Chapter 7
Firepaw stretched from his spot beside Dovepaw and padded toward the entrance of camp. Dovepaw called after him.
"Firepaw, where are you going?" Firepaw turned his head to look back at her.
"I'm just going to go stretch my legs for a little bit and to maybe hunt a little I'm not going to go far." he meowed. She nodded and he continued through the camp entrance.
He padded toward the creek letting his thoughts go to the kittypet kitten. He continued on like this until he reached the creek. He measured the distance before taking a leap across the creek and landing easily on the other side. He padded forward continuing looking for any sign or smell that could tell him who the kittypet could have been. When he reached the border with ThunderClan he realized that he didn't know where Dovepaw had been patrolling that day, so he decided to start from the side of the border closer to RiverClan then move toward the Thunderpath. He padded in the direction of the RiverClan border looking for any signs of the kittypet. Just as he was getting close to the border that merged with the RiverClan and ThunderClan border he heard something rustling up ahead, he quickly bolted up the closet tree as quietly as possible. He crept out onto a branch making sure to use the leaves as cover. He saw a bush move and a cat emerged with its pelt damp with water. Firepaw bunched his muscles together prepared to spring onto the intruder when he looked closer and realized that the cat was Stonetooth. The gray warrior had stopped and was licking his fur dry. Firepaw also saw him clean what looked like mud from his paws before he began to pad in the direction of camp. 'That's strange, why was Stonetooth's fur wet? And why was he so close to the borders?'
Firepaw stalked silently toward an unsuspecting wood pigeon that was pecking at a berry at the base of a small bush. He kept to the shadows and crept toward the pigeon keeping his body low. He balanced carefully on his hind legs and sprang forward pinning the pigeon beneath his paws and delivering a swift bite to the back of its neck. He picked up the pigeon and carried it back toward camp. It had been a day since Firepaw had been told about the kittypet that was chased into ThunderClan territory. He had been wondering what had become of it. None of his Clanmates had reported scenting any unfamiliar cats , nor had any of them seen the kittypet and he couldn't help but wonder whether or not the kittypet was alive. He hadn't thought much about Stonetooth he figured the gray warrior had probably been tracking prey close to the border and accidentally crossed it and must have gotten his fur wet in the river. He cleared his thoughts as he entered the camp. He padded over to the fresh-kill pile and placed his catch on it. He had been hunting since dawn and it was now approaching sunhigh. He turned to go back to his hunting when a voice called out to him. He turned to see Hawkwing approaching him. He stopped to wait for the large broad shouldered tabby warrior.
"Hello Hawkwing" meowed Firepaw dipping his head respectively.
"Hello Firepaw, Goldenstar wants you to look after the elders now and afterward you can eat and rest." Firepaw nodded in understanding.
"Okay Hawkwing, thank you." Hawkwing nodded before heading toward the entrance. Firepaw felt lucky that Hawkwing had no problems with him. When he had first met the large tabby he had been intimidated by him but he found that Hawkwing was a kind and intelligent warrior and didn't judge Firepaw simply because he was a kittypet. As Hawkwing padded off, Firepaw watched him go before sighing and heading toward the elders den. He stopped just outside and called a greeting into the den. The gravelly voice of Blackbird answered him from within and he padded into the den and glanced around. Blackbird looked as though he had just awakened from a nap. Moonwatcher lay curled up in his nest, he had cracked open an eye and waved his tail in greeting to Firepaw. Firepaw waved back. Toadleg glared at him from his spot in his nest and grumbled under his breath about SkyClan going to the kittypets. Ivyclaw cuffed him behind the ear from her nest. She beckoned Firepaw over to her.
"Hello Firepaw, are you here to check up on us?" she meowed calmly.
"Yes Ivyclaw, do any of you need your bedding changed or have any ticks that need to be cracked?" asked Firepaw. Ivyclaw shook her head.
"No my beddings fine and I don't have any ticks, you should go check Blackbird he would probably have some ticks on him." Firepaw nodded before padding over to the ancient warrior. He nosed through the black warrior's fur and found that he had a few ticks on his shoulder and at the base of his tail. Firepaw stood and moved out of the elder's den heading for Fallowpelt's den. When he reached her den he called in a greeting to her. Fallowpelt was mixing herbs within her den.
"Come in Firepaw, what can I do for you? You didn't get an injury did you?" she asked keeping her eyes on her herbs.
"No I'm not injured but I wanted to know if you had any mouse bile for Blackbird's ticks?" Fallowpelt looked up at Firepaw for a moment before moving to the back of her den and she came out with moss soaked in a foul smelling liquid that hung from a stick. She placed it in front of Firepaw.
"Here you go, now make sure you don't get any of that in your mouth. Don't lick your paws wash them in the creek." she meowed giving Firepaw a stern look.
"I'll remember, thank you Fallowpelt." He meowed picking up the stick that had the bile soaked moss and carried it carefully to the elders den. He padded quickly over to Blackbird and took the moss and dabbed it on His shoulder and the base of his tail and waited till the ticks fell off before nosing through the ancient dark warrior's fur for more ticks. After he found that there wasn't any more he moved over to Moonwatcher and checked the blue eyed warrior for ticks and found one on the center of his back. He dabbed some bile onto the tick and waited for it to fall off before he headed over to Toadleg's nest. Toadleg lifted his head up from his nest and glared up at Firepaw.
