Yeah, this chapter did come out pretty late, sorry about that, but I hit a writer's block and couldn't think of what to do. Anyways, reviews:
Bilbz: Yeah, I'm trying my hardest to keep a solid plot going, though that chapter introduced more of a side plot and this one is the one that starts the real plot. Also, I try to use a large vocabulary when I'm writing, but I usually feel I'm repeating words way too much so it's comforting to know I'm not.
Songmistle: Ahhhh, a lot of those were really great names and I feel so bad that I didn't get them on time! Thank you for submitting them anyways though.
Rowankit wondered why she wasn't in the apprentice den. Wasn't she an apprentice? Then it all came rushing back to her.
Three days ago.
Three days she wasn't an apprentice.
Yawning, she stood up and stretched. It was still early in the morning, but that was part of the plan. She, Sunkit, and Leafkit had gotten up early the past two mornings to do the same thing. If they weren't going to get to be apprentices, they would have to take matters into their own paws.
Yes, they'll never make you an apprentice, the voice told her smugly.
Hey buddy, she responded. It was normal now. Almost like a friend. Except the most depressing friend ever, she thought, inwardly smirking.
"Are you ready?" Her tortoiseshell and white brother whisper.
"Of course," she responded, and followed as he led her to the entrance of the camp. It was still dark, except for a little hint of light. Plenty of time before the dawn patrol.
The entrance to the camp was a small but majestic pathway that was shielded with ferns and on the edges had little red flowers blooming. She could make out Sunkit's yellow tabby pelt right next to one of the flowers, on the border of the pathway. Many times she had joked with Lemonkit about calling it the perfect pathway. The perfect pathway to the perfect Clan, she thought bitterly.
The stupid perfect Clan. All this claiming about perfectness, that whatever story they were always the best. Because of perfectness, their Clan had always flourished, that lies all of the other praise the older cats gave. Rowankit thought that it was more of an imperfect Clan. A Clan isn't perfect if they forget they have kits who are ready to have mentors! She thought again.
Yes yes, no one and nothing is perfect, the voice continued, They shield their mistakes by foolish errors. And no one cares about the consequences, no one cares about you.
The warrior code shouldn't allow it, Rowankit agreed with outrage.
The voice was positively delighted now. It shouldn't, but of course it does, StarClan doesn't care about one little kit. They'd rather use the leaders and manipulate the living cat's life however they want, and no leader cares because they like the power. No cat cares about you, they just care about being perfect.
And that's why I take matters into my own paws, she responded.
This mental conversation happened as they stealthily padded through the pathway. She couldn't believe that she was actually agreeing with the voice, but it made so much sense. She had stopped disagreeing with it now, it was always right about all the hideous things LightClan was. In fact, she didn't think she had so much as disagreed with it in the past 3 days.
At the end of the pathway she glared back from the way they came from camp, then raked her claws over the biggest, prettiest, most perfect red flower, watching it with glee as it was scarred. She could feel Leafkit and Sunkit's smug looks glaring at the flower. It was nice to bring your misery down on innocent creatures.
"So where should we go?" Leafkit asked when they were a decent distance from camp.
"Let's head back to Beyond the Clans," Sunkit meowed with a hungry look in his eyes. "It was so... different. Those stupid kittypets were afraid of us, and we're only kits!"
"No, I want to head to the Birch Clearing," Rowankit said. "We've already been to Beyond the Clans, that's boring. If we go to the Birch Clearing, we can stand on the Large Trunk and be the leader." she mimicked yowling into the air from a regal position. "I, Rowanstar, leader of RowanClan have apprenticed the apprentices exactly on time when they should've been."
"RowanClan?" Leafkit asked playfully.
"Yeah, the Clan that beats up LightClan," she responded with a smirk.
"But getting away from the awful Clan," Sunkit, started desperately, then gave up. "Fine, let's go to the Birch Clearing."
They started toward the heart of Clan territory. In the new-leaf breeze she could scent the morning dew, ferns and lichen and oak trees, with birds perched on top singing their songs. She heard a rustle of movement in the overgrowth, and lept there, only to see a mouse scuttle away. She cursed her back luck.
If they won't teach me I'll teach myself, she reminded herself.
