'How I've gotten myself into this?' the black cat thought as he padded across the camp, a big piece of wet moss carried in his mouth. Well, the question was more of an ramble than anything really. He knew why he did that after all.
It would be hard to forget since the reason for this was walking straight ahead of him, movements as energetic as always and bushy red tail raised straight, moving gently.
It was apparently Redpaw's turn to fetch some water. He was present while Spottedpaw sent him for it and, he just so happened to decided he could tag along. It was either that or sorting herbs with Spottedpaw, and he get bored with that pretty quickly.
Beside, despite not being the most endearing of works, fetching water was still doing something. It was so much better than idleness, something he grew to hate for the past moons. Ever since his wound healed enough to allow him to move, he sneaked out every time he could, explored the camp, talked to clan cats, learned about their life. He found out that the old cats, however annoying their rambling could get sometimes, were actually pretty good source of information about the wild cats history. Their stories, although messy and more often than not, unbelievable were rather entertaining. Beside, those cats where one of the few that even spoke to him, not turning around and pretending like he wasn't even there.
And that was yet another matter that annoyed the black tom endlessly. Every time he walked around the camp, he managed to catch some distrustful, sometimes even hostile glances. Few times he heard a quiet growl or quickly spat insult that was surely directed towards him. And although Spottedpaw and Redpaw told him not to worry, it made him still feel unsettled. To be fair, however not much of cats showed open liking for him, there was not that much of them to show clear disapproval. Most seemed to get over the first shock after having and stranger in their camp pretty quickly and just stayed neutral, barely concerned he was there. And that was something he was very much used to.
They enter elder cats den. Larksong noticed them and sent a bright smile to both toms. "Redpaw, good to see you. Been a while since you visited us, poor old cats hm? Feeling too important as an apprentice to come talk from time to time?" she meowed, with a playful edge to it. Then she seemed to notice a black young tom and her smile grew wider "Your friend for example has been providing us with a good company quiet often lately. Maybe we should take in more kittypets, if they are all so well behaved."
" Oh Starclan no, I wouldn't be able to take having more than one of those nuisances to deal with." Mumblefoot mumbled, however there seemed to be no edge to it. He nodded at Redpaw, as the young cat passed him wet moss, and started to drink the water. " Will never understand how Pinestar could decide to live among them." he murmured at the end. Black cat heard it though, noting in his memory to ask Redpaw about it later.
Larksong however just chuckled softly and continued the chattering. " Well, we could at least keep this one. He seemed to be doing alright, aren't you sweetie?" she purred smiling at the black kit " Are you feeling well?"
" I'm fine." black kit replied flatly but let his mouth twitch a bit in a small smile " Thank you."
" No worries." she purred and looked at him closely, then turned to Redpaw " Watch over our little guest Redpaw, and , for Starclan's sake, get him to eat more. I swear, if he would only be a bit smaller I would call him a mouse."
" I will try my best, Larksong." Redpaw replied brightly, ignoring the sharp look the embarrassed black tom sent him "See you later, I promise I will come to talk later on."
As the cats mewed their goodbyes, both young toms left the den. Redpaw looked at the black tom who still looked a bit embarrassed and gave him a playful nudge with his shoulder" Don't worry, Larksong is always joking like this. She didn't meant anything…"
" I know." black cat cut simply " It's not about that." he meowed his gaze shifting, uneasiness feeling his gaze.
" Oh." Redpaw gave him a puzzled look" So what is it then?"
" I just…" tom sighted, trying to find the right words "I told the truth. I'm fine now. My wounds are practically healed."
" That's… good isn't it?" Redpaw meowed, but sudden shift in his voice told the black cat he knew what he meant.
"-… What are you going to do with me now?" he decided to go straight to the point.
Redpaw gave him and uneasy look and shrugged. " I… I don't know…" he seemed lost, not knowing what to say "I guess most of cats just assumed… you know… that you will go back to your Twolegs…"
" I can't go back." Black tom hissed sharply, his voice turning cold as he remembered the cruel words of his sister " If I could go back why do you think I would ran away in the first place?!"
" I don't know… I didn't…" Redpaw shook his head " Look it doesn't depend on me. If it did, I wouldn't mind you staying here… as long as you would like that."
Coldness in kit's gaze was replaced by interest. " You think that would be possible?" he meowed, not managing to hide a pang of hope in his voice.
Redpaw shrugged again. " I don't know but hey- I've heard a stories about rouges becoming a clan cats sometimes, it may work for kittypets too!" he sad and sent black cat a reassuring smile which fed the fire of hope in his hearth. A small smile made it to his muzzle. Then he remembered something.
