Hey again, my friends. Well... yes, this update has got to be the latest I've ever posted. I'm truly sorry to anyone who was kept waiting for another chapter, things get in the way... the OAT testing, for one, which if you don't know is a big testing policy for the US... stupid, stupid, stupid. And then there's been sickness, and homework, and crap like that. So without other excuses, I'm here, and glad to be. Thank you for checking out the next chapter, I'm enjoying how it's going. Review if you take pity on me =)
Chapter Eleven: Troublee
Blackscar was sunning in the cold sunshine, laying beside Ivytooth and Rainheart. He pricked his ears as he heard rustling in the barrier that surrounded their camp. Eyes narrowed, he watched as first Curlclaw bounded through, shaking his mane and freeing the brambles caught in it, and next the tall frame of Emberfoot. Closely following his heels came Lionpaw, then Frostpaw, and finally Brightpaw.
His ears flattening, Blackscar gazed sadly at his son. It had only been a few moon rises ago that the striped apprentice had learned the truth of his parentage. And he'd barely spoken to Blackscar ever since; a sharp thorn of regret burrowing deep within his heart. He'd had a fairly close bond with his son, but the truth seemed to shatter what loyalty Brightpaw had once had towards his father. But who could blame him?
Rainheart and Ivytooth, who had been quietly sharing tongues, paused in their grooming to look over at the passing lions. Curlclaw nodded formally to the lionesses as he strode by, ears flattening. As Brightpaw passed by his father, he didn't even glance at him.
"I wonder what's happened?" Rainheart murmured to Ivytooth, eyes narrowed.
"They look abashed," Ivytooth agreed.
"Maybe they're in trouble?" Blackscar growled, ears flicking uncertainly as he joined their conversation.
Rainheart sharply looked over at him, and Ivytooth looked at Blackscar, expression unfathomable. "Perhaps," she meowed faintly, losing interest in Blackscar as she turned back to grooming with Rainheart.
Blackscar glanced across the clearing, and saw Snowstar step from his cave, amber eyes questioning, as Curlclaw came to a stop with the three apprentices. As if feeling his brother's eyes burning into his skull, Snowstar glanced up and briefly met Blackscar's gaze before turning away.
"What's wrong, Curlclaw?" Snowstar rumbled. Emberfoot looked at his leader, eyes dark.
"These apprentices," Curlclaw meowed, voice deep, as he flicked his furry tail-tip towards Lionpaw, Frostpaw, and Brightpaw, "nearly caused a border fight."
"A border fight?" Snowstar repeated, ears flattening and a hint of a growl to his tone. "Explain," he demanded.
Lionpaw cringed under his leader's gaze, and wished he could melt into the ground.
"Brightpaw ran after a lizard," Emberfoot explained, voice cool, "and these two furballs followed him. They literally fell into WaterClan territory, and got caught by a patrol, led by Featherfoot."
There were low pawsteps from behind them, and Lionpaw twisted his neck to see Longfang approaching. He hadn't seen much of the LightningClan deputy recently; but the muscled warrior looked as fierce as any day. And as his ears pricked towards their conversation, he felt a dark rock settle in his chest- he didn't want the tough lion's input on the day's events.
"What's this? A border fight?" Longfang growled as he drew up to stand proud next to Snowstar.
"Almost," Curlclaw replied as he dipped his head politely to his deputy.
"Caused by who- these cubs?" the dark-furred warrior growled, staring furiously at Lionpaw and his friends. Frostpaw shrank under his gaze, but to Lionpaw's surprise, Brightpaw stared defiantly up at the deputy, eyes burning.
"Yes. Featherfoot and two others were in the patrol that caught them, and she was furious. I think she was more angry of the fact Brightpaw is her..." Emberfoot's voice trailed off.
"Featherfoot was related to Littlecloud?" Snowstar asked sharply, eyes suddenly glinting.
Lionpaw glanced across at Brightpaw, tail waving with unease. The idea that his friend really had kin in WaterClan after all was a strange one, and he couldn't help but feel dread that one day, when there was war between their two Clans, Brightpaw would have to face them.
"They were sisters," Curlclaw said quietly.
Snowstar shook his head, eyes grave. "It was foolish of you three to run off like that," he growled, tail lashing.
"It was an epic example of idiocy," Longfang snapped, fur bristling. "You three almost caused a fight between two Clans."
