Chapter Eleven
"-are you listening to me, Silverpaw?" Frogstrike meowed, looking at the newest member of StarClan. Startled by the sound of his mentors voice, Silverpaw flinched and looked up. Frogstrike towered over him, his pelt such a deep black that it has a green sheen to it, only heightened by the deep emerald color of his eyes. Seeing the clueless look on Silverpaw's face, Frogstrike sighs and shakes his head. "You need to pay attention, Silverpaw. We may not have the worries of a living Clan cat but we have our own problems. Just as the Clans protect from evil on land, we protect from evil here in the stars. Go on but I want you to think about what I have just said." Silverpaw nodded eagerly, his amber eyes aglow as he scrambled to his his paws, dipped his head and took off.
Rising to his large paws, Frogstrike lopes after his 'paw.
Keeping to the shadows, Frogstrike's green eyes gleam from the shadows. It truly is a good thing Silverpaw is distracted as he races away or Frogstrike might have been caught...and he really doesn't think his ego could stand that.
Silverpaw hops across the gleaming silver stones that stick out of the River of Dreams. Silverpaw is careful not to fall into the shimmering purple-silver water before leaping to the other side. Frogstrike carefully follows, staying back a far enough distance. Opening his jaws so he can follow Silverpaw by scent, Frogstrike crosses the river in one bound, his bulging muscles rippling across his pelt as he lands.
Silverpaw is heading to the Forest of Thoughts.
The Forest of Thoughts is full of large trees that are so old even Frogstrike doesn't know when they first grew. The tree trunks are a deep brown, glinting with hidden shades of dark red mahogany and silvery-white aspen. The leaves drape down, like weeping willows but the leaves are a deep green, similar to the color of Frogstrike's fur.
Following after the glimpses of silver pelt, Frogstrike slows down to a trot when he hears another meow. It is a she-cat. The sound of her meow is softer, sweeter but still as strong as his stubborn apprentice. Silverpaw's meow joins the she-cats and as they meow loudly, Frogstrike can hear a similarity in them.
Remembering that Silverpaw had a littermate, Frogstrike feels dread sweep through him. He shivers, feeling as though an invisible claw has run down his spine. It is forbidden for StarClan cats to talk with the living Clan cats unless they have a message or prophecy.
The punishment can be harsh.
The shadows of the original Clan leaders, Night, Storm, Breeze, Pure, Brook and Moon can take away a StarClan cats ability to pull a Clan cat to StarClan.
It can be blocked for a short amount of time...or taken away permanently.
~-Fight-of-the-Fierce-~
"-and Lightningpaw taught me how to fish! It was hard at first, harder than I thought it would be. It took me 5 sunrises to be able to catch one. The taste as it hit my tongue-" Fiercepaw makes a retching sound and Silverpaw mrows his laughter, gleaming amber eyes locked on her silver orbs. "-it was terrible but when I laid the fish down in front of Sharpfang, it was worth it! I don't think the rest of the Clan liked it though, the look on Skyfang's face..." Fiercepaw trails off, giggling merrily with Silverpaw.
She never feels so content and at peace than when she is with Silverpaw. He is the one cat that can make her feel perfectly at peace. Not even Blueflame can calm her down so completely.
"You are going to have to teach me how to fish." Silverpaw meows eagerly, perking up his ears as he looks at her.
The two of them are like mirror images, the opposite but still the same. They are curled up together, Silverpaw's hindquarters curled into Fiercepaw's belly and the same with her. They look at each other with love and happiness gleaming in their eyes. Their ears are perked up, Fiercepaw's inky black tipped in silver and Silverpaw's gleaming silver tipped with inky black. The tuffs at the base of their ears even sticks out the same way.
"I'll teach you how to fish if you teach me how you do the lunge, twist and claw battle move." Fiercepaw bargains and Silverpaw laughs, amusement gleaming in his amber eyes.
"You mean the Twisting Lunge Strike?" Silverpaw teases and Fiercepaw rolls her silver orbs, damn near glowing with happiness.
"That too!" Fiercepaw teases back, mrowing with laughter.
