CHAPTER THREE
"Do you hear that?" the honey-like voice of his sister whispered, but only the silence, besides a cricket chirping in the distance, greeted them in return.
"Fallenfern's patrol must be back," he whispered back, searching the clearing for any kind of movement. "Tigerkit, are you still there?"
His brother's voice was lower than theirs, "Yeah. I can see Cloudypelt and Foxpaw's bright pelts. Where is Littletail?"
"Rainkit, Honeykit, Tigerkit, if you don't shut your jaws I will come over there and eat all three of you!" Darkwillow growled and he saw her amber eyes flash in the darkness.
There were a few chuckles in the darkness that he couldn't pinpoint, but then Littletail's voice sounded in his ear quietly, "Come Rainkit, the nursery is set up now. Grab my tail."
He felt his father's tail before him and he bit it softly, trusting his father to lead him through the clearing towards the makeshift nursery.
Littletail stepped up and he followed him, feeling the dirt floor under his paws and letting his eyes adjust to the small space, seeing his white-and-gray mother with his gray brother, Tigerkit, and his white sister, Honeykit. He could also make out the black-and-white tom he knew as Badgerclaw.
"Get in your nests little ones," Sweetsong mewed softly, her eyes shining softly at Rainkit as he padded over to the nest next to hers and climbed in her.
"Goodnight my kittens," Littletail whispered, slipping out of the den and back into the night.
A silence remained in the den as Badgerclaw followed after Littletail. A cricket chirping outside bursted the silence and then he could hear the faint murmur of the warriors working outside. He would never be able to sleep, he had far too much excitement. They'd found a camp to stay in and had been working on dens for several sunrises. He thought they would've had to sleep in the clearing again.
He closed his eyes gently, listening to the sounds of cats moving around outside the den and letting himself drift into an easy sleep.
"Sweetsong! Sweetsong!" Honeykit, Tigerkit, and Rainkit chanted, jumping on their mother who was sleeping soundlessly in her nest.
She sat up, still looking half-asleep. "W-what? What is i-it?" She looked around wildly, as if there was something trying to get them around.
"We want to go outside!" Tigerkit purred, puffing out his chest happily. "Please? We're six moons old anyways!"
Sweetsong gazed down at us, now lined up on the edge of her nest. "Stay in camp and be safe!" she ordered.
Rainkit nodded fiercely and then darted across the nursery and bursted into the daylight, breathing in the fresh air and feeling the fresh dirt and grass under his paws. He let his eyes adjust and then gazed around.
To the left of the nursery, he could see Foxpaw and Robinpaw moving around in a den that he assumed would now be the apprentices' den. To the left of that was the entrance to camp, a gorse tunnel leading inside and outside. Next to it was the leader's den, a very small den made out of brambles. Next to that was the warrior's den, only half completed with twigs and grass sticking out everywhere and the elder's den, a rock that was cut out underneath that provided the most warmth. Next was the medicine den that was located in a giant bush, the inside cleared out for our medicine cat, Poppyleaf. And next was the dirtplace tunnel, located in between the medicine den and nursery. Lastly was the huge stump in the middle of camp that Redstar deemed the Tall Stump where he called Clan meetings.
"I can't believe this is our new camp!" Honeykit purred happily, gazing around as her hazel eyes shone in the sun. "When do you think Redstar will make us apprentices? We've been six moons since we found the camp."
Tigerkit looked over at their sister. "Well, we've had a lot to do since we found our camp," he pointed out and looked over at him. "Rainkit, what do you think of our new camp?"
"It's brilliant," he purred in response, catching sight of Badgerclaw leading Riverfur and Robinpaw out of camp. "Who do you think our mentors will be? Honeykit has really been hitting it off with Badgerclaw!"
His sister chuckled quietly, gazing at Rainkit in amusement. "Well Stormgaze and Fallenfern have been keeping their eye on you," Honeykit replied warmly and then looked over at Tigerkit. "And Darkwillow has definitely been keeping an eye on you, Tigerkit!"
"Oh, that's true. I've noticed that!" Rainkit chirped in excitedly. "Do you-"
Poppyleaf's voice cut him off, "Are you three okay? You've been standing here for a while."
"Oh no, we're just looking at our camp. It's gorgeous," Honeykit mewed, smiling at our medicine cat. "How're you settling in?"
Our medicine cat smiled back at her. "Oh yes, it is. And I'm settling in very well, I'm going on the patrol to set borders so I know where not to stray when I fetch my herbs."
