paw. Runningwind, Sandpaw and Dustpaw had to retreat due to injury."
And yet somehow Ravenpaw had beaten them back to camp, Firepaw thought as she examined the long legged tom.
"Redtail then called for the retreat, but…" Ravenpaw's body slumped suddenly and he half fell half rolled off the Highrock. Frostfur raced forward and licked his cheek gently.
"Spottedleaf!"
While the medicine cat pushed forward to examine the injured apprentice, the horse tunnel shook again as Tigerclaw emerged. In his jaws was Redtail's body.
Shock spread through Firepaw from ears to tail tip, and next to her Graypaw crouched , eyes wide with grief. Tigerclaw carries Redtail to the center of camp and laid him gently down.
"He was killed by Oakheart," Tigerclaw announced, amber eyes narrowed. "But I was able to strike down Oakheart in retaliation when he was distracted and gloating about his victory."
Firepaw felt a brief flicker of pride in her mentor. Then she realizes the rest of the battle patrol had trailed into camp behind him when Dustpaw fell at Redtail's side, burying his nose in his mentor's fur. Sandpaw crouched next to them, her body shaking with tremors, eyes clouded with grief.
"Sandpaw is Redtail's daughter," Graypaw explained. "She and Dustpaw must be going through a lot right now. It's awful."
"Redtail was the deputy, right? So… now what?"
"Now, cats will take time to grieve Redtail joining StarClan," Graypaw explained. "Bluestar will likely lay with him for a while, but she will have to name a new deputy by moonhigh - as per tradition and the Warrior Code."
"StarClan?"
"Our warrior ancestors," Graypaw explained. "The tribe of heavenly warriors that watches over all Clan cats. You see them in Silverpelt, the large swatch of stars that stretches across the sky each night. Redtail will join them tonight."
Graypaw moved off to grieve for the deputy as Tigerclaw came to her side.
"Did you eat?" He asked gruffly.
"Yes, Tigerclaw," she answered.
He nodded. "Good. When Bluestar announces the new deputy, you'll go straight to sleep after. We start hunting in the morning."
Bluestar was speaking about Redtail now, how he died with honor. Then she settled at his side and closed her eyes, nose pressed into his fur. She stayed at his side until the sun was beginning to set. Then she rose and leapt onto the Highrock, calling the Clan to attention.
" A new deputy must be appointed. But first, let us give thanks to StarClan for the life of Redtail. Tonight he sits with his fellow warriors among the stars" she paused and sl cats turned their eyes to the sky, where the stars were just beginning to appear. "And now it's time to name ThunderClan's new deputy. I say these words before the body of Redtail, so that his spirit may hear and approve my choice. Lionheart will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."
Firepaw blinked in surprise, and glanced at Tigerclaw - she would have thought that the one who had avenged Redtail would be named deputy. The large tabby didn't seem to mind, however. He strode over to Lionheart and gave his friend a mighty shove, looking amused. Lionheart looked extremely uncomfortable under all the congratulations his Clanmates were piling onto him.
Firepaw frowned. Something felt… off. She glanced at Ravenpaw, who had since woken up and sat outside Spottedleaf's den. His wounds now treated, he stared at Lionheart in horror before his gaze went to Tigerclaw. The green gaze narrowed slightly before turning to the stars.
Ravenpaw knew something the others didn't. And whatever it was, it had to do with Redtail, she was sure of it.
—TTF—
Firepaw and Tigerclaw left camp early the next morning. The sun was just barely breaking through the trees, dappling the forest floor with its light.
"Alright, so we'll start with the hunting crouch," Tigerclaw began. "Go on. Show me what you think the stance should look like. I'll adjust what I need to."
Crouching, Firepaw carefully set her feet in what felt the most nature to her, keeping her tail low. She glanced at Tigerclaw out of the corner of her eyes as he circled her, eyeing her position. Then his paw struck out, quick as a snake and smacked her left flank, sending her toppling.
"You're unbalanced," he meowed as she picked herself up. "Again, but this time try and distribute your weight more even, not so much on your haunches."
Utterly embarrassed, Firepaw readjusted her stance. This time, he nodded and shifted her paws a bit.
"Better," he finally decided. "Now take a few steps - lightly."
