His heart was flopping as he watched Sunpaw step forward, her pelt rippling.
"Then by the powers of StarClan," Silverstar was meowing.
She looked more collected than the day before, when she had been meowing busily with Ottersnow, with a scowl and frown on both their faces.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I name you Sundawn."
A surprised expression appeared on the newly named golden tabby's face. It quickly turned to pleasure, and then delight. She dipped her head, her amber eyes shining and glowing in every way possible. Reedpaw wondered if he would look the same when he would be named.
"Sundawn! Sundawn!" he yowled out.
Fawnheart, Mistshade, Tawnyclaw and Sparrowheart were the only others who cried out enthusiastically, but Sundawn didn't seem to care very much.
"Yowl!" hissed Reedpaw furiously.
Even if Sundawn didn't care, or didn't here, he was disappointed that Creampaw, Honeypaw, Oakpaw, Ripplepaw, Whitepaw, Stormpaw, Dewpaw, including other warriors like Roseleap, Whitepetal, and Brindlepelt wouldn't spare one moment, one cry to make Sundawn feel happy at her great moment.
Flinching, Creampaw and Honeypaw turned around. "Okay," Honeypaw murmured guiltily.
"Sundawn!" they cheered.
Sundawn brightened.
"I didn't know you'd cheer," she mewed, leaping down.
"We didn't," Creampaw mewed blankly.
Sundawn narrowed her eyes.
"But Reedpaw made us," Honeypaw meowed quickly. "I don't regret it."
"Thanks," snarled Sundawn, her fur bristling angrily. "It's great to see that I only have supporters, and which of 75% is a lot of garbage!"
She whirled around. But Reedpaw saw her tail lower and droop, and her ears folded with shame.
"Sundawn!" he heard Mistshade exclaim.
"Thanks, Mistshade," Sundawn mewed in a hollow voice.
"Do not worry, Sister," meowed Sparrowheart valiantly.
"Sorry I didn't cheer," added a dark ginger she-cat, appearing out of nowhere. Roseleap was eyeing Sparrowheart nervously. She was obviously saying that just to look good in front of him.
Sundawn spat in disgust. "I have no idea how you like Sparrowheart so much. He only likes himself. I suggest you give up swiftly."
Sparrowheart raised his head. "How dare you say that?" he asked, in an overly exaggerated manner. "Roseleap is a dear friend of mine, and nothing less."
"Nothing less," Reedpaw heard his friend whisper. The gleam in her eyes had not faded, but they hadn't brightened, either. She took several steps back. Away from the golden tom who'd left a wound on her heart.
"Are you okay?" he asked, slipping towards the dark ginger she-cat.
Roseleap nodded, her gaze blank. "Yeah. It was just… nothing I haven't expected, of course, but…"
"Yeah, I know." He didn't know, but he pretended to, for his friend. Sometimes you had to lie. It was a white lie that made the dark ginger cat feel much better.
"Thanks, Reedpaw. You always make everyone feel better."
"That's a relief, then."
Roseleap sighed.
Her heart is yet fragile
Easy to break, and easy to lose
Not yet broken, but soon to be cracked
The lovely thing is nothing to reuse
Reedpaw blinked.
"Roseleap, do you like Sparrowheart? Romantically?"
The word stung his throat. It was… rather a yucky word for him yet. Every time he saw Lynxfoot and Eagleshade together… Let's just say it wasn't the most pleasant thing Reedpaw had ever seen.
"Er…" Roseleap looked uncomfortable. "I dunno, Reedpaw. I'm still a young cat."
"That's good. Because I can be friends with you for a long time, without you mooning over…" Reedpaw shivered mockingly.
Roseleap purred. "You're literally my best friend," she replied proudly. "And I hope you always will be."
"I hope so," Reedpaw mumbled. He glanced at Sundawn. "I feel sorry for her. But I should feel sorry for myself. Because she gets love, and I don't."
"Silly, she gets Mistshade and Tawnyclaw's, sure, and maybe Sparrowheart. But you've got us!"
"Yeah. She doesn't have friends. Us. That's the part where I just feel so sorry."
Roseleap blinked. "She was unlikable, to be fair," she offered. "I mean, you know my mother and father died after I was born, right? So I was traumatized, and I tried to cry and swat them away whenever anyone came near me. Naturally everyone, including Whitekit, and Lynxkit and Eaglekit hated me. I tried to congratulate Lynxpaw and Eaglepaw but they just said, Why're you so nice now? I mean, my point is, that you should act nice if you want to gain a nice reputation and get some nice friends." She shrugged. "Does that make sense?"
"Yeah," Reedpaw meowed, trying not to laugh.
Roseleap sighed. "Sundawn's name is beautiful, don't you think?" she asked. "I like my name, too. I'd assume that Whitepaw will get his name soon. He's a quiet apprentice, but one to look up to, I guess. I was never that type."
Reedpaw silently agreed.
"It's like apprentices are swarming out of the den now," Roseleap meowed. "Lynxfoot and Eagleshade, then me, and Brindlepelt, and now Whitepaw! Oakpaw and Ripplepaw will get warrior-ed soon, followed by Honeypaw and Creampaw a few moons later."
Reedpaw blinked, feeling dazed.
