Chapter Seven
"Ready?" Blueflame asks the silver-and-black 'paw. Her silver eyes gleaming with excitement, she nods eagerly.
"What are we going to do first?" She asks happily, his orange eyes gleaming with just as much excitement as hers.
"We are going to explore our territory." Blueflame says and she can't help the small squeak of excitement as she pads by his side. Her father watches proudly before turning to Nightstream and saying something to her. Her heart lighter now that she is a 'paw with Blueflame as her mentor and her parents fixing things, Fiercepaw exits the camp for the first time since Silverkit- Silverpaw died.
She never sees her mother hiss something at Talonstrike and stalk away.
The moment she sets a paw onto the soft, green grass, she freezes. The last time Fiercepaw was out here, something horrible happened. What if something horrible happens again? Sensing her turmoil, Blueflame strokes his tail down her flank. Relaxing a little, she leans into his shoulder.
"Just scent our territory for now. When you are ready, then we can go." He mews soothingly and she nods, her flanks rising and falling rapidly with her light pants. Opening her mouth, she allows the scents of the forest to flood in.
The woodsy scent reminds her of the nursing den and her pelt flattens as she perks up a little more. The flavors of the forest are rich and stir excitement in her blood. Leaning forward, she kneads her claws into the ground as she scents prey. Little heartbeats make her mouth flood with saliva and she licks her lips. Blueflame laughs a little, nudging her shoulder with his.
"Ready?" He meows and she rises to her paws eagerly.
"Ready!" She mews, excitement leaking into her voice.
"Then follow me." He meows back, turning left and swiftly picking up his pace. Perking up her ears, Fiercepaw bounds after him happily. The vibrant greens, soft browns and clear blue catching her attention, the 'paw stumbles more than a few times as she follows Blueflame. Her wide silver eyes drink in the sights eagerly as they traverse the StormClan territory. After a few fox-lengths, Blueflame slows down into a trot. "This is the training tunnel." He says, turning and looking at Fiercepaw as he sits down by a bush and wraps his tail around his paws. Confused, Fiercepaw looks past him but only sees more forest. "Scent it out, Fiercepaw..." He prompts and she parts her jaws, drawing in the scents.
Woods...fresh mint...mice...and a musky scent that makes her wrinkle her whiskers.
Opening her eyes, she rises to her feet and pads over to the bush her mentor is sitting by. Peering past him, she sneezes a little as her nose brushes the bush. Wiggling underneath it, the black-and-silver 'paw slips into the tunnel. Once inside, she tenses and her heart starts racing as her fear-scent fills the pitch-black tunnel. Twisting her head around, she calms a little at the sight of Blueflame. His orange eyes gleam at her confidently and he gently presses his nose to her flank and nods encouragingly.
Turning back around, Fiercepaw pads forward cautiously. It is only a few taillengths until she scents fresh air and speeds up. Her inky silver-tipped ears angled forward, the young she-cat scrambles through the last of the tunnel and yelps as her paw gets caught on a branch. Tumbling forward, she falls head-over-paws into the soft, green grass. Rolling into a tree, she scrambles to her paws; shaking herself out and freezing.
Lightningpaw (a silver tom with jagged white streaks on his pelt), Longclaw- his mentor (a tom with long brown fur with ginger and white patches), Swanfang and Goldenpaw (a golden she-cat with green eyes and black paws) are bristling with shock. Lightningpaw's amber eyes are wide with shock and Longclaw snorts as he straightens from his crouch.
Flushing with shame, Fiercepaw lowers her head as Blueflame pads out of the tunnel. Her mentor nods in greeting to their Clan-mates and heads straight over to her, brushing his tail over the small she-cat's ears. Straightening out of her crouch, she shoots him a pleading glance. His orange eyes gleam with amusement and she knows he won't speak for her.
"I-um-sorry!" She blurts out, not used to talking with anyone other than Aspenkit, Talonstrike and Blueflame.