"Fine but only after I can actually catch a fish-"
"Silverpaw." A deep, rumbling tom's voice echoes from the trees and instantly Silverpaw scrambles to his paws, bristling violently as his amber eyes dart around.
"Leave, Fiercepaw!" Silverpaw hisses, bristling and puffing his fur out so he is three times larger. Shocked, Fiercepaw rises to her paws, bristling as fear claws her insides.
"No! I won't leave you!" Fiercepaw hisses, pressing her pelt against his as they face where the meow came from.
"I thought I told you-" Frogstrike steps from the trees, his large form easily towering over the two 'paws. "Not to speak with anyone from the Clans." Frogstrike growls, his deep voice rumbling through the clearing. His pelt gleams greenish-black, his brilliant green eyes almost glowing in the light from the setting sun. His thick fur ruffles a little from a breeze as he stares at the two frozen apprentices.
"Frogstrike!" Silverpaw blurts out, taking a protective step forward. Huffing, Fiercepaw ducks around him, baring her gleaming fangs at the legendary warrior. A deep growl rises in her throat as Fiercepaw feels the first stirrings of battle in her veins.
"Silverpaw. And you are?" Frogstrike asks, his deep green eyes burning with a strange intensity. At any other time, Fiercepaw would have been cowed instantly but when faced with her littermate in danger, she would battle the entire Dark Forest if she needed to.
"I'm Fiercepaw. What are you going to do with my littermate?" Fiercepaw growls, raising her head threateningly and flattening her inky black and silver tipped ears tightly against her head. Her tail is tucked low but she bristles angrily, baring her gleaming white fangs and hissing when he takes a step forward.
"I am going to take my apprentice to face the Council of Six and they will decide what his punishment shall be." Frogstrike meows calmly, taking another step forward. Fiercepaw hisses, clawing the air in front of her in a threatening maneuver. Despite himself, Frogstrike feels a surge of admiration for the fierce devotion this little 'paw is showing. Her fear-scent is rising and yet she still doesn't back down.
Interesting.
"Let me come." Fiercepaw meows, Silverpaw stepping forward.
"Fiercepaw! If you go there, they may be able to inflict punishment on you too!" Silverpaw meows loudly, shock flaring in his amber eyes. But calm determination has replaced spitting rage in Fiercepaw's eyes and she won't back down. She stares right at Frogstrike, trembling- but not backing down.
"Fine." Frogstrike dips his head slightly in respect and a flush of pride sweeps through Fiercepaw. Then Frogstrike moves forward and she is instantly on guard, bristling, flattening her ears and tucking her tail in. Silverpaw swipes his tongue comfortingly over Fiercepaw's ear and she leans into his side as Frogstrike comes to a halt. "The two of you do not know where to go so you will have to follow me." There is a blatant warning in his eyes. If they try to run- he will follow.
Fiercepaw and Silverpaw exchange frightened looks but nod and follow after him. As Frogstrike leads the way out of the Forest of Thoughts, Fiercepaw looks around curiously. Her and Silverpaw only ever meet in the Forest because neither of them want to be caught.
Looks like that plan didn't work.
Breaking into a lope, Frogstrike's speed takes Fiercepaw off guard and she scrambles to keep up with him. Stretching out her paws, she digs them into the ground, propelling herself faster. Catching up to the older tom, she settles into an easy pace with Silverpaw panting on her other side.
"Do you really have to do this?" Fiercepaw meows and Frogstrike comes to an abrupt halt. Skidding to a stop, Fiercepaw and Silverpaw whirl around in identical poses of pleading looks and lowered heads. Frogstrike walks forward, his pelt rippling as he comes to a stop in front of them. His greenish-black fringe is spiked and so long that it curls around the edge of his scarred muzzle.
"You two broke the rules. Why shouldn't I do this?" Frogstrike meows, feeling bad for the two 'paws. Neither of them truly know what they are doing. To break the rules like this...
"He is my littermate! I need him. I wasn't supposed to lose Silverpaw." Fiercepaw meows, deep grief edging her words. Frogstrike hesitates, glancing over their shoulders, towards the setting sun. Towards where the Council of Six like to rest and play at the end of the day.
