All things considered Fireheart felt pretty warm. Despite the chill of the approaching aruasio leaching through his pelt and the wind stinging his nose, he wasn't shivering. Though the initial blaze of warmth and excitement had died away, his pride at finally becoming a warrior was like a barrier the cold couldn't break through. He sighed a little glancing over to a droopy eyed Graystripe before looking back to the sky. Though it was beginning to lighten, he was starting to wonder if Rayushu was intentionally holding back to sun to force the vigil into being as long as possible.
He supposed it was a good thing he and Graystripe were sitting guard- Brokenstar and his band of exiles were still roaming the forest after all. Fireheart didn't doubt for a second that they'd stayed in the forest and would likely begin causing trouble for cats everywhere. He made a mental note to update his sister, Ahasra on the situation- while he didn't think Brokenstar would travel deep enough into ThunderClan territory to reach the Sun, it was still better safe than sorry. Besides with Ravenwing there, more warnings they had the better.
Thinking of Ravenwing triggered thoughts of Tigerclaw and he involuntarily scowled.
Tigerclaw.
He'd spent the entire time from their warrior ceremony to moonhigh glowering at him and Graystripe with a sneering Longtail and Darkstripe by his side. Fireheart had to suppress a satisfied purr at the quiet but fierce telling off Bluestar had given Tigerclaw for his behavior and his commentary. He hopes it embarrassed the broody warrior to be scolded like a misbehaving kit in front of the remaining cats outside.
His thoughts then drifted to Dustpaw and his sad face as he trudged off to his den. He firmly told himself again that he'd bring Dustpaw to see Ravenwing the second he's able. Now that he's a warrior, he could head out on solo hunting patrols as long as he'd like right? Maybe he could convince Darkstripe to let him have Dustpaw for a a bit.
He looked up at the sky hopefully though no rays of sunlight had poked through quite yet. He mentally groaned and cursed RiverClan for introducing the concept of the "silent vigil" to the rest of the clans all those cycles ago. He understood its purpose in helping young warriors reflect upon their new position and responsibilities in the clan but it felt like the sun was reluctant to rise.
Slowly the clan awoke- Halftail was one of the first striding out to stretch and yawn loudly before making a beeline for the dirt tunnel. Whitestorm was another- he went right for Bluestar's den, likely to start planning patrols and giving her reports. He emerged a while later and grabbed rabbit carrying it into the nursery to share with Brindleface. Willowpelt slunk out not much longer later and flopped on her side in one of the few patches of light visible on the ground.
He jumped as he was nudged turning his attention to Graystripe who motioned with a paw to the rising sun. Fireheart grinned as the orange rays touched his coat.
Ke tsi mrasuma ta oraye , he recites mentally to the blinding light. Ari ede tasa.
Fireheart's ears pricked as he heard the sound of pawsteps coming towards them. He turned to see Whitestorm with Darkstripe, Sandpaw and Dustpaw coming over.
"Happy to see the sunrise?" Whitestorm teased.
Graystripe and Fireheart nodded together.
"I was listening last night," he remarked. "Along with a few others. Good on you both for resisting the urge to sneak and speak. Especially when Runningwind started pressing."
Fireheart ducked his head as Graystripe silenced his laughter. The tom had come back from the moonhigh patrol, complaining of being lonely. It hadn't take him long to begin asking Fireheart increasingly embarrassing questions about the kingdom before escalating to blatantly flirting with him. Though he'd been relieved from his boredom but he'd been so embarrassed he was worried that he'd melt snow.
When the two toms still didn't speak, Whitestorm chuckled, "You're allowed to speak now."
"Souls I thought dawn would never come!" Graystripe blurted out instantly with a sigh.
"Me either," Fireheart chuckled. "It was a little cold all night and I was starting to get bored."
"I'm surprised you esteemed warriors can even feel the cold," Dustpaw snarked rolling his eyes.
Graystripe blinked, looking take aback and Fireheart took a step back at his tone. Before either of them could respond, Whitestrom lightly shoved him and announced that they'd be training. Fireheart and Graystripe watched them go before making their way towards the fresh-kill pile.
