Chapter Nine
"Father?" a concerned voice sounded in the leader's den. "Father!" it repeated, sounding more shrill. The white and gray tom grunted and flicked his ears. The cat was beside him in a moment, pressing its nose against his head.
"I haven't spoken to you in days." the voice continued, the breath tickling his ear. He opened his eyes just a slit. All he could see was short, striped fur. He drew in air through his nose and identified the cat by their scent: Greenpath. He was surprised, and heaved himself to his paws in a moment. Her soft green eyes were big with concern.
"Greenpath." he purred, giving her a lick on the forehead. "I'm sorry I worried you. I'm sorry.." he trailed off, remembering what he had said to her. Rather, what he hadn't was what haunted him. "I'm so sorry."
The gray tabby looked at her paws. "No, you shouldn't be. You didn't do anything wrong. I should have thought harder about kits.. I know now that it was a mistake to… but it's too late, now." his daughter looked so ashamed. He felt it for her, and for making her feel this way.
"Kits are something wonderful." he purred. Greenpath looked up at him with shock in her eyes. "If I didn't have all of you, I don't know how I'd get by after this. I'd be lost. I'm so proud of you kits. If I ever got one thing right, it was bringing all of you into the world. And.. Longwhisker did more of that than I did."
For a long minute, they sat staring at each other. Greenpath's eyes bored into his, trying to find something to prove he wasn't lying. When she found nothing, she dipped her head.
"I hope I feel the same in a few moons. I want to believe you-I'm just terrified honestly." she said pitifully.
"All cats feel the same." he replied curtly. "And most all cats can put that stress to good use by focusing on their duties as warriors."
Greenpath seemed to understand, and nodded. "Erm, thank you, Thunderstar. I'll go talk to Covetail about it." she purred, awkwardly, before turning and loping across the camp. Thunderstar followed more slowly, pausing at the entrance to his den. He wanted to visit his kits in the nursery, but he knew it was much too early for them to be awake. The white-furred loner crossed his mind and he stepped out of his den, swerving towards the medicine den. He nudged a stray frond of gorse away and stopped just inside.
"What's that one do?" a curious voice asked. Starthfang sat among a familiar arch of herbs. Now, Calla sat close beside him, a forepaw pointed at a stack of feathery stems.
"That's yarrow." his brother replied. "If a cat eats that, they throw up, which can rid their body of things they shouldn't have eaten."
"How do you remember all of this?" the she-cat meowed, in awe. His brother puffed his chest out smugly.
"A medicine cat must have a great memory. We learn everything a warrior does and all of the herbs and ceremonies a medicine cat needs. Not to mention the special connection we have with our warrior ancestors."
"How noble and selfless you are, Strathfang. Not like when you were younger at all." Thunderstar interrupted, standing in front of the two cats.
"I don't know what you mean." the black tom said measuredly. He fixed the leader with a careful stare.
"Your ears weren't shredded by a hedgehog." Thunderstar retorted, but not in an altogether harsh way. Strathfang's ears twitched awkwardly, like he was trying to flatten them.
"What?" Calla tilted her head in interest.
"Do you want to tell her or should I?" the leader asked. Strathfang looked across the den at nothing.
"There's nothing to tell."
"Have you met Brindleflame?" Thunderstar asked. Calla nodded. "A wonderful cat. When Strathfang was a young warrior, he thought so, too."
"Thunderstar." the black cat meowed urgently. His brother only purred in good humor.
"Elderpelt already had an eye for her, and the two spent a lot of time together. But my good brother here was determined to win her love. He challenged Elderpelt for her, as if her affections could be won by brawn." The white she-cat looked at the medicine cat but he stared intently at his paws. "Elderpelt did quite a number on him, as you can see. It wasn't much later he decided to become a medicine cat. When Brindleflame started her kitting, Rivertail had to attend her by herself. Did you know medicine cats can act fully as warriors outside of their minimal healing duties? He spends most of his time here, though."
He knew how terrible a cat he must seem, the leader. The black tom's tail lashed erradicately, but he sat still. Thunderstar knew his fur must be flushed with embarrassment. Good. Strathfang had caused him enough, it was about time he returned the favor. Besides, he knew more about she-cats than the awkward medicine cat ever would. He wouldn't doubt if Calla liked him more, now, even if only out of pity.
