Congrats, Coby, you won the Tigerclaw plushie!
This means a new plushie! A limited edition Gale plushie to whoever writes the best review!
Also, I apologize for all the grammar mistakes in the last chapter, I know there are many. In fact, writing this sentence I made two mistakes that I had to fix. I guess I'm a bad speller.
And I'm sorry if this chapter isn't very good, I'm not very pleased with it.
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Tawnystorm
The shadows from the leaves above dappled the ground and my fur… the squirrel darted away… but I chased it, each step taking a lifetime… Thoughts and movements like sap dripping slowly down the trunk of a tree…So warm… So slow… the squirrel was now a butterfly… and…
"Tawnystorm, wake up!" A pale sandy paw tapped my ribs. I blinked, looking around for the owner of the voice. I had been dozing in a patch of sunlight in camp, enjoying the warmth of the midday heat. Falconwing looked down at me, his mismatched eyes fixed on my face.
"What is it?" I yawned, stretching.
"Bramblestar wants to see you in his den." He replied.
"Oh. Well, thanks for the message." I mewed, surprised. I flicked his shoulder with my tail. He stared after me as I padded away.
Nudging aside the bracken that hung at the entrance, I called out "Bramblestar?"
"Tawnystorm." His voice filled with love whenever he said my name. After all, I was his only kit. His only actual kit. Of course, he'd always acted as a father to Jayfeather and Lionblaze since they didn't have one, but this was different. Squirrelflight and I were the most important things to him ever. "Sit down." He mewed.
I sat, curling my tail around my paws. Bramblestar's tone suggested that I was not in trouble, so I had no idea why I was here. "Yes?"
"Dovesong's kits are now six moons old, and it's time they became apprentices. You've never had an apprentice before, and I think it's time for that, too."
I gaped. "I- I'd be honored!" I wanted to squeal like a kit. This was incredible! My own apprentice! "Which one?"
He smiled at my enthusiasm. "The choice is pretty much up to you. Icepool has already chosen Cedarkit, but you may mentor either Shadekit or Sweetkit."
"I'll go see them right now!" I raced out before he said another word. Making a beeline towards the nursery, I saw Dovesong napping in the shade of a tree. Her kits tumbled around a bit aways, entertained by Bluepaw. She was like an older sibling to them, and was often playing with the three. After all, there wouldn't be any more kits until Blossomtail had hers.
I padded up to them. "Hi everyone! How's it going?"
Sweetkit looked up at me shyly. "Hi, Tawnystorm."
The others called out there own greetings, and resumed their games. I watched the kits closely. Sweetkit was small, with frosty white fur. She seemed shy, and a little more timid than the others. Shadekit was a black and white tuxedo tom, and he was clearly the most adventurous and fun-loving of his siblings. Cedarkit held himself with dignity. He had long, glossy red-brown tabby fur. He acted like he was already a warrior, more mature than Sweetkit or Shadekit. He might be a great leader someday, but I thought he needed to loosen up.
A black bundle crashed into my legs. I yelped and leaped back. Shadekit's blue eyes peered up at me. "Sorry, Tawnystorm." He grinned, and turned away. Just as I sat down again, he whirled and leaped at me. It was pretty good for a kit, but still very sloppy. Sitting on my haunches, I raised my front paws and caught him in mid-air, throwing him to the side. He landed on his paws.
"Nice." I realized I was smiling. This kit had nerve. He lashed his tail, smirking.
Midday, the next day
"Cedarkit, from now on until you receive your warrior name you will be known as Cedarpaw." Bramblestar said solemnly. "Icepool, you are ready for an apprentice, and you will be Cedarpaw's mentor. I know you will pass on your wisdom and patience to Cedarpaw, and teach him the skills that will make him a brave warrior of ThunderClan."
Cedarpaw couldn't have looked any prouder as he touched his nose to Icepool's. The tip of my tail twitched back in forth in excitement.
"Shadekit, step forward." He did, his black and white fur gleaming. "Shadekit, from now on until you receive your warrior name you will be known as Shadepaw. Tawnystorm, you are ready for an apprentice, and you will be Shadepaw's mentor. I know you will pass on your courage and determination to Shadepaw, and teach him the skills that will make him a brave warrior of ThunderClan." I bumped my nose with Shadepaw's. His blue eyes were full of excitement, but not surprise. He probably guessed I'd be his mentor. I stared back. I had gone from looking up into the eyes of my mentor, to looking down into those of my apprentice. The seasons fly past before you can blink.
I leaped off the Highledge with him, so happy and excited I heard nothing of Sweetpaw's ceremony. I couldn't wait to give Shadepaw a tour of the forest. Life was so perfect.
The cats yowled the apprentices new names. Falconwing padded up to me. "Good luck, Tawnystorm. I'm sure you'll be great." He purred.
I smiled. Falconwing was always so friendly, it was hard not to like him. But right now, my focus was Shadepaw.
That night
Flitting through the trees, I raced to the abandoned nest. The dark shadows barely bothered me anymore. It was silly to ever be afraid of them.
Gale was waiting for me, his brown fur shining in the starlight. He smiled in greeting, and waved me over with his tail. Stretched out on the nest-floor, I told him all about Shadepaw and how happy I was.
"Congratulations." He smiled. "It must be a real honor."
"It is. I haven't had an apprentice before." I smiled back.
"I'm sure you'll be a great mentor." He said.
Just like Falconwing, I thought.
We chatted for hours. Just as the moon neared its peak in the sky, something caught my attention. There was a clomping noise of some big creature outside. Gale heard it too.
We both fell silent, listening as the creature, no, creatures, came closer. The smell of Twolegs blew over to us.
"It's just Twolegs." I sighed in relief. I hadn't been sure exactly what strange beasts had come looking for us in the night, but Twolegs weren't that bad. We could easily escape under the cover of darkness.
"Don't let your guard down yet." Gale murmured, still wary. Springing to my feet, I started to creep away, Gale behind me.
The door flew open and three Twolegs blundered in, holding strange moving lights. I tried to flee, but the lights fell on me. I leapt up onto a shelf, heading for the rafters. The Twolegs saw me, and reaching out a fur-less paw, one tried to pet me. Snarling, I puffed out my fur and swatted at it. Gale was bristling at my side.
The Twoleg yowled in anger and dropped its light. Its paws darted forward and clutched me by the scruff, picking me up.
Shrieking, I writhed wildly in its grip, clawing and spitting. It refused to let go. Suddenly, Gale launched himself at the Twoleg and started biting and scratching it. Another Twoleg grabbed him and flung him off, but the one holding me had already dropped me. We both fell to the ground and sprinted for the door.
We ran, stopping only when we were far away. We looked at each other, panting.
"Thanks." I said. He had just saved my life.
"No problem." He nodded as if it wasn't a big deal. "You should probably go back, warn your Clan."
"Yea." I replied. I'd have to figure out a way to tip them off without revealing I had been out at night. "Twolegs in the territory won't please Firestar."
Gale hesitated. "Be careful." He licked my cheek and padded away quickly.
I watched him go. He'd saved my life back there, throwing himself at the Twoleg… I think I'm in love with him.
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Tawnystorm is cool! Why can't she be better in this chapter?
I'm sorry for the long time it took to get this chapter out, I was on vacation! While I was on vacation, I got the idea for (and halfway completed) my story Cursed. If you like Spiteful, you should check it out!
IMPORTANT A/N: If you like this story and feel strongly about who should win, you NEED to take the poll on my profile page! I don't know if you can, but please don't take it more than once. AND REVIEW!
