Chapter Eleven

A day had passed since the Gathering. Skypaw was still getting used to flying. She and the other new apprentices worked together. Flightpaw was the most challenging to work with, because she got so easily distracted. But Spottedpaw and Pouncepaw made up for it by keeping their sister in line. Leafstorm had taken Skypaw away from the newer apprentices to teach her a few tricks as well. Skypaw was more than thankful for Leafstorm's support.

"All you have to do is keep concentrating on what you see ahead," Leafstorm had told her. "Looking down might make you want to land on the first few tries, so just stare at what is ahead of you." Skypaw had taken her information in full swing and managed to do as she was told with ease. "That's it, now you're getting it!"

The air was cool around Skypaw's wings as she landed safely on a branch. It had taken some time to figure out how to land safely. Even now she could feel her legs buckling underneath her out of fear that she might fall. But Leafstorm was always around in case something like that happened.

"I think I'm getting the hang of it," Skypaw sighed when Leafstorm landed lightly beside her. She made flying look so easy. "I wish there was an easier way to land. What if something happened and there wasn't a branch or anything else to land on?"

"Well, none of us have really had that problem," Leafstorm replied. "It just takes time to get used to the feeling."

Down below Skypaw could see a patrol wandering through the forest. She could tell even from this distance that it was a patrol of WingClan cats. Leafstorm had told her that flying would give her a better sense of sight. She was beginning to realize that her mentor was correct in that.

The forest was bursting with life. Skypaw almost wished she was down on the ground so that she could see the prey running between her paws. The ferns that tickled her belly every time she crouched would always remind her of the days she spent in CaveClan. Not all of them were bad memories. She still missed Ferntail and Frostpelt. Those two had really been the only cats who really cared for her, other than the elders.

"Leafstorm, do you know whatever happened to Whiteflower?" Skypaw asked as she thought of the she-cat mentioned a few times. Everyone always seemed on edge about Whiteflower. Skypaw was more than determined to find out why, or what had happened to her. Leafstorm glanced at Skypaw uneasily before sighing.

"We don't talk about her very often," she murmured. "But I suppose you have a right to know." Skypaw looked down at her paws, curiosity getting the better of her. "Whiteflower was a great cat, and friend. Like you she had wings, and she was expecting kits. What we didn't realize was that she had… become close with someone outside our Clan. Someone without wings. She was so afraid that when her kits were born, they would meet the same fate."

"But why is it so important to be born with wings? What happens to those who are born without them?" Skypaw couldn't help cutting her off. She truly did want to know more about what would happen to those kits, or anyone else born without wings. Leafstorm closed her eyes and looked down.

"They would be taken by the medicine cat…." She paused to let this sink in. That didn't seem bad. Nightwing had become a medicine cat because his wing had been torn. But Leafstorm's eyes opened and a dark look had replaced her normally bright expression. "To be killed," she finished.

Skypaw couldn't hold back the gasp that followed. Kits were always treasured in CaveClan, even if they were different. Frostpelt had taken her in when Redflower rejected her. But to be killed just for not having wings…. Skypaw couldn't imagine a worse fate.

"How could anyone do that?" Skypaw asked, her heart clenching with pity. She winced at the thought of killing anyone. Brackenpaw was one of the most violent cats she had ever met. And yet even than she still would never wish death upon him.

"It is the way our Clan operates," Leafstorm murmured. "We have always done things the traditional way. It keeps us safe." Though she closed her eyes as if to prove her point, Skypaw could hear the doubt in her mentors' voice.

Clearly Leafstorm didn't enjoy talking about this subject. It left Skypaw wondering why Whiteflower had changed her mind about the Clan. The queen must have known that one of her kits would be born without wings. She must have been afraid that the Clan would kill the kits if they were born without wings. Skypaw couldn't help but shudder at the thought.

"Maybe this isn't something we should talk about," Skypaw meowed.

Leafstorm nodded in agreement and jumped off the branch, taking flight heartbeats later. Skypaw followed her shortly after.

From up here she could noticed that the younger apprentices were practicing their fighting moves on the ground. Cloudpaw had told her that the younger apprentices always started their training by practice fighting on the ground. Air battles were always taught to more experienced warriors.

I'm glad that I'm getting stronger, she thought. Now she wouldn't have to worry about falling behind in her training. Leafstorm had taught her well.

"Hi Skypaw, I'm glad to see that you're getting the hang of flying!" Sure enough Cloudpaw flew over to join them along with Ashwhisker.