"Strathfang, is that all true?" The pretty, long-furred she-cat asked.
"I spend plenty of time outside and on patrols." he defended himself penitently. "I think I serve my clan perfectly fine." He directly avoided the question presented to him.
"Of course you do. Young cats make stupid mistakes. You shouldn't feel bad about them, now." the she-cat said, sympathetic. Thunderstar was right. She twined her tail with the black cat's comfortingly.
"You really think so?" Strathfang said softly, the hint of a trick in his eyes as he shot a look at his kin.
"I know so. My father was challenged by a headstrong youngster before me and my littermates were born. Father had many mates in his life and the scrap had started mooning after a cat my father also had eyes for. It was easy to beat the little thing, but my father admired his confidence and determination. He became my father's best friend. They'd wholly forgotten how they met until my brother asked how they became so close awhile later." she told him matter-of-factly. The trio were silent for a moment.
"What did you need to visit for?" Strathfang asked Thunderstar, the moment past. He began sorting the herbs into neater piles and lining them up near the back of the den.
"I wanted to know how Calla felt about the clan. I know I've been a terrible host, and I wanted to ask if she-if you would like to come on a patrol with me this morning. I can show you around the territory and answer any of your questions."
The white cat nodded. "I'd love to." She meowed shortly. Thunderstar dipped his head dismissively.
"Then I'll go fetch my apprentice and we can be on our way. Please wait for me at the heather tunnel." Without waiting for a reply, the patch-pelted tom turned and padded across the camp. He stepped softly into the apprentices' den, as not to wake them, and glanced at the sleeping forms of the young cats. He stepped past Gorgepaw and Gullypaw, their curled forms almost as big as warriors'. He reminded himself the speak to their mentors about their naming ceremonies, soon. A cluster of ginger pelts proved to shelter his apprentice. He nudged the ginger and white she-cat awake.
"Asterpaw?" He said. "I'm sorry I didn't get to speak to you, yesterday, but I'm going on patrol this morning. Do you mind joining me?" Internally, he scolded himself. He sounded more like the apprentice the way he asked instead of ordered. He'd remember to be more mentor-ish when they were patrolling later.
Asterpaw lifted her head groggily and nodded. She sat up and ran her tongue over her fur to smooth it before getting to her paws. The leader left the den with his apprentice on his heels and met Calla at the camp entrance.
"All ready?" The tom prompted. The misty-minded apprentice didn't seem to hear him and the white cat nodded nervously. He dipped his head again and led the patrol out of the camp. He led them on a path directly towards the stream beside the camp. The sounds of prey made him twitch his ears every which way, but he was determined to focus on his patrol.
He paused as the clear body of water came into view. "Asterpaw." He meowed. "What can you scent?" He knew it was a bland question to ask, even for a very young 'paw. Still, she seemed happy to please.
"Plenty of prey: mice and water voles, and a rabbit across the way." She paused. "Herbs, like feverfew and barrenwort.. no predators or strange cats." she reported. Her mentor purred.
"Well done, Asterpaw. You have a very good memory with herbs. Have you been helping the medicine cats?" Thunderstar stopped abruptly. He had meant to go on, adding "while I was gone" but immediately knew better.
"A little." she replied shyly, and didn't elaborate.
A sudden movement, a scurrying little body across the ground, made Thunderstar jump. At the same time, the young she-cat pounced at it, but the tiny creature limped away and into the undergrowth.
"Bad luck." the tom muttered, curling his lip. Asterpaw lashed her tail in annoyance. "That was quick thinking, though."
"Is this your border?" Calla asked. "It's awfully close to your camp."
"No, the border is some ways away from here. This place is very rich with prey and not long ago a group of rogues tried to invade our territory… so I make sure that patrols frequent this area for the time being." the leader explained. She nodded slowly. "Seeing as it's secured, I think we ought to go along the forest border as far as the cliff wall and double back to the abandoned badger set. We can get right back to camp from there."