"We're sorry!" Frostpaw meowed honestly.
"But sorry doesn't fix bitter feelings towards our Clan," Snowstar murmured, frowning. "Featherfoot will have reported them to Meadowstar... and she'll be none too pleased at hearing we've raised the half-Clan cub this far..."
The fire in Brightpaw's eyes flickered as his leader referred to him as just a half-Clan cub.
"There's a Gathering tomorrow night," Curlclaw murmured, sweeping his gaze over the three apprentices. "She may have something to say about it."
"But it's not even that big a deal!" Brightpaw said suddenly, ears flattened. "I'm the mousebrain, I chased that stupid lizard too far, okay? I'll admit it. Why does WaterClan have to get so upset? After all, it's not the first time apprentices accidentally got across the border!"
"I think," Longfang growled, "it would have been different, had you not been there."
Brightpaw's eyes flashed.
"What do you mean?" Lionpaw snapped, touching his tail to Brightpaw's flank supportively.
"Since you're the reason her sister's dead, and you, an insult to their Clan, turned up in their territory, well..." Longfang's eyes gleamed with malice, and the pleasure of finally being able to take a bitter stab at the cross-Clan apprentice.
"That's enough, Longfang," Snowstar growled, twitching his whiskers. Lionpaw gazed into the face of his leader, eyes dark. Snowstar was quiet, and sighed. "I see that what happened was a mistake, and a very unlucky situation." He paused. "But you three did willingly enter another Clan's territory, because you all know the boundaries by now. It was a foolish thing to do, and I cannot ignore the fact you nearly caused a border fight."
Snowstar hesitated, amber eyes gazing into Lionpaw's. "You three will not attend the Gathering tomorrow night, and I expect you all to spend extra time with the elders, cleaning their dirt, looking for ticks, and hunting with them. Understood?"
Longfang lashed his tail, like the great lion was disappointed in the apprentices' consequence, and Curlclaw just nodded nimbly as Emberfoot shook his mane in agreement. Lionpaw looked over at Frostpaw, and saw the dismay in her pretty eyes; he reached over and licked her muzzle comfortingly. She stared at him, eyes soft.
"Yes, Snowstar," they all murmured.
Snowstar was quiet, then sighed, and flicked his tail. "You are all dismissed."
Lionpaw sighed as he felt Brightpaw touch his shoulder with his nose in comfort. He wasn't as upset by the duties he'd been roughly handed than the disappointment and worry glittering in Snowstar's amber eyes. Would WaterClan really be angry about Brightpaw?
"Go on," Emberfoot meowed, nudging them along.
Frostpaw sent an unhappy look towards her mentor, Curlclaw, before padding away with Lionpaw and Brightpaw. "I can't believe this is happening."
Lionpaw glanced at his friend, ears pricked. He saw the distress in her pretty eyes, and knew she hated getting in trouble like this. "It's not that bad," he comforted her. "Every apprentice gets in trouble at least once."
"But that's not the point!" Frostpaw's claws raked on the stones as they padded across the camp. "We could have caused a fight!"
Lionpaw shrugged, but before he could answer, Bright cut across him.
"You don't have to worry," he said harshly. "WaterClan's already threatened war with us over me and Blackscar. Petty fights like this don't matter."
Frostpaw looked sympathetic and unhappy for her friend, and though Lionpaw felt a stab of sympathy as well, he couldn't ignore the sharp prickles of jealousy as Frostpaw fondly swiped a tongue over the striped cub's ear.
* * *
"Lionpaw!"
The voice belonged to Buzzardpaw; the grayish apprentice gazed at Lionpaw through the prickles of the apprentice den.
"Wh- what?" he meowed groggily, head splitting in a yawn as he rose his head slowly from his warm paws. It was the morning after Snowstar had sentenced him, Brightpaw, and Frostpaw to care of the elders, and the cold sunlight washed into the den.
"Rise and shine, pretty furball," Buzzardpaw growled, eyes pricking with amusement. "Snowstar wants you."
At the mention of his leader, Lionpaw shot straight up, eyes wide. "Snowstar?"
"No, his evil twin. Of course Snowstar!"
Suppressing a groggy mrrow of amusement, Lionpaw stretched before padding noisily around the sleeping forms of Cricketpaw and Rowanpaw.
