Frostmask stretched in the leaf-fall midday sunlight, flinching slightly as a cold breeze suddenly nipped at her nose, but she was thankful her thick pelt insulated her, keeping most of her body cozy. She settled back down on the sun-warmed earth, her eyelids drooping as dark sleep curled back over her.
It had been a little over a moon since the battle in SkyClan, and the ShadowClan fresh-kill pile was still being supplemented by SkyClan prey as Sedgestar allowed the expeditions onto their territory to continue. Frostmask had been over there many times now, and she felt like she won a little victory for Swoopstrike with every scrap of prey she brought back. ShadowClan patrols had been lucky, and they hadn't run into any trouble so far. But, Frostmask's ears twitched as she remembered the concerning conversation she had overheard between Paledusk and Perchpelt a little while ago. Poolcloud had reported it back to Sedgestar that night, but Sedgestar had said that there was not much ShadowClan could do without knowing what the two Clans had planned. So, although Sedgestar had a border patrol share the information with a passing ThunderClan patrol in order to keep the Clans' good relations alive, there had not been much change in ShadowClan's daily activities.
Frostmask though could feel time slipping away as the days got shorter and leaf-bare approached, and she knew whatever RiverClan and SkyClan had planned, it would become clear soon enough.
It was almost too cold these days to spend a midday nap outside the dens, basking in the sunlight. But, today was a rare, beautiful day with a clear blue sky and strong yellow sunlight, and Frostmask was determined to have a calm nap in the sun for one more day before leaf-bare and all its trials properly set in.
Frostmask's ears twitched as through the half-asleep haze that hung over her, she heard paw-steps and the sounds of purrs and hushed voices.
"Shh! Quiet frog-brain—" "—No you are—" "—hear us—" "—that way—"
It sounded as if the cats were talking to each other in incomprehensible fragments. But, Frostmask knew better. She easily recognized the voices as Featherkit and Yewkit, and she knew Lizardkit was surely with them too. The three of them must be talking to each other with paw-sign, and the whispers Frostmask was hearing were only the parts of the conversation that Featherkit and Yewkit felt like saying out loud.
Frostmask kept her eyes shut, still pretending to sleep as the paw-steps got louder as the kittens not so sneakily snuck up on her. She heard them pause, and she imagined them readying themselves for the pounce, hindquarters wiggling and eyes bright with excitement.
"Roar!" Yewkit growled as they leapt.
Frostmask rolled smoothly, her eyes flashing open and a purr rumbling in her throat. Yewkit and Featherkit hit the ground where she had been lying. Instead of landing on her back, they collided with each other, tumbling across the ground. Frostmask straightened into a sitting position, holding her chin high as she purred loudly.
"Eep!" Featherkit squeaked, wiggling to get out from under her brother's silver pelt.
"Ha!" Frostmask declared, her blue eyes shining playfully. "You didn't really think it'd be so easy to sneak up on a warrior of ShadowC— Oomph!"
Frostmask lurched forward as something barreled into her from behind, tackling her to the ground. Frostmask glanced up to see Lizardkit on her back, his sleek white coat prickling with excitement and his blue eyes bright with pride.
"How'd you do that?" Frostmask said with a laugh. "I didn't even hear you coming!"
She did her best to sign along with her words, at least as much as she could, being pinned to the ground. The signs helped Lizardkit with his lip reading. He was able to understand a good amount from that alone, but he wasn't as comfortable with it as he was with signing.
You were distracted. Lizardkit signed, his expression very self-satisfied.
"We're practicing for our apprentice training," Featherkit meowed as Frostmask stood up.
Frostmask dislodged Lizardkit with a playful shake of her pelt, although she winced slightly as she felt a tender spot on her side where his paws had hit her.
The kits were six moons old now, which meant they were almost adult-sized, so them pouncing on her tended to hurt a bit more now, than when they were just tiny fluff-balls.
"I'm sure whoever your mentors are, they will be impressed," Frostmask purred, lying back down in the sunshine.
Her eyes started to drift back shut, but Lizardkit prodded her side with his paw, and she blinked her eyes back open.
Do you know when the ceremony will be? he asked.
Frostmask felt a twinge in her chest. From what Frostmask had seen, most apprentice ceremonies occurred the very day that the kit hit six moons old. It was almost impossible for Sedgestar to miss it because, more often than not, the kits were counting down the sunrises and pestering their parents everyday leading up to it. But, for these three, that day had come and gone with no ceremony, and it had been a quarter moon since then. Frostmask wasn't certain what was causing the delay, but she suspected it likely had to do with Lizardkit's deafness. The white-furred kit was still very much set on being a warrior despite his disability. But, would Sedgestar let him?
Frostmask glanced at the kits' faces. They each looked anxious about the delayed ceremony, and she found herself trying to set them at ease.
"I don't know when it will be exactly, but I'm sure Sedgestar and Grovepelt are picking out your mentors right now," she meowed. "He's always careful about pairing apprentices with mentors who will be the best fit for them. So, it takes him some time."
Yewkit settled down, wrapping his tail around his paw.
"Your mentor was our mom's brother, right?" Yewkit meowed, his eyes curious and serious as he gazed at her. "Swoopstrike?"
Frostmask felt a claw on pain stab at her heart at the sound of his name.
