Can I just say, I'm so glad that you're enjoying this! So here's the next chapter. SIBLING DRAMA!
I'm going to introduce Clay's POV next chapter. He's pretty vital to the story, I promise!
On a day in the midst of autumn, my mother Speckledheart gave birth to a litter of kits, but I was only their half-sister. Before this, fights had driven Fallenstrike and Speckledheart to vowing that I was the only reason that they'd ever speak again. So Fallenstrike took an immediate stance on his feelings on the kits- he hated them. When Speckledheart's mate Hawkstreak died, I could tell that Fallenstrike couldn't be happier. But the more and more annoying Speckledheart and her kits got, the more jealous Fallenstrike grew. Eventually, one day, when I was just a naive apprentice, Fallenstrike decided that he and I were going to run away to find a new clan. After having no luck, we returned to ThunderClan. A while later, in the middle of leaf-fall-
"Fa, where are you and Ma going?"
"Just on a hunt, don't worry Willowpaw. We'll be back as soon as possible," Fallenstrike had said, his words soft and content. He was so trustworthy then, He'd gone off with Speckledheart. I had not questioned why he was hunting with a queen, for things like that didn't matter. I was too hopeful that they'd find a way to compromise and get back together. Hours later, a yowl frightened me.
"Badgers! They- they killed Speckledheart! And her kits followed… they've… they've been killed as well!" it was my Father's voice, loud and clear. He sounded frightened, something I'd rarely heard from him. I ran towards the voice, finding Fallenstrike and letting him lead me to… well, I didn't know what to expect. We padded through the deep snow, and I was trying to believe that it was all a hoax. That my Ma, my beautiful, sweet Ma, wasn't dead. That she was still alive, and that she had a surprise for me.
But there she was, under the overhang of a log, bleeding and dead. Two limp bodies lay beside her, with little to no damage showing. But blood seeped from their necks, almost like they'd been snapped. I stared at the carcasses, not believing my eyes. A little body crawled out from a bush.
"Is Ma gonna be okay?" it squeaked, trying to get to Speckledheart. But I knew she wouldn't walk again. Reality had hit me way too hard.
"No…" I growled, "Ma'll never walk again, all thanks to you." But at the time, I wasn't violent. I'd never hurt my half sister- Cinderkit was too weak. But I stared her in the eye, dead on. "It's all your fault."
My rage had never gone away. But standing above Cinderpaw, hearing that it had been my father who'd killed her… Suddenly things made sense. My gaze softened. I began to relax a little. Deep breaths.
"I… I can't believe that all this time…" I quietly whimpered, but Cinderpaw simply nodded. She didn't speak another word, before turning away, her tail delicately swiping at the air.
Days passed. I heard everyone gossiping about my relationship with Cinderpaw. But funniest was Frostleap complaining about her apprentice Claypaw, who'd much rather daydream up things than train. Cinderpaw apparently talked about him constantly, and her crush on him didn't go unseen to even the cats who didn't talk to her, like me. I felt bad for Frostleap. Pinestar made an announcement- that later that day Cinderpaw, Claypaw, and Olivepaw would be receiving their warrior names. I guess Frostleap's complaining finally paid off.
Pinestar put me in charge of Jaggedclaw. Whenever he went on a hunt, I had to go too. He made himself very clear that if Jaggedclaw went out of ThunderClan territory, he would personally rip him to shreds. But I suppose this was all normal. Jaggedclaw got in trouble literally once a moon, and he always found a way around the repercussions.
We were walking in the snow, our paws making delicate pawprints. The snow had gotten deep over time, so walking was pretty difficult. The calling of Pinestar was inevitable, and when I heard it, I shot an annoyed glare at Jaggedclaw. We were pretty outside of camp. Hopefully they wouldn't start the ceremony without us! I quickened my pace, at this moment not caring if Jaggedclaw was beside me. I wanted to make it to the ceremony not to congratulate Cinderpaw- but to apologize to her on one of the biggest days of her life. I would apologize to her about seeing everything wrong- for yelling at her. Sure, I might have been mad at her not telling me until now, but maybe she had tried to tell me. Maybe all of those years… maybe I just hadn't listened. I likely hadn't listened because when I was little, I worshipped my father. And I wanted nothing to do with my annoying half sister.
As we hurried along, my mind was racing. From figuring out how to apologize, to the fact that Cinderpaw would soon be joining me on patrols. The thought was strange- for the two of us had never actually been in the same position together. When she became an apprentice, I became a warrior. Literally on the day she became an apprentice, I got my warrior name. So I've always thought I've had some authority over her. But Cinderpaw was growing up now… As I saw her below the highledge, my heartbeat rose. My brain told me, Cinderpaw's gonna be an enemy! But my heart told me that Cinderpaw would be no threat to me. I was hoping that my heart was right. Jaggedclaw and I both took a seat in the group of cats, watching as Olivepaw received her name.
"From this moment on, you will be known as Oliveleaf. StarClan honors your bravery and ability," Pinestar lowered his head in respect for his daughter. "Cinderpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do," Cinderpaw dipped her head, like every humane cat does at their ceremony.
"Then from this moment on, your name will be Cinderdapple. StarClan honors your strength, though not always in battle," Pinestar cast a glance over at me, which made me gulp. After getting Claypaw to say 'I do,' "Claypaw, from this moment on, you will no longer be known as Claypaw but as Claysight. StarClan honors your gifts, however strange they might be." I wonder what he means… After the ceremony, I knew that cats would be crowding Cinderdapple in congratulations. But I simply approached her, and sighed.
"Cinderdapple, can I grab you for a second?" I asked, politely and carefully. I was sure not to seem rude. Our relationship was already on a descent, plummeting towards hatred. She nodded, and the two of us walked to an area outside of the quarry, with some trees.
"What, Willowdawn?" the new warrior asked, fur bristling and nostrils flaring, "what are you going to bug me about this time?" I took a deep breath.
"I want to apologize, for…" I hesitated, "a lot." My look of guilt was unmistakable. "I'm sorry that I've treated like crap. And worse… that I didn't listen. I'm so sorry, Cinderdapple." I lowered my head in respect for the new warrior. She may not have been superior to me, but she deserved my apology. And, maybe even respect.
"Thank you, Willowdawn."
"You're welcome."
"No, not for the apology."
"For what, then?"
Cinderdapple began to walk away.
"Cinderdapple, answer me!"
"For teaching me what not to become."