Chapter Four

Two Moons Later

Fiercekit watches solemnly as her mother eats beside the fresh-kill pile with Hawkstorm, a large black tom with yellow eyes.

She laughs at something he says, Talonstrike watching bitterly a few rabbit-lengths away. After the death of Silverkit, Nightstream started withdrawing from her mate; while Talonstrike's instinct was to draw closer. This has resulted in a few fights that leave Fiercekit feeling more and more alone. As it stands now, the two cats don't act like mates anymore.

Talonstrike would love nothing more than to be there for his mate but Nightstream...well. Everyday Fiercekit feels the need to check and see if her mother is still here. More than once, she thinks of the MoonClan leader and deputy. It would kill her if her mother left and went back to her former clan.

Fiercekit hates herself for even thinking her mother would leave but she knows in her heart that it is a possibility. Sighing, the black and silver kit lowers herself onto her stomach, resting her chin on her paws as she watches her mother and father ignore each other. A silver-tipped ear twitches as Aspenkit settles beside her, silently pressing against her side.

After Silverkit, Aspenkit is the only other cat that Fiercekit allows near her unless it is her parents. There is just something about the fluffy cream and gray she-cat that calms Fiercekit. Maybe it is because she is so unlike Silverkit that she is in no danger of a flashback. Or maybe it is because the little kit has the warmth of a destined Medicine cat. Either way, Fiercekit draws comfort from the silent bond the two share.

She spots the golden pelt of the clan leader, Lionstar as he emerges from his den. He leaps up onto the Leader's Perch and stretches, the sun gleaming over his muscled pelt. He yawns once before shaking himself and padding to the edge, sitting down and wrapping his long tail around his golden paws.

"Let all cat old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Leader's Perch for a clan meeting." He meows out, the cats hurrying to gather around. He watches and Fiercekit sees the gleam of pride in his eyes as he looks down at his clan. Aspenkit makes a move to get up but Fiercekit wraps her tail around her paw in a silent order to stay. Blue-gray eyes wide, Aspenkit sinks back down beside the older kit. This is the first time the 3 moon old kit has watched a clan meeting.

Spotting Sootpaw, Featherpaw and Eaglepaw emerging from the 'paw's den with eager expressions, Fiercekit guesses they are being gathered for a warrior's ceremony.

"Today, there are three 'paws that have passed their tests. They have set their paws on the the path of a warrior and it time that they received their names. Sootpaw, step forward." Lionstar commands, a regale air around him. The dark grey tom steps forward, his muscled pelt gleaming and his single white paw catching attention as he strides forward. He holds his head high, blue eyes gleaming with barely restrained excitement as he stops in front of the clan leader.

"I, Lionstar, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Sootpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect the clan, even at the cost of your life?" Lionstar asks, a grave expression in his green eyes. Meeting the gaze evenly, the young tom nods.

"I do." His voice rings out strongly and Fiercekit can see the pride in Frostheart and Longclaw's eyes. Frostheart and Longclaw are his and Aspenkit's parents.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Sootpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Sootfire. StarClan honors your courage and determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of StormClan." Lionstar then rests his golden head upon Sootfire's dark gray and Sootfire licks Lionstar's shoulder respectfully.

"Sootfire! Sootfire!" Fiercekit and Aspenkit chant with the clan. Aspenkit's smaller body trembles with excitement and Fiercekit's whiskers pull into a smile.

"Featherpaw, step forward." The light brown she-cat with white patches steps delicately forward, amber eyes gleaming with silent excitement. "I, Lionstar, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Featherpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect the clan, even at the cost of your life?" Featherpaw doesn't even pause.

"I do." Her parents, Foxclaw and Stonecloud beam with pride.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Featherpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Featherleap. StarClan honors your hunting skills and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of StormClan." Once again, he rests his head on hers and she bends to lick his shoulder before moving beside Sootfire.

"Featherleap! Featherleap!" StormClan chants proudly as the two new warriors puff with pride.