Over the course of the patrol, Thunderstar was happy to feel himself. He let his grief fall to the back of his mind for the time and tested his apprentice's knowledge. Every new scent they came across, he had her identify. It was easy for Asterpaw to determine the herb and cat scents, but she struggled to identify most other animal scents. Once they had come across an old fox trail, still with the harsh scent of fox laced along it, but the ginger tabby had been completely oblivious. Her mentor blamed himself. Her shortcomings were not from a lack of enthusiasm, but a lack of a source to learn from. He was determined to change that.
Calla paid close attention to her surroundings, being mostly unafraid to ask questions when she wanted. She focused less and less on the territory and asked more about clan life. The leader was eager to answer, but deep down a seed of concern lodged itself in his pelt. If she were to spread this knowledge, to leave the clan and forget them, it may be used to hurt them. While ceremonies or sharing tongues may not be useful information against them, rituals like the Night of Lavish may. On a night when all warriors did as they wanted, leaving the camp mostly unprotected, rogues could attack, again. He decided to think carefully on what he told her, and keep some things to himself. He was relieved that Asterpaw seemed to understand this, and added only small comments to what he said. Their patrol turned up nothing besides the old fox trail, and they turned back towards the camp.
A short silence stretched out before Thunderstar interrupted it. "What do you think of the clan? I know you haven't been around very many cats, yet, and you've only now gotten to explore, but." he stopped, purposefully leaving his sentence unfinished.
"I like it, I really do. I've always hated the cats who live together, out there in the unclaimed forest." She jerked her head slightly in the direction of the forest side border. "But you- your cats are different. You actually care for one another. You have a system to keep order. If I could.." she stopped.
"Any cat is welcome in our Clan." Thunderstar meowed, knowing what she was going to say.
"If I could, I'd love to be an addition to your loyal warriors." she purred, glad he understood.
"I'm sure all of ValleyClan would be happy to have you." the leader replied.
"Especially if you have a few stories to tell." Asterpaw chipped in, her whiskers twitching.
"Would you like to have your warrior ceremony today? There's no rush, if not." Thunderstar said. The white she-cat looked ahead for a moment, a thoughtful expression on. He guessed she was sifting through her recent memory to their conversation about ceremonies.
"Would I be given a new name?" she asked, anxiety making her voice sharp.
"Not if you don't want to." he piped up quickly. "Or if you wish, I could just add something to the end of your name. A young warrior, Covetail, and the apprentice, Duskpaw, did that. He and his sister were born kitty-pets but found their way here. They used to be known as Kovu and Dusky. Or you could have a totally new name. The warrior Rabbitleap used to be called Hopper."
"I like the first option." she replied, visibly relaxing. Thunderstar flicked her shoulder with his tail.
"Very well, then. I think we can skip the assessment, seeing as you've taken care of yourself alone up until this point." he meowed. "Would you be comfortable having your ceremony held today?"
"Oh. I guess not. Do I have to memorize anything?" she said. The patchy tom shook his head.
"Just that after the ceremony, you must sit vigil in the camp all night." he held back from mentioning the new code of the Clan.
As a natural quiet fell between them, Thunderstar wondered how Asterpaw was fairing. She had stayed very quiet about the rogue becoming a warrior. He couldn't imagine what was going through her young mind. He glanced at her as casually as he could. Her eyes stared around absently. Perhaps she'd just been too lost in her own thoughts. He remembered having his own petty apprentice problems and stifled a purr. He wished he knew a life that simple, again.
As they arrived at the camp, the sun was half between noon and sunset. About half of the warriors were in camp, back from patrols early or lucky to have a day off. Greenpath, sharing tongues with Covetail by the warriors' den, caught his eye and waved her tail in greeting before continuing her conversation.
"Get something to eat, meet a few other cats. Your warrior ceremony will be held when the sun sets." Thunderstar instructed Calla. She flicked her ears and headed to the fresh-kill pile. Thunderstar watched her go a moment before turning to his apprentice.
"Asterpaw." He meowed.
"Hmm?" Her eyes didn't meet his, still staring at nothing. She really was out of it, today. After a minute she turned slowly to look at him. "Yes, Thunderstar?"
"Er.. I was very impressed, today. You're going to make a good warrior." he praised her. The fuzzy look in her green eyes dissipated, replaced by glee.
"Thank you, Thunderstar!" she purred. He blinked warmly at her.
