Sorry that I haven't uploaded in so long!
No reviews last chapter, but it's alright!
It was raining.
Silverpaw tried his best to blink away the water streaming into his eyes, but to no avail. Hailbreeze had insisted on training them in the damp cold, after Pinespring had given him the permission. He was running behind Seedpelt, attempting to keep his footing in the slick mud. The track Hailbreeze had assigned them was by the stream, so if one of them were to slip, they would plunge into the icy waters.
Silverpaw shivered. The cold was steadily seeping into his bones, like a small animal burrowing at his skin from the inside. Sparrowcloud hung at the very back, chanting words of encouragement as she herded the shy Meadowstream in front of her.
They were approaching the river now, single file, fur slick with mud and rain and debris. Seedpelt had her head up triumphantly. Silverpaw wanted to wipe the arrogant expression he knew was on her face with unsheathed claws.
Deciding what to do, he quickly looked back and nodded to Sparrowcloud, who pricked her ears with understanding.
He pumped his legs faster, arching his back and gliding over the ground. Ears back, eyes screwed up, Silverpaw surged forward, feeling his muscles ache from the sudden warmth of adrenaline.
With a quiet grin, he shoved past Seedpelt, unsheathing his claws to grip at the muddy earth. Silverpaw heard her bewildered yowl as it was cut off by the gritty water of the river.
Hailbreeze was awaiting them at the Sunningrocks border. Seedpelt started to catch up, and Silverpaw forced himself to push even faster. He wasn't a particularly fast cat, but pure determination made him trudge on.
Silverpaw whipped around and skidded to a halt, panting by his mentor until the she-cats caught up. Seedpelt looked about to explode with rage, while Sparrowcloud had almost a glint of satisfaction in her hazel gaze.
Hailbreeze's flint like eyes looked even greyer in the downpour. "I'll give you guys until sunhigh to rest in by the stream clearing." With that, he turned and stalked away.
Silverpaw was shocked to the core. A cat like Hailbreeze, giving them a break? No, there was no logical explanation to this. There had to be a twist.
Sparrowcloud seemed to realize this too. Her hazel eyes sparkled with wariness.
Seedpelt looked at Silverpaw, at Sparrowcloud, and back. "Come on, don't stand just there like fools. You heard the cat. Well, I'm not going to wait for you." She shook droplets of water off her fur and disappeared into the trees. Meadowstream jointed after the grey flecked she-cat.
"We better follow her," Sparrowcloud grimaced, kinking her tail over her gold splashed back. Silverpaw nodded in agreement.
When they had reached the stream-bank, Silverpaw winced at the rushing torrent of water that was splashing up. Seedpelt had found shelter in a fern. Meadowstream was resting her head on her paws, eyes closed.
"I think I'll take a nap." The grey flecked she-cat concluded, flicking her tail. Sparrowcloud padded up to the plant and shook out her pelt. Seedpelt hissed indignantly as she was splattered with water.
"Seedpelt," Sparrowcloud began. "I'm not sure this is such a great idea. Think about it; is it like Hailbreeze to give breaks?"
Seedpelt scoffed. "You can do whatever you want. Stop being so cautious!"
Silverpaw looked away from the she-cats and stared at the leaves. They were various shades of orange, from flame colored to dark brown.
A earsplitting caterwaul came from the other side of the stream. Silverpaw jolted up instantly.
Hailbreeze's gathering call.
"I thought he said until sunhigh!" Seedpelt yelped, bushing out her fur and running to the stream. Sparrowcloud raced to her paws and shook Meadowstream awake. "Come on!"
Silverpaw pushed off his hind paws and started at the stream, praying that he would land on the other side. The stream swelled before him, an angry rapid of foaming white liquid.
He leapt.
And ground met his paws.
Opening his eyes, Silverpaw whipped back and saw that Sparrowcloud had made it too.
Silverpaw turned around, almost yelping in surprise.
Hailbreeze stood where there had only been muddy earth a moment before, disapproval glinting in his sharp eyes.
The sooty grey tom waited until all of the cats were lined up before starting.
"How unfortunate is it that when I announce something so seemingly, suspicious, you all seem so eager to believe it." He whipped his eyes to glare at Meadowstream and Seedpelt. "Especially those of us that attempt to take naps."
Meadowstream hung her head quietly. But Seedpelt looked furious. "You told us you were giving us a break!"