"What in StarClan are you teaching poor Fiercepaw?" Swanfang teases, the beautiful white she-cat padding forward to touch noses with Blueflame. Goldenpaw pads behind her, her sleek golden pelt still a little ruffled. Sitting down, she swipes her tongue over her black paw and rubs her ear.
"Hi! I'm Goldenpaw." The bubbly golden apprentice's green eyes are wide with curiosity. Feeling a little shy, Fiercepaw presses into Blueflame's side.
"H-hello. I'm Fiercepaw." She mews quietly, not at all sounding fierce. Snorting with laughter, Blueflame nudges her side.
"Why so mouse-like, Fiercepaw?" He teases and she straightens, the meek air falling away as she glares at the elegant blue tom.
"Mouse-brain!" She teases back, swiping a paw at his ears. Ducking and mrowing with laughter, he hops to the side. Smiling, she turns back to Goldenpaw, who watches with wide eyes.
"You two seem like you know each other really well!" She exclaims and Swanfang nods in agreement. Suddenly meek again, the black and silver apprentice shrugs, looking at her paws and kneading the ground.
"Leave the poor kit alone!" Longclaw exclaims, looking fondly at his den-mate. "I'm Longclaw and this is my apprentice, Lightningpaw." He says cheerfully and she nods.
"And I'm not a kit." She mews back, causing him to blink in surprise before grinning.
"Sorry about that." He apologizes. "It's habit!" He shrugs a shoulder, waving his apprentice forward with his tail. Padding forward, the silver and white apprentice nods cordially at her, a mischievous gleam in his amber eyes making heat flush through her pelt. That look in his eyes reminds her so much of Silverk-paw. Scenting her littermate, she turns her dark head; looking for him. She can see the barest outline of her StarClan littermate. His comforting scent winds around her and she twitches an ear before looking back at the other three cats; an impassive gleam in her silver eyes.
"We are exploring the territory. You want to come with us?" Blueflame meows, used to the look in her eyes. He flicks her ear with the tip of his tail as Swanfang nods.
"Goldenpaw could use a little reminder about our territory." She mews and instantly, Longclaw nods in agreement.
"We will come too." He mews, but Swanfang misses the longing look in his eyes when he looks at her. She only has eyes for Blueflame. Her mentor dips his head in agreement.
"Ready?" He asks Fiercepaw and she bounces a little on her paws, nodding eagerly. He whips towards the tunnel and bounds through it, Fiercepaw right behind him. She stiffens a little once she reaches the tunnel but wiggles through it. Feeling boxed in by the walls around her and the cats behind her, she is faster getting through this time. Scrambling through, she slides under the bush; mewing under her breath when a branch stabs her in one of her ears.
Shaking her head, her black and silver streaked fringe flops in her eye. Blueflame brushes it back and then takes off at a steady lope. Hurrying after him, Fiercepaw flinches a little as Goldenpaw leaps past with a happy yowl. Goldenpaw bounds forward, leaping in the air like a playful kitten. Blueflame mrows with laughter and Fiercepaw looks at him.
"Go ahead." He says encouragingly and she hesitates, looking back at the golden 'paw. He sighs and gently shoves her shoulder. Hissing playfully, she swipes at him and then pours on the speed as she races after the golden apprentice.
"Hey, wait for me!" Lightningpaw meows loudly behind her. Laughing a little bit, Fiercepaw lopes after Goldenpaw as Lightningpaw catches up. Her inky black and silver-tipped ears are perked forward, her form graceful as her tail streams behind her. In this moment, she finds she loves the way her body moves smoothly to give her this speed. The wind rushes over her as she leaps over a small fallen branch and continues running happily. "You are pretty fast!" Lightningpaw mews beside her and she tears her eyes away from the bright form of Goldenpaw to look at him.
"Thanks!" She mews back, the larger apprentice keeping pace with her. "I like to run-" She yowls as her large paw gets caught on a rock and she tumbles forward. Rolling forward, she flops down and pants for breath.
"Fiercepaw!" Blueflame yowls, racing forward and skidding to a stop beside his apprentice. She hides her face under her paw as he peers worriedly down at her. "Are you okay?" He meows, calming down a little when he sees she is just embarrassed.