" And have ever any warrior became a kittypet?" he asked, as he remembered Mumblefoot's rambling
. Redpaw looked uneasy for a moment. " Well, our previous leader Pinestar…he chose to live with Twolegs." Redpaw looked sad for a moment " But he shouldn't have done it. He left his clan, his mate and kit… he was Tigerpaw's father. By leaving the clan he broke the warrior code." Redpaw meowed his voice firm. "And that's something a good leader shouldn't do."
There was a long moment of silence between the two as they both walked together, battling with their own thoughts.
" Okay, but we really should go to check if Spottedpaw doesn't have any more things for us to do." Redpaw meowed, turning around with a sigh " She won't stop rambling if we make her wait too long."
" Yeah, she can be a bit bossy sometimes." Black kit agreed with a small smirk.
" She calls it being 'considerate'." Redpaw purred, mocking his sister voice which made black kit let out a small chuckle.
They walked in a comfortable silence for a moment before black kit meowed quietly. " Hey, Redpaw…" the dappled tom looked at him, encouraging him to continue. Black kit let out a shaky breath " …Thanks."
He didn't question anything. He smiled, understanding. "Your welcome."
And they both padded towards the medicine den.
Spottedpaw walked into the medicine den. It has been a good, productive day for her so far. She managed to collect some herbs, and treated few scratches. She entered the den with serene smile, the smell of herbs always calming her down and bringing a warm feeling of familiarity.
She looked around and noticed a curled up black shape, lying in the back of the den.
" Hello there." she meowed, her voice chipper and energetic, though after a moment she realized the cat was sleeping. She hummed and turned around when she hear a muffle whispers. She glanced at the black cat again, and took few steps towards him.
" …No… water… water everywhere…" kit whimpered, letting out a shaky breaths. Spottedpaw looked at him with worry "… it's cold… freezing… somecat … help…" he whimpered again this time louder. Spottedpaw moved towards him.
" Hey. Hey!" she nudged him with her paw. The kits eyes opened and him jolted up, suddenly letting out a loud gasp. He gave Spottedpaw a look of shock and terror, franticly glancing around.
" What happened..." he didn't get time to finish as Spottedpaw moved closer to him, resting her paw on his shoulder, trying to get him to calm down.
" Hush. It's okay. You had… you seemed to have a bad dream." This wasn't a first occurrence when Spottedpaw heard the cat to mumble something in his sleep. However more often than not it stopped after few minutes. This time seemed to be worse.
She sat there with him in silence, waiting for his breath to steady before giving him a questioning glance. " You want to talk about it?"
Black kit glanced at her with a small frown before glancing away. Spottedpaw sighted." Look, I know it can be hard to talk about it but…"
" I can't go back." she looked at him confused as the black kit spoke his voice cold and firm.
" Go back to what?..."
" Housefolks or twolegs or whatever you call it." he looked at her, determination in his gaze " I just can't."
Spottedpaw didn't know what to say. She couldn't question his motives, she couldn't ask for an explanation, because she knew he wouldn't give any. Not that she needed them anyway. There was something in those cold eyes that just burned with determination.
Not knowing what to do she simply nodded. Black tom looked at her for a moment before lying back down. Spottedpaw stood there for a split of seconds before slowly leaving the den, still trying to process the recent events. Something just kept nudging her, like there was something she couldn't quite see yet.
" Ah, Spottedpaw." she looked up at Featherwhisker, who padded towards her with calm steady movements " I was just looking for you." he glanced pass her at the den entrance "Did you speak to our little guest recently?"
" He just woke up." she replied, her voice wavering a bit.
Featherwhisker smiled. " That's good. We will need to talk to him soon."
" About what?" Spottedpaw asked, but she already knew the answer.
" Well, since his wounds seemed to have healed properly lately… I guess it's time to decide of his future." he spoke calmly.
Spottedpaw stood there for a moment, thoughtful. The images of black kit's determined gaze and Goosefeather's words flooded her mind. " Featherwhisker, there is something…"
" Featherwhisker." the steady voice cut her short, as Bluefur made her way towards them." Is he awake? It's time to start."
Featherwhisker nodded, and looked at Spottedpaw.
" Would you be so nice and fetch him, Spottedpaw. As you heard, it's time."
Black tom, walked warily yet, surely beside Spottedpaw as the ginger tom jumped on a Highrock and announced:
" Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting." His voice was calm yet firm and clear.
All cats emerged from their dens, and walked towards the place of meeting. Some gave young tom a curious or distrustful glances. He returned them all with cold flat look and turned to face the clan leader, Sunstar. As all cats gathered around, ginger tom begun to speak again.