She heard another rustle of movement, and looked around to see Leafkit looking frantically, then he scuttled up a tree. Rowankit was uncertain what it was, but she followed, along with Sunkit. She had heard the best way to avoid a dog was to climb a tree, but it didn't make sense, a dog would probably be noisier. She held her breath, letting it out very slowly as she saw the different colored pelts emerge.
By the looks of it, Flurryfire was leading a patrol of Nightflame, Streamfern, and… she felt another spark of anger as she saw the ginger and white newly named warrior accompanying them.
Aspenfrost doesn't deserve to be called a warrior, she thought angrily, then calmed herself. She, Sunkit, and Leafkit could not be caught.
Rowankit shot Sunkit a confused look, and he returned it. She turned to Leafkit who was completely tense, his eyes darting around timidly.
"You smell that?" Streamfern was saying. "It smells like another LightClan cat."
"I wouldn't be surprised if the scent traveled, we're so close to the Birch Clearing," Flurryfire waved away, and sat down to lick his paw.
"I'm telling you, it smells fresh!" Streamfern insisted. The she-cat looked frustrated to be stuck with the laid back and forgetful warrior. Nightflame was cringing a little, and Aspenfrost sat there, still as stone.
Nightflame stepped up, pushing aside Flurryfire. "We'll continue on," he decided. Rowankit thought she saw a little tail movement, but then brushed the thought aside. "Check?" He asked the young warrior, and she gave a respectful nod.
All of the sudden, Aspenfrost launched herself up the tree and landed on the branch, right next to Rowankit, who let out a little squeal. Leafkit inched back nervously, forgetting the thin bit of branch behind him, and Sunkit cowered in the middle. Aspenfrost seemed to hold a stern expression though Rowankit could see amusement beneath it.
"Kits sneaking away from camp!" she heard Streamfern exclaim from down below. "It just isn't perfect!"
"How about you tell us how long you've been doing this?" Aspenfrost asked cooly.
"Never even occurred to us before," Leafkit meowed sarcastically.
The warriors paid no mind to the kit. "Bring them down?" Flurryfire suggested
"How about you ask 'them' if they will come down!" Rowankit huffed. There was no point in hiding now, they had already been found.
"Aspenfrost, can you handle all three of them alone?" the leader asked
"Of course," she responded.
He sounded relieved. "Good, then. We'll continue on the predawn patrol, and you walk them back to camp. And make sure to take them to Flashstar!" He meowed with a flash of anger.
Predawn patrol? Rowankit thought.They've never done this before. I guess it must be a new precaution for SunClan. Not that that lazy Clan would attack so early anyways. And maybe they wouldn't have to do this if they just had more apprentices to train, She got some satisfaction from the thought.
The rest of the patrol traipsed on, leaving the 3 kits alone on a branch with the warrior. My enemy, Rowankit decided.All of those who have ruined my life are my enemies.
"Are you going to come down or do I need to bring you down myself?" Strangely, the she-cat didn't have any menace or anger or anything of the sort. As usual she was cool, calm, and collected.
"We-we can get down ourselves," Leafkit squeaked. Aspenfrost leaped over all three of them closer to the edge of the thick branch, and watched them as they scampered down the tree. Rowankit wasted no time getting to the ground, and quickly contemplated running away. But that wouldn't work, her enemy was looking directly at her, and there was no way a kit could outrun a warrior. And even if she did get away… well, despite excursions, she knew she couldn't actually handle herself outside the Clan.
She glanced at her brothers for guidance, but they only held guilty and terrified looks. Gently Aspenfrost nudge them back towards the camp where they clinged to each other, and the warrior gave a watchful eye from the back.
After a walk back to camp, Rowankit was shocked to find it as populated as it was. Warriors were bustling around, chatting, and Nettlecloud was talking with a few who seemed to be nodding. It looked like only a couple cats weren't up yet.
"Aspenfrost?" The deputy asked, shocked. "Where are the others?" He looked down to see the three kits, and glanced at Aspenfrost in question again.
"We caught these three kits outside camp on the way to the Birch Clearing, on a thick and sturdy oak tree," the she-cat informed him. "Flurryfire sent me back to bring them to Flashstar."
"Flashstar isn't up yet," Nettlecloud meowed with mild concern. "And I don't know where to put them where they wouldn't run off, mind you, this isn't usually done in such a perfect Clan. Maybe they could fit in the elders' den..."
