Chapter Ten
A few days had passed and it looked like the Beachrunners were growing used to their new allys' help. Many of Blight's guards and forest stalkers visited Moonstar in her den, congratulating her on her pregnancy. Some of the females seemed overjoyed at the thought that they were soon to have more siblings. Shadow, clearly the sternest of Blight's kits, also made sure to bring Moonstar the biggest pieces of prey from any hunting party he would happen to be on. Blight's kit-mothers took to aiding Crimsongaze in the nursery with Redkit and Wolfkit, easing the queens stress and helping her to recover her strength. It almost seemed that the union of the two groups was one of the best things to have happened since they had started being hunted.
Moonstar was sitting on a large tree root at the edge of camp, observing her group mates. Blood and Crow, two of Blight's guards, were just getting ready to leave the camp to patrol the borders. Orangeleaf and Tinypaw ran up to the toms, their tails waving in greeting. Moonstar could hear Orangeleaf asking the toms if they could join on their border patrol. In answer, Blood and Crow dipped their heads and turned to walk out of the camp entrance. Moonstar purred as she watched Tinypaw scamper after them, his silver striped tail whipping behind him.
She watched where the apprentice had left for a few moments longer. It seems like Tinypaw isn't so tiny anymore, she thought to herself. She knew that both Tinypaw and Fernpaw had earned their warrior ceremonies, but trajedy has held them back. Moonstar's pelt burned, feeling as though she has neglected her only two apprentices. They have worked hard, I should call a meeting at sunhigh, she decided. Taking a tentative step from her perch, she padded slowly over to the warriors den so she could speak with Antlerheart. The tom had been a little distant since his sister's death but he still carried out his duties for the group.
"Antlerheart, are you awake," she called softly into the shadowy den. A faint rustling could be heard and then a grunted reply, "I am awake Moonstar."
She waited for a couple of moments at the entrance while Antlerheart got out of his nest and padded out of the den. His short, brown fur was ruffled and his eyes were dark but Moonstar didn't wait to ask him if he was alright. "Do you think Fernpaw is ready to earn her warrior name," she asked in a serious tone. His soft, blue eyes lightened at her question, "she has earned her warrior ceremony many times over. I'm sure Venompool would be proud to see her kits made warriors."
"You should also feel proud, you have shaped her into the cat she is today," Moonstar purred, nudging him with a paw. "I did wonder if Venompool had wanted to have either of them named in memory of their father," she added curiously. Venompool's mate, Fallenbranch, died while battling a crocodile near the tiny river that was fed by the Shimmering Pool. The river stretched down the side of the island and feeds out into the ocean, but the revitalizing fresh water was tantalizing enough to draw many island predators.
"I'm sure you should speak with her first, just to make sure," he meowed before standing to walk over to the apprentice den. "Do I have time to take her on one last hunting patrol," he called over his shoulder.
"The ceremony will be at sunhigh," she meowed back to him as she also turned to leave. She was pretty sure that Venompool had already left the camp to go patrol the shore line with Frostedpeak and Elm, another one of Blight's guards. She knew that the guards and forest stalkers took turns visiting, going back to their own camp every so often to check on things. She was still very greatful for their help, as well as Blight's love and concern for her.
Quietly, she padded over to the camp entrance. She was just going to run out and find Venompool's patrol, she didn't need any of her group mates stopping her to ask her where she was going. As she walked into the open jungle, she took a deep breath of the crisp air. It felt good to not be trapped behind the camp walls, to feel the breeze in her fur. She could just faintly detect Venompool's scent, drifting on the wind. She bounded off in the direction the scent led, picking it up on hangin ferns and stray branches that littered the ground. The path led directly to the shore line, where she picked up traces of Frostedpeak and Elm's scents as well.
In a matter of minutes, Moonstar could hear the patrol weaving through the undergrowth ahead of her. "Venompool, are you there," she called confidently through the trees. She heard their pawsteps stop and start to come back towards her. Suddenly, Venompool poked her head out of a patch of bushes infront of her.
"Moonstar! What was so urgent that you had to come find me out here," she asked, her eyes shadowed with worry. "Oh, nothing bad," she assured the she-cat, "I just came to tell you that we are holding Tinypaw and Fernpaw's warrior ceremonies at sunhigh."
Venompool purred happily but she still looked somewhat concerned. "Are you worried for Fernpaw," Moonstar asked softly. She knew that the apprentice had not been quite right since Morningsun's death, but she still showed the promise of a warrior. "I just hope she can lead a normal life, her anxiety seems to trouble her often," Venompool confessed, her whiskers drooping sadly.
"I'm sure she will learn to control her anxieties," Moonstar reassured her, brushing her fluffy tail against the she-cat's side. "I have also come to ask if you wish either of them to be named in remembrance of Fallenbranch," she mewed slowly. It had been many moons since his death but she knew that most members of the group avoiding bringing it up around her as much as possible.