"No!" She mews petulantly, causing him to laugh a little as he nudges her to her feet. Her head lowers as she licks her chest a few times to hide her embarrassment.
"Wow, that was a fall!" Goldenpaw mews, trotting back to join them. Lightningpaw nods in agreement as Longclaw and Swanfang join them. "Are you okay?" Goldenpaw asks, tilting her head to the side curiously, her concern warming the small black and silver 'paw. Flicking her ear dismissively, she rises to her paws and dips her head.
"I'm okay. Just a little winded, but, thanks for asking." She says, her silver eyes meeting Goldenpaw and Lightningpaw's eyes a little uncertainly. The two larger apprentices exchange looks before smiling and moving forward, pressing on either side and moving forward with her.
"No problem. You should have seen Lightningpaw when he was a new apprentice. His paws were so big that he constantly tripped over everything!" Goldenpaw mews happily, ignoring the disgruntled look Lightningpaw shoots her.
"It is true but I am better now. Your paws just mean you still have growing to do." He mews comfortingly and she nods, padding forward with them. The way they are welcoming her makes her feel like they could become good friends.
The rest of the tour of StormClan goes by fairly quickly, her new friends telling her a lot about their territory. Blueflame and the two other mentors hang back a little, keeping a careful eye on their 'paws. They laugh and talk about how good their apprentices are getting along.
Seeing the way Fiercepaw unfolds, Blueflame thinks this will be good for her. She deserves to be happy.
Her silver eyes gleam and for once, they aren't clouded or blank. She is hardly ever like this and it is reassuring for Blueflame when she is. Heading back to camp, Fiercepaw doesn't let her constant tripping drag her down. She keeps up with Honeypaw and Lightningpaw, ignoring her aching muscles.
She may have had Blueflame before she became a 'paw but he focused more on the verbal part of her training. She really wishes he hadn't because now her muscles feel like they are seconds away from giving out. The pads of her paws ache and are tender, unused to the exercise.
"You okay?" Lightningpaw asks, his amber eyes concerned.
"I'm good!" Fiercepaw says cheerfully, forcing herself to put a little bounce in her walk. Lightningpaw exchanges a look with Goldenpaw, respect glowing in their eyes as they walk with their new friend.
"Last one to camp is mouse-brained!" Goldenpaw yowls and takes off, Fiercepaw and Lightningpaw laughing and chasing after her. The two quickly catch up and Lightningpaw notices that when Fiercepaw is running, she seems...happy. She is graceful and her worries just fall away, leaving her as care-free as a kit.
The three of them barrel through the entrance of camp, causing a few cats to jump out of the way in shock.
"I win!" Lightningpaw boasts and Fiercepaw rolls her eyes with Goldenpaw.
"No you didn't!" Goldenpaw protests, flicking his shoulder with her tail as the three of them head to the fresh-kill pile.
"Of course I did! Fiercepaw believes me, don't you Fiercepaw?" Lightningpaw asks teasingly and she freezes with a mouse in her mouth. Mrowing with laughter, Goldenpaw picks up a finch and leads the way over to the entrance of the apprentice den. The honeysuckle is in full bloom and the scent winds comfortingly around them as they settle down to eat.
"I don't think any of us won. We are lucky to be alive." The black and silver she-cat meows and they look at her.
"What do you mean?" Goldenpaw asks curiously, tilting her sleek golden head to the side.
"I mean, did you see the looks Thistletail, Cloudfeather, Foxclaw and Stonecloud were giving us? I thought they were going to claw our ears off!" Fiercepaw teases, her silver eyes innocently wide. After a pause, the three 'paws burst into laughter, rolling around happily as they lost themselves in merriment.
"It's good to see them happy like that, isn't it?" Lionstar meows to Rowanstrike, his mate pressed against his side.
"It is. I never thought our poor kit would be able to laugh again after she lost her littermate. Fiercepaw can help though. The two of them have lost littermates. It is a sad time to lose kits and 'paws like that." Rowanstrike meows, taking comfort in her mate and the sight of her kit playing around with her friends.