" As you all may be aware, our clan has been hosting quite an unusual guest for quite some time now." he meowed " Three of our cats had found a kittypet kit on our territory. He had been badly wounded, and the warrior code states no kit should be denied help when in danger." he looked at the black cat. " I would like the young cat to step ahead now."
Black tom obliged, ignoring whispers around him.
" Would you care to state your name, kittypet?" Sunstar questioned. Blue eyed cat looked at him steadily.
" I don't have a name, nor home I would like to speak of. Just as I'm no kittypet. Not anymore." he meowed, his voice sharp yet calm, not showing any emotions. The whispers behind him grew louder. Sunstar gazed at him, the ghost of smile going through his muzzle.
" I see." he meowed " Through the past days, you had lived as one of ours. As I heard you happen to grow quite familiar with our ways of life. So, after discussing it with few of our most trusted cats I shall ask, wouldn't you like to join us?"
The noise of chatter and meows erupted around him, but he could hear none of that, as all his hopes, all his dreams presented themselves to him in this very moment. He felt as if somecat just lifted a giant weight of his shoulders. And then all the noises around him where cut by loud, harsh yowl.
" What?!" young tom turned around only to see the white and grey furred tom- the cat he knew all too well. He felt his fur rising " You can't be serious Sunstar! You can't ask us to accept that- he gave the black tom a furious glance" as a clanmate! That's unheard of!"
" Things like this have already been done, Thistleclaw…" Light gray tom sitting beside Sunstar meowed calmly.
" Not in this clan" Thistleclaw cut harshly " He isn't worthy to be called a clan cat."
" Yeah!" Black tom felt cold fury rising in him as he heard Tigerpaw's voice " He is just some soft, useless kittypet! He even has this thing still on!- he glared at the purple collar, hanging around black cats neck "Beside he is so small and weak. He wouldn't even stand a chance in fight…"
" I survived the fight with you." Sudden silence filled the camp as the black cat spoke his voice cold and sharp. "Apparently you considered me opponent worthy of your time back then." he continued, as Tigerpaw's eyes focused on him with hatred. And he hasn't even started. He got ready for this confrontation long time ago, learning all he could from the cats around him. Fighting but not only that." Or maybe you thought that a small, helpless kittypet kit is finally something weak enough for you to deal with? Quite a warrior material right there aren't you" he sneered. " Well, it seems your father prefers some kittypets than you." he hissed under his breath.
End then Tigerpaw leaped at him with furious yowl. For the moment all the cats in the clan seemed t hold their breaths as the young tabby leapt on the small black tom. And then it all erupted with surprised gasps and meows as the cat hit the ground. Black cat dashed aside in a moment, narrowly dodging the blow. His whole body was now in a fighting stance, ready to jump away anytime with icy eyes fixated on the enemy in front of him.
Tigerpaw shook himself of and looked around, his amber glare meeting the coldness of blue eyes. He let out a loud growl and leapt at him once again. And once again black tom was not surprised by this, briskly jumping away. He knew the tabby's fighting style by now. He watched it enough to pick up overall tactics of the cat. Maybe if the dark brown cat had a time to think through his moves he would not be so easy to see through. But he was not thinking. He was enraged. And that was just what the black tom needed. He was no match for Tigerpaw's strength. But if he couldn't be stronger he could always be faster, more agile. Because there is no point in strength if you can't hit anything. And small targets are harder to hit.
He dodged yet another attack, but stumbled. Tigerpaw noticed that and hit once again, this time striking the target. Whole clan gasped as the blow sent the black cat through camp.
His mind went black for a moment and then he felt cool substance running down his chest. Blood. He looked and saw Tigerpaw smirking at him in triumph. And there was yet another gasp from the crowd as he stood up with the same cold gaze he had before, yet again taking on the fighting stance.
The smirk turned into a snarl, as dark brown tabby glared at the young cat and was getting ready for yet another leap when the furious yowl cut through the air.
" Stop!" Spottedpaw jumped between the cats, her fur bristled and amber eyes shining with worry and anger " Both of you! We need no more pointless violence and blood spilled. Can't you see, it's all nonsense!" she faced Tigerpaw " The outcome of this battle was known from the beginning! What are you trying to prove?! This cat has done nothing to hurt you and yet you still try to punish him for faults that are not his own!" she straighten herself up, her expression calmer yet stern and demanding "We do not choose where we come from but we, and only we alone, can choose the path which we follow, what cats will we become. It's not the blood but a hearth that makes a warrior and…"
" Be quiet and move." Tigerpaw growled moving towards her " You don't know what you are talking about. How can you have any idea about being a warrior while you yourself are too weak for the battle. You are a mere medicine cat, the one who serves weak like him." he glared her in the eyes and tried to walk pass her. She crossed his path again, her paws trembling slightly but it was hard to tell whenever it was from fear or anger. The dark brown tabby snarled. " Move!"