"No need," said a voice, and Rowankit turned to see Flashstar standing right outside of his den. "I am up now, and I will discuss with these kits before coming up with a fitting consequence. After that I will be wanting to talk to Aspenfrost."
Nervously Rowankit followed her leader into his den, and was immediately stunned at the beauty of it. Colorful leaves were draped all around, and the entire floor was a springy moss. In the center there was a huge feather nest, and on the walls there were silver markings. It all smelled very fresh, and it had the scent of another warrior too (At least I think, Rowankit thought).
"Right, so what happened?" the leader asked Sunkit.
"We snuck out," he replied matter of factly.
"You're first time?"
"No."
"Where else did you go?"
"Beyond the Clans."
Rowankit wondered why her brother was being so honest. It would only get them into trouble. Then she looked and saw the resolve in his eyes. I guess he thinks if he tells the truth he'll get off easier. Though as much as the truth is considered perfect in the Clan, all the things we did really are not.
"Now, Rowankit, why did you do it?" Flashstar turned the attention to her, and with a glare, she answered.
"We are ready to be apprentices and you wouldn't make us them. If we were going to learn anything we would have to take matters into our own paws."
The leader laughed nervously. "Right, those had been delayed for… a little while. I'll see to it that you get apprenticed soon enough. In the meanwhile, go back to the nursery and stay there." She could clearly hear the threat at the end.
As she passed through the clearing, she heard Sleetstone taunt "little imperfect kitty!" but she paid no mind, walking straight to the nursery. Lemonkit's face peeped out for a moment, then disappeared, and Rowankit was sure that she had told all the others. Sure enough, before she had even stepped in Robinkit had started her lecture.
"Rowankit!" She heard her sister scold. "What do you think you were doing, wandering out of camp?"
Rowankit muttered some bitter reply under her breath as she stared at her paws. She couldn't help but think about the odd talk with Flashstar. It was strange for him to act like that, with that nervous laugh. What had happened?
"Relax, Robinkit, you're not the mom here," Roseflower teased. Then she looked sternly at her three misbehaving kits and meowed "But I do expect better of you."
"You could have ruined mothers reputation!" Robinkit wasn't listening. She and her brothers seemed to be thinking the same thing, about how Flashstar had let them off easy. He was acting very cheerful and nervous… he was acting like Flurryfire, forgetful and dismissive. Something must have distracted him, she thought, and he wanted to be done with us so he could get back to it.
Of course, there's always a hint of a good guy there, the voice told her. Entertain the possibility that he just didn't care? He is a leader for the power, not for making decisions for kits.
Rowankit was shocked. It had been so long since she had disagreed with the voice. The voice was always right, every hateful comment it said was true, and she had proof. Or maybe she was just too mad. Now after knowing that soon she might be an apprentice…
Don't get your hopes up too much, she reminded herself. For all I know, we might have to wait for another moon.
Brought back to earth by the end of Robinkit's long rant, she finished with "You might have ruined our chances of being apprentices!"
Sunkits eyes flashed with anger. "No we haven't!" He meowed. "Flashstar told us that he was wrong to not already have us be apprenticed, and that he'd apprentice us soon."
"Really?" Lemonkit gasped. "Why didn't you tell us that in the first place?!" She marched off dragging Rowankit and Larkkit, and Rowankit figured she wanted to hear every detail of the story. Maplekit seized the opportunity to badger Sunkit about all their adventures, which the yellow tabby kit gladly gave. Glowingkit and Leafkit struck up a discussion about something or another, maybe herbs they saw, leaving their last sister in the middle. Robinkit appeared to have know idea what happened with all of her siblings abandoning her. She spluttered, and Roseflower, looking on, sighed.
"So, what did Flashstar say?" Lemonkit started. "How soon till our apprenticeship. Who will our mentors be? Is Glowingkit going to be a medicine cat? What is your punishment?"
"He didn't really say much, but he did say that we should be apprentices soon. He didn't say anything about the punishment though, which is really nervous." Rowankit told her honestly.
"Oooh, then it's going to be something terrible! Something absolutely awful! Like cleaning the elders' ticks for eternity, not being apprenticed, maybe even being exiled!" Lemmonkit imagined, her face more lit up than in a long time.
