Chapter 22
"Hey. Hey Shadepaw. Wake up!" the cat nudged her again, and Shadepaw opened her eyes and blinked. Then she jumped up.
"Mosskit!" she meowed, "It's great to see you!"
The two sisters purred, and then Mosskit said, "I know you are getting anxious. But you are going the right way. Your enemies live in the mountains. You must observe them and bring back as much information as you can to Silverheart."
Shadepaw nodded, but she had questions. "Why Silverheart? If anyone is going to lead us in battle, wouldn't it be one of the clan leaders?"
Mosskit's eyes sparkled, but her voice was cool and normal. "All will be revealed. You will understand soon. I must go now. I love you, my precious sister." Mosskit's body slowly started fading. Shadepaw watched her, feeling a prick of sorrow that she had not been able to spend more time with her lost sister.
Despite that, Shadepaw was feeling infinitely better. StarClan was watching over her, and she was going the right direction. But what did Mosskit know about Silverheart? It was obvious to Shadepaw that Mosskit was keeping something from her.
She kept walking, but her mind was more focused on finding out what Mosskit meant. She puzzled over these thoughts, but even when it came to be sunhigh, she wasn't any wiser on what was going on with her sister. Shadepaw sniffed the air catching the scents of the rocks, eagles, gorse, heather, and to her relief the scent of mouse. She pinpointed it quickly, but catching it was a different story. It scrambled out of her paws and disappeared quickly.
Shadepaw's belly rumbled, as though it knew she lost the mouse and was not happy. She tried to pick up other prey scents, straining her nose but had no success. Hungry as she was, Shadepaw had to continue the journey. She wondered how Silverheart was coping. What was she doing now?
…
"Shadowclan slime!" Silverheart spat at the Shadowclan tomcat that had knocked her off her paws. She had scrambled up before he could retaliate, and now she flicked her claws across his muzzle. Some other cat jumped on her from behind, and the RiverClan warrior spun around. Snakewind. "Can't Shadowclan cats fight their own battles?" Silverheart taunted before pouncing on him.
Shadowclan had given no indication of this battle at the last Gathering, which was the night after Silverheart had to say good-bye to her sister. Silverheart had grown more bad tempered since that night, but the whole clan didn't react. They knew she wasn't really mad at them; Silverheart was just worried about Shadepaw. She had a right to be, especially since she lost her other sisters.
So when the news that Shadowclan was invading reached the camp, she grew even more angry. Now she let it flow out of her naturally, without trying to stop it, the way water fall from heights and created waterfalls.
Snakewind snarled at her and pulled himself free, and left before she could blink. It seemed the whole of Shadowclan was here, so it was good that the silver she-cat was surrounded by all of her clanmates. Silverheart jumped on the first tom, remembering his name: Lionwing. The two cats tousled together, and in a minute, Silverheart had him pinned again. It seemed her anger made her fight better. She bit down hard on his paw, twisted it, and pulled. Lionwing caterwauled his pain, ands it was unlikely even Starclan didn't hear him. He pulled himself free, yowling more and limped away.
Silverheart let him go. She saw Shinewhisker struggling to fight a she-cat while another one held her down. As Silverheart dashed to help her friend, she recalled the two cats: Hazelfur and Jadeeye. Silverheart jumped on Jadeeye, the one clawing Shinewhisker, and scratched her shoulder. She ducked out of the way of Jadeeye's counterstrike, and hissed.
"Retreat Shadowclan, retreat!" Mudstar called. Silverheart gave Jadeeye a parting bite, and chased her to the border, Shinewhisker, Sandclaw, and Rosedrop at her side. They turned and rejoined Riverclan, satisfied. It seemed most her clanmates had escaped serious injury, though she saw Willowshadow bleeding heavily, and Webpelt had to limp back to camp. Then she saw Rainstar. His neck was gushing blood, and Smallflower gave him her shoulder for support.
When the clan returned, Watersong was waiting outside her den. She saw to Willowshadow and Webpelt first, and then Rainstar. She bounded him up with cobwebs, and gave him poppy seeds for the pain. He retired to his den, beckoning to Smallflower to follow him. Silverheart waited, talking with Oakstorm, till Watersong could check them. She gave them cobwebs as well, covering all their wounds. Then they heard Smallflower calling, "All cats old enough to swim gather beneath Mossrock for a clan meeting."
Oakstorm, Watersong and Silverheart headed into the clearing. Watersong nodded to the couple, and took her place at the foot of the mossy stone Smallflower stood on. Rosedrop joined Oakstorm and Silverheart, and the elders emerged from their den. Lastly was Graymist and her three kits. Reedpelt joined them, pride swimming in his eyes. Then Smallflower started the meeting.
"Rainstar has lost a life to his wounds, and he regrets that he is not strong enough for this ceremony." Wails of grief and sorrow rose from the assembled cats before she was done speaking. The deputy waited for it to die away before continuing, "He feels that Icekit, Cloudkit and Thrushkit are ready for their apprentice." The clan created a path for the three kits and they scrambled up to the rock hastily. Sadness still showed in each cat's eyes, but they were cheered slightly because of the new apprentices.
Smallflower picked her way down and said, "Cloudkit, you will be your apprentice name of Cloudpaw until you receive your warrior name. Your mentor will be Silverheart. She is young, but has courage and determination; she will teach you to be a fine warrior." Cloudpaw squealed happily.
Silverheart couldn't believe her ears. Had she heard right? Her clanmates stared at her, so she must have. She walked up to the rock and greeted her new apprentice with a nose touch. The two she-cats withdrew to the back of the crowd of cats, who cheered them both.
"Icekit, you will be known as Icepaw until you receive your warrior name. Your mentor shall be Splashspot." The tom padded up to the deputy and new apprentice. Smallflower continued, "Splashspot, you are smart and noble. Pass these qualities to Icepaw." He nodded and they touched noses too. Cheers broke out.
After Thrushkit was named Thrushpaw, Smallflower announced, "Your mentor will be myself. I promise to teach you to be a warrior your clanmates will be proud of." She and Thrushkit touched noses and the clan cheered again.
Silverheart was excited now that she was over the surprise. She was a mentor! The meeting broke up, and then she said to Cloudpaw, "Go find a nest in the apprentice den. Tomorrow starts training. Cloudpaw licked her mentor and shot off, her littermates struggling to keep up.
Oakstorm came up to Silverheart and purred, "Congratulations."
Silverheart smiled and said, "Thanks. I never expected this... I wish I could tell Shadepaw."
Oakstorm pressed closer, licked her and said, "She will be home before you know it. She's been gone almost a moon. I'll help you through this." Those words brought her back to when Oakstorm was comforting Sandclaw's calming her worries about her sister's kitting. That reminded her of how some of her friends questioned her, wondering how she could forgive him so easily. She had told them there was nothing to forgive, that he was here to stay and all she wanted to do was forget all the cruel things that happened. Which as it turned out, was easier than expected.
She ate with him, Rosedrop, Shinewhisker and Sandclaw. Then they all shared tongues, swapping news about the battle. Silverheart was tired so she went to her next early, wondering all the while about Shadepaw.
A/N: first off, I'm SORRY‼‼‼ I know I have neglected writing, but I have been so busy getting ready for my first year of high school. That starts Wednesday next week. So after that I won't be updating every night, but I will be writing every night. I refuse to give up on Silverheart and Shadepaw!
Ok so Shadepaw's journey had been a little boring, but soon(the next chapter or the one after that) she will find out the enemies. I had to have most of the chapter be about Riverclan just so you know what been happeneing with them. Thanks so much for reading, leave a review?