"Please Frogstrike? Can you keep our secret?" Silverpaw pleads, the two of them pressing their pelts closely together. Neither of them want to go through the pain of losing the other ever again.
Seeing the pain in his apprentice's eyes, Frogstrike sits back on his haunches as he looks at the two of them.
"You two are still planning on seeing each other." Frogstrike meows, not asking- but stating. Exchanging determined glances, Fiercepaw and Silverpaw nod. Frogstrike feels his heart clench at remembrance. He once had a littermate. Swoopflight. The tom had turned rouge and left NightClan. When Frogstrike (paw then) found out, it destroyed him. He never saw his littermate again.
Seeing the devotion these two 'paws have towards each other, Frogstrike cannot find it in himself to split them up. He sighs, rising to his paws and padding forward.
"I cannot stop you but if you get caught, I cannot help you." Frogstrike meows and pauses, glancing over his shoulder. "Do what you will." Then the tom races away.
Stunned, Fiercepaw and Silverpaw stare after him before turning to each other.
"I have to go. See you tomorrow night?" Fiercepaw asks and Silverpaw nods, still shocked that his mentor gave in. "Good bye, Silverpaw." Fiercepaw nuzzles his shoulder before slowly fading away. Silverpaw stays still, his heart shadowed with dread. He has had this feeling once before.
-Flashing pain ripping through his shoulder. Letting out a loud, hurt wail as the fox's musk invaded his nose. Crying out as hot blood began pouring from his body. Staring up at the sky, hearing Fiercekit's wails spiral through the fog of hurt. Wake up, wake up, wake up!-
This dread was in his heart the night him and Fiercepaw snuck out and wandered onto MoonClan territory. Just like that night though, Silverpaw is willing to take the risk. He loves Fiercepaw and misses his sister desperately. These nights when they can sneak away and meet are healing balms on their wounded souls.
Sighing, his silver head drooping, Silverpaw pads away; deeper into StarClan and farther from Fiercepaw.
~-Fight-of-the-Fierce-~
Waking up with a startled yowl, Fiercepaw pants lightly. Honeypaw stirs over by Boulderpaw, the two of them curled up together. As Fiercepaw looks over at them, she feels a flash of envy. The two might not be littermates but they are close and Fiercepaw envies that. She has Goldenpaw but the golden apprentice is close to Lightningpaw as well. Fiercepaw climbs out of her nest, trying to place her paws carefully. Light trembles shake Fiercepaw as she carefully creeps out of the apprentice den, what just happened in StarClan leaving her shaken and scared.
She had almost lost him.
Again.
It was almost like StarClan doesn't want her and Silverpaw to be with each other. As littermates though, they struggle to stay together. The promised each other that they would always be there for each other. Neither of them have any intentions of breaking that promise.
Padding out into the clearing, Fiercepaw veers towards the medicine den. The scents as she pass it remind her of Aspenkit. The cream and grey kit always has the gentle scent of herbs clinging to her pelt now, no matter how much grooming Frostheart does. It amuses both Fiercepaw and Aspenkit to hear Frostheart muttering stubbornly about it but they try not to poke fun...much.
Nosing her way into the tunnel behind the den, Fiercepaw presses herself to the ground as she claws her way through to the other side. The little clearing comforts her and she relaxes a little as she pads over to the small pile of rocks and leaps up, only scrabbling a little bit. It is far better than when she was a kit and had to be lifted up by Blueflame.
The clearing carries the scents of Fiercepaw, Blueflame and now Goldenpaw.
This is their little extra training center and both Goldenpaw and Fiercepaw take advantage of it as often as they can. It is harder for Fiercepaw though because she needs to sleep so she can see Silverpaw. At the same time, she does her best to help out Goldenpaw. The two conflicting desires often leave Fiercepaw tired and sluggish during the day, something that disappoints Blueflame.
Fiercepaw does her best, pushing herself to her limits so she can train with Blueflame during the day, train with Goldenpaw at night and visit with Silverpaw at night. All of that leaves hardly any time for true sleep and Fiercepaw's reflexes aren't all that sharp as a result.
