Chapter 38
"A New Dawn."
4/25/17 - 4/26/17 - 4/27/17
~ Nightsong ~
Goldentail's departure from ThunderClan already made cats sigh with relief. Nightsong couldn't see why they were so scared of a queen.
After four weeks, she leaves ThunderClan with a goodbye to the kits. Gingershine even stays in the nursery after being told she is expecting, and took in Goldflame's kits to foster. The two black she-cats open their eyes seven days after birth, and Goldentail and Gingershine agreed on their names.
Hollykit is the one with blue eyes, and Poppykit is the one with green eyes. The two kits were playing outside under Gingershine's watch. Nightsong took note of Aspenkit staying behind Gingershine, staring into thin air.
Such a weird kit.
In fact, Aspenkit has been strange for a while. For instance, it's now early December, the kits' first moon, and it took longer for Aspenkit to become mobile and follow his sisters around. Now he doesn't seem interested in playing with Hollykit or Poppykit.
"Aspenkit!"
Poppykit kicks the moss ball to the distracted Aspenkit. The gold brown tom leaps when the ball touches him, and he pokes at the ball curiously.
"Aspenkit, kick it!" Hollykit says impatiently. Poppykit pads to Aspenkit and kicks the ball with her front paw. Aspenkit blinks and pushes the moss ball toward Poppykit.
"Good job!" Poppykit smiles. Looking at her face, Aspenkit smiles, too.
"Mrrow!" Aspenkit cries kicking the ball. Nightsong frowns.
He should be talking like his sisters. Maybe he's a late bloomer?
Whatever the case, Aspenkit is playing with Poppykit and Hollykit now. It doesn't seem that big of a deal.
~ Snowpelt ~
"May all cats old enough to catch their prey, meet me at Highledge for a Clan meeting!"
Snowpelt is the first in front of the crowd. She glances to the side and sees Thistlefang. The dark brown tabby is rigidly similar to a statue, and looking at the wall and avoiding her gaze.
"I turned down Beechclaw's offer." She told him quietly.
Thistlefang grunts in response. Snowpelt flattens her ears.
"It wasn't my intention to hurt you. I didn't realize Beechclaw's feelings were deep until that night. Thistlefang, when can we go back to the days before the prophecy started?"
"... I'm not sure."
Snowpelt lowers her head and looks at her paws.
"For now, let's take it slow."
Snowpelt longs to rests her head on Thistlefang's broad shoulder, but wills herself to look up at Highledge. Thistlefang's tail tip briefly touches Snowpelt's without her knowledge.
Littlestar made sure every cat is present before making his announcement.
"ThunderClan has gone through much tragedy, following the death of Goldflame. Let's take a moment of silence for her, and remember her as the daughter of Darkstar and Ravenwing, granddaughter of Thornstar and Seabreeze, foster sister to Windstorm, cousin to Graystream and Rosefoot. And finally, a member of the Paws of Nature and wielder of fire."
Everyone bows their head in silence. Graystream, Rosefoot and Windstorm huddle together in mourning of their close friend. Rosefoot gently strokes her tail on Windstorm's spine.
Littlestar raises his head. "While she is in StarClan, let us not forget the kits she left behind, and preserve her legacy through them. Now, we will begin with the apprentice ceremony of Spottedberry and Sweetflower's kits."
Sunkit, Seedkit and Leopardkit were padding to Littlestar. Spottedberry and Squirreltail were watching their kits with pride.
"Why are they going first?" Ripplekit asks Ashcloud. "We were born first!"
"Not everything is a race." Ashcloud replies. Ripplekit pouts at his response.
"Sunkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Sunpaw."
"Pineheart. You are a skilled fighter and a calm she-cat under the training of Stormwhisker. I trust you to pass your knowledge to Sunpaw."
The reddish brown she-cat blinks in surprise. She can feel the dubious stares passed down on her. Pineheart takes a deep breath.
Don't break down. Prove to them that you're not broken.
Pineheart pads to Sunpaw and touches noses with the bright ginger apprentice. Sunpaw isn't aware of the doubtful stares of the warriors, she looks at Pineheart with hope and innocence.
Pineheart feels warmth take over her pelt.
This kind little apprentice would surely bring up her spirits. Pineheart is unaware of Seedkit's stare as Sunpaw sits next to Pineheart.
"Emberkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Emberpaw. Featherwing will be your mentor. She is a loyal and intelligent warrior, and you will learn plenty from her."
Emberpaw touches noses with Featherwing before sitting next to her.
"Leopardkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Leopardpaw."
"Oakstorm. You have received excellent training from Volefang. I expect you to pass down everything you know to Leopardpaw."