Skypaw hadn't even noticed how huge Ashwhisker's wings were compared to Leafstorm's. Ashwhisker narrowed his eyes when he noticed that she was staring at him. She couldn't help but flinch under his stern look.

"Yeah, it's much more exciting than I could have ever imagined!" Skypaw purred. She was hoping that a conversation with Cloudpaw would help push away the story Leafstorm had told her earlier.

"It won't be long now before you two become warriors," Ashwhisker said, ignoring the strange look flashing in Leafstorm's eyes. "But perhaps you should learn to be a bit quieter and more patient." He looked at Cloudpaw seriously this time, but the dappled she-cat wasn't fazed by his accusing look.

"Oh come on, you're the one who told me to always stay alert and keep my eyes open," she retorted. "I'm doing that, and look how much farther I've gotten in my training!"

Ashwhisker only rolled his eyes in response. "Why don't we go hunting, I'm sure we can test how much Skypaw has learned," he suggested.

Hunting won't be such a bad thing, Skypaw decided. But she noticed the anxious look in Leafstorm's eyes when Ashwhisker said that. Even Cloudpaw looked a little uneasy, but she didn't say anything against his words.

"Alright, let me have a word with her first before we get started," Leafstorm replied, looking between Skypaw and Ashwhisker warily. Ashwhisker nodded as she led Skypaw further away from them.

"Why do you look so worried?" Skypaw asked anxiously. "Is something wrong?"

"You've never hunted from the air," Leafstorm told her. Skypaw's eyes widened when she realized what that meant. "Ashwhisker's testing you, and I'm afraid that you aren't ready for this kind of hunting."

Skypaw narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. If it was a test Ashwhisker wanted, than it was a test he would get. She watched as Cloudpaw swooped towards the forest with ease, catching something with her claws. Cloudpaw managed to catch a plump looking mouse.

"Lets see what you can do," Ashwhisker meowed in a bold voice. Skypaw tilted her head to one side before nodding in agreement.

Her eyes scanned over the forest. She could see movement within the undergrowth. It was leaving a trail of some sort, and she knew from the movement that it was a rabbit. Normally they stayed out in the open; finding a rabbit in the undergrowth was rare.

Without a second thought she launched herself towards the ground, ignoring the urge to fly back up. Leaves whipped past her face as she flew into the trees, avoiding the branches that were in her way.

Faster than she could react, her wings suddenly unfolded and she found herself colliding into the ground. Skypaw let out a wail of surprise when she tumbled forward in somersaults. By the time she stopped her heart was racing, and she was gasping for breath.

It wasn't until she stood up and tried shaking the dirt from her pelt that she realized the others had joined her. Ashwhisker had a look of disappointment in his eyes while Leafstorm was glaring at him.

"I'm sorry," Skypaw murmured, staring down at her paws shamefully.

"Don't blame yourself for that," Leafstorm reassured her.

"Yes, you clearly were not ready for such hunting," Ashwhisker added. Skypaw narrowed her eyes in outrage at the coldness in his voice.

"It's not her fault, she just…." Cloudpaw stopped herself when she couldn't find the right words to say. Leafstorm shot Ashwhisker a cold glare. He didn't even look offended by the looks they were both giving him.

"That's enough," Leafstorm hissed. "It's time we got back to camp; we've all had a long day."

Relief washed over Skypaw's shoulders when she followed them back to camp. Tension crackled in the air when Leafstorm and Ashwhisker had been glaring at each other. She didn't want anyone fighting over her.

But why did Ashwhisker push me like that? she wondered. I never did anything that hurt him…. I think. Cloudpaw glanced at her warily as the four of them returned to the clearing. Skypaw sighed and padded over to the apprentice's den.

"Skypaw, I'm sorry Ashwhisker did that to you," Cloudpaw murmured sympathetically once she dropped her mouse on the fresh-kill pile. "He isn't normally like that."

"It's not your fault, I should have known I wasn't ready for that," she replied. Cloudpaw was ready to say something else when Shadowpaw cut her off, joining them shortly after.

"Did something happen while I was gone?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at Skypaw.

"Ashwhisker tried hurting Skypaw," Cloudpaw replied in an accusing tone.

Tried? Skypaw couldn't hide the look of annoyance as she looked away. Her shoulders were still trembling from the incident that had happened heartbeats ago.

"You might want to see Nightwing if anything's happened," Shadowpaw meowed seriously.

