Runningpaw hated hunting.
The hares were always too big for them or any other apprentice to carry back, unless they wanted to drag said hare through the sand and dirt on the way back to camp.
"You'll grow into those legs of yours" Tornear had assured them as he strode on ahead into camp. Immediately dumping the small vole they had found onto the pile, they spun around in circles, trying to catch a glimpse of the newcomer. "Easy" he warned, giving them a nudge "you'll make yourself dizzy."
They were only half listening, craning their head in the direction of the nursery. Runningpaw was about to make their way over when they caught their mentors warning glance. He jerked his chin in the direction of their fellow apprentices, and, catching his meaning, they bounded over to their friends, squashing their disappointment .
It was okay, they would have plenty of time to speak to the new cat in camp later!
New cat! Oh, they haven't been this excited since they got to see Ashfoot's kits! Finally, something new in this place.
"Hey guys!" They greet, weaving between the two of them. "What's up?"
Whitepaw and Webpaw immediately make room for them, Whitepaw's tail reaching out to twine with their own "I caught a robin today" Whitepaw boasted.
"That's amazing!" They praised, and meant it. Bird hunting was hard when the land was wide and open.
"You catch anything?"
They gestured with their head towards the fresh-kill pile "a vole. Oh, and a rabbit, but I think it was injured or something, it was moving so slowly."
"Or you were too quick for it" Whitepaw suggested. "Tornear have to carry it back for you?"
"Yeah. It's tough being small."
"We'll grow" Webpaw assured her, eyeing the much bigger warriors, before dropping his voice "although, speaking of small. . ."
Runningpaw brightened, kneading the ground "you guys met Smokekit?"
"I haven't" Webpaw corrected " Whitepaw has. And, I gotta say, he doesn't sound great."
They blinked at him. "What do you mean?" They ask. Smokekit had seemed perfectly fine at the border, a little quiet, perhaps, and that moment between him and his father had been . . awkward . . but other than that!
"I mean he stole prey from the fresh-kill pile!" Whitepaw complains, voice reedy.
Runningpaw turned and stared at the fresh-kill pile. Which was out in the open. For all to see. "What?" They asked.
Whitepaw looked embarrassed for a moment "well, not stole" she admitted, before quickly saying "but that prey belongs to the Clan! Not a Kittypet !"
"I thought he was part of the Clan now" Runningpaw frowned. Had their friends missed the over the top and super dramatic ceremony?
"She means" Webpaw stepped in, sensing Whitepaw's frustrations "he's not a real Clan Cat. Like us." He puffed out his chest and nudged the grey cat lightly.
They looked down at their paws "oh" they said, studying them. But he's part of the Clan, they almost said, biting back the words. Doesn't that make him part of the Clan?
Webpaw rolled his eyes but let out a light huff of amusement. Whitepaw just bops her friend on their head with her own paw, before turning back to scanning the landscape.
" Watcha lookin ' for?" Runningpaw asked, head tilting.
"Last I saw he was heading into the Medicine Den" Webpaw said, shrugging. Beside him, Whitepaw's muzzle wrinkled.
"Probably knicked his pelt and went whining for someone to make it better" she said, nose in the air "wasting our supplies."
Runningpaw perked up, because very rarely were they ever given the chance to correct anyone "actually" they said eagerly " itwasprobablyfromthedogfight -"
"What?" Webpaw blinked at them "slow down a little."
Their tail flicked, annoyed, but they did so "it was probably from the dog fight!" They explained "he and his dad fought a dog on the way here! The injures were probably from that." Their whiskers droop a little, because they hadn't noticed him look injured, when he had appeared on the border. But then, his coat was dark-
The looks Whitepaw and Webpaw gave them were just short of pity. "What?" They ask, seeing them exchange a loaded look "what?!" They repeated, because they hated being locked out of the loop.
Whitepaw took a step forwards, face soft " Runningpaw " she said "you do know that he was probably lying right?"
Runningpaw blinked "what?"
"Lying" Webpaw echoed "you know, to make himself look better, so that he would be let in."
Runningpaw was already shaking their head "no no no , he has the dog's tooth, he has it!" They insisted, feeling oddly antsy about this whole thing.
"Just because he has a dog's tooth doesn't mean he actually fought one" Whitepaw pointed out gently "for all we know, it fell out of a dog's mouth and he kept it to look cool."
"But his dad-"
"Was probably lying too, to get his son to a safe place. I wouldn't blame him" she added as an afterthought "wanting to keep your kin safe. I'd lie too."
"Kittens do not fight dogs" Webpaw told them "especially not Kittypets. You do get that right?"
Runningpaw looked in the direction of the Medicine Cat Den, where Smokekit had yet to make an appearance. They thought of how he had told his story, wide eyed and earnest. You're wrong, they think.
Their friends eyes are on them, waiting for their approval, so they swallowed and said "yeah, I get that."
