sorry for the short one today lads. also this will start getting very fast paced.
Firepaw let his lower jaw hang. He couldn't believe what he'd just heard. Tigerclaw being Redtail's killer? It was unimaginable! Tigerclaw may not be the kindest around, but he would never purposefully harm a Clanmate. Would he?
"I know you probably think I'm crazy or just making it up, but I swear that I'm not lying!" Ravenpaw meowed.
"So how did Oakheart die then?" Firepaw asked. "Did Tigerclaw kill him too?"
Ravenpaw nodded. "He was being honest when he talked about that. He kinda had to; Oakheart was the only witness he noticed that had seen him shove Redtail."
Firepaw took a deep breath, trying to process this new information. He hadn't believed Ravenpaw at first, thinking he might've just had a bad angle and had seen something that hadn't actually happened, but he felt inclined to trust him for some reason. It was probably the pure fear and genuineness in Ravenpaw's wide eyes.
"What do we do?" Firepaw murmured. "Bluestar wouldn't believe us; we're just apprentices. She'd brush us off."
"I don't know, but I know that I can't be around him for much longer," Ravenpaw mewed. "He's gonna end up killing me!"
"Why would he do that?" Firepaw asked. "Did he see you?"
"I think he did after he and Lionheart finished chasing away the RiverClanners," Ravenpaw admitted. "He stared straight at the shrub I was hiding in, and he bared his teeth. Right after he looked away was when I fled and ran into camp."
"Maybe you could ask Bluestar if you could do your assessment early?" Firepaw offered.
Ravenpaw shook his dark head. "Too young and inexperienced. She'd just tell me to wait."
Firepaw sighed, "I don't know then. I want to help, but I don't know how I would."
"Thanks for trying," Ravenpaw mewed sadly. "I'll see Spottedleaf by myself. Just tell them whatever you said before."
Ravenpaw began walking again, this time without the fake limp. His head was hung low, and his tail dragged on the ground. Firepaw could sense how genuinely terrified his friend was of Tigerclaw, and how much he believed what he saw. I need to do something, he decided. But what?
When Firepaw returned to the hollow, he just meowed, "Spottedleaf asked to keep him."
"Nothing else was expected," Lionheart told him. "Stormpaw had only practiced the move once or twice before, so we worked with him on it a little. Perhaps you'd like to go up against him? You'll learn how to dodge the counter move."
Firepaw nodded, faking enthusiasm. When he looked at Tigerclaw, bile rose in his throat. He looked back on Redtail's horribly crushed, bloody corpse that wore a shocked expression. Was he surprised because of the boulders, or because he knew that Tigerclaw had pushed him?
"Well, let's get going," the tom himself ordered.
Firepaw got into a crouch, while Stormpaw playfully growled and bristled. "Come at me, tiny kittypet!"
Firepaw lashed his tail back and forth. "Watch who you're calling a kittypet, kittypet!"
Firepaw launched with his hind legs and landed square on Stormpaw's back. The ginger tabby clung on with both hind feet's claws, as well as a forepaw's. He bit the back of his neck and struck his flanks with the free paw. He quickly found himself having to hold on with all four sets of claws, however, when Stormpaw flipped over and began rolling on his back.
Firepaw desperately let go and tried getting up, coughing and closing his eyes to avoid the flying sand. He was squashed underneath the other tom's weight, unable to get out. Was this the counter that the two warriors had mentioned? If so, he could see why he needed to avoid it: this was a clear way to ruin an apprentice's chance at inflicting damage.
Stormpaw got up rather quickly and looked proudly down at Firepaw. Both toms' coats were a mess, fur sticking up, sand caught in between hairs. "Submit to me, puny apprentice!" Stormpaw ordered, lifting his chin.
"Enough, Stormpaw!" Tigerclaw growled. "No messing around. Firepaw, get up!"
Firepaw did so, and he shook his pelt free of sand. "How do I dodge that?" he asked.
