"Here we can rest; this place will protect us for the last stretch, after this we will not have to travel by night… only whenever you all are ready." Larry's words rang in Shimmerpaw's head
Shimmerpaw curled up tight as the cold wind settled down, the dark cold leaf bare wind breezed past her. The rising morning sun unable to reach and warm her as she lay her head down on her paws, Maplestar was organizing things with the other clan leaders… as they found a nice patch of a grassy field in the twolegplace. Shimmerpaw still felt a little open though, with the twolegplace there was a little more security; but here there were very little room for dens and trees above their heads.
There was a wide open field with a strange trunk like structures on the far end, the twolegplace far behind it as the Shimmerpaw nuzzled through the bush. There was barely enough room for her clan, but Shimmerpaw could smell the other clans nearby. As she turned around Berryleaf was searching through what little they had of medicine storage. He shook his head as he rose up onto his paws and headed out of the den, as he turned to look over his shoulders at her. "There's a shortage of herbs, I have to get some more… no matter how hard it is."
Shimmerpaw nodded as Jaypaw left the den, paws slamming into her back as she rolled over. "Shimmerpaw, we get to be apprentices!"
Shimmerpaw purred, she couldn't remember the last time she had hung around the kits. As Redkit rose up to full height, his fur bushing out… he was getting taller than Shimmerpaw meowed. She nudged his side. "Great, you will be able to do well I know it!" she purred.
As if on cue, Maplestar's voice rang out from across the clearing. "May all HillClan cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather around for a clan meeting?"
The three kits tumbled out of the den as they scurried towards the dark reddish brown tabby, who watched as everyone gathered together.
Shimmerpaw noticed Lionbite trying to drag himself out of the den, his hind legs no longer able to move themselves as he clawed at the ground with his for paws. "Easy now!" Shimmerpaw meowed as she pressed into his side, carefully guiding him out to a nice spot where he could see everything.
"Today brings great change to all of us, with three new apprentices beginning their training starting today… Redkit, Furzekit, and Thornkit… are you ready to begin your apprenticeship?"
All three cats nodded eagerly as Redkit could barely contain his excitement, looking left and right at his siblings as he shook in place. Shimmerpaw adjusted her positon as she held her head up high, tail flicking beside her as the golden tabby tom remained silent beside her. His head pressed into the ground as he silently murmured to himself.
"Then by the light of StarClan, Redkit… until you become a warrior you will be known as Redpaw… your mentor will be Barkclaw."
Shimmerpaw watched as her foster mother pushed into the center of the clearing, her head high as she dipped her head to the young tom. Shimmerpaw adjusted her position to hold her head higher to look over the warriors' heads.
"Barkclaw, you are a kind and caring warrior without a doubt, and you will be a fine mentor for this apprentice… you will be able to tame and make this a great warrior as any other we know." Maplestar meowed; everything was still out of Shimmerpaw's sight.
A cough from her side caught her attention, and she turned to Lionbite who lay there coughing out thick pools of blood. Shimmerpaw jumped to her paws as she rushed back into the den, and starting searching for the right herb as her breathing rose higher and higher.
Back and forth she went, but nothing she could grab was doing the trick.
'Why is nothing working!"
"Redpaw, Furzepaw, Thornpaw!" the clan cheered as Shimmerpaw stumbled around the empty den, as she took another step outside… Lionbite was being eased to sleep as Berryleaf was cleaning up the mess. "We were out of honey, though I still cannot find anything to help with the bleeding." The tom meowed, before picking up the ball of strange material and carrying it away.
Shimmerpaw's shoulders slumped as she nodded; looking over at the golden tabby tom whose hackles rose and fell with her breath. The as she slumped her hindquarters to the ground, as she looked down at her paws and shuffled slightly to the side.
She could feel Jaypaw's awkwardness before she smelled him, and she raised an eyebrow as the tom took a seat down on the opposite side of the injured former warrior.
Movement on the opposite side of the clearing, and Shimmerpaw looked up as a group of twolegs seemed to gather at the strange structures. Kicking around a strange boulder around the clearing, Shimmerpaw ducked her head as it scurried towards them.
'What is up with this place?'
…
Shimmerpaw was jolted awake by the feeling of hostility, as she jumped to her paws as the den was empty. As she poked her head out the hole, MoorClan and MountainClan were on their paws glaring at each other. Maplestar, Shadowstar, and Swiftstar were trying to calm down things… as Molestar was glaring at the other clan.
Shimmerpaw slipped down towards the clans as her hearing picked up what they were saying…
"The four clans have existed like this before; there is no need for violence
Ebonypaw, Raggedpaw, and Jaypaw were sitting far away from their clans as Shimmerpaw sat down beside them and leaned in close. "What is happening?"
"Molestar's pissed about the current border situation, and MoorClan is angry about her 'Robbing Prey'!" Ebonypaw answered.
One of the MoorClan warriors took a large step forward, as his lips curled. "There is no reason why we should border off land, we all are hunting the same prey on the same territory!" he growled.
"Borders are as important to our clans' history; we lived separately for countless generations! We keep the borders as they are, so things will go back to normal!" growled one of the MountainClan warriors.
"Things will go back to normal, just be patient… but we needed to survive and there isn't much to go around!" growled of a large pale tabby tom, who took a large step to the other clan.
Shadowstar got between the tom and MountainClan cats. "Everyone calm down, we can work something out… but infighting will only lead to worse consequences!" he meowed as his fur bushed.
Molestar whipped her head to glare at the tom, her canines flashing. "What about the trespassing, I will not allow any more of this to proceed!" the she-cat snarled as her claws gripped the ground.
Shimmerpaw flicked her gaze between the four clan leaders, Swiftstar was remaining silent as he looked back and forth.
Finally the tom spoke up as he raised his head, "Four clans cannot stand together in a situation like this, perhaps these borders should be broken down to ensure our survival… and reach our final goal." He turned to the other four clans, as he took a deep sigh.
"Home."
Molestar lowered her stance as she sheathed her claws, as her shoulders slumped… but Shimmerpaw could still feel her hostility before she spoke. "But who would lead this new clan, who will be the one to give out orders and keep us under guidance?"
Maplestar took a step forward as she held up her head. "I would gladly do so, to lead our clan!"
"You! No… no… no, that would weigh too much in favor of HillClan… I should lead!" challenged Molestar.
"That would benefit the aggressors, Shadowstar should lead!" argued the MoorClan warriors.
Swiftstar looked between the leaders, he spoke nothing and ValleyClan were silent. Shimmerpaw could feel his concern and fear as tensions spiked in the clearing again. Shimmerpaw made a choice…
"Swiftstar should lead!" she yowled.
The clearing fell silent, as Shimmerpaw took a step forward; looking among the warriors as she took careful steps forward. "Look at all of you, bickering and fighting… what about a warrior of peace? Swiftstar and his clan do not hold rivalry here, let them lead."
The three other leaders had their doubts, before Berryleaf spoke up. "Yes, let it be ValleyClan, let Swiftstar be the one to lead us… we are so close to our new home!" he argued as he gestured, to his apprentice.
Molestar slumped her shoulders before she mumbled to herself, no objections were raised as all attention was drawn to Swiftstar who was still stunned.