"Do you have any ticks or need your bedding changed?" Firepaw asked warily watching Toadleg. Toadleg sniffed before growling out a no. Firepaw nodded and turned to look at Ivyclaw.
"Should I bring you all prey? Or have you all already eaten?" asked Firepaw. Ivyclaw stretched in her nest a little.
"Yes go get us some prey we haven't gotten any yet." Firepaw moved out of the elder's den and picked up two sparrows, a robin and a bat from the fresh-kill pile and carried them quickly back to the elder's den. He gave the sparrows to Blackbird and Moonflower and the robin to Toadleg. He placed the bat in front of Ivyclaw who purred gratefully at him. He padded over to Blackbird and help the old warrior pull the feathers off his sparrow. Blackbird purred softly before taking a bite of the prey.
"Thank you Firepaw, you may go rest now." he rasped softly before bending down to take another bite of his sparrow. Firepaw thanked him then left the elders den and raced out the camp entrance heading toward the creek.
After, he had soaked his paws in the creek ridding himself of his bile covered paws. He came back into camp heading back over to the fresh-kill pile he picked up his wood pigeon and headed over to the nursery. He hadn't had the chance yet to see Squirrelfur's two new kits and thought that this was the best opportunity to see the new kits. He spotted the dark ginger fur of Sharpkit who was wrestling with Leafkit just outside the nursery. He moved around them and looked into the nursery. Thrushfur and Redflower went out to hunt so only Snowfall and Squirrelfur were in the nursery. He sighed in relief when he didn't see Smokecloud anywhere insight. The dark gray warrior hadn't let anyone near his kits other than Goldenstar, Fallowpelt and the other queens since they had been born several days ago. In fact he hadn't left the nursery for a few days and just the day before had returned to his duties. Firepaw padded over to the two queens meowing a friendly greeting. The two queens purred softly as he approached.
"Hello Firepaw, is that for us?" meowed Snowfall nudging her two kits back to her belly. Firepaw nodded bring his pigeon over to her and placed it down in front of her. Squirrelfur purred tiredly and beckoned Firepaw over.
"I suppose you would like a look at my kits?" He nodded and came over to look at the two bundles of fur that squirmed into their mother's belly. One was a dark gray tom, the other was a lighter gray tom with darker flecks.
"This one is Stormkit and this one is Rainkit" Squirrelfur purred as she pointed at each of her kits with her tail.
"Their beautiful, I have no doubt that Smokecloud is proud of them." Firepaw purred watching Rainkit trying to squirm away from his mother. He gently nudged the kit back into Squirrelfur's belly. He felt soft fur brush against his right thigh. He looked to see Sunkit looking up at him happily.
"Hello Sunkit how are you?" he asked softly.
"I've been okay" she meowed very softly. Firepaw touched his nosed to her flank gently. He remembered Longpaw telling him that she had lost her other brother Flamekit almost a moon ago he knew she must still be dealing with the loss.
"Why aren't you playing with Sharpkit and Leafkit?"
"I wanted help Squirrelfur and Snowfall with their kits." she meowed. Firepaw opened his mouth to say something else when he felt more fur brush against his left side. He look down and saw Spottedkit and Cloverkit looking up at him.
"Are you an apprentice?" asked Spottedkit. Cloverkit rolled her eyes.
"Of course he's an apprentice otherwise he wouldn't be called Firepaw" she meowed to her sister. Spottedkit shuffled on her paws.
"What's it like being an apprentice?" asked Cloverkit. Firepaw watched them both with a look of amusement before answering.
"It's alright we have a lot of duties to do just like the warriors and we also have a lot to learn." meowed Firepaw.
"What's the camp like?" asked Spottedkit.
"Well if you ask you mother nicely maybe she'll let me show you the camp." he meowed looking questioningly at Snowfall. She gave him a nod. She looked down at her two kits who watched her with large pleading eyes.
"Yes you may go with Firepaw just make sure you stay out of the way of the warriors." she meowed. The two kits squealed happily and bounded over to Firepaw's nuzzling him excitedly. He looked at Sunkit who was curled up in her mother's nest.
"Sunkit would you like to come with us?" he asked softly. Her eyes brightened, she nodded and bounded over to the three brushing her pelt against Firepaw's. Firepaw purred before padding over to the entrance of the nursery with his three charges trailing behind him.
Firepaw had taken them all around camp, Sunkit helped explain all the places in camp and he couldn't help but notice how excited she looked. He couldn't help but wonder if this was how Sunkit use to be before losing Flamekit. They stopped just outside the elder's den.
"Now this is the elder's den. They are warriors who have retired and are cared for by the Clan." meowed Firepaw. Cloverkit sniffed curiously at the entrance of the entrance of the den. Firepaw purred.
"Would you like to meet them?" he asked Cloverkit and Spottedkit. They both nodded enthusiastically. Firepaw padded up to the entrance and called into it. Toadleg groaned loudly.