Big amber eyes, usually so full of warmth and energy now glared at him, fire burning in this gaze. "No."
Tigerpaw growled and tried to shove the spotted she-cat away. She let out a yowl of surprise and anger. And then suddenly there was a flash of black fur and sudden shriek of pain cut the air.
No one noticed when the small black tom managed to get this close to the two cats. But all of sudden there were small claws tearing through Tigerpaw's muzzle, as the young tom leapt on a black tabby. The larger tom let out meows of pain, trying to shake him of, but the cat hold strong, his hind legs hooked on tabby's chest and claws dug in his muzzle. He felt a taste of blood in his mouth, and bit harder, ignoring the noises around him. After a moment dark brown tom managed to push the black cat away. He jumped around and sized his opponent. Tabby had claw marks across his muzzle, blood dripping from it. He panted loudly, giving young black cat a death glare. Then young black tom felt himself panting to. He returned the gaze and was getting ready to fight again when another cat jumped between them.
Sunstar looked around, his gaze stern, yet calm. " I think that's enough. As Spottedpaw sad, we need no more blood to be spilled today."
Young black tom looked at the cats around him. Some looked scared, some looked worried and some looked… impressed. Then he met a gaze of amber eyes. Redpaw was helping his sister stand up, as he looked between two previously fighting toms, unsure. Than he gave the black cat a small but reassuring smile, the one that the black cat grew familiar with recently.
And then black kit for the first time took a moment to look at his chest, where the new wounds could be found. And there they were, deep claw marks, deeper than the ones he received before. But they weren't what drawn kits attention. His collar was loosely hanging around his neck, torn to shreds with only small string of material still holding it together. He felt something burn in him.
In this moment he pulled the collar with his claws, finally breaking it. He pinned it to the ground and looked at the clan cats around him giving them all a defiant glare. There was no bell, no collar, no Hausefolk. He was not a kittypet and he was ever going to be one again. He stopped his gaze as it met with Sunstar's who was looking at him calmly. The ginger tom stepped forward towards the young cat and looked at the collar lying in front t of him.
"The newcomer has lost his Twoleg collar in a battle for his honor. StarClan has spoken it's approval- this cat has been released from the hold of his Twoleg owners, and is free to join Thunderclan as an apprentice." He looked at the young tom. The sunlight reflected in his eyes, remind of the beams shining on the ice in Leafbare. There was a strange feeling of coolness to them, unusual for such a young cat.
Black tom gave Sunstar a small nod and looked at the cats around him. His black fur shined in sunlight, his expression cold but proud. This time there were no objections, and growls of distrust directed towards him. He smirked lightly, lifting his head up.
Blueish- gray she cat stepped out of the crowd, making her way towards the two toms. As always, her steps were firm and confident, her expression attentive and thoughtful.
" You fought well." Bluefur said as she stopped beside the black tom. He looked at her and gave her another nod, this time deeper as he looked straight into her eyes.
" Thank you." he meowed and they both known that he didn't just mean the previous notion. It was an unspoken thing, a little secret that didn't need to be mentioned to be understood. She returned the nod.
Sunstar smiled at them and made his way back to the top of the Highrock, yet again facing the entire clan.
" From this day forward, until he has earned his warrior name, this apprentice will be called Gelidpaw, in honor of his sharp icy gaze." his looked down and his gaze met with the blue of the she cat "Bluefur, it is now your time for an apprentice. You will be a mentor to Gelidpaw."
A small smiled appeared on her muzzle as Bluefur turned around to face a young black tom. He looked at her, and felt a jolt of excitement going through him. She was strong, intimidating… brave. And she was going to tach him all that now. He knew about the mentors from Redpaw's and Spottedpaw's stories. The thought that Bluefur would be the one to train him made the tom felt yet another surge of pride go through him.
Sunstar continued to speak. " Bluefur, the whole clan knows your courage, cunning mind and strength in battle. Do your best to pass these qualities on to Gelidpaw."
The two cats looked on each other. Bluefur lowered her head and touched noses with her new appointed apprentice.
As she lifted her head, there was a loud cheer that filled that air. Redpaw's eyes gleamed as he meowed loudly " Gelidpaw! Gelidpaw!"