I'm loving the way the fav&follow count is growing! :D You guys are awesome, thank you so much! And to my reviewers:
Snowcrystal: Their first appearance is in this chapter, I hope you like it! :D
Flame: I feel it. And thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying this series as well!
*I am currently trying to plan ahead for the apprentices' warrior names, even though they're still quite a ways off. If you all have any suggestions, all four are open-ended right now. Also, thoughts on love interests as well~ Forbidden romances are acceptable, as are noncannon pairings! Thanks in advance :D
Chapter 3
Shiverpaw licked one gray paw and rubbed her muzzle, cleaning the last traces of fish from her whiskers. She'd been hunting since dawn and only stopped to eat on Oakheart's orders. Beside her, Whiteclaw was finishing his meal as well. He jumped to his paws as he swallowed the last morsel.
"Want to go out again?" His green eyes flashed playfully. "I think I'm still in the lead."
Shiverpaw flicked her ears back in a show of faint disbelief. "I saw that fish you lost," she teased softly. "It's a tie right now."
Whiteclaw's tail curled. "Not for long. Let's go."
The gray-and-white apprentice felt her own whiskers twitching as she followed Whiteclaw to where Oakheart was getting Leopardfur's patrol report. Shiverpaw pricked her ears as they approached, remembering that Leopardfur's patrol had gone along the ThunderClan border.
"They're laughing at us," the spotted warrior was growling as they came into earshot. "There was a whole patrol just lounging there. I had half a mind to attack them then and there."
"And cost us more injuries?" Oakheart shook his head. "I know it's frustrating, believe me. But until we've recovered and come up with a plan, there's nothing we can do. Timberfur and Graypool are still in the medicine den, and Rainclaw was only just given permission to return to warrior duties today."
Shiverpaw felt her heart flutter with anxiety. They had been busier than ever in the three days following the battle. Her own mentor, Graypool, had wrenched her shoulder badly and asked Falconheart and Whiteclaw to make sure she always had something to do. 'For when you have apprentices of your own,' she had said. Fortunately, Brambleberry had already told her she'd be back to warrior duties in a matter of sunrises. Timberfur, on the other paw, looked to get worse by the day. Their deputy had been grievously wounded by the ThunderClan deputy, Thistleclaw, when the enemy warrior had raked his claws across his face. The wounds were infected, leaving the skin around his eyes too swollen for the medicine cats to tell if his eyes had been wounded or not.
Ottersplash only retired to the elders' den a moon ago, she glanced at the medicine den, unsurprised by the faintest scent of infection and bitter herbs that tickled her nose. If Timberfur retires, we'll be down two warriors…
"Whiteclaw, Shiverpaw," Oakheart's voice startled Shiverpaw from her grim thoughts. "I see you both followed orders."
"Yes, Oakheart," Whiteclaw dipped his head. "But we'd like to go out again, if that's okay."
Pride and amusement flashed through Oakheart's eyes. "I can't say no to having a larger fresh-kill pile, can I?" He flicked his tail vaguely towards the WindClan border. "See what you can find out in the fields."
Whiteclaw nodded. "The Clan will eat well tonight," he promised brightly. With a flick of his tail-tip against Shiverpaw's shoulder, he led the way out of camp.
"You've already caught enough to feed the elders, haven't you?" Whiteclaw glanced curiously at the small gray and white apprentice.
"Yes," she agreed. "I still need to bring something back for the cats in the medicine den, and extra for Sedgenose."
"Extra?" The brown warrior dropped his voice to a whisper, signaling out a clump of bracken with his ears. Shiverpaw had already smelled the mouse, and slipped easily into a hunting crouch. One paw at a time, she drug herself forward through the grass. When she felt she was close enough, she lunged forward as quick as lightning, killing the mouse with a solid blow to the spine.
"Mhm." Shiverpaw buried the mouse at the roots of a nearby sorrel tree. "She told me yesterday that the kits are doing well with solid food. They're almost ready to stop nursing altogether."
"That's exciting," Whiteclaw purred. "The kits really adore you, don't they?"
Shiverpaw shrugged, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "I guess so," she murmured. It's not like she could have denied it. She made a point to bring Sedgenose fresh-kill every day, and take the time to play with her litter. She enjoyed watching the kits—especially since none of them were nearly as troublesome as Sorrelpaw and Mistypaw had been in the nursery.
They continued towards the WindClan border, hunting along the way. When they could see the gorge, they stopped and turned back, collecting as much of their catch as they could carry and bringing it back to camp. By the time they'd finished the sun was beginning to set, casting a soothing orange glow over everything it touched. Pleased with the amount of fresh-kill she'd delivered to the elders' den and medicine den, Shiverpaw picked out the two plumpest fish she could find and trotted towards the nursery. Sedgenose was lying outside, her kits grappling just a tail-length away.
Shiverpaw deposited the fish in front of the queen. "I brought supper," she offered quietly.
Sedgenose purred gratefully. "Thank you, Shiverpaw. It'll be the kits' first meal of their own."
"Shiverpaw!" The squeal was followed by a streak of ruffled black fur. Before she knew it, Shiverpaw was buried beneath the three zealous kits.
She struggled playfully, laughing all the while. When at last she freed herself, she stood and shook the dust from her fur. "Have you all been good today?"
Ravenkit, the oldest of the litter, nodded eagerly. She had fur as black as her father's, broken only by a skinny white stripe that went from her forehead to her nose and a splash of white on her chest.
"We helped Mistykit clear the elders' bedding," Maplekit, the second she-kit, added. Her fur was a patchwork of black and pale brown, like fallen leaves. White fur ringed her eyes and decorated one forepaw and the tip of her tail. "In return they told us a story."