"What do you think that was about?" Graystripe asked.
"We were made warriors first," Fireheart said a twinge of guilt striking him. "But they were apprentices first."
Graystripe rolled his eyes, "Yeah by three days. They can't wait just a bit longer?"
"That feels weird coming from you Mr Impatient," Fireheart laughed.
Graystripe flattened his ears and shoved him chuckling, "I'm just saying, Brokenstar is still out there all they have to do is fight him and boom, they'll be warriors. I bet it won't even take till newleaf."
"True," Fireheart mused. "With Brokenstar lurking around it shouldn't be too hard to do anything warrior worthy. What do you think their names will be?"
"Sandfinch?" Graystripe suggested. "Or Sandbrook?"
Fireheart shook his head, "Doesn't sound right. Maybe Dustpaw will be Dusttail- after Redtail?"
Graystripe went quiet for a moment then nodded slowly, "That would be a nice name for him. Or Sandtail for the same reason."
Fireheart shook his head, leading his friend over to the fresh kill pile that was running a bit low. He frowned at the options but deciding on a large mouse and backed up to let Graystripe inspect the choices.
"Let's take this to the warrior's side of camp," Graystripe purred as he selected a shrew.
Fireheart grinned nodded his agreement, proudly walking off with Graystripe past the little ditch when the apprentice's den was and settled by the bush where warriors ate. They ate in silence, yawns breaking through the meal as the first proper orange beams of light touched the ground and the sky was turning a proper morning blue.
"I don't know about you," Graystripe hummed as he finished his meal. "But I think I'm going to sleep for a moon- maybe two."
"Me too," Fireheart agreed. Between the battle in the ShadowClan camp, the emotions of helping Ravenpaw escape and the vigil, Fireheart felt like he could sleep on his paws.
He clambered to his paws and stretched out the remaining cramps from his vigil before following Graystripe into the den. It was larger than the apprentice's den with nests arranged in what looked like a spiral. Mousefur and Longtail were still asleep in their nests, only reacting with a flick of their ears to their presence.
Graystripe motioned for him to follow so he trotted after him towards a set of nests on the very edge of the spiral in a row behind Longtail. Fireheart grimaced at the idea of laying near Longtail of all cats and started over towards Mousefur who was only a single row from the center. Graystripe quickly swatted at him sternly.
When Fireheart looked confused, Graystripe explained in a whisper, "Only senior warriors sleep in the center where it's warmest."
"Oh," muttered Fireheart, looks like there was still a lot he had to learn about clan-life. "Can we at least move further from Longtail then?"
Graystripe nodded and led them a few nests down. Satisfied by distance between himself and one of his persistent annoyances, Fireheart flops down into his nest. He glances at the empty spot next to Graystripe and curses Tigerclaw internally.
Ravenwing should be here with us.
Graystripe gently draped his tail over Fireheart's back so he let the thought die and scooted closer to his best friend. He buried his face in his paws and yawned one last time before drifting to sleep.
Fireheart squirmed and craned to look up- it was a struggle and he felt so weak. He blinked hard, trying to focus on the figure leaning over him. A lanky black and white tom with yellow eyes was staring down at him with unrestrained joy and awe.
"He looks just like you," the tom murmured.
"He does doesn't he?" replied a voice.
Dad?
Fireheart fought to turn over or speak to him but only squeals escaped his mouth.
"He's a fighter," the bicolor tom laughed.
"He really is," replied his father. The was a moment of silence and Fireheart felt the air change becoming tinged with grief. "I'm going to miss you- are you sure you can't stay with me? With us?"
The bicolor tom looked away, "You know I can't. My clan needs me- but I'll visit. By the Souls I swear I'll visit as much as I can."
The tom leaned over out of Fireheart's sight and-
He woke up, blinking owlishly with a yawn. That was the third time he'd had that dream- it was a welcome change from the scary visions and constant restlessness he'd suffered back in the kingdoms. It was probably less of dream, more of a memory really.