"Eaglepaw, step forward." Lionstar calls and the dark brown tom moves forward, his muscles rippling under his sleek pelt and broad shoulders. Pride gleams in his icy blue eyes as he dips his head at Lionstar. "I, Lionstar, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Eaglepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect the clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." His voice rings out quietly but there is a strength to him that makes sure pride enters the expression of more than just his parents, Leafstrike and Redclaw.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Eaglepaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Eagleblaze. StarClan honors your strength and compassion, and we welcome you as a full warrior of StormClan." He rests his muzzle on Eagleblaze's brown pelt and accepts the shoulder lick before straightening as the three warriors stand side by side.

"Sootfire! Featherleap! Eagleblaze! Sootfire! Featherleap! Eagleblaze! Sootfire! Featherleap! Eagleblaze!" The clan chants three times, covering the three in nuzzles and affection. They move with a new confidence to their gazes and accept the Clan's affection.

"There is something else I must do today, StormClan. There are two kits in the nursery that are ready to become 'paws. Honeykit, step forward." Love and pride warms his gaze as his golden kit scrambles forward eagerly. Rowanstrike shakes her red head in amusement as her daughter bounces eagerly. "Skyfang, you are now ready to take on a new 'paw. You will mentor Honeypaw. Skyfang, you have shown yourself to be cunning and quick and I now ask that you pass all that you know to this apprentice." Skyfang pads over to Honeypaw, touching his nose to hers in a gesture of acceptance. Her blue eyes gleam with happiness as they move together to the rest of the clan.

"Honeypaw! Honeypaw!"

"And last, we have Boulderkit. Please step forward." The grey tom moves forward and exchanges a look with Honeypaw, his best friend. "Nightstream, you are now ready to take on a 'paw. You will mentor Boulderpaw. Nightstream, you have shown yourself to be resilient and caring and I now ask that you pass all that you know to this apprentice." Nightstream pads over to the gray 'paw and touches noses with him, a look of shock still in her eyes.

"Honeypaw! Boulderpaw! Honeypaw! Boulderpaw! Honeypaw! Boulderpaw! Sootfire! Honeypaw! Featherleap! Boulderpaw! Eagleblaze!" Fiercekit chants with the clan, a new ambition stirring in her heart. Turning, she moves back to the nursing den, settling down with Aspenkit.

She will become a warrior.

The best warrior.

And if any MoonClan cats come sniffing around...she'll give them a clawing they won't soon forget.

The bitter hurt over losing her littermate causing her to pin the blame on the white warrior and her clan.

MoonClan, look out.

XXX

By the time the excitement has died down, Fiercekit no longer feels like sleeping.

Nightstream is out with Boulderpaw and Talonstrike was assigned to a hunting party. Frostheart is busy grooming Aspenkit and Fiercekit...she's all alone. Holding in a sigh, the somber kit rises from her nest and sneaks outside. The night is tugging her and she slips outside, padding over to the tree rising from the left wall surrounding their camp. Underneath it is large, smooth rocks that the elders love to hog during the day.

Stretching out on one, Fiercekit rolls onto her back, her inky black paws dipped in silver curled against her chest.

She finally releases the sigh from her chest and stares up at StarClan, her silver eyes fixing on the new small star that is Silverkit. She watches it with fierce longing that feels like it is tearing her apart. She feels so helpless, then and now. She couldn't save Silverkit and now she can't save Nightstream and Talonstrike.

Fiercekit knows that Nightstream will use her new 'paw to draw farther from Talonstrike. She sighs again, rolling off her back and laying stretched out on the rock. Allowing her head to hang over the side, her flop of dark hair falls into her eyes. Peering through the fringe, the five moon kit watches Thistletail guard the clan entrance. The cream tom is jerking every few seconds as he struggles to stay awake.

Stifling a purr, the tiny kit watches with shining eyes as a leaf slowly drifts down to land on his head. With a low yowl, he topples over. His wide golden eyes are dazed and he sighs, lifting himself up and padding to the warriors den. Sticking his head in, Fiercekit cannot hear his low mew but moments later, Blueflame pads out. The sleek blue tom pads over to the entrance tunnel and settles down irritably.

