Mapleshade desperately tried twitching every body part she could, trying to gather her strength. She needed to get a grip now! Wake-up you stupid furball! She flexed her long claws, attempting to get a feel for her still unknown surroundings. This moss was bedding, a part of a nest. She hadn't slept on one this comfortable for what felt like an entirety. It was kind of warm in here, if not humid. Like the nursery. Had all those horrible events been nothing but a truly demonic nightmare? But then the awful memories came crashing in again; having everyone turn on her in a heartbeat, betrayed and outcasted from everything she'd known and loved. Then having her own mate and son betray her and having to watch her daughter being slowly corrupted by that filthy kittypet. At least she still had one kit loyal to her every whim.
But then she snapped out of it, astonished at her own stupidity. If she wasn't in the Thunderclan nursery like she'd originally bleakly hoped for, then where was she? She had collapsed. She had been surrounded by trees. They were Tall trees. Pines. Shadowclan- Bloomheart! That fox had taken advantage of her blind hatred as easy as a spider catching a fly in its tangling web. Mapleshade had been swarmed by the patrol like a helpless piece of prey.
However, a low rumble finally brought her from her sleep. Four grown cats surrounded her, sets of razor fangs on display, muscles bulging under their scruffy pelts and claws flexing. Their teeth chattered as if they were staring at fluttering bird, barely straining themselves from launching themselves at her. It looked as if they wanted to consume her alive like rabid badgers. Unlike the other four, a skinny black tom lay calmly crunched within his little shelter of living shields, a mocking grin on his face. "It's about time you woke up.", he mewed.
Insanity, the impulses of survival surged through her, throwing herself from her welcomed nest, eager to fight for her life. But as soon as her spine become straight, her entire body caved in on itself, betraying her, all her crimes crashing in. Everything seemed to happen at once, things she'd never experienced before or even knew where possible: Exploding flashes of light consumed every corner of her vision, a heavy force strained her heart as if someone was trying to crash it, vomit boiled from the bottom of her raw throat and every drop of blood rushed to her head like fast-flowing rivers. Her legs quickly gave in under her own weight, making her topple over as easy as a baby tree in an unforgiving storm.
Luckily, the soft layer of moss under her took most of the pain away, as she landed awkwardly on the cold floor of the narrow cave, the breath was taken out of her. As she lay, trying to get hold of herself without much success, she heard the gentle patter of paws against stone as Sloefur cautiously approached, "Yeah...I wouldn't recommend that.", he coldly joked. Her nostrils strained as his rancid Shadowclan scent hung over her like smog. Mapleshade flinched as his narrow muzzle began to ruffle through her thick pelt, checking the wounds that covered her entire body. Her pelt was clumpy and sticky, still drenched in dried blood and herb mash, only held together by thin silk. She wanted to force the words out, don't touch me, but her aching throat refused to form the words, only her exhausted gasps coming out.
"Why have you brought me here?", she finally to demand weakly, in a rasping and cracking voice.
Sloefur's muzzle went away from the orange ocean of her fur, Mapleshade imagined him blinking at her, "Believe me, I have no idea. If I'd found you, I'd left you to die like the piece of trash you are.", he growled angrily. Fighting her own body, she twisted until she could see Sloefur, sitting over her, "Trash?!", she spat at his paws, The Warriors lingering around the gloomy den, slowly crept closer like thin shadows. No words were needed, their faces said it all. You lay a claw on our Medicine cat and we tear you to screeds without mercy. Slowly Sloefur sunk into her face immediately until they were touching noses, Mapleshade questioning if he was really a gentle Medicine cat, "Yes, trash, Mapleshade. We know what's you're done, killed Ravenwing and just added Dawnfeather to the list. Oh and not forgetting you almost murdered your mate in front of your kits!", he hissed in her face like a snake spitting venom, his back fur spiked, getting himself overworked.
One of his clanmates, a tabby tom named Prickleleaf, approached the Medicine cat, rapping his spiky tail over his shoulders, "Sloefur, is Mapleshade in a stable condition?". He just swallowed, "As long as she doesn't make any sudden movements, the herbs should take effect." he admitted. Prickleleaf slowly nodded, "Then we handle things from here, it's best if you were somewhere else.". Like a gullible kit being sent away by a grumpy elder, Sloefur hurriedly staggered out the cave, his eyes blazing with hatred on his way out, his pelt turning a pale grey as the sunlight swept over him. Understanding crept into Mapleshade, knowing that Starclan's cruel omens had twisted Sloefur's fate, forcing him into the forever lonely role of a Medicine cat. Because of that, the only he could do was pretend he had a family, projecting his pathetic need to be a father onto Ravenwing. To him, Mapleshade might as well of kill his son. But despite her understanding his pain, she didn't pity it, she'd lost than any of those spoiled Clan brats.