Hailbreeze advanced quickly, raising his head until Seedpelt was cowering below his shadow. "A warrior never falls for tricks. Do you think that the enemy would not try to trick us during a battle?"
"For all of you, three more laps. Sparrowcloud, you get four." The gold and white she-cat opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again as Hailbreeze continued. "You are the oldest, and I should believe, most experienced. Do you not have the will to make others listen to your words? Any cat must be able to command during an ambush, or a war. If cats do not listen to you now, during simple training, then why should they later, when every moment determines if a life is lost? Go now, or you probably won't make it back by dusk."
...
Silverpaw ducked out of the tunnel and looked around the camp.
Hailbreeze was still training the she-cats, but had let him off early to go take care of the elders. Silverpaw stalked over to the fresh-kill pile and picked up a rabbit, the limp creature dangling from his mouth as he made his way over to the elder's den.
A milky scent wafted out of the fallen tree. Silverpaw padded into the den and peered down at the four kits intently watching Mosspelt 's animated face.
"The river was completely frozen solid. I turned back and- oh hello, young Silverpaw, joining us for a story?" Silverpaw smiled and shook his head.
"No, though I would very much enjoy one. Hailbreeze said you hadn't eaten yet, so I brought you some food," He pushed the rabbit toward Fogstep and Vinetail. Grasskit sat up, and stared at Silverpaw.
"Come on guys, let's go." The tabby kit mewled, dragging Shadekit along with him. Swankit bristled.
"But we aren't done the story!" The white splotched kit pouted. Grasskit shrugged quietly. "Are you coming or not?" Swankit sighed and followed her brother.
"Lightkit?" The cream tabby kit shook his head. "I'll finish the story, but thanks anyway." Grasskit snorted and walked out of the den, his siblings on his heels. The old tabby tom stared after them.
"Keep going, Mosspelt," Lightkit urged, fur ruffling. Fogstep looked at the entrance for a moment more before continuing.
"Er, where was I again?" Silverpaw tucked his paws under his chest. Lightkit purred. "The river was frozen?"
"Ah, yes. I turned back and ran to camp. I yelled to Swiftstar, told her that we could get the kits back. She agreed, and I followed my mentor as Swiftstar led us off to battle."
" 'knew that it was the chance to prove myself. As the clans met with tooth and claw, I crept into what looked the nursery, made of sturdy lookin' reeds. The missing kits were a-cowering at the back of the reeds. I grabbed one, but before 'could get the other, somethin' grabbed me from behind. I threw the kit under me, and swiped at a tom three times my size. He ran 'way 'ith his tail between his legs. I 'escued the kits single-pawed, and that got me my warrior name." Mosspelt puffed her chest.
Fogstep swallowed a bit of the rabbit and purred. "Though I think Mossfire would've been a better fit."
"Oh shut your snout, smart-mouth." Mosspelt cuffed his ear. Vinetail peered at Silverpaw. "You better get Lightkit out before things get ugly, young'un. Don't want any tender ears to be burned!"
Lightkit planed his paws into the ground. Quietly, he mewed. "Mosspelt?"
"Yes Lightkit?"
"Why do we have battles?"
The old tortoiseshell she-cat seemed taken aback by this question. "Well, think about it 'is way, dear. If you walk by the river, eventually, your paws will get wet. We live with borders stretching to the territories of 'ther cats. Eventually, as with the water, our patience wears thin. So a battle happens."
"Nice explanation. I wouldn't expected such sophisticated words from you," Fogstep remarked sarcastically.
"Er, Silverpaw, now would be a good time…"
Silverpaw grinned and herded the cream tabby kit out. Lightkit resisted and looked back. "Bye Mosspelt! Bye Fogstep! Bye Vinetail!"
Silverpaw nudged the kit along with his nose. Lightkit was genuinely likable, and extremely so. Unlike himself.
Lightkit turned around, staring up at him with wide eyes. The flecked orbs appeared blue at this very moment. "Silverpaw! I haven't seen you in days! Where have you been?"
He grimaced sheepishly. "Training." Silverpaw felt guilty for neglecting to spend time with his little friend. Lightkit was already as tall as his shoulder, and looked like he had much more to grow.
Ravenstrike padded from the shadows, whipping her tail. "Kits!" She called. "Time to come in!" The jet black queen looked around, eyes stopping on Lightkit. "Dear, have you seen your siblings?"
Lightkit shook his head, looking confused. "They left the elder's den a while ago, what's the matter?" Ravenstrike visibly stiffened, hackles rising.