Rainkit pricked his ears in interest. "We're going to set the borders today? The warrior's den is not even complete yet…"
"It's just a few of us: Redstar, Stormgaze, myself, and Fallenfern. The rest of us will be working on the warriors' den," she explained and then tilted her head. "You guys are six moons old, huh? Maybe Redstar will make you apprentices before we go at sunhigh." She winked at us and turned away, padding back towards the medicine den.
"Did she just say that we are going to get apprenticed at sunhigh?" Tigerkit whispered excitedly and Rainkit looked up at the sun that was very, very close to being at the highest point in the sky.
Rainkit and Honeykit nodded together at the same time.
"Let all cats old enough to climb trees join beneath the Tall Stump for a Clan meeting!" Redstar yowled and Rainkit looked at the Tall Stump where the orange tom was standing tall.
They gazed up at him and Badgerclaw led in his patrol, prey in their jaws and they rushed over, setting their prey on the pile in the middle of the camp.
He gazed down at the three of them. "Today is a very important day. We have settled into our new camp splendidly and we're going to settle borders. But first, we have to do a very important ceremony for the first time in our new camp!" He flicked his tail at the three of us. "Tigerkit, Honeykit, and Rainkit please step forward!" He gestured us forward and we stepped forward, standing below him. "Tigerkit, 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 Tigerpaw. Your mentor will be Darkwillow. I hope Darkwillow will pass down all she knows onto you. Darkwillow is a strong warrior and an even nicer she-cat."
Darkwillow stepped forward and touched her nose to Tigerpaw's and stepped to the side.
"Honeykit, 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 Honeypaw. Your mentor will be Badgerclaw. I hope Badgerclaw will pass down all he knows onto you. I trained Badgerclaw when he joined three moons ago and he is a great fighter and a spectacular hunter," Redstar mewed and gestured Badgerclaw forward and he touched his nose to Honeypaw and they too, stepped aside. "Rainkit, 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 Rainpaw. Your mentor will be Stormgaze. I hope Stormgaze will pass down all he knows onto you. Stormgaze has been my deputy since IvyClan was started nine moons ago. He is loyal, trustworthy, and an amazing warrior. He will pass down everything he knows onto Rainpaw."
Rainpaw watched the deputy step away from the Tall Stump and leaned down, touching his nose to Rainpaw's nose.
"Tigerpaw! Honeypaw! Rainpaw!" the Clan cheered loudly and Rainpaw raised his head proudly, feeling his fur prickle in excitement.
He looked up at his new mentor. The deputy. Stormgaze was his new mentor now. Why would Redstar and his parents pick Stormgaze as his mentor?
"Rainpaw," Stormgaze mewed, looking down at him with very dark gray eyes, "you're coming with myself, Redstar, Poppyleaf, and Fallenfern to establish the borders."
Instantly, he perked up, forgetting all about his worries, and his eyes shone brightly at Stormgaze. "Really?" he squealed and cleared his throat. "That would be an amazing opportunity! Thank you, Stormgaze!"
Stormgaze smirked and turned around, gazing at Redstar who was talking to Fallenfern at the entrance and he began to pad over, Rainpaw hurrying after.
"Let's do this," Redstar purred and slipped out of the camp, the patrol following after him excitedly. "I was thinking that that creek we passed before the forest could be a border."
Poppyleaf nodded in agreement, "There's a small meadow I saw earlier whilst looking for good places for herbs that is just lush with burnet, burdock root, and cobwebs. That should be the other border."
Rainpaw tilted his head at Poppyleaf in confusion. Those were herbs, but he knew nothing about them, and didn't want to. He didn't understand her at all. Who would want to be a medicine cat? No fighting, no hunting. How boring!
"Fallenfern, any suggestions?" Redstar looked at the senior warrior seriously and the brown she-cat gazed over at him calmly.
She shrugged, continuing to walk beside him. "I remember seeing a gorge near another river, that should be the other border." Fallenfern gazed ahead of her now, looking into the forest like she could see through the trees.
"Oh, we should stop the border at that twoleg place we saw with the dogs. It is running with squirrels near there," Rainpaw chirped in, instantly feeling embarrassed when everyone turned to look at him.
"That's a great idea, Rainpaw," Redstar purred encouragingly. "We need to mark all these borders before moonhigh, so let's get moving." He rushed forward quickly and the whole patrol hurried after him.
Rainpaw was glad to be chosen as Stormgaze's apprentice, he would have more knowledge of the territory and would be able to brag to his littermates.
"Up here is the edge of the meadow," Poppyleaf mewed and gestured with her tail.
