Spottedflight passed the night trying her hardest to forget. To forget everything about the day before except that her name was now Spottedflight. Everything else was irrelevant. She didn't want to keep the memories of her warrior ceremony. It hadn't even come close to the fantasies she had dreamed up as a kit. The entire thing had been a disappointment to her, and she didn't want to have it hanging on her conscience for the rest of her life.
Ravenstar rose early in the morning. Spottedflight gave him a stiff, polite nod as they made eye contact. The large tom padded over to her. His eyes showed that he was cheerful, but Spottedflight could hardly match his mood.
"Your vigil is over," he told her as well as Puddlefrost and Mistsong. Spottedflight watched her sisters stretch in relief, the two looking sleepy yet excited and satisfied. The tortishell she-cat longed to share their feelings, but her limbs felt heavy and her heart felt empty.
Her amber eyes watched as Ravenstar padded away, beginning to rouse his Clanmates. Spottedflight knew that they would be leaving soon. She got to her paws and stretched, closing her eyes and yawning. She straightened up and opened up her eyes with a slight reluctance, blinking at the early morning light.
Now that it was light, it was rather nice to be on the top of the rocky peak. Spottedflight could see so far in every direction. She felt like a leader. Not just of her Clan, but of the world. The land that stretched all around her felt like her kingdom. She felt powerful on top of the mountain.
But still alone.
The feeling of being a ruler was much less extravagant that Spottedflight had imagined. She stood on the summit by herself, feeling like the world was hers. But the world was nothing without someone to share it with.
"Don't think about it," Spottedflight commanded herself, shaking her head vigorously, as if she could shake the thoughts from her head. She turned to see the last of SkyClan bounding down the slope. She had missed Ravenstar's announcement, but she knew that they were on the move. With a deep breath, she pelted after the rest of the Clan. She was pleased to find that this side of the mountain was more of an easy slope. The other side had been a fairly steep cliff, but this one meandered along and was much easier to climb.
The sun was not far above the horizon when the cats reached the base of the mountain. It was astonishing that they had made it down the mountain in a fraction of the time it had taken them to scale it. Now a vast forest lay before SkyClan. Spottedflight knew that on the far side of the woods there lay another mountain that the Clan would have to climb. But Ravenstar had been right: they had to cross far fewer mountains on this route than if they had gone another way.
Cats had mainly been traveling in a pack with the rest of the Clan, not talking and just getting themselves down the mountain. Now they separated into smaller groups, not being afraid to stray a little ways from the rest of the cats. As long as they traveled straight through the forest, everyone would end up in the same place.
"Spottedflight!" a cat called. The warrior turned to see Puddlefrost waving her tail for Spottedflight to come over. Behind her stood Mistsong, Lionpaw, and Spiderpaw. "Come with us!"
After a few moments of deliberation, Spottedflight decided that it would be best if she went with her siblings and the two toms. Maybe she'd still feel alone, but at least no one would have a reason to hate her. That was what seemed to count. Spottedflight padded over to the group of four cats. Puddlefrost smiled at her. "Let's go!" she mewed happily, taking off into the forest. They all followed, streaking through the trees.
Mistsong let out a trill of a laugh. She was racing Lionpaw. The two were both grinning. Spottedflight tried to smile. It was pointless to be bitter or solitary. She could only try to enjoy what she had and hope better things would come. But it wasn't easy. Spottedflight couldn't smile without it feeling forced.
She gasped as a force collided into her side, causing her to tumble over her paws and crash into the ferns. She attempted to wriggle to her feet, but a paw on her back wouldn't allow her to stand. A pair of different-colored eyes appeared in front of her, a bright smile staring her in the face.
"Spiderpaw!" she yelped. "What was that for?" She scrambled to her paws, not sure if she was furious of exhilarated.
"You looked sad," the tom shrugged. "And it wouldn't be fair to leave you out of the fun."