"Yeah," Frostmask murmured, glancing down at her paws. "Sedgestar did a good job picking him for me. He was the best mentor I could've asked for. I miss him."
Lizardkit and Featherkit cuddled up on either side of her as if they sensed her sadness. Frostmask gave a quiet purr to them.
What was it like training with him? Lizardkit asked.
"Yeah," Featherkit seconded. "We saw him spend time with Snakeeyes a lot, but he never really played with us like you do. What was he like?"
Frostmask purred lightly.
"I don't think Swoopstrike really knew how to play with kits," she said, signing along with her words. "Honestly, at first I didn't like him. I thought he was grumpy and mean and that he treated me unfairly. But, then I saw how he would also always help me and protect me. He was always there when I needed him to…"
Frostmask stopped signing to scuffle her paws into the ground when she found herself getting overwhelmed with emotion.
"He was a good cat," she concluded.
"I hope we get mentors that good," Yewkit said a bit wistfully.
"I'm sure you will," Frostmask purred.
She stretched again and yawned, but she found most of her sleepiness was gone now. Her ear twitched as Rowanheart came padded over to them, purring hello to his kits.
"Dad!" Featherkit said with a playful growl, leaping on to his back.
"Woah! Careful, you guys are getting a bit big for badger-rides," he purred, playfully shaking her off. "I see you've chosen Frostmask to be the lucky cat who's nap you interrupted this sunhigh?"
We were practicing stalking, Lizardkit signed.
"I don't mind," Frostmask purred. "I'm not very sleepy anymore."
"Can we practice with you, Dad?" Yewkit said, turning to him.
Rowanheart arched a brow at him.
"Well I'm not as good-natured as Frostmask, so I'm not letting you jump all over me," he said with a purr. "But, do you want to practice your hunter's crouches?"
"Yes!" Yewkit and Featherkit chorused while Lizardkit nodded along emphatically.
"Alright, come on!" he purred.
Frostmask watched as Rowanheart led the kits away from her to the edge of the camp to practice. He crouched down, and the kits mimicked him. Rowanheart corrected their positions with soft nudges of his muzzle. Frostmask's heart warmed as she remembered Weaseltail doing the same thing to her, Autumnleap, Pineshade, and Poolcloud. Even though Frostmask's tail had been shaking with nervousness the first time, out of fear that she had been doing it wrong, Weaseltail had been so gentle and kind as he helped her position her paws correctly.
"It seems like only yesterday I was the one teaching him how to do a hunting crouch," Sedgestar's voice said, causing Frostmask to start slightly.
She had been so lost in her own memories that she hadn't noticed him approach her. Sedgestar was standing near her, gazing over at Rowanheart and his grandkits with a look of deep affection in his eyes. Frostmask dipped her head to him respectfully.
"I was also just thinking that it doesn't feel that long ago that I was learning it from Weaseltail," Frostmask meowed.
A quiet purr rumbled in Sedgestar's throat.
"Kits never stay kits for long," he meowed a bit wistfully before blinking and looking away from Rowanheart to glance down at Frostmask. "But, actually, that is what I need to talk to you about. I'm sure you are aware that my grandkits are ready to become apprentices."
Frostmask felt her stomach flip in surprise at the turn of conversation.
"Yes, of course," she said.
Sedgestar tilted his head at her.
"What would you think about being Lizardkit's mentor?" he asked.
Frostmask jolted in shock.
"What?" she meowed, her eyes wide. "Me?"
Sedgestar nodded.
"I've spent a long time thinking about it, due to his condition. And, I think you are the best choice. Also, Snakeeyes is very fond of you, and she's told me how much time you've spent with him as he's grown up," Sedgestar said.
"But- but I'm so young!" she said. "I just became a warrior, surely someone else would be more experienced? I don't know if I'm ready for an apprentice yet."
"I think you don't give your abilities enough credit," he said simply with a swish of his tail. "Besides, I think Lizardkit needs you. He needs someone who knows what it's like to be… doubted. Like how you were doubted because of your heritage, there will be cats who will doubt if he is worthy to be a warrior. I believe Lizardkit is capable, but he will only succeed if he has a mentor that hasn't already given up on him before he even begins training."
Frostmask's tail flipped worriedly behind her, anxiety gnawing in her chest.
"But, what if me being his mentor causes more harm than good?" she said. "Can you imagine what the other Clans would say? 'The rogue's training the deaf apprentice.' Poor Lizardkit would be a laughing stock."
Sedgestar shot her a sharp look.
"Since when do we care what the other Clans think?" Sedgestar said a bit defensively. "Lizardkit has to prove himself as a capable warrior to ShadowClan and no one else. The rest of the Clans can laugh all they want. They'll stop laughing when they see our strength and our claws."
Frostmask bowed her head dutifully.
"Still, I don't know if I'm ready," she muttered. "Can't you train him? You said that he needs someone who believes in him, and it sounds like you do, at least."
He shook his head, giving a short sigh.
"I considered it, but I don't think it's wise. Lizardkit is my kin… I fear that if I train him, some cats will think he earned his warrior name through my fondness for him rather than his merit," Sedgestar admitted, his tail-tip twitching slightly.
Frostmask turned her face away.
"…I don't want this to sound the wrong way, because I do think Lizardkit is a smart and capable cat; I promise," Frostmask murmured, almost afraid to look at Sedgestar. "I've seen him grow, and I've seen how he has overcome more obstacles already in his short life than some warriors have. I'm sure he'll be able to hunt and fight. But… still, Sedgestar, you must know that there will always be things… that he will never be able to do."