What?! That grumpy badger?!
Leopardpaw forces himself to smile as he touches noses with Oakstorm and sits next to him.
Ashcloud ushers his kits to Littlestar.
"Creekkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Creekpaw."
"Maplecloud. Finchblaze was a great mentor, strict, and I trust you to pass these qualities down to Creekpaw."
Ripplekit strides forward with pride. Nightsong rolled her eyes at the kit.
You're becoming an apprentice, not leader. Get over yourself.
"Ripplekit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Ripplepaw."
"Thistlefang. I know you learned how to be a skilled fighter and protector. I trust you to pass it down to Ripplepaw."
The dark brown tabby smiles and touches noses with Ripplepaw. Snowpelt smiles at the pride on Thistlefang's face.
"Seedkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Seedpaw."
Littlestar focuses his attention on Seedpaw's potential mentor. She has been in a foul mood since Nightsong returned. Hopefully getting Seedpaw will brighten her day.
"Acornfall."
The light brown she cat blinks in surprise.
"Goldflame was a strict mentor, I know this is your first apprentice along with Pineheart, I trust you to teach Seedpaw everything you know."
Seedpaw pads to Acornfall and sees the annoyance leaving her eyes for a brief second.
Is she not happy to get me? Seedpaw swallows. He touches noses with Acornfall and sits next to her.
"Drizzlekit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Drizzlepaw."
"Hawkfeather. Lionfang is a strong and talented warrior, and you are a brilliant hunter. I trust you to pass your knowledge to Drizzlepaw."
With the apprentice ceremony complete, Poppykit and Hollykit chatter with each other.
"Five moon's feels like forever!" Poppykit exaggerates.
"I know. Isn't Littlestar our relative? Maybe he can bend the rules for us…"
"Absolutely not!" Gingershine snaps, though her smile betrays her tone.
"But we could ask and try! Right, Aspenkit?"
Hollykit sees Aspenkit staring into nothingness. Hollykit swats Aspenkit's ear to grab his attention. Aspenkit leaps up and glares at her before rubbing his ear.
What's his problem?
Aspenkit is always going around acting as if every little touch is fire on his skin. Spacing out, kitten babble instead of talking… Hollykit thought her brother was broken in some way.
~ Beechclaw ~
The freezing cold water wasn't enough to get Beechclaw out. He drags out a trout and pads back to camp with an unbreakable stride. He can't get his mind to stop replaying Snowpelt's rejection. It was a blow, deep in his heart that he held for her.
How does she expect me to move on? He thought. There's no one in my Clan who can replace her!
Beechclaw drops the trout and tries to clear his head. Maybe there's a chance that he's overreacting. Snowpelt is the only she-cat so far that caught his eye. She might be right about looking for mates in his own Clan.
"Are you going to move?"
Beechclaw almost jumps out of his fur. He turns around and sees a grey she-cat with light grey stripes.
What was her name? I know her name is a fish…
"Carpstream?" He asks. Carpstream doesn't look the least bit amused.
"Yes. I'd appreciate it if you didn't struggle to remember my name."
Carpstream snatched his trout up and stalks away. Beechclaw stares after her with confusion.
What got under her pelt?
Olivestar calls a meeting, and Beechclaw sits next to Bearskip, who was talking quietly with Minnownose. Bearskip catches his brother staring.
"What?"
Beechclaw snorts and shakes his head.
Olivestar hosts the apprentice ceremony for Applefoot's kits.
"Heavykit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Heavypaw."
Everyone stares at Heavypaw with such intensity that Beechclaw hasn't seen since his own apprentice ceremony. Maybe it's because Heavypaw is strongly identical to his long deceased father, Heavystorm.
"Darkwater. You are a loyal, talented warrior. I trust you to teach Heavypaw everything you know."
Darkwater purrs and touches noses with Heavypaw.
"Frecklekit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Frecklepaw."
"Fawnstep. Nightfang was a brilliant mentor to you, and I know you will teach Frecklepaw everything you know."
Otterkit is the last one.
"Otterkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Otterpaw."
Olivestar suddenly pauses. She scratches her claws on the ground and looks at the crowd anxiously, which is unlike her. Beechclaw wonders why she is suddenly so nervous.
"Daisypelt will be your mentor."
An outbreak of shock, anger and outrage over Daisypelt sprung out. Daisypelt is literally in the center of the shouts as she stands up when Applefoot blocks her path to her daughter.
"Applefoot." Olivestar's becomes stern. "Let her pass."
"Olivestar - she's a murder! She'll corrupt poor Otterpaw!" Willowfall exclaims.