She crept forward slowly, taking care to place her paws lightly and not crunch any twigs or leaves. She winced when her tail smacked a bush.
"Lower that more."
She did so, keeping her tail just barely above the blades of grass.
"Good," he meowed. "Now, what do you scent?"
Firepaw scented the air carefully, trying to differentiate the many plant smells from those of prey. "Bird… and mouse."
"We'll leave the bird for now," he ordered. "The technique for hunting mice is simple. They will feel your pawsteps before they see or hear you, so step lightly. When you get ready to leap, shift your weight into your haunches, like you were doing before. Judge the distance before you leap, don't over or under shoot it or you will likely lose your prey."
She nodded and drew herself toward the mouse, which was scrabbling around the base of a tree. Shifting her weight, she pushed off and leapt. Her paws thudded on the ground before the mouse and it shrieked as she gave a clumsy blow. It landed, dazed and she quickly buried her teeth into it.
"Sloppy," Tigerclaw growled. "But promising. Bury that, and we'll keep going."
But to their disappointment, Firepaw missed the next two mice they came across and startled a bird into giving a warning call.
"Well, there won't be any prey in this area now," Tigerclaw growled.
"I'm sorry, Tigerclaw," Firepaw meowed apologetically. "My paws are clumsy."
"You just need to get used to the forest," he grunted. "I'll have you hunting in top form before long. But there certainly won't be a Gathering for you tonight."
Disappointed, but understanding, Firepaw retrieved her buried mouse and followed her mentor to camp.
—TTF—
After that first day, training becomes the new normal. At first they focus on hunting, and Firepaw learns all the different types of stalking and crouches that hunting different types of prey brings. The first time she catches a rabbit, she can't help but immediately look toward Tigerclaw, eyes shining as she waits for his judgment.
"It'll do."
He is not an easy mentor to impress, but that's alright with Firepaw. She doesn't mind that he's a bit on the rough side with high expectations to meet. However, those expectations seem to become even higher to meet whenever they begin battle training one moon into her apprenticeship.
"Come on, Firepaw!" he growls, irritated. "How many times do I need to show you this move?"
"Sorry, I'm sorry," she apologizes quickly as she shakes sand from her fur.
"Quit looking at where you're going to strike, you're giving yourself away," he ordered. "It makes it too easy to counter what you're going to do. Now do it again."
Firepaw crouched, and Tigerclaw did the same. Firepaw's green eyes narrowed in concentration before she leapt at Tigerclaw, claws sheathed. He lifted a paw, clearly ready to once again send her flying into the dirt when she rolled under him, back paws raking against his belly fur, and then sliding out from under him and rolling back to her feet.
"Good!" Tigerclaw praised. "Again!"
By sunhigh she had done that stupid move so many times that she would be doing it in her dreams, but Tigerclaw wouldn't relent and teach her anything else until he deemed the move perfect. Sunhigh passed and still they remained in the Sandy Hollow practicing that move.
They didn't stop until the sun was beginning to set.
"Back to camp," Tigerclaw ordered his exhausted apprentice. "Come on, Firepaw."
Her paws ached as they walked the short distance back to the camp. When they arrived, the two of them both picked up a piece of prey from the fresh-kill pile and went their separate ways to eat. Firepaw flopped down with the other apprentices and gave a large yawn.
"Whoa," Dustpaw meowed, amused. "Tired, Firepaw?"
"If I never do the half turn belly rake again, it'll be too soon."
"Don't be so dramatic," Graypaw huffed a laugh.
"All day, Graypaw, it's all I did all day."
"Half turn belly take is an advanced first move to learn," Ravenpaw meowed, eyes anxious. "Most apprentices start with the leap and hold or tail yank first."
"Tigerclaw's not your normal mentor, though," Dustpaw pointed out.
Ravenpaw's eyes went dark for a moment. "Tigerclaw's a lot of things."
Firepaw gazed at the black furred tom curiously when he said that. It was probably the ND I eat time she'd heard such venom in Ravenpaw's voice.
"Ravenpaw? Are you okay?" She asked gently.
"I'm fine, just tired."
"Get some rest, then."
His green eyes met her own. "Yeah. You get some sleep, too, Firepaw. He might work you to death."