Now she was left alone with four very angry looking warriors, barely holding themselves back from tearing her apart. Resultantly, Pricklenose raised his tail, signalling for them to keep their distance. Each of them pressed themselves against the far walls, motionless like hawks, never letting their prey out of their sight. Mapleshade shuffled in her nest nervously, peering out into the Shadowclan camp as fellow clanmates went about their business, purring, gossiping and sharing tongues. It sickened her. Those were meant to be the most powerful and feared wild cats around but here they were, acting like happy-go-lucky kits. Where was the discipline, the control? It baffled her on how the Clans were even able to function, let alone survive. You wouldn't catch Larchkit behaving like that.
Speaking of Larchkit, in the far distance, near the base of the tall standing boulder, her son waddled along behind the Shadowclan leader, Snakestar of all cats, like a duckling struggling to keep after it's a mother. Scraps on moss-tangled around her claws as she kneaded the nest, stressed. What had the Shadowclan scum been doing with her son? A variety of reactions came from the Clan cats as they passed the dark brown kit, some muttered harsh words to their friends, others gave him cold glares while other pretended he was no more than thin air. Seeing they were about to enter the cave, Mapleshade sucked in as much frosty air as possible, trying to fill her lungs, gathering her strength. With a slight hesitation, she heaved her into a sitting position, fighting her body that felt like the weight of a mountain. She tried her best to ignore the blood rushing to her ears, causing an annoying ringing, her head arching.
Two of the bodyguards separated to let Snakestar and Larchkit through into the shelter of the Medicine Den. Mapleshade expected Larchkit to throw himself into her paws, relieved to his mother was alright. However, confusion and irritation washed over her when Larchkit stayed firmly in place, his tail and head drooping. His amber eyes were clouded over with unreadable emotions as if he did the worst crime imaginable. The mother and son stared at each other blankly for eerily long, like time itself was losing the motivation to tick on. It was Snakestar who broke the silence, clearly not happy to see her, "You should extremely grateful my deputy to pity your kit, Mapleshade. He's the only the reason you're alive right now.".
Mapleshade was tempted to make a rude remark, but seeing the aggression in the warriors' faces and just wanting to leave as soon as possible, Mapleshade just decided to play it polite for now. She bowed her head with fake respect, "Thank you, for your hostility. But I'm sure I and my son have caused you enough trouble for one day. So we'll get out of your way and leave immediately.". Snakestar's throat tumbled in a chuckle, his unturned lips edging up into a sad smile. Her ears strained against her head and tail bushed up, feeling a stab of annoyance. Why was he looking at her like that? Like some dedicated elder slowly losing the sharpness of their mind. She didn't need his useless sympathy. "You'll be the only one leaving, Mapleshade.", he calmly informed her, puffing up his chest and raising his chin high. A cold numbness swept over her, as if a harsh leaf-bare wind that tunnelled into her mind, freezing it. "What?", she gasped, trying to take a step forward, but just then, the heaviness and pain quickly set in, forcing her to retreat. Being bond to the tight green circle of her nest. She hated this, this hopeless feeling of helplessness, knowing she could tear apart on the spot if she was just whisker out of place. She was stronger than this.
"From everything I've heard, it's clear that you're not fit to raise a kit. So he'll be staying with us.", Snakestar huffed, his pale eyes staring right at her as sharp as a thorn. She couldn't question the words that were coming out of his twisted mouth for a heartbeat. He's was a Shadowclan cat and she was a Thunderclan exile, they shouldn't care less about what the other did. "How I raise my children is my business and I mine alone.", she informed him, straining her tail so it wouldn't lash from side to side, "You have no right to get involved, Clan cat. I am his mother, if anyone going to raise him, it'll be me. So Both of us will be leaving.".
The tips of his fangs were bared, clearly not buying her argument, "Even if your two other kits ran away from you because you tried to kill their father?".
It felt like a massive oak tree had crushed her. How could he possibly know that? The muscles around her thin bones tightened, the cracks in her calm persona slowly forming, her true colours of deep reds leaking through, struggling not to lash out and seal her fate. The place her fight with Appledusk happened was far beyond the realms of the Clans cats. There was no reason a Clan cat should've of witnessed it. The only cats who would reasonably know about it...