"I seem to recall that Daisypelt has done little mischief since she was defeated in the Soulless Battle. Since she regained her strength, I see it as ridiculous to not to use her talents. She is still a RiverClan warrior."
Applefoot growls something to Daisypelt before slowly backing away and allowing the light grey tabby pad to her apprentice. Otterpaw looks incredibly confused and scared.
I can't believe they didn't just wait before breaking out like that. Now Otterpaw is scared.
Daisypelt chuckles at Otterpaw's discomfort. "Don't you worry. Just hold your head up."
Otterpaw reluctantly lifts her head and touches noses with Daisypelt.
Glares bore into Daisypelt and, much to Beechclaw's anger, Otterpaw.
She's an innocent apprentice! They can't seriously believe that she is going to turn out like Daisypelt!
Beechclaw silently hopes to StarClan that Olivestar knows what she's doing.
~ Spiderdusk ~
WindClan ran smoothly with Hollyclaw as deputy. Spiderdusk preferred her over Grassclaw any day. Goldentail's return was not a welcoming one, but they forced to welcome her back.
Spiderdusk snorts.
What a bunch of rabbit brains. As if Goldentail would leave her kits for a Clan she doesn't know.
Spiderdusk and Softdawn watch Goldentail's kits become apprentices, and Violetbloom's kits were next.
"Echokit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Echopaw. Cheetahspots. You're a loyal and gifted fighter, I trust you to teach Echopaw everything you know."
Cheetahspots puffs her chest with pride and touched noses with Echopaw, much to the annoyance of Spiderdusk.
"For StarClan's sake, the last thing we need is another Cheetahspots!" He whispers to Softdawn.
"Echopaw is different… hopefully." Softdawn replies, still remembering her attacking her as a kit.
"Brightkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Brightpaw."
Brackenstar looks directly at…
Wait. He's not looking at me, is he? Maybe Molefur, he's stand behind me.
"Spiderdusk."
WindClan cats start whispering with shock as Spiderdusk feels his fur crawl.
"You are a strong warrior and trustworthy enough to train Brightpaw. I know you will make a great warrior out of her."
Spiderdusk pads to her and touches noses with Brightpaw. Echopaw looks excited, Cheetahspots is sneering in his direction, not that Spiderdusk bothered to care.
~ Owlflight ~
"Fernkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Fernpaw. Quailheart will be your mentor."
Owlflight's young sister touches noses with Quailheart. She, Shrewpaw and Smokepaw run to Swiftstrike and Mosscloud to tell them the news.
(Even though they already witnessed it.)
"How are you holding up?" Kestrelwing asks him.
"Better."
His mentor nods. "It's been a tough year for you. I can't imagine how much can transpire for one cat alone."
"I said I'm fine!" Owlflight catches his tone and lowers his ears. "I'm sorry. I've been up all night treating Waspsting for his greencough."
"Understandable." Kestrelwing said, stepping inside the den.
"Owlflight! Owlflight!"
The light brown tom stops and listens to his younger littermates excited chatter. As snow starts to fall.
~ Fenris ~
Fenris stares outside the "window" - as Jessie calls it - watching the snow falling down. He stands down and walks over to Jessie, who is resting near the "sofa".
"I'm tempted to tear apart the pillows. My Longpaws don't like the snow very much." She said.
"I don't blame them." Fenris lays down and tucks his front paw under his chest. "If you stay out too long and allow the snow to pile on you, you start getting the feeling that you froze yourself."
Jessie frowns. "I don't believe I ever asked… But did the wolves treat you badly enough for you to leave?"
Fenris growls. "It was a daily routine. They even kept me out in a blizzard because I wanted extra meat."
"That's terrible!"
"To a dog." Fenris said. "It's traditional for an Omega to be the lightning rod of abuse, they just made it personal because I was half-dog and my mother tried to trick my stepfather into believing that we were his pups."
Jessie raises her head. "You could easily pass as a wolf by appearance alone."
"Except for my ear." Fenris wiggles his floppy ear. "And my tail. Loki looks pure wolf, so he can say so and everyone will believe him."
Fenris looks at the floor. "My mother is an Alpha, she was in charge of everyone and she still let it happen to me… She made the mistake, and she let me suffer for it. Why couldn't she…?"
"I don't know. But the past is the past, you're in the present. She can't hurt you anymore, not even the wolf pack."
Fenris and Jessie were interrupted by John and Alice bringing in food in bowls. Fenris' bowl is filled with meat he's never seen. He glances over the Jessie, stuffing her face with kibble, and smiles before eating the meat.