There is going to be a Gathering Tournament in a moon though and Fiercepaw hopes that her dismal performance won't affect whether or not she will be chosen as one of the cats to go. Sighing, she drops her head on her silver dipped paws and peers over at the small pond under the drooping branches of the tree. Fiercepaw tried to go back to sleep but couldn't manage.
Every time she closed her eyes, all she could see was Silverpaw's terrified amber eyes as they got caught.
The sun slowly rose and finally Fiercepaw hopped down, carefully leaving and skirting around the Medicine den so that no cat would see her coming from the secret tunnel. Once she was clear, Fiercepaw loped across the clearing and slipped into the apprentice den. As she settled into her nest, Goldenpaw stirred, pulling away from Lightningpaw's side and looking at her friend with clear green eyes.
"Hard night?" Goldenpaw mewed quietly. Settling into her nest, Fiercepaw nodded her head and peered over at her best friend.
"Yeah, it was a bad dream." Fiercepaw meowed back, exhaustion echoing in her meow. It really hasn't been easy on her for the past few sunrises. Goldenpaw nods sympathetically, familiar with bad dreams.
"Do you know what you are doing today?" Goldenpaw meows quietly, shuffling a little closer so their pelts are pressing together. Fiercepaw shakes her head, reaching over and swiping her tongue down Goldenpaw's back. Goldenpaw starts grooming her too as they share tongues.
"What about you?" Fiercepaw mews, her voice muffled through Goldenpaw's thick golden fur.
"I am going on a hunting patrol with Honeypaw." Goldenpaw meows, sounding dispirited. "And our father is leading the patrol." Fiercepaw winces, feeling bad for her friend.
"Well if he doesn't pay attention to him, force him to." Fiercepaw meows, cracking a flea between her gleaming white teeth.
"How?" Goldenpaw asks, pausing in her grooming to look at her friend.
"Do an impressive catch." Fiercepaw mews simply and Goldenpaw huffs a little laugh, flicking her tail at her friend.
"Ha, ha. As if it is that easy!" Goldenpaw teases as they finish grooming each other. Hearing more noise coming from the camp, the two she-cats rise and stretch before prodding Lightningpaw awake, being careful not to prick him with their claws.
"Come on, you lazy furbag!" Fiercepaw meows, placing her paws firmly on his side and shoving. Goldenpaw muffles her laughter as she flicks his nose with her tail. After a few moments, Lightningpaw's nose twitches and he wakes up with a massive sneeze. Staring with shock, the two she-cats exchange a delighted look before breaking out into yowls of laughter.
Honeypaw and Boulderpaw wake up with identical looks of surprise and annoyance at the rude awakening. Fiercepaw and Goldenpaw can't bring themselves to feel bad right now though, too busy rolling on the ground with laughter.
"Hey!" Lightningpaw exclaims, only causing them to laugh harder at the dumbfounded look on his face. "Not funny!" Lightningpaw meows mock-crossly but the smile twitching on his face makes them laugh even harder. "Traitors." He mutters, rolling to his large paws and shaking his white and silver pelt out before stalking out of the apprentice den. Still laughing a little, the two she-cats follow along behind him.
"What are you guys laughing about?" Aspenkit meows, bouncing over. The fluffy cream and grey dappled kit is four, almost five moons old and still looks like she is three moons old. Fiercepaw is sympathetic to her friend, remembering how just yesterday, Eagleblaze commented about how much smaller she is compared to Lightningpaw. That had hit her pride pretty hard so she had stalked off to try and catch some mice.
Key word: tried.
She didn't manage to catch any. Somehow she did manage to catch a root in her paw and tumble right into a pile of prickles. The round balls stung and she yelped loudly, calling Blueflame, Eagleblaze, Lightningpaw, Longclaw, Skyfang and Honeypaw to witness her dismal attempt at hunting. Honeypaw had snickered and Skyfang didn't cut her off because him and every other cat except for Lightningpaw and Blueflame were too busy laughing their fur off.
