Chapter Three
"That sounds so cool! You know, when I got out of the nursery and learned what the warriors do, I never really wanted to fight. Only ruffians fight" Goldenkit shot a stare at Lightningkit, who rolled his eyes. Goldenkit continued. "This is the perfect opportunity! The things that you do sound really cool and important!"
Hollykit blinked her eyes open tiredly. Her surroundings were still dark, and she could just see the shadows of sleeping queens around her. She closed her eyes to go back to sleep, but her eyes didn't feel tired anymore. Annoyed, she sat up and let out an irritated huff. For the last quarter moon, she has been having dreams. Scarily vivid dreams of her being a cat in ThunderClan, with a strong desire to be a medicine cat. The dream revolted her when she awoke in the morning, and she often found herself questioning her loyalty to her Clan. Why ThunderClan?
What was up with these dream I have? Why am I dreaming of ThunderClan? Of becoming a medicine cat? Warriors aren't … ruffians, are they? Does part of me want to be ThunderClan? Psh, no way. I'm pure ShadowClan. I don't even want to be gold. I like my color. I don't like the name Goldenkit. Sounds to breezy for a fierce ca like me
Hollykit unsheathed her claws and sunk them into the earth below. The sensation of her claws piercing and sinking into the dirt was satisfying.
Well, I can't sleep anymore. I should go do something
Hollykit cautiously stood up. She crept out of Shadowstreak's embrace carefully, and felt a rush of panic as Darkkit stirred slightly. Hollykit's mind was racing of excuses she could give if she left camp. However, the panic ebbed away into a peaceful relief as he nestled back into a little ball of fur. Hollykit mindfully avoided the tip of Softlight's tail as she slid out of the nursery.
The features of camp were indistinguishable. There were dark shadows everywhere, creeping up around the camp. Although, it didn't scare Hollykit. In fact, it gave her a sense of security. It was as if the shadows were protecting the camp from the outside. She took a glance at the sky, and her breath rushed out in awe. The bright stars of Silverpelt littered the sky, with vibrant, glowing lights. They danced and twinkled around the quarter moon, which hung quietly with the stars. The contrast was beautiful against the darkened sky.
It's so perfect! I just want to stay here and never leave!
Hollykit felt free. Like her soul could escape, and float astray, and she would drift mindlessly through the stars of Silverpelt. She snapped back to reality as a voice hissed out to her.
"Hollykit!" Hollykit guiltily whipped her head in the direction of the voice. Pebbleheart was slowly approaching her in a crouched position.
"What are you doing here?" Pebbleheart hissed quietly. Hollykit paused.
"I-I couldn't sleep" Hollykit stammered. Hollykit could see Pebbleheart narrowing her blue eyes, which reflected against the moonlight.
"Come with me" Pebbleheart stood up, and turned around. She walked silently towards her den, with Hollykit trotting behind her anxiously.
Why does she want me to come? She doesn't want me to become a … No! She must want me to become a medicine cat! Hollykit stopped dead in her tracks. Pebbleheart turned and gave Hollykit a questioning stare.
Hollykit's voice quivered.
"No. I'm not going to become the next medicine cat after Redpaw" Hollykit meowed quietly. Pebbleheart let out a snort.
"You silly kit. I'm not going to make you become a medicine cat" Pebbleheart rolled her eyes.
"I just have to tell you something" She finished, giving Hollykit a look of sincerity. Hollykit's anxiety returned in her belly, and she gulped the growing butterflies within her throat.
"Okay" Hollykit replied uncertainly, and followed Pebbleheart into the depths of her den.
Pebbleheart sat on the dusty ground, and Hollykit sat down uneasily across from the tabby.
"I know about your dreams. I know about Goldenkit, her kin, about ThunderClan" Pebbleheart meowed slowly. Hollykit's heart jumped into her throat, and she could feel her amber eyes widen. Her tail tip twitched uneasily.
What!? How does she know!?
Hollykit opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Pebbleheart bowed her head and lifted her tail; a signal for her to keep silent. Pebbleheart raised her gaze to meet Hollykit.
"I know you're wondering how I know. StarClan told me, and they have a message for me to pass to you. There is a prophecy coming, and you need to prepare yourself. I need you to trust in Goldenkit, and most of importantly, believe in yourself. You will see value within these dreams. Begin to collect information from them. It will help you, and the rest of the Clan's." Pebbleheart's eyes darkened, and her voice held a mysterious tone that chilled Hollykit to the bone. She suddenly became very uncomfortable in her fur, and under the dark gaze of Pebbleheart. Hollykit mustered all her willpower to not sprint into the loving embrace of Shadowstreak and to hide.
Pebbleheart noticed Hollykit's discomfort, and her eyes immediately softened.
"I'm sorry, Hollykit. I didn't mean to scare you. I just want you to be careful as to whom you trust. I know you're only two moons old, but you need to start preparing yourself. It's either now, or never"
"Higher, Bouncefoot! Higher!" Hollykit demanded, lowering herself into a hunters crouch, and springing up, with her forepaws outstretched. The tip of Bouncefoot's tail dangled above her teasingly. Hollykit's paws barely grazed it, before she landed neatly onto her paws. Bouncefoot watched her with amusement.
"Having a grand time, kit?" He rasped, his voice caught briefly. Hollykit nodded, crouching again and screwed up her face in concentration. She leaped up once more, and her paw barely missed the tail. She landed again on her paws. She spat on the ground.
