Atliersky- Thank you for the review. I won't be posting as much in the future. I'll start to just post maybe Monday, Wednesday and Friday and that's it. I only posted so many at a time because I had already had them written and done with.
Cactopus- I already mentioned this, but it's just a fun read. If you don't like the story I understand, but once again we'll just say the earlier medicine cats (doesn't matter who they were in this AU) were sent dreams from their earlier ancestors on how to name the Clans. And for the names like Thunder, River Ripple, etc, they can believe it's just a coincidence or whatever, but then again this story isn't very serious or whatever.
Here goes the first chapter of Book Two. Enjoy.
Fire Heart stood out in the cold, shivering, puffing out his orange fur to keep warm. Next to him sat Jackdaw's Cry. The two were waiting for Gray Wing to start organizing the patrols.
Skystar suddenly appeared from his den followed by his kits, Air Leap looking surly, was among them. He and Jagged Peak were about to be apprenticed soon and sharing his father's den wasn't ideal for him right about now.
Cloud Spots woke next and met Skystar halfway across the clearing, murmured something urgently to him, eyes wide. Fire Heart guessed it had to do with his trip into ThunderClan's camp a few moons ago.
"Okay, time for patrols!" Gray Wing called as he slid out of the warriors' den. As Fire Heart and Jackdaw's Cry joined the crowd, they stopped short as they realized Skystar had scaled the Flat Boulder. Jagged Peak was sliding out of the medicine den, his gray tabby pelt gleaming and blue eyes shining.
Fire Heart noticed with a frown that he was still limping a bit but the scars had healed and he wasn't struggling as much as he used to. Air Leap joined him when he neared the tabby tom and the two kits stood below the Flat Boulder.
"Let all cats gather to hear my words!" Skystar yowled. The remaining cats appeared and they all crowded around under the Flat Boulder. Jackdaw's Cry nudged Fire Heart in a friendly manner and Hawk Swoop mouthed, 'congratulations.' Falling Feather glared at him, of course. So did Shattered Ice. But that was expected.
"Jagged Peak, you are ready to start your training," Skystar began, his usually dull blue eyes gleaming with pride for his little brother, for once. "Your mentor will be Fire Heart."
Jagged Peak half scampered, half limped towards Fire Heart, who met him in the center. The overdue apprentice was bursting with excitement as he touched noses with the ginger tom.
"Fire Heart, you have proven yourself to be a true SkyClan warrior and I know you will teach Jagged Peak how to be one as well." Fire Heart felt warmed by his leader's praise. He led Jagged Peak to the side as Skystar apprenticed Air Leap to Gray Wing.
"Gray Wing I trust you to teach Air Leap what it means to be a part of SkyClan and make him a warrior the Clan can be proud of."
Gray Wing nodded. "Of course." And touched noses with his nephew.
"Jagged Peak! Air Leap!" The Clan congratulated the new apprentices.
"What're we doing first?" Jagged Peak turned to Fire Heart with excitement.
Graypaw sat beside Sandpaw and Dustpaw. They had just finished eating. A few moons had passed since the ShadowClan attack and Ravenpaw's death. Spottedleaf was back on her own paws, thanks to Cloud Spots and Tigerclaw was as bossy as ever.
Suddenly, the lichen under Highrock tunnel twitched and Thistlestar emerged. He scaled the Highrock to call for a meeting.
Graypaw realized it must be Swiftkit's apprentice ceremony. Longtail had been hinting about it for days. "Looks like we're getting a new denmate," He told Dustpaw and Sandpaw cheerfully.
They both looked at him balefully.
"How come we're not warriors yet? I thought Thistlestar was the kind of leader to make apprentice's warriors as soon as possible. Or maybe he's waiting for them to pass their test of worthiness or do something extraordinary for the Clan," Dustpaw muttered, his voice half sarcastic.
"Well, then maybe we should start at the Gorge," Sandpaw also began sarcastically. "Then maybe if we jump in and survive he'll deem us fit to be warriors."
Graypaw wished that Ravenpaw was still here. Hopefully Swiftkit wouldn't act like the two of them. He needed someone friendly to talk to. He hurried over to join the Clan in the clearing. Dustpaw and Sandpaw followed.
Swiftkit walked into the clearing, looking anxious but at the same time his amber eyes gleamed with excitement. Goldenflower stood to the side, eyes shining with pride.
"From this day forward until he earns his warrior name, this apprentice will be Swiftpaw, your mentor will be Longtail," Thistlestar meowed.
Longtail walked forward.
"Longtail, your mentor died before you became a warrior, but Darkstripe helped train you to be fierce and loyal. I hope you will pass these qualities onto Swiftpaw."
Longtail's eyes were bright with determination and affection. He leaned down to touch Swiftpaw's nose. "I'll make you a great warrior."
Swiftpaw grinned, practically trembling with excitement. Graypaw knew he would finally have someone to talk with.
"Swiftpaw! Swiftpaw!" The Clan called.
The few grass stalks still around were frosty with leafbare upon the forest as Fire Heart led his new apprentice through the forest on a tour. He would make sure Jagged Peak took it slow no matter how long it took for him to train. He couldn't have him damage his leg any further.
That being said, the gray tabby wasn't happy when Fire Heart cut off half the tour for the next day so that Jagged Peak wouldn't overdue it.
"I said my leg was fine," Jagged Peak whined. "Besides, Dappled Pelt said that if I walk more it'll get stronger."
"I know, but I also want you to save your strength for the real stuff like hunting," Fire Heart meowed.
"What about fighting?"