"I just looked everywhere. I didn't see them." Sharp realization seemed to course through the queen and Silverpaw simultaneously.
Dread flooded Silverpaw to the tips of his claws.
"My kits! My kits are gone!" She yowled, eyes glowing with hysteria. Darkblaze was at her side in an instant.
"Ravenstrike! What happened?" The ginger and black tom stared at her frantically. "Speak up!"
"I-I went to go take a nap. I left the kits with the elders. After I woke up, I thought they might be-be hungry, but I didn't see any of them but Lightkit!"
Darkblaze turned to his son. "Lightkit. Please, Lightkit. Do you know where they could have possibly gone?"
By now, a crowd was forming around the queen and her mate.
Lightkit furrowed his brow. "I-I have no idea."
"Why don't you ask the runt?"
Silverpaw whipped around and was met by the hard amber eyes of Stormpaw. His leg, wrapped in comfrey, was held awkwardly close to his body.
"You think I took the kits?" Silverpaw's heart burned with rage. He stalked up to the bedraggled grey apprentice and stared straight into his eyes.
"Well, first off, why were you with them when they disappeared? Shouldn't an apprentice be training instead of gossiping with elders?" Stormpaw chuckled, looking around the crowd. "We all know that those kits do not like him. It's possible that he got mad, and just-"
"So I would abduct clanmates because I don't like them?" Silverpaw scoffed.
"The river! They're at the river!" All cats turned to Lightkit, whose wide grey eyes were alight with realization. "Mosspelt was telling us the story about how she earned her warrior name."
"We must go find them, then," Darkblaze declared, standing up and moving to the entrance.
At that moment, Aspenpaw leapt in front of him. "Let Silverpaw and I get them." She saw Darkblaze's furious look and continued. "I think I should go, because your kits need you back at camp. You mustn't do anything rash."
Darkblaze relented and stepped back, sighing. "Can't even save my own kits." He sat back on his haunches in defeat. "If anything happens to them, it'll be your responsibility."
"Silverpaw, let's go." Silverpaw turned on his paws and sprinted after the dark grey and white she-cat. He fought to catch up with Aspenpaw's smooth, long strides. His own pale fur caught on the thorns, dragging him down. The rain from earlier made the ground slippery, and Silverpaw landed with an oof in a patch of thorns.
Aspenpaw halted and whipped around.
"Oh, Silverpaw, please hurry up. What if the kits are in trouble?" Aspenpaw reached down and hauled him out of the bramble.
Her silky fur brushed past his nose.
Aspenpaw smelled pleasant, like wildflowers on a new-leaf day.
Silverpaw smiled and ran after her, heart swelling inside him.
The river was swollen, rushing up Sunningrocks in waves, frothing water completely covering the stepping stones.
A tiny black shape, soaked like a clump of wet fur, crouched at the edge of the river.
Any happy thoughts immediately dispersed from Silverpaw's mind. He sprang to the side of the shivering shape. The black and white she-kit shook with horror.
"Swankit?" Silverpaw nudged the kit softly. When she didn't reply, he nudged her again, harder. "Swankit, please talk, I need to know what happened."
But the kit was still shaking, eyes fixed on a point in the river. Silverpaw was close to shaking the answer out of her when Aspenpaw crossed to them in a stride.
"Swankit, we need your help. Where are your brothers?" Her question is met by a terrified look, and a claw jutting out to point at the rushing water.
"Sh-Shadekit," Swankit stuttered. "What about him?" Aspenpaw asked. Silverpaw was surprised by her gentleness.
"He-he fell-fell into the-" Another point.
The river. Silverpaw realized that the kit's teeth were chattering so much that she couldn't speak. With a quick paw, he pulled the tiny kit close to him, so that his warm fur draped over her face.
"Grasskit tried to save him." She gasped, eyes pulling back until the whites were showing. "But he got-got swept away too!"
At that moment, something caught Silverpaw's eye.
A blackberry sized paw, shooting out of the water, a wet, gurgling cry following suit. "Help!"
Aspenpaw leapt to her feet. "Stay there! I'll get him!"
"But-" Silverpaw tried to stand up, but was stopped by Swankit's hacking cough. "You stay here and take care of Swankit!" Smooth as a snake, Aspenpaw slid into the rushing torrent without a splash. Her head emerged a second later, paws pumping in strong strokes.
Silverpaw licked the kit's fur in the opposite direction, tensing just in case Aspenpaw needed his help.
