CHAPTER FORTY FOUR

The crisp morning air of the mountains caused Birdpaw's lungs to ache as the sun woke her up. She blinked a few times, letting the warmth of her mother surround her. After spending most of the day trekking through the mountains, trying to climb to the bottom, Birdpaw welcomed a good night's rest. The stress of finding her Clanmates and making sure that they were safe had left her feeling numb with exhaustion. Finding her mother again had only reassured her that everything would be okay, in the end.

Darkflower had been there for her when she needed her, the most. Birdpaw couldn't imagine what life would be like, without the tiny family she had. Though, she knew she was a little older and wiser since the Clan started their journey through the mountains, she was still young. There was still a lot that she had to learn. Birchpelt had proven that when they started her training, again.

In between moving with the rest of the Clan, and the group of cats that traveled with them, Birchpelt had taken her aside to train her. While Birdpaw welcomed the training session, since it took her mind off of certain worries, she had been exhausted by the end of their session. Birchpelt had proven time and time again that there was still a lot she had to learn.

She finally rose to her paws, yawning as she arched her back and stood up.

They'd stopped just as the sun was beginning to sink. It was bitterly cold throughout the night, so, the Clan and the traveling cats were forced to sleep together. The awkward silence between all of them had been noticeable enough. Birdpaw could practically feel the tension between Oakfire and Stormshadow as they slept restlessly between SkyClan warriors. While they weren't happy with the situation they were in, they didn't complain.

Birdpaw noticed that Flamestrike and Spruceleaf had curled up beside each other, keeping one another warm through the cold night. She glanced over her shoulder to see that Reedriver had kept his distance between Acorntail. The stubborn RiverClan warrior was trying to prove something, though, Birdpaw couldn't understand why he was making it so difficult to get along with everyone.

He acts as if he's got bees in his fur, she thought, recalling how angry he had been when Blizzardwind chose to stay behind.

She suspected there was a reason behind his anger, though. Reedriver seemed like a strange cat, someone who refused to make friends with anyone. Birdpaw had a feeling there was something more going on with him.

"Some cats are more prideful than others," Birchpelt had told her when she tried asking why some cats acted that way. "It doesn't matter if it means they'll spend the rest of their lives alone. If they have something to prove, they'll go out of their way to do so."

She supposed that Reedriver was one of those cats. He was letting his pride get the better of him. She gave her chest fur a few quick licks, hoping to smooth her ruffled fur and shake off the sleepiness in her paws. The rest of the Clan was starting to wake up, as well. Flamestrike had already woken up, along with Spruceleaf, Oakfire and Stormshadow.

"We should send out a hunting party before we continue our journey," Emberstar suggested after gathering the rest of the Clan together, "It won't do us any good if we continue on with hunger clawing our bellies."

"How exactly are we supposed to hunt in this territory?" Oakfire demanded, lashing his tail in annoyance at the prospect of trudging through the snow, once more. "All this snow is going to scare away whatever prey is out."

"We've hunted in leafbare before, mousebrain," Stormshadow reminded him with a roll of his eyes, "We can do so, again."

Oakfire was ready to argue when he seemed to think better of it. By now, Birdpaw was stifling a purr of laughter as she watched the ThunderClan cats. She had to admit, she did find it amusing watching them argue amongst each other. It was obvious there was tension between them, but, they somehow made it work.

With that thought in mind, Emberstar sent out a few cats to scour the area and find some prey. Birdpaw went with Birchpelt in the hopes that they would find something buried out in the snow. She remained alert, ears swiveling back and forth as she listened for the sounds of prey scurrying under the blanket of snow that lay under their paws.

A few heartbeats went by before Birdpaw spotted something haring across the snow. Her heart nearly skipped a beat when she realized it was a rabbit. She sprinted without warning, ignoring Birchpelt's call. Birdpaw was quick on her paws, barely avoiding getting swallowed by the snow as she pounced after the rabbit. She only just caught it with the tip of her claw, tripping the rabbit as it fell into the snow.

Pride swelled within her as she slowed it down, just in time to deliver a killing blow. She was ready to do so when a shadow suddenly fell over her.

The pride from earlier was replaced with overwhelming fear when Birdpaw heard the familiar screech of a hawk. She realized too late what Birchpelt had been warning her about. Terror gripped her heart when she found herself frozen on the spot, suddenly aware of the dangers she was in as the dangerous bird loomed closer.

"Leave my apprentice alone!" Birchpelt screeched as she launched herself after the hawk.