"Well, you just let go and jump off right when you notice your opponent's back about to hit the ground," Lionheart replied. "Let's try again. Firepaw, try dodging and continuing the attack. You can strike your enemy's stomach while they try getting to their paws."
The rest of the lesson went… fine, Firepaw supposed. Perfectly fine, average, everything. It was a Gathering night, but he didn't get to go - obvious enough. The rest of the moon went by without anything special happening. All he could recall was finally catching a mouse. He'd never been prouder of himself.
One evening, Firepaw and Stormpaw were sharing tongues after a meal when Bluestar jumped onto Highrock and called a meeting. "Oh, the ceremony!" Stormpaw remembered.
"For Goldenflower's kits?" Firepaw guessed.
"Probably," Stormpaw nodded. "They're the only ones of age. Come on, let's join the crowd. Let's see how Clanborn cats are made apprentices." He flashed a grin and ran towards the gathering cats.
Firepaw followed excitedly. They sat next to Ravenpaw, who gave them a glance before looking back to their leader. The ginger tom watched as Goldenflower rapidly finished grooming one of the kits while Bluestar spoke.
"Everyone, this is a wonderful day for ThunderClan," Bluestar meowed. "Swiftkit and Lynxkit have reached the age of six moons, and so they both shall join our ranks as apprentices. You two, step forward."
Lynxkit, her flame lynx point fur well-groomed, ran up. Swiftkit, a mottled black-and-white tom, had to be encouraged with a nudge by Goldenflower to follow. Firepaw felt a wave of sympathy; the shy kit reminded him so much of Ravenpaw.
"Swiftkit, from this day forward you shall be known as Swiftpaw," Bluestar announced. "Longtail will mentor you. May he pass his swiftness and bravery onto you."
Longtail padded up to Swiftpaw. "Don't be afraid," he soothed quietly. "Being an apprentice will be fun! I'll make sure of it."
Firepaw felt a twinge of jealousy and resentment; of course Longtail would be kind to a Clanborn apprentice and not a former kittypet. Swiftpaw looked silently comforted, though, which calmed the tom. At least it had helped. Lynxkit looked up, excited to hear who her mentor would be.
"Lynxkit, from this day forward you shall be known as Lynxpaw," Bluestar went on. "You'll be mentored by Cherrysong. I look forward to seeing you inherit her kindness and energy."
The strangest thing happened. It was as if most of the crowd were holding their breath. Firepaw saw Lionheart frown sadly, and Mousefur scowled. Brindleface seemed as if she wanted to cringe. Tears came to Rosetail's eyes. Cherrysong didn't seem to notice any of these reactions as she approached her apprentice.
Both pairs of mentors and apprentices touched noses, and the crowd began cheering their names enthusiastically. Whatever had come over them had quickly left, which made Firepaw more confused than before.
The meeting was dismissed moments later. Longtail and Cherrysong led their new apprentices out of camp, side by side. Firepaw watched them before turning to Ravenpaw. Maybe his Clanborn friend would know?
"What came over the Clan when Cherrysong was announced as a mentor?" Firepaw asked.
"You noticed too?" Ravenpaw mewed. "I have no idea. Stormpaw?"
"I'm just as confused," Stormpaw sighed. "Maybe Lionheart knows. I'll ask him."
"I'll come too," Ravenpaw meowed. Both black-and-white cats approached the deputy.
Firepaw decided to go another place: the medicine den. He'd established a friendship with Spottedleaf, so surely she'd tell him if there was something. He called for her when he entered. She emerged from her herb store.
"What is it?" Spottedleaf asked, a sharp anger lining her meow. "I'm busy."
"Did you see how everyone reacted weirdly to Cherrysong becoming a mentor?" Firepaw meowed. "I was just wondering if… if you knew why."
Spottedleaf looked at him for a very long time, her anger gradually melting. "I do. It happened a long time ago, and not even Cherrysong herself knows. You must keep this a secret."
"I promise." Firepaw could only wonder what required such secrecy. How bad could it be?
After hearing the answer, he understood.