"That's sweet," Spottedflight murmured, wishing he wasn't in love with Puddlefrost. It must be nice to have such a considerate tom be fawning over you…
"Want to race?" a new voice challenged. Puddlefrost jumped out from the bushes, startling Spottedflight. The she-cat quickly regained her senses. "You bet," Spottedflight meowed, taking off into the trees before the other two could say anything. She heard them shout behind her in surprise, quickly followed by the sound of their paws thrumming along after her.
"Don't make me tackle you again!" Spiderpaw threatened in jest, his voice coming from directly behind Spottedflight. The warrior sped up. She didn't know where they were racing to, but she wasn't going to lose. "You won't have to!" she cried breathlessly, pushing herself harder and harder. "I'll—"
She broke off as a stream came into view. She skidded to a halt, stopping directly at the bank. Spiderpaw and Puddlefrost crashed into her from behind, sending all three of them splashing into the shallow bed of water.
Before anyone could get out, Spottedflight sent a huge wave towards Puddlefrost. The gray warrior squeaked in alarm, splashing back. Spiderpaw jumped high into the air, hitting the water between the two sisters and soaking them both. The three cats looked at each other before they broke down into a fit of giggles, dragging themselves out of the water despite their shaking sides. Mistsong and Lionpaw appeared before them, bemused smiles on their lips.
"Washing up?" Lionpaw teased his brother, poking him in the side with a tail. Spiderpaw laughed, lightly ramming his sibling in the shoulder. Spottedflight smiled at the two. Her heart felt less empty. It wasn't full, but her limbs no longer felt heavy. She felt carefree and light, like everything would be perfectly okay.
Her smile faded too quickly, her eyes growing sad as Lionpaw and Mistsong twisted their tails together, purring. Puddlefrost tackled Spiderpaw, the two sporting huge smiles as they looked in each other's eyes. Spottedflight curled her lip in disgust, pelting off into the forest in a sudden flash of anger.
How could they do this? How could they be so inconsiderate? How could they so quickly forget her and pretend like she didn't exist?
These thoughts boiled in Spottedflight's brain as she ran, adrenaline coursing through her veins and urging her faster and faster.
Was she really so easily forgotten? Had she spent so much time resenting her sisters that they hardly remembered her name? Had they forgotten the fact that she had no one who loved her? That she was alone?
The sun was sinking in the sky. Spottedflight couldn't hear any other cats, but her paws were making so much noise that she wasn't surprised. She hoped she would reach the end of the forest tonight with the rest of SkyClan so that she wouldn't have to spend the night alone.
At least not alone in the physical sense.
Spottedflight began to slow down, her anger fading into sadness. She could see clear spots through the trees, though, and she forced herself to keep moving. She stumbled out into the open just as Ravenstar summoned the Clan with the age-old call.
"I am pleased to announce that I have yet another ceremony to perform," the leader declared. The Clan cheered, but Spottedflight stayed quiet. Her anger and sadness were brewing inside of her, stirring up wicked thoughts.
"We are gathered here to give a Clan kit their apprentice name," Ravenstar meowed brightly. "Copperspots, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You will be mentor to Haypaw. Copperspots, you have shown yourself to be a kind and strategic warrior. Do all that you can to pass on all you know down to Haypaw."
Despite her anger, Spottedflight let out a cheer for her sister. It wasn't long, though, and she was soon silent and waiting for Ravenstar to continue. She was shocked to see Thymeheart take Ravenstar's place. Could it be?
"It is time for me to take on an apprentice," the medicine cat announced. "Your next medicine cat will be Birchpaw."
Ravenstar opened his mouth to speak again. "Birchpaw, do you accept the post of apprentice to Thymeheart?"
Birchpaw nodded happily. "I do!"
"Then at the half moon you must travel to…" Ravenstar broke off. "To wherever the Clans meet with StarClan to be accepted by our ancestors before the other medicine cats. The good wishes of all of SkyClan will go with you."
Ignoring the awkward wording, the Clan cheered for Birchpaw. Spottedflight let out a happy cry, but it was short lived.
It was just too hard to be happy.
AN: I would appreciate some feedback on my writing. Don't be shy to leave a review telling me what you thought of the chapter. ^^