Birdpaw's eyes widened with horror when Birchpelt reached it, dragging her claws out as the hawk drew dangerously close. She'd already lost the rabbit during her moment of terror. Time felt as if it slowed down when Birchpelt managed to drag the hawk down, using her strength against the larger bird. It took a few heartbeats before Birchpelt was able to deliver a killing blow. Birchpelt spat out the feathers, shaking her head once she was sure that it had been killed.

"StarClan, what happened?" Hollowstorm asked when he reached them, eyes wide with shock at the sight before him.

"A hawk tried attacking me," Birdpaw explained once she found her voice, feeling a combination of guilt and shame crawl through her.

Birchpelt shook herself after climbing off the hawk. She caught Birdpaw's expression and gave Hollowstorm a warning look. The dark brown tabby only rolled his eyes and left them, tail lashing irritably when he realized what needed to be said and done.

Great, she's probably going to tell me all of the mistakes I made, Birdpaw thought, knowing she deserved every bit of scolding.

To Birdpaw's surprise, though, Birchpelt simply flicked her tail across her shoulder. Birdpaw only looked at Birchpelt, not missing the sympathetic look she was giving her.

"Don't blame yourself, Birdpaw," she meowed, "I should have been looking out for that hawk."

That left Birdpaw feeling guiltier. She ducked her head, wishing that Birchpelt would stop blaming herself and admit that Birdpaw had made a mistake.

"I did something mousebrained, Birchpelt!" she snapped, letting her pelt bristle with annoyance.

Birchpelt let out a sigh. After everything that had happened, this was the last thing she wanted, or, needed. Birdpaw knew that what had happened was her own mistake. She should have been aware of the hawks, considering the Tribe's warning.

"Would you feel better if I held back your warrior assessment?" Birchpelt asked, eyes flashing as she looked at Birdpaw seriously.

Surprise swept through Birdpaw at the mention of her warrior assessment. For the first time, her paws felt numb as the snow underneath her. She didn't know what to say. The other apprentices hadn't even earned their warrior names, yet, and, Birchpelt was expecting her to pass her own assessment.

Not for the first time, she found herself wondering if Emberstar had made the right decision in making her an apprentice so early on. She knew that he'd only done so so that it was easier for her to travel with the rest of the Clan. Now, she was well past six moons. But, she still had a bit of her kit-fluff fur. If that didn't make it obvious enough, she didn't know what would.

"Yes, it would make me feel better," she muttered, glaring down at the ground, "Why does Emberstar think I'm ready to become a warrior, anyways? The other apprentices aren't even warriors, yet."

She flinched when Birchpelt touched her forehead with her muzzle.

"Because, Birdpaw, you have shown wisdom beyond your age," she explained. "Yes, you still have a lot to learn. But, I have seen you make choices that most apprentices your age wouldn't even consider."

Birdpaw didn't know what to say when she understood what Birchpelt meant by that. She felt her heart nearly swell with pride at that. Yet, that didn't stop the guilt from threatening to overwhelm her. She'd fled from her Clanmates when they needed her, the most. In her eyes, she was nothing more than a coward. She should have stayed behind and fought along with them when they were taken by the Tribe. Instead, she ran away with her tail between her legs.

"I don't feel ready," she sighed, wishing that she understood the feelings that swept through her.

Her mentor simply nodded in understanding. While she looked unhappy with Birdpaw's decision to hold back her ceremony, she didn't argue with her logic.

"You will know when you are ready, Birdpaw," Birchpelt reassured her. "For now, let's take this fresh-kill to the Clan. This hawk will be enough to feed many of us."

Relief swept through Birdpaw at that. She knew that she was making the right choice in holding back her ceremony. Hopefully, time would tell when she was ready.

...

"You caught that?" Emberstar asked in disbelief when they finally returned.

In the end, the hawk and a meager mouse were all Birdpaw and Birchpelt managed to bring back. While it wasn't much, Birdpaw was more than relieved they were able to bring back something they could feed the Clan. The rest of the warriors gathered around them had reached them, eyes widening in surprise at the sight of the hawk.

"This should be enough to feed half of the Clan," Birchpelt meowed, dipping her head respectfully.

"If not all of us," Stormshadow licked his lips eagerly, eyes brimming at the prospect of fresh-kill.

"The rest of the patrols were able to bring back fresh-kill," Hollowstorm rolled his eyes with a lash of his tail.