Her broad head swung round directly to her son, "Larchkit, how much have you told them?", she demanded, hissing. Larchkit flinched back, Snakestar instantly in front of him, protecting him, "He's told us enough-".
But Mapleshade interrupted him, her patience being taken to its limits, "Shut up! Larchkit is going to answer this, no one else.".
Still refusing to meet her fierce gaze, Larchkit stared down at the cold floor instead, "I'm sorry, I just couldn't hold in anymore.", he mumbled quietly. Who was the cowardly mangy scrap in front of her, who wouldn't even meet her gaze? This wasn't the Larchkit she'd tirelessly trained day and night for the past moon. The son she knew was so much stronger and confidence than this. He'd been the only one of his littermates wise enough to stay loyal to her. He was dedicated enough to take the harsh yet necessarily journey to become the grand warriors they'd always be destined to be. But this thing was just puny mouse in a cat's skin. Some miserable excuse for a warrior he was. Angrily, she faced Snakestar, "What have you done to my son?! You forced him to tell you-".
Before she could even utter the full sentence, Larchkit was on his paws, a sudden spark on anger in him like her own bursts of rages, shoving past Snakestar's leg until he only stood a rabbit hop away from her resting place, "They didn't force me to do anything, I choose to tell them. I'm not going to stay silent anymore, Mother.". Her eyes widen to the size of rounded pebbles, shocked that this kit, discipline embedded into his very being, would even think would speak out against her, let alone actually do it. He carried on, "I hate the way we live now, just walking and training, walking and training- I haven't eaten in two days but you don't care! We don't even sleep in the same nest anymore.", he growled, letting all the pain that been building in him for the past moon flood out like a gushing waterfall.
"You have learnt nothing!", she exclaimed, jabbing hard him in the chest, "All this is necessary. Do you want to be weak? Don't you want to average your sister after Bloomheart almost killed her?". Staggering back from the blow, he grinding his claws into rock, stubbornly unmoving,
"But she's already averaged, isn't she? You killed Bloomheart's mate, isn't that enough?". She couldn't help but burst into a fit of amused purring, not caring anymore if he hurt his feelings. This child's skull was thicker than a boulder! Clearly, some tough guidance was needed to stop him from wavering off the right path.
"It'll never enough until he's dead himself.", she stated, shaking her head disappointed. For a long time, Larchkit didn't speak, a ripple of shame and confusion sweeping through his pelt like waves on a rocky shore. Outside Mapelshade just gave him a cold expression, but on the inside, she was grinning to herself. That's right you little worm, finally, you understand, I'm the mother and you're just the silly little kit. You're incapable of making any good decisions.
Yet, Larchkit still refused to back down, sending another wave of questions at her, "I don't understand. You were constantly going on about joining Shadowclan or Windclan and it's actually happening, your dreams coming reality. One of your kits will be raised in the Clans, shouldn't you be happy?".
Great Starclan, she never realized how naive he truly was, "That was from a time where I was foolish and blind. But after being exiled, I finally saw what the Clans truly were.", she explained. The Shadowclan cats were starting to get restless and muttered between themselves, even the calm Snakestar watched her through narrowed eyes. What she was about to say was going to be offensive but she didn't care, they needed to hear this and just maybe their kit-like illusions could finally be broke, "The other Clan cats have lost sight on what it truly means to be a warrior. They're brought down by the burden of borders and caring for weaklings, but we're free from that. Unlike others, we can actually reach our full potential and protect them from outside threats before they even act.", her speech echoing in the small chamber, her head held, imagining the stone slab ceiling melted away, to be replaced by the brightly lit night sky, thousands of Starclan warrior gazing proudly down at her. "She's really lost it.", one of the snake-hearts whiskered behind her, foolishly thinking it was pulling on deaf ears. Aggressively, She whipped around, her back arched, "Who said that?!", she yelled, facing two young rebellious warriors, barely more than apprentices.
Sharp claws edged out, strapping against the stone, probably trying to get feel for when they scrapped against her skull instead. She bared her fangs, eager for the chance to tear their fur off, even if it meant death. Surprisingly, Snakestar flicked his overly long tail, causing to the bodyguards to sneak back into their own little dark corners. "Don't ruin this for Larchkit, Mapleshade.", he growled, "We can give him a life that you'll never be able to.". Mapleshade opened her mouth to protest, however, Larchkit was determined that his voice would be heard in the endless waves of arguments being thrown around, "No!", he snapped at her like a bad tempted fox, "I'm not going to spend the rest of my life being dragged along with your killing spree. I actually have the chance to grow up having a normal life and you'd be darn right to think I'll take it!". Mapleshade was utterly speechless. With a sigh, he turned his back on her, padding away to the light-filled entrance, "My decision already made up.", he muttered, "I'm joining Shadowclan.". Hopelessly, Mapleshade outstretched a paw, somehow expecting to reach out to him but it was already too late, he'd stepped into a dim green clearing, which would soon become his new home.
