Chapter Six
The two kits pace worriedly.
This is the longest they have been kept in the nursing den in a while. The time seems to crawl by very slowly and the two kits finally settle for curling up together. Glancing back, Talonstrike's fond crimson gaze sweeps over the two lightly sleeping kits. He can imagine what Lionstar and Rowanstrike are going through right now. Panic flashes through him at the mere thought of losing his tiny daughter.
Another silver kit slowly pops up in his mind and grief wells up in his throat. His son. His tiny son.
As if sensing what he is thinking about, Fiercekit stirs. Gently untangling herself from the smaller cream and gray dappled kit, she pads over to Talonstrike. Curling between his paws, she settles down. Taking comfort in her tiny body curled against his chest, Talonstrike settles down to groom his little daughter.
Together, they fall asleep.
XXX
A loud, heartbroken wail splits the night air.
Jerking awake, Talonstrike scrambles to his paws. Fiercekit rises to her paws, scanning the den for Aspenkit. Seeing her sleeping with her mother Frostheart, she turns to Talonstrike. He is leaving the den and the little kit hurries after him.
Another loud wail rings out, full of pain and sorrow.
Leaving the nursing den, Fiercekit sees Rowanstrike crouched over a still golden form. Her eyes widen with shock as she realizes it is Brightpaw. Lionstar stands beside his mate, blank eyes staring down at his motionless daughter. He can't bring himself to believe it is true.
The Clan gathers around, brushing a nose against the 'paw and moving on. Those that were closest to her settle around her body. Rowanstrike keens with pain as she leans heavily on her mate. Sorrow burning in his eyes, he wraps his tail around her shoulders soothingly.
Honeypaw cries silently as she sits at her older littermate's head by Goldenpaw, who is staring blankly- like she can't believe it is true. Honeypaw's golden-cream pelt seems so much smaller as she shrinks into herself. Boulderpaw watches helplessly from the side, uncertain how to help her. Nightstream strokes a tail down his shoulder soothingly and leads him away.
A burst of rage sweeps through Fiercekit so strong that it seems like it will sweep her off her feet. Her mother should be over here, not soothing a tom that isn't even her kit. Cloudfeather hurries up to Boulderpaw and gently strokes her tail over his ears. Nightstream bristles for a moment before slipping away as the tom's real mother soothes her kit.
All through the night, all Fiercekit can do is lay and stare blankly at the still and forever silent body. Her blank eyes don't see Brightpaw though. No, her eyes can only see a small silver body covered in blood...
Eventually though, Talonstrike gently picks her up; her body curling into his as he carries her to the nursing den. Setting her down and curling around her, Talonstrike grooms her softly. She thaws a little, tears slipping down her shadow face as she mourns Brightpaw and Silverkit. Despite the pain in her heart though, the little black and silver kit takes comfort in her father.
Because she knows she may have lost Silverkit and Nightstream but she will always have her father.
She will always have Talonstrike.
XXX
"-and the final part of the warrior code is?" Blueflame questions, laying beside the small pond as the kit climbs easily up the small tree leaning over it.
"A warrior must reject the soft life of a kitty pet!" She boasts, scrambling onto the branch and flopping down on it. Her black and silver furred head hangs charmingly over the branch and he holds in a purr of amusement.
"Correct." He says, pushing himself onto his hind quarters and swiping his paws playfully at the kit. Playing along, she laughs and pulls her head back, huddling on the branch and then launching herself down at him. Tussling playfully, the small kit pushes him down and braces her paws on his chest as his orange eyes gleam with amusement.
"I'm going to be 6 moons old tomorrow." The little kit says, backing up and sitting down; wrapping her black tail around her silver dipped paws. He rolls onto his stomach and kicks his paws out behind himself, nodding his sleek blue head. "And I know what you did." She mews, narrowing her eyes playfully.
"And what is that?" He meows back, laughter rumbling in his throat.
"You haven't taught me any battle moves yet! Or even a proper hunting crouch!" She mews loudly and he laughs, his head falling forward. Sighing, the tiny kit slumps forward onto her belly.
