Chapter 8.
StepStorm backed away from the cat in shock, her fur almost licking the Spirit Flame. The cat was a she-cat, her fur the color of tortoise-shell. She was not as lean as the cats of OceanTide but she was still muscular. Her ears seemed larger than the OceanTide cats as well. Did that have something to do with the fact that ForestRose cats lived in the jungle?
"I'll ask again," spoke the she-cat, "Who are you? Are you SpiritCave's learner?"
StepStorm opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out as another cat stepped into view. This one was dark brown with golden eyes. Her size made StepStorm guess that she was the spiriter learner. However, even if she was a learner she had the same wise-looking eyes that all spiriters seemed to have.
StepStorm dipped her head, knowing not speaking would be worse than speaking. "I'm sorry. I'm um, just a normal learner." That was a lie. She was an outsider. Nothing more.
"One who does not belong should leave."
StepStorm looked up in surprise. The ForestRose's spiriter was gazing at her with gentle, caring, wise eyes. It was like the she-cat understood what was going through StepStorm's head. "AuraGaze," spoke the spiriter, "Go start collecting the wood for the Spirit Flame. I will take care of this."
"Of course SpiritLeaf," AuraGaze dipped her head to her mentor and left.
SpiritLeaf slowly walked inside, her tail and head held high. StepStorm was rooted in place. She did not know why she could not move. There was something about SpiritLeaf's movements, the way she moved. It was like she was one with the Spirit Wind.
"Young kit," she spoke, her voice echoing with thousands of others. StepStorm wasn't sure but she thought she could hear ForestRose, OceanTide and the spirit of the Spirit Flame within that voice. "There is a purpose for you," continued SpiritLeaf, "Every hardship you have faced, every hardship you will face in the future. Your friends. They will need your support." SpiritLeaf blinked slowly letting the current information sink into StepStorm.
"But," began StepStorm, "I'm different, I'm not like them!"
"You are not the only one who's different. Open your eyes to the cats around you. Think of the cats you call your friends. If you cannot accept their differences or as well, their sameness as the others how can you know there are truly your friends?"
StepStorm was silent. Her thoughts drifted to her friends. StepLight with her carefree attitude. StepClaw with her strong will. The other learners as well. StepGull, StepTyphoon, StepShells and StepWing. All in their own way, all with different outlooks. They were her friends. She thought of them as her friends. She then remembered SpiralClam. Even her along with ShiningFeather and SpiritCave. Each had their own strengths. Even if they all could swim well and catch fish not all were experts at it. She had viewed them all as perfect. Even if they weren't. All the faults were pushed out of her mind so only the perfection remained.
"You understand now," SpiritLeaf stepped to the side, leaving the exit free to StepStorm, the sunlight outside a beacon. "Now go. Return to OceanTide. The place where you truly belong."
StepStorm walked past SpiritLeaf and out of the cave. The bright sunlight hit her fur head on and she blinked. Yes. She knew what to do now. She had to try her best. It didn't matter if she could not be as strong as them, they would forgive her for that. It was because she was not trying that they did not care for her.
"Go now," said SpiritLeaf's voice from inside the cave, her voice returning to being only the voice of one cat. "Your time is almost gone."
StepStorm looked up. It was. The sun had almost reached its highest point. Knowing what she had to do, she ran towards the beach. She ran faster than she had run before. She knew she would be still afraid, she knew she would be weaker than the other tribe cats. But that did not matter. As long as she tried her best. That was all that mattered.
The beach was now in her line of view and she pushed herself farther. Her paws screamed in protest but she ignored them. She could rest later. She had to do this now.
The coconut trees now in view.
Her paws pushed on. At the base of the trees waited her mentor. The gray she-cat watched StepStorm approach.
"Are you sure about your choice?" asked SpiralClam calmly as StepStorm slowed to a stop before her.
StepStorm sucked in air, her pants heavy. "Yes," she said, her voice filled with confidence. She looked up at her mentor. "I want. I want to become a warrior of OceanTide."
"I knew you wouldn't fail me," said SpiralClam. She looked up at the coconut trees. "We can start soon." Not hearing a reply she looked down at her learner. The young she-cat was fast asleep on the sand. SpiralClam purred in amusement. "Well you can rest for now. We'll start tomorrow."