Tallstar looked nervous.
Having the leader of an entire Clan being nervous in your presence is either a very good thing or a very bad thing. Right now Smokekit is leaning towards the latter.
His den was nice, soft sandy floors and a featherlined nest. Heather and other flowers are spotted around the floor, some growing up through it and others plucked and brought in. It makes it smell nice and sweet. He liked it.
What he didn't like was how Tallstar would look at him, wide eyed as if he was expecting Smokekit to turn into a dog and attack him.
"Okay" Tallstar said, taking a deep breath in "okay, okay okay."
"Okay?" Smokekit echoed back.
He glanced at him for a second before looking away. It struck Smokekit that Tallstar no more knew what to make of him, than he did of Tallstar.
It was very nice of him to accept him into the Clan of course, but why? Even if him and- and Jake were boyfriends, or whatever that had been about, he was still under no obligation to help Smokekit .
(Although, the new name was pretty great, and he wriggled a little at that thought. Smokekit. Made him sound all cool and mysterious. Much better than Tiny)
"Okay, so" he scanned the kit in front of him "how old are you exactly?"
Smokekit stared at him blankly. How was he supposed to know?
Tallstar gawked at him a moment, before shaking his fur out briskly. "Right, okay, uh. You look" he squinted harshly "four moons? Roughly. If I had to guess."
"I'm small for my age" Smokekit snapped, defensive.
"Right" he muttered "of course you are. Of course." He sighed, as if he had been handed a great load, which Smokekit found a little unfair all things considered. "We'll go with five and a bit moons" he decided. "I assume you have been told about apprentices?"
Smokekit nodded "one of your cats is given the responsibility to raise, train and care for a younger cats health and wellbeing and hopefully not mess them up enough so that they can be a functional Clan member."
It took a couple of seconds for Tallstar to compose himself. "Never should have left you with Hawkheart " he grumbled, twitching "It's true but did you have to put it like that?"
Smokekit shrugged wordlessly.
"Yes, well, in any case. You know that you will be given a mentor when you hit six moons then?"
" Of course " Smokekit , who Did Not Know That, snapped back. "That was one of the first things they told me. Can't wait to see who I get; the tom who thinks I don't belong or the she -cat who thinks I'm going to fail. So many options."
"I don't-" Tallstar looked stricken "not everyone believes you're going to fail."
"Nothing to say about me not belonging, I see" he noted.
"You do belong here" Tallstar insisted "I already took care of that somewhat. And I don't think you're going to fail. Neither does Ashfoot or Hawkheart."
" Hawkheart was just telling me that when this all went south, to go to Riverclan because they love Kittypets."
The leader glanced up at the roof of his den, as if searching for some divine answers from the alleged star spirits. " Of course he did" he sighed "of course. Probably went into the whole rant about the Warrior Code and it's 'illogical fallacies'"
Smokekit shrugged. "He raised some good points" he said.
Tallstar looked up sharply. "For your sake, and mine, we're going to pretend you didn't just say that." The smaller cat shrunk back a little at his tone. "I mean it, never repeat that to anyone here, if you don't want to be ripped to shreds."
"Is it that big of a deal?"
"Huge" he confirmed. "You may get away with saying these things in Shadowclan and Riverclan , but not here. You say those things, all you'll be doing is showing off just how much of an outsider you are to the rest of the Clan."
Ouch . "Understood" he mumbled into his fur.
Sensing the mood shift, Tallstar's eyes widened, leaping to his paws. "No-wait-!" He breathed in deeply, fur settling somewhat.
"I didn't just call you up here to ask about your knowledge of the Clans" he admitted. "I- I am aware" he tested the words "that you no longer have any connection to your parents."
The fur along Smokekit's spine spiked. "Yeah, well" he muttered, claws raking the ground "that's over, so-"
"Of course!" Tallstar hurried to say "if you don't want to talk about it, I certainly won't force you. I also lost my father at a young age-he died in a tunneling accident."
Oh . Smokekit stared at him, eyes wide. The closest he had ever gotten to death was with Tigerpaw and the dog. The closest he had ever witnessed death was the dog getting hit by a creature.
He wasn't sure how he felt about his Mama, but that didn't mean he wanted her dead.
"If you ever want to talk about it, either with Jake or your mother, please, don't hesitate to seek me out" he said, all earnest and wide eyed, and all Smokekit could do was nod, though the mention of Jake made him uneasy.
"Uh, thank you" he said, bowing his head slightly before making his way out of the den.
"Of course. And Smokekit " he peered over his shoulder at the tom, who was now sitting in his nest, gaze soft "I really do hope you choose to stay in Windclan. You seem like a promising young cat and I would really like to get to know you better."
Feeling somehow even more awkward, he gave a little nod, then padded out of the den. "That was weird" he announced to the sky, before making his way down to where Ashfoot was waiting.