Welcome to Elemental! Did you know that this is secretly a soap opera?
Little/Ivy fans will have a good time with this chapter...
Chapter 19: Another Step
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" Looking up, Littlepaw got to his paws carefully. He already knew what this was about, and his stomach was twisting itself in knots at the thought. He met Mountainpaw deeper in camp, where he had been talking with Ivypool, Stealthstep, and Molewhisker.
"What's this about?" said Mountainpaw.
"Guess," said Ivypool with a wink. Littlepaw grinned at the bewildered look on his brother's face. Ivypool rarely gave out her emotions so teasingly.
"We are here because I have received reports of great deeds of courage that have gone un-noticed," said Lionstar. His eyes met Littlepaw's, and Littlepaw found the knot in his stomach loosen at the look of excited pride in his father's eyes. Yes, he was shaken by nerves, but the excitement…
"Mountainpaw, Skypaw, Willowpaw, and Littlepaw have trained hard for the duration of their apprenticeship, and I have heard great reports of their abilities. Please, step forward."
Littlepaw restrained a giggle at the shock on Mountainpaw's face, and they joined their sisters before Lionstar. Willowpaw had been hovering beside Mouseclaw day and night while he recovered, but she did not appear tired. And Skypaw was trembling.
"I, Lionstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices," said Lionstar. "They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn.
"Skypaw," he continued, and Skypaw stepped forward with uncharacteristic shyness. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan even at the cost of your life?"
"I do," said Skypaw. Lionstar smiled.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Skypaw, from this moment you will be known as Skysong. StarClan honors your initiative and spirit, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."
Skysong stepped forward into Lionstar's warm embrace, and they stayed like that for a moment as Lionstar whispered a word in her ear that made her eyes widen and a grin split out onto her face. Then she stepped back as the Clan yelled her new name – Skysong! Skysong!
"Mountainpaw," said Lionstar as Skysong slipped into the crowd again. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan even at the cost of your life?"
"I do," said Mountainpaw in a rumbling voice.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Mountainpaw, from this moment you will be known as Mountainstone. StarClan honors your strength and determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."
Mountainstone stood nearly as tall as Lionstar now, Littlepaw noted. They matched, father and son, and Mountainstone stepped back to calls of Mountainstone! Mountainstone! It fit him, the name. Littlepaw and Willowpaw exchanged a thrilled glance.
"Willowpaw," said Lionstar one more time. Willowpaw stepped forward, holding her head high. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan even at the cost of your life?"
"I do, Lionstar," said Willowpaw with glowing eyes.
Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Willowpaw, from this moment you will be known as Willowleaf. StarClan honors your warmth and bravery, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."
"Willowleaf! Willowleaf!" Her name was called out like the others as she stepped towards Lionstar. She winked at Littlepaw as she flounced past him, and then Littlepaw was left staring at Lionstar, his blue-grey paws trembling.
"Littlepaw," said Lionstar, and Littlepaw's world slowed down so he could accept this moment. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan even at the cost of your life?"
"I do," Littlepaw said. His voice sounded like a warrior. He was about to become a warrior!
Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Littlepaw, from this moment you will be known as Littlefalcon. StarClan honors your thoughtfulness and enterprise, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."
He stepped close to Lionstar, felt his father's muzzle press down on his head, and Littlefalcon licked his father's shoulder.
"I'm proud of you, Littlefalcon," whispered Lionstar. Littlefalcon's heart warmed, and as he stepped away, it was like he could feel the pride emanating from Lionstar. It was as if he had never done anything wrong. Then he was turning back to the Clan, and they were calling his new name – Littlefalcon! Littlefalcon! That's what he felt like, too: a small falcon soaring over the crowds, looking down on the Clans from high up in the stars.
Then he hopped down from the Highledge and accepted the crowds, pressing into his littermates. Birdpaw was one of the first cats he saw.
"Congratulations!" she said warmly, her tail waving happily. "I'm so happy for all of you."
Littlefalcon heard Willowleaf purr her appreciation, but his spirits were falling quickly, and at that moment, the world warped.
Sorry about this. He jumped as a voice spoke into his head, and then he was falling. He heard Skysong yell their names as he landed, and the five siblings looked up.
They were sitting in a hollow, and there were five cats before them. Littlefalcon knew for sure that he hadn't met them, but he somehow knew their names. His breath was taken from him.
"Unfortunately, we don't have much time," said the lovely black-she cat he knew as Shadow. "Willowleaf, you have done well in freezing the birthplace of shadows. In doing so, you have threatened our remaining power, but that has always been destined." Her eyes glittered as Willowleaf swallowed.
"I didn't mean to hurt you," said Willowleaf.
"No one says you did," said Shadow. "You have done well. But be careful, Willowleaf. There is a dangerous path you may go down. Don't be afraid. I trust you will make the right choices." Her eyes glittered.
"Birdpaw," said River, a grey tabby tom who stared at Birdpaw with an aura of calm. "As much as it pains me to say it, peace will come down on your shoulders in the days ahead."
"Me?" said Birdpaw, her eyes wide. "But I'm fire and…" She held back the last word, but Littlefalcon could supplement it. Lies.
"You are a medicine cat," said River steadily, his tail across the rock sounding like water over pebbles. "The final blow of peace has been entrusted to you."
Birdpaw lowered her head to think about this.
"Skysong," said Sky, his intense blue eyes glowing brighter in the darkness. "Your skills have led you well, and your destiny is in reach. Do not give up hope, for you will come out victorious in the end. I am proud to share your name."