Her heart was now in her throat, wanting to just vomit the disgusting and worthless lump of muscle out. She shriveled into herself like a rotting berry, her organs twisting around themselves like a patch of thorns. In fact, her whole insides felt like they had been replaced by claws, tearing at her skin shell, a wild beast desperate to become released. Hanging her head so low, the tip of her muzzle almost touched the ground, she began chucking to herself, crazed. Of course, this would happen. What was she expecting? She shouldn't have been the slightest bit surprised. If Patchkit and Petalkit would betray her, what made Larchkit any different? Everyone and everything imaginable was now against her, even the world itself. The final lesson exile had taught her, the trust of anything, even your own kin, would only lead to your demise. Would Tulipfur do the same thing if she was standing here right now, instead of stuffed inside the elder's den?
Tearing apart the moss with her claw as if it was a green pelt of another victim, with one final great effort, she forced down the raging storm of nightmares, that was slowly leaking into the voice in her head. She'd wanted this. She'd constantly told Larchkit and his siblings that if they were had the chance to return to their rightful among the clans, take it, no matter who they abandoned. So if she was the one that had caused this, why did she still so betrayed? As her mind grew blank as the frost of confusion formed over it, she felted a muzzle jabbing at her jabbed ribs, sticking out of an extremely thin flank. "Move!", Pricklenose commanded, now headbutting her hard in the back, taking the air out of her, in an effect to get her out of the nest. Before she could do anything, she was forced to stagger to the entrance, the four warriors swarming around her as quickly as flies to find a corpse, rounding her up as their prisoner. New ripples of pain rushed through her body like her uneven heartbeat, still failing to properly pump the blood flow around her frail body, gathering in her head and making her ears ring as if a lion was roaring directly into them.
As they exited the swirling darkness of the cave, her sore eyes strained against the fierce sunlight as the glowing eyeball sent a sharp beam of light at her, briefly blinding her. Not holding back despite her being injured, the Shadowclan patrol marched her into the clearing, almost proud of themselves. Basically parading her around for everyone to catch a glimpse of their humiliated captive, for them just to marvel at Shadowclan's false victory. A large number of cats gathered around, male and female, young and old, all stared at her through the cracks of the fleshly wall tightly wrapped around her, boxing her inside. No matter when she looked and did, she couldn't escape the mocking faces or harsh unforgiving insults. Eventually, she forced her down in shame, just vaguely hoping for this nightmare to be over. A cold emptiness for the only thing she felt in that moment, too exhausted to feel any burning fury or painful sorrow. Just let me leave, she silently begged, wanting to whale it out on the top of her fragile lungs.
Abruptly, Snakestar weaved his way through his warriors, until he stood squarely at her. As the patrol shuffled round to let their leader though, she caught a glimpse of Larchkit, crouched near the base of some jagged stones like teeth, that reminded her of the ones at high stones. Blanky, he stared into the large empty void of the sky, not even acknowledging her existence, causing another stab of emotional pain. Slowly, Mapleshade turns her head to Snakestar, staring each other down, "You have the finest kit in the forest.", She declared proudly, "You have massive reasonability on your paws, don't to muck it up. You'd better train him well.".
He dipped his head like a swan's long neck disappearing under the surface of a calm lake, "I intend to.", he assured her, "He'll be trained to by the same high standards as any of our warriors.". Looking at him hard, she tried scanning for any tint of decision, any sign that she was lying to her, just to get her out the way. Though, all she found was an honest cat. She swallowed, her throat going dry, "Good.", she mewed quietly, her lip twitching upwards, "Because I'll be watching.", she warned him, her tail gently swaging like a hanging brunch in the wind.
Yet, Snakestar just shook his head, "No, you won't.", he informed her, "My warriors have my permission to kill you if you step foot over our borders again. This is will be the last time you see Larchkit, so say your goodbyes and leave.". The last time? The words rang meanless in her head, like the echoes in a cave, not able to grasp the harsh reality being laid before her. She'd never see him, the kit she'd had to drag around in her stomach for two moons. The kit she'd been exiled for. And the kit she killed to protect and relentlessly trained to take on the burden on becoming a killer himself. Snakestar waved his skinny tail, making Larchkit: lift his head lazily from his paws, reluctantly shuffling till he stood and wandered over.