He could see the lush grass up ahead and large bushes with small flowers on top were all around as well as tall-stemmed plants scattered everywhere. Maybe that was an herb?
"Mark around the edges, Fallenfern and Stormgaze. Start in the middle and meet at the edges," Redstar ordered and the two warriors darted off to do as he commanded. "Poppyleaf, how is Mosseyes doing?"
Poppyleaf looked over at their leader steadily, both of them sitting in front of Rainpaw and not seeming to remember he was there. "He's holding on. His time is coming though, no matter what I do. We have been with you since before you created IvyClan, Redstar. I know this must be hard for you."
"Hard for me?" Redstar mewed in disbelief. "He is your brother. I know how I would feel if Foxpaw or Robinpaw were dying…" He shook his head and closed his eyes for a heartbeat. "Should we attempt to find your mother or father to let them say goodbye?"
Poppyleaf lashed her tail in anger. "No," she growled, her eyes narrowing. "The way they treated Mosseyes and I is unforgivable, even if Mosseyes is dying."
"It's all marked, shall we follow it to the next places?" Stormgaze asked, suddenly in front of Redstar and Poppyleaf.
"Fallenfern will go to the twoleg place with the dogs and Stormgaze you head towards the creek before the forest. We'll mark the gorge area," Redstar mewed, glancing back at Rainpaw with worry.
Everyone nodded in agreement and Stormgaze raced off to the left and Fallenfern raced off to the right while Redstar took off to where the gorge was.
We walked in silence, Redstar seemed embarrassed that Rainpaw had heard his and Poppyleaf's conversation.
It wasn't a secret that Mosseyes was dying, however, he knew almost nothing about Poppyleaf's family considering they had never really spoken.
"It's up here," Redstar mewed back at Rainpaw.
His paws were starting to ache from the walking they'd done and his stomach was completely empty. The moon was rising in the sky now, hopefully they'd be done soon so he could relax and get something to eat.
"Here it-" Redstar began to mew but a loud, sharp yowl interrupted him and Rainpaw pricked his ears in interest.
A pure gray tomcat, a brown she-cat, and a skinny black tom were padding up to them, none of them seeming to be hostile, but each one was rather large other than the skinny black tom.
"State your business," the skinny black tom ordered, seeming to be the leader of the group.
Redstar tilted his head at him and his ear twitched. "I see… Well, I am Redstar, this is my medicine cat, Poppyleaf. And this is one of my Clan's apprentices, Rainpaw," Redstar told them calmly, but he seemed a little irritated. "We're just establishing our borders."
The skinny black tom glanced over at the pure gray tom in surprise. "You're Clan cats?" His fur began bristling suddenly. "Are you StrikeClan cats?"
"StrikeClan?" Redstar asked in confusion and Rainpaw was confused too. "No, we're IvyClan warriors."
They all suddenly relaxed a little. "I am Shrewtooth, this is Dewcloud and his apprentice, Timberpaw. We are SkyClan cats. We live down in the gorge." He glanced over at Dewcloud, shifting uncomfortably. "This is SkyClan territory, all the way to the edge of the forest. You can put your border on the other side of ours. Beware of StrikeClan territory. They live past the twoleg place and they will not hesitate to attack if you cross their border."
"Thank you for your generosity, Shrewtooth. Come on, let's go set our border," Redstar mewed and turned away from the SkyClan cats, padding towards the forest again. He looked uncomfortable as we walked away from them and Rainpaw could feel their gaze boring into his back.
They finally escaped the stares of the SkyClan cats and padded into the forest, stopping as they crossed over the strong scent line of the SkyClan border.
"How did we not smell this before?" Poppyleaf asked, glancing over at Redstar.
The leader stared at the ground and shrugged. "Poppyleaf, you and Rainpaw mark the way back towards camp and I'll mark up until I meet with Fallenfern and warn her about the other Clans in this area."
Poppyleaf nodded and sprayed the bush in front of them and began padding away from it and Rainpaw hurried after.
"So, there's a Clan in the gorge," Poppyleaf mewed as she marked another bush. "Why would StarClan send us here if another Clan was occupying it?"
Rainpaw gazed at her, not sure if he should respond. She marked a rock but said nothing else. "Why would they send us here if two Clans were occupying it?" he responded quietly, his pelt prickling.
She didn't respond so he glanced around the territory, seeing the moon high in the sky, shining through the trees. There wasn't a cloud in the sky.
If StarClan sent them here, surely, they were meant to be here.