"All of us have things we will never be able to do," Sedgestar responded in a low, quiet voice. "I will never be as connected to our ancestors as Clearstream is. Or, as kind as Emberflower. Or, as strong as Darkpelt."
Frostmask glanced back at him.
"I—" she began, but he cut her off with a shake of his head, raising a paw for silence.
"I know that you have your reservations, and so does the rest of the Clan. If I'm being honest, I do too," Sedgestar said, and his amber gaze softened. "And, maybe I am being soft on the kit. But, Lizardkit wants to train to be a warrior, and that's good enough for me to at least let him try."
"Of course," Frostmask meowed quietly.
"He will be held to the same hunting and battle training assessments as the other apprentices," Sedgestar continued. "If he passes, he will be made a full warrior. If he doesn't…"
Sedgestar glanced down at his paws for a heartbeat.
"Well, that is something we will discuss if that time comes. But, regardless, there will always be a place in ShadowClan for him."
He glanced back over at her.
"So, what is your answer?" Sedgestar asked.
Frostmask felt the swirling indecision in her belly slowly give way to steely determination, and she began to nod.
"Okay. I'll do it. For Lizardkit," she said, glancing up at him.
"Excellent," Sedgestar purred, touching her shoulder with his tail-tip. "I will hold their ceremonies before the evening patrols head out."
Sedgestar padded away from her, leaving Frostmask alone with her whirling thoughts of surprise, uncertainty, and a bit of excitement.
I'm going to be a mentor!
She looked back over across camp at Lizardkit, who was still practicing his crouches with his littermates and Rowanheart. He had the position down almost exactly right, and he was stalking a twig with his brow furrowed in determination. Frostmask purred, her heart already warming with pride.
"Hey Frostmask!" Autumnleap meowed as he padded over to her.
He was coming from the medicine cat's den after getting his scar checked out. He had been cleared back for full duties about a half-moon ago, but earlier that day, he had been having some pain in his old wound, and Frostmask insisted on him checking in with Clearstream or Elmclaw about it.
Autumnleap's gaze flickered across her face as he read her expression.
"What's got you all wound up?" he purred. "You look so tense!"
Frostmask kneaded her paws to displace some of her excess anticipation.
"I just talked to Sedgestar," she meowed. "I'm going to be Lizardkit's mentor. He's holding their ceremonies today."
Autumnleap's face lit up.
"That's amazing!" he purred. "Are you excited?"
"Yeah, kinda," she meowed. "But, nervous too."
"Don't be!" he exclaimed. "You'll be great at it!"
Frostmask felt a rush of warmth in her chest. She was grateful for how easy it was to tell Autumnleap these things. He was always so supportive.
"Thank you," Frostmask purred in response. "Anyway, what'd the medicine cats say to you?"
Autumnleap flopped down on the ground beside her.
"Nothing bad," he meowed. "Apparently some occasional pain is normal on big scars or old injuries. Nothing you can do about it, and it doesn't hurt you; it's just something that happens and is annoying."
"Hm," Frostmask mused. "Maybe that's why the elders are so achey all the time. It's their old injuries acting up."
Autumnleap purred.
"Like how Greytail always says her ankle aches before it rains?" Autumnleap rolled onto his back, pressing a paw against his scar, his faced creased in concentration as if he was deep in thought.
"Oo my scar's really achin' today!" Autumnleap wheezed, putting on a rasping voice as if he was an ancient elder. "I can feel a snowstorm's comin' tomorrow!"
"Shh!" Frostmask said, playfully kicking his side but still giving a quiet purr. "If one of the elders hear you, you'll be crowfood!"
Autumnleap purred, rolling away from her kicks before he furrowed brow at her.
"Stop that at once, young'un!" Autumnleap continued with a grizzled growl as he shook his paw at her. "StarClan! Kits these days don' show their elders no respect!"
A rush of playful energy flooded Frostmask, and she rolled over, hunching down in a threatening crouch in an instant.
"How's this for respect?" she meowed, springing at him.
Autumnleap yelped in a very undignified way then as Frostmask tackled him, sending the two of them rolling across camp. Frostmask pinned him to the ground, and Autumnleap wiggled feebly under her paws in a very half-hearted attempt to free himself. He gave up entirely after a moment, sprawling out dramatically.
"You killed me," he bemoaned, closing his eyes.
Frostmask unceremoniously dropped all her weight onto him.
"Oomph!" he exhaled sharply.
Frostmask plopped her chin down on to his chest.
"You seem very sensitive for a corpse," she teased.
"I'm still in the process of dying after our mighty battle," he explained.
"Battle?" she echoed, tilting her head in mock confusion. "You really didn't put up much of a fight."
He cracked one eye back open to glance at her.
"Well of course not; I'm like one hundred seasons old," he said, shutting his eyes again. "Honestly, it was really cruel of you to just murder such an elderly cat like that."
Frostmask rolled off of him and shook the dust off her pelt while he continued to lie there, playing dead. She prodded his side with her paw.
"Aren't you gonna get up?" she asked.
"What about 'dead' do you not understand?" His eyes were still tightly shut.