"Stupid me!" She hissed, and scrunched up her nose. Bouncefoot chortled.
"Careful there, whippersnapper. You don't want to wear yourself out" Her chuckled heartily. Hollykit stuck her little pink tongue out at the elder before storming away. It had been three moons since Pebbleheart's ghastly warning, and Hollykit hasn't forgotten. It weighed in the back of her head like a giant log.
She was in the middle of camp, looking for something to do. Dappleheart and Thistleflake had just entered the clearing, with Eaglepaw and Robin paw at their heels. She watched in admiration as they dropped a total of six pieces into the fresh-kill pile.
Ooh! I wonder what they brought! Hollykit eagerly padded over. She looked over the pile, and chose a thrush for herself. It was still warm, and its blood seeped into her mouth appetizingly. She huddled under a patch of shade, escaping the harsh heat of green-leaf. Through mouthfuls of meaty goods, she noticed Brindlestar padding over.
"Tasty?" Brindlestar let out a small laugh. Hollykit looked up at Brindlestar through her mouthfuls, and nodded eagerly. Brindlestar flicked her tail.
"You should really enjoy the prey while it's here. In another moon it'll be leaf-fall" Brindlestar pointed out, looking off into the distance with a sigh before turning back to Hollykit.
"You haven't lived through a leaf-bare, have you? No, you haven't" Brindlestar furrowed her brow. Hollykit gulped down the last bit of her prey.
"Yeah, I haven't yet but I heard it's tough. I'll be an apprentice by then and I'll get lots of prey for the Clan!" Hollykit mewled excitedly, beaming at the ShadowClan leader. Brindlestar let out a purr.
"I'm sure you will. Now, please excuse me. I need to make an announcement" Brindlestar gave her a nod before padding over towards the Clan-rock. Hollykit watched her with big, round amber eyes. Brindlestar gracefully leaped up onto the Clan-rock.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather here underneath the Clan-rock for a Clan meeting" Brindlestar yowled, and at once, cats filed out of their dens, and they sat underneath the rock with undivided attention. Hollykit rushed over and sat beside Heronfrost, Firekit and Littlekit's father. Speaking of the kits, they were sitting beside Heronfrost, on the other side of him, with Softlight on the other side of the kits. Firekit and Littlekit sat up straight with pride.
"We have two kits here ready to learn the ways of the warrior, and have reached six moons today. Firekit, Littlekit, step forward!" Brindlestar called. Firekit and Littlekit took a step towards the Clan-rock. Hollykit watched with awe. While examining the two, she noticed Littlekit slightly shaking with anticipation.
"Firekit, from this day forward, you shall now be known as Firepaw! Littlekit, from this day on you will now be known as Littlepaw!" Brindlestar smiled from the Clan-rock, before continuing.
"Moonbreeze, you've been a kind, gentle, but fierce warrior. Please pass on all you know to Firepaw" Brindlestar announced, and paused as Firepaw surged forward to the blue-gray she-cat. He shoved his nose into hers, and they exchanged words, but were too quiet for Hollykit to hear.
"Asheyes, you're a dedicated, determined, and an excellent fighter. Littlepaw will greatly benefit from you as her mentor" Brindlestar laid her eyes on the dappled gray tom. His ash-colored eyes lit up with joy, and pressed his nose against Littlepaw's, who timidly approached the tom.
"Littlepaw! Firepaw! Littlepaw! Firepaw!" The Clan broke out into cheers, yowling the names of the newly named apprentices. Brindlestar raised her tail for silence.
"We also have two apprentices who have passed their assessment, and ready for their warrior names" Brindlestar began. Hollykit saw Robinpaw, Eaglepaw, and Highpaw squirming with impatience.
"Robinpaw, Highpaw, step forward!" Brindlestar called down upon the apprentices, and they took a step forward. Robinpaw's robin-brown fur reflected against the sun, making her look like she was glowing. Eaglepaw's jaws parted with shock. His face fell crestfallen, and he took a shameful step back. Brindlestar didn't seem to notice Eaglepaw's painful shock. Sympathy tugged at Hollykit's belly.
"Robinpaw, Dappleheart has told me you have truly learned everything you need to know. Robinpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Hollykit's attention swiftly went to Robinpaw. She and Robinpaw have never really been good friends, but the dark gray kit could still feel her excitement bubble for the young she-cat.
"Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. From this day on, you'll be known as Robinwing. ShadowClan honors you for your bravery and courage" Brindlestar dipped her head, and Robinwing puffed her chest out, and her smile was etched across her face widely.
"Highpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I-I do!" He stammered.
"Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. From this day on, you'll be known as Highwind. ShadowClan honors you for your intelligence, and honesty" Brindlestar took a step back, and once again, the crowd burst into yowls and cheers of approval.
"Robinwing! Highwind! Robinwing! Highwind!"
A faint movement caught Hollykit's eye. She diverted her attention to the edge of camp, where she could just make out Eaglepaw skulking out of camp silently. Her heart tore for the upset apprentice.
"Meeting dismissed!"
The cats broke out into huddles, and congratulated the newly named apprentices and warriors.
"Hey Hollykit! We're going to be warriors soon!" Darkkit giggled, and pounced onto her shoulders, throwing her off balance. The two fell over into the dusty ground. Annoyance pricked Hollykit. She gently cuffed his ear.
He's always so determined
Darkkit grinned.
"One more moon, Hollykit. Just one more moon"