"Make sure you train like you've trained before.", she told her last loyal kit, "I want a son I can be proud of.". Larchkit didn't even bother to look her in the eye as they spent their last final moments together as mother and son, "I will.", Larchkit muttered quietly. Why was he making this so difficult? She leaned forward, until her jaw was up against his ear, "If you feel like they're letting you slip into weakness, even slightly, you come back to me immediately.", she whispered to in a harsh tone, so quiet that none of the foxhearts around them gave the subtlest of reactions, "Understand?". A study pressed against her face, as Larchkit shooed her away, giving himself space. He half-heartedly shrugged, "Sure...", he muttered as if he didn't care in the slightest. The air inside her lungs turned to ice, making it impossible to breathe for a heartbeat. If he wasn't going to ever see her again, couldn't he at least be honest? He'd have nothing to lose by this point.
Neither of them moved. Finally, with glazed over eyes, Larchkit span on his heel, hurriedly disappearing into the safety of the crowd, his traditional Thunderclan and rogue scent was completely overpowered by the piney scent of Shadowclan scent, washing it away. If he mingled among them for too long, he could lose his unique identity forever, to be replaced the foul-smelling Shadowclan scent, no better than foxbung. "Please come back to me.", she muttered under her breath but no one heard.
With Larchkit out the way, there was no reason for Shadowclan to keep this dangerous foxheart within their walls, especially with kits and elders to protect. So slowly, the Shadowclan cat grew impatient, beginning to voice their demands, "Make her leave already!", Warmpetal howled like a wolf, from the far side of camp, near the Apprentice's den. She had her fluffy pale tail wrapped around a tiny cat, no more than a kit, her teeth gleaming with a healthy white and prepared to use them. A speckled she-cat in the front lines of the circle yowled out her agreement, "Before she kills our kits!". Mapleshade's almost red eyes flickered towards the Nursery, seeing small heads popping out of the entrance, their curious noses, and ears twitching like baby rabbits, before being rounded up by paranoid Queens, quickly shoving them back into the safety of their den. Envy grew in her, seeing Queens once like herself, protecting ones so young.
After hearing their two clanmates, more began to join in, Elders' croaky voices whaled out and apprentice's high pitched voice squealing like mouses. Many phrases were thrown around until eventually, the crowd settled one, they began to chant in unison, despite so many different voices, it sounded like the same creature, it was almost captivating, "Get her out, Get her out, Get her out-", they continued, slowly closing in all around her, in all directions, like a swirling vortex of shadows. Snakestar, who had now bounded up to sit on his rightful place on the high stone, watched calmly from above, as the chaos unfounded be. Yet he wasn't the one to give the final order, instead, it was his deputy, a massive black she-cat, nodding her large head towards the entrance and Mapleshade's permanent separation from her last child, "Pricklenose, you and your patrol, escort this rogue off our territory. And if necessary, end her.".
With those final words, the patrol tightened their grip of their prisoner, feeling like they were trying to crush her and slowly started dragged forward, into the gloomy green tunnel, into the strange lands that lay beyond.
Larchkit had been staring at the same grains of sands for what felt like entity, trying to forget his mother's terror-filled face as she violently dragged away, possibly for the last time if she snapped and lost her temper with the patrol. He deeply hoped that wouldn't be the case. Though, honestly, he wouldn't have been surprised if the patrol come back without a scratch on them and their pelt were clean of her dark blood. But he couldn't remain, withered up in a corner all day, pretending he was somewhere else. Before long, Snakestar's loud booming voice, forced him from his little corner, "Larchkit step forward please.", he instructed the young tom. Keeping himself close to the floor as if he was hunting, he reluctantly entered the centre of the clearing, it's sides paced with huge numbers of Shadowclan cats, dozens of them. How could so many cats fit into such a tight space? It felt like he was shrunken down and had fallen into a sandy fit full of raging fiery red ants. As he settled down at the foot of a pile of boulders, directly below the mighty leader, he flattened his ears, trying to block out the questioning whispers coming around like gathering storm clouds.
The once-massive clearing, somehow felt so much tinier. Despite the dull plants and cat's placements being set in stone, they still seemed to melt inwards, towards him, closing and trapping him within. Claustrophobia overpowering his sense beyond loyal and reason. He swallowed, he needed to get a grip. Barely noticing that Snakestar started to address his Clan, standing tall, "Earlier today, Silknose and her patrol found Mapleshade collapsed on our borders after being attacked by Thunderclan, Larchkit with her.", he explained, "Originally, we were going to send them on their way again but after hearing Larchkit's story, it's clear he's not safe being raised by a Foxheart. His littermates have already run away from her after she tried to kill their father, Appledusk, right in front of them.".
