Sorry I haven't updated this in a while! Anyways, here is chapter 8! I appreciate any critiques or comments. Thank you!
Chapter 8: The Encounter
A moon had passed since the announcement of a savior for StormClan. Birdpaw didn't even know about the rogues until that day. Now, she patiently waited in anticipation for the arrival of a new cat.
"Flameleap?" Called the tabby she-cat. Her mentor had just taken her for a training session. The objective was to try to track her ginger mentor down. Suddenly, the wind changed, and she caught a slight scent. Birdpaw followed the weak scent trail until it stopped at a large oak tree. She peered up. He's not here⦠Puzzled she started to climb the tree. As she reached the first branch, she caught a glimpse of orange fur in the nearest tree. He must have jumped from this tree to the other one! The brown furred apprentice continued to climb up the tall tree. Eventually, she reached a long branch that would be a nice place to jump into the other tree. Trembling, she gingerly padded out onto the branch. She had never climbed this far up a tree before. When she reached the end of the branch, she took a deep breath. Keeping her emerald eyes on the branch of Flameleap's tree, she bunched up her muscles and leaped.
"Good job Birdpaw!" Flameleap called out. Birdpaw looked up to see the ginger warrior standing at the end of the branch she had just landed on.
"Thanks!" She replied happily, "It was kind of difficult though."
Flameleap nodded, "It was meant to be. Now that we've finished with today's training, how would you like to join the dusk patrol?"
"Really? I'd love too!" purred Birdpaw. Bring on a dusk patrol was so exciting!
"Alright then," Flameleap laughed, "Follow me. The dusk patrol should be coming out any minute now. Amberflight gave me permission to join." He was glad he was mentoring such an eager apprentice.
The two rounded a stream and padded to the camp entrance. There as Flameleap said, the dusk patrol waited. It consisted of Ripplenose and Honeystream.
"Hi Honeystream! Hi Ripplenose!" Birdpaw greeted them. Honeystream purred and licked her daughter's ears, despite her complaints, while Ripplenose nodded in greeting.
"So we will be patrolling the MarshClan border today." Ripplenose stated. "Let's get started." The gray and white tom began to pad off into the direction of the MarshClan border. Birdpaw stood and started to jog, trying keep up with the older warriors. Soon enough, they reached a large stream, the border between MarshClan and StormClan. The rapids swirled around, and Birdpaw could see flashes of fish scales in the river.
"We won't be hunting right now," Flameleap interrupted, noticing Birdpaw's interest in the fish. "We can save that for later." Slightly embarrassed, the apprentice nodded and followed her mentor. The patrol didn't notice anything unusual. All they did was remark the stale border scents along the riverbank.
"Everything seems fine. Let's head back now." Ripplenose said. The patrol had finished remarking the border, and nothing seemed to be a threat. The four cats began to slowly make their way across StormClan territory, when Flameleap cried out.
Birdpaw froze. Was Flameleap in trouble? The tabby cat raced across the forest floor until she reached a surprised Flameleap.
When Ripplenose caught up he demanded, "What's wrong Flameleap?"
The orange tom flicked his tail in worry. "Follow me." He commanded. The patrol followed Flameleap deeper into StormClan territory and in front of an abandoned badger set.
The orange warrior poked his head into the set and called out, "You can come out now!" A shuffling sound came from the set, and then a dark brown tabby tom emerged from it, bristling. Following him was a slender silver and white she-cat and two apprentices.
"What are you doing here?" Honeystream asked, barring Ripplenose's way. The senior warrior looked as if he wanted to attack the rogues.
"Sorry," replied the tabby tom, "We're just passing by. We didn't mean to bother you."
"It's alright," Honeystream meowed. "If you're only passing by, you are no threat to us." She cast a stern glare at Ripplenose, who was about to say something. Birdkit looked at the two apprentice sized cats. One was a silver dappled she-cat with large, blue eyes. The other cat was a dark brown tabby tom with gray paws and piercing gray-green eyes.
"Thank you," the dark brown tabby tom mewed hastily. "By the way, my name is Mud. My mate's name is Dew, and our kits are Rain and Stone. Thank you for letting us pass." Mud dipped his head politely, and began to leave, when Dew stopped him.
"Wait, Mud. This is the chance we've been waiting for." Her eyes were clouded with sadness. Mud bowed his head at Dew's words. He seemed to under stand what she meant.
"Do you think this is a good idea?" He murmured. Dew sternly nodded, and then faced Ripplenose.
"My mate and I have talked, and we have agreed that the life of a rogue won't be satisfying for our kits. My mother told me tales about clan cats, and I think this is the best life we can provide them with. Will you please take Rain and Stone back to your clan with you?" Dew pleaded.
Ripplenose stood, shocked. "I-I don't know." He whispered. He exchanged an understanding glance with Flameleap, and then continued. "Alright. We will take them back to StormClan with us."
Rain and Stone looked surprised. Stone cast Birdpaw a nervous glance, and Rain shuffled her paws.
"But Mum, we thought you were kidding when you told us about the clans!" cried Stone.
"Are you leaving us?" Rain whimpered.
"My dear kits, this is for the best. Just remember that our father and I love you dearly. This is why we're sending you to StormClan.
Rain whimpered again and buried her face into Dew's side. "I'll miss you."
Stone stood, his eyes glowing with morose. "I love you. I'll never forget you. But if you say this is best for us, then we will go."
The family exchanged goodbyes and a depressed Rain and Stone padded next to Honeystream.
"Goodbye," they whispered.
"Don't worry," Honeystream meowed, "We will take good care of you." She turned to Mud and Dew, "Goodbye Dew, Mud. Good luck and I hope we cross paths again." The pair of rogues nodded, and glanced at their kits one last time before padding away. Overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events, the patrol and Rain and Stone silently padded to camp. Except for one exchange between Flameleap and Ripplenose, nobody talked for the entire walk. Birdpaw was just padding along, looking curiously at Rain and Stone when she heard two, barely audible voices.
"It's them," Ripplenose whispered, "The prophecy was really true."
"Oh StarClan, watch over these apprentices," Flameleap muttered.