The three newly made warriors are posted at the other end of the entrance tunnel, this is just an extra precaution.

Fiercekit's attention drifts from the orange-eyed tom as he doesn't do anything interesting. Sighing, her small flanks rise and fall with her deep breaths.

-gughg...Fiercekit..gugug...-

Jerking awake, she struggles to hold in the yowl that threatens to break free. Sinking down, she lowers her head as she gulps in deep breaths; trying to keep the images away.

She never notices Blueflame eyeing her worriedly from the tunnel, surprised at himself for not noticing the silver and black kit before now.

Her heart racing, Fiercekit hops down from the rock and pads in a circle. Her heart is racing in her chest, sweat is soaked over her small body and panic threatens to overwhelm her. Seeing a rock, Fiercekit drops into a hunting crouch, trying to hold herself stead as she slowly creeps forward. Silverkit's blank eyes flash in her mind, seconds before she pounces.

Baring her teeth in a snarl, she attacked the small rock; essentially just sharpening her claws. Sorrow aches in her heart, welling up and causing her to be vicious. The fox's bloody grin hovers in her minds eye and it tears her apart.

Blueflame watches with shock as the kit viciously claws at the rock and moves forward.

"Fiercekit? You okay?" He asks, the young tom concerned.

She stops clawing the rock, her head and tail hanging low as her flanks rise and fall rapidly. The blue tom moves closer, orange eyes narrowed in concern. Hissing, Fiercekit claws at him; causing him to jerk back in shock. The three stinging slashes on his nose cause him confusion and the temperamental tom feels anger rise.

"What was that for?" He asks angrily, swiping his tongue over the cuts and wincing.

Fiercekit just watches him blankly, guilt rising in her chest. The warm blood on her claws makes her hunch in, the blazing anger gone as quickly as it appeared.

"I..I-I'm sorry." She mumbles, drawing towards him. "D-do you need some cobwebs?" She asks hesitantly and he shakes his head, turning and moving angrily away. Staring after the blue tom, the silver and black kit scrambles after him. "Wait!" She calls out and he whirls around, orange eyes narrowed at the small kit. Startled, she falls back with squeak.

"What?" He snaps angrily, feeling a little bit of guilt as the kit flinches. He knows she lost her littermate but that is no excuse to attack a Clan-mate. Meeting his gaze bravely, the Fiercekit raises her head.

"I was wondering...wouldyouhelptrainmeplease?" She rushes out, holding her breath and looking at him hopefully. The blue tom looks at her with confusion and heat washes through her. "Would you help train me?" She asks slowly, hope dawning in her silver eyes and he draws back in shock.

"What?! You attack me and then ask me to help train you?" He mews angrily, his lashing tail cluing her in to his anger. Eyes wide, she quails but as she glances down, the blood on her claws makes her straighten.

"Yes." She meows evenly and he snaps his mouth shut, tilting his head to the side and eyeing her curiously.

"Mouse-brain." He mutters and pads away to the entrance. Staring after him, she tilts her head to the side. The flop of dark hair falls charmingly over one eye and he makes the mistake of looking at her. The expression on Fiercekit's hopeful face would melt even the most hardened warrior in the forest.

"Is that a yes?" She mews, peering after him and he sighs, wrapping his slender tail around his paws.

"Not tonight." He mews and she squeaks with delight, padding over to him.

"When?" She asks persistently, more life in her than any cat has seen in moons. Blueflame shakes his head, flicking an ear in her direction dismissively.

"Tomorrow night." He responds. "Now go back to the nursing den." He mews commandingly. She automatically bristles at the order but dips her head respectfully and trots into the den. Hope and excitement brew inside of her chest as she curls into her nest, Silverkit in her mind and heart.

"I promise, Silverkit. I will not let your death go. I promise." Slipping into a light sleep, Fiercekit curls into a tight ball, missing the warmth of her littermate.

That night as she sleeps, the starry form of her littermate slips down from the sky and watches over her.

He will keep her safe.

That is his promise.