Sorry guys, made another dumb mistake. "Wolfkit" Is actually Shadekit. I edited the last chapter to match it. Completely forgot that there was a Wolfstorm...
Thank you Rowanflame for reviewing!
"Hey mange-pelt! Don't you ever groom?"
Silverpaw stopped lapping at the cool water and looked intently at his reflection.
He saw a cat, medium length fur sticking out in all directions. The cat's eyes were pale blue, dark, fiery. There was no humor in them, only a bleak determination. He had a small scar above one eye.
Self-conscious, Silverpaw awkwardly licked at his chest fur, trying to get it to lay flat and slick like Stormpaw's. But to no avail.
Sighing, Silverpaw picked up his vole and headed back in the direction of camp. There was a quiet crackle in the brush, and Silverpaw stopped dead in his tracks. He dropped into a crouch, belly skimming the ground like a snake.
It was a crow, casually picking at the carcass of a long-dead mouse. Silverpaw shrugged inwardly. Although chances were not in his favour, he imagined what it would look like to pad back into camp with a crow in tow. Maybe, just maybe, it would even impress Redtalon!
Heart set on it, Silverpaw crept forward. Unfortunately, he didn't watch his paws and stepped on a twig.
The crow's beady black eyes stared at him for a moment before taking off. No! Bunching his hindquarters, Silverpaw sprang up. His claws nicked the bird's wing and he brought it down. The crow's wings franticalgly beat his face as Silverpaw struggled to finish it off.
As its body grew limp, Silverpaw felt pride warming him to the tips of his claws. He managed to tuck the vole under his chin and grasped the large bird by the scruff.
The crow's wing snagged onto he gorse entrance, and Silverpaw had to wrench it free. Dark feathers were left behind on the thorns.
Silverpaw's tail drooped as he realized that Redtalon was on a patrol. Stormpaw was puffing his chest and boasting to Rainpaw.
Silverpaw hung his head.
A moon.
A moon since his own sister had talked to him
. How he had regretted phrasing his words. Flamepaw had avoided him, refused to talk, and moved her nest to the other side of the den.
Quietly, Silverpaw deposited his kill on the fresh-kill pile. Excited squeals rang out in his ears. Ravenstrike was letting her kits out into camp. Shadekit was wrestling with Grasskit, growling in mock anger as they scuffled. Swankit shook her head before leaping into the fray. The three tumbled about, rolling until they almost bumped into Silverpaw. Shadekit jumped up and hissed.
"Guys, it's the weakling Stormpaw warned us about!" Silverpaw gaped.
"Hi, kits, I'm Silverpaw," Silverpaw shut his mouth. Shadekit bared his tiny teeth. Grasskit and Swankit padded up. What is Stormpaw saying to these moon old kits?
"Ugh, he doesn't even look like a cat. He's a-badger!" Grasskit's eyes gleamed. Swankit's white splotched muzzle wrinkled, lips curling back into a devious grin.
"Badger-stinky," The other two kits' eyes widened, then smiled. Silverpaw raised an eyebrow. He was hardly intimidated by kits who had only just begun to eat solif prey.
"Badger-stinky, badger-stinky, badger-st-"
"Look guys, it's Stormpaw!" The troop of kits scrambled to the apprentice, tripping over themselves in their rush. "Teach us a battle move!" Swankit bashed, fluttering her eyelashes.
Stormpaw stared down at the kits, arrogance glinting in his eyes. "Sure."
"Can I join?" Silverpaw was surprised by the youthful squeak that came from the nursery. Lightkit was waddling out, head cocked hopefully.
"Perhaps this will be a little too-advanced for such a small kit," Stormpaw narrowed his eyes. Lightkit furrowed his brow.
"Fine. I'll learn myself. You aren't even a warrior. I don't need you teaching me," Silverpaw smiled and padded toward the kit.
"Do you want to practise being an apprentice?" Lightkit's eyes brightened. Silverpaw was intrigued. The kit's eyes were like no colour like he'd ever seen before. Almost-grey, but not so like Hailbreeze's. Greyish, flecked with bits of blue and green.
"Of course I do! Will you help me? What can I do?" Silverpaw purred. He wondered if this kit would still be so excited after finding out what being an apprentice was really like.
"Well, have you visited the elders?" Lightkit's cream fur ruffled. "The elders?"
"An apprentice duty is bringing prey to the elders," Silverpaw expected the enthusiasm in the kit's eyes to dim. But Lightkit bounced excitedly still, switching from paw to paw.
"Come on, pick out a piece of prey for them to share," Silverpaw motioned to the fresh-kill pile. Lightkit focused his gaze on a mole on the top of the pile. Silverpaw was distracted. His crow was missing from the spot where he had placed it.