"The two of them will heal together." Lionstar meows, stretching out. "Shall we go hunting together?" He meows, turning his pale green eyes on his mate. She leans forward and licks his cheeks softly, twining their tails together.
"I would like that." They leap down and trotted to the entrance, content that their kit and their Clan was safe.
Fiercepaw yawns, shaking her head to keep herself awake.
"Do you want to see your nest?" Lightningpaw asks, seeing the younger 'paws yawn.
"Sure." She meows, rising to her feet with Goldenpaw.
"We made you a nest by ours. Come on!" Goldenpaw says cheerfully, disappearing into the apprentices den. Following close behind her, Fiercepaw accidentally trips on Honeypaw's nest.
"Sorry!" She mews and Honeypaw shoots her a disgusted look, curling into Boulderpaw. The gray tom watches her curiously but remembering the way her mother doted on him, Fiercepaw turned a cold look on him and followed Goldenpaw.
"Here it is!" Goldenpaw meows, flicking her tail at the nest lined with soft rabbit fur as she settled into her own nest beside Lightningpaw.
"Thanks! It's so warm." Fiercepaw mews, sinking into her nest gratefully. Another yawn breaks out of her and she blinks her silver eyes sleepily as she curls up. "Thanks Goldenpaw." She mutters before easily slipping into sleep.
"Hey Fiercepaw!" Silverpaw leaps forward at his littermate, happiness gleaming in his amber eyes. StarClan's sky has a brilliant golden-red glow, the vibrant green grass soft underpaw. Purring happily, Fiercepaw covers her littermate in licks as they tumble into a ball of silver and inky black fur.
"Hi Silverpaw!" She meows back, happiness glowing in her chest at being with her brother.
"Our territory is huge!" He exclaims as they settle in the grass beside each other.
"I know! My paws were ready to fall off!" Fiercepaw meows cheerfully. Her and Silverpaw have been meeting in her dreams for a moon now and they made a pact to go through 'pawhood and warriorhood together. "What did you learn here? Who is your mentor?" Fiercepaw asks and Silverpaw beams.
"My mentor is...Frogstrike!" He meows proudly.
"Whoa! The legendary warrior that single-pawed battled PureClan when they turned evil? The warrior that saved his leaders life and then went on to kill the leader of PureClan? That's amazing! Can I meet him?" Fiercepaw asks excitedly and Silverpaw mrows with laughter.
"He is busy now, I had to slip away. I still haven't told anyone else in StarClan about us meeting." Silverpaw confesses.
"Why not?" Fiercepaw mews curiously and he lowers his amber gaze to his paws.
"Because I found out that cats of StarClan are not supposed to visit Clan cats in their dreams unless they are a medicine cat, a leader or have something important they need to do. I could get in trouble for this and then they would keep me from visiting you in your dreams!" Silverpaw mewed, distressed.
"Oh Silverpaw, we will be okay. We just have to make sure no one can find us. That means we have to explore." Fiercepaw meowed, rising to her paws and stretching. Hope gleamed in Silverpaw's eyes as he scrambled up and nudged his littermate.
"Come on, I'll show you a few places." Laughing and bounding away together, the two spend the rest of their time together exploring StarClan.
When they finally get tired, they settle down in a hollow tree, curled up together and fall asleep.
XXX
"Fiercepaw! Wake up!" Mewing tiredly, Fiercepaw rolls over and cuddles into her warm nest. "Fiercepaw! We are going hunting today!" Blueflame hisses and Fiercepaw pops up, suddenly wide awake.
"Really?!" She meows loudly and Honeypaw hisses at her. "Sorry." Fiercepaw whispers, flattening her ears in apology. Rolling her eyes at the meek behavior, Honeypaw turns away. Feeling a little down, Fiercepaw carefully creeps out of the den, catching her claw on a nest and tumbling out. She crashes into Blueflame, feeling horrified as Honeypaw and Boulderpaw laugh.