Though Snakestar's speech rang hollow in Larchkit's head, not being able to burrow and make an impact. A mix of horrid gasps, angered growls and cold murmurs, rippled through the Clan, Snakestar waiting patiently for silence to settle in again. He carried on, "I know you all must have mixed feelings about letting a half-clan kit join our ranks but I assure you, it will not be a sign of weakness but instead, a sign of strength!", he proclaimed, serval yowled their approval while others were left to be convinced, "It shows we're not scared to take on vulnerable kits just because of the possible threats. It shows we have a hostility that the other fox-hearted Clans don't. We uphold the Warrior Code in a time where more and more of our Clan brethren are slipping from their lives driven by honour into the chaotic lives of rogues.". Just really got the Clan going, their leader enforcing every Clan's belief of them being the superior from those around them. Building up his courage, he sat up straight, searching through the endless rows of strange faces. Those were going to be his Clanmates, he was going to be confined with them for the rest of his life, he couldn't be scared of them. He'd prove to them ten times over why he was destined to be the finest warrior in the Clan's history. Letting him in, won't be a mistake for them, it would be a miracle.
Puffing up his chest proudly as directly face his new leader as Snakestar's attention finally turned to him. "Larchkit, you wish to join our Clan as an apprentice. Do you promise to upon the Warrior Code and put your loyalty to Shadowclan overall?". But then all that confidence faded away as quickly as it came, with Snakestar's pale brown coat suddenly looking much darker, with blazing ambers to replace his one good olive green one. Shadowclan and Thunderclan's scent suddenly indistinguishable. The towering pines creating seas of a canopy above, now much shorter and stumpier, Oak trees. His heartbeat quicken, pounding in his chest so hard, it rattled his bones. He shook his head desperately trying to rid his mind of the vivid memories flashing in his mind. No, that was a different time and place. This isn't the same, he's being welcomed into a Clan, not outcasted from one. His stomach curled his own birth Clan, pining for his old home. Meanwhile, the time and awkward silence began to drag on, the whole of Shadowclan staring at him. Hurried, he snapped out of it, "I-I do.", he remarked, forcing out every unnatural word.
Snakestar gazed down at him, a tint of doubt. Larchkit flinched. He wasn't rethinking his decision, was he? Luckily, he nodded but concerningly he hesitated while doing it. Casually, he continued to resight the famous words, as if he said it over a million times, almost sounding bored of it, "Now, by the power invested in me by Starclan, I, Snakestar, leader of Shadowclan, grant you, your new name. From now on, until you have earned your warrior name, you'll be known as Larchpaw. Train hard and fight well. You're greatly privileged to be trained within the greatest of all the Clans.", he boosted, feeding Shadowclan's over-bloated ego, even more, the background being filled cheering once again.
Out of nowhere, Snakestar abruptly twisted on his spot on the towering boulder, for some reason now facing his deputy, who sat just a few rabbit-lengths below him. "Silknose.", he acknowledged, nodding down to her respectful, her nodding back in response, "It's your hostility that's allowed Larchpaw to escape the clutches of his mother and it's only fair, that you be the one to help Larchpaw escape his rogue life and grow into a true warrior. I have no doubt, you'll train him with the same tenacity as you did Splateheart and Grazepaw.".
To this, there was a massive outburst, racketing the trees themselves. Some elder in the back even yowled, "Our deputy deserves better than a half-clan cat!", his voice cracking violently as if he hadn't used it so loudly in moons. Larchpaw buried his head into his chest, trying to hide, distorted his very presence had caused such an uproar. To Larchpaw's shock, Snakestar just remained sitting with relaxed shoulders, lashing a tongue over a paw and wiping it over his twisted face, not giving a foxbung. His deputy displayed a similar attitude, completely ignoring her clanmates that appeared to be one the verge of rioting, "I will.", she mewed, stumblings down the steep rock face to greet Larchpaw. Leniently, she strolled up to her new apprentice without a care in the world, placing her large wet black nose onto his pink mouse-like one. "Hello, furball.", she blinked at him, a sly grin on her face.
"Hello...", Larchpaw could only mumble back, gulping.