Frostmask purred then got to work flattening her rumpled fur with a few quick licks. She stilled, the purr dying in her throat as she saw Dampfang and Pineshade emerge from the warriors' den side by side, their heads leaned together as they spoke in close confidence. Autumnleap, sensing the shift in her mood, opened his eyes and sat up, following her gaze to them across camp.
"She's still talking to him?" Autumnleap asked quietly.
Frostmask's ears flattened.
"I just don't understand it," she said with a quiet growl. "He's crowfood! Everyone seems to know that but her."
"True, but crowfood is still appealing to some," Autumnleap meowed philosophically. "Vultures, for one."
Frostmask flicked his side with her tail.
"Pineshade's not a vulture," she said firmly.
Autumnleap tsked his tongue.
"Are you sure about that? Dark, broody, harbingers of death… That all sounds like Pineshade to me," Autumnleap said with a rumbled purr.
Frostmask furrowed her brow.
"I'm being serious," she chided lightly. "Honestly, it just really ruffles my fur the wrong way. Like I really thought Pineshade and I were starting to be real friends…"
Her voice trailed off.
"And, Dampfang's an insufferable piece of snake-dung who's cruel to you every chance he gets?" Autumnleap suggested sympathetically, no trace of amusement left his face.
Frostmask sighed heavily.
"Right," she meowed.
Autumnleap got to his paws to pad over to her side.
"I wish I could fix this for you," Autumnleap meowed. "But, if anyone could make Pineshade see sense, it certainly isn't me."
"No one can change her mind. It's her choice," Frostmask muttered, her tone bitter.
"Well it's also her loss," Autumnleap said simply, nudging her cheek with his muzzle. "She's certainly trading down. You're a million times better than Dampfang."
Frostmask felt her ears warm. She used to take Autumnleap's compliments of her in stride, but ever since the first hunt they went on in SkyClan territory, they now made her feel all flustered and weird. Like she had moths trapped in her stomach.
"Thanks," she muttered, fiercely hoping that he hadn't noticed her pelt flushing.
Autumnleap started to chuckle to himself.
"What?" Frostmask asked, tensing at the thought that he had noticed her embarrassment.
"I'm just thinking about the look that'll be on Dampfang's face when he realizes you're getting your first apprentice before him," Autumnleap said. "It'll be so good."
"Don't be so sure," Frostmask warned. "I have no clue who's mentoring Yewkit or Featherkit."
Autumnleap rolled his eyes.
"Sedgestar puts so much thought into picking mentors, and these are his grandkits. You seriously think he's apprenticing one of them to a cat as insufferable as Dampfang?" Autumnleap said.
"Maybe he's thinks it'll build character for the kits or something," Frostmask said drily, and Autumnleap gave a brief purr. "But… you have a point."
Autumnleap's ears pricked.
"Looks like we'll be finding out very soon!" he meowed.
Frostmask followed his gaze to see Sedgestar and Emberflower had emerged from their den at the base of the Oak Tree, their tails intertwined. Sedgestar leaned into his mate for a moment before he gently unraveled his tail from hers and headed towards Clanrock.
"Oh snake-dung!" Frostmask cursed, rasping her tongue down her pelt rapidly. "Is my fur messed up? Do I look okay?"
Autumnleap purred.
"Isn't it supposed to be the apprentices that are nervous about looking good for the ceremony? Not the mentors?" he said, tilting his head at her.
"Autumnleap!" Frostmask hissed.
"Alright!" he purred, leaning over to flatten a piece of fur that was sticking up on her shoulder. "Now it's perfect."
"Thank you," she said as Sedgestar scaled the Clanrock.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather under Clanrock for a Clan meeting!" Sedgestar's voice rang out.
Frostmask raised her chin, hoping to look dignified as her clan-mates emerged from dens or stirred from their midday naps, blinking sleep out of their eyes as they padded over towards the Clanrock. Frostmask spotted Pineshade sitting next to Dampfang, opposite of her and Autumnleap. Pineshade caught her eye and gave her a friendly nod, but Frostmask just blinked and looked away, her pelt prickling. Her gaze sought out Lizardkit and his littermates instead. They were sitting sandwiched between Rowanheart and Snakeeyes, who were both giving each of them a hasty grooming. The three kits clearly knew what this meeting was about, judging by their pelts bristling in excitement. They shifted from paw to paw, hardly able to keep still.
Sedgestar looked down at his Clan with eyes that shone with pride.
"ShadowClan, we are the strongest Clan in the forest," he began. "And, nothing makes me happier than seeing our Clan grow. Today I would like to announce the making of three new apprentices! Yewkit, Lizardkit, and Featherkit, would you please step forward?"
The fur on Frostmask's shoulders rose as she sensed a murmur of discontent run through some of her clan-mates at Lizardkit's inclusion. She was immediately thrown back to her own apprentice ceremony when the same thing happened then. Frostmask's ears twitched back. Sedgestar certainly wasn't wrong about Lizardkit facing a backlash like she had.
But, Lizardkit walked to the base of the Clanrock his chin and tail held high. His short white fur had been groomed enough by his parents that it gleamed like freshly fallen snow in the sunlight. Yewkit and Featherkit stood on either of his sides, each looking equally as proud. Frostmask felt a pang as she couldn't help but notice how much Yewkit's silver striped pelt reminded her of Swoopstrike's.
Sedgestar's paws and tail began to move as he slipped into paw-signing.