"Was it a good one?" Shiverpaw purred, wrapping her tail around Stripedkit—the youngest and only tom—as he came to her side. His fur was as pale brown as his mother's, marked by such dark tabby stripes they seemed nearly black.
"Ottersplash told us about when Mudfur won Sunningrocks single-pawed!" The little tom-kit explained, his fur fluffing out in excitement.
"Ahh," Shiverpaw hummed. "I remember that one."
"Lilystem said that wasn't allowed any more though…" Ravenkit looked crestfallen by the fact. "I wish it was…"
Maplekit stuck her little chest out. "I bet I could win Sunningrocks back single-pawed," she boasted.
Stripedkit narrowed his eyes playfully. "Not if I did it first!"
Sedgenose shook her head, her whiskers twitching. "Enough, kits," she purred. "It's time to eat. Shiverpaw brought you your very own fish to share."
Three pairs of shining eyes—each set in the midst of its transition from kit-blue to their adult colors—fixed on Shiverpaw.
"Really?" Maplekit squeaked.
"Really," Shiverpaw pulled the smaller of the fish towards the kits. "But you have to share fairly."
Sedgenose tugged Ravenkit back by her tail as she moved to dive in. "What do you say?" The queen prompted sternly.
"Thank you, Shiverpaw!" Maplekit cheered. Stripedkit and Ravenkit echoed their sister quickly. Delighted purrs escaped all three kits as they ate. Warmth crept across Shiverpaw's flank, and she glanced up to see Whiteclaw. The young warrior was sitting with Loudbelly, but didn't appear to be listening to a word his companion was saying. Suddenly feeling shy, Shiverpaw ducked her head and gave her chest fur a few brisk licks.
A dry snicker announced Mistypaw's approach. "Honestly," she meowed slyly as she joined her sister. "You'd think he'd try to be a bit more tactful."
"Tactful?" Shiverpaw echoed, puzzled. "About what?"
Mistypaw's eyes widened slightly, before she shook her head. "Never mind, Shiverpaw. If you don't know then I guess he's doing fine." She gave her sister a playful nudge. "Come share with me. Stonepaw promised to show me the battle moves he learned today."
"Alright." Shiverpaw stood and mewed a quick farewell to Sedgenose and the kits before following Mistypaw to their favorite spot outside the apprentices' den. Sorrelpaw, Silverpaw, and Stonepaw were already there, and a large fish lay beside them.
"You actually saved it for us," Mistypaw feigned shock. "I thought for sure Sorrelpaw would try to eat it."
"He tried," Silverpaw sniffed. "I protected it for you."
"We owe you one," Mistypaw settled with a huff, pulling the fish closer. Shiverpaw sat quietly beside her, picking slowly at the fish as she listened to her siblings' banter.
"Did you hear?" Sorrelpaw glanced around furtively. "Timberfur left the medicine den today."
"He did?" Stonepaw frowned.
Shiverpaw realized idly that she hadn't seen him while she was delivering fresh kill to Mudfur and Brambleberry, but kept quiet as Sorrelpaw swept on, "He did—and he went to Crookedstar's den."
Mistypaw rolled her eyes. "That's not exactly surprising, minnow-brain. He might be ready to take up some of his duties again."
"I don't know," Silverpaw sounded skeptical. "He was very badly injured."
"Do you think he's going to go to the elders' den?" Stonepaw didn't look convinced, but Shiverpaw could see him thinking through the possibility, and all of the affects it would have on their Clan.
Sorrelpaw only shrugged. "How should I know? I'm just telling you what I saw."
"Look," Shiverpaw angled her ears towards Crookedstar's den. Their leader was emerging, his tail laid loosely around Timberfur's shoulders. Is he guiding him…? When they were in front of the Great Willow, Crookedstar raised his voice.
"Let all cats old enough to swim gather here for a Clan meeting." The Clan gathered quickly, curiosity showing in their twitching tail-tips and pricked ears. Their leader glanced at Timberfur one last time, and whether he could see through his nearly swollen shut eyes or not, the old deputy dipped his head. With that small confirmation, Crookedstar began speaking. "Today we gather for a ritual—one I was hoping not to see for another many moons. Timberfur, is it your wish to give up the name of warrior, and the title of deputy, and go to join the elders?"
"It is," Timberfur rasped. Shiverpaw felt a splinter of sorrow pierce her chest. It was clear that Timberfur was regretful, though his resolve was firm.
"You Clan honors you and all of the service you have given us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest."
A cheer swelled from the Clan, strong and filled with emotion. "Timberfur! Timberfur! Timberfur!" Ottersplash pressed close to her mate, seeming relieved by his decision to finally join her.
When the cheers died down on their own, Crookedstar raised his tail. "As the moon is already rising, I would like to perform one more ceremony." He turned his gaze towards the sky, where the first stars were appearing. "I say these words before StarClan, so that our warrior ancestors may hear and approve my choice." His eyes swept across the Clan, until he met the gaze of the cat he was looking for. "The new deputy of RiverClan will be Oakheart."
Shiverpaw spun around, her sorrow replaced with excitement as she watched the surprise blossom in her father's eyes. Yowls of approval filled the air as Oakheart stepped forward. He bowed his head.
"I promise to do everything in my power to serve you well," he rumbled.
"Oakheart! Oakheart!" Bluefur was among the first to press forward and congratulate her mate, her eyes bright with pride. Timberfur nodded slowly, as if he approved the choice. Shiverpaw felt equal parts excited and nervous. They'd lost a good warrior, but gained morale. With a new deputy named and only a matter of days until Graypool was freed from the medicine den, Shiverpaw could only imagine the next battle for Sunningrocks would be soon.
And this time, she mused silently, her heart pounding in her chest. This time we'll have to fight, too.
