Thanks for all the reviews last chapter, and I hope this new chapter meets your expectations.
. . .
Featherkit couldn't remember the time she had last been so embarrassed.
Not even the whispers or the cold, hard glares of the ThunderClan cats cut this moment any slack. She thought she would die from so many curious eyes on her form.
Not even Darkpaw's reassuring presence at her side could ease the nervous trembling of her shoulders and tail. She swallowed hard and looked straight ahead.
Morningstar gazed down at her, amber eyes colder than ice, her form strong and proud.
Featherkit discreetly lifted her chin, raising her shoulders and attempting to appear as proud as the WindClan leader. She knew that she probably looked incredibly to the other cats: her, a weak, foolish, ex-ThunderClan cat who, if rejected, would have no more hope in herself.
"Hear me, WindClan!" Morningstar hissed, and in unision, her Clan looked up, their eyes full of wariness and distrust. "Do you see this?! Do you?!"
"We do!" her Clan screamed as one, voices full of something Featherkit couldn't identify. "We see her!"
"And do you know what they wish?!" Morningstar demanded, amber eyes wide and intense as she scrutinised the entirety of WindClan.
And, once again, WindClan answered as one: "No!"
Eyes glinting in triumph, the WindClan leader declared, "It's something preposterous, I tell you! But, I have agreed to it, and I'm willing to give the outsiders a chance; a single moon in which to prove themselves. If and when the moon is up, and their progress isn't up to my standards, than they will be banished, never to return."
"What did you agree to, Morningstar?" one pretty she-cat called, her fawn-like eyes scrunching up in interest.
"Peace, Mudpaw," Morningstar chuckled, though her tone still remained severe. "I shall tell you then. Two cats, one barely out of kithood, have pleaded to join our Clan, but," she paused, her eyes sparking coldness as she glared defiantly at Flamestreak, a strange emotion present in her eyes that Featherkit had often seen mates possessing. Morningstar continued, a growl in her voice, "But, I have given them a time limit as I stated earlier. A probation period, I'd say. They have one moon to prove themselves, and when that time is up, I shall decide if they stay or leave."
"Oh," Mudpaw paused, blushing faintly at the explanation. "I see."
"Who are they, Morningstar?" Another cat, this time a tom, asked.
Morningstar grumbled something unintelligable under her breath before mewing, "The ginger one is Flamestreak," when she paused, her eyes were colder than ice with a strange pain brewing in them, and in a slightly softer tone of voice, she meowed, "and this is his daughter, Featherkit. Though I suppose she can't be called Featherkit anymore."
"Will you give her an apprentice ceremony?" the shy apprentice from before, Mudpaw, asked.
Morningstar paused as if considering something. "No," she mewed flatly. "I won't give her one."
Featherkit felt dismayed at that, but she knew she couldn't complain when WindClan had given her a home, no matter how temporary it was.
"Featherkit," the WindClan leader began, her voice flat. "Until you have proven your worth to this Clan and its inhabitants within, you will be known as Featherpaw. And, for the time being, Scorchfoot will mentor you."
Featherpaw nodded, and she would prove her worth to this Clan.
She wouldn't be robbed of another home again.
Never again.
"As it is, I have something else to announce," Morningstar declared, her voice loud and clear. "Ambershine's kits have reached the age of six moons- the age to be apprenticed. And I have every intention of doing it right now."
WindClan listened in anticipation, and all Featherpaw could think was, At least I won't be alone.
Darkpaw must have noticed her dejected posture, for he whispered reassuringly, "You don't have to look as if it's the end of the world, you know. You may not have everyone's respect in this Clan, but you do have mine. Never forget that, 'kay?"
Featherpaw's face fell from its frown and she smiled up at him faintly. "Okay," she whispered back.
Darkpaw simply grinned, those lovely blue eyes of his crinkling at the edges.
Featherpaw found herself smiling dreamily at the sight, and for a split-second, she wondered what it would be like if Darkpaw smiled at her like that everyday...
It was Morningstar's voice which brought her back to reality.
"Hawkfire, you had an excellent mentor in our sadly departed Breezetail. You will mentor Swiftpaw, and I hope that you pass down all you know to him."
Featherpaw watched on in wonder as a dark brown tabby tom padded foreward from amongst the ranks of WindClan, to a small, thin-faced white tabby tom with black stripes.
The new apprentice seemed dreadfully shy, and Featherpaw couldn't help the smile that crossed her face as Swiftpaw nearly tripped over his feet in excitement and in his haste to reach his new mentor.