"Soon after you'll be a warrior, and there'll only be Stormpaw, Dewpaw, Mistypaw, and Rainingpaw. Possibly Yellowbird's kits would add to the apprentices… right? She's close to kitting, anyway." Roseleap sighed. "Wow. The Clan is sure moving fast. I might be an apprentice before I know it!" She gave a tiny purr. "Oh, and I forgot Orangepaw! He's going to be an apprentice with Whitepaw, I think. Yes, yes."
Roseleap nodded, her ginger ears twitching.
"You know a lot," remarked Reedpaw.
"Nah. This is just memorizing my Clanmates," Roseleap mewed fondly.
The feeling was hollow.
Reedpaw hadn't fully acknowledged what Roseleap had meant when she said that the Clan was moving fast.
But now, now that Splashfall had chosen to retire… His chest heaved at the thought of another cat joining Fernshine and Rushwater.
Maybe all cats got dry when they left the warriors' den. Fernshine was rather dry, and Rushwater was nothing but dry.
He wouldn't like to see Splashfall retire. Splashfall had been a bright she-cat, a loyal member. She'd apparently mentored Mistshade, so Mistshade had introduced Reedpaw once to the dark gray she-cat when he was a little kit.
"Silverrocks," she used to say mysteriously. "That's where the border between StarClan and the Dark Forest is. They meet. Solitarily, the Dark Forest cats see StarClan cats. Their former, good or evil, loves are on the other side. The other side of the unseen barrier.
"They sit on Silverrocks. The silver rocks gleam in the starlight. The starlight that comes from the StarClan side. Dark shadows loom over the Dark Forest side, but StarClan starlight is enough for both of them to see clearly. See each other."
Splashfall's voice always shook at this.
"The Silverrocks helps to communicate. Legend says, at every blue moon, the Silverrocks shift to make way. But somehow, villains don't see that. Only those who deserve to see sees.
"And I hope to see the Silverrocks one day."
"But you won't go to the Dark Forest."
A scared look flitted across Splashfall's face. "Who knows?" she asked softly. "But… but if I see, it means that all is well."
Her story of Silverrocks always ended like this.
Splashfall was a kind cat who told stories, even though she wasn't an elder, to kits, and she was kind. That was important.
A lump in his throat grew.
"The Clans is moving fast," he whispered.
Reedpaw glanced at the elders' den. He could see Fernshine, napping, and Splashfall, gazing up at the sky.
"Ah, Reedpaw," purred a silky voice.
A shiver went up his spine. "Sparrowheart?" he meowed, hardly believing.
"Yes, me," replied Sparrowheart. His amber eyes were glowing. "I know you think it is a shame that Splashfall, the lovely warrior, retired. Is that true?"
"Yes, it is. She was a good warrior." Reedpaw tried to louden his voice.
Sparrowheart purred. "I understand you perfectly," he mewed. "I, for one, had experienced Splashfall's enchanting stories when I was a young kit. Have you listened to her story about the Silverrocks? When I was young, it was my dream to stand and let my pelt shine with the starlight. But now my dream has changed." His eyes glittered, somehow ominously, and he didn't end his sentence.
"Er… you wouldn't want to see the starlight?"
"Starlight is beautiful," responded Sparrowheart. "It was indeed my dream to stand with the dark ones and talk. But not now. It would be best… if I didn't engage."
"Oh, that's it." Reedpaw relaxed.
"Have you listened about Yellow Sky?"
"Yellowsky? Who's that?"
"No. It was Splashfall's story about the Sky That Turned Yellow."
"Er… would you like to retire already, Sparrowheart?" Reedpaw asked awkwardly.
Sparrowheart let out a loud purr. "No! I'm just recalling Splashfall's stories that rang my heart. Would you like to hear?"
"Sure." He liked stories.
"It was a day in RiverClan. The stream was flowing, and fish were swimming, waiting to be caught. It was dawn, and the sky was pink. Cats marveled at how beautiful and pinkish the sky was; it was a beautiful hue, a beautiful shade, a beautiful sight.
"At sun-high, the sky was a brilliant color. Pale blue. The pale sky covered the cats warmly, inviting them to relax.
"But then, when the sky should've been brilliant blue, pale but deep, beautiful but hideous, lovely… The sky turned yellow.
"It happened in an instant. Yellow clouds covered the whole area. The usual sky, when its blue hue surrounded everyone, at the close ending of the beautiful day… the sky turned yellow.
"Roars rolled in the sky. Lights screamed.
"And it all ended.
"But a terrible thing happened that day. Many cats died, including our fellow friend Whitepaw's father's father, Brackenfang. A sad story for us all.
"Remember, my friend. Bad, ominous things happen when yellow skies come. They have been rather common these days… But it's when the sky turns completely yellow. Not just a simple, pale yellowish hue. It when the sky turns dangerous." Sparrowheart raised his head. "Amazing story, eh?"
It's not Splashfall's story, is it? The words lingered on Reedpaw's tongue. His heart was beating fast, feeling ominous and dark.
It seemed like a warning.
Yellow skies.
Roars of terror.
Screams of light.
His heart clutched at the thought, and when he raised his head, he found that Sparrowheart was gazing at him, his amber eyes clear and bright.