Swankit seemed to be warmer now, struggling to sit up. "Silverpaw?"
"Yes Swankit?" Silverpaw spoke without shifting his gaze. Swankit shuffled under him.
"Do-do you think that they'll be alright?" Silverpaw tore his eyes from the river for a moment. The little black and white kit seemed to be on the verge of collapsing.
"Of course. Now go to sleep, so that you can play with your brothers later."
Aspenpaw was swimming back now, a tiny brown shape in her mouth. The she-cat's grey head was lifted high out of the water.
Silverpaw sprung to her side, leaving Swankit on her own. "Is he okay? Are you okay?"
Aspenpaw dropped the kit onto the ground. To Silverpaw's relief, Grasskit's flanks were weakly, but surely rising and falling.
"I didn't find Shadekit." Aspenpaw mewed, eyes glinting. Silverpaw squinted and looked out to the river.
Was that a leaf floating in the water?
Heart in his throat, Silverpaw sprang into the river.
Sharp cold chilled him to the bone. He pushed out with his paws, running them through the water as if he were sprinting in the forest. Silverpaw bit his lip to keep his teeth from colliding together, and surged to the sodden shape.
"Shadekit!" Unsheathing his claws and stretching them as far out as he could, Silverpaw snagged the tiny kit and pulled him toward his chest. With his other paw, he covered Shadekit's nose and mouth.
And they went under.
Water swamped Silverpaw's open mouth, rushing down his throat. He choked, flailing his free paw while clutching Shadekit to his chest. Silverpaw squeezed open his eyes, almost gasping before he realized that he would gag again. Instead, he clamped his teeth over his tongue.
Silverpaw wasn't sure which way he was facing. Every direction was grey.
Black dots swarmed at the edge of his vision.
Something grabbed his scruff and yanked him out of the water.
Silverpaw landed with a thud on the ground.
He looked up, and Aspenpaw was shouting at him. Silverpaw couldn't hear one word of what she was saying.
But he was sure of one thing, and only one thing.
It might've been seasons, it might've been heartbeats, but he was lost in those brilliant blue eyes.
Silverpaw coughed, paws jerking involuntarily as water dribbled down his chin.
Sound faded back in.
"Silverpaw! Silverpaw! Are you alright?" Aspenpaw lashed her tail. Silverpaw lay on the ground for a moment more, carefully letting his paw from his chest. Shadekit tumbled out.
Silverpaw sat up, spitting out water before speaking. "I'm fine. And look, I found Shadekit too!"
Aspenpaw was staring at point past him.
All the adrenaline in Silverpaw's system rushed out in a split second.
Shadekit had not moved. Unlike the heaving flanks of his siblings, the black and white kit was completely still.
Oh no. No, I didn't go through all this trouble to save him only for him to die!
Aspenpaw leaped to the kit's side. She nudged Shadekit with her nose, rolling him onto his back. The grey and white apprentice pressed her paw on the tiny black tom's chest.
Rhythmically, Aspenpaw pressed down, hard. Silverpaw felt shock seep into his bones. What in the name of StarClan was she doing? Shadekit's ribs looked to be about to cave in.
"Stop! You're going to kill him!" Silverpaw tried to knock Aspenpaw away. She kicked out with one paw, catching him on the side of the face.
Silverpaw stumbled back, watching Aspenpaw continue to pound her paw against the kit's chest. Shadekit was still unresponsive, his tiny body thumping on the ground with each blow.
"What are you do-" Silverpaw left off, mouth hanging open. Shadekit spluttered to life, coughs wracking his body, water streaming from his mouth. "Where- where am I?"
Silverpaw managed to turn to Aspenpaw. "How did you do that? He was dead!"
The grey and white she-cat licked the kit a couple of times. "If a cat stops breathing, it doesn't necessarily mean that they aren't alive anymore, Silverpaw. Shadekit was never dead. I just needed to get the water out of his lungs."
Silverpaw was still dumbfounded. Aspenpaw grasped Shadekit and placed him by his sleeping siblings. "But how did you know to do that?"
Aspenpaw turned her head around, smiling sadly. "There are too many things you don't know about me, Silver."
Out of the corner of his eye, A dark shape darted out of the bushes. Silverpaw whipped around and Darkblaze was hunched over, panting. Hailbreeze was by his side.
"Thank StarClan! You found them!" Darkblaze gasped, springing to the sleeping mound of kits.
