MistFlame54: Yep, leaders don't get 9 lives from Waveclan! Some old stories claim the founding leaders did have 9 lives, but no-one is sure if that's true, or if it was made up by storytellers over the years.
"Where were you? You've been gone for almost a day," Speckledpaw dropped his prey at his mother's feet and feigned sheepishness as she looked him over for any burrs or cuts.
"I went hunting and got carried away."
Eclipseheart licked him on the head. "You must be very tired; that's a lot of prey for an apprentice!" Speckledpaw nodded. He felt very tired indeed. "I'm surprised your shoulder isn't sore."
"I tried using some of herbs on it; it must've worked," Speckledpaw said, it occurring to him that quite a bit of poultice was still on his shoulder. He'd taken off the dressing and thrown it into the sea shortly after going back into Grassclan territory, knowing cats would ask questions about where he'd got it from.
Eclipseheart snapped her teeth. "It seems to be working, but don't do it again without Frogfur's help, okay? Not all herbs are safe."
"I won't, I promise." He cocked his head; camp seemed quiet...
"Is Rookheart finished kitting?"
Eclipseheart shook his head. "Not yet; she seems to be having a slow moment so it could be a few hours until she's finished." She wrinkled her nose at the rain. "Let's get out of all this." They curled up in a shelter of bracken and fell asleep.
His dreams were troubled. It felt like memories from his earliest moons were rising up from deep crevasses of mind, tainting them with fear and loss. He caught scents and voices he didn't know on the faintest wind, and followed their trail to nothing. He felt wrenching pain in his heart and saw cats vanish into darkness. Finally, he found himself walking into the nursery. Stonestripe (her only difference to Troutfur was her striped fur) regarded him with empty oozing eye sockets; she was nursing mutilated kits on blood soaked mosses.
"Speckledpaw?" Eclipseheart looked at him with concern. "You were having a bad dream."
He felt tired, like he hadn't slept at all. His paws trembled. "I think so. But I can't remember it." He didn't sleep again, even as the sunhigh patrols returned and their cats feel asleep around them. His mind was working too fast, and the thought of facing his mother's dead face made him feel sick. If that's what she had looked like; would he ever know what she had looked like?
"Hi Speckledpaw," Redpaw's manner was so cheerful he took a double take at the cuts on her legs. "Caveclan tried attacking us."
His blood chilled. "Are you okay?" he asked. Eclipseheart's eyes opened.
"What happened?" she said sharply, eyes wide with concern.
Redpaw spoke. "A Caveclan patrol tried attacking us for prey; we fought them off easily but one of them scratched me." Eclipseheart sighed and shook her head.
"They're always trouble. Lakeclan too."
This won't stop any time soon. Speckledpaw filled with dread; there were always skirmishes and battles in the cool season, and with Robinwave at the helm, who knew how this season would end for Grassclan and him?
"Do you ever think about leaving sometimes?" he said. his family looked at him.
"Yes; I'd like to know how Patchedpaw is now," Eclipseheart said first, catching them both by surprise. Speckledpaw looked west. Me too. An idea sparked in his head. What if she's with them? If she found the exiles, wouldn't she have stayed with them?
"I think I know where she could be," he said.
"How?" Redpaw asked.
Speckledpaw hesitated; he should tell them the whole truth. But part of him was hesitant: could he trust the cats he'd met? Would someone overhear? I need to be certain before I say anything. "I think she's definitely gone west, but she might still be near. Maybe as close as that Twolegplace."
Eclipseheart shook her head. "Owlbreeze patrols there to make sure no-one comes too near. She couldn't stay there even if she kept herself in a den; she'd be driven away."
"She does?" Speckledpaw blinked, realising why the senior warrior spent so much time away from camp. But of course, she hasn't caught the exiles…
"She keeps watch over anyone who leaves. If someone left she'd take a patrol and look. We wouldn't be able to find Patchedpaw unless we claimed to go on pilgrimage," Eclipseheart said.
"Would they let us?" Redpaw asked. Eclispeheart shook her head; Speckledpaw knew even without Robinwave it wouldn't be allowed.. Traditionally only one cat went to the House where the ancestors of Grassclan had hailed from. Redpaw mewled in sorrow.
She sighed. "One cat could go, but I don't think Robinwave would approve. Besides, I wouldn't be surprised if he sent someone to follow."
"But that's not allowed," Redpaw's lip curled at the thought. "Every Grassclan cat who's completed their training has a right to go." She deflated. "I guess the leader's word is law, and it isn't part of the Warrior Code, so he can ignore the rules."
"Yes. For better or for worse, we have to follow him." Eclipseheart's voice was dark. "But remember; he won't always be our leader, we won't have to deal with him forever-"
"Good evening." Robinwave stood over them, the evening rain lashing at his pelt.