Scrambling to her paws, Fiercepaw lowers her head submissively, trembling lightly as shame washes through her. Blueflame lightly touches his nose to her ear.
"It's okay. Come on, let's get something from the fresh-kill pile." Blueflame meows comfortingly and Fiercepaw nods, her tail dragging in the dirt behind her. Padding over to the fresh-kill pile, Fiercepaw selects a mouse and settles down to eat it. The fresh flavors burst on her tongue, rich with the taste of the forest. Feeling a little better, Fiercepaw takes some fresh-kill to the elders while Blueflame finishes eating his robin.
"Fiercepaw! Finally here to see us then?" Leafstrike teases, the dappled brown elder curled around her ginger mate. Redclaw raises his head and nods in greeting at the young 'paw.
"Sorry Leafstrike." Fiercepaw mumbles, setting down the fresh-kill beside them. "Blueflame took me to explore the territory yesterday and it was huge!" She exclaimed, nodding in greeting to Sharpfang and Mossheart.
"Did he take you to see the Sun Rocks?" Mossheart meows, settling down beside the younger she-cat.
"We stopped by it but I didn't get to explore all that much." Fiercepaw mews, looking a little let down but quickly perking up. "But, I did get to see the borders! The border with BrookClan was amazing! That lake is huge! We saw some BrookClan cats but they didn't bother to come around to yowl at us." Fiercepaw eagerly meows.
"Well, we have been on good terms with BrookClan. It's BreezeClan that we have a history of having problems with. They can be so pushy." Leafstrike mutters.
"Besides, BrookClan usually has problems with NightClan since they are closest. NightClan lives beside the lake between us and BrookClan with the Up-walkers right behind them. They usually have the worst of fending off the Up-walker's kits. Especially when they travel through the marsh to get to the lake." Mossheart explains to an avid Fiercepaw.
"What about MoonClan? I know they are flanked by us and BreezeClan but do they have trouble with Up-walkers too?" Fiercepaw asks and Sharpfang shakes his large white head.
"No, they have nothing but mountains behind them. If the Up-walkers were going to make trouble, they would be the last to reach it." He meows, a hint of bitterness coating his sharp mew.
"Really? But aren't they supposed to protect the four Clans? Isn't that why we allow them to recruit 'paws from us? So they have more warriors to fight off the worst of our enemies?" Fiercepaw asks, leaning forward. Exchanging glances, the elders nods at her.
"You have to understand though-" Redclaw begins but Blueflame sticks his head through the entrance.
"Ready to go, Fiercepaw? We have to go all the way to the Prey Clearing if you want to try out your hunting." He reminds her and Fiercepaw perks up, turning apologetically to the elders.
"It's fine, Fiercepaw. Go ahead and train!" Mossheart meows and Fiercepaw springs to her paws.
"Thanks!" She calls over her shoulder and pushes out of the elders den. Blueflame leads the way past the fresh-kill pile, which is a lot lower than it was before.
"Blueflame!" Hearing Skyfang, the deputy of StormClan call out, the two cats pause and wait for the blue-gray tom to reach them. "Where are you going?" He asks curiously.
"I was going to take Fiercepaw to the Prey Clearing so she could practice her hunting skills." Blueflame meows respectfully and Skyfang nods.
"Alright but after that, join the BreezeClan border patrol at Sunhigh." Skyfang orders, sweeping his amber eyes over Fiercepaw curiously. Nodding respectfully at him, Fiercepaw avoids meeting his gaze, preferring to watch as the Clan slowly wakes up and starts moving around.
"Yes, Skyfang." Blueflame nods one last time and then turns to Fiercepaw. "Come on, race you there!" He meows and the two of them race towards the tunnel entrance, barreling past Boulderpaw and Nightstream. Her mother bristles with shock while Boulderpaw meows in amusement.
Thank you Itachi'sFangirl818 for following my story!
WildChild13 - Thanks for your review. It really helps when someone takes the time to let me know what they think of my story.
Itachi'sFangirl818 - Ha, thanks for that! And yes, it is depressing; even more so when Fiercepaw begins to tread down the wrong path.