"What do you want now?" he growled causing Cloverkit to jump with a squeak and Spottedkit jumped behind Sunkit shaking. Firepaw growled padding into the elders den and moved till he was almost nose to nose with Toadleg before growling.
"I don't care what problems you may have with me, but I won't have you scaring kits." Toadleg looked at him with a slight look of confusion.
"What kits?"
"I brought Snowfall's kits here to see all of you." Firepaw growled looking angrily at Toadleg. Ivyclaw let her tail smooth over Firepaw's ears.
"Be fair Firepaw, Toadleg didn't know you had kits with you." she mewled softly. Toadleg almost looked smug at the moment before Ivyclaw rounded on him.
"And you have no business acting so threateningly to Firepaw." she hissed at Toadleg. She looked back at Firepaw and nodded toward the entrance.
"Go get those kits I'd love to see them." she meowed. Firepaw nodded before sticking his head out to look at the slightly frightened kits. He purred softly and licked Snowfall's kits between the ears comforting them.
"Come on in, it's alright they won't hurt you." He meowed softly nudging his nose against their soft fur and gently guiding them into the elder's den. Sunkit helped him murmuring encouraging words to the two kits. Cloverkit padded into the den with Spottedkit right behind her. They looked at the elders with surprise. Blackbird looked at the two young kits and gave a raspy purr.
"Welcome young ones. I am Blackbird, the oldest cat in SkyClan." He rasped. Coaxing the two kits forward with his tail. He nodded to Moonwatcher.
"Hello I'm Moonwatcher" he purred brushing his tail over their ears. He nudged them over to Ivyclaw who gave them both gentle licks between their ears.
"Hello kits, I am Ivyclaw, and this grumpy sack of bones is Toadleg" she meowed flicking her tail in Toadleg's direction. Who sniffed and rolled over. Firepaw shook his head at the warrior.
"I'm Cloverkit and this is Spottedkit." Cloverkit mewled nudging her sister.
"It's nice to meet you both." rasped Blackbird. Firepaw nudged the two kits.
"Come on you two it's getting close to dusk and I need to get you two and Sunkit back to the nursery." The kits bid the elder's farewell and Firepaw lead them back to the nursery.
Once he was finished he realized that he hadn't gotten a thing to eat since he woke up that morning. He went to the fresh-kill pile and pulled out a thrush and moved over to the apprentice den to eat his prey. Longpaw padded up to him giving him a playful nudge.
"Hey Firepaw" Firepaw swallowed his bite of prey before looking up at Longpaw.
"Hey Longpaw how was your patrol?" Longpaw snorted
"It would have been better if I hadn't had to listen to Lightningpaw boasting about how he was going to the gathering tonight." Firepaw stopped chewing on his piece of prey and looked up with shocked eyes at Longpaw.
"The gathering is tonight? Who else is going?" Longpaw purred in amusement.
"Well I know that Runningpaw and Dovepaw are going also, along with Ashstorm, Oaktalon, Finchflight, Silverwind, Mapletail, Stonetooth, Spiderfang, Icefeather, Fallowpelt and Thrushfur."
"Runningpaw and Dovepaw are going too?" Longpaw nodded.
"At least they will tell us about it and they won't brag about it." he sighed.
"Have you been to a gathering yet?" asked Firepaw, Longpaw shook his head.
"No, I haven't been training that long yet. In fact I only started my training a quarter of a moon before you came."
"I see, I wonder what they'll talk about." he wondered aloud.
"Probably you since your new to SkyClan and that other kittypet that was chased into ThunderClan territory I'm sure." Longpaw meowed. Firepaw nodded and continued eating his thrush. Just as he began to gather the feathers Goldenstar's voice rang out to call all the cats who were going to the gathering. Dovepaw and Runningpaw emerged from the apprentice den. Dovepaw brushed her pelt against Firepaw's briefly.
"We'll tell you all about it tomorrow have a good rest." she meowed softly as she and Runningpaw approached the group of cats by the entrance. Goldenstar lifted her tail and the cats left camp in single file. Longpaw grumbled a bit about wishing he could go before yawning and heading into the den. Firepaw looked up at the moon briefly before turning and entering the apprentice den to sleep.
Firepaw was awakened by Dovepaw nudging his side with her paw. Vibrant green eyes met dark pools of blue.
"Oh hi Dovepaw how was the gathering." Dovepaw sighed softly
"There was a lot of news this time." Firepaw yawned widely tilting his head slightly in question.
"What kind of news? And what did Goldenstar say about me?" he meowed curiously
"Well she did mention you as a new apprentice along with Snowfall's and Squirrelfur's new kits, but the big news came from ThunderClan and RiverClan. You remember that kittypet I told you about? Well apparently it's training to be a ThunderClan apprentice now." Firepaw's eyes widened in shock.
"He is? wow maybe we'll see him at gathering's"
"Yeah maybe" Firepaw looked closely at Dovepaw
"Was there something else?" he asked softly
"Yes, ThunderClan's Deputy, Redtail, and RiverClan's deputy, Oakheart were killed."