Hawkfire, Featherpaw noticed, was much more reserved; only gracing his apprentice with a smile after they touched noses.
"Swiftpaw seems really nice," Featherpaw commented to Darkpaw. "I think I'll enjoy sharing a den with him."
Darkpaw grinned. "Wait until you meet Mudpaw," he mewed. "She's a little shy at first, but once you get to know her, she's probably one of the greatest friends you'll ever have."
"What about the other apprentice, then?" Featherpaw implored. "I heard Flamestreak mentioning that there were three apprentices when he was talking with Morningstar. So where's the other one?"
"Uh-" Darkpaw broke off, looking apologetic, mewing, "You'll meet him soon, I guess. His name's Sootpaw, and he's my brother. He doesn't really get along with anyone, though, just to warn you."
"That's okay," she purred, smiling up at him. "You don't get along with everybody. That's just the way life is, I suppose. And he's your brother? Darkpaw, why didn't you tell me that you had a brother?"
Darkpaw shifted uncomfortably. "I guess that it just never came up," he murmured. "But don't worry, I'll introduce you to him if you want. And even though he doesn't really like other cats, I'm sure you'll get along fine."
"I get along with you," Featherpaw teased, and her friend ducked his head bashfully, grinning shyly.
"Yeah," Darkpaw agreed, voice soft.
Featherpaw didn't deign to respond, simply enjoying his closeness at her shoulder, even as Morningstar began to speak again.
"Ah," the WindClan leader mewed, eyes at the last kit. "I know just who to appoint for you!"
The kit in question was a pretty cream she-cat with amber eyes- nothing like her white and black striped brother.
She didn't appear to be scared, either. There was a calm, confident smile on her lips, and it looked as if she were on top of the world with the way she was holding herself.
"Cloudstorm," Morningstar announced, and Featherpaw felt a small thrill leap inside of her. "You are a strong and capable warrior, and as deputy of this Clan, I believe that you are ready for another apprentice. You will mentor Swallowpaw, and you will pass down all of the excellent knowledge and skills that you possess to her."
Featherpaw watched on as the WindClan deputy stepped, his yellow eyes glaring down at his new apprentice. Swallowpaw, however, didn't appear to be intimidated in the least, and she strode up to him with that confident smile of hers in place, reaching up to touch noses with him.
Featherpaw watched the entire encounter with unblinking eyes, and as the pair touched noses, she felt a strange feeling of betrayal pierce her heart.
Her vision blurred, but she angrily blinked the tears away before they could fall.
"Hey," Darkpaw murmured from beside her. "Why are you crying?"
Featherpaw sniffed, and she felt something wet slide down her cheek. "It doesn't matter anyway," she whispered hoarsely. "It's not as if I'll feel better when I tell you."
Darkpaw's face crumpled, and a flash of hurt glimmered briefly in his eyes. He looked at his paws, refusing to meet her gaze.
Featherpaw instantly regretted her words, but before she could get a word of apology from her throat, she was interrupted.
She looked up, and she was glad that she was bigger than average, as it meant that she didn't have to look up at her Father too much.
Flamestreak stood tall and proud, his larger form nearly towering over her.
"Are you, uh-" her Father seemed at a loss of words, and he held himself incredibly awkwardly, as if he didn't know how to deal with her. Finally, he mewed, "Are you... happy right now?"
Featherpaw considered the question carefully.
Honestly, right now, she didn't feel at all happy. No, not with the horrible feeling of betrayal in her heart.
But, she did feel happy that they had arrived in WindClan. But that happiness wasn't enough to quell down the betrayal.
Featherpaw told her Father of such.
Flamestreak merely sighed sadly. "I thought as such," he murmured.
Darkpaw cleared his throat loudly, and he smiled sheepishly when all eyes turned to him. "I thought I'd just take Featherpaw to meet the other apprentices. She doesn't have to meet with Scorchfoot straight away."
Flamestreak merely nodded.
"I'll be going then," Featherpaw murmured.
Her Father discreetly coughed, but allowed her to pass through, and Featherpaw did so gratefully and without complaint.
She followed on after Darkpaw, and before he could react, she bounded in front of him and burst out, "I'm really, really sorry for the way I spoke to you back there! I didn't mean to sound so harsh. Will you forgive me?"
Darkpaw merely chuckled, and the sound was warm and deep. He appraised her with bright blue eyes, mewing, "Really, Featherpaw, there's nothing to forgive."