Point is, it can be hard, being so much smaller than everyone around you.
"We woke up Lightningpaw with the tail trick." Goldenpaw meowed, still snickering as they stretched and yawned.
"Really?" Aspenkit bounced on her paws eagerly, her blue-grey eyes sparkling under her fringe. "That is so cool! I wish there were some other kits in the nursing den with me. It can be so lonely some times." Aspenkit mewed, watching enviously as Fiercepaw, Lightningpaw and Goldenpaw straightened.
"I don't think you will have long to wait." Goldenpaw joked, flicking her tail at Foxclaw, the dark ginger she-cat's stomach large as she laid on her side. "She will have to moving in soon. The kits are only a moon away." Goldenpaw meowed and Aspenkit's eyes grew wide with excitement.
"Really?" She asked and Fiercepaw nodded.
"And her daughter Featherleap is going to be moving in not long after her." Fiercepaw meowed, seeing the elegant light-brown she-cat with her white patches and swollen belly. Aspenkit wiggled with excitement, her little ears flicking up with happiness at the prospect of having playmates.
"And don't forget Poppyfeather." Lightningpaw meowed quietly, not wanting his ears to get clawed by the temperamental cream queen as she passed by, her dark grey stripes gleaming on her back and down her sides, almost wrapping around hear heavy belly. Fiercepaw and Goldenpaw nodded in agreement, watching her purr and twine tails with her mate, Eagleblaze.
"Ready to go, Goldenpaw?" Swanfang meows and the three apprentices and one kit whirl around, almost falling over each other in their effort to act like they weren't doing anything wrong.
"Yup!" Goldenpaw meowed eagerly, leaping to her paws eagerly. Suspicious, Swanfang narrowed her amber eyes and looked her over before flicking her gaze over Fiercepaw and Lightningpaw. The inky black apprentice blinked her silver eyes innocently, the silver dash on the bridge of her nose glinting in the light as she leaned into the white and silver apprentices side.
"What were you three doing?" Swanfang meowed curiously, Aspenkit snorting crossly as she climbed to her paws.
"Four!" She protested and Swanfang looked taken-aback for a moment, causing a fierce burst of pride to bloom in Fiercepaw's chest.
"Right..." Swanfang meowed uncertainly, her eyes a little wide at the vehemence of the kit. Fiercepaw had to muffle her laughter in Lightningpaw's shoulder as Swanfang beckoned Goldenpaw to join her with a flick of her slim white tail. "Come on, Goldenpaw. We don't want to be the last ones ready." Swanfang meowed and trotted away. Goldenpaw paused to roll her eyes and smile at Fiercepaw, Lightningpaw and Aspenkit before leaving.
"Do you think Swanfang knows how much that bossy tone irritates Goldenpaw?" Lightningpaw muttered and Fiercepaw shrugged, watching with amusement as Goldenpaw and Honeypaw immediately started sniping at each other.
"It's a toss up." Fiercepaw meowed. "It could be she is using that voice because she really doesn't know-" Fiercepaw began.
"Or she is using it because she knows and it prompts Goldenpaw to move faster." Aspenkit finished, beaming with pride up at Fiercepaw, who nodded in approval.
"Exactly." Fiercepaw agreed, nodding her head.
"I think it might be the-" Lightningpaw began but got interrupted by Blueflame's meow.
"Fiercepaw! I am going with hunting patrol-" Blueflame meowed, his orange eyes lingering crossly on how she is leaning against the larger apprentice. Fiercepaw perks up, her ears tilted forward, the silver tips glinting in the light.
"Really?" She meowed eagerly and he nodded.
"You will be staying here on elder duty." Blueflame meowed, causing Fiercepaw to stare at him with shock and a little hurt. She likes taking care of the elders but at the same time, as his apprentice, she should be going with him. Blueflame flicked an ear back but otherwise didn't acknowledge the hurt expression she is wearing.