He looked around, stopping at the spot where Stormpaw was "teaching" the three other kits. Silverpaw's heart burned with anger as he realized that the dark grey apprentice was instructing the kits to take turns pouncing on the large black bird. Stormpaw turned around and met his stare challengingly. The crow was no longer edible, with blood and dirt sticking to its squashed body. Silverpaw imagined digging his claws into Stormpaw's pelt, harder and harder until blood beaded out.
"I got it!" Lightkit's proud chirp broke Silverpaw from his dark thoughts. He plastered a wide grin onto his face as he saw the cream-furred kit with the creature lying limply beside him. The mole was barely smaller than Lightkit was.
Silverpaw nudged the kit and placed the prey onto his back. Lightkit stumbled, but held strong.
"Right by that fallen tree over there," Silverpaw steered the kit toward the elder's den. Inside, Mosspelt and Fogstep were bickering, while Vinetail purred at them.
"Why hello, young'un, it's good to see you again!" Fogstep greeted pleasantly.
"It's all the same, Fogstep," Silverpaw dipped his head. Mosspelt peered around him.
"I see you've brought a visitor," The tortoiseshell she-cat mewed gruffly. Lightkit jumped out from behind Silverpaw.
"I'm Lightkit!" The kit's strange eyes glowed with excitement, showing no hint of shyness. Vinetail purred welcomingly.
"And you've brought prey," The old grey tom croaked.
"I picked it myself! I hope you like it!" Mosspelt and Fogstep exchanged glances.
"Wow, Lightkit, how'd you know mole was my favourite?" Fogstep exclaimed encouragingly. The tabby tom brushed his tail on the floor.
"Come closer dear, we don't bite. At least, not most of us," Fogstep shot a good-humored glare at Mosspelt.
"That was one time," Mosspelt grumbled. She motioned toward Vinetail. "That's Vinetail. I'm Mosspelt."
"Ahem," Fogstep coughed, narrowing his eye. Mosspelt grinned.
"Oops, sorry about that, Fogstep. Almost forgot about you."
Fogstep leaned close to Lightkit. "Would you perhaps like a story?" Lightkit shuddered in excitement.
"Yes, please!" He sat down with a thump. Fogstep curled his tail over his paws.
"Hmm, let's see, how about I tell you the story of how the jay earned its cry?" Lightkit nodded his head eagerly. Silverpaw settled down. He hadn't heard this one yet either.
"At the beginning of the clans, the jay bird was silent. In the ThunderClan forest, a kit was born. For his cunning ways, he was known as Jaypaw."
Silverpaw flinched as he recalled the fateful battle that had stolen the lives of both a ThunderClan and a ShadowClan apprentice.
"See, Jaypaw was unusually intelligent and sly. For this, he was praised by his mentor and earned the admiration of his fellow apprentices. Many she-cats mooned over his glossy fur and light figure."
"Jaypaw was an amazing hunter, but one day, he was fooled by the quiet jay. He, arrogant from being spoiled in his clan, was amazed to find a creature that could foil his attempts. So he struck up a pact with the jays of the forest. In exchange for their guidance to the other prey of the forest, Jaypaw vowed to never kill a single jay."
"One particular bird followed the apprentice throughout his excursions, alerting him of small creatures to hunt. They would share the kills. This jay became the undisputed king of his kind, ruling over the others with his immense size and strength."
"Jaypaw became Jayscreech. He fell in love with his kit-hood friend, a beautiful she-cat called Roseshine. They had three kits." Lightkit stuck out his tongue.
"Gross!" Mosspelt shot him a disapproving look. Fogstep took a bite of the mole before continuing.
"Unfortunately, the leafbare of that season-cycle was incredibly hard. Jayscreech watched helplessly as the prey ran dry, and as his clan began dropping like flies. Jayscreech was desperate; his kits were slowly dying. The only prey left in the forest were jays."
"Jayscreech's clan cried for the help of their most talented hunter. He knew what must be done."
"So one fateful night, as the king of the jays followed him, Jayscreech struck. He grabbed the throat of his ally, and bit down. As he died, the jay summoned all of his strength and unleashed a final, betrayed cry."
"Jay!" Lightkit jumped as Fogstep swooped at him and yowled. Vinetail and Mosspelt chuffed in laughter.
"Not funny!" Lightkit hissed, but this only caused the elders to laugh harder.
"The other jays heard this call, and began to repeat it, for it symbolized to never trust a cat, and the spirit of vengeance for their ruler."
"Now leave us in peace, little one. You can come back tomorrow for another story," Lightkit looked as if he were about to say something, but thought better of it.
As they padded out of the den, Lightkit turned to Silverpaw.
"That was fun. Thank you. I'm Lightkit. What's your name? Shadekit said Stormpaw said it was Oddpaw, but I'm not sure if I believe him," Lightkit huffed. "It's like they worship him or something."
Silverpaw peeled his lips back into a playful grin.
"Silverpaw. But you can call me Loserpaw, if you'd like."
QOTD: Whatd'ya think of Silverpaw's new friend?