Crashing splashes caused Patchkit to sleepily raise his head from the smooth sun-heated stone and gazed to the wide River stretching out before him, steep rocky shores at its edges. Large barrels of water were set spraying high into the air as his father burst from the water's surface, wildly flailing, too much bubbling foam to get a clear view on what in the name of Starclan he was wrestling with. If Patchkit didn't know any better, he assumed he was fighting with an invisible cat. Just then, he caught a flash of shimmering pale brown scales. Before, he could observe it closer, Appledusk was dragged back down into the torrents of the fast-flowing river, his cream pelt disappearing into the murk. Blinking, Patchkit settled his head back into paws, trying to ignore the overly dramatic sense just happening a few fox-lengths away. Honestly, it was a shame they hadn't figured out this sooner, Riverclan hogged the manger rivers and streams of the area. But their territory couldn't go on forever, so: simply go upstream on one of the good fishing rivers until they weren't on Riverclan territory anymore and you got all the benefits from it and lack the pesty patrols, that use to constantly bug them. Though, admittedly the gorge river this far up north had rather stronger and possibly dangerous currents but it was better than nothing.
The warm sunhigh light turned the kit's pelt into a tint of gold, a purr rumbling in his throat. Not overly excited about Appledusk catching another fish for their meal for the day. Not like he disliked their salty taste, they definitely had their charm, but it did wear on you after awhile, when it literally all you had, day after day. Maybe he was being a little ungrateful, considering cats were starving at this time, at the peak of leaf-bare. Yet, Patchkit couldn't define to himself, he'd do anything to just get a juicy bite of the classic mouse again. Or vole, bit scrawny, but their meat was especially tender. Slightly annoyed now that Appledusk had refused to learn to hunt on land from Mother before everything went downhill. His whiskers twitched. Well, he had just as much Thunderclan blood flowing through his veins as he did Riverclan, he was sure he could teach himself, eventually.
Annoyingly, a sudden jet of water was sent toward him as Appledusk entered the swallows, heavy drops drenched him as he peacefully lay there. Patchkit squeaked as his nice dry fur was washed over with muddy water coming down like rain, leaping to his paws.
"Dad!", Patchkit squeaked, quickly shaking himself down as Appledusk trudged through the last of the water, a large dull pike locked in his jaws, violently flapping, still alive. He was absolutely soaked to the bone, leaving a watery trail behind him as he climbed onto the dry land. After living with his father so long, Patchkit's questions about why Riverclan cats never seemed to go hungry could finally be answered. Unlike the others Clans' prey, fish still somehow infested the rivers like water rats, even in leafbare. No wonder Riverclan cats were so plump all the time. Rapidly he swung his head, chucking the struggling fish towards the base of Patchkit's favourite sunbathing rock. The pike made one final effort to escape, gathering it strength, it lunged towards the rushing river's edge. However, Appledusk's paw swept in like a hawk, effortlessly pinning it in place, not even needing to flexing his claws. It was over by it truly began, Appledusk quickly finished it off, with a classic killing bite, breaking its neck with a sharp snap.
The cream loner nodded up towards his son, "Care for some swimming lesson, Patchkit? I do.", he mewed, turning towards the river again, the waves gently lapping at his paws, submerging them. Flicking his long tail, Appledusk must of expected his son to be at his side in an instant like a brainless two-leg dog. He flicked his tail again, yet Patchkit still didn't move a mouse-length, quite comfortable where he was. Twisting on his heel, he faced Patchkit laying above him, tail swishing irritated, "Come on, Swimming lessons!", he insisted, "Who doesn't like those?". Continuing to lay there, Patchkit shrugged, "Threes thirds of the whole Clans.", he muttered, wanting to be smart with some sarcasm for once without Petalkit around.
The tip of Appledusk's tail twitching, annoyed that he was being made fun of by a kit, "Obviously those squirrels can't swim for the life of them, but us Riverclan cats can and very well in fact." he boasted proudly, "And as a half Riverclan cat yourself, it should be a breeze for you. So let's go!", plunging into the water again with a large splash. "I almost drowned in a River you know!", he reminded the mousebrained Appledusk. However, he just continued to paddle around the swallows with the grace of a flailing fish and with the speed of a bobbing duck, "Near-death experiences are what make it fun.", he mewed, "I almost drowned as an apprentice, twice.".