He'd deciphered by now that the bicolor tom was likely Tallstar of WindClan and his father, Okohi. His father had loved that tom with everything in his soul- it showed whenever he told stories of the first time he met Tallstar and the times he'd snuck into the WindClan camp to visit him. It was reciprocated and Fireheart knew this because he still has foggy memories of seeing the WindClan tom around before he'd turned two moons old. But Tallstar- Talltail and deputy of WindClan at the time had responsibilities to his clan and his dad, responsibilities to the kingdom.
Sometimes Fireheart had wondered what would've been different if Tallstar had stayed as a consort to his father. Wondered if he'd still have a dad if Okohi hadn't spent so much time journeying afar trying to forget to ache in his chest when Talltail became leader and was unable to visit the kingdom as frequently anymore.
He shook the thoughts away- he was sad and he suspected he always would be. He missed his father dearly, he'd been closer to him than his mother but his dad had always said that despite the pain, he was happy to have loved Tallstar anyway. It'd be an insult to both of them for Fireheart to regret or begrudge their love for each other.
He started looking around for Graystripe who was lounging near the apprentices' stump. Although they were warriors now, Dustpaw and Sandpaw were their closest friends and it didn't make sense to sit at the warrior's bush without them. So he grabbed a squirrel and made his way over. Graystripe meowed his greeting as Fireheart dug in and began observing the camp.
Whitestorm stood upon the small smooth rock that deputies take claim to and was organizing hunting patrols with Sandpaw sitting next to him seeming to be offering advice and commentary of her own.
Clever, Fireheart mused to himself. That's a warrior's job- Whitestorm is showing she's a warrior in all but her name now.
He wondered if Darkstripe was so perceptive and had found official work for Dustpaw to do while he waited for his official ceremony. Just as he was thinking his name, Darkstripe strode into camp with Tigerclaw and Bluestar from what Fireheart assumed was a sunhigh patrol.
He growled to himself, lashing his tail in annoyance. Tigerclaw has all but appointed himself Bluestar's personal bodyguard these last few sunrises.
"Brokenstar and his rouges are still on the loose," he'd announced. "He admitted to killing Raggedstar- who says he won't target Bluestar?"
He hovered over her like she was the runt of an already weak litter of kits and only left her be when she was in her den or went to the dirt tunnel. He consoled himself with the fact that Bluestar and Whitestorm seemed just as frustrated as he was.
Fireheart shook his head, thanking Rayushu's flames that Tigerclaw hadn't become deputy despite apparently mentoring Darkstripe. It was like he didn't understand the message that placing a constant guard detail would send to the rest of the clan regarding Bluestar- it would make her look weak and vulnerable when she was powerful and capable of sending even the heaviest of Brokenstar's rogue's flying.
"What's flown up your nose?"
Fireheart startled and glanced at the amused but curious Graystripe.
"Tigerclaw seems to annoy you more than usual lately."
Fireheart shrugged and whispered softly, "Ravenwing's story is still bothering me. I don't know how to approach Bluestar about it."
"This is a hard situation," Graystripe commented. "I believe him don't worry- Ravenwing wouldn't just make stuff up like that. Not about something as important as Redtail."
"But there's not a lot we can do right away," Fireheart agreed softly.
Since Fireheart had returned to camp before the second wave had happened, he couldn't claim that Redtail had been alive at the end of it. Ravenwing was the only one who saw Tigerclaw murder Redtail and supposedly, Ravenwing was completely unconscious during that part according to Tigerclaw's story. It had been moons- they couldn't just tell the clan a completely different version of the story after so long. The only other witnesses to Redtail being alive would be RiverClan warriors.
"We can't tell Bluestar yet," Graystripe says firmly and Fireheart wonders if he was trying to remember all the lessons he'd received from Ravenwing. "We don't have any proof beyond Ravenwing's word. Plus, new warriors can't go flinging accusations of murder against senior warriors."
"You're right," agreed Fireheart. "Besides half the clan turned against him by the end. Just because they mourned him doesn't mean they'll believe him. We'll just have to find a way to catch Tigerclaw in the act."