Eclipseheart's resentment and fear melted away at once, as if it had never been. "It is an honour for you to speak with us," she dipped her head; Robinwave licked the top of it. Speckledpaw's stomach churned at the thought of having to do the same.
Thankfully, Robinwave made no move to do so. "Rookheart's last kit has been born; I'll be welcoming them into the Clan soon. And I thought it was time Redpaw becomes a warrior too."
Redpaw gasped, eyes twinkling. "Thank you for the honour, my lord," Speckledpaw noticed a rigidity in her motions, one that belied her fear and dislike.
His amber eyes fixed on him. Repressing a gasp, he looked downwards. Please don't hurt me, please don't hurt me-"
"Get Frogfur and be ready once the storm ends. Tomorrow you will join us at the Gathering. I'm glad you've proven yourself; it's a shame Patchedpaw did not. She seemed promising at first." Robinwave turned and left.
"I get to go to a Gathering, I guess," Redpaw's voice was hollow. "I can't believe he talked about her like that; how could he?"
No-one answered; Speckledpaw shuddered. All he could envision was Robinwave's claws at their throats.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather around me for a Clan meeting." Robinwave's voice rang from the top of the cliffs.
"Come on," Frogfur said, nudging Redpaw upwards. She'd cheered up a bit since the announcement, but Speckledpaw knew she was conflicted. They all were; Patchedpaw should be beside her, receiving her warrior name too. Does she still have the same name? Or has she changed it? He could tell Redpaw and Eclipseheart were thinking the same thing.
Robinwave had opted to hold the ceremonies by Wildcat's Watch, a few minutes out of camp. It wasn't much for them, but cats looked back and murmured at Frostcloud and Rookheart at the back of the crowd. In this weather it was a bit rough for kits; usually the formal welcoming happened in good weather once the kits were a few weeks old, when taking them from the nursery wasn't as stressful. And it almost never happened at Wildcat's Watch.
"What are you looking at?" Speckledpaw shied away from Troutfur and scurried to Eclipseheart's side. Ashpaw didn't turn his head to look at him. They ended up settling on opposite ends of the crowd, neither able to see the other.
Robinwave called for attention. "Today we have had three new kits, born to Rookheart. They have been named Minnowkit, Bandedkit and Erminekit. We thank Waveclan for this gift, and wholeheartedly accept them into our Clan. We also remember their littermate Black-kit, born dead. May she find peace in Waveclan's nursery."
He looked at the kits, lying beside Frostcloud; Rookheart was sitting closer to Barkshine and seemed uninterested in the kits. When the mates looked at each other, it was with angry glances. He wondered if it was only the stresses of the stillborn, or if it was something deeper. Frostcloud and Rookheart had always been a bit of the strange pair: one harsh and strong-willed, the other nervous and doing what he thought others would like.
"Bandedkit! Minnowkit! Erminekit! Black-kit!" The Clan chanted, over and over. He felt a pulse of fierce joy, of belonging, despite his fears. Hopefully these kits would be alright; surely the kits of two respected warriors would be safe unlike the kits of the Betrayal.
The next part of the ceremony began. "I welcome you, and may you prove yourself worthy members of Grassclan in time," Robinwave touched his nose to each of the kits. "I hope the path you choose is the right one."
Rookheart picked up Bandedkit, while Frostheart up Minnowkit. Mangledleg walked up and took Erminekit, though all the kits were still tiny enough that one parent could take two by the scruffs at a time. They walked them through the crowd and let Grassclan take in their scents; they smelled of milk, but Speckledwhisker could smell blood and sourness too. "Are they alright?" he asked Eclipseheart; was there something affecting them that had killed their sister?
"Yes. Newborn kits smell funny," she turned her head up to Robinwave, one of the few paying attention. The meeting hadn't been dismissed, but cats probably expected it to be over; some of them were wandering off.
"This is not our only ceremony today." Everyone was watching again; it was quiet enough to hear a drop of rain fall. "Redpaw, Frogfur, come forward."
"Good luck," Speckledpaw whispered to Redsong. His heart was in his mouth. Something could go wrong- Robinwave could be playing a cruel trick on them all for his amusement. Please let this work out, please, please.
"Frogfur, you have trained Redpaw for many moons in the ways of the Warrior Code and Grassclan. Are you confident that your apprentice has the full skills of a warrior and knows the Warrior Code?"
Frogfur nodded. "I am. Redpaw has trained well, and will bring honour to Grassclan."
"Redpaw, do you promise to uphold the Warrior Code and defend Grassclan against all its enemies, even at the cost of your own life?" Robinwave watched Redpaw intently.
"I do!" Redpaw cried.
"Very well. Then Waveclan, look upon this loyal apprentice who has worked hard to learn your Code and is willing to give her life for her Clan. I commend them to you as a warrior, if you are willing to accept it."