"You all have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed," he said, speaking more slowly than normal so his words matched with his signs. "From this day on, until you receive your warrior names, you'll be known as Yewpaw, Lizardpaw, and Featherpaw."
"Sedgestar," Treefur's rasping voice rang out, interrupting the ceremony.
Sedgestar glanced at where the elder sat with Greytail and Flymask in front of the elder's den, his brow furrowing. Treefur dipped his head to Sedgestar.
"Forgive my interruption, but there is something that I must say," the elder rasped.
Sedgestar's tail flicked in irritation, but he nodded.
"What is it, Treefur?" Sedgestar meowed.
"Is it wise to make the deaf kit a warrior apprentice?" Treefur meowed, blinking his grey eyes. "Day to day, he could get injured by a predator that he didn't notice coming, let alone what could happen to him during a battle. When my eyesight began failing me, I chose to retire to the elders' den despite the fact that I could've served our Clan as a warrior for many more moons if I hadn't lost my sight."
A quiet murmur of support washed through the Clan at Treefur's words, although Frostmask could see Snakeeyes had her lip curled back at Treefur, seemingly only held in place by the gentle touch of Rowanheart's tail across her shoulders. Frostmask glanced over at Lizardpaw. She could see Featherpaw signing to him, explaining what was being said since he was too far away to read Treefur's mouth.
"Thank you for bringing up your concerns," Sedgestar said, even though Frostmask thought he didn't sound very thankful at all. "But, with all due respect, Treefur, losing your sight as a senior warrior is quite different than Lizardpaw being born deaf. He has been compensating for that his entire life. He has a nose sharper than anyone else here. I'm sure he could scent a dog or a badger or a fox coming long before any of us even hear it."
Treefur blinked.
"Alright, but will he be able to hunt or fight well?" Treefur asked. "How will he know if he's being quiet while he's stalking prey or while he's on a battle patrol?"
"That is something up to his mentor to teach him," Sedgestar responded cooly.
"But—" Treefur began.
Sedgestar raised his tail for silence.
"Enough," he said. "I have made my decision."
Treefur dipped in head respectfully. Frostmask knew that the whole Clan knew better than to argue when Sedgestar said he had made up his mind, but judging by Treefur's pinched expression, he'd be quietly complaining about it to the other elders later, out of Sedgestar's earshot.
Sedgestar glanced back down at the three apprentices.
"Yewpaw, your mentor will be Emberflower," Sedgestar said, continuing the ceremony as if there had been no interruption. "I hope she will pass down all she knows to you."
The pretty ginger warrior walked over to her grandkit, blinking kindly down at the silver tabby.
"Emberflower, you are ready to take on another apprentice. You have trained your previous apprentice, Beeclaw, excellently, and you are a patient and brave warrior," Sedgestar said, a purr in his voice as he praised his mate. "You will be the mentor of Yewpaw."
Emberflower touched her nose to Yewpaw's with a purr, and the two of them stepped aside.
Sedgestar's gaze sought out Frostmask's in the crowd.
"Lizardpaw, your mentor will be Frostmask," Sedgestar meowed. "I hope she will pass down all she know to you."
Frostmask felt a cold wave of nervousness rush through her as he clan-mates turned to look at her as she rose to her paws. But, Autumnleap gave her an encouraging purr and a nudge with his muzzle as she padded over to Lizardpaw, making sure to keep her chin held high. When she reached Lizardpaw, he blinked at her happily, a look of fierce determination in his bright blue eyes. Frostmask purred at him, feeling some of her nervousness quell as she waited for Sedgestar to finish.
"Frostmask, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Swoopstrike, and you have shown yourself to be determined and clever. You will be the mentor of Lizardpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him," Sedgestar said.
Frostmask leaned in to touch her nose to Lizardpaw's, purring harder so he could feel the vibrations through his whiskers. He purred in response, his eyes shining as she pulled her head back.
"Featherpaw, your mentor will be Redclaw. I hope she will pass down all she knows to you," Sedgestar said as Redclaw padded over to the tortoiseshell apprentice.
Frostmask purred happily at her foster mother as she stood in front of her new apprentice.
"Redclaw, you are ready to take on another apprentice. You trained your previous apprentice, Dappledpelt, excellently, and you are a loyal and fierce warrior. You will be the mentor of Featherpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her," Sedgestar concluded as Redclaw and Featherpaw touched noses.
"Featherpaw! Yewpaw! Lizardpaw!" The Clan chanted, although Frostmask thought it seemed a bit forced.
Sedgestar bounded off of the Clanrock, and the meeting quickly dissolved, some cats coming forward to congratulate the new apprentices while others just sulked off. Redclaw padded over to Frostmask to lick her ear encouragingly.
"Your first apprentice!" she purred. "You're going to be great. I'm glad we will get to train them together."
"I think I'll have a lot to learn from you and Emberflower," Frostmask said with a brief purr.
Redclaw glanced over at the ginger she-cat, who was with Sedgestar, Snakeeyes and Rowanheart, talking to Yewpaw, Lizardpaw, and Featherpaw, for a moment.
"I'm grateful I get to spend more time with you, and my sister and her grandkits.. What did I do to Sedgestar to get so lucky with this apprentice assignment?" Redclaw purred.