"But you know the warrior code better than some of the warriors even." He says gently, stroking his tail over her ears soothingly. Shaking her floppy fringe, she sighs but nods. Her ears look slightly funny, a bit bigger than her body right now. The same with her paws. Her paws are bigger right now and she constantly is tripping over her feet. The proud she-kit was outraged by her bodies 'betrayal' as the normally graceful kit had become the most clumsy.
"Who do you think is going to be my mentor?" She asks innocently, tilting her head back to look up at the blue tom. He shrugs, the tip of his tail twitching anxiously. Despite himself, the blue elegant tom has grown fond of the bossy little kit. He really wants to mentor her but he is still a young tom and there are other, more experienced cats that deserve an apprentice to train.
"Maybe it will be Thistletail or even Rowanstrike." He mews with forced cheerfulness. Nodding, the small kit looks disappointed. She likes this older tom, he is smart and is the only one who doesn't treat her like she is 3 moons old. He doesn't bug when she falls into a mood when she is remembering her lost littermate and he teaches her a lot of cool things.
Like if you roll a bundle of moss under your chin, you can carry an extra load in your mouth. Or, Mossheart is the one who likes robin the best and if you bring her the bird, she will give you an extra amazing story. And, the Gathering Tournament is when the five clans gather to learn news and mingle and the very next day, they will hold contests. Like who has the best hunting apprentice or the strongest warrior.
It fuels her desire to learn more, know more.
It sometimes feels like the blue tom is the only one who gets that.
"Alright." He sighs, rising to his feet and nudging her side gently. "We need to get you back to the nursing den." He says, waving his tail in the direction.
"But-" The small almost-apprentice widens her silver eyes with disappointment.
"You don't want to be tired and ruffled tomorrow. You want to impress your new mentor and have lots of energy to explore our territory." He cuts in, used to her manipulative wide eyes and sad expressions. Sighing, she follows him out of their secret training spot, wistfully thinking this will be the last time they ever have a learning session in there.
"It was worth a try." She mutters and he muffles a purr. The tiny kit yawns a little, heading into the nursing den. Seeing her disappear inside, Blueflame turns and starts padding to the warriors den.
"Wait, Blueflame!" She whispers and he looks back to see her craning her head out of the entrance. Fondness wells up inside of him and he waits as she trots over to him.
"Promise you won't ignore me when I become a 'paw?" She pleads and he mrows with amusement.
"I promise." He meows, dipping his head down to touch his nose to hers. Warmth spreads in her heart and she looks adoringly up at the blue tom turned silver by the moonlight. "Now go get some sleep." He orders. She bristles at the demanding tone and swipes a paw at his nose. Neither of them miss the fact that this is the closing motion in their training sessions just like it is what started them to begin with. Touching her nose to his cheek, the she-kit pulls back and purrs as he swipes his tongue roughly over her ears.
"See you tomorrow." She mews and then pads back to the den, curling up with Talonstrike. (Nightstream is there too but curled farther apart from her mate. And given the choice, the little kit is going to pick her father. The one who stayed and helped her after she lost her only littermate.)
Padding back to his own nest, the tom curls up beside Swanfang and slips into sleep.
Unknown to the two cats, Lionstar saw their interaction. He had heard voices and slipped out to investigate, shocked to see the unlikely pair. During the day, the two hardly interact. So the easy way they had with each other surprised the golden leader.
But it also gave him an idea.
XXX
Padding out of his den, Lionstar stretches his powerful limbs and leaps up onto the Leader's Perch and down the side ramp.
He trots over to the nursing den, purring with amusement when he sees Talonstrike trying to wrestle Fiercekit into sitting down so he can groom her. He feels a pang of loss, remembering Brightpaw but chooses to let love fill his heart in her memory and not bitterness.
"-but, geroff!" The small kit protests, her too-big paws tangling and causing her to fall flat on her face. Purring, Talonstrike pounces and starts swiping her black fur smooth. She still grumbles but inevitably (as usual) ends up pressing into him, purring happily as her father cleans her.
