Sunripple: Thanks! I'm so glad you're interested!
Chapter 3
"Evening my love."
"It's a little late for the evening don't you think?"
"I've missed you, you know, it's been hard without you."
"I've missed you too, and him."
"I wish you could've seen him, helping the medicine cat! Imagine if our son was to hold such a rank! I would be so proud of him. Maybe…maybe he could know that we are his parents…."
"No! No one can know, how could you suggest such a thing? I long for him everyday! Do not tease me with such words!"
"Calm your fur. If he's a medicine cat he won't have anyone to tell anyway. He won't have a mate, or kits, he'll be alone."
"His mentor?!"
"Stop making everything difficult! I'm trying here! I have to see him everyday while you go and hide from his gaze! I have to grin and bear it."
"It was your decision to let him be like this! We had an alternative…"
"Never! I am his father and that is final! I would rather both of us give up claim than have that tom and she-cat moon over him!"
"Your so selfish! He's my son too! I carried him, birthed him, he is a piece of me!"
"You think I don't feel the same way?"
"Leave, now. I can't believe that I ever let you in here."
"Fine, then. He will never know you."
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Strikekit stretched his legs. Another four moons had passed since Breezefang's death, and Lilystripe had kitted three she-cats: Willowkit, Echokit, and Breezekit, in honor of her father.
Slashkit raised his head besides Strikekit. His fur was thicker now and his eyes larger. They crept out into the dawn light, making sure not to wake Shiverfawn. A gentle breeze blew into their faces, making Strikekit sigh in pleasure. The days were finally cooling off.
Slashkit suddenly pulled away from Strikekit's side and headed toward a lean black tom. He bumped the tom's side with his head and a lean face swung around to see the kit. The eyes were a dark, swirling navy.
Strikekit hurdled over to see the tom. He pressed against the tom's side, purring. It was Spiderfur, Slashkit's father and father figure to Strikekit. He felt a rough tongue smooth the tufted fur on his head.
Slashkit suddenly growled and dropped into a crouch, eyes glinting. He lunged for his father's legs, hissing.
Strikekit jumped onto his back and the warrior toppled, playfully groaning in defeat. "Oh please stop, I surrender!"
Slashkit hopped off and nudged Spiderfur's nose, "Hey, will you teach us some battle moves? Please?"
The tom pushed himself up, knocking Strikekit off. He reared up on his hind paws and lashed out with his right paw, before using it to land neatly on all fours.
Strikekit frowned, that was easy! He reared up and lashed out at Slashkit, catching his brother with a sheathed paw across the nose.
"Very nice. Slashkit you try." Spiderfur mewed.
Slashkit concentrated hard before rearing up; stepping forward; and whacking Strikekit across the muzzle so hard he tumbled over.
Strikekit felt rage fuel him from the spot Slashkit struck him, but when he looked up, his brother's eyes were wide with fear. "Are you okay? I'm so sorry!"
The anger melted as Spiderfur shook the dust of the amber kit, "Yeah, I'm fine, what's next?"
Suddenly there was a call from Wildblaze on the other side of the camp. His green eyes were blazing and he did not look happy.
"I told you, Spiderfur! You were going to take the sunrise patrol!"
The black tom narrowed his eyes, yet confusion ringed the anger.
"As I am, the patrol has just gathered, keep your fur on!"
Wildblaze snarled, and Spiderfur murmured an apology to the kits before shooting off.
"What's up with Wildblaze? I've never seen him this angry." Strikekit whispered to Slashkit. Yet, as the tom headed out, Wildblaze heavily relaxed.
"Probably a thorn. I don't know, were you going to go see Stonestripe today?"
"Not today, he said he would call me if he needed anything."
"Strikekit?" Slashkit suddenly sat, his eyes wide. "Are you going to be a medicine cat?"
Strikekit froze. He had thought about it, but he didn't know if that was his calling. "I don't know, I don't think so though."
Slashkit still didn't look satisfied but he shrugged, "Okay." His eyes lit up again, "Let's go play on the pine roots!"
Strikekit raced after his brother, yet as he neared the first shadows of the pine, he stopped. For a heartbeat, he saw nothing but water around him, no bushes or cats around. Then he saw, rising out of the sucking water, the pine. Great and mysterious, it sat above all else, a sign of the strength of ShadowClan.
Then he was back in he hollow.
"Come on Strikekit, you dormouse! Hurry up!"
He raced over to the roots and began climbing, but not before he licked one of them and whispered,
"Thank you."
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Later that day, when Strikekit was lounging on a tree root, he heard a call from the medicine den. He climbed to his paws and crept into the shade of the bush.
Stonestripe was there, his ears pricked.
"Yes, Stonestripe?"
"Strikekit, I must know, are you going to train as a medicine cat beside me when your apprentice ceremony comes, or a warrior?"
Strikekit was struck dumb, "I…I don't know."
"What does your heart tell you?"
"I don't know."
"Now is the time to make your decision, it has to be now."
"Why? Why can't think about it a little longer?"
"Because…"
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather underneath the Great Pine for a clan meeting!"
Shiverfawn appeared at the entrance, her gaze excited. "It's your apprentice ceremony!"
Strikekit turned in haste to Stonestripe and he suddenly knew what his decision would be.
"Stonestripe, I'm sorry but…"
"I understand, young one. I would never force you against your will, you will make a great warrior."
Strikekit gave him a look of full gratitude before rushing out into the clearing next to Slashkit. His brother was shaking with nerves and excitement.
As Stonestripe slipped out, Duskstar cast a glance down to him, he shook his head and she nodded.
"Cats of ShadowClan, two kits have reached their sixth moon and therefore are ready to become apprentices. Slashkit, from this day forward until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Slashpaw. Sparrowcall, you were excellently trained by Appletooth and a fine mentor to Tigerstripe, I trust you to pass on the qualities you learned to Slashpaw." Strikekit watched as his brother raced up to the dark brown she-cat, his tail high and eyes shining as he touched noses with her.
"Strikekit, from this day forward until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Strikepaw. Dovesoar, you have yet to have an apprentice and were finely trained by Berrybright, I trust you pass on all the qualities you have to Strikepaw."
Strikepaw watched as the fluffy gray she-cat moved forward and tapped his nose with her own.
"I'll do my best." She purred.
"Slashpaw! Strikepaw! Slashpaw! Strikepaw!"
Strikepaw ran up to Shiverfawn and pressed his nose into her fur, purring. He felt Slashpaw curl up next to him.
"We did it! We're apprentices!"
"About time."
Strikepaw turned to see Wildblaze, his anger gone.
"I expect great things from you both."
Strikepaw purred but faltered when he saw the next cat.
She was lean with a mottled copper-black pointed face.
"As do I, we both will be watching your training."
She turned and was gone, up into the pine tree.
Strikepaw tottered up to Dovesoar.
"What'll we do first?"
She chuckled. "Go meet your denmates and make a nest. Training at down tomorrow for a skill assessment. Duskstar may join us."
Strikepaw nodded as Dovesoar moved on. He then raced back to where Slashpaw was talking with Mudpaw and Tabbypaw. They turned as he approached.
"We were just about to go back into the den. We're going to help with y'all's assessments tomorrow at dawn. We already have some moss laid down, but you can get some more tomorrow." Tabbypaw mewed.
"Great!" Strikepaw purred as the followed he older apprentices.
"This is going to be great." Slashpaw purred to him as they settled into their nests, side by side.
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