"He probably just knows what a talented mentor you are." Weaseltail's voice rumbled with a purr as he padded up to his mate, draping his long tail over her back.
Redclaw purred and leaned into his side as Weaseltail nodded to Frostmask.
"Congratulations to you too," he said.
"Thank you," Frostmask purred.
Snakeeyes' padded up to Frostmask then, after she had finished talking to her kits. The white queen greeted Frostmask with a purr and an affectionate head bump.
"Thank you for agreeing to train Lizardpaw," Snakeeyes said, her mismatched eyes shining with gratitude as she looked at Frostmask. "He will do well in your paws."
Frostmask dipped her head to the older warrior.
"I hope so," she said.
"I know so," Snakeeyes corrected, lightly flicking Frostmask's shoulder with her tail as she padded away. "My brother taught you well."
Frostmask purred slightly, although she felt a small weight of pain settle on her chest. She wished Swoopstrike had been here to see her get her first apprentice.
Frostmask blinked, pulled out of her thoughts as Poolcloud and Autumnleap came bounding up to her. Frostmask's tail curled up happily at the sight of them. Autumnleap was gazing at her with pride in his eyes and a low purr in his throat.
"How'd you get an apprentice so fast!?" Poolcloud said, drawing her attention to him as he playfully narrowed eyes, putting on a look of suspicion. "What have you been bribing Sedgestar with, and how can I get in on it?"
Frostmask purred.
"Nothing!" she protested, but Poolcloud just looked at her doubtfully.
He jumped forward to wrap his paws around her, and Frostmask squeaked, trying to wiggle away. But, there was no escaping the strong tom, and he pulled her into a big, fluffy embrace.
"I swear!" Frostmask gasped.
"I'm not letting you go until you tell me the truth," Poolcloud threatened. "Who are you working with?!"
"No one!" Frostmask said through purrs as she struggled futilely to escape.
She shot Autumnleap a desperate look, silently asking for help. But, Autumnleap was too busy laughing at Frostmask's predicament to even try to think about helping her out of it. Poolcloud followed her gaze towards Autumnleap.
"I should've known," Poolcloud said with a mock growl, dropping Frostmask to spring at Autumnleap.
"I— HEY!" Autumnleap cried as Poolcloud tackled him, and they went rolling away.
Frostmask purred, shaking out her coat and looking after the brothers. She was wondering if she should go intervene, when out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Pineshade approaching her. Frostmask stiffened slightly.
"Hey," Pineshade meowed, giving a nod. "Congratulations on training Lizardpaw."
"Thanks," Frostmask said, glancing behind Pineshade. "Where's Dampfang?"
The question came out more accusatory than Frostmask intended, and she saw Pineshade flinch at her tone.
"He had to go out on an evening patrol," Pineshade said, her voice dropping to a mumble.
"Right. Of course. So, I guess he didn't feel like congratulating the apprentices beforehand?" Frostmask asked, her tail tip twitching.
She knew she was poking a hornets' nest, but she couldn't stop herself. The anger that she felt swirling in her belly when she thought about Dampfang spurred her on.
Pineshade narrowed her eyes at her.
"He agrees with Treefur doesn't he?" Frostmask continued. "He doesn't think Lizardpaw should be training."
Pineshade gave a sharp sigh, and she glanced from side to side before taking a pace closer to Frostmask and lowering her voice.
"Can you really blame him?" she murmured. "I know Lizardpaw is very bright, but it will be hard for any cat to be a deaf warrior. I guarantee Dampfang and Treefur aren't the only cats in the Clan that think Lizardpaw won't be able to do it."
Frostmask blinked.
And, what about you? Do you think he'll fail? And, do you think he will fail because he's deaf, or because I'm his mentor?
But, Frostmask didn't say her worries out loud, instead she just lashed her tail, glaring at Pineshade with hurt eyes. She couldn't help but feel like Dampfang's lack of faith in Lizardpaw and in Frostmask was something Pineshade shared. Pineshade sighed again.
"Frostmask, stop it," she muttered, dropping her gaze.
"Are you two back together?" Frostmask demanded, blurting out the question.
Pineshade clenched her jaw and lifted her gaze back to Frostmask's.
"Yes," Pineshade said, her voice soft.
Frostmask blinked, taking a step back from her.
"He's different!" Pineshade protested, following her. "Nicer. And, I made him promise, promise, that he won't be mean to you. If he says anything cruel about you, I'm gone!"
"I have an apprentice to train." Frostmask forced the words out through her clenched jaw, turning away from her.
"I— Frostmask! Let's talk about this!" Pineshade said, her voice growing more frustrated.
Frostmask felt the fur down her back bristle, but she didn't turn back to her, her gaze locked on where Lizardpaw and his siblings were still sitting with Sedgestar and Emberflower. She heard Pineshade give an angry growl behind her, but then she heard her paw-steps fading as she walked away. Frostmask sighed heavily, her pelt prickling and her stomach rolling, but she tried to put on a smooth face as she approached the group. Lizardpaw perked up as Frostmask walked up to him, turning his eager gaze onto her.
Are we training? He asked, his paws flashing.
Frostmask's gaze flickered to Emberflower, and she spotted Redclaw padding up to the group as well.
"Well, on my first day as an apprentice, I was given a territory tour," Frostmask meowed, looking at the older warriors for guidance.
Emberflower glanced towards the sun. It was quickly dipping towards the horizon.