Birdpaw noticed with a start that he was right. She couldn't hide the purr that followed as everyone gathered around the fresh-kill pile. Despite the tension from earlier, everyone seemed to get along as they shared their rations. With fresh-kill so scarce in the mountains, anything was better than nothing.

She used it as an opportunity to eat beside her mother, ignoring the others. She'd spent so long away from her mother and the Clan, that it felt good just spending time with them.

"I heard from Birchpelt that you turned down your warrior assessment," Darkflower murmured, glancing at her curiously.

Holding back a sigh, Birdpaw knew where this was headed, "Do you think I made the right choice?" she asked.

"I think you did," Darkflower nodded in agreement, earning a look of surprise from Birdpaw. "It's impossible to guess what is going on in Emberstar's mind. He's showing favoritism, and, that isn't going to sit well with the rest of the Clan."

Not for the first time, Birdpaw found herself looking down at her paws thoughtfully. What surprised her more than anything, was that Emberstar thought she was ready. That alone left her wondering just what had led to such a decision.

"I'm glad I turned it down," she decided, feeling a sense of determination sweep through her. "At least it means it'll give the other apprentices a chance."

Darkflower nodded once more, licking her forehead affectionately, "You truly are one of a kind, Birdpaw," she purred in amusement.

Birdpaw's heart fluttered with joy at those words. She didn't care if she was different from everyone else. If it meant keeping the Clan safe, and making sure that things were done the right way, she was willing to make such sacrifices. All in the name for her Clan.


ALLEGIANCES

ThunderClan

Leader: Petalstar - light gray she-cat with white paws, belly and muzzle; has blue eyes

Deputy: Hawktalon - light brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Medicine Cat: Dusknose - gray tom with a darker gray nose

Warriors

Oakfire - ginger-brown tom with tabby markings along the tip of his tail

Stormshadow - dark gray, almost black tom with yellow eyes

Feathermist - gray and white she-cat with feathery-tipped ears

Robinwing - brown and white tabby tom with amber eyes

Roseclaw - ginger and white she-cat with green eyes

Shademask - gray tom with a darker gray, almost black face

Timberleaf - slender brown she-cat with pale green eyes

Foxfur - dark ginger tom with green eyes

Hazelwind - tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes

Kestreltalon - light brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Flamestrike - ginger tom with faint brown stripes along his tail

Lilypool - pale ginger she-cat with amber eyes

Shrewfang - light brown tom with darker brown stripes along his legs and tail

Apprentices

None

Queens

Heatherpelt - pale gray she-cat with yellow eyes, mother of Dovekit and Stormkit

Elders

Rockfur - dark black tom with a white-tipped tail and pale amber eyes; partially blind

Daisytail - black and white she-cat with amber eyes

Kits

Dovekit - light gray she-cat with yellow eyes

Stormkit - darker gray she-cat with amber eyes


ShadowClan

Leader: Russetstar - brown tom with dark ginger paws

Deputy: Grayshadow - gray and darker gray tom
Apprentice: Newtpaw

Medicine Cat: Scorchheart - dark ginger tom with green eyes
Apprentice: Ravenflight - darker gray she-cat with yellow eyes

Warriors

Cloudfall - white she-cat with patches of gray along her fur; has blue eyes

Sageleaf - gray and white she-cat with green eyes
Apprentice: Longpaw

Barktail - light brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Talonclaw - pale tabby tom with yellow eyes

Briarheart - brown, white and black she-cat with amber eyes
Apprentice: Smokepaw

Sleetstorm - very pale gray, almost white she-cat with pale green eyes
Apprentice: Bramblepaw

Nightclaw - black tom with yellow eyes
Apprentice: Marshpaw

Mousefang - light brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Poppyfur - brown and ginger she-cat with green eyes

Snowstorm - gray she-cat with amber eyes

Apprentices

Smokepaw - dark black she-cat with piercing green eyes

Longpaw - pale brown she-cat with green eyes

Bramblepaw - light ginger tom with amber eyes

Marshpaw - tortoiseshell she-cat with pale green eyes

Newtpaw - pale ginger tom with amber eyes

Queens

Thistlepatch - spiky-haired tabby she-cat with amber eyes, expecting

Elders

Pineclaw - dark tabby tom with amber eyes; former deputy

Kits:

None


WindClan

Leader: Icestar - white tom with gray paws

Deputy: Rowantail - gray and ginger dappled she-cat with a tabby-striped tail

Medicine Cat: Furzewhisker - light brown she-cat with unusually long whiskers

Warriors

Harewhisker - gray tabby tom with white paws and yellow eyes
Apprentice: Antpaw

Leafshine - tortoiseshell and white she-cat with green eyes

Ferretpelt - short-haired tabby tom with yellow eyes
Apprentice: Olivepaw

Whitebirch - white she-cat with brown spots along her back leg

Twigfur - dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Berrystripe - brown and ginger tabby tom with amber eyes

Owlflight - silver tabby tom with green eyes

Sootfall - dark gray tom with amber eyes

Apprentices

Antpaw - brown tabby tom with yellow eyes

Olivepaw - brown and white she-cat with amber eyes

Queens

None

Elders

Redstripe - dark ginger tom with stripes along his legs

Sparrowsong - very old brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes; Larksong and Leafshine's mother

Kits

None

Deceased

Larksong - tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes

Mosskit - gray-brown she-cat with yellow eyes


RiverClan

Leader: Minnowstar - light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes

Deputy: Mintwhisker - gray tom with amber eyes

Medicine Cat: Scarletpaw - dark ginger she-cat with green eyes

Warriors

Watertail - gray-blue she-cat with amber eyes

Ashfang - silver and gray she-cat with amber eyes
Apprentice: Redpaw

Cinderfire - dark ginger tom with green eyes

Foampelt - silvery gray she-cat with blue eyes

Pricklefur - long-haired dark gray tom with yellow eyes

Blossomwind - tortoiseshell and white she-cat with amber eyes

Eagleclaw - brown and white tom with amber eyes
Apprentice: Firepaw

Ambertail - brown she-cat with a ginger-tipped tail

Pebblepelt - fluffy gray and white tom with yellow eyes
Apprentice: Dawnpaw

Acorntail - golden brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Reedriver - long-haired silver tom with pale blue eyes

Hollycloud - black and white she-cat with amber eyes

Larchwing - gray and white she-cat with amber eyes

Willowsong - gray she-cat with yellow eyes

Apprentices

Redpaw - light ginger tom with green eyes

Dawnpaw - dark ginger and brown she-cat with amber eyes

Firepaw - ginger tom with amber eyes

Queens

Foampelt - silvery gray she-cat with blue eyes

Elders

Ripplecloud - silver tabby she-cat with blue eyes, mother of Blizzardwind, Watertail, Ashfang and Mintwhisker

Sandfang - pale ginger tom with green eyes

Kits

None


SkyClan

Leader: Emberstar - ginger tom with darker ginger ears

Deputy: Birchpelt - silver she-cat with light ginger markings
Apprentice: Birdpaw

Medicine Cat: Dewspots - gray and darker gray spotted she-cat with yellow eyes

Warriors

Thorntalon - smoky black tom with pale yellow eyes
Apprentice: Wrenpaw

Mothflower - tawny colored she-cat with amber eyes
Apprentice: Brightpaw

Hollowstorm - dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes
Apprentice: Ebonypaw

Lightningstrike - black tom with green eyes
Apprentice: Driftpaw

Darkflower - black and white she-cat with green eyes

Frozenfoot - gray she-cat with darker gray paws

Specklewing - tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes

Apprentices

Wrenpaw - gray-brown she-cat with amber eyes

Brightpaw - tortoiseshell and white she-cat with bright green eyes

Ebonypaw - dark black she-cat with amber eyes

Driftpaw - pale gray tom with darker gray paws

Birdpaw - white she-cat with gray patches of fur and dark blue eyes

Queens

None

Elders

Goldenpelt - golden ginger she-cat with amber eyes

Ivyclaw - dark gray she-cat with yellow eyes

Bouncestep - long-legged tabby tom with amber eyes

Kits

None


Cats Outside Clans

Frost - white and dark gray she-cat with pale green eyes, mother of Smoke, Luna and Dusk by unknown tom

Luna - dark gray she-cat with yellow eyes

Dusk - smoky gray tom with green eyes

Pinion - spiky-haired tortoiseshell she-cat who lives near the abandoned horseplace

Wildheart - mottled brown and ginger tom with amber eyes; Former WindClan warrior

Palemist - pale gray tabby she-cat with yellow eyes; Mother of Wildheart's kits, Gorsekit and Harekit; Former WindClan warrior

Gorsekit - gray and ginger dappled tom with amber eyes

Harekit - gray and white tom with amber eyes

Spruceleaf - slender pale brown she-cat with amber eyes; Former WindClan warrior

Blizzardwind - silvery white she-cat with pale green eyes; Former RiverClan medicine cat