Still, Featherpaw felt that overwhelming guilt, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't quell it down.
She leaned foreward and pressed her cheek against his shoulder, feeling his warmth. She leaned into him and sighed.
"I really am sorry," she insisted, peering up at him with large, unwavering amber eyes.
"I know," Darkpaw whispered.
They held each other's gaze shyly, and Featherpaw was the one to look away first.
"Why don't you, uh, take me to meet the other apprentices?" Featherpaw suggested, her voice thick with something she didn't understand.
"Yeah," Darkpaw answered, sounding distant.
For some inexplainable reason, Featherpaw felt a stab of hurt at this, but not understanding what it meant, she quickly squashed the feeling down.
She followed after her friend, and after a few minutes, they came upon what must have been the apprentices' den.
There was a she-cat standing outside of the den. And she was very pretty with a dark-brown pelt and huge, fawn-like amber eyes.
The she-cat turned and stared at them, her face soft with welcoming.
"You must be Featherpaw," she greeted in a soft, sweet voice. "I'm Mudpaw."
"Nice to meet you," Featherpaw greeted awkwardly. She never had been good at greeting others, she supposed. Only the ones she truly knew. And that was a small margin of cats.
For example, when she and Cinderkit used to share a nest, before she was one moon, she guessed that they had been kind of close.
Her brother had accepted her with the innocence of a kit that loves blindly, but Cinderkit had lost that love as he grew; becoming progressively coddled and spoilt.
Cinderkit was different, and while Featherpaw generally held no love toward her family, a small part of her couldn't help but love her brother.
The other part- the larger part, disagreed with her entirely.
The larger part of her urged her to cut all ties with her family and leave, never to return.
When Featherpaw had asked Flamestreak to join her, she had listened to the smaller part.
The larger part didn't seem too happy with her choice.
Mudpaw simply sat in her place, smiling softly.
The silence was too stifling, Featherpaw decided, so she decided to break it.
"Hey, Darkpaw," she mewed, turning to her friend. "Where are the other apprentices?"
Darkpaw jumped out of whatever trance he had been and looked at her. "Hmm?" he asked, half-distracted. "What?"
"I said, where are the other apprentices?" Featherpaw meowed, her voice somewhat cross.
"Oh," he mumbled, his eyes lighting up. "Oh. Well, I think Swiftpaw and Swallowpaw will come here eventually, and I'm not sure where Sootpaw's at..."
"He's coming now," Mudpaw offered. "I can see him."
"Okay," Darkpaw breathed, eyes wide. "Thanks, Mudpaw."
"Anytime," the she-cat murmured sweetly.
His blue eyes turned to Featherpaw, and he warned, "Don't get angry if he snaps at you, okay, Featherpaw? My brother can get a little stingy at times, but it's just him, I guess."
Featherpaw simply nodded. There was nothing else that she could say.
True to Mudpaw's word, a large, muscular apprentice came into view.
He looked as if he had just gone hunting, and his powerful muscles rippled in his shoulders as he padded toward them.
He was a dark, smoky grey, and his eyes were a harsh amber; having nothing on Darkpaw's lovely, bright blue eyes.
"Darkpaw, you wouldn't believe how little prey there is now-" Sootpaw stopped dead, staring at Featherpaw hard.
"Who is this?" he asked slowly, punctuating each word with icy hard coldness.
Featherpaw resisted the urge to shrink back, knowing that if she did, than she would never get the respect she wanted.
So, instead, she raised her chin and gave him a long, hard stare of her own.
"I'm Featherpaw," she announced bravely.
Featherpaw could feel his eyes on her, sizing her up as if she were a piece of prey.
"Why are you here?" Sootpaw finally asked, and Featherpaw noticed that the timbre of his voice was deep for a cat his age.
"I joined WindClan," she mewed, and she was proud to note that she didn't stutter over her words.
Sootpaw didn't look satisfied. "And why did Morningstar accept?" he pressed. "WindClan has enough mouths to feed as it is."
For once not feeling ashamed, Featherpaw extended her twisted front paw, mewing, "It's not guarenteed. My place in this Clan, I mean. I have to prove myself first. And I only have a moon. If I don't prove myself satisfacterly to your leader, then the deal's off."
Sootpaw stared at her for a long while, and it was so long that Featherpaw was beginning to get offended, but then she remembered Darkpaw's warning.
"Prove yourself," he finally said. "And until then, you have none of my respect."
And then he shoved past her and into the apprentices' den.