"Let's save starting the tour for dawn tomorrow," Emberflower meowed. "It'll take most of the day to cover all the territory, and it'll be better for the apprentices to have the tour in the light to help them develop a mental map of the land."
Frostmask nodded. That made sense.
Then what should I do with Lizardpaw this evening?
Frostmask opened her mouth to ask the question, but she closed it just as quickly, her pelt prickling. Sedgestar trusted her to be a mentor. She didn't want him or Emberflower or Redclaw to think she was helpless and floundering with Lizardpaw.
Sedgestar touched his muzzle to Emberflower's ear in farewell.
"I'll leave you to your training then," he meowed, getting to his paws.
He nodded goodbye to Redclaw and Frostmask, and with a swish of his tail, he turned and padded away, heading towards Grovepelt.
Emberflower glanced at Frostmask and Redclaw.
"Meet back here at dawn so we can all go on the tour together?" Emberflower asked.
"Works for me," Redclaw purred.
Frostmask nodded.
"Sure," she meowed.
She watched as Redclaw and Emberflower guided their apprentices away then, already murmuring to them, leaving only Frostmask and Lizardpaw.
Frostmask's tail swished with indecision.
"Why don't we go into the forest? We can hunt a little and then gather some moss to make your new nest in the apprentices' den?" Frostmask said distractedly, wondering what Emberflower and Redclaw were doing, and if it was better than what she just suggested.
Lizardpaw nodded eagerly, although Frostmask suspected that he would've done the same to anything she suggested.
"Great, let's get going." Frostmask signaled towards the camp exit with her tail.
In a flash, Lizardpaw took off, charging through the thorn tunnel, leaving Frostmask blinking in surprise.
"Wait for me!" she called to his back, running after him.
It was a heartbeat after the words left her mouth that she remembered Lizardpaw couldn't hear them.
Frostmask burst through the thorn tunnel, her gaze flickering around to search the forest around her. She spotted Lizardpaw not too far away. Luckily his white pelt acted like a beacon for her eyes in the darkening forest. He had stopped to sniff around the base of a tree. Frostmask trotted up to him, huffing a bit in annoyance as she flicked his shoulder with her tail to get his attention.
"You can't just run off like that," she spoke and signed. "You need to tell me what you're doing or where you're going."
Sorry, Lizardkit signed quickly, but he still seemed distracted.
His wide eyes were roving the forest around them, taking everything in, and his nose twitched constantly as he inhaled in the scents of the woods. Frostmask twitched her tail, trying not to hold his distraction against him. The multitudes of scents that must be barraging him at the moment may almost be overwhelming for his sensitive nose.
"Well… it's okay," Frostmask meowed. "Just try not to let it happen again, please."
Lizardpaw nodded.
"Um… do you smell any prey nearby?" Frostmask asked.
No. Lizardpaw shook his head.
"Let's head in the direction of the ThunderClan border. But, stay with me this time."
The two of them padded in silence through the forest for a bit, and Frostmask couldn't stop her mind from wandering back to her argument with Pineshade about Dampfang. She felt her shoulders stiffen as the anger came back to her.
Pineshade's being such a frog-brain! Dampfang's only nice when he has something to gain from it. He couldn't be different now… right?
Frostmask lashed her tail.
No. She hardened her resolve. Pineshade will see soon enough. Dampfang will slip up, because he's Dampfang, and she'll have her sense knocked back into her…
Frostmask was pulled out of her silent fuming as Lizardpaw suddenly stopped, raising his muzzle.
Mouse, Lizardpaw signed, his eyes bright with excitement.
Frostmask drew the air over her tongue. She wasn't able to scent any prey, but she trusted Lizardpaw's nose.
"Great catch. I can't even scent it yet," Frostmask said, shoving thoughts about Dampfang away. "We can track it down, but why don't you show me your hunting crouch first…"
Frostmask's voice trailed off as she realized Lizardpaw had already wandered a few tail-lengths away from her, nose to the air as he tracked the mouse scent.
Lizardpaw, she signed, trying to catch his attention, but he wasn't looking at her.
Frostmask's brow furrowed, feeling a spark of frustration run through her pelt.
How was she supposed to train Lizardpaw, if he wouldn't even pay attention to her!
Both she and him would fail… just like how Dampfang and the others suspected.
She lashed her tail.
What would Swoopstrike do if he was me?
It was easy to imagine Swoopstrike's snarling voice in her mind.
"Focus up frog-brain, or you'll be going to your nest hungry tonight, and the only patrol you'll be put on is for moss for a moon!"
Frostmask sighed quietly to herself. Swoopstrike may have said that, but she wasn't him. And, she didn't think it's do Lizardpaw or her any good by her acting like a cat she wasn't.
Frostmask stomped a paw on the ground sending vibrations running through the earth, and Lizardpaw twisted his head around to look at her. Frostmask gestured him over to her. He came padding up to her, his tail raised high questioningly. Frostmask took a deep breath as she tried to sort out what she wanted to say.
"Lizardpaw," she began, signing and speaking. "It is very important that you pay attention to this training. We need to be able to—"
Lizardpaw had been watching her intently at the beginning of the sentence, but his gaze had already began to drift away from her by the end, so now he was staring back out into the forest.
Frostmask felt a rush of hot irritation run through her, and she slammed her paw to the ground to get his attention again, but this time she did it half out of frustration. Lizardpaw's eyes snapped back to her.
