Chapter 9: When Two Becomes One
Amber eyes stared out into the clearing. His soft grey fur bushing up slightly against the cold that was beginning to settle on Thunderclan grounds. He turned his gaze to stare briefly at his sister who was throwing a moss ball around with Featherkit, Sparrowkit and Moonkit. He chose not to participate at the moment and was content knowing his sister was in good company.
"No one wants to play with little Shallowkit?" A Tom jeered towards the kit.
Shallowkits eyes narrowed at the grey and black Tom meeting the toms menacing blue ones.
"Go away Dewpaw." Shallowkit grumbled, not in the mood for his hateful comments.
"Poor little Shallowkit has no one to play with. I bet…" Dewpaw continued but was suddenly interrupted by a terrified squeal.
"Momma!" Featherkit shouted, fear laced in her voice.
Leafpool at once raced over to Featherkits side, her pelt a blur as she went to comfort her frightened kit.
Shallowkit hardly noticed Leafpool though as his eyes fixed on the limp form on the ground.
"Fernkit!" Shallowkit wailed, racing over to his sister.
His heart was hammering in his chest out of sheer terror. She had just been fine! He would have noticed if something was wrong! His sister had been a very sickly kit and although she was doing better, she was still weaker than the other kits and rather small for her age. Shallowkit always knew when something was wrong with her. They had been close since the moment they both opened their eyes. Shallowkit always felt protective towards his weaker sibling. He nudged his sister who was just beginning to stir. He barely noticed when Leafpool pushed her three kits back towards the nursery. She then bent down sniffing at Fernkit worriedly.
"My baby!" A familiar cry rang in Shallowkits ears as Dovewing raced over to her daughters side.
Fernkit coughed and a bitter scent reached Shallowkits nose. She had coughed up blood. Shallowkit gazed numbly at the drops of red blood that stained Fernkits paws.
"What's wrong with her? Does she have black cough?" Dovewing demanded, looking up anxiously at the former medicine cat.
"I believe so." Leafpool murmured then moved aside as Jayfeather joined the group of cats that was forming around Fernkit.
"Go back to your warrior duties! Nothing to see here." Jayfeather snapped at the cats who had stopped to stare at poor Fernkit.
A few cats muttered their apologies as the rest of the cats walked away, casting hurried glances at the small sickly kit.
"It's Blackcough." Jayfeather confirmed after a moment, the slight twitch of his tail showing his worry.
"A kit hasn't gotten it before! Full grown warriors aren't even surviving this! How is Fernkit supposed to survive?" Dovewing wailed, bending down to lick her kit anxiously.
"I'm sorry Dovewing but you need to step away. Fernkit needs to stay in the medicine den so I can monitor her and I don't want you getting sick too." Jayfeather sighed, not answering her question.
"No she needs her mother!" Dovewing wailed, stepping in front of her daughter protectively.
"He's just trying to help." Leafpool mewed gently to the queen, nudging her away from the kit.
"No! She needs me!" Shallowkit suddenly yowled, his eyes wide and upset.
Dovewing seemed to come to her senses when she heard her other kit. She curled her tail around Shallowkit gently pulling him away as Jayfeather carried a whimpering Fernkit away.
"She'll be okay. She's fought off sickness before." Dovewing mewed reassuringly into her sons ear, licking his fur in gentle motions.
Shallowkit just whimpered miserably and pushed his face into his mother's fur.
The next morning, Shallowkit awoke to soft hushed mews outside the den. He immediately realized he was the only one in the den. He felt the abscence of his sister like a ton of rocks had just struck him. He mewled our miserably, turning in his nest trying to find the comfort of his nest. Unable to find her, he creeped out of his nest and approached the nursery entrance, listening in on the hushed mews, quickly recognizing the voice of his mother and their leader.
"Dovewing I know Fernkit falling ill must be hard on you but I was planning on doing their ceremony today. I understand if you no longer want to do it with Fernkit being ill but I don't think we should delay Shallowkits training. He's of age to become a paw. I don't want him missing out." Brambleclaw mewed gently.
"You're right. But those two are bound at the hip! How do I tell Shallowkit that's he's going to become an apprentice without his sister?" Dovewing choked out miserably.
Shallowkit had heard enough and stepped out of the shadows of the nursery. Both cats turned to look at him in surprise.
"No! I won't become an apprentice without my sister!" Shallowkit declared, looking defiant.
"But Shallowkit you'll fall behind…" Brambleclaw mewed.
"I don't care!" Shallowkit hissed.
"Would it helps if your sister approved? I'm sure she won't want you to be held back because of her." Brambleclaw coaxed.
"They won't let me near her." Shallowkit mewed miserably.
"I'm sure we can make an exception if your quick." Brambleclaw replied.
