Welcome back to another chapter of Living in the Shadow! I can't believe I have 19 reviews! Thanks to everyone who reviewed.
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Glosskit could hardly believe that today was her, Ashkit's, and Stormkit's apprentice ceremony. For one, she was still too weak and too small. Other kits were way bigger than she was, and they never let her forget. And for another, Ashkit wasn't going to be made a warrior apprentice. Instead, she would be a medicine cat apprentice. Glosskit thought it would be very amusing to see three medicine cats running around the Clan, saving everyone's lives, but she realized that Ravenpelt was getting older and Finchtail would soon be the main medicine cat.
Birchsong was still ignoring his kits, as usual. Silverstripe's condition got better, but when Glosskit tried to visit her, it wasn't very pretty. Silverstripe was very upset that her mate hadn't visited her in the past moon. Glosskit tried to ask her about her and Birchsong's relationship, but Silverstripe just hissed, "It's none of your business." Glosskit remembered what she had done right after that. She went to the elder's den to try to find out more about Birchsong's past.
"Now, now, young'un, you can't be so nosy about your parents' relationship," Treeface had said.
"Oh, come on, she has a right to know, after all, she is his daughter," Goldeneyes meowed. "Look, Glosskit, Birchsong…well, let's say that he was a bit of a player in his youth. He kind of broke a lot of she-cats' hearts."
"But then how did he become deputy?" Glosskit asked. "Surely Rosestar wouldn't appoint a disloyal cat as deputy."
"Well, I'm the only one who knows. You see, I was Birchsong's mother. I saw him acting funny one day. He wandered off into the forest after everyone was asleep. Well, everyone except me. I followed him and caught him get very up close and personal with a WindClan she-cat. I was obviously shocked, because, you know, I thought Birchsong was perfect and everything, but I dismissed the thought. Maybe he's trying to help RiverClan by getting information from WindClan, I had thought to myself that day. But then I saw him flirting with other she-cats from different Clans at Gatherings. He had always been a charmer in his apprentice days. I remember many RiverClan apprentices totally head over heels for him. I never realized what a player personality he had," Goldeneyes meowed sadly. Glosskit was shocked. She never knew Birchsong had such a disgusting past. How many she-cats were hurt because of his actions?
"Did any of his…er…crushes get, you know, uh, expecting?" Glosskit had asked worriedly. She certainly did not want half siblings in ShadowClan, ThunderClan, and WindClan!
"Not as I know of. Now, why are you asking this?" Goldeneyes meowed suspiciously.
"Why did you tell me this? Because it's important," Glosskit replied. Goldeneyes looked at her funnily.
"Well, if you say so. Off you go, just don't tell anyone, especially not Silverstripe. She's already heartbroken as it is with Birchsong not visiting her," Goldeneyes meowed.
Glosskit was disgusted that Birchsong was her father. She saw him nuzzling Palefoot every day, but not long enough for anyone to suspect anything. Glosskit and her littermates knew better. Stormkit had suggested attacking Palefoot, but Glosskit knew that they would get in big trouble. They had asked Ashkit (who was released from the medicine cat den and was limping on three legs) for some input, and she agreed with Glosskit.
"She-cats! They're so scared all the time!" Stormkit growled.
Glosskit snorted. "Well, at least I didn't run away screaming when dead fish fell on top of me," she meowed sarcastically. A hunting patrol brought lots of fish back because it was Green-leaf and hunting was good. Yellowriver, the leader of the patrol, had lots of fish in his mouth. Stormkit was standing by the fresh-kill pile because he was so hungry. Yellowriver had accidently dropped his fish right on top of Stormkit, who promptly freaked out and thought he was being eaten alive. It was a hilarious sight. Even Rosestar was crying of laughter. Only Birchsong and Palefoot were absent, and StarClan knew where they were going.
"That was one time!" Stormkit protested.
"But you have to admit, bro, it was a staple of RiverClan history," Ashkit joked.
"Shut up," Stormkit growled good-naturedly. At that moment, it seemed that everything would be okay. Maybe life didn't have to be so miserable. If Glosskit could forget about Birchsong, then maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't be so overwhelmed every day.
"Stormkit, 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 Stormpaw. Your mentor will be Applefur. Rosestar meowed. "Applefur, you have proven yourself strong and intelligent, and I hope you will pass these qualities to Stormpaw." Stormpaw licked Rosestar's shoulder and touched Applefur's scarred muzzle. Glosskit felt a twinge of jealousy. Applefur was the strongest cat in RiverClan. Glosskit hoped she had a decent mentor.