"Talonstrike, Fiercekit. I see you are getting ready for the apprentice ceremony." He mews lightly, looking down at the blissful little kit. She doesn't bother to respond but her father lifts his head away from her to nod respectfully. Mewing wordlessly, she paws at his muzzle. He laughs, nosing her to her feet and watching her with pride.
"Yes, Lionstar." She mutters, shooting her father a dirty look. He flicks her nose with the tip of his tail and shakes his head playfully at her.
"Good, I know you will do well. Especially if what the elders say is true." He meows and then moves on.
"What does that mean?" She mews after him but the golden leader doesn't answer. "What does that mean?" She asks Talonstrike and he laughs.
"The elders have been raving about what a fantastic 'paw you will make." He assures his slightly panicked kit. Relaxing, she settles down.
"Oh. Okay."
"Fiercekit!" Aspenkit hurdles out of the medicine cat den and trots over to the older she-kit.
"Yes?" She asks, instantly adopting the expression of an older littermate. Aspenkit skids to a stop in front of her and beams happily.
"Are you excited?" She mews, dancing around Fiercekit. Fondness glows in the kits silver eyes as she turns with her smaller friend.
"Yes, I wonder who my mentor will be?" She meows, running her tail down the 4 moon old kits cream and gray dappled side and calming her.
"Who knows!" She says happily, blue-gray eyes glowing as she twines around Fiercekit. "This is just so exciting!" She mews, looking adoringly up at the other she-kit. Nodding, Fiercekit ducks her head down and swipes her tongue over the kits fringe. "I'm going to miss you." She mutters, looking down at her paws and Fiercekit purrs.
"And I will miss you." She mews back, nudging the kit. "But don't worry, I'll still visit you." She promises and Aspenkit perks up.
"Promise?" She asks and the black and silver kit nods.
"I promise."
XXX
"Let all cat old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Leader's Perch for a clan meeting!" Lionstar yowls out and cats stream forward, gathering in one big crowd. Sootfire wrestles with Eagleblaze and Featherleap pounces on them, breaking them apart with a mrow of laughter.
Fiercekit watches her clan with pride in her heart and shining silver eyes.
"You are going to be an amazing 'paw." Talonstrike tells her with shinning eyes and Fiercekit leans on his side as Lionstar begins mewing.
"Fiercekit, you are six moons old today and it is time you moved into the apprentice den." He turns and looks out at the waiting cats, his gaze lingering on Thistletail. Disappointment burns in Fiercekit's heart and her ears droop a little. "Blueflame, you are now ready to take on this kit and will mentor Fiercepaw. Blueflame, you have shown yourself to be intelligent and a skilled warrior. And now I ask you to pass down all you know to this apprentice." Lionstar mews, watching with amusement as shock unfurls in orange and silver eyes.
Bouncing forward happily, Fiercepaw's eyes gleam at Blueflame. Delight flares in his eyes as he moves forward eagerly. Reaching up, Fiercepaw touches her nose to his in a gesture of acceptance. She fairly vibrates with excitement as she moves to join the crowd with her new mentor, Blueflame.
"This meeting is ended." Lionstar calls and leaps down with the crowd as they chant her name.
"Fiercepaw! Fiercepaw! Fiercepaw!" Preening with pride and excitement, the kit- the 'paw feels like she has set her paws on the right path to her destiny. Seeing the pale, shimmering silver form of her littermate- sorrow fills her heart. She has seen him in her dreams but never while awake. Raising her head back, she calls out his new name with hers until the clan gradually follows her lead.
"Silverpaw! Silverpaw! Silverpaw! Fiercepaw! Silverpaw! Fiercepaw! Silverpaw! Fiercepaw! Silverpaw!" And even though it isn't like it would be if he was alive, she knows that this is good enough. Right here and right now, she is as content as she has been for a long time.
Thank you WildChild13 for reviewing!
And I created Brightpaw in chapter one because I rather wanted Goldenpaw to live.