Shallowkit hesitated but the urge to see his sister won over. "Okay."
Bramblestar led both Dovewing and Shallowkit over to the medicine den.
"Jayfeather!" Bramblestar called out.
"What?" Jayfeather mewed, irritates as he emerged from the medicine den.
Bramblestar quickly explained the situation. After a moments hesitation, Jayfeather gave a small nod. He warned Shallowkit to be quick and that only he could come in. Dovewing looked disappointed but gave a small encouraging nod. Shallowkit followed Jayfeather into the den. As his eyes adjusted to the light, he saw Crowfeather and Lillypads shapes in two separate nests, their breathing sounded labored and both appeared to be sleeping. On the opposite side of the den Shallowkit spotted his sister, he quietly approached her. She looked so scrawny in her nest and her breaths came out quick and shallowing. Shallowkit felt heartbroken at the sight of his sick sister.
"Fernkit?" Shallowkit mewed softly.
The she cats eyes fluttered open, her blue eyes meeting his amber ones. At once she let out a rusty purr, struggling to sit up.
"I missed you." She rumbled, pressing her nose into Shallowkits fur.
"I missed you too." Shallowkit murmured.
"Hurry up!" Jayfeather snapped from the entrance of the medicine den, breaking up the siblings heartfelt moment.
"They let me come in here because I need to talk to you. Bramblestar was supposed to hold our apprentice ceremony today. But I don't want to become an apprentice without you…"Shallowkit trailed off, flattening his ears guiltily.
"You have to become an apprentice mousebrain!" Fernkit burst out, much to Shallowkits surprise.
"But-" Shallowkit began to protest but Fernkit brushed her tail along his muzzle to silence him.
"I'll join you once I'm better Shallowkit. You can't hold back because I'm sick! This is what we've been dreaming of since we first opened our eyes!" Fernkit exclaimed.
"Promise you'll get better?" Shallowkit asked softly.
"I promise." Fernkit mewed firmly. "Now you go become an apprentice and stop being such a mousebrain!"
Her eyes twinkled with amusement but she suddenly averted her gaze as she broke off into a coughing fit. Jayfeather quickly ushered him out to where Bramblestar and Dovewing were waiting expectantly.
"Let's do it." Shallowkit mewed, still a bit dejected that his sister wasn't joining him.
Bramblestar nodded his approval before jumping onto high rock. As he called out the summons, Dovewing quickly began to lick her sons fur into place for his ceremony.
"These are hard times we are facing but ThunderClan is strong. And to prove just how strong we are, the time has come to welcome an apprentice into our ranks. Shallowkit come here." Bramblestar beckoned the Tom over.
Shallowkit approached the high rock, trying not to show how nervous he was.
"Shallowkit from this day on you shall be known as Shallowpaw. Toadstep will be your mentor. I know he will pass on his dedication and loyalty onto you." Bramblestar mewed.
Toadstep look surprised but delighted as he approached Shallowpaw. He touched his nose to Shallowpaws as Shallowpaws eyes glimmered with excitement.
"Shallowpaw! Shallowpaw!" The clan chanted, as Shallowpaw puffed his chest out In pride.
The clan swarmed around Shallowpaw murmuring their congratulations.
"Congrats Shallowpaw. I'm sure you will make the clan proud." Bumblestripe mewed warmly.
Shallowkit mumbled a small thanks, a bit embarrassed and aware of both Flamepaw and Dewpaw staring at him with thinly veiled disgust. Dovewing rushes up to him, purring and giving him a lick of congratulations before retreating so his new Denmates could approach him.
"Bramblestar must be desperate if he made you an apprentice." Flamepaw sneered.
"I bet you'll be a lousy hunter at best." Dewpaw agreed.
"And a mediocre fighter." Flamepaw chimed in.
The two apprentices chuckled and walked away from an annoyed Shallowpaw.
"Don't listen to them. They're mouse brains." Fawnpaw mewed, casting a disapproving look towards the two brothers.
"Yeah welcome to the life of an apprentice." Emberpaw mewed, nudging Shallowpaw in welcoming.
"Thanks!" Shallowpaw mewed, perking up.
He had never been one to have many friends. He was a bit more reserved and mostly stuck to his sisters side so he was feeling a bit overwhelmed but grateful that not everyone was as mean as Ivypools kits. Petalpaw chatted animatedly to Shallowpaw about apprentice training but Shallowpaw averted his attention from her as his eyes focused on his mentor.
"Come Shallowpaw. We've got a lot of ground to cover today. I'm taking you on a tour of the territory." Toadstep beckoned.
Shallowpaw mewed a quick goodbye before following Toadstep out of the camp. His eyes widened at the sight. He gazed around at the scenery, feeling elated to finally be a Thunderclan warrior.