Chapter Three
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. From this moment on, you shall be known as Bramblehawk. StarClan honors you for your bravery and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of RiverClan!" Duststar shouted, his eyes glinting with happiness. He leapt down, placing his head on Bramblehawk's, while he licked Duststar's shoulder respectfully. Bramblehawk stepped back to join his sister.
"Palemist! Honeyflower! Bramblehawk! Palemist! Honeyflower! Bramblehawk!" Fernkit joined enthusiastically, but remained silent when Honeyflower was chanted.
"Congratulations, new warriors. You will sit your silent vigil and protect the camp tonight. Clan dismissed," Duststar mewed, disappearing back into his den. It was only sunhigh, and the new warriors would have to wait some time before they could settle down and sit vigil. Fernkit shrugged, bounding towards the fresh-kill pile. She felt a surge of happiness as she spotted Larkflame ducking into the nursery. He visits her a lot now! I'm glad I could help Applesong!
The fresh-kill pile was pitifully small, and she grabbed a skinny carp, bringing it to the entrance of the nursery. Settling down, she was about to bite the prey, until she spotted a dappled cat jump up to her.
"Oh, Fernkit, could we please share that? I'm starving, and Applesong doesn't want me to eat anything until the warriors have eaten," Brindlekit mewed, her eyes pleading. Sighing, she nodding in agreement, watching as Brindlekit devoured half of the carp with one bite. Brindlekit fixed the rest of the carp with hungry eyes, and her mouth was slightly open.
"Go ahead, Brindlekit. I ate yesterday. I'll be fine for today," Fernkit mewed, getting up. As she padded over towards Palemist to congratulate her, her stomach rumbled, disagreeing with what she just said. As she reached her pale gray friend, she jumped up, her light blue eyes lighting up.
"Fernkit! I'm so excited right now! I'm really a warrior! I ju-," Palemist mewed, before giggling as Fernkit's stomach rumbled. "Oh my, I'll go get something for you to eat, just-." Palemist gasped as a trout was flopped between them, her eyes widened. Fernkit looked up, locking her gaze with a dark green one.
"Go ahead, Fernkit. I caught it by the river. I hope you like it," Bramblehawk mewed, his whiskers twitching. Fernkit purred with delight, biting into the trout. She tore off its flesh, relishing in the soft flesh. After she was finished, she picked up the rest of the trout, preparing to bring it for Skykit. Padding into the nursery, she was ambushed by a white she-cat, whose golden eyes were bright with amusement.
"Got you, Fernkit! Oh, you brought me something to eat! I haven't eaten since yesterday, Fernkit. Thank you so much! Do you want to go swim?" Skykit mewed, digging into the trout. Fernkit wrapped her tail around her paws, licking at her fur.
"Sure. I'll be waiting outside," Fernkit replied. Padding out of the nursery, she noticed that the pale sun now reflected off her pelt, its sheen glowing. Over five moons, her pelt had become sleek and glossy, like a true RiverClan. She yelped as a pair of blue eyes glared at her from in front. The cat arched her creamy golden pelt, her white face angry.
"Okay, Fernkit. I know how you dream about being with Bramblehawk and all, but he's mine! Notice how I'm Honeyflower, but you're only Fernkit. You should keep your odd eyes away from us, got it?" Honeyflower snapped, her fur bristling. Fernkit shrunk back, her one amber eyes glowing with fear, and the other was the same.
"Honeyflower! Hurry up! We're going to leave without you!" Larkflame shouted, his amber eyes impatient. With one last glare at the kit, she turned around, marching towards the entrance of the camp. As she passed Bramblehawk preparing to go out for a border patrol, she brushed her muzzle against his, purring softly. Fernkit shivered, before leaping towards the entrance of camp.
"Brightpelt! I want to go swim, can I? Kits are allowed to swim as a long as a warrior is watching them, right?" Fernkit mewed, poking at Brightpelt, who was basking in the sun's pale rays. Brightpelt sighed, but gave a reluctant nod, padding towards the small pool beside the camp. She flopped herself down, gesturing for Fernkit to start swimming. Suddenly, a ball of white fur flashed past her, and Skykit dove into the pool, resurfacing a moment later.