"Don't go planting silly ideas in her brain." Larkkit scolded, while Rowankit was shivering in fear. "She's already scared enough as she is. If they stay strong and argue a good case they should be perfectly fine."
Her talk with her littermates was interrupted by a cry for a Clan meeting. Rowankit inwardly cringed. Was this meeting going to be about her and her brother's punishment? What would it be? Not being apprenticed? Having to do the elders? Or… no, they wouldn't. Being exiled from the Clan for not being perfect would not happen.
She started to anxiously inch out, but then felt something tugging at her. She turned to see Leafkit looking nervously.
"Don't be such a mouse-heart," she snapped. "We did what we had to do and no matter what punishment we get, I would not do a single thing differently." Plus we might be apprentices, she thought hopefully, then dismissed it. She wouldn't get her hopes up.
Inside she felt warm to see her brother take heart in those words. He nodded again, and followed her out, with Sunkit nervously padding beside. She could see her littermates also going out-Lemonkit was bouncing like usual, and Robinkit was looking skeptically, but other than that they in general seemed scared for her. It made Rowankit feel a little bit better.
"I know that after our recent warriors, our apprentice den is looking empty." Flashstar declared. Rowankit could literally hear every warrior in the Clan snort. The apprentice den was far from empty. "It is time to train our new blood to perfection. Lemonkit, Glowingkit, Maplekit, Robinkit, Sunkit, Rowankit, Larkkit, and Leafkit, please step forward."
What? Rowankit thought. I'm already an apprentice? I should feel happy, but Flashstar never said it was happening this soon. I never thought it would. She felt a little nudge from Roseflower and she stumbled forward to the Grand Stump, then took her place in line with the rest of her siblings.
"Lemonkit, Glowingkit, Maplekit, Robinkit, Sunkit, Rowankit, Larkkit, and Leafkit, you have reached the age of six moons and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Lemonpaw, Glowingpaw, Maplepaw, Robinpaw, Sunpaw, Rowanpaw, Larkpaw, and Leafpaw. Sunpaw, your mentor will be Nightflame. Leafpaw, your mentor will be Rabbitfur. Maplepaw, your mentor will be Herblight. I hope that these mentors will pass down their perfection to you."
The three toms leaned in to touch noses with their apprentices, having barely enough time before Flashstar continued speaking.
"Glowingpaw, I understand that you wish to be a medicine cat. Your mentor will be Bristlefern. Larkpaw, your mentor will be Beechnose. Robinpaw, your mentor will be Amberstorm. Lemonpaw, your mentor will be Hazelbreeze. Rowanpaw, your mentor will be Flowerpool. I hope that these mentors will pass down their perfection to you."
The Clan cheered all 8 apprentices' names as they touched their noses to their mentors. Despite pride glowing from her pelt, Rowanpaw was just perhaps even more nervous than before. She didn't know what to think of the beautiful white and gold she-cat before her, looking so insufferably smug. What would Robinpaw do to her, now that she had the mentor her sister wanted.
"Good job!" Roseflower meowed proudly.
"My perfect little kits are finally apprentices," Beamheart purred.
Rowanpaw went around to congratulate her littermates. "I can't believe it!" Lemonpaw meowed while bouncing around. "I know!" Rowanpaw responded warmly.
She passed by Glowingpaw, who was looking nervous, and whispered in her sister's ear "Good job." Her sister gave her one of her special shy smiles in return, and then Rowanpaw felt someone yanking her around til she was face to face with Robinpaw.
"I can't believe you got Flowerpool!" Robinpaw hissed to her. "Lucky!" She ducked out of the way of her sister, and seeing her mentor walking out, she quickly followed her til they were at the edge of camp together, far from the rest of the celebrating.
Her mentor gave her an evaluating look. "I suppose we'll have to make do," she said, then broke into a smile. "Darling, by the end of six moons you're going to be transformed."
Ok, this time I'm not going to give you any illusions: it'll probably be a week or two before I get the next one out, and that's if I know exactly what I want to write, which is probably not going to happen. Will it be a month or more? Definitely not! But just warning you next bit will take a while. I'll be trying very hard to get it out as soon as I can within those limits.