"Ashkit, you have reached the age of six moons as well. You will be known as Ashpaw until you receive your medicine cat name. Your mentor will be Finchtail. The Clan wishes you a successful medicine cat career," Rosestar continued. Ashpaw licked Rosestar's shoulder and touched noses with Finchtail. She would be traveling to the Moonpool later that moon. Rosestar turned around and headed into her den.
Glosskit felt confusion. Was there a mistake? Why wasn't she being apprenticed? Her Clanmates didn't seem to worry. They were yowling Stormpaw and Ashpaw's names like they survived a war or something. Nobody was whispering, "What about Glosskit?"
"Aww, poor little Prettykit didn't become an apprentice," a voice dripping with sarcasm said. Glosskit didn't even have to turn around to know it was Palefoot. Palefoot had also been bullying her after she realized Glosskit knew about her and Birchsong's affair. Glosskit didn't see why. She wasn't going to tell anyone. Yet.
"Go away. I'm going to ask her why right now," Glosskit meowed bravely. She tried to walk to Rosestar's den, but a paw clamped her tail down. Curse long tails!
Glosskit felt Palefoot's breath in her ear. "Don't tell anyone, or else you won't live to regret it," she hissed.
"I wasn't going to anyway. I may not like this affair going on, but Birchsong is still the deputy. There'd be a whole lot of distrust if his little secret were to get out," Glosskit hissed back.
Palefoot released Glosskit's tail. For a second, she forgot why she was headed towards Rosestar's den. Then she realized that she still needed to ask Rosestar why she hadn't been made an apprentice like her littermates.
Marching through the lichen, Glosskit said in a strong-ish voice, "Rosestar! May I PLEASE talk to you?"
Rosestar was talking quietly to her beloved deputy, Birchsong, about battle strategies. Rosestar and Birchsong both shot her dirty looks. Birchsong looked at Rosestar, who nodded for him to get out.
As Birchsong exited the den, he purposely shoved Glosskit. Not enough for Rosestar to notice, but enough to piss her off.
"What do you want?" Rosestar meowed lazily.
"I…uh, well I was actually w-wondering why I wasn't made an apprentice," Glosskit tried meowing steadily. Her voice quivered and cracked at the end of her sentence.
"Isn't it obvious? Everyone thinks you're too weak to become an apprentice. I can't make the Clan angry," Rosestar said, as if it could explain everything.
"What about making me angry?" Glosskit burst out. "I mean, I'm sick and tired of dealing with everyone saying I'm too weak without giving me a chance! So I might be small and frail, big deal!"
Rosestar looked at Glosskit thoughtfully. "Okay. So you want to be made an apprentice. You do realize, though, if I make you one, you must surprise everyone. You must be stronger than you are now. Can I count on you to try your hardest to be strong?"
"Of course you can. Anything for me to be normal," Glosskit replied. She felt a wave of relief. She was going to become an apprentice like her littermates! Yay!
"Then follow me," Rosestar meowed. She walked out of her den, Glosskit following.
"Let every cat old enough to catch their own prey come beneath the Tall Rock for this extra announcement," Rosestar called. Cats padded curiously underneath the Tall Rock, wondering why there was another announcement after the apprentice ceremony. Glosskit rolled her eyes at her shallow Clanmates.
"This kit has reached the age of six moons as well as her littermates, and has proven to me that she deserves to become an apprentice," Rosestar meowed. She looked at Glosskit.
"Glosskit, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Glosspaw. Your mentor will be…" Glosspaw held her breath. Who would be her mentor? Maybe Tallfoot...he was also thin and wiry for a RiverClan cat. Or maybe even Yellowriver.
"…Palefoot," Rosestar finally said. Glosspaw and Palefoot gasped. What in the name of StarClan was Rosestar playing at? Didn't she realize the hostile glares Palefoot had been sending Glosspaw? At this very moment, Glosspaw deeply regretted talking to Rosestar about becoming an apprentice. She wished she could crawl under a rock and die.
"Palefoot, although you are a new warrior, you have proven yourself loyal"—Glosspaw snorted. Loyal my butt— "and intelligent. I hope you will pass these qualities to Glosspaw."
"Certainly, Rosestar," Palefoot said wickedly, touching noses with Glosspaw.
I've been shot to the Dark Forest, Glosspaw thought miserably.
"Glosspaw! Glosspaw!" a few scattered voices called. Birchsong called her name loudly, acting like he was so happy for his wonderful kit.
The next chapter will be up in a few minutes. This document was originally 7 pages so I decided to cut it in half. How did you feel about Glosspaw becoming Palefoot's apprentice? I hope it was an exciting plot twist (kind of).
Thanks for reading, as always. I appreciate reviews. I love all of you! Mwah!
~Glossfur