The Clan waited with bated breath. Speckledpaw wasn't sure what they were waiting for; maybe when Mouseleaf hadn't been exiled she would reveal Waveclan's thoughts to the Clan?
"Waveclan approves," Robinwave said after a time. "Then with their approval I give you your warrior name. Redpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Redsong. We honour your knowledge and intelligence, and welcome you as a full warrior of Grassclan."
"Redsong! Redsong!" The Clan closed in around her, Speckledpaw nuzzled her chest fur.
"It's a great name!" It really was; Redsong hadn't got many chances to actually sing, but no-one would dare question her knowledge of Grassclan's history and lore. She didn't speak; once the other cats left she would sit atop Wildcat's Watch and view Waveclan, like Wildcat herself had watched the ocean when the land had first risen from the sea. Even the celebration the Clan would have for their new kits wouldn't exempt her from this tradition.
"I'm surprised honestly; Barkshine, didn't you want her gone?" Troutfur was whispering to the deputy.
"Yes, but we needed warriors. Look, she isn't much good, but she can do the basics and it'll keep the warriors and elders happy." Speckledpaw turned, happiness turning sour. Why did the senior warriors have to ruin everything?
He nuzzled Redsong one last time before they parted, Grassclan heading back to camp. The hunting patrol earlier had left much prey behind; tonight they would feast.
"Congratulations, Eclipseheart!" Rockclaw called. She smiled and returned her kind words, albeit with sadness in her eyes. A cat becoming a warrior was supposed to be a joyous thing for all the Clan, but the ghost of Patchedpaw still loomed over them. But maybe I can find her? If she's with the exiles we can leave and never need to Robinwave again. Hopefully Mouseleaf would give him an answer. He needed an answer.
He spotted Night-tail in the distance. I should talk to him; I think he might know what to do. "Can I-" he didn't need to finish the question, Eclispeheart nodding as Dustheart, Starlingpeltand Tansong padded over. Speckledpaw padded across camp, stepping onto the cliffs a bit to get to his mentor without trodding on any tails-
"Sorry about earlier. I didn't want to get kit slime all over you," Barkshine said. He stopped and padded into the new moon's dark, towards the very top of the cliffs. He could tell Barkshine and Robinwave were sitting in a thick tuft of grass where wild garlic grew, making it hard to hear or smell them unless someone got close. He crouched and listened, hoping the wind wouldn't pick up and reveal him.
They were sharing tongues now, through words. "You should consider making Ashpaw a warrior before the warming season comes. He'll be a bit young, but it's better than the dreck we have now; I must say over the past moon he's learned to behave. And he'll have some experience as a warrior before Rookheart's kits are apprentices; we need to train them well so we have enough warriors to face the other Clans with worthy warriors. They're outnumbering us."
"Is anyone else pregnant at all? I know most of our trusted warriors don't want apprentices at the moment, but we can always leave the mediocre ones to the others. Frogfur did an alright job and Redsong is loyal," Robinwave said.
Barkshine shrugged. "Starlingpelt thinks she is, but she only came forward yesterday and if she is she's barely started carrying. I don't know how the rocks will fall when the cool season comes; I'm not sure if she even wants to keep them."
"Starlingpelt? At least Rookheart will share the nursery with her for a bit; I have some doubts about her loyalty, and Patchedpaw? Never have I seen an apprentice take that long to catch prey, and she was mouthy, Ashpaw was telling me."
Speckledpaw curled his lip. Was his brother telling secrets about his kin? Patchedpaw had been very polite around the senior warriors, but didn't hesitate to say what she thought of them when suspicious ears weren't around. They would never have known without him telling them, and now that could put Starlingpelt and Eclipseheart at risk.
"If need be, we can give Starlingpelt's kits to Rookheart; hopefully some other queens will show up to make things easier. Tell Troutfur to keep a close eye on her and report any misdoings. And I think a… discrete exile would be best, if the worst comes to the worst? Cats were angry the last time it happened, and she's fairly popular." Robinwave sounded so casual, when he was speaking about a mother being wrenched from her kits, being spied upon so they could decide her fate.
"Of course; I think we should stop bothering with the Clan meetings when we know it'll cause problems," Barkshine's voice became tentative. "I'm not sure if you thought my proposal was a bit much-"
"No. Mind you I wasn't too sure at first, but we need loyalty and strength in the long term. We'll have to be careful, of course- cats would be distressed and their loyalty would waver if they knew. But Owlbreeze says Cowkit and Shrikekit hung around and evaded her for a long time; we never found the bodies, so I wouldn't be surprised if some of them were still out there. My sisters never knew when to quit."
Speckledpaw backed away, aware of how dangerous what he had heard was. Robinwave knows about them. I should tell Mouseleaf.