"That too," Fire Heart meowed as they were almost to camp. They came across Gray Wing watching Thunder, Ivy Breeze, Ash Blaze, Lightning Tail and Acorn Fur wrestling.
"Go on ahead. You can get something to eat and rest," Fire Heart ordered, hoping he was being a good enough mentor so far. He added, "you did very well today keeping up."
Jagged Peak beamed, eyes glowing before he padded into camp with a still slight limp, but he was getting better every time.
"Hey, Gray Wing!" Fire Heart bounded over to his former mentor and greeted him with a nose touch, purring.
"Hey," the sleek tom meowed amicably. "Hawk Swoop allowed me to take the kits for hunting practice today, y'know, get a headstart in training."
Fire Heart nodded. Cloud Spots and Dappled Pelt were coming from one trail with herbs in their jaws and Rainswept Flower came from the other trail with a rabbit. Nearby the camp entrance, Wind and Gorse were helping Shattered Ice and Jackdaw's Cry dig up a tunnel. They had decided it would have many benefits for leafbare like getting to prey underground and sleeping in a warmer place when it snowed.
"And maybe hiding ourselves from predators," Jackdaw's Cry had said, looking worriedly at his kits.
After Storm had been murdered and Bright Stream died, everyone had made sure no other queen had a horrible fate. Hawk Swoop and Turtle Tail were being doted over like kits, which is why the tortoiseshell tried to hold off going to the nursery longer. Cloud Spots said she could still patrol much to Gray Wing's worry.
Wind and Gorse, Fire Heart thought, were great friends, mainly to Gray Wing, but Skystar still hadn't invited them to join for some reason. He had invited Fircone and Nettle. The two rogues didn't seem to mind though and respected Skystar enough to just wait. After all, the pale tom had lost so much in the past.
"So did Air Leap like his tour?" Fire Heart asked
Gray Wing nodded. "He kept trying to climb trees and race ahead, so I'll have to get him under control, but other than that, he's doing great."
"Lightning Tail, you be the hare and I'll catch you!" Thunder suddenly yowled.
"Okay!" The black tom started mimicking a rabbit hopping. "Hop, hop, hop like a bunny!" As Lightning Tail chanted, Thunder dropped into a crouch and stalked towards his friend. He shot forward and tackled the younger tom to the ground. Lightning Tail laughed.
"You're dead! I killed you!" Thunder roared, swatting Lightning Tail's ears.
"I'm gonna be the best hunter!" Acorn Fur declared.
"And I'll be the best fighter!" Ash Blaze meowed, jumping to her paws.
"Good, but you've got a lot to learn," Gray Wing began, walking over to the five kits.
"I can creep like Thunder," Lightning Tail meowed, dropping into a crouch.
"Yeah, me too," Ivy Breeze said, getting into a crouch as well. "And then you step very lightly."
Fire Heart was surprised by her knowledge. "How do you know that?"
She puffed up her chest. "Falling Feather taught me!"
"That's good, but I'm going to demonstrate first and then you can all try to catch something on your own," Gray Wing meowed.
The kits all nodded eagerly and settled down to watch. Fire Heart purred, remembering how that used to be him, ready to learn anything.
"So does anyone know what else you have to do besides step quietly?" Gray Wing asked, waving his tail around for emphasis.
Ivy Breeze meowed, "keep your tail down?" At her uncle's nod she brightened.
"I can do that!" Ash Blaze meowed and she stalked towards her sister before tackling her. Lightning Tail and Thunder joined in, eager, but Acorn Fur raced away.
"Watch this!" She disappeared down the tunnel Jackdaw's Cry, Shattered Ice, Wind and Gorse were working on. Fire Heart raced over with Gray Wing worriedly.
Luckily, she reappeared with Jackdaw's Cry pushing her out. "Stay outta her. It's dangerous for kits when it's in progress."
"Sorry, Jackdaw's Cry," Gray Wing meowed and led the kit back to the others.
"Now we know how to make dad mad," Fire Heart heard Lightning Tail tease only to yelp as Acorn Fur swatted him.
"How're you guys doing?" Fire Heart called, leaning in. Suddenly, Jackdaw's Cry appeared, grabbed him, and dragged him in.
"Woah!" He looked around. There were a couple of hollows where cats could sleep and a dip in the corner filled with water from where a hole showed. Rain must fall through it. There were even more smaller tunnels that sloped downwards. "This is so cool!"
"Hell yeah, it is!" Shattered Ice looked happy for once. Wind and Gorse were pawing at a blocked off tunnel nearby, dirt crumbling everywhere from it.
Fire Heart left the tunnelers to work, pulled himself out of the hole, and padded back to Gray Wing and the kits. Thunder had a big bird and Gray Wing had a rabbit at his paws. "Good catch," he complimented and Thunder preened.
"Gray Wing!" Turtle Tail burst into the clearing. "It's time!"
"What?" Gray Wing jumped to his paws.
"I'm moving into the nursery."
The kits cheered. They liked Turtle Tail especially since she played many games with them.
"That's great!" Gray Wing meowed, pressing his nose lovingly to hers. Fire Heart noticed the kits watching closely and meowed, "let's leave them alone. Come play a game over here."
The kits scampered after him with a squeal and started hurling themselves off a rock. Fire Heart climbed a tree and watched over them from the lowest branch, enjoying the scents and rustling of his home.
Hope you liked.
I'll post a chapter tomorrow before I start my schedule, which means a new one won't be up until Monday.
Review please. Criticize, comment, cringe, whatever. Just tell me what you think.