Groaning, Patchkit flipped on his side, trying to ignore him, the crisp wind ruffling his fur. "Hey, Patchkit!", Appledusk's fake voice sounded with alarm, "What's that?!". Appledusk was floating in the water, tail pointing to some vague direction in the far distance. Patchkit stared at him, unimpressed. Did he really think he was that stupid? "I'm not going to fall for that twice in a row.", he mewed while letting a gaping yawn, his mouth hanging open. Grumbling to himself, Appledusk dipped his head under the water, trying to cool off his burning ego after being wrong, again. "That worked so well before.", he mumbled. "I was 4 moons at the time.", Patchkit countered, sounding rather bored, wanting sleep to grip him already. "Because you're so much more mature now at 5 moons.", Appledusk mocked. "Hey.", Patchkit sneered, "That 1 moon makes all the difference.", settling down again, curling into a tight ball.
Just then, a new thought came out of nowhere, making him snap out of his dazed state, a spark of excitement welling up inside him. Instantly, he violently threw himself onto all fours. Appledusk stopping aimlessly bobbing around rock pool, sensing the Patchkit's boiling emotions from the shift in his scent. "Are you ok?", he asked, blinking. Overhyped, Patchkit's veins had flowed with raw energy, bounded down the piled rocks like a hare. Not stopping until he was just a mouse-length from the edge, "Make me an apprentice!", he yowled, his voice cracking. Immediately, Appledusk's face turned stern, falling creepily quite like the echoing silence at night. Climbing out the river, Appledusk stood over tall Patchkit, reminding him just how much growing he still had yet to do. He slowly shook his brown head, "Patchkit, I'm sorry but we're rogues now, you know we can't do that. We don't have a leader just laying around.".
However, Patchkit wasn't going to give up that easily, rearing up and placing his tiny paws on Appledusk's chest, trying to pull off the innocent kit eyes, "But you can do it for me.". His father's leaf green eyes drifted away from his, now wanting to see his disappointed reaction, "You're not even 6 moons yet.", he muttered. Patchkit flopped to the ground again, lashing his short tail, "Do you see any leaders around here?". Appledusk shook his head, looking confused. "Exactly.", Patchkit proclaimed, "There are no leaders out here to tell what to do. Come on, Dad. I'm already doing hunting and training so I might as well. You don't want to me to remain 'kit' forever, do you?".
Finally, Appledusk sighed, resultantly nodding. Patchkit leapt for joy, scrambling back to up the rocks, until he directly stood above Appledusk, to make himself feel taller and Appledusk looks like puny little ant. "Urr-Patchkit?", Appledusk mewed below him. "Yes?", Patchkit asked, holding his head directly to the big blue sky, hoping the sun was directly behind, so his pose looked even more dramatic. Maybe it could even make him look like he has a mane made of blazing fire, like one of those ancient Lionclan warriors, minus the fire part. "This usually works the other way round. As the one granting your name, I need to stand above you. So off you pop.", flicking his tail. Patchkit puffed up his chest, "No rules out here, Dad. So you can do it from down there.", he mowed, the biggest, cheesiest grin on his face, it stretched so far up his face, he thought his lips would detach from his face. Sighing, Appledusk simply agreed with Patchkit's demands, probably just wanting to get this out the way, "Alright.", he agreed, muttering to himself, trying to remember how the apprentice went.
They directly faced each other, "I, Appledusk, former warrior of Riverclan, call upon Starclan to look down at this kit, who's proven he's just as deserving of apprenticeship as any Clan cat. So I ask for you to grant him, his rightful apprentice name.", he declared, his eyes suddenly lighting up with fierce green fire, really getting into the ceremony, pride making his fur flare, "From this day one, until you've earned your warrior name, you'll be known as Patchpaw. Do your best to uphold the Warrior code and faith in our ancestors.". That name rang in his head, booming louder and louder. Patchpaw. He liked the sound of that. Unable to contain his excitement, he wailed on into the void of the sky, to celebrate his victory with Appledusk quickly joining in, sounding louder then sparrows. As the cries of triumph echoed out of existence, fading into the air, Patchpaw released it wasn't finished.
Appledusk was standing on four, "And your mentor shall be-", he attempted to keep the suspense but it wasn't working, "Me!", Appledusk shouted as if he was the kit becoming the apprentice instead, bounding up to join his son. They touched noses, Patchpaw imagining a crowd of cats surrounding them, cheering out his new name. Appledusk drew his head back, eye shimmering like the stars of silverpelt, "I know how to celebrate this grand occasion.", he declared.
"How?", Patchpaw gasped.
"Swimming lessons!", Appledusk grinned. Patchpaw's feelings of joy, suddenly dropped like a pebble.
Before he could say or do anything, Appledusk grabbed Patchpaw by the scruff, and flung himself back, dragging the whaling kit down with him, straight towards a blue nightmare, "Dad!", Patchpaw cried out, before the water flooded every one of his senses.