"Why?" Fiercepaw meowed, rising to her silver dipped paws, her inky, spiky black pelt bristling. Blueflame turns his head, checking to see if the patrol is ready yet. Satisfied they are not, he turns back to her and reaches out, intending to press a soothing lick to her head. Hurt, Fiercepaw jerks back and turns her head away. "Fine!" Fiercepaw snapped, brushing angrily past him and stalking stiff-legged in the direction of the elders den.
Spoting how angry Fiercepaw is, Goldenpaw breaks off her argument with Honeypaw and trots over to her, falling in beside her.
"What happened?" Goldenpaw meowed and Fiercepaw stopped abruptly, turning to face her with silver pools of sadness.
"Blueflame is going on the patrol with you guys but I have to stay behind and do elder duty." Fiercepaw meows lowly, her eyes flashing as she begins to bristle again. "And one guess to the reason why." Fiercepaw hisses angrily, her steel gaze locked on Blueflame and Swanfang meowing animatedly with each other.
"Whoa." Goldenpaw meowed, taken aback at Blueflame going out without Fiercepaw and the anger her friend is displaying. Dropping her gaze down, Goldenpaw's eyes widen when she sees the deep gouges in the earth Fiercepaw is leaving as she flexes her claws angrily. Goldenpaw hadn't looked at her friend as dangerous before but seeing the dark look in her eyes and how sharp her claws are, Goldenpaw shivers a little before immediately feeling guilty.
This is her friend!
"Listen, I have to go. Elder duty. See you later." Fiercepaw spits out before spinning around and stalking into the elders den. She very pointedly doesn't look back when Swanfang's laughter rings out and her heart twists painfully in her chest.
~-Fight-of-the-Fierce-~
Fiercepaw finally manages to calm down, finished cleaning Leafstrike, the dappled golden-brown elder smiling thankfully.
"Wow, that feels so much better. Goldenpaw and Lightningpaw are good apprentices but they never stop by our den unless they have to." Leafstrike meows, stretching out on her side and purring lightly as the sun warms her pelt.
"I should have stopped by yesterday." Fiercepaw meows apologetically, settling down beside Mossheart and ducking her head to groom her.
"Well, yesterday is the first day you managed to catch a fish for Sharpfang. We understood." Mossheart meows, shooting a pointed look at the white and orange spotted elder.
"And good job on that!" Sharpfang praises, twisting his head around to nib at his back. "That fish was delicious!" Sharpfang sounded ridiculously pleased and his mate, Leafstrike shook her head with a loving smile on her face.
"Your breath didn't smell delicious." She mutters to Mossheart and Fiercepaw, the two she-cats stifling their laughter.
"What was that?" Sharpfang asks, whipping his head around and narrowing blue eyes.
"Nothing, dear." Leafstrike reassures him and he huffs, settling into his nest. Fiercepaw snickers into Mossheart's pelt, feeling more relaxed and comfortable as the time passes by. It always feels better to be surrounded by the elders. They have so many good stories and a kind word at the ready.
"Now, shall we tell a story?" Redclaw asks and Fiercepaw perks up. The ginger tom rarely tells stories but when he does, they are often exciting and rich with history.
"Yes, please!" Fiercepaw meowed eagerly, twisting her ears in his direction. He muffled a purr at the adorable sight and cleared his throat.
"I think I shall tell the story of PureClan." He began and Fiercepaw's eyes widened. Rarely did anyone meow about PureClan so Fiercepaw has a spotty history of why that Clan was cast out and became rouges and kittypets. Settling onto her haunches, Fiercepaw ducked her head down in preparation to groom and listen to a story.
"For this story, I must go all the way back to the beginning of the Clans. We were six cats. Storm Flash, Brook Flow, Breeze Hunter, Night Shadow, Pure Fur and Moon Shine. Littermates Storm Flash and Brook Flow grew up as rouges, Breeze Hunter was a loner roaming the moors, Night Shadow, Pure Fur and Moon Shine were all kittypets that did not know each other. Our story starts out with Storm Flash and Brook Flow..." Redclaw began, his deep voice low and soothing. He was already having images form in her mind with his words.