Again Skypaw flinched when she realized what that meant. She wasn't in any hurry to prove that she was easily hurt or offended. Not after what had happened in CaveClan. Everyone else in WingClan had treated her fairly, other than Cinderstorm. All she wanted was to feel like she belonged somewhere.

"I'll take her," mewed Spottedpaw as she and her siblings joined them. Skypaw looked at the tortoiseshell she-cat gratefully.

While Cloudpaw and her brother shared a thrush Spottedpaw led Skypaw to the medicine cat's den. It was starting to get late as patrols were organized by Halfcloud. Skypaw could see Goldenstar speaking quietly to Leafstorm, a doubtful look flashing in the golden she-cat's eyes.

Spottedpaw ducked her head under the ferns that shielded Nightwing's den, and Skypaw did the same as she followed her. There wasn't much pain in her shoulder like there had been when she first arrived. In fact Skypaw didn't feel much pain at all. She had a feeling it had something to do with her pride more than anything else.

Nightwing turned around in surprise when he realized that he was no longer alone. Skypaw dipped her head respectfully as Spottedpaw left them.

"I hope that everything is alright, Skypaw," the medicine cat murmured as he returned to sorting through a pile of herbs.

Skypaw's nose wrinkled at the bitter tang that filled the den. She would have thought by now that she had gotten used to it. But it always left her wanting to leave in the worst way.

"Well, everyone thinks I should visit you since I… made a rough landing," she admitted shamefully.

She didn't want to admit that she had crashed while trying to catch prey. The last thing she wanted was to sound like a mousebrained kit.

Nightwing looked over his shoulder and eyed her in concern. "I don't see any physical injury," he said after giving her a thorough look. Skypaw squeezed her eyes shut as she thought back to the pride she had felt when she tried hunting earlier. "Ah, I see. It isn't an injury that we can't see, is it?" All she could do was nod in response.

"Ashwhisker wanted to see how good I was at hunting from the sky," she explained warily. "I-I thought I could do it, even though it was my first time."

The medicine cat suddenly purred in amusement, catching Skypaw by surprise.

"Honestly, did you expect to learn how to do it on your first try?" he asked. Skypaw looked at him strangely, and Nightwing shook his head. "Apprentices are always so impatient…. Leafstorm probably told you that you must learn how to properly hunt from the sky before you actually try it out. You could seriously injure yourself, and worse, you could cripple your wings."

Skypaw's eyes widened in horror at the thought of never being able to fly. She had only just learned how to fly. If anything had happened to her wings… she would never forgive herself.

"I'm sorry, I should have been more careful," she replied with a dip of her head. Nightwing simply purred again and rested his tail-tip on her shoulder.

"Just remember, always ask before you do something that seems risky," he told her. "I'd hate to see anything happen to you after everything you have already been through."

She nodded in agreement before padding out of the den. She would remember what he had said. The last thing she wanted was to risk any serious injuries. It was time she understood what she could or couldn't do with her wings. She had to appreciate them while she could.

AN: Ah Ashwhisker, ya big jerk! You're almost as bad as Cinderstorm ;) So, what did you think? Sorry for the long wait, I had the chapter all typed up, but I've been shiny hunting in Pokemon Alpha Sapphire... so far I've caught three shinies :D

Lightclaw's Shadow - I know right? It's about time she can fly :P And you shall find out about that soon enough...

boscyboo - XD It's okay, I do that all the time Oo and I'm glad to hear that! Shadowpaw and Cinderstorm... they would make an interesting couple, now wouldn't they? You'll find out more about Whiteflower later on, I've got big plans for her :P

SilverStormyWolf - Thank you! And I suppose I could do that... I'm not sure when he'll be added, but I could find a way to include him. And you'll be finding out more about Whiteflower later on, like I said to boscyboo, I've got big plans for her...

Foreststar of WindClan - XD It's alright, all shall be explained in the future :P As for Cinderstorm... someone will put her in her place eventually...

Cloudleap - That's a good thing, that means the description was more than enough ;) I'm glad you liked it though, I'm really happy with the way this story is turning out so far.

Petalfur - That's alright, I understand :) And yeah, believe it or not that was actually pretty easy for me, especially after reading the Inheritance Cycle :D

Icebreeze - Thank you, I'm glad you really enjoyed it! And no problem, I'm always happy to entertain XD And hopefully it will continue living up to those expectations... the next few chapters are about to get interesting.