A/N: I just had to try this idea, FMA crossed with warriors. If I'm lucky, this will turn into its own series.
Disclaimer: I do not own FMA or Warriors. Just a fan, like the rest of you.
Claimers: Nightpaw, however, is mine and you will learn about her later in this story, along with other cats that are products of my imagination.
Summary: From kits to apprentices, it was meant to be the greatest time of their lives, learning the skills they'd need to defend their clan, their home. But things are not what seem to be for there are secrets are hidden deep within the clan, secrets not even Starclan themselves' know. A terrible accident and a prophecy from Starclan will change Tinypaw's destiny forever. It'll take more than the courage of a warrior to discover a truth that will shake the clan to its core.
"Tinykit? Tinykit, wake up. Come on, Tinykit," The light gray tom prodded his brother in the side with one paw. The golden kit didn't take any notice of his brother's efforts, sleeping soundly on his back with his stomach exposed. The gray kit sighed, annoyed. How could Tinykit sleep so late when this day meant so much to them? This was the day that they would become apprentices along with Yellowkit, the pale-yellow she-kit that shared the nursery with them.
He turned to stare at the young she-kit who was nestled into the curve of his mother's belly. Her own parents had died in a battle against Nightclan, the clan of cats whose hearts were black as night. Pebblesky, her mother, had been found by Fireclaw. The orange warrior had blamed himself for not getting to her in time. Her father, Stoneheart, had been killed by the Nightclan deputy, Thorntree, trying to avenge his fallen mate. Yellowkit was left without a mother and therefore had to nurse from Gentleleaf.
Two other kits shared the nursery with them along with the beautiful queen, Birdsong. The kits, Honeykit and Littlekit, were much younger than the three of them. Littlekit's mother had died giving birth to her. Her father was unknown, though it was rumored to be the Nightclan medicine cat, Stonepelt. Their leader, Nightstar, had of course denied it. Birdsong and her mate Crowsky took the kit in and cared for her as though she were their own. It would be another two moons before her or Honeykit could become apprentices.
"Hey, Soulkit. Are going to sit there looking like a log all day?" Soulkit turned to look at the golden lump of fur that had been sleeping like a rock a few heartbeats ago.
"No," The gray tom mewed calmly, "I was waiting for your useless tail to wake up." Tinykit hissed playfully and launched himself at his brother. Soulkit caught him with his front paws and held him, battering his stomach with sheathed claws. Tinykit let out squeaks of protest and rolled to one side to try and dislodge his brother. A soft lump beneath him told him he was no longer laying on moss but Yellowkit's body. The angry she-kit sprang to her paws and hissed at the two.
"Watch what you're doing! You could've hurt Littlekit and Honeykit. They're not as old as you, you know." The hot-headed kit scolded the two. Even though Gentleleaf was their mother, Yellowkit liked to pretend she was the one watching over them. Gentleleaf didn't mind. It sometimes put the two in their place.
"We're sorry, Yellowkit," Soulkit mewed, apologetically.
"You can say sorry to the kits for nearly crushing them."
"They're not even awake," Tinykit huffed.
"No, but I am," The three froze at the sound of Gentleleaf's voice. "What is all this noise?" The three kits looked up into the blue eyes of the irritated queen, Gentleleaf. The end of her tail twitched impatiently. "You three act like squirrels. Why don't you go outside? Your apprentice ceremony won't be until sun-high," The three nodded eagerly, grateful the queen's anger didn't last. At once, they disappeared through the entrance of the nursery in a flurry of gold, gray, and yellow fur. Gentleleaf sighed and laid her head back down on her paws even as Birdsong was stirring, her bleary eyed look making Gentleleaf let our a mrrreow of laughter.
The clearing was still empty, few cats daring to come out of their dens. Even if it was sun-rise, many cats would rather make the most of their warm nest. Leaf-fall would be over soon and leaf-bare would be right around the corner. Prey would be scarce, and the clan would suffer for moons before new-leaf would come again. Tinykit was just glad to be out in the open air. He stretched his stiff limbs and noticed the flame-colored pelt of the warrior, Fireclaw.
"Hey, Fireclaw!" The orange tom lifted his green-eyes toward them. He walked over and mewed a friendly greeting.
"Good morning, Tinykit. Soulkit."
"Ahem. I still exist." Yellowkit mewed, slightly offended that the older warrior had not noticed her. Fireclaw nodded his head toward her.
"Good morning to you, too, Yellowkit. So are you three ready?" He mewed encouragingly. Tinykit sprang to his paws, excitement blazing through him like a wild fire.
"You bet! I've been waiting moons for this," Fireclaw cast him a humorous glance.