"Thank you," said Skysong, purring.
"Be careful, Skysong," warned Sky. "Your greatest enemy is your own foolishness now."
Her mood deflated, but she did not visibly droop. Littlefalcon smiled softly at her, wondering what great things would be coming for Skysong.
"Mountainstone, warrior of ThunderClan," rumbled Thunder, stretching his great white-and-orange paws. "You haven't failed. You have been exactly what you are meant to be."
Mountainstone looked up steadily. Littlefalcon knew what he was thinking as clearly as if it was his own thought – but the earthquakes should have been my responsibility.
"You cannot work alone, Mountainstone," said Thunder. "The days to come will test your limits, will try your patience. I would recommend understanding that not everything must be ferocious. You can also be kind."
Littlefalcon watched his brother thoughtfully. Mountainstone was perhaps the kindest of all of them, wasn't he? Deep down, beyond the ferocious warrior and the high expectations. He was changing. They all were. He felt as if they were changing while he was standing still, going backwards. It was terrifying.
"Littlefalcon," said Wind, and Littlefalcon looked up at his name. He was always last, wasn't he? "I must warn you of how difficult the situation is becoming."
He nodded, accepting this. No surprise that he was not to have as happy a message as Skysong's or Willowleaf's. What did he get, then?
"Enjoy your life," said Wind softly. "Don't live thinking of what could have been or what should have never been. Do you understand?"
Littlefalcon looked up at her and nodded carefully, his heart aching. That was it? No cautions of how he should handle his leadership? What about all those prophetic dreams of him becoming Littlestar, great leader of ThunderClan? What about developing his powers so quickly?
He snapped out of the dream and found that no time had passed.
"I'll be back in a second," said Littlefalcon to Mountainstone. His brother's eyes flashed in surprise. "There's…there's something I have to do."
"Alright, I'll cover for you," said Mountainstone. "Quickly, now that they're all coming for us."
Nodding, Littlefalcon slipped past his Clan-mates, accepting their congratulations and making off as if he was just going to the dirtplace. Then, when he was sure no eyes were on him, he turned and took off into the forest.
His head was pounding. His heart hurt. His stomach was twisting and writhing, and Littlefalcon yelled out into the empty forest. Rain poured down all around him, but it didn't revitalize him as he should. He felt…he felt…
Remember what Wind said.
Enjoy. Enjoy the battle he was most certainly losing? Littlefalcon's tears fell with the rain, and he was sprinting, running out through the hollow trees. He had one destination, one way to seal his fate, and there was no use putting it off any longer. She'll be there. Something pulled him on, a knowing, a feeling deep within him.
He was, as usual, proved correct. She was there, sobbing, the rain pounding down on her as he stared at her across the river.
"Hey," he said calmly. Her head shot up. Her green eyes spun, brighter because of the crying.
"L-Littlepaw."
"Littlefalcon," he corrected softly. "What's wrong?"
"I shouldn't be a warrior," she said. "It's Ivychase. By the way."
"Ivychase." Littlefalcon processed the name. It was beautiful. "When did that happen? Isn't it too soon?"
"Yes," said Ivychase tearfully. Littlefalcon didn't let himself go to her. He hung back on his side of the river as the rain washed their tears down the current and into the lake. "Maybe not anymore. But I feel as though I just became an apprentice yesterday, that I shouldn't be growing up so quickly…I've destroyed WindClan. I've betrayed WindClan."
Her wails got louder, more intense, and Littlefalcon calmly hushed her. Ivychase stared at him, her eyes so bright.
"You're done for, too," she said. Littlefalcon tried to stop his blood from freezing over as if Willowleaf was nearby, but it was hard. He could nearly taste the words hanging unspoken in the air.
"Say it," he dared her. "Say it and say it happily, so I don't think you regret it."
Ivychase sniffed her tears back and turned her face up into the rain for a few seconds. Then she finally turned to him and sighed heavily.
"Littlefalcon," she said, her voice still unsteady on his name. "Littlefalcon, I'm expecting kits."
I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry.
"Ivychase, that's nothing to be unhappy about," he said with all the confidence he possessed. "You – we're going to have a family." The idea was a beautiful one. He laughed just thinking of it, of Ivychase and himself living in a quiet world where none of this happened, holding tight to their tiny, broken family.
"Across Clans?" she whimpered. "I want this, Littlefalcon. But I'm…"
"Don't be afraid," he said. "I'm not." But he was, oh, he was.
I'm sorry, Ivychase. I'm sorry for making you cry.
My soul is dying. This is so much sadder than it was supposed to be. Yes, this is essentially the ONLY plot-point that has been constant about the book since the first time I visualized it. Well, that and the magic, but even that's changed somewhat.
On the question of age - Ivy and Little were four moons at the start of Vast Lands, and that was a two moon trip. Peace and War started after a two moon gap. Peace and War was about four moons. This was about three. That makes them...13 moons? Yes. This is essentially the equivalent of cat teen pregnancy.
On and on goes the Littlefalcon angst...
The remaining three chapters go back to Ivypool, Doveheart, and Lionstar. In that order. Oooooh boy, it's really here. It's really almost done. This is the only part of the story I haven't finished, but I'm halfway through the Ivypool chapter...and I have three days to finish up. I'll have it done soon, and then I'll continue rolling these chapters out.
Review with your thoughts?
~Elsi