Storm Flash was a steel grey tom with bright blue eyes and Brook Flow was a sleek bronze she-cat with startling amber-gold eyes. Breeze Hunter was lean and muscled tom with a dappled blue-grey pelt and green eyes. Night Shadow was a she-cat and had a sleek black pelt and amber eyes. Pure Fur was brilliant white and the tom had green eyes while his littermate Moon Shine had a sleek silver pelt, black paws and shining silver eyes.
"Lionstar!" The peaceful anticipation of the rest of the story is shattered in an instant when Honeypaw screeches her fathers name. In an instant, Fiercepaw has raced out of the elders den, worry smothering her heart. Her eyes land on Honeypaw, who is crouched in the center of the clearing, panting heavily and trembling as she drops her head low.
"Honeypaw! Are you all right? Where is the rest of your patrol? Goldenpaw?" Lionstar meows the large, golden tom effortlessly leaping down from his high perch and leaping over to her side in three bounds. Honeypaw meowed something urgently to him as the rest of the worried clan gathered around. Fiercepaw was joined by her father, Talonstrike and pressed into his side, seeking comfort.
He glanced down at his little daughter, feeling a rush of protective warmth and soothingly licking her ear. She turned to look up at him, worry for her friend drowning the light in her eyes and she opened her mouth. Before Fiercepaw could say anything though, Lionstar broke away from Honeypaw and bounded over to the Leader's Perch, reaching it and climbing up before turning to his clan.
"StormClan! The hunting patrol that was sent out at Sunhigh has captured a rouge." Whispers of worry and intrigue instantly flood through the gathered cats and Fiercepaw sees Nightstream glance her way worriedly but doesn't pay it any attention. "The cats are fine and they are bringing the rouge back. I ask that the pregnant queens gather by the nursery with their mates just in case this is a trap of any sort. All kits are also to go back to the nursing den and apprentices shall gather at the bottom of the Leader's Perch with the warriors. Cloudfeather and Thistletail, you two will guard the elders den until the danger passes." Lionstar orders and the mates dip their heads in understanding.
Confused and startled, Fiercepaw allows herself to be herded to the Leader's Perch with her father. They straighten out in a line, facing the entrance in an intimidating manner. The warriors look ready for battle, pelts bristling and unsheathing their claws with growls rumbling lowly in their throat. Fiercepaw is shaking with fear and worry, her pelt plastered to her smaller frame. What...what if Goldenpaw is hurt?
Nightstream slips in beside her kit, exchanging a cordial nod with her barely-still mate and letting her presence help sooth their daughter. Fiercepaw doesn't relax though, her silver gaze locked on the entrance to the tunnel into the camp. It doesn't take long for sounds to reach the camp. Muffled growls and anger-scents drift into the camp and it puts them all on edge.
The fearsome line of warriors in front of the Leader's Perch begins a low, steady growl and Fiercepaw straightens, glancing at them and mimicking their positions. She holds her head high, silver tipped ears pressed low against her head as she puffs out her inky, spiky black pelt, lashing her black silver tipped tail behind her as she unsheathes her claws.
Nightstream feels a burst of pride go through her and she exchanges a warm look with Talonstrike before faltering. He doesn't seem to notice, turning his attention to the entrance tunnel. Nightstream looks at him and his handsome profile makes her heart twist a little. She has missed him. So much. Talonstrike's crimson eyes are focused and alert as he gazes at the tunnel, his tail gently stroking down Fiercepaw's back.
The voices grow louder and then Skyfang enters, at the head of the patrol with Stonecloud, Swanfang, Blueflame and Hawkstorm surrounding the rouge and...Goldenpaw? Shocked, Fiercepaw stops growling for a moment and stares at her friend. Goldenpaw looks proud, a small trickle of blood leaking down from her ear and her golden pelt ruffled but otherwise unhurt. From where she is standing, Fiercepaw can't see the rouge but right now, she doesn't really care to.
"Skyfang, Honeypaw's paws were swift and brought us the news of our...visitor. I see you managed to catch him. Good job." Lionstar sounds calm and almost bored so Fiercepaw relaxes back and holds her head up high as she stares at the group of cats in the center of the clearing.