"I only state the truth." He replied modestly. He regretted sounding so pretentious, but didn't think much of it. "You can do as you wish for the rest of the day, Asterpaw."
"Thank you, Thunderstar." she repeated. She loped towards the apprentices' den, calling her sister's name.
The leader retired to his den, dozing in his nest until the light started to fade outside. He rose to his paws and padded out of his den. Plenty of cats still hung around the clearing, more than before. He wouldn't doubt if word had spread about the ceremony. He didn't bother to wait any longer, clawing his way up the trunk of the old Elm tree. He dug his claws into the worn bark of the low bough and let out the familiar call, summoning his clanmates to the clearing. A few cats came into the clearing, but otherwise the already present cats arranged themselves in a half circle around the tree. The long-furred she-cat sat shyly in the midst of all of them.
"ValleyClan, today we gather to welcome a new cat to our rank of fine warriors." the leader recited. "I have assessed Calla and I believe her to be ready to receive the gift of our warrior ancestors and her new name." He half dropped half slid down the side of the tree and stopped before the she-cat.
"I, Thunderstar, call upon my warriors ancestors to see this cat and give her your blessing to protect and defend her Clan with her life." the leader took a breath, "Calla, do you promise to honor your ancestors, to follow the warrior code, and to care for your Clanmates weaker than you?"
Calla blinked. "Yes."
"I do." Thunderstar whispered. She ducked her head, embarrassed.
"Um, I do." A few cats purred good-naturedly.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Calla, from this moment on you will be known as Callaspring. StarClan honors your curiosity and ingenuity, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ValleyClan." The leader bowed to the white cat, his forelegs pressed to the ground and his tail parallel to the ground. Callaspring did the same and then got back to her paws, her head held high.
"Callaspring! Callaspring! Callaspring!" the Clan cheered. Even though few of them knew her at all, they all gathered around and welcomed her with warm purrs and well wishes. Again, the tiny bits of Thunderstar's heart stirred, drawing closer together; perhaps on the mend.
However, the leader didn't want to spend time in the clearing for now. Other cats, much smaller and more fragile, were on his mind. He got to his paws and crossed the clearing to the Nursery. He was just at the entrance when Rabbitleap and Valestorm stopped him.
"Thunderstar." The tuxedo tom called. He and his mate stood before their leader. "Can we talk to you for a moment?"
"Of course. We can talk in my den." he meowed, leading them quickly to his den. It wouldn't be long and the kits would no doubt be asleep. Once inside, he sat carefully in his nest with his tail over his paw. "What do you need?"
"Well, Duckwing is a full warrior of our clan, now.. And we couldn't be more proud of him." Valestorm said measuredly. Thunderstar tilted his head questioningly.
"What is the matter?" he asked. He wasn't in a mood to speak carefully, and the pair seemed relieved by it.
"To be direct, Thunderstar, we would love to have more kits, but.." Rabbitleap started confidently, but that nature quickly dilapidated. "Not that we don't love our kit as he is. But.."
"We're afraid we would put a burden on the clan if we had more blind kits." His mate finished for him. He pressed his flank against her as thanks. Thunderstar felt the gap in himself left by Longwhisker yawn open like a fresh wound. He sighed.
"Any member of the Clan is appreciated." He replied. They nodded knowingly.
"We know, but you must understand." Valestorm meowed. Her soft, solemn eyes met Thunderstar's. He did.
"Duckwing is a great warrior. Any kin of his will be. I as well as the rest of the Clan would welcome fine, new warriors. But the choice is yours'." He stated. The two cats opposite him locked gazes for a minute. The leader knew, now, that he would be too late to visit his kits.
"Thank you, Thunderstar. I don't know why we couldn't convince ourselves of that." Valestorm said. She dipped her head respectively and together, the two cats left the leader's den under the Elm tree.
Left alone, Thunderstar thought about the prophecy. Although he wouldn't call recent events peaceful, no terrible evil had shown it's face. He couldn't imagine what could arise, either. He yawned and wondered why he was so tired. He laid down in his nest and shrugged it all off. Still, it weighed on his mind like his body weighed on the moss underneath him. So much gone wrong, so much gone right. It was a harsh balance of nature he still didn't understand. He wrestled it over and over in his mind until he was too tired to stay awake, falling into an uneasy unconsciousness.