"I'm not sure such a small apprentice would be good on hunting patrols. You might be mistaken for a mouse," Fireclaw joked, pointing out once more Tinykit's small size.Though they were the same age, Yellowkit and Soulkit were bigger than the golden tom. Tinykit bristled.
"I'm no mouse! I'll be the best warrior you've ever seen," Fireclaw mmmmrrreowed in laughter.
"Relax, Tinykit. You'll make a fine warrior one day. Just listen to your mentor; you'll do fine," Fireclaw flicked Tinykit's ear with the end of his tail and walked off to the warriors' den, slipping through the curtain of lichen and vines. Tinykit's shoulders bristled, but he forced the fur to lie flat.
"I won't let him make a fool out of me," Tinykit vowed, his tail twitching irritably. Soulkit and Yellowkit shook their heads and headed to the fresh-kill pile.
"Let's find something we can share. Prey will be hard to find soon." Yellowkit called, nosing through the pile until she found a surprisingly plump thrush. The three kits eagerly dug in, taking equal shares. When they were finished, Soulkit began plucking the feathers from the bird and putting them into a pile.
"What are you doing?" Tinykit queried, licking his paw and running it over his face.
"I'm taking these feathers to Lightfur. They'll make a comfortable and warm bedding. Leaf-bare's not here yet, but it's still pretty cold. It must be hard on her," Soulkit mewed, continuing to pluck feathers from the bird. Tinykit hadn't thought about that. Lightfur was a respected member of Sunclan. In her younger days, she was a fierce and proud warrior. The only stain on her history was the fact she was the mother of that evil furball Thorntree and his brothers, Blackfur and Largepelt, all in Nightclan.
Silverfur was also her kit of the same litter who had chosen to stay in Sunclan. Her other litter had consisted of Waterstep--the Clan deputy--, Gentleleaf, and Pridestar, their leader. However, Pridestar was said to be an adopted kit from an unknown queen who couldn't keep him. That didn't stop him from believing that Sunclan was his true home, and now he was leader. Tinykit felt a small spark of pride being related to the leader.
"We'll help you carry that to her den, Yellowkit offered. At the moment, Lightfur was the only elder. That left the Elders' den all to herself.
"Thanks." Soulkit mewed, grabbing a mouthful of feathers. Yellowkit grabbed some as well as Tinykit. Together, the three made their way to the Elder's den.
Lightfur raised her head at the sound of approaching cats. When the three kits came in with mouths full of feathers, she greeted them warmly.
"Hello, kits. Is that for me?" Her voice hoarse and quiet with age, Lightfur nodded gratefully as Tinykit dropped his feathers at his paws.
"Yeah. Soulkit thought you might like some warm bedding with leaf-bare coming up."
"How very kind of you. You'll make fine apprentices. If you wouldn't mind putting it in my nest, I'd be very grateful. I don't get around as good as I used to," Rising from her nest, she moved over and let the three arrange the feathers in her bedding. Once they were done, they let the old cat settle back in. "That's much better. I'll tell Pridestar what good cats you are," Getting a compliment from Lightfur was considered an honor as the three purred. "Go on, now. The ceremony will begin soon. Let an old cat sleep till then," She curled up and fell asleep quickly. Quietly, they left the den, Tinykit squeezing out last. He looked around the camp and felt peaceful.
Sunclan camp was a clearing made up of a circle of large tightly clustered trees with branches stretching across the top, forming a protective roof over the clearing. Each tree was about four fox-lengths wide all the way around. Each was hollowed out at least two fox-lengths from the entrance to the back with arched entryways and ceilings two tail-lengths high. Each den was curtained by densely leafed vines hanging down from the trees.
In the spring, flowers grew on the vines, adding a decorative touch to the Clan's camp. The entrance was a narrow tunnel of arched, gnarled roots forming a straight line to the forest outside. The outside was covered by a dense curtain of the lichen and moss growing on the trees, blocking it from the view of the world and Nightclan.
Tinykit lifted his gaze skyward toward the protective canopy over the camp. In greenleaf and newleaf, the thick, interwoven branches were heavy with leaves with only one open patch of branchless sky. When the sun shone through the hole, the golden rays hit a large flat stone that was three tail-lengths high in the center of the clearing where Pridestar held the Clan meetings. Smaller stones that seemed to be part of the stone itself provided a way up to the top and a place for the deputy to sit. The rock was appropriately called the Sunstone.