"Wasn't Lionstar supposed to be with the patrol?" Fiercepaw meows lowly, confused for a moment. Talonstrike nods and whispers in her ear.
"He was but Mintleaf requested an audience with him. She returned last night from a Medicine Cat Gathering. They meet every half moon. Once before the Gathering Tournament and once during." Talonstrike meows and Fiercepaw nods, returning her attention to the group.
Skyfang bows his head at his leader's words before stepping to the side. Stonecloud, Swanfang, Blueflame and Hawkstorm follow his example, leaving Goldenpaw alone with the rouge. It is a tom. He is a little smaller than Goldenpaw but still taller than Fiercepaw. His pelt is a smoky grey with small hints of orange and red when the sun dapples over him. His tail is slim with small spikes of fur and one of his front paws is white all the way up to under his shoulder. His eyes glimmer orange-red as he looks around curiously, his fringe spiked and orange-red trimmed with the same smoky grey-black color as his pelt.
"I thank you Lionstar but the credit for the capture goes to Goldenpaw. She was the one that scented out the rouge while he was sleeping and captured him. He put up a fight but while Goldenpaw was caught off guard, she fought valiantly and only sustained a minor injury on her ear before subduing the rouge." Skyfang meowed, his noble actions causing Goldenpaw to look startled for a second before an even fiercer pride swept over her features.
"Thank you, Skyfang. Goldenpaw, those are the actions of a warrior and I commend you for defending your Clan so vigilantly." Lionstar meowed, keen pride glinting in his eyes as he looks at his oldest daughter. She puffs out her chest, head up high and her emerald eyes glinting happily as she dips her head respectfully.
"Thank you, Lionstar." Goldenpaw meows, her voice shaking only a little bit before she ducks her head again and trots over to Fiercepaw's side, slipping in between her and Nightstream.
"Was he hard to catch?" Fiercepaw meows to her friend and Goldenpaw nods before shaking her head.
"I think my nerves made it harder than it should have been." Goldenpaw meows and Fiercepaw presses her pelt to her friends, feeling the small tremors running through her golden pelt.
"You know-" Fiercepaw begins, trying to comfort her friend and cheer her up. "When I told you this morning to catch something impressive, this isn't quite what I had in mind." She meows dryly, causing Goldenpaw to snort automatically. Lionstar pauses in his meowing, sweeping his piercing gaze over the line of cats. Goldenpaw and Fiercepaw freeze, shaking a little with the effort of keeping their laughter in as he pauses on them. Then his gaze is sweeping on and the two she-cats let out a relieved sigh. They laugh lowly before returning their attention to the chaos in the center.
"As I was saying, why were you trespassing on StormClan territory?" Lionstar meows commandingly and the tom bristles a little before answering.
"I was a rouge in the no-pelts territory with my mother and two littermates." He meows and Fiercepaw exchanges a wide-eyed look with Goldenpaw at the defiance he shows and the knowledge he has gotten so close to the loud, pink creatures that walk up-right on only two legs. "My mother was killed by a no-pelt's monster and one of my littermates was killed by a dog. My last littermate died last moon because of a rattling cough in her chest. No one would help us and we didn't have anywhere to go." Grief glittered in his eyes and Fiercepaw felt a kinship to the tom, relating to the pain of losing a littermate violently and long before they ever should have to. "After that, I had no connection to anyone in the no-pelt's territory. I remembered my mother telling me about wild cats that lived opposite the sun and I traveled here to ask if I could join you- join your...Clan." He stumbles over the word before raising his head proudly and unashamedly as a low muttering springs up.
"You want to join our Clan?" Lionstar sounded shocked and with good reason. Rouges rarely are found on their territory but when they are, they either move on or fight back. They never ask to join but when they do...Lionstar is bound to letting at least one in. See, their ancestors Storm Flash and Brook Flow used to be rouges and it was sworn that should a rouge ever ask to join a Clan, they should be allowed as long as they prove themselves in a moon.
Fiercepaw and Goldenpaw exchanged shocked and excited looks.
What is their Clan Leader going to do?
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