"Come on, Fernkit! The water's actually pretty warm for leafbare!" Skykit purred, splashing playfully at her sister. With a mock growl, Fernkit jumped into the water, splashing Skykit in the process. Pushing against the water, she swam around the pool, and dove around, enraptured by the feeling of the water pulling on her. Gasping for breath, she pushed herself up, glad to have reached the surface. Suddenly Brightpelt stood up in alarm, her fur bristled out.
"Fernkit! Skykit! Get out of the pool at once!" she snarled, her eyes blazing with worry. Fernkit's eyes widened, and she struggled towards the ground, before feeling her sister pulling her back.
"Fernkit, it's obvious Brightpelt just wants to go back to having her own time! Let's kee-," Skykit purred, before screeching as a wave of water hit her. Fernkit yowled as a wave pushed her under, and she gasped, struggling to push herself up. The water kept pouring into the pond, not allowing Fernkit to escape. The last thing she saw was Brightpelt diving in, her eyes searching.
"Fernkit… Are you alright?" Fernkit struggled to open her eyes, and her legs felt numb. "Fernkit… Please wake up. Brindlekit and I are so worried about you." Fernkit mumbled, opening her eyes. It was shaky, but she could make out a pale gray face with light blue eyes staring at her.
"Palemist? What… what happened?" Fernkit murmured, too weak to sit up. A dappled brown she-cat popped into her vision, and the cat purred, her blue eyes lit up. Palemist sighed with relief, curling herself around the kit.
"You and Skykit were just swimming, and then a large wave knocked you both under," Palemist whispered, licking Fernkit. Fernkit closed her eyes, remembering the feeling of water crashing down on her. She was not afraid of water, for it had been her own fault for not getting out. But… I did try to swim towards land…. Skykit pulled me… Skykit! Fernkit jumped up, pushing Palemist away from her.
"Skykit! Where's Skykit?" Fernkit yelped, looking around with widened eyes. Palemist and Brindlekit exchanged a look she didn't like very much.
"You've been unconscious for two sunrises now. Skykit… she hasn't woken up yet…" Palemist mumbled, shuffling her paws awkwardly. Fernkit gasped, and she felt her heart drop to her paws. "Why don't we go outside? Everybody's been worried about you, even Dovewillow." On shaky, but excited paws, Fernkit padded outside, the cold wind blowing in her fur. The moon was already out, and cats murmured.
"Look, it's Fernkit! She's awake!" Larkflame yowled, his eyes glowing with delight. Applesong raised her head from where she shared prey with him, and she purred. A white she-cat fell against her, purring and licking at her pelt with furious licks. Dovewillow?
"Oh, Fernkit… thank goodness you're okay! I was so worried that Hawkstripe would blame me for your death and stop loving me," Dovewillow mewed, her voice not as warm as Fernkit would have hoped. Fernkit pulled away, lowering her eyes. "I need to go check up on Skykit. I hope she's woken up by now." You were only worried about me because of what Hawkstripe would do if he thought you caused my death. You still don't care about me.
"My lovely fern, it's good that you're awake now. Brightpelt's been restless because she thought that she wasn't watching you guys correctly. Speaking of her…" Hawkstripe mewed, only stopped when a golden tabby she-cat bounded forward. She dipped her head, and she was panting heavily.
"I'm so sorry for not watching your better, Fernkit. I really hope that Skykit does wake up, or else it's all my fault!" Brightpelt wailed, her muzzle raised to the sky.
"It's not your fault, Brightpelt. You did warn us, I was just too weak to swim ashore," Fernkit mewed, her eyes warm. Brightpelt dipped her head, muttering one last apology, before bounding off to join the last hunting patrol. Hawkstripe's eyes brightened at an excited yowl rang through the medicine cats' den. A white she-cat with soft silver tipped for bounded out of the den, pressing against Fernkit.
"I'm so sorry I pulled you back in! It was my fault that we almost drowned! I'm so sorry!" Skykit yelped, her eyes holding back tears. Fernkit purred, pressing back against her sister.
"It's okay, Skykit. We both got out alive, and that's what matters. We'll be apprentices in a moon, then we can swim through every river together!" Fernkit purred enthusiastically. Skykit's eyes widened with happiness, and she gave a light purr.