Tinykit couldn't wait until sunhigh. He was excited to see who his mentor would be although he hoped it wasn't Fireclaw. He bristled thinking about the cocky warrior. I'd get more insults on my size than I would training from that useless lump of fur! He thought bitterly. Then he thought of the many stories he'd heard about Fireclaw. He was a brave and noble warrior and no cat could forget how he had grieved over Pebblesky and Stoneheart's deaths, blaming himself for not being able to protect his friends. Tinykit's whiskers twitched, and he shook his head. Deciding he'd be grateful for any mentor at all, he stalked off to the nursery to see if Littlekit was awake yet.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here at the Sunstone for a Clan meeting," Pridestar's yowl echoed in the clearing. Despite the cold weather, cats came from their dens to watch the three kits become apprentices. Tinykit, Soulkit, and Yellowkit sat in a group at the front of the Clan cats. Pridestar sat atop the Sunstone, his ruffled black pelt smoothed down for the occasion. His one green eye shone with admiration and respect. Waterstep, his deputy, sat on one of the small stones at the base, her eyes scanning the camp to make sure everyone was out.
Once every cat had gathered around the Sunstone, Pridestar began, "It is time to set three kits on the path to becoming warriors by making them apprentices," His voice rang around the clearing, making Tinykit's paws tingle with excitement. He saw the black cat lay his eye on him. "Tinykit," The golden tom stepped forward, his whiskers quivering with anticipation. "From this day, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Tinypaw. I ask Starclan to watch over you and guide you until you find in your paws the strength and courage of a warrior." The Clan cats all purred their agreement, the sound creating a miniature rumble of thunder. "Fireclaw," Tinypaw felt his spirits drop. Fireclaw?! He thought desparately.
The orange-pelted tom stepped forward, his green eyes shining. "Fireclaw, you have proved yourself a loyal warrior many times over, and no cat can forget how bravely you fought to avenge Pebblesky and Stoneheart." The warrior's eyes clouded with grief and immediately Tinypaw felt sorry for not wanting him as a mentor. "For this we honor you and ask that you teach Tinypaw all that it means to be a true warrior." Fireclaw dipped his head respectfully.
"Thank you, Pridestar. I won't let you down," He walked over to Tinypaw and leaned down toward him. Tinypaw touched noses with his new mentor, his excitement to be an apprentice and sympathy for Fireclaw replacing his disbelief of getting such a cocky mentor. He saw the respect and pride glowing in Fireclaw's eyes.
"Soulkit,"Tinypaw turned from his mentor to watch Soulkit's part of the ceremony. "From this day, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Soulpaw. I ask Starclan to watch over you and guide you until you find in your paws the strength and courage of a warrior," Tinypaw started calling Soulpaw's new name, encouraging the other cats to take up the chant. Pridestar waited until all was quiet before starting again. "Whitefang," The white she-cat stepped forward, her black ears twitching.
Tinypaw recognized her as the queen who had kitted at around the same time as Gentleleaf. She had had three kits, but two had died after they were born leaving the third all alone. That night, after Whitefang had passed out from the difficult birth, the kit disappeared. Whitefang had mourned his lost but returned to her warrior duties a few days later. If any cat had a deeper understanding of the warrior code and Starclan's will, it was her. "Whitefang, you suffered when your kits died and the other disappeared, but you have served your Clan well despite it. I am putting Soulpaw in good paws by giving him to you. Teach him all you know."
"Yes, Pridestar," Whitefang walked over to Soulpaw and touch noses with him. Tinypaw felt a twinge of envy for his brother. Lucky.
"Yellowkit," The pale yellow tabby stepped forward, her eyes wide with excitement, "From this day, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Yellowpaw," Tinypaw and Soulpaw both called Yellowpaw by her new name. "Smokepelt," The old gray medicine cat came to stand at the base of the Sunstone. "Smokepelt, you are growing old and frail, but your compassion and care for your Clanmates is as strong as the ancient trees around us. We ask that you continue your service to clan for as long as possible and teach Yellowpaw to one day be the medicine cat of Sunclan."
"I may be old, Pridestar, but I'm not that old yet," The old she-cat mewed, a glimmer of humor in her dark eyes. "As for teaching Yellowpaw, I'll show her how to be the best medicing cat around," Smokepelt walked over to Yellowpaw and touched noses with her. The cats called out the names of the new apprentices. Pridestar nimbly leapt down from the rock and walked off towards his den, Waterstep following him. Tinypaw knew the meeting was over then.
"Come on, Tinypaw," Tinypaw looked over at Fireclaw. He was heading for the entrance. "I'm leading a hunting patrol. You need to see what lies beyond these trees," He mewed, his flame-colored pelt disappearing behind the curtain of lichen. Tinypaw felt his excitement growing. His first time outside the camp. He was eager to see the world beyond the protective trees. Unable to contain himself any longer, he bounded after Fireclaw, his pawsteps light on the earth as he hurried to catch up.