"Don't you get it?" she growled, her tail lashing. "I'm your mentor; you need to listen to me! You know what Treefur said back there! There are cats that don't believe you can do this, that we can't do this. Do you want to prove them right?!"
Lizardpaw was gazing at her with wide eyes; his ears flat against his head. Frostmask felt her anger fizzle out as a heavy weight of guilt dropped down into her stomach. She wasn't sure how much of that outburst Lizardpaw had caught just from lip-reading, since she hadn't been signing. But, from the look on his face, it must have been enough.
She knew she wouldn't snapped at him if she hadn't let her anger with Pineshade and Dampfang get the better of her. Frostmask's ears flattened down. She shouldn't be taking her anger with them out on him. Lizardpaw had nothing to do with it.
"I'm sorry," Frostmask said along with paw-signs, but Lizardpaw had looked away from her.
He was gazing stiffly down at his paws, his eyes blinking hard. Frostmask reached a paw out and gently touched his side so his gaze flickered up.
I'm sorry, Frostmask signed very deliberately. I know you want to be a warrior. I want you to be a warrior too. And, I'm sorry I got mad. I got into a fight with Pineshade today…
Frostmask trailed off and waved off the rest of that thought.
"But, that doesn't matter," she continued, speaking again with her signs. "I shouldn't take my anger out on you. Let's try to be a team alright? We need to learn how to listen to each other."
Lizardpaw nodded.
I'm sorry too. He signed, his wide blue eyes earnest. I'll try harder to pay attention. I really want to be a warrior. I don't want them to be right.
Frostmask rasped her tongue over his forehead, hoping he could feel the vibrations of her purr in her throat.
Don't worry. She signed. We'll show them.
Author's Note:
In a twist that everyone saw coming, Frostmask becomes Lizardpaw's mentor haha.
Fun fact: Snakeeyes and Rowanheart chose Yewpaw's, Lizardpaw's, and Featherpaw's names respectively in honor of the kits' dad (Rowan and Yew, both trees,) their mom (Snake and Lizard, both reptiles) and their uncle (Swoop and Feather, both bird related.)
Thank you all for reading and reviewing!
Reviews:
Kitty-Guardian Hootryd: Haha that's good to hear! Yeah, I have this taking place still several years before SkyClan is finally forced to leave the forest, but I imagine it's a slow demise as more and more of their territory is slowly chipped away. (At this point, they actually still have a lot of forest left, which they could theoretically hunt in and be fine. But, their problem is mostly from the noise/disturbances of the construction scaring prey away in addition to leaf-bare already being a time of famine.) And, yes you are definitely right that Frostmask and Autumnleap both need to grow some more before they can really be together. And, ugh, Dampfang did the worst thing to her— convince her to get back with him!
Brian.H.H: Thank you! And, about the chapter title, haha yeah, sometimes I listen to songs that help me get in the mood to write chapters or sort of inspire chapters themselves. I've been spending a lot of time listening to this really awesome cover of "In The Air Tonight," which sounds a lot darker/more ominous than the original, and it just seemed to fit the angsty mood of the chapter well. Haha Autumnleap is definitely trying his best, but I think he's in a little over his head with all of Frostmask's issues lol. And, yeah, she's definitely struggling hard with some abandonment issues and, stemming from that, forming attachments.
Simitria: Ugh, Dampfang is like a very persistent weed that keeps growing back no matter how many times it's plucked lol.
Pandere: Yeah, I imagine it's still a good few years before SkyClan is finally driven from the forest, but I see their demise as a slow one. At this point, the construction is just beginning, so they still have most of their territory intact, but they are struggling because of the approaching leaf-bare in addition to the noise/disturbances of construction scaring prey off. Also I wanted to tell you I laughed out loud when I read "a tough pine needle that can handle herself," I love that haha. Also I'm glad you enjoyed Swoopstrike's backstory!
And, I'm very sorry to hear about your grandmother. I went through something similar with my own grandma a couple years ago, and I used a bit of my experiences with that to model how Birdstrike acts with trying to recognize Paledusk. It's very sad to see their memories, and their recognition of the people they care about fade away. (Also, about Paledusk, I meant for it to more come across like he was suggesting to not allow her to Gatherings and essentially confine her to the camp or the elders' den for the rest of her life. Paledusk is definitely bad, and he finds having to care for Birdstrike distasteful, frustrating, and annoying. But, I don't think even he has it in him to actually injure his mother who raised him.)
Dawnshade: Thank you so much! That honestly means so much to me! I'm really happy that you've been enjoying the story :) I think Pine and Frost's friendship evolution is one of the relationships I've enjoyed writing most too.
Avalanche: Yes, Paledusk is the worst lol.
SavvySpirit: Haha yeah, Swoopstrike has a way of worming himself into hearts. Also, I can kinda see the Autumnleap and Kristoff comparison lol. Yeah, Frost's been through a lot and struggling with some abandonment issues from losing her bio mother so young, and then losing Swoopstrike, who fulfilled a similar role teaching/guiding role as her mentor. (Hahaha I may keep that yarrow in Dampfang's food idea in mind. I don't think Frost would have it in her to do that, but I don't see it out of the realm of possibility for Autumnleap, if Dampfang did something particularly nasty to deserve it lol.)