He followed Buzzardpaw into the sunwashed clearing, tail pricking and eyes narrowing. The Clan was stirring with life; Grasstail, Leafstorm, and Rainheart were picking through the large fresh-kill pile, while Redflower and Shiverpelt padded over to Dustmane, probably ready to go on a patrol.
"Over there," Buzzardpaw mewed shortly as he flicked his tail towards where Snowstar was walking gracefully, slowly, across the camp, talking quietly to Bluefur, who was padding quietly at his side.
"Thanks," Lionpaw said over his shoulder as he stalked past his Clanmates to face his mother and leader.
"Lionpaw," Snowstar rumbled.
Bluefur's eyes brightened when she saw her son, and she gently bent down, rasping a tongue over his ear. "Hello, Lionpaw," she meowed.
"Bluefur," he replied politely, flicking his tail fondly against his mother's foreleg. Growing up as a warrior meant putting Clan before kin, and though he grew apart from his mother and siblings eventually, he know he'd always harbor a small affection for them.
"I'm glad Buzzardpaw sent you; it's time you and I have a training session alone," Snowstar growled, gazing at Lionpaw through endless amber eyes. Lionpaw blinked, thoughts scurrying back to yesterday when their leader had sternly handed off consequences for the run-in with Featherfoot's WaterClan patrol. Yet none of his sharpness bittered his gaze this morning, and Lionpaw was grateful for that.
Yet his leader's words struck excitement as well as nervousness within him. He'd been training as an apprentice for a little over a moon now, and he usually had patrols and hunting and fighting sessions with other apprentices; they hadn't had time to work alone for awhile. But it would be strange without Brightpaw's supporting gaze or Frostpaw's excited expression.
"That sounds great!" he meowed, allowing a little bounce as his tail blazed.
Bluefur chuckled, and touched her nose to Snowstar's gently. "I'm going to check on Amberpaw. Have a good session, you too," she added as she padded away, tail flicking.
Amberpaw. The mention of Lionpaw's sister suddenly reminded him of his strange visit with Pebbleheart, the Clan medicine-lion, the other day, when she had seen a sign from StarClan. Even monsters pretend to sleep.
Feeling icy claws shiver down his spine as the words of the sign whispered in his ear, he once again wondered what it could possibly mean, and what their sign held in store for LightningClan.
"Lionpaw!"
Lionpaw blinked, and shook himself, realizing he'd lost himself in thought. His gaze sharpening, he stared up at Snowstar, tail lashing once. "Snowstar?"
The large lion peered down at Lionpaw with a half amused, half stern look on his face. "Never lose your focus," he growled softly, eyes flashing as he bent down gracefully so that he could meet Lionpaw's eyes directly. "It is your only hope in a fight."
Lionpaw swallowed, and nodded. "Yes, Snowstar."
Snowstar touched his tail to Lionpaw's flank before straightening up and calling to Longfang as the large warrior sauntered across the camp towards Snowstar, "I'm going out with Lionpaw. Keep an eye on things, please."
Longfang glanced dismissively at Lionpaw, and the apprentice felt defiance make his fur begin to bristle. "Very well, Snowstar," he growled, nodding, before turning away to join the other warriors.
Snowstar began galloping across the sunwashed clearing, and Lionpaw padded powerfully after him, feeling the cold air slice into his face, as they plunged into the bracken wall guarding the camp and into the surrounding jungle.
A million scents and sounds flooded over Lionpaw as he shivered, shaking himself, once they slowed their gate to a stroll. He flexed his muscles, admiring the way they stretched and pulled in the sunlight. "Are we going to
the sandy hollow, Snowstar?"
Snowstar nodded as they continued padding along. Lionpaw watched his mentor, sudden pride swelling in his chest. He was very proud to have such a great lion as his mentor, but couldn't help a prickle of puzzlement flash in his paws. Why had Snowstar chosen him? After all, he wasn't anyone special; just the son of Bluefur. Yet he knew the two were very close, and had a nagging feeling that Snowstar was closer to him than he thought.
"Snowstar," he suddenly spoke up, chasing away his wonders and focusing on his mentor.
"Yes, Lionpaw?" he rumbled.
"Will I ever have a mane like yours?" he meowed, whiskers twitching with amusement.