Every scent, every sound, every sight enticed him, his senses a-buzz with all this new world had to offer. Tinypaw felt his whiskers quivering with excitement as he looked around. Leaves littered the ground while some still hung defiantly onto their branches. Leaf-fall would be over soon, Tinypaw realized watching as a single leaf fell from its branch to the ground. In the distance, he saw rolling hills, mountains, and other kinds of forest.
One thing caught his attention in particular. In one of the closer mountains, there was a dark spot, like a hole had opened up in the mountain-side. He blinked curiously, his ears twitching. What is that? He would've loved to go check it out but even a newly appointed apprentice knew that Sunclan's territorial boundaries did not go on forever.
According to Silentfur, there was a unique line of tree-stumps that went through the middle of the valley. Twolegs must have done such a thing many, many seasons ago, but for as long as the Clan could remember, there had been no Twolegs to disturb them. Ever. This valley was perfect for the Clan.
Fireclaw noticed Tinypaw's gaze and flicked his tail, catching the young cat's attention.
"That mountain over there is Nightclan's camp. That hole you see is the entrance. More than what they actually need, but they say they just need time to build up their clan," He explained, the white-and-gray tom beside him rolling his blue eyes.
"They won't last long with an attitude like that. I hear they take in rogues and loners all the time, just to give them some warriors," Smokecloud scoffed, his tail flicking in annoyance. Tinypaw's eyes widened in shock.
"But, Smokecloud, isn't that against the warrior code?"
"Whose to say what is and isn't against the warrior code?" The new voice snapped their attention to a pair of familiar pelts. Whitefang walked up to them, black ears slightly held off to the side. Her dark green eyes glowed with honor, respect, and understanding, with the wisdom of the warrior code.
Soulpaw trotted behind her. As she approached them, she sat down gently, head held high and tail curled lightly around her paws. "Starclan, that's who," Fireclaw flicked one ear and curled his tail around his front paws, intriquied by the white warrior's presence. Soulpaw and Tinypaw kept giving each other excited glances, trying to resist the urge to tackle the other and share their excitement with one another. Fireclaw dipped his head to her.
"Greetings, Whitefang. What brings you here?" He mewed, watching as a glint of amusement flashed in her eyes.
"Well, seeing as how these two are brothers, I thought it would be fun to train them together," Fireclaw mrreowed in laughter.
"Your training methods a little rough, Whitefang. Is that really such a wise idea?" Whitefang flicked one black ear and licked her paw.
"And you, Fireclaw, would insult this poor little scrap until he killed you himself," Tinypaw, who had been silently chatting with Soulpaw, sprang to his paws immediately, the fur on his shoulders bristling.
"Who are you calling a little scrap?!" He hissed, unsheathing his claws into the earth. Fireclaw flashed him a disapproving look, but the young apprentice took no notice. He started to turn his back on him, but a powerful blow to his head sent him sprawling to the ground. Tinypaw looked up to see Whitefang glaring down at him.
"RESPECT," she growled, her anger plain as daylight, "is the first lesson a disrepectful kit like you is going to learn. Fireclaw is your mentor now. Follow his orders and follow them accordingly. Do you understand me?" Whitefang was a mouse-length away from Tinypaw's face. The young cat gulped, the fury in Whitefang's eyes enough to make him tremble. It mesmerized him as if he could see the wrath of Starclan themselves in her eyes.
Slowly, he nodded his whiskers quivering. "Good. Now, on your paws. Lying on the ground is no way for an apprentice to behave, let alone a warrior," He wanted to yowl that she was the one who threw him on the ground in the first place, but soon thought better of it. Scrambling to his paws, he bowed his head respectfully to the white warrior.
She gave him a curt nod and turned, beckoning with her tail for Soulpaw to follow. The gray tom looked at his brother, both bewildered and sympathetic, then followed his mentor. Smokecloud had watched the whole thing, his eyes alight with amusement. Tinypaw glared at him.
"What's so funny?" He hissed, giving his chest a few quick licks. Fireclaw gave him a humorous look.
"The fact that my apprentice nearly had his little ears clawed off by Whitefang, one of the most respected warriors in the clan. That's what is so funny," Tinypaw suppressed the urge to launch himself at the older tom, knowing his inexperience at fighting would not be a match for the senior warrior.
"Well, what are we going to do?" Fireclaw stood and walked past him with Smokecloud beside him, signaling with his tail for Tinypaw to follow.
"I'm going to show you how to hunt," Tinypaw felt his eyes grow and within a heartbeat, he was by Fireclaw's side.
TBC
Thanks for your reviews. After reading them, I had to change up the chapter a bit. I hope it's better. I am currently working on the second chapter, but I just couldn't continue knowing there were things I could fix with this one. I will not disappoint! I swear it!