Hailbreeze twitched as the black and ginger tom carefully checked over each of his kits. "I told you they would be alright. Those two could make an unstoppable team." The ghost of a smile flitted on his stern face, but immediately disappeared.
Silverpaw brushed by Aspenpaw to face Darkblaze. "Aspenpaw was amazing. She jumped into the water to save them," Sheepishly, he continued. "I erm, almost drowned and brought Shadekit with me, but she saved me too."
Grasskit sleepily tilted his head up. "Father?"
The black and ginger tom's voice cracked. "I'm here, Grasskit."
Darkblaze looked up at his apprentice, unspeakable gratitude brimming in his eyes. "Thank you." Hailbreeze rested his tail tip on his friend's shoulder.
"We better get back," Hailbreeze looked up at the dimming sky. "They're tired." Darkblaze nodded and picked up Grasskit. Silverpaw's sooty grey mentor took Swankit, and Aspenpaw grasped Shadekit by the scruff.
"Silverpaw, go back to camp to tell Sleetstar and Ravenstrike that the kits are fine."
Silverpaw complied, turning back and running into the trees. He leapt up the thick trunk of an oak and pushed himself to do the jumps.
Aspenpaw was a hero. What had he done?
Well, nothing, except try to stop Aspenpaw from saving Shadekit, and lose the kits in the first place!
When he arrived back at camp, Silverpaw could see that Ravenstrike was pacing in front of the tunnel. He sprang out into camp.
"Silverpaw! Why are you here alone? Are the kits-" Ravenstrike gulped.
"The kits are fine. Aspenpaw, Darkblaze, and Hailbreeze are bringing them back." Ravenstrike visibly deflated, letting out a breath.
The black queen sat down on her haunches expectantly. Silverpaw padded toward Sleetstar, who, as usual, was perched upon Highrock. The white tom looked down at him as he padded toward the boulder.
"Did you find them?" Silverpaw nodded. "Aspenpaw did."
A yowl alerted the clan to the return of the kits. Silverpaw turned toward the entrance. Ravenstrike had eyes only for her kits, licking them and frantically checking them over.
"Stop it, mother," Shadekit mumbled, batting his mother drowsily with his paw.
Redtalon padded to the cats. "Hailbreeze."
Hailbreeze stared at Silverpaw's father, eyes flickering with an emotion that Silverpaw could not quite place. "Redtalon."
"I trust that your apprentice found your kits?" The dark ginger deputy nodded to Darkblaze.
Before the black and ginger tom could reply, Aspenpaw placed Shadekit on the ground. "Shadekit would've died if Silverpaw hadn't found him." The white splotched she-cat stared past the deputy and straight at Silverpaw. His whiskers twitched self-consciously.
Redtalon turned around slowly. Silverpaw felt his heart leap into his throat.
"Good job." Redtalon smiled.
A smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!"
What was Sleetstar doing now?
And then it hit him.
Like he had aged moons, Silverpaw creakily sat down and looked up at Sleetstar. The old tom was silhouetted by the moon.
"Thanks to a young she-cat, three ThunderClan kits are safe tonight."
"Aspenpaw, step forward." Silverpaw's friend padded to meet the leader. Her grey fur was shone like frost in the moonlight, white splashes blinding as the sun.
"Darkblaze, do you believe your apprentice is ready to become a warrior?" The clan simultaneously turned to the dark warrior. Darkblaze paused from grooming Swankit.
"Definitely."
"Then by the powers of StarClan, Aspenpaw, from this day on, you shall be known as Aspenshadow. StarClan honours your courage and skill."
Silverpaw noticed how the aging leader failed to use the traditional words as he called Aspenshadow's new name toward the stars.
He went up to Aspenshadow to congratulate her.
Stormpaw wreathed behind the grey and white she-cat. "Hey Aspenshadow. Nice name." He winked, and Silverpaw almost laughed at his attempt to attract Aspenshadow's attention in the way he wanted.
"Shouldn't you be busy eating a rock or something?" Aspenshadow groaned and padded to Silverpaw.
"Aspenshadow. It suits you." Silverpaw met her dark blue eyes evenly.
"Thanks." She looked at the stars. "Mousedung! Sorry, I have to go. Can't miss my vigil!"
Silverpaw smiled to himself as she ran to sit by the entrance.
Aspenshadow.
Dangerous on the outside, beautiful on the inside.
Mostly filler again!
QOTD: What do you guys feel about Sparrowcloud?