"Tinypaw resembles Fallenbranch the most. If I were to have either of them bear his name, it would be him," she whispered. Moonstar touched her nose briefly to Venompool's bowed head, sharing in her grief for Fallenbranch. After a couple moments, Venompool pulled away and looked back through the bush she had climbed through. "I must carry on with my patrol," she meowed, "we will be back in camp before sunhigh."
Moonstar just nodded as the silver and white she-cat jumped back through the bush and once again vanished into the undergrowth. At sunhigh, the Beachrunners would have two strong, young warriors ready to take on whatever the jungle had to throw at them.
It was almost sunhigh, Moonstar standing near the edge of the camp while her group mates gathered. Antlerheart has spread the word as soon as she left camp, alerting the others that there would be a ceremony at sunhigh. Hawkfeather and Foxleap sat a few paces away, their heads bent together in quiet conversation. Most of the guards and forest stalkers from Blight's group just sat in confused groups, turning their questioning gazes to each other every so often.
Blight had returned from his camp only a short while ago, bringing with him fresh moss to change the bedding in the elder's nests. They were only waiting for Orangeleaf and Tinypaw to return from their patrol they had went on earlier in the day. Blight sat calmly at Moonstar's side, stretching his tail around her back. "Your traditions seem so strange to me," he whispered in her ear.
"Well your traditions seem weird to me too," she purred, teasing him. She could see Antlerheart sitting with Fernpaw and Venompool, near the other side of the clearing. Fernpaw looked beautiful, her silver tabby fur shining from being meticulously cleaned. Her white chest shined as bright as snow, and her stripes rippled as she tensed and untensed her muscles. Venompool was covering her daughters head with strong strokes of her tounge, Moonstar could tell that she was purring from across the camp.
Suddenly, Blood and Crow padded into the clearing with Orangeleaf and Tinypaw behind them. They all carried prey which they went to drop on the freshkill pile. "Let all cats old enough to feel the sand beneath their claws gather for a meeting," Moonstar yowled as the patrol deposited their prey and took their places at the edge of the camp. Venompool, Antlearheart, and Fernpaw bounded over to Orangeleaf and Tinypaw, quickly relaying the news of what was happening. Moonstar could see Orangeleaf beaming as she gazed down at her apprentice.
"I have called this meeting today to make two of our apprentices into warriors! They have trained hard and deserve to be given their warrior names," she yowled happily, feeling her claws dig into the soft earth underneath her. Many of her groupmates yowled in excitement, their voices drowning out even the harshest sounds from the jungle. As the yowling died away, Moonstar carried on with the ceremony.
"Orangeleaf, do you believe that Tinypaw has trained hard and is ready to protect and defend this group from even the biggest of threats that the jungle has to offer," she called firmly over the camp. "Tinypaw is an excellent hunter, I believe he deserves his warrior name," she purred loudly.
"Fernpaw is also ready to earn her warrior name," Antlerheart interrupted excitedly, his tail swishing back and fourth on the ground behind him. Moonstar purred fondly at the tom, standing and padding towards them. Her group parted to let her through, forming a circle around her and the apprentices.
"Tinypaw, are you ready to protect and defend this group, even at the cost of your life," she mewed as she looked down into the little tom's eyes. "I do," his voice shook slightly but his head was held high and his green eyes shined with happiness.
"Then by this day forward, your name will be Tinybranch! We commend you for your passion for hunting, and welcome you as a warrior of the Beachrunners," she mewed warmly. The camp erupted into cheerful yowls, "Tinybranch! Tinybranch!" Their cries echoed away into the trees that surrounded the camp.
Tinybranch dipped his head, licking Moonstar's shoulder. As he stepped back, the yowling stopped and it grew silence once more. Moonstar turned her attention to Fernpaw, who looked like she was just about to jump out of her fur. "Fernpaw," she began, "are you ready to protect and defend this group, even at the cost of your life?"
Fernpaw stared at her leader for several heartbeats, her eyes reflecting grief and fear as she fought with the question her leader had asked her. As she blinked, her eyes cleared and she raised her head proudly, "I do."
"Then by this day forward, your name will be Ferngaze," Moonstar meowed, relief for Ferngaze making her feel weak. "We commend your gentle nature, and welcome you as a warrior of the Beachrunners," she called happily. Her group mates took up their cheering once more, "Ferngaze! Ferngaze!"
Moonstar noticed that many members of Blight's group looked on in wonder and admiration, calling out Ferngaze's new name. As the meeting drew to a close, Moonstar watched as many of her group mates padded forward to congratulate Tinybranch and Ferngaze. Both of the new warrios seemed a little overwhelmed and uncomfortable, not quite used to this much attention. Blight had appeared at Moonstar's side once more, while she watched her group crowd around their newest warriors. My group is strong and loyal, nothing will ever defeat us, she thought proudly. This darkness was strong, but watching her group now gave her the hope that they would soon be able to escape and live peaceful lives once more.