Snowstar chuckled, and batted at Lionpaw with a huge paw, yet the strong apprentice keenly dodged it, eyes bright. "Maybe, if you train hard enough."
Lionpaw laughed and ran ahead of his mentor, paws thudding in the grass and through the many trees as they raced through the jungle, wind rushing in their fur.
As the sandy hollow grew nearer, and the quiet of the jungle thickened, Lionpaw knew there was another question he was itching to ask Snowstar, but wasn't sure if it was the right time. He took a deep breath, and decided to go with it as he drew to a stop, and waited for Snowstar to powerfully stride up to him, ears pricking.
"What now?" Snowstar rumbled.
Lionpaw flicked his tail, frowning. "Snowstar..." His voice was serious this time as he asked another question. "Why did you choose Longfang as your deputy?"
Clearly, the leader had not bee expecting this, and he blinked, amber eyes blank for a second. Suddenly wondering if he would grow angry, as an apprentice has no room to question a leader's actions, Lionpaw unsheathed his claws, but there was no anger in Snowstar's eyes.
Instead, there was a deep mix of puzzlement and almost admiration in his eyes, and something else Lionpaw couldn't place. But he knew he couldn't help but ask; as much as he admired the strong deputy, there was a certain darkness about him he didn't like. The story of Firerunner and Longfang once again struck his mind, and he quivered, waiting for Snowstar to speak.
"Why did I choose Longfang?" Snowstar echoed, voice soft as he quieted for a second. The brilliant sunlight slipped through the exotic jungle trees, turning the leader's mane to a burning gold, as he wrapped his tail around his ankle, face grave. "You are truly a unique apprentice, Lionpaw. Not many would have the bravery- or foolishness- to question a leader's decision."
"But-" Lionpaw blurted.
"Silence," Snowstar gently cut over him, whiskers flicking. "Young Lionpaw... you know the story of Firerunner and Longfang." Deep sadness penetrated his amber eyes as he mentioned Firerunner, the dead, respected warrior Lionpaw had never met. "He was such a great warrior. When my old deputy, Graysky, retired from the position as deputy, I knew my leadership needed backed up by a young, strong warrior." He shook his head.
"Never did I think the tragedy of Firerunner's death would happen. He and Longfang were the two warriors I'd singled out as the best to choose." He sighed, shaking his head. "I suppose it was StarClan's way of telling me that Longfang was the one to be chosen; when we lost Firerunner, what other choice did I have? StarClan's word is law." Thoughts stirred in his eyes like fish in a stream, and Lionpaw wondered what was going on in Snowstar's head.
"So you simply chose him because Firerunner was killed?" he inquired.
Snowstar shook his head swiftly, eyes burning. "No. I considered other warriors after Firerunner's death; yet Longfang was the best lion to choose. I know he is the right warrior to help lead LightningClan."
Lionpaw felt a flicker of awe by the amount of certainty and deep respect kindling in Snowstar's voice; he had no idea the leader had that much trust in Longfang. Sudden unease sprinkled across his thoughts; was he wrong to doubt Longfang? Was the dark warrior better than he thought?
His final question finally colored the cold morning air. "Pebbleheart seems uneasy whenever we mentioned Longfang around her," he meowed, voice level. "Do you know what that means?"
Mystery swirled in Snowstar's eyes, and he shook his head slowly. "I do not."
Sighing, Lionpaw nodded and took a step back, feeling a sudden rush of gratitude towards Snowstar for patiently answering his questions. "Thank you, Snowstar," he murmured.
Snowstar blinked down at him, nodding. "You are welcome." Clearing his throat, the leader glanced around, and rumbled, "I think training would be fine here. The hollow is too familiar."
Surprised, Lionpaw decided to agree, and he crouched down, trying to clear his mind as Snowstar crouched down, claws slowly unsheathing and pricking in the light like water-splashed stones, growling, as he began to tell
Lionpaw the best way to attack a warrior from the shadows.
He nodded, tail lashing, trying to concentrate, yet his mind kept flitting back to everything he was learning. The birth of a cross-Clan cub, a great LightningClan warrior murdered, a shadowy sign from StarClan: somehow, he knew all these clues tied up to something, but the answer he was groping for kept sliding further into the night, and he felt frustration bite his tail as he carefully took a swipe at Snowstar, eyes burning. What was StarClan trying to tell them?