"..I feel bad," Graystripe admitted quietly. "Watching Larkwing float through the camp."
Fireheart winced at the thought. Larkwing had been absolutely devastated by the announcement of Ravenwing's death. While Graystripe and Fireheart had been pushed towards the gorse tunnel to sit vigil, Larkwing, Sandpaw and Dustpaw had sat a bodiless vigil for him. Even now, Larkwing would stare at the apprentices' den for several long moments as if Ravenpaw would come sprinting out apologizing for oversleeping and they'd go to a trade.
"If he wasn't so close to Bluestar I'd tell him right away," Graystripe added. "Him and Dustpaw. They deserve to know more than anyone."
Fireheart hums his agreement and nods towards the leader's den where Bluestar was emerging. He watched in curiosity as one of the queens- Goldenflower- ushered a pair of kits freshly groomed towards the highrock where they waited trembling eagerly.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the highrock for a clan meeting!"
As more cats began emerging, Fireheart watched Longtail and Willowpelt stride over to the base of highrock and sit calmly. Well, Willowpelt was calm- Longtail seemed to he dancing while he sat.
"Must be an apprentice ceremony," Graystripe remarked as he sat up to see better. "Longtail's been dropping hints for days."
"Cats of ThunderClan," Bluestar began. "Today is a wonderful day where we have two young cats emerging from the nursery to begin their path to warriorhood by becoming apprentices!"
She motioned to the first kit, a small cinnamon tortie molly with a tiny tail who bounced right up to her grinning.
"Lynxkit, you've now reached 6 moons of age and it is time for you to be apprenticed. Lynxkit from this day on until you've earned your warrior name, your name shall be Lynxpaw."
As she finished, Willowpelt came striding up the highrock and sat beside the newly named Lynxpaw with a little skip in her step.
"Willowpelt you've proven to be kind and skilled and I believe you are ready for an apprentice. You had a wonderful mentor in Poppydawn and I hope you can pass on her skills and lessons to Lynxpaw."
Fireheart watched Willowpelt step forward and touch noses with Lynxpaw before leading her back down to the base of the highrock where Longtail was practically jumping out of his pelt with excitement.
"Swiftkit, you've now reached 6 moons of age and it is time for you to be apprenticed. Swiftkit from this moment on until you've earned your warrior name you shall be known as Swiftpaw."
Longtail sprinted up to meet his apprentice to the soft laughter of his clan mates. Swiftpaw was trembling a little- probably nervous, Fireheart presumed as Bluestar finished her part of the ceremony.
"Longtail you've proven to be determined and confident, you had an excellent mentor in Darkstripe and I pass on his lessons and skills to Swiftpaw."
Swiftpaw nervously touched noses with Longtail and walked down the highrock to sit with Willowpelt and Lynxpaw. As soon as their butts touched the ground, the clan erupted into cheers of welcome.
"Lynxpaw! Swiftpaw!" "Lynxpaw! Swiftpaw!"
Fireheart sighed a little at Longtail's comforting smile to his timid apprentice. He was happy that Longtail was treating Swiftpaw well but he couldn't help the resentment stirring within him about the vast difference between the way Longtail treated him and Swiftpaw.
Just because he's aidasuka, Fireheart thought to himself in disgust.
"Hey, chin up Fireheart," Graystripe consoled. "We'll have out own apprentices soon enough. Besides, maybe having an apprentice of his own will knock some sense into Longtail."
"Maybe," Fireheart said with a grin. "When I have an apprentice, they're gonna kick Swiftpaw's tail."
"Hey don't pit them against each other," Graystripe laughed. "Who do you think will be your apprentice?"
"I don't know," Fireheart mused. "We're new warriors so maybe we'll end up mentoring Brindleface's litter."
"I'll be the best mentor to Elderkit," Graystripe boasted.
"Sure," Fireheart agreed. "And I'll show Tulipkit way cooler moves than you."
Graystripe pounced on him and Fireheart laughed, wrestling his friend and letting his worries fade to the back of his mind.
